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 Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:17 am
He nodded, watching her carefully. Why did she turn her spear around? Weren't you only supposed to use the sharp end? He leered to his side and moved towards her back to evade her, holding his hammer out to cover his stomach and chest. The end of her spear could be used for quick jabs, he guessed, and any area that was particularly sensitive could be easily targeted.
While he moved, he made sure to keep an eye out for anything that might get in his way, or even help him out. When nothing came into sight, he raised his hammer towards the back of the spear and swung. Maybe if he hit the opposite side it would put her off balance...?
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:26 am
Yansa blocked, feeling the weight of the hammer reverberate up her spear and her arm. She moved back, keeping the space open as she regained her balance. She could feel the tingle of the hammer, still. If he had struck harder, she might have had to find herself a new spear.
She used her advantage of reach, feinting at his head with the head of the spear before rushing in, sweeping with the blunt end to try and trip him.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:31 am
Yaholo leered outwards as she went for his head, but soon realized his error, and leaped up into the air to avoid getting tripped. He landed a few feet away and quickly went back in for a counter, feinting another hit to the spear, before swinging for her legs.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:36 am
Huh. This kid had good moves.
She dodged easily, a smoothly graceful piece of footwork that brought her behind him. She attempted a trip again, flipping it over so that, by the end of the maneuver, she would have the sharp part spear pointing right at him. It was time to end this assessment.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 11:48 am
Yaholo whipped himself around and immediately held the hammer out to block the spear tip from touching him. He shuffled back a foot and feinted to her side, before swinging for the stick part of the spear, hoping to cause some shock to it.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:06 pm
Yansa noticed his trajectory, but she did not move, not until the last second.
Suddenly, the spear was there standing alone as she released it, ducking up and under his striking arm to uppercut him and try to knock him down. His hammer sent the spear clattering away, but she was fast, very fast.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:23 pm
"Ah!" He squeaked, lowering his arm as fast as he could. However, his best efforts were futile, and she landed a good hit to his side. He stumbled, but managed to retain his balance, and take his proper stance again. Green orbs stared, somewhat laced with shock, and narrowed. Hm, so he could use his own fists, too. Well, if that's what she wanted him to do, he'd try his best.
He rushed forward, swinging the hammer as he moved, and went to drop it. However, as he did, his own body slipped forward and the weight of the hammer sent him dragging across the ground a few feet. "Shiiiiiiiiiiit!" He cried, clamoring to his feet. Oh, he shouldn't have stood up so fast, his head with still recovering from the trauma it took in the battle a week ago! Now he was dizzy! Great move!
He leaned down to pick up his hammer and move forward, holding his head. He approached Yansa and bowed, heaving a sigh.
"I apologize for that, I should know that I'm incapable of flight." He chuckled. "Should we continue from before I flung myself through the trees?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:37 pm
Yansa picked up her spear and stood, her posture relaxed as she watched him.
She had been trying to stay professional, but she couldn't help it. She laughed. That had actually been fun.
"No, I've seen all I need to. Sit with me for a moment."
She sat on a rock a ways away from where his mother sat, quite possibly beaming. They could talk here and, if necessary, in private. She had a few questions to ask.
"Lets talk. Yaholo." she said, resting her spear on the rock and patting a reasonably flat part nearby.
"Tell me what you did wrong just there" She smiled encouragingly, though her eyes were sharp and searching, "In your own words"
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:48 pm
Yaholo did as he was told and sat with Yansa, eager to hear what she had to say. However, he tilted his head and blinked when she spoke, and tapped his chin. She wanted to know what he thought of how stupid he was? Uh, woman, you'd have to listen to a novel if you really had the time, but he was pretty sure that she didn't have time for that. He tapped his hammer idly and rocked, before speaking.
"I was too eager, I should have taken a breath and refocused." He said, nodding. "Oh, and I forgot to let go of the weapon and actually sent myself flying with it. Not a very practical way to fight, if I can say so myself." He chuckled, at least he could laugh at himself! Not many people could!
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:05 pm
"No. Not at all." she agreed, "Awareness is important to a warrior- of self and surroundings. Many a Sister has fallen because of those same mistakes" She smiled, "...which can be fixed by training."
She looked him over once more, then nodded to herself.
"Tell me, Yaholo. You are between two worlds. I hear you live in the Tale, yet I also hear that, many days, you travel all the way to Andile. That is a long trek to make often, and you go back the same day." So some of the Alkidikes in the settlement told her, anyway.
"Why take such trouble to travel? Why not stay one place or the other?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:17 pm
Yansa's question about his travelling made his heart sink. Why did he travel? What sort of question was that? She had to be kidding! He peered at her with a slightly odd look and heaved a sigh, best explain his entire life in short detail. She didn't understand the importance, because she never had to go through what he had to go through.
"I travel because I have to loving families that need my presence." He said, heaving another long sigh. "My father and my mother are as equal in my eyes as I am in theirs. I was wanted by both, m'am. You have no idea what sort of pain my father went through when Luljeta did not return with me, he was crushed!" He paused to gather himself before continuing. "If I leave one side for the other, I not only cause myself emotional and spiritual pain, but I bring the same harm upon the side I have left behind." Tears formed in his eyes. "And that is something that I refuse to bring upon any soul that I love. Please, you have to understand that I cannot bring the sickness of an empty space upon another person!"
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:53 am
Yansa listened, her posture serious, her eyes unreadable.
"I see." she said, after a moment of silence, "Then the choice is so hard that there truly is no choice."
She stood up and stretched before inspecting the head of her spear.
"Someday, you may have no other option but to make that choice. Someday, you may not be able to look back." she idly tested the spear's sharpness with her thumb, "One day, there may truly be sides, possibly in a battle, and you will have to pick which side you stand on, and who you strike down."
She let that sink in before turning back to Yaholo with an almost kind smile.
"... but today is not that day. Stand up and come here." she said, moving back to where his mother would easily see.
She clapped to get their attention before taking her thumb- which she had stealthily cut a little tiny bit on her spearhead- and marking Yaholo's forehead with a lotus mark.
"Yaholo. You have shown energy, ability, loyalty, love, and a willingness to learn. Because of this, I give you the mark of the lotus. I cannot name you a blade, but you'll make a fine guard. Continue to be a Guardian of your kin and your heart."
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