Just Another Day

When the fighters of the first round had been seen after, they were gathered once more to the center to have the stones drawn to see who would be matched to whom. It was to be Gadon with Ryce and Aodhan with Grimm. The went to their respective rings and began.

"Are you sure you're alright to continue?" Gadon asked as he assumed a ready stance.

"So long as you don't bite," Ryce laughed.

"Of course not," Gadon said. "You may have first move."

Despite the numbing plants rubbed into his gashes, Ryce was still sore and moving gingerly, which made it even easier for Gadon to dodge and parry Ryce's attacks. He was at a bit of a dilemma in attacking his injured opponent. There weren't many places left on Ryce that hadn't been torn or badly bruised. His victory would be sure if he could figure out how to obtain it without causing the Fernwick excessive damage.

Gadon began to inch his way to the edge of the circle once again, calculating how to get him beyond bounds. A kick would not work like it did on Cary unless he wanted to make the gashes in Ryce's side tear much deeper. Gadon and Ryce swapped a few more blows before Gadon caught a strike, stepped in close with a foot beside Ryce's ankle that was bearing the brunt of his weight, and used his hip as a fulcrum to help sling Ryce to the ground as he knocked his foot out from under him.

Ryce hit the ground with a hard thud and was stunned for a moment as the shock went through his injuries. After a nod from the referree, Gadon stepped outside the circle and knelt beside his opponent.

"Are you alright, lad?"

"I'll live," Ryce groaned. Gadon extended a hand and helped hall Ryce to his feet.

"You fought well. Go rest," Gadon instructed. Ryce felt no desire to argue and left the field.