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The mission was over, but training continued. Training for no fight but the one in her head and heart; training to keep her cool in the face of losing so much, so soon. Brisa hit harder than usual, trying to sustain some kind of injury she could nurse instead of the thoughts in her head, but no...

Brisa nodded, and said nothing more, but for a tiny shimmering thread of Radiance that let her tell Truffle, you are loved; you are needed – don't forget. And with that, she gave Maple a dry smile and a dip of the head, and put her paw on Icetales' withers to steady herself as they left. Luz...

Brisa checks in with Owen for advice on her final Colosseum big-name matches. She's familiar by now with examples of the fighting styles in use by Diyem, Ho-oh, and Team Gyros, but more insight is always appreciated. Would an aggressive, no-guard offence prove more viable against the reigning...

The final moments of the fight were a mixture of sharply-rising panic, anger, and grim assurance that if there was a damn thing to be done, Starr would do it. Brisa couldn't take off at a run as intended with the crowd so agitated, but she could jump from seat cushion to railing and downwards...

Brisa sighed, relief pouring off her with a small shudder. Thank fuck for that. "Good man," she muttered. "Try not t'scare folks like that again, y'hear? There's still a good deal of good left fer you to do in yer life." She reached out a paw and placed it on his wing. "After all, you're a...

From the stands, Brisa and Luz watched with avid attention, and discussed the flow of the match in their private telepathic link. Naturally, they did not join in the whoops and cheers for Giovanni, but anyone could feel the energy in the stadium. As Astrid went down, Brisa grinned with...

"What of yer daughter?" asked Luz, earnestly. "She needs you." Brisa winced. "Y'should speak to a therapist, fella. They got good ones here. Real gold standard professionals. Just let... Let folks help you."

Brisa took some moments to come to terms with what Maple had said. Salt and sand and spite... It was too grim to countenance. Fucked up. Wrong. But how to get the old bird to think differently, when he was so lost in it...? The duty to live is greater'n the duty to die, said a familiar voice, a...

Brisa's face soured, and she averted it from Truffle to hide her expression. Luz filled the silence. "I think we're all interpretin' that correctly. Truffle... You shouldn't've accepted the challenge without makin' yer opponents aware of those terms. Yer own ideals may be what they may, but it...

"It matters t'me," pressed Brisa. "An' I'd rather hear it from you." She padded a little closer and sat on her haunches. "Tell me what the hell I saw out there, fella."

"The will of a warrior," Brisa repeated. "What does that mean, exactly? You talkin' 'bout havin' a battleheart, or somethin' else? You practically seemed..." Like Toffee, she thought. Though with a cheerful disposition and a defensive style, this was the second time she'd fought an insane bird...

"You gotta retire, man," said Brisa, her heart heavier than lead.

Brisa eyed Truffle, trying to see a path that ended with the old bird getting his head screwed on a bit more tightly, and not only a respected friend who she'd gravely wounded. "Did anyone confer that 'duty' on you, or didja determine it fer yerself?" she asked, levelly.

Brisa closed her eyes a moment, biting back the acid comment that had come to mind first. "I can't say I agree with all that, partner," she growled, softly. "It weren't an all-or-nothin' fight, it was a casual sportin' battle. Weren't appropriate fer you t'risk yer health like that." She felt...

Brisa tried to smile, though she couldn't help chewing her cheek. "No hard feelings, then? I keep thinkin' I shoulda trusted the stats screen an' quit attackin'. I..." Damnit, she'd been stupid. The Colo's instruments weren't always accurate, sure. It seemed like every other fight, someone got...

Brisa had spent the intervening time sitting in quiet anxiety with Luz and Icetales until they would be permitted visitation. She didn't text anyone. She didn't talk. She waited. Now that she saw him, immersed in reading and not at all d– ...Not how she'd expected, her heart calmed a little...

Brisa tried not to show alarm in front of the crowd. It wouldn't do. "Kyukon. Bow t'the crowd and calmly take yer leave. We're gonna go find Truffle in the Colo's infirmary. Y'got it?" Brisa padded over Leg, who was anxiously stitching together her disguise. Brisa extended a paw, not to shake...

Seven strikes. That's how many lightning flash-step blows she could deliver, at her current level of fatigue. Truffle still thought he could win, but if she fought for real, she could fucking kill him. Damn it, should she refuse to fight? Would he even stop fighting if she did? Truffle's eyes...

Brisa tensed up, a pit in her stomach. Beside her, Icetales still gave voice to eterna-empowered exhortations and encouragement, to which her body yet keenly responded. "C'mon, Truffle, give it up! I ain't fuckin' smack-talkin', cut it out already!" Maybe if she broke that disguise for good...

Hey, congratulations to you both! You're both a credit to the community, as I'm sure you'll continue to be.