Elijah vs. Snowflower

"A new battle contest is about to begin! Snowflower, using a dagger and unstrung bow used as stave, will battle with Elijah, who will use a short sword, hunting knife, and long wooden staff. Make sure you read the rules. You have ten moves each. You may begin when ready."

Snowflower steps into the Battle Ring. Her bow already unstrung, she holds it out in a defensive position and draws her dagger in her left paw.
Crouching in a "ready" position, the mousemaid calls over to her opponent.
"Ready when you are, Elijah."

Elijah strides into the ring, surprisingly cheerful. He is hefting his staff across his broad shoulders. He smiles at Snowflower, then draws his sword with his right paw and holds his staff diagonally across his body in his left. His dagger is sheathed and hanging on his belt. He bends his knees slightly, placing his right foot behind his left. Cracking his neck, the badger nods at the smaller fieldmouse. He has decided that he will try not to harm her badly, but will by no means go easier on her.
"I'm ready, then."

Snowflower returns the smile, not wishing to be too serious with a Battle Contest, especially against a friend.
Nevertheless, the mousemaid eyes her opponent carefully, trying to pick out a weakness.
"Well, if you're so ready, why don't you take the first move?"

Elijah doesn't respond - at least not with words. With as much speed as he can muster with his heavy frame, he lunges forward into her space, slashing straight across Snowflower's middle with his sword - from his left to his right, in a backhand stroke. He is, of course, prepared to turn his blade so the flat of it hits her, if the attack gets through. Simultaneously he lifts his staff above his head and swings it straight down at the mouse's skull, not aiming to bash so much as distract.

Now that they are in something of a lock, Elijah's mind works quickly. He allows them to hold it for a second, bow against staff, then suddenly shifts, pulling his staff away as quickly as possible and sidestepping. He quickly sheathes his sword in the brief moment of disorientation, placing both hands on his staff.
The badger readies himself for the next attack, playing the defensive now but hoping to attack more fiercely later now that he had two paws to bring more power to his single weapon.

Snowflower stumbles a bit whe Elijah pulls away, but manages to remain on her footpaws. She imitates Elijah, quickly sheathing her dagger and putting both paws on her bow.
Since a mouse does not simply attack a badger who is sturdily on the defensive, Snowflower hangs back, assuming a defensive position as well.

Elijah takes advantage of this. He pulls his staff back so that his right paw is holding the back end of it above his head, and his left paw is grasping the front end at around shoulder height. In a quick lunge he sticks his let footpaw in between her footpaws and pulls forward, slamming her in the chest hard with his left shoulder, hoping to knock her off balance. He also pushes forward with his staff, letting his front paw slide a little back and poking her hard in the shoulder.

Snowflower, still panting to recover her breath from being winded, has no time to struggle to her feet before Elijah attacks again. She ducks slightly as the badger swings his staff as her, gasping as it hits her ear.
Placing both paws on one end of her bow, the mousemaid swings it toward Elijah's right paw, hoping to get him to release his staff.

Snowflower stands up, taking the hit to the chin, but not very hard, due to the fact that she was moving away from the staff when it hit. She crosses her dagger over her bow in a rough X, and takes a deep breath.
Suddenly, the mousemaid launches herself into a quick jump, trying to bring her bow and dagger into contact with Elijah's staff. She doesn't swing her weapons, nor does she jump very hard; she's merely using gravity to try to knock the staff out of the badger's paw.

Elijah's staff fits neatly in the X Snowflower's two weapons form. He pushes back, feeling her dagger make a shallow gash in his own wooden weapon.
He quickly releases pressure and sidesteps, receiving only a small nick in his tunic from his opponent's dagger. The badger holds his staff at the ready in case Snowflower is not prepared to stop, but he holds it up in a peaceful gesture and lowers his head slightly, though not his eyes.
"It was a good fight."

Snowflower lands on her footpaws hard after Elijah's block, but steadies herself, and assumes a defensive posture.
Suddenly realizing that they're out of time, the mousemaid relaxes, and laughes merrily.
"Aye, a good fight indeed," she replies, bowing her head repectfully toward the badger.