Monster Girls Book 1: A Tale of Tails!

Chapter 166: A Duel Begins

The group were escorted to a private tree hut further upstairs, handed some makeshift clothing and locked up to rest for the night. Felix was thrusted into the room, turning around and grabbing onto the wooden door in desperation. 

"Just let me talk to Alma, we're friends!" He pleaded, locking eyes with the broad chested wooden elf as he turned the latch, locking them in. 

He huffed and shook his head in disbelief, the leaves on his shoulders bouncing lightly as he walked down the bridge, leaving them to their hut. A pair of male elves kept watch as guards, both wielding wooden staffs and wearing a darker colored leather gear with masks covering their faces. They posed like statues, keeping a watchful eye on the group as Felix sunk down to his knees in defeat. 

Janette kept her hands pressed to her tummy, taking small steps before reaching the nearest cot to sit on. Reta helped lay her down, resting a hand on her forehead. "Lie still," She instructed her, inspecting the wound on her friend's belly. "There's no bleeding, you're just being weak."

"Bite me!" Janette hissed, leaning back as sweat coated her face. "Gods, these elves don't seem to mind the heat up here. My clothes feel like they're clinging to my skin."

"Best to make do." Nyitzcha mentioned in response, strolling around the ledge, sliding her hand across the wooden pole fence. At her small height, she could rest her chin against the waist-height fence when standing on her toes. "Hmm, me thinks they stuck us up high so dat de fall would kill us." 

"Thanks, Nyitzcha. Very helpful." Her friend grumbled from her cot. 

The dwarf shrugged, tugging at the small leafy poncho she was given to wear. "Not my style, but its comfy. Helps me skin breathe, so d'ere is dat. Just say when ye want t'break free from dis lot, I could burn de place down with a snap." 

"No." Felix stood up, responding in a stern voice as he faced them. "We're in too deep of a mess as is. If we push further, then we lose the chance of getting their help."

"Aaaaaaaa don't think we kin still be friends when d'ey 'ave us prepped fer a duel, lad." 

"No... challenging them certainly didn't help." He glared at Reta, who took a moment to acknowledge his stare. 

She frowned, refusing to play into this mind game. "Speak your mind." 

"It was stupid to challenge her like so, Reta. What were you thinking?" He started, marching toward her as his anger rose along with his voice. "We came out here, risking our lives hoping to find Alma and then you go and pull something like this?" 

Reta shot up to face him. "I did not propose a duel, that was her action not mine! I may have chosen my words poorly, but I meant what I said. This is their home and yet they grovel and waste their time hiding here instead of choosing to act! Were it to be my old clan, we would fight until the very last warrior remains and proudly give our life wasting as many enemies as we can before passing onto the afterlife."

"Calm yourself, they have families here." He reminded her, "Mothers holding their children amongst elderly folk. They might not have the numbers with them." 

"If that is so, then I fail to see how they can be of much assistance to our mission," Her words were ice cold but carried some truth in them, much to his reluctance to admit. He walked away, leaning over the ledge with both hands on the fence as he looked across counting the numerous huts beneath them. 

Felix closed his eyes, breathing in deep to calm his nerves. "Reta, we're in over our heads with this. Getting their help is the best move we have to make this work." 

"You do not think we can manage as we are?" She asked, her brows raised to convey the shock in her expression. She calmly approached him, sliding her hand over his and offering it a squeeze of comfort. 

He turned to meet her gaze and shook his head. "Honestly, no. Janette and I haven't fully recovered from our wounds, and you have three weeks before the earliest full moon rises."

"Do you think coming here was a mistake?" She pressed, leaning in to scan his reaction. "Would you live with yourself to have let them go and carry on?" 

Felix licked his lips and glanced over, taking in the sight of the wilderness, watching the sun set. Based on the heat and how thick the air felt to breathe, including the messy terrain of moss, sunken wide leaves, the numerous roots sprouting from the ground and the abundance of wildlife singing that surrounded them, it felt like they stepped into another world. He missed being surrounded by grassy hills while tending to the farm animals back home, or walking past the wheatfields and into the farmers market of Farmer's Den. He even missed the feeling of cobblestone roads beneath his feet as he explored the wide variety of mixed species and trade in the city of Kershin Market. 

Then his thoughts went to how things ended with them, the number of bodies scattered around the city with his friend among the dead, the ruined shops at Farmer's Den, and the night that blazed with light as Janette's house was scorched down. 

"No." He finally answered, squeezing her hand back. "I couldn't, doing this was the only choice I had."

Then he turned around, speaking out not just to her but to everyone else. "Do you regret joining me on this?" 

Janette groaned loudly. "You're not the only one who lost someone they love." 

Nyitzcha shrugged. "I came cuz o'her, but you lot seem like fun. Stupid, but fun." 

Satisfied, Reta turned to him with a smile. "I admit instigating was a foolish response, but we are with you."

"We can always call off the duel." He reminded her. "You don't have to fight-"

"And turn down a good fight?" Reta answered cockily, "No, I want to see what these Rangers are capable of. Turn this to your advantage, Felix. Study me, watch me fight. You will need to learn all that I know if you want to come out victorious should you fight Perdilius again." 

She pressed her finger against his lips, silencing him briefly. "Now, get some rest. I drained you dry the other night, and tempting as it may be to do it again, I will need my energy for the duel in the morning. Perhaps after, we can resume our... stamina training." 

He watched her walk off toward her own cot, swaying her hips with each step as his eyes traced down the curves and admired the subtle jiggle of her ass. She giggled, knowing the hunger building in him and the effect her body had. He looked away to avert his gaze, but the deep blush across his face told her enough. 

He kept watch for a bit longer as the night came, and only then did he lie down to join them.

Once morning came, they were greeted by the young elf at their door, escorted by the pair of guards behind him as he brought them bowls of fruit for their breakfast. Nyitzcha glared at the meal, glancing from a bowl of grapes to a bowl of apple slices before staring daggers at the boy. "Where are de meats?" 

He raised his brow, baffled by her question. "We have none." 

"And no bread?" 

"I can arrange to bring in a few loafs, if you wish?" 

"I do. And what's dis?" She called out, grabbing a small cup from the tray he held out and taking a sip. "Ooh, dat's better. Much better." 

"A bit of wine, as you can tell." He explained as the others reached out for their cups.

Nyitzcha polished her drink in one gulp, planting it down and licking her lips. "Got any more." 

"Just the one serving." He replied, blinking and staring at her like if she had a mole on her face. 

"Yer staring." 

"You're a dwarf right, not a halfling?" He asked, "I've heard of your kind but never met them in person." 

She snorted, munching on a handful of grapes. "Best to leave yer tree and see de world, den. Yer young, got plenty o'years to enjoy."

Felix leaned in, recognizing him. "Your Alma's son, right?" 

He nodded. 

"What's your name?" 

He straightened his posture. "I was given the name Spi'Reto, spirit of the forest." 

Nyitzcha choked on her grape, coughing and slamming a fist against her chest. "Wha- Who came up with dat stupid name?"

"Nyitzcha!" Janette shouted. "Manners!" 

Spi'Reto took her remark in stride, chuckling as he left the tray to them. "You have five minutes to finish your meal. Then we move south." 

Felix looked up at him and nodded, glancing at Reta. She smiled, determined and somewhat excited. It left him wondering what was in her mind to react this way toward a fight, did she have something to prove? He can't recall ever seeing her as giddy as she was now, not even after the first night they shared together. Something about her seemed surreal to him, for a moment this wasn't the same Reta he lived with. 

No, he figured it out now. This was the same warrior from her old clan resurfacing for one more duel. This was Mizuki.

They had drawn quite a crowd for this fight. The group were escorted by Spi'Reto to the lowest hanging tree hut, brought inside where a circular platform hung at the center, attached by numerous ropes tethered around gears. Alma stood at the opposite side of this platform; her eyes fixated on Reta upon their arrival the way a predator locks eyes with its rival. She was dressed differently this morning, presenting herself in a simple leather top and shorts, barefooted with cloth strips wrapped around her forearms and palms, and keeping her long hair tied back in a bun to keep it from hindering her vision. A Ranger presented wooden armor to her, with another coming to Reta's side. 

"In this duel, we present ourselves as equals. The leather does well to conceal our bodies and offer minimal protection from penetration." 

Reta plucked up a wooden arm guard, keeping her eyes on Alma. "And these trinkets?" 

The Mother Elf grinned. "To protect against bludgeoning damage while offering natural camouflage to integrate into the wild. We honor Mother Nature by using her blessings to protect us and give us strength."

"You worship a Goddess of Nature?" 

"It is Dryads that bless our lands with green. Dryads are living spiritual entities of the forest. We are their protectors." 

"Interesting." Reta remarked, fastening the wooden armor around her. "In my old clan, we were trained from adolescence, taught to harness our body and soul as an instrument of combat. Sword, dagger, sickle, or fist."

"We do not offer weapons here." Alma explained, "Only the ones you can summon through magic."

"Ah, so then it is not a duel of hand-to-hand combat?" She questioned. 

"It is a duel between two individuals. Fight with what you have and what you know. Any magical knowledge that you believe gives you the advantage would be crucial here." 

"And how does our duel end?" Reta stared at the circular platform, tracing the edge with her foot. "First one swept off this arena?" 

"Oh, this is not our arena." Alma sneered, stepping onto the circle. Reta looked down, planting one foot forward before rising up to meet her. One of the Elves stood by with drumsticks, banging a steady beat at the drum.

Dun! Dun! Duga-Dun! 

Dun! Dun! Duga-Dun!

Several more operated a latch as the platform wobbled and began to descend, much to Reta's surprise. Felix watched his friend be lowered down into a swampy layout, the platform sinking into mud Reta glanced around. 

Alma spread her arms wide. "This is our arena, to allow us to utilize our magic without collateral damage to the others. To answer your question, the duel ends when the other cannot stand." 

Janette nudged Felix's arm, her nervous expression causing him to worry. "Felix, she doesn't have any magic. This isn't fair." 

"You think I don't know that?" He looked down, staring at Reta from above. "She has Genki, but... I hope she knows what she's doing." 

Nyitzcha knelt down, whistling loudly to her blue-haired friend. "Kick 'er arse, Nori!" 

Reta rolled her eyes, her lip twitching in response to that ugly nickname. "As long as I am able to use my fists, then this should suffice. Use whatever magic you need, I have no use for it." 

"Can you not use magic?" Alma raised her brow, "Does that bother you?" 

"Magic is not something I am blessed with, my usage of it is limited. It matters not; I intend to win this duel all the same." Reta stretched sideways, feeling the shoulder guards stiffen her movement a bit. That may be a problem, but at least the armor added little weight to her. "I am ready."

"As am I." Alma grinned, cracking her fingers. "One more thing, this is combat but not life or death. Use non-lethal means of force." 

"Understood, now quit stalling." Reta smirked, hearing the drum beat rapidly in anticipation of the fight. 

Alma stood ready, both women posing several feet apart. 

Duga-duga-duga-duga-duga-duga-duga-duga-! 

Reta breathed in deep, both women locking eyes as the drum lingered at that rapid pace before cutting out. 

Duga-duga-duga-duga-DUM!

"BEGIN!" Spi'Reto cried out. 

Both of them charged forward, kicking up mud behind them before clashing with their forearms. Alma swooped down, shooting her hand out like a spear aimed for Reta's face. She swerved to the side, parrying her hand and retaliating with a punch. Alma caught her fist in time, blocking it effectively. Both women meet with an elbow clash, colliding in a stalemate. 

Reta pulled back first, with Alma lunging in to close the gap. The Ranger moved in with a left strike followed by a right, then again with a left. Reta bobbed her head side to side, dodging each attempt and planting her back foot into the mud to stand her ground. She ducked under Alma's next swipe, closing in with an elbow and landing a blow to Alma's cheek, knocking her back. 

"First strike!" Nyitzcha cheered. 

Alma stumbled back a few steps, throwing another spear hand. Reta flicked her wrist to parry the attack away with a swipe, launching a right punch only the elf was ready for it. She lunged back, caught her wrist, and grabbed her other hand to trap her. Both women glare at each other, their faces inches apart, before they both began throwing knees. 

Bam!

With both opponents joining hands, they continue spamming knee shots, building a rhythm as each knee attack clash with the other. Breaking the pace, Reta pulled back and threw herself to the ground, carrying Alma forward with her momentum before tossing her over head with a kick to the chest. 

Alma tumbled across the mud, splattering with each roll before stopping herself on all fours. She lifted her head upon hearing noisy footsteps stomping toward her. Reta spun around to throw a head kick, with Alma using her arm guard to block the attack. Falling to her side, Reta rolled back to compose herself on one knee just as Alma swooped with a knee aimed for her head. Reta caught her knee in time, catching it with both hands just as it came within an inch reach of her nose. Alma pulled back, this time throwing a kick with her other leg. Reta ducked in time, sweeping Alma's leg in return, sending her to the ground. But just as she fell on her side and caught Reta charging in, Alma met her with a kick to her chin. 

That blow fumbled her momentum, pushing her to the left side. Reta rubbed her bruised chin, feeling the sting settle on her skin. Alma rolled around, both of them catching a breather to compose themselves. Felix kept an eye on his friend, feeling uncertain about her chances. It was too soon to tell who had the advantage so far. 

"Not bad." Alma regarded her with a hint of pride. "And here I figured you were all talk." 

"As did I." Reta agreed, her smile stretching from ear to ear. "I hope this wasn't all you had to offer." 

"Far from it, that was a warm-up." Alma chuckled, stretching her back muscles. "You've stumbled away from your pack, wolf. Here you face a predator that thrives in the jungle. In these lands, you fall prey upon The Viper."