Stringwork (kovac)

[Shayth]

Shayth made a small noise of amusement as she moved away, shaking her head as Kovac heckled her.

"Have you seen the company I keep? I am kept under strict watch my a bird that would sooner rip of your head than hear you speak." Pausing thoughtfuly, she tapped her thigh with her bow.

"Of course, I'll pass on your name to her. Regardless of todays outcome. I think you might actually get along." the sarcasm dripped off her words. Watching quietly as the man drew back on the bow, she appreciated the small nuiances of his stance. Wider. Stronger. More grounded. And his musculature was better built for the bow-work. The redhead could only watch in obvious disgust as the arrow sailed smoothly into the centre of the target. Shooting the irritating man a glare, she mo ed to line herself up, butting his shoulder slightly on the way past. Picking an arrow, she stared down the line at the small round board. How did he manage to hit that?! Shaking off the incredulaty, she notched the next arrow. Lining it up, she pulled back harder this time and aimed into the wind more. Pursing her lips as she concentrated, the rider let loose. Flying through the air as its own entity, the arrow drove home higher this time. Too high but only just. It had landed between the centre black and the middle yellow. It was almost half black and half yellow. Humphing audiably, Shayth turned to narrow her eyes at Kovac.

"Your shot. Perhaps you'll get another lucky hit. Because thats all tht first shot is. Pure luck!" she said it with a smile, poking his firmly in the bicep.

[Kovac]

Shayth was living up to her reputation. There was venom under her tongue and acid in her gaze. Kovac secretly delighted in aggravating her. But he held his tongue at her barbed remarks about her eagle. He had the utmost respect for Skyinarta's wind eagles. Besides, Turiska indeed had a reputation for a bad temperament towards men. Best to avoid crossing the great eagle's path. Kovac scowled as Shayth roughly shouldered past him. But then a well hidden grin slip across his face as he realized how irritated the fiery Rider had become. He grudgingly admired how she kept her frustration well controlled behind a veil of sarcasm and subtle bullying. He would have to bait her more if he was to get a good rise out of her. He watched with a smirk as Shayth loosed her next arrow, hitting closer but not close enough. Before he could conjure a jibe to stab at her, the tall Rider made her own jab at him, a pathetic claim of luck punctuated by a rather forceful poke in the arm that he still felt after she moved on. Well, Kovac admitted only to himself, maybe a little luck came into play. He readied himself for his next shot, feeling Shayth's steely gaze on him as if it had actual weight. Trying to shake the unnerving feeling, Kovac steadied himself and let loose his second arrow. The missile landed outside the center, just above, nearly identical to the Rider's shot. The archer grimaced, staring down the range and avoiding Shayth's eyes.

[Shayth]

Shayth grinned from ear to ear as Kovac's shot soared high, just like hers. So he wasn't quite as good as she had believed. Maybe her challenge had been a good pick. Movin to line up her shot, the redhead looked at him and chuckled.

"Interesting shot..." She said in a curious tone, before lifting her bow and aiming - lower this time and to the right a little. Waiting as a breeze pushed past her, she held her aim till the wind subsided, then let loose. The arrow slipped through the air and hit the black ring. It wasn't centre, but it was her best shot so far. Letting out a small cry of triumph, she spun to face Kovac.

"Now we have a competition!" The rider said with a genuine smile. Moving away so he could take his shot, Shayth placed her hands on her hips, waiting almost patiently.

[Kovac]

As Kovac stared down range at his less-than-stellar shot, he refused to meet Shayth's eyes. He did not want to see the gloating glee that surely shone from them. He grumbled something unintelligible as the tall Rider retorted, his eyes daring to dart quickly at the redhead. There it was, the gleeful gloating. Biting his tongue, Kovac watched with ever-increasing annoyance as the woman landed an arrow at center target. His knuckles turned white as his gripped tightened on his short bow. This was getting serious. In no way could he allow this high-and-mighty Rider show him up on the range. Her snug celebration of her first bullseye evoked a grimace from the irritated archer, who chafed even at Shayth's over-confident posture. Competition indeed. Blowing out a puff of air that Kovac hoped would ease his nerves, the Avora plucked up another arrow and set it to the bow, raising it for a third shot. He held his stance firm, drawing back the bowstring slowly and deliberately. He held it steady, poised to release, until he felt his pulse slow and the breeze die down. Satisfied he had compensated for all variables in his aim, Kovac release the string to send the arrow streaking away. The shaft landed center...dead center. Lowering the bow, Kovac turned slowly, revealing a huge, crooked grin that he beamed directly at the Endal. "I dare you to call that luck, Rider. That's two in the center..Shayth." He followed up with a randy wink, just to add an extra jab to his taunting.

[Shayth]

Watching Kovac as he lifted his bow, the rider couldn't help but continue to smile, pleased as punch she had landed her shot. It seemed luck was on her side right now. Crossing her arms as she waited, her blue eyes glanced up at the sky for a moment. There was a faint murmur, a sort of chirruping. Turiska was doing something she enjoyed. Eating, or preening. Either way, she wasn't coming back till she was ready. And that wasn't-

The sound of an arrow hitting the target distracted her thoughts, and her gaze tore back to the board. A still quivering arrow jutted out directly from dead centre. Her smile faded into a small gape and she blinked, staring at it in almost disbelief. Clamping her jaw shut and looking at Kovac out of the corner of her eye, she balled her hand into a fist. This was ridiculous, this stupid competition and his stupid grin. Why couldn't he just leave her in peace. It wasn't as if she was bothering him to start with...not really.

It was the wink that did it. Cheeks slightly red, the woman swore suddenly and threw down her bow. Turning to face the avora, she shook her head.

"You rotten petching...man! Show some respect!" She said angrily, shoving him suddenly in the chest. There was a difference in height, and her muscles were toned for the grip and finesse of eagle riding, but she lacked the upper body strength of the archer. Still, her shove wasn't anything to laugh at.

"Is it the bird, or the fact I'm a woman? Because I could still kick your ass." The redhead had lost her temper now. Stupid bird, stupid Kovac. Stupid everything. She pushed him again. And again. It was obvious she was just looking for a fight now. It wasn't the good or right thing to do, she knew that...but there was only so much a girl could take.

[Kovac]

Kovac rejoiced when the tall girl finally snapped and began to rant at him. However, his snarky grin faded as Shayth, red-faced and clearly angry, came at him. Not suspecting her to shove him, her attack caught him off balance and he stumbled back. And she kept coming. Kovac had wanted to set the Endal off, to frustrate her, but he underestimated her reputation. He had gone too far. She was strong, and the force behind her pushing only confirmed what her words were indicating, she wanted to fight. Engaging in a fight with someone of a higher class was asking for trouble. But at this point, Kovac wasn't sure he could stop it, or if he wanted to. Then there was the eagle. If the eagle caught wind of him beating on her rider, there would be little left of him to bury or burn. But he couldn't just let the Rider shove him all around the range. "Careful Rider, are you sure you want this?" The next shove she aimed at him, Kovac twisted to the side, her hands missing his bared chest. He let Shayth's momentum carry her past him, then Kovac gave her a hard shove in the back. "I don't care if you are a Rider or a woman." He shot her a feral grin.

[Shayth]

Caught off balance by his quick move, Shayth stumbled. Falling with a gasp, she pushed herself to her hands and knees, looking up at him through a curtain of fiery hair. Narrowing her blue eyes she scowled. It was just getting her more and more riled up. What petching right did he have anyway?

"You don't care about anything but yourself, drudge." She said in a soft voice, before she stood up and took a swing at his jaw. It was more a slap than a punch, truth be told the rider wasn't particularly skilled in hand to hand combat. But she was angry, and insulted. There was a look in her eyes and a quickening of her breath. Adreniline pumped through her veins like some chronic addiction. Somewhere in her mind a little voice scolded her for hitting another inarta...but she ignored it.

[Kovac]

Immensely pleased to see the haughty Endal looking up at him from her hands and knees, quite undignified with her long red hair hanging around her face, Kovac's wry grin returned with a scoff. He rested his hands on his hips as she stood to her feet, not sure of what the fuming Rider would do next. Shayth was living up to her name when her harsh accusation began to wipe the smile from Kovac's face, the rest erased as her open hand unexpectedly struck his cheekbone. The force was enough to snap his head around, leaving a stinging red hand print on his face. He was a bit shocked, realizing now that he would indeed have to engage the feisty Rider in a brawl. Kovac spun back, a look of surprise shifting into one of focused indignation. "Drudge?!" The fiery Endal had managed to turn the tables on the Avora, who now found himself losing his temper. And Kovac had no qualms about hitting a woman. "You arrogant bitch!" He seethed. The archer lunged forward, bringing his balled fist forward in a quick jab to Shayth's stomach.

[Shayth]

There was a deep satisfaction as her hand stung in the aftermath of the slap, the imprint on his cheek a heartening sign of her attack. It wasn't appropriate, but it made her feel better. As she watched his face turn from haughty pleasure to shock, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt. This was not right. She knew that in her stomach. The redhead raised a hand, preparing to step forward and apologise.

Shayth felt her pulse quicken as he turned on her, fiery in his anger. It was almost admirable, but there wasn't time to marvel. He was lunging, swinging low into her abdomen. Moving to grab at his hand, she turned sideways away from the punch. Still, she was slower, and he caught her solidly in the firm muscles of her stomach. Grunting and bent over slightly, she turned more to roll inwards towards him, sweeping out at his legs as she went. The woman didn't have his upper body strength, but spending time gripping onto the body of an eagle in flight had strengthened the muscles in her thighs and legs. If she wanted to get an advantage, she needed to use her best assets.

[Kovac]

Kovac's balled fist solidly met Shayk's abdomen, the archer surprised by the firm corded muscle beneath her smooth skin. She took the blow well, not doubling over, but only slightly bowing. And she was a quick thinker. Her long legs moved around him, catching his calves as his momentum carried him forward, and sweeping his own legs out from under him. Airborn for a moment, Kovac landed with a sickening thud on his back. His breath seized in his chest, his lungs refusing to expand. The archer's eyes bugged and his mouth opened, silently groping for the air that would not come. His hand banged against the ground until his body finally kicked in and Kovac drew in a loud gasp like a drowning man who had finally found the water's surface. He drew in several sweet, deep breaths before turning his gaze to Shayth. Suddenly his scowl turned into a rare phenomenon. A laugh. Not a sarcastic or malicious laugh, an honest, belly laugh. He rolled and jumped to his feet, beaming at the tall Rider. She was fiery. He liked that. With a sudden charge, he went at her again, this time sidestepping her with his right arm extended to his side, catching her across the chest above her breasts and below her shoulders in attempt to knock her onto her back and return the favor.