Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tyiva stretched her arms far above her head as she stepped outside. The sun was rising over the horizon and it's amber rays were slowly stretching across the ground, its warmth brightening the various colors of the mosaic stonework along the inner courtyard. In the center was a pool which tempted Tyiva with its glittering waters but the Alkidike reminded herself that she had made other plans this morning. It also was probably too cold, she additionally reasoned with herself as she took several steps away from the pool and towards the gate. The gate was nestled in a large archway with vines decorating the trellis and Tyiva swung it open with ease. At one point it had served well to keep their younglings from wandering outside but now that they were older the gate served more as a hint to any shenanigans should someone open it and cause the hinges to creak. Though that did remind her that a certain someone seemed to be running behind this morning. "Xylia?" Tyiva called out behind her with a raised brow. Where was her youngest now that Tyiva had finally agreed to teach her some simple fighting?

[Tyiva 1]

“Are you alright?” Tyiva asked with concern as she crouched down to study Xyila. “You certain that you’re up for this?” She questioned as she inspected her daughter and quickly tried to correct her sloppy tunic and messy hair. “If you’re too tired then we can wait another day.” She promised as she made certain to also check her daughter’s cheeks for any fever.

[Tyiva 2]

“Alright, if you say so.” Tyiva nodded slowly as she confirmed that Xylia was not feverish. “I suppose that’s a sign that your body needed the rest.” She quipped lightly as a slight reflection upon her daughter’s habit of not sleeping much. Checking her satchel, Tyiva made certain that everything was there before gesturing towards the path before them. “We should walk a bit and go to a spot that I prefer for morning training first.”

That stated she began walking away from their manor and towards the southern area of desert that stretched before their home. It was not like the northern path which overlooked the sunrise but still twisted through some rockier areas before the ground smoothed out into what appeared to be a large plateau with some scattered plants that stood like giant guardians in the sands with their pricklier appearances.

[Tyiva 3]

“Impressive, right?” Tyiva teased lightly as she placed the satchel on the ground and began to pull out various items. “I found this area when we moved here and sort of made it my own. The stones make a boundary so that I do not misstep during training.” As she spoke she pulled out two pairs of dull blades, similar in shape to the ones that she usually wore whenever they went out. One pair was significantly smaller, especially made for a child’s hands. “Here.” She gestured towards the blades and waited for Xyila to inspect them.

[Tyiva 4]

“I’m glad you think so.” Replied Tyiva with a soft smile at her daughter’s reaction. “Hopefully you can learn well with them and when you’re older we will see about getting you some real blades.” None of her children would go without training after all. It just depended on what they chose for themselves and when they would approach her or Karo for lessons. Xylia had been the first, but Tyiva knew that even she wasn’t certain what she wanted just yet.

[Tyiva 5]

“Close.” Tyiva approached Xyila as she posed with the blades. “You should move this leg a little bit more to the left like this and you have to relax your upper body so that your movements are more fluid. You’re very stiff.” She chastised lightly as she helped her daughter to adjust her form. After a few more helpful tugs on her legs and arms, Tyiva stepped back again to study her. “Better.” She finally commented with a firm nod.

[Tyiva 6]

Tyiva gave a soft chuckle. “Almost.” She answered honestly before picking up her own training blades that mirrored her daughter’s own. “The dance starts low like this and then you rise like a flower greeting the sun.” She posed before moving forward with the blades in a twisting motion that quickly brought her upwards so that she could be at her enemy’s throat in less than a second. A crouch to dodge, a lift upwards to strike….

[Tyiva 7]

“Hmm?” Tyiva arched a brow before letting out a laugh, “Oh no!” She managed finally as she tried to calm her laughter. “If the plants attacked like that then even I would be afraid.” The Alkidike shook her head quickly as she continued. “It’s just how we named the dance. It helps one to imagine exactly how to pose at certain moments while we do indeed move much quickly than most flowers. Though there are ones that actually do eat smaller insects. They grow with their mouths open and whenever something wanders in the flower petals close around it.” Tyiva chuckled once more. “But that is something to scare small things and not something to even dare try to eat one of us.”

[Tyiva 8]