[Training] spun in winding circles

Zavien

One moment she was standing before him, the next she was gone, his staff swinging through empty air. A small cloud of dirt was his only indicator that she'd slipped behind him. Eyes growing wide in fear, he made a move to step forward, planning to twist and defend against a raised attack. However, he didn't anticipate the low blow to his legs. 

As he pivoted, Melita made contact with his ankle, the wood hitting bone in a painful thwack that had him stumbling forward. Zavien pulled a hissing breath through his teeth while he slid his stinging leg behind him. Trying to keep his wits about him, he spun his staff in a sweeping block before sliding it across the ground.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Only giving herself a silent little tehe at the whack to the ankle, Melita was forced to back away, and quickly, to evade the next strike. She’d concede it was a worthy plan, just, you know, only in her head, considering she had to wander further and further out of range. It kept him out of her dangerous tethers for the moment. Granting a slight wrinkle to her nose to indicate any irritation and concession of the Dragoon’s plan, she mustered onward, rotating the staff through her grasp while she contemplated another step.

Striving to use speed in her favor, she whipped around again to his left, intending to get into a closer range and snap the staff at his hip.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

Zavien felt a small sense of accomplishment as Melita was forced to retreat. She was obviously extremely talented and any level of advantage was enough of a win for him. Although the pressure didn't last long as the redhead slid back into his guard. She was just so dang fast! Before he knew it, the wood was smacking against his hip with a burning sting. 

Out of instinct, his hip recoiled from the impact, offsetting his balance slightly. However, he wouldn't be thrown off that easily. Using his sideways momentum, Zavien threw a sideways strike at the woman, the strike angled high at her flank.

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Getting in close was becoming an issue, as once more, the wielding of his armament kept her from pushing inward and striking with far more tenacity. Leaping and bounding out of his extended reach still left an impression and ghostly trail of moving air very close to her frame; enough that she narrowed her eyes and contemplated (a rarity) a different maneuver.

Maybe she could just rush in? Or bat – oh right.

Rather than dance along the edges and try to fire away, the Honeybee motioned right towards the Dragoon’s hand – the staff in her grasp intending to bat at his armed and weaponized limb. Maybe he’d drop it. Maybe he’d intercept it. Maybe he’d pull something else off. Either way, she was game to attempt.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Zavien

He still hadn't landed a single hit on the speedy red blur. Even as his head tried to follow her, his brain couldn't compute the movements. Yet Zavien didn't feel any frustration. He was enjoying himself way too much. However, that also caused him to relax momentarily, which was a major lapse in judgement.

Her blow rapped against his knuckles with painful accuracy. "Ow! Shoot!" His staff clattered to the ground as his grasp faltered, and he had to shake his hand to dispel some of the pins and needles that radiated up his arm. With the movement, he felt the soreness in his body from his warmup, compounding with the diminishing ache in his ankle and sting of his hand. Zavien chuckled at the discomfort, splaying his hands before him in surrender, he tried to calm the racing of his breaths. "Okay. Okay. I yield." Giving Melita a large smile, he shook his head. "You're really good. I am flattered to have crossed staffs with you." His head dipped respectfully in thanks. Although he obviously had a lot of room for improvement, it was great to see that that he was able to hold his own against such a worthy adversary. "You're welcome to drop by for another sparring match any time."

I learned that in suffering,
we find the true measure of our strength.

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Melita hadn’t expected it to work – it’d been one of those chance opportunities of clear thought and machinations, and probably luck. She hid her snicker as she heard the staff clatter, spinning around to watch the Dragoon shake his hand. Pondering if he’d pick it up again, she waited, but the yielding, and further compliments, prospered a triumphant, proud, and somewhat haughty look on her face – difficult to peel away. “Thank you. You did well too.” Managed to go toe-to-toe with her on a few instances, which many others hadn’t accomplished.

She gave a respectful nod of her head back, when her jaw wasn’t launched into a seditious line, and offered a cheery little wave as she went to snag at her companions. The random trip to Stormbreak had been worth the efforts, apparently.

[FIN]

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life