Four days had passed already and Jasper was having no luck. He didn't see Nadia anywhere. He was beginning to loose hope, but he had gotten a few pointers from the elderly stallion whom was lending him his living space. He learned a few valuable tips, if he wanted Nadia to be his, he would have to impress her. And the best way to go about doing that was to prove you were exceptionally strong.

And there were a few ways to go about doing that. The first of which he would try would be finding a strong opponent and beating them in combat. And he discovered that a fellow named Dune was one of the best fighters in Wavebreak. As it just so happened, Dune was the one that Jasper 'rescued' Nadia from during the celebration in Firelight Outpost. A strong warrior, but not too terribly intelligent.

As it happened, on the fifth day, Jasper did see Nadia again. She was out above the water, harpooning fish. Just as beautiful and majestic as she had ever looked. And he had actively sought out Dune soon afterwards, challenging him to a match by the water. He picked out a spot where she would definitely notice the fight. Nothing personal against Dune, but he had something to prove. And it would be good to befriend such a strong kirin through combat in any case.

"I hope you are ready for defeat." Dune taunted. Word had spread about Dune's challenger and a small posse had already followed the black stallion to the beachfront.

Jasper smirked at Dune. "I think I will surprise you." He said. "I have someone I'm trying to impress."

"Oh really? Then this will be an interesting bout."

The fight started out slow, Jasper moving out of the way of Dune's attacks at first and getting in a few hits of his own. But unlike any old world fight, this one would last far past simple bruises. After about two minutes, first blood was drawn. Jasper had taken a nasty claw to his hind leg, but he got in his own few claws for hits as well. After five minutes had passed, there was a fair amount more blood soaking into the sand.

Seven minutes and Dune was finally starting to look like he was ready to give up. He had already looked like he had bitten off more than he could chew with Jasper. "Give up yet?" Jasper asked with a heavy breath.

"Never." Dune replied with a smirk.

Jasper smiled. "Good." A few more minutes pass and between the blood and the few scales that littered the sand, that part of the beach was beginning to become unrecognizable. At least the crowd was loving it. Between their best fighter and Jasper, the fight was more than enough entertainment. And Jasper was really making a name for himself here.

All he needed to do now was--.

Everything goes dark. All is quiet now. Is he dead? No, he begins hearing a voice. ".... up... -ke up..." What are they trying to tell him? "Come on now, wake up." Jasper opens his eyes and sees the sky, clouds soaring high above beneath The Mother's warm sun. Another stallion comes into focus, blue of scale and black of mane. "Are you alright?" He asks.

"Did I win?" Jasper asks in return.

"Aaahhhh... No. You did not."

Suddenly the sting of his injuries hurt much more along with a side of defeat. He notices another plugging his open wounds with cloth to stop bleeding to keep him alive. "Good display, though." The stallion said. "You gave Dune a run for his honor. No one yet has lasted that long against him."

Jasper rolled his eyes and swore he saw a white blur just a few more feet away. Right before he lost consciousness again. Next Chapter: Salt Weed Estimated time remaining: 15 Minutes