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 Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:35 am
 The time with Ironforge had gone by quickly. Really Kale was surprised at how many months had gone by since he first came across the shaggy stallion and through great persistence had convinced Ironforge to train him in the ways of being a knight. The beginning had been a bit rough, but nothing that deterred him from his goals, and now he would say they had a solid foundation going. Ironforge still had other things to deal with at times, mainly his work with the herd, but Kale respected that and took that free time to hone his skills elsewhere. Sometimes the best experiences and training weren't found in the training ring but out there. Today however was all about training, Ironforge had asked him to come here early and early Kale was.
The rainbow stallion had arrived well before he was needed. He always tended to try to get to places ahead of time, to scope the lay of the land out before Ironforge set him through the paces. He wasn't sure what the days plans were, Ironforge had left the details vague, he had simply said be here early and be ready. Well Kale was here and even without knowing what he was going to be doing today, he assumed he was ready but didn't let that distract him. Standing in the designated clearing, relaxed but alert, Kale waited for the arrival of his mentor. Certainly Ironforge was out there already lurking in the trees but Kale made no effort to look for his mentor, he would show himself when he was ready for it.
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:07 am
 Ironforge was indeed lurking out in the trees when Kale arrived - as was normal for the rainbow stallion he had arrived not only on time but early - it was a trait of his student that Ironforge greatly respected...mostly because he hated being kept waiting. Besides every student should respect their teacher enough to arrive at the very least on time when requested.
Once in a great while Kale even arrived to the area before he himself did - although Ironforge rarely told the stallion that, best to let him think he was always out here watching. But today the shaggy stallion had something else in mind for the lesson and had arrived extra early in order to make sure he beat the rainbow stallion to the area for real. Silently the shaggy steed crept through the woods, watching with slightly narrowed eyes as Kale waited in the meadow. He had looped around so that his approach would be from behind but Ironforge did not expect the rainbow stallion to be taken completely by surprise - he had trained him far to well for that sort of thing.
Still it was important to make sure once in a while and keep Kale on his toes. So today he lurked as close to the tree line as he could without being seen before leaping out at full speed and racing towards his student. Unlike many stallions Ironforge did not utter a battle cry as he ran forward - that just tipped your opponent off - but attacked in silence, skidding to a halt and lashing out with his fore hooves at the rainbow stallion with the intention of gouging deep furrows in the stallions hide if he hadn't been paying attention.
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:19 am
Kale stood waiting and listening. His ears swiveling constantly picking up all the sounds around him. A couple birds chirped in the trees above, a squirrel chittered while looking for acorns. He could also hear Soquili in the distance, too far to hear what they were saying but he could make out voices. Of course he knew these sounds could distract him from more important ones, so he filtered them out, still hearing them but not giving them his full attention. He needed to be alert for other things, the sounds of nature would almost always be there and Ironforge had taught him a long time ago to listen yet ignore for the benefit of hearing things that might otherwise be drown out by them.
And so he listened. It was by ignoring the sounds of nature that he heard the approach of hooves. They were soft yet approaching fast. Kale spun around to see Ironforge sliding to a halt. His mentor then kicked out with him hooves. Kale would have been struck full on had he not turned around. Instead he was able to rear up in time to block most of the blow with his legs before lashing out with his own attack. He said nothing, his concentration needed to be on the fight. He knew Ironforge wasn't truly attacking him, there was no hatred in the stallions eyes. No, this was a duel, friendly yet injuries could still happen if he didn't keep his head in the game. It had been a while since he had done any fighting or dueling, so he kept his mind clear but focused on the fight before him. He could not afford to fail now, not after so many years. His kick was directed at Ironforges chest, the shaggy stallions coat would protect him should the blow land but it was at the moment the most vulnerable spot to attack.
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:45 am
As he had expected the rainbow stallion was not caught off guard and turned to defend himself from the attack Ironforge had launched. His timing was good and the Rainbow stallion was not only able to avoid much of his blow but strike out with his own attack as well. Twisting sideways ever so slightly Ironforge allowed the other stallions hooves to swish through the shaggy pelt of his chest while dropped to the ground once more, dancing side ways to snap the the rainbow stallions side with bared teeth. It was not a harsh or vicious strike as it might have been in a true battle - not meant to rake a painful wound in the other stallion but it would certainly still pinch if he managed to land it.
there had been a time when Kale had been slow enough that Ironforge would have been sure of landing his strike but the rainbow stallion had applied himself to his training and had grown swift and sure of his motions in battle. It was a point of pride for Ironforge - for while much of being a Knight was diplomacy and peace there was also the need to fight for what was right and when those situations occurred Ironforge wished for his students to be the very best that they could be.
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:27 am
With his head in the right place and focused Kale nearly hit the mark with his strike towards his mentor. His hooves had brushed through the fluffy chest hair of Ironforge. Certainly close to hitting the mark but indeed a miss. Misses didn't matter so much in mock fights. There was no point in proving how hard you could hit, especially against ones mentor, because then injuries would keep both participants from doing what was needed in the future until the wounds had healed. This was more showing an aptitude for fighting, knowing how to defend and attack without landing crushing blows. Had this been the real deal then likely both would be bloodied by now and one may not walk away in the end.
Being on the very large side Kale had trained hard to move fast and efficiently. Yet often times his bulky frame didn't move as fast as he hoped for. This was one of those times. Though he twisted to avoid Ironforges bite, his bulk was too slow and the pinch of teeth on his side made him refocus on his efforts. The bite didn't hurt all that much though certainly he would be a few hairs short on that spot for a little while. With his momentum still spinning him away from his mentor Kale planted his front hooves and kicked out with his back feet. The strike aimed for Ironforges shoulder and neck. He made sure not to put his full force into the kick but enough that should it land his mentor would be pushed back a bit giving Kale time to move into a better position before Ironforge would be ready to strike again.
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:49 pm
Kale weight seemed to play havoc with his plans to dodge - something that was sometimes an issue for the larger horse - thankfully however if this was a real fight that extra weight would make up for it with the sheer force of a blow the other stallion was capable of delivering. None the less in this instance it worked again the large stallion and Ironforge was able to deliver a blow - though it was likely it really registered as anything but a reminder to pay more attention.
And the rainbow stallion was good enough to turn what had been at first an evasion into another attack, using the momentum of his spin to lash out with his back legs. Ironforge did not have time to doge the blow entirely and instead reared upwards slightly to take the force out of the strike twisting so that it landed on his more protected shoulder area rather then the chest which might have knocked the breath out of him had this been a real fight. Before Kale had the chance to pull his legs back from such a strike Ironforge took the opportunity presented to snap that the other stallions hocks - a strike which if delivered in the proper place might just cripple an opponent in a real fight should it land. Of course this was not a real fight and merely a mock one and so neither stallion was in any real danger.
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Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:11 am
Feeling his hooves connect with his mentors shoulder brought the slightest bit of satisfaction to Kale. Not that he wanted to hurt Ironforge, no he would never want that, but it did show that all these months of training had pair off and that the shaggy stallion hadn't wasted his time. Oh there was still more to learn and do, really training was never ever done even after a student left their master's shadow and took off on their own, but Kale had accepted that a long time ago. There would always be room for improvement, always new situations and encounters to deal with and overcome. That is what made the life of a knight so appealing.
Pressure on his hocks made Kale realize while his move had landed the intended blow it had also left him open. Sometimes you had to put yourself in the way of an attack in order to make some ground. The bite wasn't too hard, he would probably have a bruise but it certainly wouldn't make him lame. In that moment that his leg was caught between Ironforge's teeth Kale quickly readjusted his front hooves to better bear his heavy weight and kicked with his free back leg aiming for Ironforges neck. The stallion would have to set him free if he didn't want to have his neck kicked in by Kale's large hoof. Kale then tossed his head, starting to spin his bulky body back around so that in a moment he would once again be facing his mentor. There was only so much one could do to defend and attack while your opponent was behind you.
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Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:33 am
The moment Ironforge saw Kale's free hoof lashing out towards his neck the shagged stallion released his student and skittered backwards a few steps to give himself some more room to maneuver. Kale's lashing hind leg flashed by harmlessly in front of him and then the rainbow stallion was spinning to face him once more.
Settling himself back in a defensive position Ironforge decided he would let the Rainbow stallion press the attack now, it was important to know how to both defend yourself and initiate an attack against a wary opponent in a battle and while Kale had proven that he was capable of mounting a fine defense Ironforge now wanted to see how well he could find and exploit a weakness in another. To further test this theory he took just a little bit of his weight off a hing leg, not enough that it was readily noticeable to those who weren't looking but enough to that it might seem as though he was favoring it to someone - like Kale - who was trained to look for such things. Now he just had to wait and see if the stallion took advantage of this apparent weakness in the fight.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:38 am
With Ironforge taking up a defensive position Kale was able to fully get himself facing his mentor before mounting an attack. So far the fight had been going well, each had gotten a few blows in but none of them injury causing - and they shouldn't be as this was only a mock battle. Any true injury caused during this would be sheer accident. In a second before he moved Kale's eyes quickly looked over Ironforge. The stallion looked to be in fine shape still...except there was a slight favoring of his one hind leg. He did not acknowledge this with a look or a word, though admittedly he did want to say something to the effect of 'Oh come on I didn't kick you that hard' but he wanted to keep his full focus and while throwing mocking words and threats in true battle were quite common this was simply training.
With a snort Kale moved forward. At first he aimed for Ironforge head on, but then as he got closer he shifted his weight, turning slightly so that he was coming up on the side opposite Ironforge's injured leg. His hope was in doing so to force his mentor to put a good chunk of his weight on the leg which, if it was truly sore or injured, would likely unbalance the shaggy stallion. To make sure his weight was pushed to his hind end Kale snapped his teeth at his mentors neck and chest. If Ironforge wanted to get away he would need to move back and place weight on that leg of his.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:58 am
At first Ironforge wasn't entirely sure that Kale had noticed his ruse as the stallion was coming at him head on a tactic which would not take advantage of the injury he was displaying and for that brief moment Ironforge found himself somewhat disappointed in the rainbow stallion. But that passed quickly as he discovered the stallions true intentions and Kale swerved to the side - not attacking the injury directly as many were apt to do but certainly seeking to take advantage of it...and even better yet doing so in a fashion which had not given away his intentions.
As Kale snapped at him Ironforge gave up his feigned injury and twisted sideways and away from the other stallion, he could have..but did not...make a counter attack however as Ironforge had discovered all that he had desired to know during this fight with his student.
'Enough, I have seen enough" The stallion stated as he circled around to face his student once more - although Ironforge did not expect to see Kale as a student for more then a few moments more. "You have learned your lessons well" The shaggy stallion stated as he drew to a stop "There is little more that I can teach you - though there is still much you will have to learn through experience, you are a Knight as much as I can make you one Kale and while I shall always be here to give you advice and shelter when needed - it is you who muct now go out and forge the path you want to take"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:15 am
Kale couldn't help but smile just a bit when he saw Ironforge drop the injured act and twist away. He had doubted that Ironforge was truly injured, though of course part of him was being somewhat cautious in the attack in the event his mentor actually was. Though he went to press the attack further Ironforge's words stopped him immediately. The fight was over, not to find out how he did. Facing Ironforge Kale waited to here the verdict on the fight. Of course those words that Ironforge said were a huge shock to Kale. Oh he knew his time with his mentor would come to an end one day, but he had not expected that day to be today. He was both honored and saddened by the news. He had seen his dream come true, as Ironforge said, he was a knight now. There would always be more to learn and do, but sadly Ironforge's part in that was now over.
Standing silent for several minutes Kale tried to find the right words. Having not expected this day to come for some time he was ill prepared to say much of anything, though the twinkle in his eye spoke greatly of how happy he was at the moment. "I...I am honored you agreed to train me all those months ago. My dream to become a Knight has finally been fulfilled and I don't think I can thank you enough for that. I will do well to serve others and ensure your time with me has not been wasted." He fell silent for a moment before continuing. "I am sad that our time together is at an end, but I am also grateful for what you did for me. Thank you Ironforge, I will not disappoint you in my future deeds." He wasn't sure what else to say or do, so he just stood there looking towards his mentor, in a moment they would part ways but for now Kale just stood there somewhat unwilling to leave just yet.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:29 am
Ironforge lowered his head in a bow of acknowledgment of the other stallions word's. "I am quite sure that you will uphold this pledge" The stallion told the other before motioning with his muzzle back in the direction of the herd. "But come...today is a day of celebration for you..and not one to be burdened by the thought of goodbye - this is not goodbye but merely a change, I will always be here and when next we meet it will be as equals rather then master and student" The shaggy stallion told the other.
He knew well what the other was feeling - that strange mix of happiness and sadness, the unsure nature of the future before him, he knew this from the day he had completed his own training. But such things were impossible to avoid nor should someone try to, it was merely a facet of life..and in any case Ironforge knew that Kale would forget any sadness he felt once he was out and helping others as he was meant to do. Turning about the stallion led the other back to the herd..where there was a secret celebration awaiting the rainbow stallion's arrival.
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