129 The Crimson pit

The moon hung higher over the sky as it illuminated the deep pit that was dug into the grasslands near the Crimson guards tribe.

The pit was carved with their bare claws.. or hands, maybe hand claws anyway they and creates a large pit with smooth and compact sloping stairs. Along the stairs were wooden sticks with moss, fibre, and stones woven together to make a gaurd rail that they could hold on to when watching the fight.

At the bottom of the pit, a small indentation was made to show the outlines for the fighting ring. With stones all along the outline and another gaurd rail for those to watch up close.

All together, the pit could fir up to 100 Jackrixis, and considering the Crimson gaurd, where known for being large and tall, it was quite a space. Runes and symbols were carved all over the walls and floor of the pit as the tribe walked down the stairs with torches in hand, and they shouted and roared.

Some chose to do unique styles of dancing they made up on the spot while others in the tribe wanted to display their dominace. And then banged on their shield and chests while showing of their fangs and claws.

The children of the tribe were not allowed to partake in this as the adults, elders, and the chieftain. They believed they didn't have the right to see and compete in the pit until they got their first kill and bathed in its blood.

Once they all made it to the bottom, they each brought an animal or monster forward and sliced or ripped it open. Then, drained the blood into the pit until it reached a rixis

ankle as the Crimson fluid swayed and darkened with the blood of multiple types of prey.

The bones and skin of the dead prey would then be used for clothing or building material or even used to decoration in multiple ways. So once the space at the bottom was full around the ring and the rest stood next to the gaurd rails of the stairs, 2 rixis stepped into the blood filled ring.

On one side was a young male Jackrixis, and it was his first time in the pit after just a few days early, earning his first kill and bathed in its blood allowing him entrance to the pit. On the other side was a taller and stronger female who was a seasoned fighter in the pit.

Even as a strong and proud Crimson guard warrior who naturally held much pride, even he was nervous against his opponent. Not many things could put fear into a rixis, but one was another Jackrixis. Typically, it was more seasoned and older male or female, but in the future, their clans would come into consideration aswell.

Soon, the torches put on the wall, and the moon in the sky created waves of shadows that danced on the shoulders of the rixis. They all started to stomp their feet on the ground and created a deep hum in their throats as the fighters glared at each other.

In the fight, you were not allowed weapons, and it was frowned upon to use the claws on their hands and feet, this was a more bloody and extreme version of a spar. It was meant for other to test themselves and improve their skills.

So now they bother glare at each other as the young male fighter looked at his older opponent, who beat countless challenges. As she grinned at him and looked down as she could already invision her victory to come.

The stomping and hums stopped as the oldest and wisest elder raised his hands as he walked in between the two fighters.

"We stand here for another pit battle.. with the bloodless one and a blood taker"-Elder

He directed his hand towards the young male and older female by their pit titles, which for a first timers was a bloodless one while someone who had fought before was a blood taker.

The elder then began to talk about honour and the skills of the fighters while also talking about respect and kinship. Soon, however, he was finished and left the ring and allowed the match to begin.

"Begin!"-Elder

The young man charged at his enemy while she stood her ground, not moving an inch until their fist collided. The young man tried hitting her face and stomach, but she could always block them.

She slowly moved sideways until they had changed sides, and she would always move back, forcing the man to go forward, leaving himself open. Everyone watching could see that he was eager to prove himself and win while the older woman mostly defended while making sure that when she hit, she did it in the same place.

Soon after the young man dashed around the ring and his energy was low, the older woman threw a powerful right hook, which blasted her fist into his faves and knocked him out cold. She had made sure to only go for his body and legs with some quick low kicks.

This caused him to be low on energy and confident that he knew what she would do next, and this is where she struck and won. She roared out to the crowd, who were going wild while slamming her fist into her chest, and then picked up the young man from the blood pool.

He was dragged out, and they were both covered in blood from the splashes of their kicks and from running around the ring. She made sure not to try and knock him around and layer him down by at the tribes homes.

He soon woke up and was dazed as he looked around while his jaw throbbed in pain, and he realised he had lost, but after having a talk with his opponent, he quickly gave his respects and she did the same as they shared their insights in the fights so that he could become a better fighter.