Okay, wow, this took a while to write.

Jheran faced his once-leader, broadsword ready, Tephro at his back. He found the fact that the silvery-black rabbit was his second comforting, which was more than a little odd, considering that he'd known Tephro for less than a year. In that time Tephro had showed unswerving loyalty to his few friends, a vicious bloodlust, considerable skill, and a ruthlessness that matched Jheran's, all traits that the older Bloodflame approved of. Now, facing Kachallion, he did not doubt if it would be enough - if he had his way, it wouldn't even be needed.
Kachallion's second was Syabarr, a Bloodflame of fifteen years, and their best fighter. She wasn't at all fond of Kachallion, and looked as though she'd rather be anywhere else than at Kachallion's back. Jheran didn't blame her. Except for their seconds, the Captain and challenger were alone.
The first move was Kachallion's, as challenged. The blue-green rabbit scowled at Jheran, who smirked back. Syabarr growled in exasperation.
"Will you guys get on with it? I've got better things to do than stand here all day watching you slaughter each other."
Tephro laughed, which made Kachallion scowl harder. Jheran merely watched.
It was not unexpected when Kachallion struck. The blue-green rabbit's saber was deflected by Jheran's broadsword, sending it harmlessly to the side as Jheran took a step to the left. His own attack was only a test against Kachallion's defenses, but the Captain slapped it down with far more force than was necessary. Jheran realized that the leader was more nervous - and angry - than he seemed.
Underestimation is the path to the grave.
Kachallion was concentrating on getting Jheran to leave an opening now; he beat Jheran's blade down and hit him with an attack that, had Jheran attempted to parry it, would have left him wide open on the left side. Instead, Jheran ducked under the attack and came up with a one-handed vertical slash; Kachallion leapt back barely in time to avoid being gutted, and retaliated with a vicious cut that came so close to beheading Jheran that the Bloodflame faltered.
Overconfidence is the road to destruction.
Kachallion pounced on Jheran's apparent hesitation with the speed of a striking snake. The turquoise-furred Bloodflame came in with a double cross-cut, courtesy of his lighter blade, and Jheran stepped back from it - and stumbled as Kachallion tripped him. He caught himself just as Kachallion's saber glanced off his left arm. Had he fallen, it would have killed him. As it was, his left arm burned, and blood stained Kachallion's saber.
Syabarr rose. "First blood! Jheran, do you yield?" At Jheran's derisive laugh, she turned to her Captain. "Kachallion, do you claim satisfaction?"
Kachallion's green eyes glittered coldly as he sneered at Jheran. "I do not."
Syabarr looked askance. "Kachallion -"
With a snarl, her Captain shoved her aside and slashed his saber down diagonally before bringing it up in a two-handed cut that surely would have impaled Jheran had he not already been moving. Slapping aside Kachallion's saber, he caught it between the spikes adorning his wristband and forced it away as he lashed out with a foot; Kachallion barely evaded the kick to his knee, but the one to his stomach surely had to hurt. Jheran followed up by twisting Kachallion's saber out of line, releasing it only to slam his spiked wristband into Kachallion's throat.
The Captain ducked, and two spikes caught at the corner of his eye, leaving bloody furrows in his fur. Jheran regretted the lack of distance between them; it would have been a perfect moment in which to end the fight - Kachallion was wide open. He tried to move back and found his feet entangeld - purposefully? - by Kachallion's. Already off-balanced, he fell, managing to avoid landing on his broadsword. He rolled quickly to his feet, but Kachallion struck him with the flat of his blade across the side of his head, and Jheran was driven back to his knees.
Tephro tensed. "No -"
Syabarr steppted forward. "Kachallion, do you claim satisfaction?"
"No," Kachallion gritted. Syabarr's eyes sparked.
"This is insanity! Killing Rambarath wil accomplish nothing -"
Kachallion hissed and turned on her. Startled, she backed down. Jheran fought his way to his feet, unnoticed by Kachallion. His eyes fixed on the Captain's outstretched saber.
Hesitation leads the way to defeat.
Kachallion turned back to his victim just as Jheran lunged, taking off the Bloodflame Captain's sword hand with one powerful stroke. Shock, agony and rage filled Kachallion's green eyes. Moving smoothly despite the ringing in his ears and the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm, Jheran brought his broadsword around in a sweeping circle and took Kachallion's head as well.
The ringing in his ears receded for a moment, and he stood for a moment, gazing down at what remained of the Captain.
"And the streets of downfall are paved with arrogance," he quoted softly. The words of Darath-Ka, first Captain of the Bloodflames, still echoed in his mind.
The pain in his left arm asserted itself rather suddenly, along with a multitude of hither-to unnoticed scrapes, slashes and bruises. The scarlet-streaked broadsword slipped from fingers slick with blood, clattering to the ground beside Kachallion's body. Disoriented and dizzy, Jheran shook his head, but that irritating ringing was not going away.
Syabarr watched him impassively, Tephro with concern. "Jher, you okay?"
"Yeah ... " Jheran turned away from Kachallion. 'He must've hit me harder than I thought."
"What, you thought he'd be gentle? Sword of Arendyne, Rambarath, he was out to kill you," Syabarr said acidly. Jheran smirked.
"So was I," he said. "Out to kill him, I mean."
"Well, Captain," she said, "You'd better pull yourself together before you fall on your face in front of everybody."
Jheran only laughed.