[Training] trademark style

Noah walked along the winding coastal path leading to Rae’s Fingers. Even in early leafchange, the air was thick with the rich scent of salt and sun-baked foliage. There was a softness now, a gentling of the heat that marked the end of summer’s reign. The tropical sun still blazed above, though its light was more golden than fierce, casting a mellow glow over the palm trees and thick undergrowth that lined the trail, as night whispered its approach.  

The further Noah walked, the more he noticed subtle changes in the landscape. Bright green leaves showed hints of bronze, and some of the taller palms swayed lazily, their fronds catching the seasonal breeze that whispered through Torchline. Flowers that had flourished in the heat were now fading, replaced by hardier blooms in colors that matched the light of the season.

Hadama had given precise instructions of how to navigate to their meeting place for their well-loved and continued tradition of training together in Rae's Fingers, which Noah was thankful for. Otherwise, the demigod would be lost in these winding underwater tunnels -- and probably drowned, had Hadama not given also specific instructions about the time of the times.

the forsaken

Hadama occasionally patrolled Rae's Fingers, moving with the ease of the Attuned between the dry and wet portions. The tides were still high from Starfall's influence, but the uppermost sections of the tunnels still drained at low tide, allowing drylander access. There was a particular cavern that he had invited his friend to, where marine fungi clung to the walls, floor, and ceiling. Their fruiting bodies, extending on thin stalks from the low-growing sections of mycelium, glowed with a faint blue light, making the cavern appear covered in distant stars.

Or it would, once Hadama covered the lantern that currently hung from his hand as he waited on Noah's arrival. Water dripped from multiple points above, splashing into the puddles left by the retreating waves in an indication that this would be not a safe place to remain at high tide. In the meantime, the chiming sounds of the drips was unexpectedly musical. The sound of footsteps in lingering puddles in the tunnel outside, breaking the peace of the dripping symphony, alerted him to his friend's approach. The light from the Tidebreaker's lantern undoubtedly served as a beacon for the Forsaken as well. "Noah," he called out in greeting, lips curving up into a small, warm smile. "Welcome. I have a new challenge for us. No magic that could damage the cavern. And we will be fighting in the dark."

So saying, he dropped the shutters on the lantern, hiding its light from view and allowing their eyes to adjust to the faint glow of the 'stars' that grew around them, above and below and on all sides.

Despite the clear instructions, it did take Noah quite a bit of time to find the cavern that Hadama had detailed. As he neared and heard Hadama's voice, he added in his own greeting as well as "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Never knowing how their training spars were going to go, Noah had come prepared. His spear was on his back, strapped by leather and ready for wielding. He lifted a brow, though, when the king gave the parameters. 

He scanned the cave quickly and efficiently, noting what could be damaged -- tiny, clinging flora as well as the walls itself. Neither Noah nor Hadama had any time to be hindered by being caught in a cave in of the tunnel. No, not with the world in the state it was in. As Hadama mentioned the dark, Noah immediately half-shifted. His eyes and his ears took on the properties of his polar bear self, and he was ready. The lantern was drawn, and its candlelight snuffed out for now.

Noah rumbled out a small sound of awe as the cavern -- that he expected to be totally dark -- came to life with the luminescent glow of marine life. "Nice spot." Noah complimented of his friend, but it was truly a compliment to Rae for creating such beauty in such a place as this. Lowering his center of gravity a bit, Noah took the spear from its leather holder and prepared to defend himself, polar bear eyes and ears searching out Safrin's demigod.

the forsaken

"Not long," Hadama assured his old friend, appreciating Noah's courtesy. After all these years it could be said that they knew each other's moves by heart... which made it all the more interesting to test that old saying. And while the limits he placed on them might have simply been to increase the challenge of their spar, it was not without ulterior motives. There was no telling where they might need to fight the Family in the future, and if it was in a crowded city like Haulani or Snowcloak they would need to be able to fight effectively even without their strongest demigod powers. Damaging the cavern and its unique biota would be regrettable, but it was better than losing human or mer lives.

And perhaps it would not even come to that.

"Thank you," he rumbled in response to the compliment, amused and in full agreement.

But then Noah took his spear in hand and Hadama reached for his trident, emerald eyes unshifted but still able to see Noah's vague shape - a dark silhouette - that blocked out a section of 'stars' against the far wall. They weren't bright enough to provide functional illumination, but they were visible enough that their lack was noticeable, if one knew where to look. His hearing was similarly unchanged, but it was the sound of footsteps splashing through water that he was listening for, and the creak of leather. For the moment Vi's demigod was quiet and still, and the Tidebreaker allowed a small wave of humor wash through the Bond as they both stood and waited defensively.

He had the privilege of waiting as long as he wanted, however. The tide would start to flood the tunnels again eventually, and it would not do for Noah to be there when that happened. So Hadama, a courteous host, made the first move by jabbing smoothly towards the darkness of Noah's silhouette with his trident. His feet remained silently planted, but his speed was significantly greater than the last time they had sparred.

Readied with a lower center of gravity and half-shifted eyes, Noah let himself adjust to the dark as the wave of humor washed between them through the bond. He would have chuckled, had it not been an easy way to give away his near exact position to the king. Instead he smirked, unseen, in the darkness.

With polar bear eyes Noah was able to detect the movement. A thrust his way and Noah sidestepped, avoiding the tines by the slimmest margin. He took the body of his spear and attempted to smack the trident to the side, away from him, while turning. He lowered himself just slightly and aimed to knock his shoulder into Hadama and made the king stumble.

the forsaken

He might not have been able to see as clearly as Noah, but he knew that the other man had dodged when his trident continued smoothly forward without meeting the resistance of armor. Before he could react, the other demigod had knocked his weapon aside. He braced instinctively, anticipating a punch or a stab in return, but unable to see exactly what his opponent was doing. Instead Noah's whole shoulder struck him. Unable to react in time, Hadama did stumble, his stuttered steps splashing loudly in the glimmering cavern.

The first point went to Noah, but the Tidebreaker wasn't out of the fight yet. Shaking off the impact, he dragged a foot behind him to regain his balance and drew his trident back through his forehand. As he did so he spun the divine weapon around so the butt end moved in an arc towards the last place he had felt the Forsaken strike him. He aimed for where he thought the other man's knee should be in an attempt to cause Noah to lose his balance in return.

Noah felt the rush of satisfaction as his shoulder struck true, sending Hadama stumbling back through the water. The sharp splash echoed through the cavern, but Noah didn't let himself revel in the moment for long. His instincts screamed a warning as Hadama recovered, moving with the fluid grace of one accustomed to combat--even with his legs being still so new. Noah couldn't deny he was impressed with the once-mer's abilities and well-seen practice.

Though luck was not on the demigod's side today. He tried to avoid Hadama's attack. Even though he could see better with his polar bear's eyes, he could not see perfectly, and thus the once-mer's strike was true and firm. Noah sucked in a breath as the pain rippled down his shin. Gritting his teeth, Noah absorbed the shock and refused to falter, and his fingers tightened instinctively around his spear.

Noah twisted his body, sweeping his spear in a tight, arcing motion. The weapon sliced through the air, but rather than aim directly for Hadama, Noah struck at the haft of the Tidebreaker’s trident, aiming to deflect the weapon away and disrupt the Tidebreaker’s rhythm again.

the forsaken

It had been a full year since Hadama had been accepted by Safrin and filled with her light. Though he still spent a great deal of time in his Mer form, he had been using his legs nearly every day since his rebirth as a demigod. Although he was still mastering some of the finer points of balancing on one leg, he had been given an unfortunate number of opportunities to practice combat in his humanoid form. Noah was reaping the benefits of that training now - though the Tidebreaker's luck was also in play.

He felt as much as heard the meaty thwack of the shaft of his trident striking against his friend's leg. He would not feel as much satisfaction at the successful hit if Noah were not so strong, or if they were not so capable of healing each other afterwards. But Vi's demigod was an opponent he always learned something new from, and never underestimated.

As the spear came around Hadama heard the whistle of it. Rather than trying to avoid it - a race he had no confidence he could win - he shifted his grip so that when Noah struck his trident he used the momentum to spin the weapon around, moving smoothly with the inertia his opponent gave him and circling the polearm around in a swiftly flowing arc that curved up and over, gathering force for the attempt to bring the flat of the trident or its shaft into Noah's ribs. Or at least, where he thought the Forsaken's ribs were in the dark silhouette of the other man that blotted out the 'stars' behind him.

Hadama’s trident swung through the air, its thick shaft aimed straight for Noah’s ribs. There was no time for anything but instinct as Noah saw the strike coming, a blur of metal and intent. He twisted sharply, but the trident’s hilt still slammed into his side with a dull thud, sending a sharp spike of pain through his ribs. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let the impact rattle him. He had to keep a tight rein on his control, as every instinct within him since becoming Vi's demigod screamed for him to release a sharp magical attack in retribution.

With a grunt, Noah pushed through the sting, his fingers tightening on his spear. His reaction was swift, almost playful, despite the pain throbbing in his shin and now his side—he spun to the side, using the momentum to drive his spear upward in a quick, sharp motion. His target: to get the pointy end at the once-mer. With a quick shift of his weight, he darted forward, pushing closer to the Tidebreaker. Every movement was precise, his feet moving with a practiced fluidity that danced through the water as though they were one, adrenaline and focus and years of practice pushing through the smarting pain.

the forsaken

Luck was with him again as he felt his weapon strike true. The impact was unexpectedly solid and surprise almost made the Tidebreaker hesitate as he realized how well he had managed to score against his opponent. A lifetime of experience came to the forefront of his actions, however, instinct and the bone-deep memory of fights against underwater predators propelling him back into motion even as Noah melted away from his trident.

There was a sense of the spar shifting, turning more serious, and Hadama reacted accordingly as he exhaled and let his eyes close to hear the flow of the slowly rising water and the passage of something large and dangerous through it, however shallow it now was. It was less than a heartbeat, but the water was his domain and he let it move him to meet the incoming threat as he pivoted on the ball of one foot with an economy of motion usually reserved for his Mer-form. Hands slipped and spread wide on the trident's haft as he used it to block the incoming spear, knocking the weapon aside to pass harmlessly through the air as the Tidebreaker stepped forward to attempt to ram his shoulder into his friend's chest and knock him back.

Noah’s spear was knocked from its intended target, and even as Hadama came in for his own counter attack, all Noah could do was dodge. The pain throbbed in his limbs from Hadama’s previous strikes. Taking a risk, Noah lowered his body and rolled completely out of the way. Unfortunately for him, the ground was not as smooth and easy as Halovian snow, and he felt his skin scrape through his thin shirt better suited for Torchline’s climate. 

Hissing slightly, and wincing, Noah stood back up, but did not strike again.

The Forsaken knew that they didn’t have much time with the tide coming in the way it was. At least, Noah didn’t have that much time. Hadama could still live under water even as Safrin’s demigod. Noah, however, was subject to dwell on land. He had no aquatic shifts to even keep him safe for a short amount of time. ”Thank you for this.” Noah said with a lopsided grin, that only came into full view by Noah igniting his divine, healing dome.

Bright, brilliant light spread over both Hadama and Noah and throughout the cavern they briefly inhabited, making the bioluminescent flora pale in comparison as healing washed over the pair of demigods.

the forsaken

The roll was much noisier than Noah's previous steps and shifts of weight had been, and Hadama turned his head to follow his friend's movement through the subtly rising water. Though he could not see the wince he could hear the hiss of pain that accompanied the move and he held his own follow up. They could both take a great deal more damage than they had so far, but the Tidebreaker was disinclined to do more without better reason than they currently had. It had been a good test of their abilities, and proof of how well they could move in darkness - a likely hazard when facing something that called itself 'Void' - as well as keeping their attacks confined to their intended targets and reducing collateral damage. There was no reason to push things further today.

"You are welcome," Hadama began, and then as the dome washed over them both his own expression eased and Noah received a proper smile from the reserved man. "And thank you." He used the lingering light of his friend's magic to locate the lantern and raise the shutters that had not only blocked its light but protected it from the water. The candle flared cheerfully as fresh air reignited the embers on its wick, and even when demigodly power faded the simple, reassuring flame remained. "Halo, next time?" he offered, already beginning to lead the way back out. Though hopefully the next time they saw each other it would be for a more social reason.

~Fin