Golden Glade Skills She Once Knew

@Charley Pryor all thought anyone is welcome to join! :) @Aspen so I might be claiming my rock hahaha!

Shalon had created a routine for herself, and she followed it almost everyday. Wake up, go for a stroll, get a drink, head out for border patrol, and then head back to her den where she continues to prepare her site of learning. She didn't know when this idea came to her, but ever since her meeting with the youngster from Silvertip Mountain she was looking forward to pack pups. Shalon had never really had contact with pups before, aside from her bother. So meeting Adeline had kick started her desire to teach?! Of all things! She was well travelled and a good listener, she hoped these were skills necessary for a teacher because it was the most she could offer at the moment. She hoped that in time she would be able to teach future warriors of the Court, but that was a long way off. With such a new pack, Shalon doubted there would be any puppies for a little while.

She was just arriving back at her small clearing, her boulder in the center. There was dirt around the entrance signifying her excavating adventures. She had been increasing the size of her den, making it a little most spacious. She had hopes of entering the tunnels soon, but even with that prospect she wanted someplace for herself. Wether she became an Inner Circle member or not she would always have this boulder, where anyone could come find her if they wished. She was always willing to listen, or when words were few she didn't mind taking a few hits to help someone overcome her anger through a spar.

As she jumped a top her rock she silently thought of what else needed to be done. She supposed she should go check on Heartha, but Shalon was she the den mother was fine. Maybe Aspen could use some company, but Shalon wasn't sure if she was feeling better so she would let her sleep. Thinking about it now, Shalon was bored! She had nothing to do! Looking around at the perfect little arena she had found in this small clearing surrounded by woods, Shalon could help but want to spare. After her injuries from Aeronwyn had healed, Shalon realized that she was still lacking in her combat skills. She had been in a few spars and fights since entering the Teekon Wilds and while she had won a few she found herself lacking in the skill she once thought she had. A small sigh enveloped from her maw, maybe she should find someone to spar with. But who?!

so I haven't finished my thread with Aeronwyn yet, so I'm assuming Shalon is going to have atleast minor scraps from the altercation, but I can't be to specific. If it's anything to serious I'll probably have to back date a thread or two, getting help with an injury. I'm not sure if Charley knows about Aeronwyn's encounter with Shalon.

obv you can name your place, too ;) So you can think up some witty, awesome name! lol

Alder didn't follow much of a routine, but he did do the same things every day. The order in which he did things was different every day, but the same things were accomplished: a patrol, going to one of the many streams for a drink, finding something to eat and taking something to Aspen, spending time with his mate, and then expore some of the tunnels. Sometimes a bath is thrown in there, where he trecks all the way up to the plauteu, but today his fur is soft and shiny, even as unruly as it always is. Despite his brute apprearance and battle scars, even with a fucked up eye, he still saw himself as handsome as ever. Scars just added to his character, after all! He was more badass with them. 
Today, as he was on his way from getting a drink to do a patrol, Shalon's scent washed over him. He wondered how she was doing, when she would go forth in her rank: the brown woman was the only one to have caught his eye for Duchess of yet, and he already trusted her with his life. It wouldn't be long until she was given a higher rank. Striding forward with his tail wagging over his back and a grin on his maw, Alder entered one of the few clearings in which sky could actually be seen, and there she was perched on the boulder. 
              "Hello, Shalon. What're your plans for today?"

Oh no know look what you have done! Now im going to be spending the day looking for cool names to name my clearing.

Shalon lifted her head and watched as her King entered the small clearing she had claimed as her own. She gracefully jumped from atop the rock, landing infront of the male. "Hello Charley." Shalon bowed before the King, while she may call him by his given name, Shalon would always bow to him. Showing him difference, and submission. "I'm afraid I have none." She admitted unfortunately, "It's a rather quiet day I'm afraid." She chuckled a little, "I'm afraid I'm rather bored..." She trailed off looking slightly embarassed, she didn't want to sound like a pup who didn't know how to entertain herself.

Slowly she looked around though, at the arena they both stood in... Shalon had an idea, if the King was willing to endulge her a little. She had only seen him fight once, against the bear, but had he tried sparing since he lost sight in his other eye? She didn't know, "Charley? Perhaps we should test our skills." She hadn't though about it until now, but sparing with Charley would be helpful if something ever happened. So they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses. "Have you spared since injuring your eye? Perhaps a practice spar is in order?" She grinned excitedly, she always loved a good spar.

Her use of his birth name reminded him that he still hadn't made the announcement yet, but she claimed to be bored, and a grin lit up the King's face. He let her finish talkng completely, until she asked to spar and expected him to answer. He didn't know how well he actually ccould fight anymore, but this presented a proper test. 
                    "Hello Shalon. I've changed my name, to fit my new life: Alder. A bit of a change, but hey, thats our lives right now. I'm rather bored as well, didn't really want to patrol, and I haven't had to fight since the bear. A spar sounds like a solution to a lot of my problems." 

Shalon looked slightly suprised at the name change, however she shruged it off, "I apologize...Alder." She smiled gently, nodding her head. She liked the new name, it fit him well. Her tail swayed and her grin widdened. She was in need of a good spar. She took a step back and waited for him to make the first move,  she was ready whenever he was.

       "No need to apologize for something you didn't yet know."
He laughed, backing up a step and bracing himself, staring the female down for a second before realizing she was waiting for him. Very well... Alder grined, lunging forward suddenly and aiming to knock shoulder-to-shoulder and unbalance her, to make it easier to just shove her and get her on her side to pin. He didn't bite in fear of hurting her, but if worse comes to worst he will gently use his jaws.

Shalon watch closely, her mind narrowing in on the coming conflict. She wanted to test herself, take it seriously, although she still had a grin on her maw it would no longer reach her eyes. Instead her silver orbs watched closely, and she braced herself as he lunged toward her. Her legs stiffening, she threw her weight against his, her paws digging into the ground. She remained standing however, having moved her should slightly so his weight wasn't forcing her off balance. Shalon had no desire to be injured or to injure Cha-Alder. But she was confident he could take a little abuse, just as she could. She would back up trying to put distance between them for a second, before jumping up on her hind legs and attempt to pull Alder down with a her forepaws around his neck, and pushing with her hind legs.

They pushed against one another for a brief moment before Shalon backed away, and Alder steeled his eyes against the friendly opponent. The last time he'd sparred had been with Zaavier, but it was easy to remember this was a packmate, someone he was not to hurt. Of course that didn't mean he couldn't take a beating, just as he knew Shalon could. 
Just then, the warrior woman reared, and he let her come, at first. As she came forward to ensnare him, though, the King crouched, moving just  step a head and aiming to use his head this time with the same intent on knocking her over and going for a pin.

This time it worked, she hadn't aticipated Alder taking a step forward. She fell to her left side, Shalon gave a small yelp, not in pain rather in surprise. Her paws came to push against his chest, and her hind legs kicked, trying to find purchase any where she could. She pushed with all her might, and squirmed trying to avoid his pin.

She fell this time, and Alder spun and lunged in the same moment. The woman kicked away from his grasp just as his massive paws landed where she'd just been. A playful growl rumbled from the Pryor's chest, and he jumped again in hopes of catching her.

Shalon rolled to her paws quickly, and remained in a crouched position as Alder attemped to catch her. She pranced away from his reach, when a thought came to her. While she wasn't as strong as he was, Shalon wondered if she was faster. She remember Steady had mentioned her quickness once. Testing it now she darted to Alder's right, trying to use his lack of sight to her advantage. If she had time, she would lung once more, jumping on his back from his blind side trying to bring him to the ground.

The lumbering brute wasn't quick enough, pummeling only the earth with his paws as she danced to her paws. In a moments notice, she was gone, using his blind side as an advantage.... By the time he started to look around, she was slamming into his side and taking them both rolling towards the boulder. Alder grunted, the air knocked out of his already winded self. Suddenly, though, he laughed and, eyes closed, admitted defeat between heavy pants.
                  "Yo-You win! I'm... I'm out of practice, I see."

Shalon laughed whole heartedly, as they both fell to the ground. "We-Well if you had your full sight I'm sure you would have won Alder." She grinned, she too was panting. But it was the perfect past time for the afternoon, and added excitment to her evening. "Thank you for the spar." She stood and bowed as her mother taught her, "you always bow to your sparring partner showing them your respect even if you won", Shalon could hear her mothers voice as if she were there beside her, supervising a spar against her brother. "I think with both did well." She smiled sitting across from the King.

Alder pulled himself into a sit and bowed his head in turn to her, panting and chuckling as she spoke, thanked him.
                  "Don't be so modest: you bested me fair and square. Thank you for helping me test my eye, and to practice a little. I'd like to do it again, sometime." 
She claimed they both did well, and the King nodded. They really had! It was nice to be using his skills once again.

fade?

Shalon nodded with a smile, "Of Course! Anytime Alder, I am a fan of sparing." She indeed loved to spar, she hated fighting, but obviously she would if she had to. Sparing was the best way to prepare for combat. "Thank you for saving me from my bordome." Shalon laughed, and nosed Alder. It was good to see him so relaxed, it was moments like these that she craved from her packmates. When their guards dropped and you could see each others souls, these were the moments that defined her relationships with her packmates.

Alder knew that soon he would grease up his rusty joins and challenge the woman again, see if he could best her the next time they wrestled. For now, he had a patrol to get on with, and he wasn't shy about inviting the Gentry with him. 
              "If you want to come along on my patrol, that's where I'm headed."
Whether she followed or not, on he went, a smile on his face despite his fail.