Dragoncrest Cliffs let's get down to business to defeat the huns

@Isleña

As one of the most experienced warriors in Drageda, he felt it his duty to dispense his wisdom to the, well, less-experienced within their ranks. Kasatka, for one, and now Isleña. He didn't know her background, but she was small and while well-muscled, relatively lithe. He assumed--probably wrongly--that she wasn't all that well prepared for a fight.

But living here, she needed to be. Now more than ever.

Vercingetorix traveled through the redwoods, following traces of her scent. If all else failed, he'd howl, but for now, he was enjoying the chase.

Islena had been quiet and inconspicuous as of recently, which was the norm for her during her time with Drageda — but wasn’t exactly the norm for her, otherwise. Fiery and fiesty, Isleña kept these parts of her resigned to times and places where she felt comfortable enough to be true to who she was… that’s to say, rarely ever. There was a culture of the Drageda wolves that was difficult to penetrate. They didn’t seem to want others to penetrate it, either. Perhaps that wasn’t a fair assessment: all the wolves had been nothing but kind and accommodating to the illiterate bedouin, so she couldn’t really put a finger on this feeling. 

She moved around the territory, avoiding others and changing her location often. She didn’t exactly desire to be around anyone in particular, though she did enjoy Verx and Aure and Mallaidh whenever she came across them.  So, when she found her large, dark-furred lover, Isleña didn’t turn the other way and seek respite elsewhere. Instead, she approached him and greeted him with a smile, a wag of the tail, and a dip of the maw.

Finally, he found who he sought--or rather, she found him. Fanas! he called out, face split in a wide grin. He trotted to meet her halfway, eating up the ground with giant strides. Verx dipped into a mock play-bow upon halting and wagged his tail, bi-colored eyes twinkling to see her.

How're you settling in? he asked, head canted in inquiry. Everybody been cool? He couldn't imagine otherwise. Testy as they were to outsiders, Drageda was pretty accepting once you were in the fold. It would be even better for her when she graduated from brana to kru, and that wouldn't take too long, he imagined.

You up for a lesson today? Wanna learn how to fight like a Drageda wolf? Too late, he realized he was probably inundating her with words--half of which she probably didn't understand--and shut his trap, looking a bit sheepish.

Verx approached her in a playful and welcoming manner, so Isleña knew that this interaction would be a positive one. In his typical, wordy manner, the brute greeted her and invited her to do something — whatever that something was. Isleña kept her demeanor lifted as she thought for a moment, let the meaning of several of the words click, and processed a response. To distract the man from her hesitance and her thinking, she allowed the auburn tip of her tail to dance and tickle around her ankles, hoping it might draw his attention there. 

Isleña snickered to herself, wanting to be inducted into Drageda’s society, but not giving into the man’s suggestions that easily. She was not a fighter due to size, but the woman could hold her own in a scrape; in a fight she applied more than sheer force and size, as she suspected Verx might. It was an easy crutch to lean upon, and she was excited to see what this man and his considerable stature might be capable of outside of the bedroom. She might even teach him a thing or two! 

“I fight like Luk,” she finally responded, almost proud of the words she had been gleaning from her few conversations with Drageda’s wolves. Almost enough to form a legitimate sentence, simple as it was! Her newfound ability to semi-express herself was one of her favorite things. “Is better,” she noted decisively, with a laugh and a provocative cant of her head. Verx would see just what the firebrand was capable of.

She was right; it did draw his attention to her delicate little ankles. But more important were her words, and Verx snorted, giving her a toothy smile. We'll see about that, he teased, lashing his tail. He began to size her up--not super necessary, since she was, you know, so much smaller than his gargantuan size. Just a force of habit, really.

Okay, then, attack me like a Luk would, Vercingetorix insisted, narrowing his eyes. He shifted his weight, waiting for whatever tactics she employed with unmistakable intrigue writ over his face. He should probably try to take it easy on her, at least. It was her first lesson, after all.

This is my first spar thread in the history of my entire life. Please tell me if i’m doing the thing wrong, haha.

Isleña gave a loud, prolific laugh when Verx hunkered down for business, as-if their small training session hadn’t already begun. “Hah!” The woman threw her chocolate-dipped crown back, shouting to the sky, but returned her gaze to him — eyes slivers of ocean blue, and nothing more. If he wanted to be serious, then she could be serious. Super serious. The bedouin began to shuffle her legs beneath her, moving in a circle around Verx, as if she was almost-too-obvious searching for his weak spot or attack point. To help give the appearance of herself being young and untrained, as well as to distract him away from her true purpose of sneak-attacking him, Isleña said more words in the common tongue than she might have ever said before.

“If Luk… have many, many wolf,” Isleña lackadaisically drew out her words, as if this was a simple conversation and nothing more.  As she circled him, she thrust her chin in different directions, noting where her warriors would have been placed. “One here, one here, ’n one here…” and then, almost with a sad tone, she noted “but… here, only Isleña,” and that was when she moved from her interminable pacing to an attack, using lightening-quick movements to dart towards the man and his formidable stature, moving low-to-the-ground in order to grab at one of his ankles. She was closer to his ankles than she was to his face — anything else would allow him too much room and he would overtake her quickly.

rolled that she hit him! kind of riffing on severity based on their respective sizes, let me know if it's not ok

Oh, this oughta be good. He meant it with no sarcasm, either; he genuinely enjoyed learning other fighting styles. Isleña already knew to use speed and stealth to counter the disadvantage in size versus him. He was somewhat prepared for her attack, but not enough, and let out a pained grunt as she sank her teeth into an ankle.

Little snake, Vercingetorix hissed, chuckling, as he began to move, trying to shake her loose. He eventually twisted his head downwards at an ankle, attempting to grab her scruff. Should he succeed, he'd tug her away from his leg and then pin her neatly to the ground, unless she found a way to free herself once more.

miss!

Her fangs hit their mark and she latched onto Vercingetorix’s ankle; however, the tiny mongrel knew that her point had been made [and a good one, was it not?] and since the ankle was a delicate spot, she kept get grip light. Of course, this was not an entirely altruistic decision; in her experience, her size prevented vice-grip jaws from being an effective method of attack — she was simply too easily thrown around for attacking-and-holding. Verx could easily do that to her, hold her down and dominate her, but Isleña had to rely on being light of her feet and smarter than her attacker.

That’s why when the swarthy brute shot his head, jaws open and ready, down to grab the back of her neck in a deflective maneuver, Isleña was ready. She pulled her limbs in close to her body and released the light hold she had on him, rolling away from him until her feet once against found purchase and she bounced back up to all fours, giving him a smarmy stare.  “Maybe no need many Luk,” she offered cattily, lifting up her lip into a sneer and a wink. He had seen what she could do — now Isleña waited for a demonstration of the man’s military prowess.

oops i rolled when there was nothing to roll for hahaha----you can go ahead and roll if he hits or misses!

What a little minx! She slipped away from him, smug and smirking, lithe and quick as anything. Verx shook his head in disbelief, laughing even more. It was clear she was waiting for him to make the first move, and to be honest, he didn't quite know what that was. He was really focused on her legs, for one thing.

I could pound you into the snow, babygirl, he declared with a sneer, relishing in the double entendre. But I. . . There. His eyes rested on it for just one moment before darting away again, returning to her face.

Her weight just slightly off-balance, on one side, toward the rear. Tip her there and she'd go down like drunk Jenga. He burst into a sudden gallop, thundering toward her and aiming to bite her scruff again--and then twisting abruptly to slam his shoulder against her vulnerable flank.

she’s feigning. maybe roll to see if he falls for it?

Her sneering was short lived — Verx seemed to see something that she couldn’t, and he acted upon it quickly. The sight of such a large, burly man thundering towards her was a sight that, honestly, poisoned her blood with fear. For a second she forgot this was a spar, and that her attacker was her friend, and she believed that she was in real danger. The banshee froze in her place, and barely offered any resistance when the collision was made.

Her body was thrown and hit the ground with a loud thud. The breath rushed from her small body and for a moment, she thought she actually died. The next moment, however, life returned back to her and she scrambled to stand upon all four legs, just attempting to get up in case Verx decided to circle around and teach her another lesson. It was when she placed her back foot against the ground that she felt the sharp pain shoot up her leg, and knew that her paw had been wrenched against the ground with the force of the hit.

“Oh…” she moaned, ear flattening, looking at Verx to see if she could have a moment’s respite.

lmao he fallin' for it, of course

She crumbled under him--how could she not?--and he savored the victory, bounding away from her with a grin. It was only when she made to stand, grimacing with obvious pain, and let out the quiet plea did his face fall.

Eyes narrowed with suspicion, Verx took slow, measured steps toward her. You okay, fanas? he asked, his voice kind but wary. His gaze darted a little wildly, looking for some sign of deception, and finding none. We can give it a rest for a while if you want.

His shoulders relaxed, little by little, as he drew within two or three paces of her.

What a sucker! Isleña nearly had to stifle her chuckle as the brute, now more like a big teddy bear than anything truly threatening, forgot all about his onslaught and tended to her aid. Inside she simpered; but outwardly, she tried to portray the image of a woman who was experiencing pain — but was toughing it out without complaining, as women do. As he approached her, she stuck out her arm to show him exact what kind of harm had befallen her… but she continued to play her cards close to her chest, and used it as an angler’s lure to draw him closer.

She bit her lip at her supposedly smarting injury. “Small hurt,” she said in a voice that was confidence, but rife with worry. “ You look, is okay?” He came ever closer, and Isleña knew there would be a right moment to strike — when he was close enough, but also before her realized her ruse — and she waited for that moment ominously. When the sinew of his neck was seen rippling beneath his dark pelt, and she wanted to lick and taste him right there, she knew it was time.  “Ha!” she barked, hoping to surprise his senses as well as his physicality.  She leapt at him with the full weight of her body, and attempted to grab onto the thick skin of his collar (she wasn’t trying to hurt or maim him) and pull his unsteady body down with her.

rolled a miss

We can take you to Rose if you-- His offer was cut short as she gave a shout and then lunged at him, teeth aimed for his neck. Utterly taken by surprise, because apparently today he was a gullible moron, Verx attempted to regain battle posture in that split second before she hit. It wasn't a perfect strike, as her teeth only cut through the flesh rather than hanging on, but her tactics had been more than respectable.

He burst into laughter, brows raised nearly to the cups of his ears. Fanas, wow! he exclaimed, backing up quickly and preparing to bowl her over. He charged and then feinted, stopping just short, hoping to rattle her just as much as she had him. Very nice. Deception is your strong suit, Verx teased. It'll help when you're up against a big guy like me.

Close with your post?

She didn’t hit her mark exactly, but her point had been made. As her slipped out of her grasp and her teeth clicked shut, she stumbled a little bit to regain her footing and to avoid falling. He began to laugh out of surprise and so did she, hanging her head as her belly laughed and laughed and laughed.

Eventually, after his last feint attack, everything settled. A short spar, if one could call it that, but she felt as if she had learned a lot. It was not often she got to practice on a wolf as large as Verx, nor as familiar. “Ha! You… not easy,” she commended. “Many wolves, too easy.” Isleña had the leg up usually, considering that  she was trained in the arts of attack and subversion, and Very had proved to be a nice challenge. Deciding they were done for this lesson, Isleña shrugged her shoulders a bit and suggested “Food?”

He grinned, eyes creasing to slits. Oh, I'm easy, all right, he remarked wryly, aiming a little nip in her direction and stupidly pleased with the double entendre. He gave a fervent nod at her suggestion. Lead the way, huntress, Verx said, giving her a mock bow before going in whatever direction she decided to take.