Neverwinter Forest as crazy as it is

@Goldhawk Maybe?!

Eshe patrolled the woods, snout low to the earth as she marked the territory. Neverwinter Forest was a true pack, now, and with no further trouble from Silvertip since their meeting with FitzDutiful, Eshe felt that the man was keeping to his word and truly desired peace. That was good; she, too, desired peace after all. Eshe was not sure if she had the stomach for war, but would have done what was necessary even despite that. She still intended to train with her mate and with Kaskara; to know things could only help her, and help Neverwinter, after all.

The silvered woman had been at it for hours, and thought briefly of the chipper man who had assisted them with Silvertip and who Kyron had brought home. She sniffed at the wind and then turned to track him down, wondering at how his health was and how he was holding up. She figured she might as well go and find out, and so that's what she went on to do.

Yes pls~

Let's call it shadow boxing. That was what Goldhawk was up to that day, sparring with a protruding tree branch. Being a fit, long-legged young warrior the whole thing would have looked perfectly impressive had he been sparring with another wolf, but nope, it was a great elongated pine branch that jutted from its trunk at about the height of a wolf. And therefore the effect was rather comical. Chin up, vermin! he demanded as he sprang deftly to its right, dodging it as it whipped back towards him, look me in the eye, why don'tcha.

He gave another spring, a flashy bite of his teeth upon its piney end, then did a double-take and stopped suddenly as he noticed the Alpha Female of Neverwinter Forest.

Goldhawk remained frozen for three straight seconds, then with an almighty flourish fell into a magnificent bow. Good day to you, m'lady!

She could hear him from here! Sounded like he was... fighting. Sparring, maybe. Probably with Kyron, or maybe with Kaskara! Maybe Scimitar! MAYBE ANYONE. She did not know, and so she quickened her step. She thought he had said 'vermin'. Maybe it was a trespasser? A sense of urgency came, but then, he hadn't called for anyone. But maybe he thought he could handle it himself... Who knew?

Well, she'd find out. And when she did arrive upon the scene, a little bewildered, she noted that it was just Goldhawk himself, alone, with a tree in his grips. They both stared at one another, frozen, and then it seemed they both understood what they saw. She smiled, and he bowed, and Eshe moved closer to him. And to you! Looked like a good fight, she gestured toward the tree, and then back to him. How you feelin'?

The golden bard raised his head to see Eshe looking perfectly happy with the whole affair. He felt slightly flummoxed at not having noticed her arrival, but he'd been preoccupied and she was an airy gentle subtle sort. She hadn't exactly announced her arrival with a bellow. Fine and dandy these days, thank you marm, he replied with a firm nod of appreciation.

Goldhawk was tempted to offer her the same sentiment, asking how she was, but one doesn't just make idle chit-chat with the Lady of the Forest, don'tcha know.

And so he settled with an explanation. I need to stay trim and fighting-fit if I'm to be any kind of deterrent on our bally borders, wot.

Eshe grinned, happy to hear that he was doing better now. He looked it, too; he was spry and fleet of foot, truly giving the wood there a run for its... sap. As he elaborated on his practicing, Eshe tilted her head and looked at the wood. So... what d'you do? Pull that, she gestured to the branch he'd been at arms (so to speak) with, and go for it? The she-wolf looked to him. The Lady of the Forest was as inelegant as they came, though her age was adding some sense of allure to her. That sense was very vague and at present very, very subtle. Hard to spot. She was still playful, still very young at heart. It showed in the gleam within her eyes.

She'd asked because she wanted to partake. Anything that could help her perfect her speed and agility, given that's what she'd need to rely on in a fight (as told by Kaskara). Already trim, she just needed to get to the fighting aspect of things... just in a way that utilized what she'd been given already.

The dapper chap wasn't aware that he was smiling (though it wouldn't have surprised him to find that he was). Eshe seemed to have that effect on him — she was consistently amicable. While Scimitar was more of a hardened stoic, it seemed Eshe had an accessible mood, and Goldhawk found both styles of leadership very admirable. Furthermore, while he didn't believe one had to be a great warrior to be a great leader, he had been raised in a pack where that was exactly the case, so his respect for the Alpha Female went ever-higher as she showed an interest in his shadow boxing.

To put it broadly, yes indeedeo, he replied lightly, stepping smoothly aside so she could take his place in front of the great pine branch. The idea is to test the old reflexes. A bit of one-two is all very well, but raw power isn't much without speed and agility to-boot. He turned his brown eyes from Eshe to the branch. What I do is spy a clump of pine needles far back on the branch and see if I can snatch them without it walloping me in m'pretty visage first.

As he moved she followed, stopping before the face of the tree he had battled with. Well, I don't have much raw power, Eshe admitted to him without much shame. But what she lacked in that, she had in speed, she liked to think. But Eshe wasn't too well trained in that front, except for outright running. Evading? Again, only when it came to running away. She wasn't battle ready, because she'd never had to be; if those wolves who had taken over her old pack-lands had caught her, she'd be as good as minced meat. But she was speedy, and with the wind at her back they'd never caught up with her.

Goldhawk went on to explain, and she squinted at the branches. So... I just... go for a branch? Or pull it, so it comes toward my face, like, to swat me or something? What did he not want to wallop him? She wanted to get this right, so that she could learn along with him.

He appreciated the follow-up question, and certainly didn't blame her for needing further clarification before jumping into it. After all, this wolf-vs-branch sparring was, too some, a bit silly, and could seem nonsensical — after all, the tree was not another creature. Why practice fighting it? But Goldhawk stood by the training method, and was glad Eshe was interested too.

Spot on, he confirmed. To set the branch off, use your gnashers to pull it as far back as you can. When you let go, it'll give one initial thrash that you'll have to dodge pronto, then it'll struggle for a good while, giving you plenty of time to make your move without getting hit by the bally thing.

Eshe listened raptly, wanting badly to do well at this. Once his instruction was finished, she looked back to the tree and narrowed her eyes. You can do this! She told herself... and so she moved forward to do as he had said, pulling it as far as she could. Eshe felt the restraint and glanced to Goldhawk briefly, saying between gnashed teeth, I grt thsh!!! waving her tail a little. A little self-encouragement couldn't hurt, right? And then her eyes went back to her makeshift opponent. Her maw opened to release it, and she watched it move away from her... and just as quickly, come back toward her!

Her reflexes, at least, were sharp, but that could be because she knew it was coming. Away it sailed again, and it returned to her in weaker force. Eshe's expression looked a little frantic as she moved toward it now, grabbing the branch at perhaps the wrong place as the side of it lightly came against her cheek as it curved. She withdrew from it and looked to Goldhawk, the cogs in her brain shifting. She tried to make this thing a wolf that she might face... and asked, Are there bad areas of an actual opponent I should avoid? To not get hit? If that were a wolf, they'd... have access to her own head! Wow, learning!

Goldhawk gave a fierce smile of battle-ready enjoyment as Eshe adopted the same pose he had and launched the activity. He stood back with a flourish, and watched with quick eyes, and while she didn't quite catch the bit of branch she'd been eyeing, her initial dodge was magnificent. An outstanding manoeuvre, m'lady! exclaimed the cheerleader.

She didn't hesitate with a follow-up question — and this he respected too. Opponents come in all shapes and sizes — I've walloped wolves, wildcats, coyotes and then some — but yes indeedy, in all cases there are some places you definitely want to avoid. The old chompers, for instance, he said, showing off his white teeth for a moment. It can be tempting to go for the face, but that risks the flawlessness one's own glorious visage. It's also a darn solid rule to avoid any action that exposes your throat to the vermin. Going for the ears, for instance, as tempting as these wigglesome lobes can be. He twitched one elegant ear accordingly.

pls forgive me for being slow AF

He cheered her on, and Eshe grinned. Point for me! She tallied, and as he answered her query, her eyes widened. Wildcats?! She breathed once he had finished, and then quieted to take the rest of the advice in. Okay, so, don't go immediately for the throat which, actually, was something kind of like instinct to her. The throat was what all wolves sought: in the hunt, in battle, well, the throat was where ones power really was. Hold someone by that, and the fight was all but over.

Eshe stepped forward and took the branch again and this time, released it at a greater distance. It came back faster this time, but Eshe sprung back and then moved forward after hesitating a beat. Well, that hesitation earned her a hearty thwap to the cheek. She removed herself, blinked at the sting, and then went back for it again. Too late and too slow! Again it struck her, lightly this time, but Eshe did not step away and instead let out a little growl, grabbing it and holding it where it was. Her tail waved at the [very small] victory, and her eyes slid sheepishly over to Goldhawk.

Oh it's all good~ ^__^

Goldhawk gave a proud nod at the satisfying surprise in his Lady's voice when she asked about wildcats. Ah that had been quite the battle, though more than a few soldiers had come away with great gashes across their faces. Wolves were all about the teeth. Cats had claws like swords.

He stood back once more to watch Eshe's next attempt, and it was a good one. She showed instinct and initiative, recovering quickly from mistakes and lashing back with a vengeance. Jolly good! You show all the signs of a natural-born warrior, he concluded genuinely with a firm smile.

Eshe waved her tail at his words, though squinted playfully, unsure if he was serious about it. She had her doubts; Eshe wasn't much of a fighter, but really, she was swift. When she put her mind to a task, it was always possible... granted, she wasn't the best, but she could get it done! Still, she did not give voice to her doubts. Instead, she playfully said, I sure do! -- for she wanted others to have confidence in her, confidence in the fact that she would protect them. If Eshe knew one thing, it was that she would protect them, no matter what. She had all the confidence in the world on that front. Let's go another round! She decided, and before he could deny the proposition, Eshe lurched forward to begin again! And so, the rest of the hours would pass this way.