A time for greater things

Anann Kelevra · 08-13-2010, 10:06 AM

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http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/...valry_saber.jpg

Today was the day, finally at long last. It had felt like months had passed since Anann had first talked with Haven about sparring together though it was more a matter of weeks. It had been his then unhealed wounds that had caused them to delay. Anann knew she was eager for the opportunity it and Haven had seemed so as well. Even just the promise of such a day had been enough to put new vigor into her daily training. She had not reached her full potential and regrettably she had to admit she might not ever be as good as she once was. Simply there just wasn't the need or the ability for her to make the sword the center of her life. Not to mention the fact that she lacked the desire to do any such a thing. More than that there just wasn't nearly as many to train with here as there had been in Tosawi. The one thing she still missed about her old home, the training yard and its ability to always produce an opponent.

Anann had started to regret that they had decided to wait until evening. For the day seemed to drag on forever once she had finished her morning training. Finding herself compelled to pick up her hardwood blades and go a few rounds with punching bag she had made from leather and sand. Just to burn off the pent up energy that built up as she anxiously awaited for the sun to begin to fall. At one point even taking the time to sharpen her edged cavalry sword and giving both the blades a thin coat of oil.

Eventually she couldn't take it anymore and even though it was still a couple of hours before they were suppose to meet at the stables, she headed that way. She took both sets of swords with her, a set of steel and a one of wood. She doubted they would use the steel blades, but she could still show them off. There was definite pep to her step and her spirits were a little higher than normal. She had been looking forward to this day for some time now. As she waited Anann went through her stances with the hardwood blades, while Rem watched her intently. Giving a bit of a snort, the stallion came over, pushing her elbow to correct her stance before walking back to his spot in the shade.

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Haven Aatte · 08-13-2010, 10:50 PM

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I dun have a pic for Haven's sword, but just your standard, medieval style longsword :B 300+

Haven, too, had been eagerly awaiting this day. Finally he had someone to spar with. For a while he had wondered if such a time would ever come. Anann had come to Cour des Miracles though and answered his hopes. Unfortunately when they had met he had still been recovering from his fatal fight with the loner that had trespassed and attacked Princess. The wounds were all healed now though, no longer scabs but scars that ran across his muscled body. Thankfully though he had had plenty of things to occupy his mind in the interim, between the pack celebration and the birth of his new little brothers. There was the less pleasant matter also of Rio. It'd been about a month since he'd brought her here and he wasn't sure how exactly she was doing. Haven didn't know how to help her, aside from protecting her to make sure it didn't happen again.

He had spent the day and afternoon stretching out his muscles and practicing swinging his longsword. Despite the wounds being healed, there was a stiffness to his muscles that somewhat limited that flexibility and strength that he had had prior. With time he knew that he would return to normal, but the waiting in between was never an easy process. The Aatte worked slowly through his movements, learning exactly where and how his body would protest and then redoing the maneuver until things loosened back up to a degree. When he had done as much as he thought he could on his own without wearing himself down he checked the sky. There was still some time before their appointed meeting time, but heading to the stables early wouldn't hurt.

The Knight grabbed Vowkeeper and his pair of wooden longswords and made his way to the stables, wearing only his jeans. It was a warm day and he didn't want to get his jacket dirty during their practice. As he reached the large building he was surprised to find Anann already there, practicing some stances with her stallion Rem nearby. Smiling he walked over to where she stood. "Seems we were both anxious to get things started, eh?" he said, humor in his face.

Anann Kelevra · 08-30-2010, 05:08 PM

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;_; i sorries i a slowbutt<3

Her mind was calm and clear as she went through various stances and sequences of steps and swing, counters and jabs. Her eyes may as well have been closed, for the attention she gave the outside world. "The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at anytime, and teaching them in a way that they will be useful in all things" Silently she recited the words from the old, worn book she had read many times over. "Even when still, your mind is not still; even when hurried, your mind is not hurried."

The sounds of approach did not go unnoticed, an amber hued audit pulling towards footfalls. A smile tugged at the corners of the honey hued woman's maw, knowing full well who it was. She had expected he might come early as well. "It's been far too long." She said as she came out of her last stance. An amused grin split across her face, fully aware that he must feel the same. "I suppose since we are both here there is no point in waiting any longer. So, how shall we start?" She wasn't sure whether to stick with of her hardwood cavalry blades, or to take up one of the wooden longswords that Haven had brought with him. She hoped they wouldn't wear each other out too fast, so they would have to chance to experiment.

The would be sparring with the wooden blades so not to cause unnecessary injury to one another. Though, both had had brought the edged, steel blades that the ones of wood imitated. Not wanting to forget to show them to Haven all together, her face lite up as she recalled the blades she had leaned against a near by tree at the sight of Haven's own. "Oh but before we get started, I think we need to have a moment of show and tell!" She hurried over to grab her swords, offering them over to Haven for him to inspect if he wished. "One is slightly shorter and has a dull edge, I use it my off-hand, typically for blocking and such. Also on horseback. When your on top of charging horse you don't really need an edge to do damage."

Haven Aatte · 09-07-2010, 06:51 PM

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Is ok, I R kinda slow too D: <3 300+

He didn't have to wait for Anann to hear his words for her to turn and face him. Despite her concentration on her forms she had heard his approaching the stables and she looked at him with a smile on her face. "It has been, though I must admit time has flown by a little unnoticed for me." The Knight had been able to spar for some time now, but other things had kept popping up to distract his time and focus. "I've had some family matters to attend to, both good and ill." There was the joy of getting to know his new little brothers, and the painful affair of doing what little he could to help his half-sister Rio recover from the brutal rape that was committed by her own littermate. While she was his main concern, the name Harlowe was constantly in the back of his mind, an ever itching presence. "Yes, might as well get started," he said eagerly, stretching out his arms. "I have no preference really, so however you want to start will be fine with me." Haven had never gotten the chance to spar with anyone before, and honestly he wasn't sure how to start. He was more than willing to submit to the woman's expertise.

She got distracted to another thought at the sight of his sword sticking up behind him though, and went to grab her own blades. His own jades lit up at the thought of finally seeing the weapons that she had described to him on their first meeting. Haven hadn't been able to examine too many swords, especially not ones in working order, and was anxious to inspect Anann's duel swords. When they were offered up to his inspection he held the reverently, gaze appreciatively looking them over. He let out a low whistle before commenting, "They are beautiful weapons, so sleek, and well balanced also." After a moment or two more of inspection he carefully handed them back to her before drawing out his own sword. Laying the longsword flat across his palms he offered it to her. "This is Vowkeeper."

Anann Kelevra · 09-26-2010, 10:24 PM

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Time was an errie thing, sometimes it seemed to crawl by at a snail's

pace, much like this day had, and at other times it seemed to fly by,

gone before you knew it and it always seemed that those moments

were the happiest ones. Haven spoke of family matters and Anann

was sure she could guess at what the good might be, thought not the

ill. A broad grin across her maw as she thought back to the day that

she had taken Rem to Crimson Dreams to see the Lt. General's new

litter. "That right! Congratulations on your new three little

brother's, Big brother Haven!" Anann had grown a great respect

for the tawny woman, with her quiet ways and blue eyes that seemed

filled with knowledge and understanding of the world around her.

"Your mother is quite the woman."

Anann would not hand over her swords for the inspection of just

anyone. She felt there was no harm in letting her pack mate take a look at them, figuring he would appreciate it as well. "Thank you, they have served me quite well thus far." Putting them away and placing them aside, as Haven drew his own blade. Vowkeeper was a bit heftier than her own blades she noted as she carefully took it from his hands. While it had a foreign feel in her hands, it's weight still had a nice feel. "Finely crafted blade, has a good feel in the hands." Every well crafted blade had it's own beauty. She offered his sword back to him in the same manner as it had been offered to her.

Introductions, of sorts, over and swords of steel safely tucked away Anann grabbed up her wooden sabers, keeping one in had she stuck in the other in the ground were it would be easily accessible at any time. "Since we are both a bit on the rusty side I guess we will stick with what we know for now, though I'll stick with one blade for now." Though at some point she would be more than willing to wield one of the wooden swords Haven had brought with him, carved in the fashion of his Vowkeeper. Having little knowledge of the Knight's techniques or level of skill they would take things slow at first, letting each other learn the other's style. A wide grin on maw she took a defensive stance, sword held in her right hand. "Ready?"

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Haven Aatte · 10-10-2010, 07:32 PM

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It was a surprise to see a large grin spread across Anann's maw after he spoke. Even a bigger one to hear her congratulate him on his little brothers. How did she know? He didn't know if she and Princess had met, but that was really the only other person within the packlands that knew at this point. Then something from the other day clicked in his head. Alder was a shy boy, and yet had been totally unperturbed by Drogon. On the contrary, he had been fascinated by the stallion. His own smile returned and grew. "Why thank you! I didn't know you knew. It explains why Alder was so fascinated with Drogon the other day, though." His shy little brother must have gotten acquainted with Rem. "She is," he replied warmly. "I'm very lucky to have her." His biological parents had both turned out to be less than desirable. If it weren't for Anu, who knows where he'd be now.

The Knight knew it was a privilege to inspect another's weapons. There weren't many he had let inspect his own blade. He recognized it as a sign of trust and respect. "I can imagine they have." They were beautiful swords, and deadly without a doubt. Anann took Vowkeeper and knew that it was just as odd for her to handle his sword as it had been for him to handle her's. Their respective choices yielded very different techniques. "Thank you," he said as he took Vowkeeper back from her and set it back in its sheath.

Inspections over, he undid his true sword from his back and set it aside. Anann grabbed her wooden swords, and he nodded at her suggestions that they both stick in familiar territory today. "That sounds good to me." He wouldn't really know how to maneuver the smaller, light blades. Of course he could make a guess, but it was better that he use one of his own wooden swords. Taking up the hefty, carved wood, he saw his companion take on a defensive stance. At her word he nodded his head and adjusted his grip before coming at her, raising his wooden longsword over his head and bringing it down at her.

Anann Kelevra · 10-27-2010, 02:25 PM

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rofl and here I was planning like a 200 wc post...

Anann hoped to make visits to Crimson Dreams fairly often. Finding many good friends in the neighboring pack. Haven's mother and sister being among those she called friends. "Yeah, Rem and I went for a visit when they were still fairly young. Rem played with the boys til they fell fast asleep." The softer nature of the horse had been quite surprising to Haven's tawny mother and she supposed it was quite unique. "Two played tug with his mane, Alder pranced around pretending he was horse, trying his best to make whinny noises. It was too cute." At the time the visit had been all Rem's idea and Anann had just gotten dragged along. In the end she had been glad she had gone. Though it had left her with feeling of regret that she would likely never know what it was to have a family of her own.

Pleasantries and the introductions of their weapons over it was time to get down to business. She felt excitement and maybe a bit of nervousness. It had been a long time since she had faced a living opponent. It had even longer since she had sparred against someone who's fighting style she wasn't already familiar with. It was an even playing field though and she was sure they would both be holding back as they felt things out.

Anann always preferred to play the defensive. Choosing to block and counter rather than striking out at her opponent. Letting him come to her. The dagger strapped to her thigh would easily reveal that she was likely left handed to the observant. Yet she gripped the single sword in the right. When one is used to wielding two weapons at once it hardly matters in which hand she gripped one. The first blow was an easy block, as it was surely meant to be. Still Anann was surprised at the force of the blow, having slightly underestimated what would come from the heavier sword and its wielder. A broad grin setting across her maw as she countered, her lighter blade giving her a slight speed advantage.

Haven Aatte · 10-30-2010, 06:06 PM

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lol! I can transfer us into full sparring mode XD

Even though the Knight had never actually sparred with anyone, he had come to his own conclusions about how today would go. They were using their wooden blades to decrease any risk of serious injury, and since this wasn't an actual fight, they would both be holding back in their strength and skill a little while they felt one another out. Haven had no qualms or reservations about the fact that Anann was female. This wasn't about gender roles. They were both warriors and they both wanted to stay in shape and make themselves better. Plus, she was even taller than him.

She blocked his strike, as he had expected her to. Haven hadn't made any effort to be sneaky or deceptive in his attack. This was rudimentary exercise, after all. Still, he was instantly witness to the pros of her smaller, lighter weapon. She was able to counter his attack much more quickly than he would have been able to maneuver his longsword. Still, he was able to easily move his body out of the way and swing his sword down at the back of her calves.

Anann Kelevra · 11-07-2010, 11:30 PM

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OOC here!

It had been so long, but her body feel right back into the old routine. She relished the feeling of excitement that flooded over her body, through her limbs. The slight nervousness she had felt had faded, giving way to the adrenline. So he knew how to move his feet, she thought as he easily moved out of the of her countering blow and swinging down at her legs. Anann jumped away from the swing, putting some distance between them. Feeling the air move beneath her feet as his wooden blade passed by. "Not bad!"

"To be honest," she said as she rushed him with a backhanded slash. "I thought you'd hold back a little more." The words coming here and there as they exchanged blows. She wasn't complaining, not in the least. Something that smile on her face should easily give away. "So many males here seem to think I need to be handled delicately for some reason." Already their movements had started to find a rythme.

Haven Aatte · 11-10-2010, 07:10 PM

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The only fights Haven had been in were true fights, where life and limb were at stake. It was odd, to be doing this for practice and education with no malice or urgency behind the actions. He found his muscles tensing a little overmuch, and he had to tell his body to relax some. Their exchange of blows was not in earnest and did not hold the will to harm behind it. This would take some getting used to, but even if he wasn't familiar with it, he was enjoying it so far. Anann easily jumped out of the way of his swinging blade and moved back further, bringing more distance between them. From her face, he could tell that she was having a good time as well.

The golden woman rushed him and he met her slash with an audible "clack" as their wooden blades met. They continued to exchange blows with their weapons closely, and Haven grinned at her comments. "I learned from a young age that women can be just as powerful as men." His birth mother had been the leader of the pack, and there was nothing weak about his adopted mother either, as Anann surely knew. Their feet and arms moved fluidly and as their swords met again, Haven maneuvered his blade over and around her's, trying to made her grip falter and possibly disarm her.

Anann Kelevra · 11-17-2010, 01:02 AM

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Let me know if the last bit is confusing =x

Anann would not dare admit it to Haven, but the sparring match was as much as test of the knight as much as it was a simple practice between friends. She wanted to know just what kinda of skill he had with a blade. She had yet to be disappointed in what she found in the man. If he wasn't used to this sort of practice then he was obviously a quick learner. The loud clacks of their wooden blades filled the stable yard. It would be quite unlikely that any would mistake their practice for a fight, as both appeared to be having far to much fun. Even still there was that competitive edge.

Anann managed to find breath to spare for a soft chuckle at his words. "Good, then I won't have to teach you that lesson." Anann could guess were he learned such a thing, having met many of the important women in his life. Some might think it disrespectful for him not to hold back against the Countess. Anann was wiser than that and realized it was out of respect that he put forth the effort he did in their match.

As quick as the ochre male maneuvered his own blade, Anann dropped the tips over her own. Rising the hilt slightly she tried to hook the tip of his blade under her own, causing the blades to circle back to their prior. Turning the edge of her blade into his, she pressed forward. The gab between them closing and their blades taking all the pressure. A test of strength, who would push who?

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Haven Aatte · 11-23-2010, 03:19 PM

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We talked about this, but lemme know if you want anything changed X3 300+

While he wasn't viewing this so much as a test of her skill, he was incredibly interested to see how Anann handled herself and what kind of techniques and moves she liked to use. The Knight hadn't had the opportunity to even really view someone else use a sword, or any other kind of weapon for that matter, and he was interested to see and experience how someone else approached the practice. His only instruction had been that brief, one-time lesson with the Dahlian warrior after he had emerged from Blackmoor Castle with Vowkeeper. Aside from that, he had basically taught himself. It was fulfilling to finally be able to interact with someone else who had experience with weaponed combat.

Haven chuckled as his sparring partner stated that she wouldn't have to teach him the lesson about the strength of females. Silently he thought he would love to see someone try to take her on who had the opposite view of himself and underestimated her ability. Watching some egotistical male get put in his place by the golden femme would be endlessly entertaining, as far as he was concerned.

As expected, Anann was able to maneuver her sword in the exact right manner to counteract what he had tried to accomplish. Before there was any time to try anything else their blades were locked again and this time it was a test of pure, physical strength. The two warriors pushed against one another for some time, each doing a fair job of holding their ground. After a few moments of silent struggle, Haven quickly used one of his legs to knock Anann's out from under her. While he succeeded in this venture, the sudden loss of pressure from her side made him loose his own balance and he tumbled to the ground beside her. Jade eyes looked over to her before he burst out in loud laughter, amused at the way their first match had ended.

Anann Kelevra · 12-01-2010, 02:47 PM

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ditto

Anann grinned broadly, thoroughly enjoying the power struggle between the two swordsman. Each holding their ground as they they both struggled to gain ground on the other. It was impossible to say how long the struggle would have gone had without a clear victor, had it not been for the actions of the ochre knight. Dark brown eyes went wide as her balance vanished, having noted the sweeping leg of the Knight too late for her to react and save herself. Footing lost and the force of the other's blade still pressed against her own there was no where for the golden fem to go back backwards and to the ground. A blur of burnt orange following.

Each tossing the other a glance, they both burst into laughter. It had been a rather unexpected end. Certainly not one that Anann would have predicted, but it was just as well. Oh how she laughed, good and hard, straight from the belly. "A draw then? ", she said eventually, when the laughter died down enough to allow such a thing. Her tone still heavily coated in the amusement they had both found in the rather sudden ending to the match. Not that the result really even mattered in the least.

The match had been a good one and while it might not have been the longest, it had still taken alot of her. "I'm more out of practice than I thought.", she said as she climbed to her feet, taking the Knight's offered hand. A light chuckle still coming from her throat. She dusted herself off before picking up her wooden blade and walking over to pluck her second from the ground were still waited for her. She would be sore tomorrow. She could all ready feel the complaints of some of the lesser used muscles. "We should definitely do this again, sometime soon." She tossed a glance in his direction, doubted he would argue. There was hardly a substitute for a good, living, breathing sparring partner.

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Haven Aatte · 12-09-2010, 05:48 PM

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End!

It certainly was not the way he had pictured their first sparring match to end either, but it was horribly entertaining despite its unexpectedness. Haven laughed until he could feel tears in the corners of his eyes, his chuckling slowly dying down as he wiped the moisture from his green eyes. "It seems so," he responded just as lightly. It wouldn't have mattered to him any way the match would have ended, but he felt that this was a rather splendid way to end their first encounter: them both looking like a couple of fools.

His breath finally regained, he pushed himself back up to his feet, offering his hand down to help Anann up. "Well, I can't wait to see you when you're in shape then!" The Knight had found nothing particularly lacking in her performance, so if she was out of shape now he couldn't wait to see what their matches would turn out to be when they were both back up to par. Anann dusted herself off and moved to retrieve her other blade and Haven did the same, picking Vowkeeper up and slinging it over his back. "Most definitely. Hopefully we can make a regular practice of it. Then no one would ever dare to cross Cour des Miracles," he said with a wink. With the two of them defending the borders and working to keep each other fit, it would likely be the safest place in all of Nova Scotia.

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