Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kaylyn smirks and starts walking again (brainfart, more later)

(Co post between Shade and myself)

((Placed later in the day, after Celeste, Hiroko and Jubei arrive, finding that Shadowsage had covered up the mess of the marriage successfully))

Celeste wandered the encampment, her eyes darting this way and that. Her violet and emerald robes covered her form, with her brown hair tied neatly back behind her face. Sighing, she couldn't believe all the drama that was going on in this area, and what she had been called on to do. No matter what, she couldn't belive she volunteered for this. Glancing up, she smiled, noticing two figures. One was her companion, Inigashi who flew straight to her shoulder. The other was her canine, a large dog she had dubbed Nari. The female canine was her ever present companion.
I can't believe you were stupid to volunteer for this...

"I know Inigashi..I know. But the leader has to show sometime..."

A series of shouts came from the training field, and a bright baritone voice laughing carried from over there, as a man with a long blue-black topknot offered a hand to a fallen comerade. All she saw was his back, clad in padded armor in colors of a mix of pastel yellows, silvers, and blues. The colors of the Wind clan. "Did your girlfriend catch your eye again, Cho?" : vein : "Michael, *HOW* many times do I have to say that joke got old a long time ago before you stop?" : big : "Only a few hundred more." A number of other warriors laughed along with Michael good-naturedly. He wound up in profile to Celeste, a greatsword, twice the size of a normal katana, casualy slung across his shoulders as he laughed.

Celeste chucked slightly, watching while the boys bounced off jokes back and forth. For her, that sort of thing was difficult, always expected to be the leader. However, watching someone with a happy go-lucky attitude cause her to smile. She stopped, watching. She herself longed to leap onto the training field, to try her luck against some of them herself. That sword that the one known as Michael used made her nod, appreciateing how hard it would be to use it.

He turned, and noticed her. With a good-natured shove, he sent someone else out in his place, as he headed in her direction. "Wait, please, Milady, I have not seen you around here before, and since I'm my clan;s only representative in the area, I have to meet everyone. Call me Michael." He bowed politely, amythyst eyes glittering.

Celeste turned her head up to the taller man as she smiled with a small bow, "I am Celeste of the Daishizen clan. Pleased to meet you!" Her own brown eyes glittered in amusement herself, "I just arrived here, so you are correct in that aspect, as I am my clan's only representative as well."

Michael of the Kaze clan. I've heard of you- abeit by rumor alone. Why don;t you stay and wach the practic for a little while? It helps to have a pretty face on the sidelines- it distracts SO MANY of them...." With a witty smile, he continued. "I won't be distracted unless I'm not fighting- I block out everyhting else- ask Alaric sometime. Come, there's a nice patch of soft grass waiting for a lady like you to kneel on." Like a knight-errant, he offered an arm, as if to escort her.

Celeste laughed out, clearly amused by someone like him, "I appreciate the attention you give me, Michael-san. I would love to sit and watch at least, however, what have you heard of me?" She grasped his arm with a small bow, falling into the play that he had presented as she was ready to follow, like a lady-in-waiting

"Like most rumors, it's blown out of proportion- I'v heard you'r lethal with a greatsword like mine- not that I'd call it impossible, just unlikely. It takes more bulk than the lean muscle most women around here have to iuse one." a wind psirit spun a quick circle around them, and seemed to smirk before darting back to the battlefield. it flicked Michael's ponytailover his shoulder and into his face. he brushed it irritatedly back behind his shoulder again, the long tail falling almost to his rear. His overacting the part of gentleman was obviously common, as the guys laughed and seemed to pkay along, treating Celeste like a great queen- then Michael got dragged out onto the field. "Hey! I'm entertaining!" "Yeah, but you need your training too! How else are you ever going to beat Alaric?"

Celeste resisted as hard as she could laughing at the great play that the others offered her. Smiling a bit, she greeted each as if they were the greatest vassals that anyone could ask for, her vallent knights as her eyes glittered in great amusement, "Oh, I don't think that rumor is too off. Maybe we could try sometime...? She smiled up at Michael as he got pulled out, watching from where she stood as her eyes followed the wind spirit. Her fire spirit sat upon her shoulder once again as she raised an eyebrow, wanting to see how this goes.

Michael laughed, and took a ready stance in a circle of five others- five of the better warriors- as they had been sparring with everyone else. an unseen cue sparked all six of them into action- a five-on-one. five-on-Michael. The wind-spirit darted around the field, then out to hover, seeming to observe Celeste for a bit, not acting hyper, but more calm......"

Celeste sat upon the ground, folding her legs under her. Her eyes were intent, rapidly reading the battle as she had been taught to all her life, her head switching. Despite the others around her telling her what was going on, she could see the different techniques and said that she was impressed, revealing enough that she knew what she was talking about. SHe no longer paid attention to the wind spirit, her own fire spirit off her shoulder once more, circiling around her and others in curious amazement. Her dog, Nari, was nowhere to be found.

Michael was doing surprisingly well, considering that the five he was fighting against when combined, working shickingly well as a team, had him outmatched..... and then he smiled, and the five backed off, giving him space. "Oh come on, is that all you;ve got?" the five others shared a look, and nodded in unison. Michael leaped..... "Xephyr!" The wind spirit flashed into the midst of the battle! and seemed to give Michael a bump midair, senidng him beyond the ring of his opponnents, when he lunged, it seemed to help him recover quicker, giving him physical pushes and shoves to make him faster. once again, he got surrpunded, but the wind spirit helped him pirouette in a blindingly fast whirlwind attack that sent all five sprawling. With a grin, he hefted his blade in vi offering several of his downed comrades a hand up before settling back into the seat he had claimed with a grin, eyes glittering. "Now go make it harder next time!" He laughed and flopped back, his blade stuch upright in the earth beside him. the wind spirit again drifted aimlessly around the fights.

Celeste's eyes widened, awed beyond compare. Even if they didn't realize it, that was a great spirit. No doubt about it, this Xephyr was definately had power, just as her Inigashi did. Blinking a bit, she smiled, not able to shake off the sense that another used spirits similar to the way she did. Of course, she doubted that without her armor's power she could jump that high, but then again, her companion wasn't a wind spirit either. Her eyes wide as of yet, she smiled, Inigashi sitting in her lap, clapping even as she didn't, thinking he was relatively safe from others seeing him. The battle just made her want to jump in with them.

Michael flopped down, and laughed again, his deeper baritone making the sound pleasant, instead of loud. "Some of them will never learn!"

Celeste smiled as she watched him, trying not to laugh herself. It was hard not to get into the way that this guy was so cheerful, and it didn't help that INigashi was jumping up and down on her shoulder. Celeste...did you see teh way that wind spirit helped him out? I can't do that.... "No...but you help me in your own ways."

Michael chuckled. "You know, people will think you're less than stable, talking to thin air like that." his tone was bemused, as the wind spirit whisped over near him and Celeste, again looking at her. Then it went nose-to-nose. who are you?

Celeste immediately stood up straight, looking over at Micheal. SHe had a kind of nervous look on her face combined with a smile, "Oh geez....did it again...."Celeste looked at the spirit, then smiled, "I'm Celeste. Pleased to meet you...this is Inigashi-" She then hung her head with a sigh, knowing she started up once more.

"So. You talk to thin air all the time? and it has names, hm?" His bemused smile had more knowledge than he was dmitting to as Xephyr began to mess with his topknot. "Ppppffhhhh!" He tried blowing it out of his face repeatedly before growling under his breath. Though incoherent, the wind spirit stopped messing with him and instead began messing wiht Inigashi. celeste, hm? can I call you cele? you're rather pretty, y'know? "....mutter mutter.... blasted wind....."

Celeste was by now, blushing by far. She had been caught twice responding to spirits, and apparently this guy couldn't see them, or so she was led to believe. The wind spirit began to make Inigashi mad, so as a result, she raised her hand to stall the fire spirit, glancing at Zephyr, "And thank you. You may..." SHe nodded, trying to be polite to teh spirit.

**good! now, ini-gaaaaassshhhi, you can;t catch me! Xephyr sped off with a neener neener neener. Michael stifled laughter. "I would just watch it before some of the others come back over. They always wonder how I can jump that high when it's five or six on one."

Celeste laughed a bit, looking up at Micheal, "So you were teasing me the entire time, weren't you?" Inigashi grumbled, then sped off after the little wind spirit, leaving Celeste with a tad bit of messed cloth on her shoulder. Looking up at him once more, she shook her head, "I understand how that goes. Don't worry, as long as you don't tell how I use Inigashi in battle, we should be fine."

"Just try to not talk to them so obviously. As it is, Alaric is one of the handful who can best me. Not including the insane enigma-child." HE muttered something about ryu and stared out at the field.

Ah man, I must be obvious..." Celeste sighed, then got up with a smile, "Well, I have them come up to me at random. See, I don't notice it, since it's normal amongst my clan." Celeste smiled, her eyes lighting up again. Her hand itched to pick up a weapon again

"It's highly irregular here- only a handful can even SEE them, let alone converse or toherwise. Just be a little more careful- and I eat my own words. XAPHYR QUIT SHOVING THE MEN!"

Celeste began laughing, a deeper note, raising a hand in the air, "Inigashi...come here. Xypher, come and talk to me please?" SHe smiled, asking nicely to the spirit who seemed to be causing trouble, "He does that often?"

Michael pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. "You have no idea." Xephyr teased Inigashi, then darted to Celeste. Cele! you like Michael, ne? He likes you too! Michael promptly looked at the spirit and sputtered. Her responded in a shockingly clean telepathic voice- well, spirit-talk. Xephyr! Manners! Propriety!::

Celeste merely chuckled, holding her hand up a bit as she watched him with a smile, "Well, I tahnk you for that. ANd yes, I like Michael very much. He seems to be a good guy, " She smiled at him, ever polite, showing that she understood a spirit like this, though not having caught the words he passed with Xephyr, "Would you sit with me for a bit, Xephyr?"

sure I will! what's your favorite color?Xephyr bounced in a circle around them, before settling down facing Celeste, right at eye level.

Celeste nearly went crossed eyed, having sat back down upong her legs, "What have I gotten myself into?" She smiled a quick glance at Michael, then looked back at Zephyr, "Purple of course..." Inigashi propped himself on her shoulder yet again, glaring daggers at the wind spirit.

purple is a good color. It's his favorite too. Xephur stuck his figureative tongue out at Inigashi.
Celeste followed the motion to Inigashi, "WHo? Inigashi's?"

noooo Michael's! He glared. ::Xephyr, I;'m warning you-:: what, you no likee that I think it's high time you had a REAL date? ::XEPHYR!::

Celeste couldn't help it, she began to smile, looking between the two, then blushed slightly. For some reason, it came easily to her at the moment, and Xephyr was really puching his limits today. Inigashi came to the rescue. Hey! Just caust Michael-san needs a date, doesnt' mean you need to set him up with Cele! Just cause I know she needs one too doesn't mean that I do it too her!! "Inigashi!" Celeste's eyes widened as she blushed even more.

::It is times like these......:: Michael silently grumbled.

Celeste merely nodded agreement, "Oh yea..."

::it;s times like theze..... Xephyr. Go bug someone else. Before I go Kaze clan on your tail.::

"Inigashi...." Celeste sighed, hanging her head a bit as she just shook it

Michael stood. "I'm gonna have to get in there again.... so, can you fight with a blade?"

Celeste nodded as she stood up, "Yes, I can. I admire the way you handled yours."

He gestures to a rack of assorted blades nearby. "Try any but the silver-scrollworked pair of scimitars. The scimmys are Shadowsage's, and she doesn;t like other people messing with them. That, and they're dangerous." He cricked his neck and shouldered his greatsword again.

She nodded, understanding as she walked over to them. She glanced at aech of them, searching for one of her own, "Hmm...I know they are dangerous..."

Reaching over, she grabbed one after another, testing the weight in her hand. Wondering why she let her group convnice her not to carry her own sword, she picked up a katana, then searched a bit more, "Are there any Shikusen here by chance? If not, tehn I can use sais. Similar enough..."AHA! Found these..." She pulled out a set of sais, feeling thier weight settle in her palm, "Close enough indeed. I'll have to use my sword another time in practice."

Michael laughed, eyes glittering as he lead the way into what had become a large melee. Keep up!

"I will!" She nodded, heading over to the battle area, removing the outter robe she wore, and tieing back the others against her so she wouldn't trip, now clad in the emerald of her cloth as she moved forward.

"Xephyr! Wind to my aid!" The wind spirit proceeded to abandon tormenting inigashi and floated around Michael.... and he glared at it. biggrin on't even go there.:: WHAT? all I said was- ::Need I call Shadowsage-san?::

Celeste began to laugh a bit, pulling her hair up behind her head in a top knot like pony-tail, "Inigashi! Fire to my side!" She cried out as the fire spirit rushed to her side, immediately ready to help his mistress out. SHe smiled at him with a nod, then turned to look at Michael and Xephyr, holding the weapons at her sides.

they were quickly surrpunded, and now that she was closer, she could see that it was Michael who was doing most of the work- the muscles in his arms rippling as he wielded the greatsword single-handedly, using his free hand to almost parry, slapping other blades away and down and otherwise off-target. He danced asidee from a double-blade whirling dirvish..... "Behind you!"

Quickly, she croached down, her leg snaking out in a kick to send a person flying as she bounced off that, slashing her sais before her in an X like fashion, knowing a few other blades away in that move. Never spending time in one place for too long, she kept moving quickly, hard to follow. WHere as his arms did alot of the work, her legs were the main criteria for her style, "RIGHT!" Whirling about, she blocked, then parried, never resting in her work, "Down low!"

suddenly, they were the last two standing, michael wiped his forehead on his sleeve and grinned pver his shoulder at Celeste. "not bad.

Celeste returned the look, smiling as she pumped her arm, "You as well..." She shook her hair out from behind her neck, beginning to stand up straighter

Hours go by....

Kaylyn watches the wind in the trees. The sound of footsteps comes out, revealing the new Wildcat beside her in subarmor.

"Sorry I'm late," Dani says, "the Wolfrider camps is on the other side of the river, but the other Wildcat isn't there. Anubis is flanking the other side looking around for Dannin. So far, all is quiet."

Kaylyn nodds, "Go join him. We'll send you a signal on when to get things moving."

Dani leaves and Kaylyn allows herself a smirk.

"Not sure where the others are," he turns to Alaric, "but the part should start pretty soon."

"Subs," Kaylyn says, "we don't want to attract their attention. Not yet anyway."

She smiles and kisses him on the forehead.

Kaylyn snapped her head around, looking at the stranger.

"Well, two Wildcat warriors by a Wolfrider camp, I'm not supprised," she said, "who sends you?"

Kaylyn nodds, "Well, you picked the wrong place, and walked right into a blood fued."

The girl chuckled as she walked aorund them, her voice lightly flowing with the wind, "I am who I am, a name what name do you need, my name, my father's name, my mother's name, my clan name." she moved gracefully and then smiled serenly.

"A blood feud is nothing big for me, where I am from, they happen quite often, and usually over such petty things, that it's hard to see one actually solving anything."

Then she stepped back and let herself be fully seen in her green kilt and tartan.
"I am JK of the clan McKeen"