Redsand Canyon Until tomorrow comes, this is how we run

Tierra had been asked to stay behind (aka not invited) on the trip to the "royal" neighbors and she was a bit salty over it. She was happy to be able to hang out with her mom and probably meet her siblings soon, but they were royalty. They lived in a palace. Her teen heart broke just thinking about it.

They were also coyotes, at least a lot of them, which meant they probably looked as funky as that one boy she'd met a while back. Unfortunate ears, nose, all that. It wasn't much of a consolation but it was as much as she'd get. Tierra sulked a bit and then decided she was over it.

She'd gotten better, with practice, sparring these last weeks. Not as much as if she actually applied herself fully but she took longer to give up, now, and no longer embarrassed herself immediately. Usually she could get in a hit or two of her own before being pinned.

Partners were few and far between with Kallik and Aquene busy with kids, her mom mostly cave-ridden, and everyone else gone. Tierra sighed dramatically, reclining on a ledge that overlooked a portion of the canyon. It was the perfect place to catch some sun and she was more than happy to play hooky from training with Germanicus gone. Only problem was - she'd gotten used to being busy. So even while she tried to relax, she couldn't kick that little voice that told her she should probably go do a patrol. Gee, thanks, responsibility.

Could we possibly forward date this a bit or pretend Reyson was in longer than he has been? Anyway, have some Rey :D

Reyson did not know of the allies and the palace or any of those things yet. Though had he known of it, he would have fought tooth and nail to be considered guard. He would have loved to be in on that retinue of travel. It would use all his skills well. 

It was with oblivion that Reyson walked the borders today, learning, watching, listening. It was with a bit of trepidation and had he known that she was a teenager, he would have run the other way. Teenagers were usually moody, arrogant and annoying to the scarred warrior.  He was chuffing a greeting before he realized she was a young one and then he couldn't take it back. Well anyway, he wanted to get to know is packmates, so he supposed that meant the young ones too. 

He stood near her, large hulking beast of a man. His greeting falling upon her. Now he stood soldier erect head upwards, ears forward and waited listened. Would she greet him or go about her day. If that was the case he would simply go on his way too.

This happens while Germ is gone specifically but I dont mind hand-waving timelines if you don't! XD

Tierra pricked up with interest when someone made a sound nearby and that interest increased twofold when she noticed that he was both new and attractive. (Old, sure, but that didn't matter so much. She was mature, alright?)

It was about time they got some new options here. Everyone else was either annoying or taken (thanks mom). She looked him over and smiled, wondering how long he'd been here. You're new. I'm Tierra. Who are you?

Hand wave! I don't mind. XD sorry for length, mobile

She was draped in colors of crimson and dust. Clearly femme and much to young for him. He didn't think on it much more than that. Rey had been tried and tested still not tamed. He didn't know if anyone could.
Had he know who her mother was given their less than genial meeting he'd have turned tail and vacated.

Her voice held a haughty note. Though that didn't necessarily bother the beast. If you knew what you were and what you looked like then why hide it. Confidence was key.

His voice came out in a deep rumble. I am new. Yes. Names Reyson Ebonywood, Tierra.

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nothing wrong with shorter posts! I'm always mobile <3 so post lengths vary

Oooh, and two names, with all that. It meant his family was important enough to mention. Ebonywood is a neat name. I've never heard anything like it. She didn't want to drag her own name out just yet, just in case he had met her mother. No offense meant to Towhee, of course, but from her experience finding out a parent was around could sometimes make things a little more awkward. She didn't want him to be discouraged from pursuing her because she very much wanted to be pursued. Unfortunately it didn't matter much who would do the courting. Her plans didn't go much into how she'd reciprocate.

I was just sitting here thinking about how bored I was, too. Any ideas for fixing that? She was fishing for an invitation. Hopefully he was more interesting than a lot of the other wolves around here - otherwise she'd have to keep holding her breath.

<3

His name was not a family name. It was simply the name he took from the tree he slept under. The dark wood had stirred a feeling he couldn't describe and he had stayed near it.

I chose it. His answer clipped, to the point as all things with him were. Better to be blunt than not. It just got rid of all the bull. Lucky for her had she even said her name he wouldn't of even known it. Didn't know the she wolf who had growled at him.

Her breathy nature and voice drew him pause as he wondered briefly what she wanted. He studied her now with shrewd ice blue eyes. The innocence and naivety that wafted off her was endearing he supposed, yet a red flag. 

If he had been a man he'd have raised a brow. Instead he spoke quietly. Boredom is never good. What would you like to do? Fish, hunt, spar, or something else entirely? though what else he was afraid of the answer. She spelled trouble.

Oooh, her choice. If she chose hunt, then they'd get food, but they'd have to be quiet doing it. Sparring meant going up against him, which wasn't the best, but it also meant close contact and more socializing. She bet she could hold her own. It couldn't be that hard, right? He was new.

Let's spar, she replied before taking a few steps back and facing him. She'd been doing enough practicing to know that she wanted to keep her stance balanced, but also be ready to move the instant he came at her. We're supposed to practice about now anyway.

block or dice

Reyson studied her. He shifted broad shoulders a stance apart. His body easily sliding into defensive. She was athletic build and smaller than him, so she'd be faster. However he had more bulk and body. If he could get her cornered.

He waited on her move, so he could see where her weak spots were.

we'll go a few rounds and then I'll have him pin her, as discussed in discord <3 feel free to power play as you like, also, and decide if she misses/hits however you want!

She would never admit it, but Tierra was beginning to rise to the challenge of frequent spars. She still didn't enjoy them or seek them out willingly, but she wasn't dreading this either the way she had when Germanicus and Glaukos first challenged her. Her blood buzzed in a way that was almost pleasant, heightened by the expectation. He could come at her at any moment.

She was supposed to use her speed. Tierra waited just a moment, then charged forward into a sprint that would carry her past his flank. She wanted to get a nip in and see how he reacted, how fast he was, but her eyes gave away her trajectory just before she sprang into motion. It wouldn't be hard for him to guess where she was aiming.

Reyson had been sparring with strangers and in the pit. He had sparred with Germanicus, but he had yet to spar with anyone else. So he found himself a little excited to put his body and mind to use in something he had practiced and perfected. It was a bit like dancing.

Tierra was slender, speedy, whereas Reyson was more for stamina than speed. So he would use his movements, and his blunt body to his benefit.

He saw her eyes move, and he adjusted accordingly. He would then throw his shoulder, and possibly nip to see if he could aim at any skin, get her by the ruff and throw her to the ground. For now he was merely playing, gauging her experience her weak spots.

rip XD a 5 right out of the gate!

She wasn't expecting him to be ready for it and definitely wasn't expecting him to throw his shoulder into her. Tierra reached out to land a nip on his flank but instead caught nothing but air as she was knocked sideways.

Germanicus had taught her about speed, but no one had taught her about balancing her stance. She lost her footing immediately and the shove sent her sprawling on her side. It was probably more effective than Reyson had even intended it to be.

Are you... ughhh She scrambled to get to her feet, but not before staring for a moment, completely shocked, and venting her frustration. It was really up to Reyson if he gave her the chance to try again. She gave him plenty of time to pin her down.

I was going to give Tierra a chance, i figured oh yea  roll will be fine. Yep, nope rolled a 19 lmao so

Reyson plodded towards her and looked down at her, he lay a paw against her chest and pressed, but not hard enough to hurt. He looked down at her and gave her a kind smile.

You need to learn to balance. I learned by standing in a river on three legs, sometimes two. Though that is exceptionally hard and even i could barely do it. Would you like to try again? I can be the aggressor this time and you can determine your defense or are you don for today.

He was more than willing to continue or not, but he did know it was entirely up to her. They could do something else if she so wished.

Before she could get up he was there with a paw planted on her chest. She could have probably wriggled her way out, but she could tell from how he was looking at her he was not going for real... and he could have pinned her better than that. Her ears went back a bit as she felt herself flooded with embarrassment at the clumsy move. Really? God, he probably thought she was completely pathetic now.

He was nice about it, though. Which might be worse? She didn't know. Yeah, sure, she mumbled, getting to her paws when he let her up. She was totally not going to screw up a second time.

It was tempting to take up the offer to be done, but even she couldn't leave it at that. If she did screw up that badly again, though, she might have to just... like... change her name. Or.... oh shit. Hold on. She could ask for private lessons, and totally swing it her way. Immediately her mood visibly brightened, with that realization, and she watched for him to make his move.

Everyone started somewhere. And for intents and purposes, she'd done well for herself. Just a few spots were off.

She was willing to spar again. So with a small snick of tongue along broken tooth, he readied himself also.

He would attempt a frontal assault and feint to the right to shoulder check her.

rolled 7

dear god - rolled a 20! Guess it's her lucky day XD

It was weird. Tierra barely noticed most of the time, but the more she practiced, the more she could start to tell what her opponents were intending to do. It was almost like a feeling.

She knew, somehow (likely by his direction, gaze, tension, and a combination of other things) that he was going to go for her shoulder. It was a move that she did a lot too because full on attacks didn't work all that well. She didn't know which way he would feint, but she made a guess and it turned out to be correct - she was able to push off and slide sideways, out of the line of his attack.

Impulsively, she decided to use the moment to her advantage. If he was surprised to miss, then he might not be expecting it. In a follow through of the move, she shoved towards his side in an attempt to throw him off balance. If he wasn't able to catch himself, maybe she could knock him off his feet.

YAY! lol rolled a 12

Reyson could attest to you use it or you lose it. Since coming here, he had realized he had grown complacent in his skills. Oh he could still tumble with someone and fight if he needed too, but it wasn't as good as it used to be. Granted, it maybe his age, but he didn't wish to dwell on that factor. Regardless that he was getting up there towards middle age.

A smile lit up his face at her move. She was learning. But it also put him in her line of fire. She knocked into him and though it rocked him a good few paw steps back, and he was about to land hard. He turned as he fell and snapped at the side she had left open to shove into him, hoping to scour a hit. He didn't want to hurt her, just use her advantage to his advantage, because sometimes you go sloppy when you succeeded. And give himself enough time to scramble to his feet.

15!! Close! I'll leave it up to you if she gets him this round or no <3

It worked, at least in part! Tierra felt the thrill of success as he stumbled and her eyes narrowed with determination. It was so tempting to immediately rush in and finish it!! But she remembered fighting Germanicus, and how something that looked like a sure thing wasn't always so sure.

Good thing, too! His snap definitely caught her off guard, but she was ready enough that it clipped her side rather than catching hold of her pelt. It was now or never. If she let him take a moment to prepare he'd probably take the advantage and win. She had to ride this luck.

She reared up and shoved his back with her forelegs, putting all of her weight into the move. If she succeeded, the move would knock him over and she could pin him down. If she didn't, her side would be open to a hit from him and the fight would likely turn. She wasn't quite practiced enough to know how to minimize the risk yet - another lesson to learn.

12 so we will say she won that one :D <3

Reyson saw her weigh her options, and it was good too. Never attempt to get to near a wolf that was down, if you weren't certain of success. He wore the scars for that very reason.

He didn't get a mouthful of much, but it was a lesson learned. She jammed into him again. This time her forelegs along his back. She hit him just so that it caused his legs to press down, and though she didn't manage to get him completely prone. He was down enough that he was at her mercy. Which wasn't a good place to be at anytime with any wolf.  

And he was tired. She was faster, had more stamina and younger.

Woah!! She got him down, but he managed to stay upright for the most part. She had expected to be able to knock him on his side, but the way she had to pin him now, she could tell that it wasn't nearly as big of an advantage. His belly and neck were both well guarded from her.

Nice!! Tierra laughed and hopped back, obviously in a much better mood after this bout. The embarrassment of the first was completely forgotten with the excitement. You went down without really, y'know, pushing back, but it meant I couldn't attack as well? Since I was just on your back! That's so cool. She was too enthused to slow down her talking much, but she realized an instant later that gushing kinda brought her own cool factor down a tidge. Gotta chill, girl. I'm so going to remember that.

Maybe, next time, even Germanicus would have a hard time getting her off her paws.

The only reason he had managed to stay upright, was his sheer size compared to hers. But had she hit him just a little lower he would have gone down.

If you had come down at an angle, you would have had me on my back, rather than just down. He gave her a cursory smile, a gentle lift of lips. And turned his head to look at her sideways. He settled to his haunches while she exuded excitement.


You did good. She was learning and she was learning fast. She would be a formidable fighter if she kept up this pace.

Her stomach fluttered under his smile and his compliments, and Tierra looked back with a confident grin. The attention just made her more sure she really liked being a soldier here, and she had forgotten any of her previous bad feelings entirely.

C'mon. I definitely need a drink after that! Then maybe you can show me a couple more moves. She didn't want to let him go just yet, and she was totally going to ask for his advice on some pins. Because... no reason, of course. Without even waiting for a response, she spun and started making her way towards water.

took a bit for me to wrap! But this is last for me <3

Reyson was oblivious to her reaction to his smile or compliments, but weren't most males. Especially, older ones who had no business even entertaining the thought of young females. Though usually they ahd other ideas and got their way in the end.

Lead the way. he got to large paws, and shifted his weight. Blue gaze on hers for a beat of a minute. He would show her all she wanted to know if it was within his power.

Thank you for the thread.<3

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