Firefly Glen [PHE] Violent Femmes

hoping for another yearling! <3

Denied the fruit of the vine, Cygnet sought another source of entertainment- finding someone about her age to challenge to a spar. Sven was on the list, but she wanted to give a bit more time for the anticipation to build.

So when she spotted a wolf who appeared to be a yearling and approaching with a lifted chin, as if to measure them out, before she spoke. 

You and me, spar. Yearling, yeah?

sobeille’s first order of business: find ajei.

between throngs of milling people she wove, scouring the faceless many for the girl that had made sobeille’s heart her own.

instead of ajei, she came across a pearly yearling not so removed from her age. sobeille liked the arresting blue of her eyes — but it was the confidence in which she demanded a spar that intrigued the seastrider.

okay, she prompted, turning body in a square stance. your move.

Her heart raced with the thrill of challenging another who looked to be about her age. She called to her heart the ferocity with which she had once attacked Arric, and found cheeks flushed as if she’d eaten something sour when the young woman before not only accepted her challenge, but invited her to begin.

She had firefly eyes, the kind that missed very little. Having looked to Sobeille’s lips as she spoke, she noticed the absence of one canine. Cygnet bobbed her head and drew closer with a calm step so they might share breath for a moment, like two champions clasping hands in a show of good sport before beginning a match. Her hackles rose, and she moved past the girl’s dark face to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, head lifted and ears canted back slightly. 

There she stood, stiff-legged and whale-eyed, noting the length of Sobeille’s body, the height of her shoulder, and even the two white toes on one of her feet. She tilted her head back so she might catch one more glimpse of those sun more eyes before she clicked her teeth together and sprang back- signalling the start of the duel. 

It would begin with not with a clamour for power, but with a slow circle, in which she watched for Sobeille’s movement- choosing first to fully assess her opponent before the action began.

that they both sported missing things at the hand of the same witch was lost upon sobeille as cygnet circled, performing a custom that had sobeille's skin singing in excitement. it was different than how she was used to sparring -- she wondered if this was some pre-battle ritual steeped in great honor.

she remained stock still until cygnet sprung back with a click of her teeth, announcing their spar's commencement.

sobeille's shoulders rounded as she tracked every step of cygnet's. like her opponent, she measured her adversary and was thrilled to see her adversary did the same. for the examiner, it was a strange species of excitement to be examined.

cygnet was larger - lankier in leg, more muscle. maybe much stronger. mireille's lesson burned in sobeille's mind as she waited patiently.

her maman had shown her never make the first move.

eeee that’s right! I forgot about their stolen parts!

Step by step they moved in a semi circle, measuring, weighing, watching for any sign of a hitch or a favouring- anything that could spell out a weakness that could be exploited. Cygnet remained calm, though she kept the fur between her shoulders bristled, as well as a patch of fur on her bump that waved gently from side to side with each rock of her hips. 

Sobeille was patient- Cygnet, for being as impulsive as she was, kept herself in check. And rather than make a lunge for the other, she coolly pivoted on her hindquarters with an elegant reach of her fore, and changed direction- to see if Sobeille might do the same.

it was hard remaining steady. sobeille noted the arch in her adversary's spine -- the bladed ridges of every tuft of fur. it was a savory picture to her, this hulking form of menace -- she saved the image of cygnet's bristling silhouette to her mind's eye.

she liked this excitement -- the tension. it kept her heart racing and her skin alive.

suddenly, cygnet turned. sobeille froze, recovering with a deft pirouette her own shortly after. she twitched her tail in catlike anticipation, now padding in the opposite direction as the two circled each other like carrion-birds waiting for the offal to spill.

As if paired in a dance, Sobeille mimicked the movement, and changed direction. Cygnet’s heart bellowed in her chest, willing to see her ability to force the other’s movement as a small victory. It was also a tell- that perhaps Sobeille was waiting for her to strike first. 

She was curious to see if she could manipulate this, use it to her advantage. 

Her posture changed, and she shifted into a stalker’s pose, low to the ground. Yet again, she shifted, pivoting on her heel to see if she could perform the same shepherding movement again. 

The anticipation was almost as thrilling as the taste of blood; she would savour it for as long as it could last.

this was perhaps the most riveting dance sobeille had ever performed; and yet, her partner still remained out of contact.

once again cygnet pirouetted, and once again sobeille matched her steps — now mimicking the low hunch of a jungle cat as they prowled in orbit around one another.

sobeille could not see weakness. cygnet was larger, and sobeille learned that often she needed the element of surprise to overpower anyone, given her stature. and since cygnet was very much aware of her, sobeille was at a loss with what to do.

her ears flicked back as a voice known to her trickled out from the trees. val — his voice unmistakable over the rabble. a dark look of irritation passed sobeille’s face as she considered ignoring it, but she knew she would face her maman or tante’s disapproval if val flapped his lips about her insubordination.

sobeille! the voice called again; she shared a look of restrained annoyance with cygnet before she backed away, still unwilling to give the yearling her back as she heeded the summon.

i chucked val in here as a deus ex machina because i didn’t want to do anything that impacts our other thread/breaks timelines. i hope that is ok!! <3

it honestly makes the most sense haha! I’m totally cool with that in the interest of continuity :)

She succeeded again in pushing the other in a direction of her choosing. Whether it was because Sobeille was determined to be the second to move, or because Cygnet simply came into the fight with the upper hand, the pale stalker couldn’t decide. It didn’t matter much, anyway- her actions had had the desired effect and in getting Sobeille to shift her direction twice, she believed that she had accomplished something.

She didn’t hear Sobeille’s name being called the first time, she only saw Sobeille’s reaction. Cygnet nearly looked- but then snapped her gaze back thinking it might be a trick to get her to look away. A moment later, a voice called out, and Cygnet heard it. 

Sobeille. 

Cygnet stopped walking when Sobeille looked her way with a look of disdain. By the looks of it, she barely obliged the man who called out to her- a sentiment Cygnet knew all too well. She huffed, but turned to watch her first opponent abandon their match, and walk away. 

She uttered a sigh, and shook her fur, sending stray strands of dirty white hair flying. She licked her lips and stalked away, content in calling this first match a draw

yesss thank u. rematch soon :D

it was for the best sobeille had been called away. cygnet was much bigger, and probably stronger. she was not sure she could live with being bested by an inlander.

if it was her in cygnet’s shoes she would have pounced the moment her back was turned; sobeille marveled cygnet’s sense of moral equity, because she would not have done the same.

she’d learned something in this encounter, which she carried as a small triumph: sometimes standing your ground was enough to avoid conflict.

stupid val. stalking silently away, sobeille wondered what he possibly needed now.