'Move faster baby, don't be slow'

Hey guys!

Today I want to share something special! I am very happy to present to you this piece, done for Sylvar that has a story written to go along with it! I am really happy to illustrate stories from other creatives! And it's a delight to learn more about your worlds and stories. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such creative people. I love hearing about your ideas!

For anyone curious about the story, I kindly invite you to give it a read.

Story by Sylvar

Prologue 

Iskra rushed through the crimson tree crowns, hastily jumping from branch to branch. Darkness slowly crept into her mind bringing whispers of orders and commands with it. A pull like a leash around her neck almost made her fall out of the trees. It tried to yank her back to him. No. Why don't you just leave me alone!? She wanted to scream out. She had been ordered not to seek her out but that taboo was all the more alluring. The respite from his influence would not last for much longer. Concentrating, she tried to blend it all out, kept moving on. She knew what she wanted to do with her sliver of freedom.

She made out the outlines of the massive temple complex in the distance through the tree crowns. Built into the mountainside it stood tall and proud. A place where people go to train in the arts of warfare. Reaching the outer wall she glanced up. Sigh, this will be a long climb. Dreading to be discovered at an inopportune time she recited a small incantation within her mind. A magical veil manifested, conforming to her body, shrouding every aspect of her presence. Utilizing her feline claws she began to climb the walls and pillars. Large training grounds stretched out in the courtyard with groups of students training different motions with wooden weapons in hand. Iskra didn't give them much notice, too focused on her target. With agile and acrobatic leaps she swiftly ran across the rooftops. Like a ghost she wiggled her way through the halls bustling with trainees, through doorways, masterfully avoiding every guard on her way.

She reached the highest level faster than expected, perching on the highest rooftop. What beautiful scenery from up here. The vast forest stretching out before her, bordering on the nearby mountains. She took a moment to enjoy the warm summer evening, the beautiful rays of the sunset shined in between the crimson leaved trees. The cry of a hawk. She gazed up towards the bird, watching it circle up in the air in search of its next meal. Freedom…I wonder what it feels like to soar freely. Her gaze wandered down. There she was. Ashura. Peacefully meditating in the middle of the open air dojo in front of a shrine. The mightiest duelist these lands have seen in a long time, following into the footsteps of her old undefeated master. Iskra expected a well trained fighter but not this beast of a woman. Probably a head taller than herself and her body showed the years and years of experience. Iskra made out numerous scars in the brown fur along her well trained body, traced every little curve of her muscled female frame with her eyes. This is better than I imagined, she caught herself biting her bottom lip. You surely look impressive but do your skills live up to the stories? I wish to dance with you, Ashura. I will even put on a good show. Her heart pounded with excitement about what was to come.

A Playful Dance

Evening, the usual time for Ashura's meditation at the temple shrine. Peace. Quiet. Leaves rustling, the distant screech of a hawk. Unwinding after a long day she rested her body and mind. Sitting cross legged she basked in the pleasant sunlight, holding her sheathed odachi in her lap. Currents of the magical energy coursed through her body and blade in a harmonious cycle. A satisfying feeling, like a warm and gentle stream of water swirling in her very being.

A stream disturbed by an uneasiness. She couldn't shake the feeling of eyes upon her and her instincts were rarely wrong. Her hackles stood on end. Her grip on the sheath and handle tightened as her heart began to pound in her chest. She opened her eyes to find the veil of invisibility opening up like a lingerie robe, revealing a female figure. She confidently strode towards Ashura with a cocky smirk. A pair of crimson katana style blades held loosely in either hand. She knew what this meant.

“And here I was hoping for a calm evening,” Ashura sighed to herself as she got up to face the challenger, slowly unsheathing her own blade.

Flashes in the fading sunlight, the clash of metal on metal filled the air. The two felines intertwined in a deadly dance. Their tandem footwork stirred up the crimson leaves around them. An overwhelming barrage of sword strikes send Ashura onto her backfoot. Her training and feline reflexes barely held up against the lightning fast speed of the incoming attacks. Parrying one blade the second already swung in for another slash leaving her no other option but to dodge, no room for a counterattack. Surprised by the sheer speed she dashed backwards into the open space of the dojo, inviting her opponent to follow.

She narrowed her piercing golden eyes onto the woman, locking her gaze with fiery red ones, burning with a hot temper. She glanced down for a moment, getting a closer look at her assailant. A rather short yet ample female, clad in a simple dark red robe. Her outfit showed just enough to reveal the attractive curves of her plump thighs. Golden fur ran along them, speckled with brown leopard spots. Wide hips seductively swayed from side to side while she slowly took steps towards Ashura. Oh you are a hot sight, she shook her head. Fuck, distractions. “What's your name?” Ashura questioned with a calm tone.

The woman lunged forward at Ashura. She steeled herself again as muscle memory did its work. Feet wide apart in a stable stance, hands tightly wrapped around the handle of her long odachi. Blade held high, ready to parry. A spark of magic. The void of a black rift opened up in front of the figure mid lunge before disappearing into it. Ashura's ears perked up as reality itself tore open behind her. Her instincts took over her body. Duck. Razor sharp edges trimmed the fur of her eartips, missing their target by an inch. Two feet and the weight of a person stepped onto her back.

Time stood still for a split second. A purring voice whispered into her ear “You can call me Iskra, my dear.”

With a quick, elegant flip and spin in the air Iskra effortlessly jumped over Ashura and landed on her feet in a crouching position. Ashura stumbled back a few feet. She spun around, trying to follow the blur of unnaturally fast movements before her feet finally found purchase on the stone again. Too late. A flash went by her.

Curtains of red draped her sight. A warmth ran down her cheek as an iron scent filled her nostrils. Blood. Her blood. She hasn't smelled her own blood in a long time. Stinging pain followed shortly after. Iskra's blade tasted first blood as it had cut Ashura's face, over her left eye, down to her cheek.

„Move faster baby, don't be slow“, Iskra teased with a cocky smirk on her face.

A low growl of anger and fury formed in Ashura's throat, cracking her calm exterior. I haven't lost once in the last few years yet this girl proves troublesome!? No one else she has ever fought came close to her. Her lips formed a grin „I like you little one...you can put up a fight…and i could use a fun new rival” she panted. “This can't be everything the legendary Ashura has to offer,” Iskra smiled smugly, “Come on, show me more! After all, you have got a reputation to uphold.”

Both rushed in on one another with an immense speed. Blades clashing once again they continued their fluid dance. Ashura spun her large and heavy blade around for mighty slashes, putting the entire strength of her powerful frame behind them. Iskra danced all around her, dodging and countering with brash slashes and thrusts of her own, playfully testing Ashura's defenses. A quick twirl of Ashura's blade parried every attack. Iskra fainted a thrust, luring Ashura into a dodge. A clean slice from Iskra’s off hand edge cut through one of Ashura's top straps, leaving it loose and flappy, barely containing her breasts. The cool metal sliced along her fur and skin, leaving another bloody cut in its trail. Way too close to her neck for her liking. Both panted heavily, unable to take their eyes off one another. Their feet moving in tandem, mirroring each other perfectly as if they had trained together for years. Ashura caught glimpses of Iskra’s robe shifting with every bit of exertion, barely holding onto her shoulders it revealed more and more of her ample and bouncing cleavage, how is she even that quick with those? Ashura swung her blade in a wide arc, Iskra evaded, creating space for a moment of respite from their heated dance.

Ashura’s back pressed up against something solid. She glanced back, the wooden balustrade separating her from a deep fall. Too focused on Iskra she hadn't noticed how she was being pressured against the edge. No more room to retreat. Her arms were getting heavy, stamina slowly reaching its limits. She's toying with me. I need to end this quickly. She sheathed her blade at her left side, tightly holding the handle. Waiting for Iskra to attack again she counted on her overconfidence. Just one good opening. Deep inhale, long exhale, Ashura calmed her body and heart rate, channeling her inner strength. Her mind emptied, driving out all of the distraction she only focused on the movements of her opponent. Barely having a moment to focus, the blur of gold and red set out for another offense. Radiant energy manifested along her blade, hidden by the sheath. The gentle stream of magic now a tsunami within her. She stepped forth, the hand on her sheathe yanked it back to unsheathe it faster, performing a wide yet precise horizontal cut she focused her might onto this one swing. It was too late for Iskra to stop. Iskra's eyes widened in desperation. Her blade made contact. The scream of metal on metal, a golden flash as an earth shattering thunder echoed throughout the mountainside. Iskra had just managed to bring up both of her swords for a block. The force of the blow flung her over the stone, losing her grip on her swords as they clattered to the ground. She barely managed to stop the tumbling with her claws scraping over the ground, trying to get a hold. Iskra's vision went blurry, head swirling. Dazed and kneeling, she was left defenseless.

The sharp tip of Ashura's long blade, still sparkling with magic, tipped Iskra's chin up to face her. Her imposing frame stood tall before her kneeling opponent. “That should teach you not to toy around with me,” Ashura triumphed. With a low purr she chuckled, “I like your style of flirting. But tell me, who taught you to fight like that?” No answer came out of Iskra's mouth. Their gazes met once more, those fiery eyes confident as ever yet sparking with surprise. Like a charm laid upon her she lost herself in them.

Iskra's lips formed a cheeky smirk as she winked up at Ashura. Pressing her cheek against the cold and flat metal of the blade tip, ”Tsk, Ashura. Those red cheeks, dilated pupils, you like me.” Iskra teased, satisfied with Ashura's reaction. She flicked her fingers. A final spark of magic. Her weapons materialized back into her hands. A quick strike caught Ashura off guard, knocking her tip away from her throat. She jumped, gracefully flipping backwards she sailed through the air. Without a sound her feet landed and perched on the edge of the wooden balustrade of the shrine. The last rays of sunlight fell all around them as the night was slowly creeping in. Silence, just the leaves rustling in the warm breeze. They kept their eye contact, staring longingly. Quick steps from inside the temple approached the shrine in a hurry, pulling them out of their fixation. Seemingly a cue for Iskra to leave.

“We will keep playing another time” she purred and blew a kiss at Ashura, “See you around,” before falling backwards, retreating and disappearing into the foliage below.

Ashura did not react in time or maybe she didn't want to? She lowered her blade, holding it slack with one hand.

Alone again she was left with conflicting thoughts and feelings about her opponent. Cant believe i let her get into my head. Every muscle hurt with soreness, movements slow with heavy limbs yet she couldn't shake the hot and tingly sensations Iskra made her feel. Her body yearned for Iskra. Reaching up with her hand she felt the cut on her face. Skin and fur wet and stained by her own blood, dripping from her chin it left specks of crimson on the warm stone underneath her feet. She for sure left a mark to remember her by. A small smirk grew on her face. Just wait till I get my hands on you…Iskra.