And Miles to Go Before I Sleep (Tazi)

[Tinnok]

And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
5th of Winter, 510 A.V.

Tinnok rarely knew what to do with days on leave. Most any day that wasn't engrossed in scouting missions, recon, defending the blockade of Zinrah, she was either resting from injuries or getting new ones sparring Razkar in the Arena of Ancients. Sometimes she hunted and brought the kills back to Tempered Steel Lands, sometimes she visited Kohl in the Tskanna Training yards, enjoying the quiet company of the massive moss covered beasts.

Today none of those things seemed to suffice, she wanted a good fight, but Razkar was off in the wilds with his fang, a story she would no doubt learn once he returned. Her fingers slid over a dagger hilt thoughtfully as the half breed marched into the Training Yards.

Now that she had her Phylonura mark, the looks she was given were veiled. She was marked by Caiyha, and Goddess knew that would save her skin more than once during her military service. There was still hate, loathing, sometimes even apathy, but she had faced more and worse before, and liked to imagine the looks bouncing off of scaled skin.

Golden eyes slid across the dusty packed earth of the training yards. A couple barely blooded fangs were sparring, more veteran warriors pooling off to the sides, paired off and practicing more intensely, giving the new bloods something to strive for. Tinnok didn't much like showing off, but she had an itch she needed to scratch...now she just needed to find someone that would relieve it...

Most of the warriors paid her no mind, too caught up in training bouts to worry about one shadowed figure at the edge of their vision. Tinnok grabbed a long spear off the rack, flipping it clumsily in her hands, and began looking around hungrily.

[Tazi]

Tazi stood in the shadows, watching, waiting. Coming to the end of her service marked her as a veteran although many knew she was not skilled enough to be called a veteran. Very few respected her for her fighting prowess. Most respected her for her ability to think quickly and utilize nature to stay Dira a few extra bells. Yet, even they knew her faults. Healing would only get one so far in life. Tazi even excepted the fact that she did not know how to fight well, and that would get her into a lot of trouble. She was going to have to learn someday.

From her shadowed spot, she watched as a young soldier, at least younger than she was, moved to the weapons rack. Everyone else was engaged in training. Some were watching, some were guiding, some were fighting each other. Blood, both fresh and dark red, littered the dirt around fangs that were practicing. They were all too busy to notice the two loners in the arena. The spear looked awkward in her hands as Tazi watched her. Was she new to the army? What clan would send her to Myri's cause without so much as training her to hold a weapon. Decidedly, Tazi chose that moment to advance on the woman's position at the weapons rack. Maybe she could be of help. Maybe.

As she moved closer, Tazi got this feeling that something was off about the woman other than being without a fang. It was the cold, predatory stare that made her pause in her advancement. Her eyes were gold, and it sent a chill down her spine. This woman, even though she looked fairly Myrian, was a half-breed. Tazi curled her fingers into a fist, standing rigid in her spot a few paces away from the rack. Not many things got to her, but she could not understand how someone could love a Dhani so to produce offspring with them. "I'm surprised they haven't fallen on your like voracious dogs..." Tazi found herself thinking. Either this woman commanded some respect from those around her, or the other warriors hadn't noticed there was a half-breed in their midst.

Shaking her head of all these strange - and aggressive - thoughts, she finished her movement to the weapons rack. There she ran her fingers on the cold steel of various weapons, finally selecting a simple dagger. Although Tazi did not prefer combat, she seemed to have a knack for getting into close combat situations. Dagger had proven to be a very handy tool in those kinds of encounters. Turning around, keeping a safe distance between her and the half-breed, she inspected the dagger. Every now and then, she would give sideways glances to the woman. Finally, and to her surprise, Tazi found herself eventually staring at the woman. Then, the words fell from her lips, clumsy and stupid.

"What is it like, being a half-breed?"

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Myrian

[Tinnok]

She wasn't looking, but heard the feet approach the rack beside hers. A glint of steel in the sunlight revealed the weapon the woman took, and Tinnok stole a glance at her. She was the picture of a strong Myrian woman, at least to the half breed's eyes. Deeply tanned, long dark hair, a fierce glint in her eye. Sometimes she would wistfully wonder what it must feel like to simply belong. To walk casually down a dirt pathway and to barely stir a second glance because you are simply the same as everyone else...

And it seemed a very similar vein was on the woman's mind as she opened her mouth and those words fell out.

Her eyes turned a much yellower color as she looked up, Syna's rays showing off the slitted black pupils. She stuck the spear tip in the air, sinking the butt of the weapon into the packed earth, sizing up the woman. "It is as if the entire world is weighed against you. Now shall you fight me?" She said every word matter of factly. The question was a strange one, one she didn't normally receive. She was used to insults, instantaneous assumption of how she was because of her tainted blood, not curiosity about it.

She took several long limber strides backward, twisting the spear around in attempt to get used to it. She knew her way around a dagger well, but not this long heavy weapon, but that was why she was here, to learn by trial and error. She would also know any tricks this female had up her sleeve if she knew dagger work as well...something that could play to her advantage despite her novice skills with the spear in her hand.

When Tazi seemed ready with her weapon, Tinnok would step forward. The spear which had been grasped lightly in her right hand would flip forward, the spear out, her left foot extending up and over, her right pushing to drive the tip of the spear straight for Tazi's gut. Simple...too simple, but she needed to see what this female had in store for her one way or another.

[Tazi]

Tazi knew that opening her mouth had gotten her into more trouble when that serpentine gaze solidified on her face. The dark gold irises sent a chill down her spine. She had seen it before, imbedded in the scaled faces of large serpents. Yet, to see it centered on a Myrian facade was quite a different story. The way she stood did not help ease Tazi's insecurities as the butt of the spear settled into the ground, the tip forcing a quick shattering of light as it reflected the rays of sun just right. The words of the young soldier, now her opponent, made Tazi edgy. She had asked a simple question? How on earth did that mean they would fight. Grumbling at her own naivety for insulting the half-breed, Tazi gripped the hilt of the blade. Even though she didn't want to, backing down from this would cause more problems than she needed at the moment.

Tazi had little idea how to use a dagger other than the pointy end was the hurtful end. In her Fang, she was protected and only required enough skill in fighting to fake out her opponent and go back to hiding until she was needed in the aftermath. Her forte was healing, not causing pain. Yet, here she was again, having to dig herself out of trouble with another person. The last time she remembered getting into this kind of trouble was years ago when she got into a brawl with a young girl from the Cutthroat Shadows. Maybe, just maybe, she could use some of the techniques she had learned then now. Lowering her center of gravity and holding the dagger awkwardly in front of her, she tried to anticipate how one would fight with a spear.

She did not have a lot of time to think about the many options that someone could use a spear before it was being jabbed at her. She spun away to one side, twisting and turning on her toes to make it easier for her to move. Imagining the dagger like a sword, she tried to slice upwards It was heavier than she imagined, and developed more resistance through the air. Her slice was slow. Scowling, she prepared herself mentally for a very harsh blow in retaliation. Maybe she should have practiced a bit before she had opened her big mouth.

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Myrian

[Tinnok]

Tinnok's brow furrowed in concentration. Her grip ont he spear was weak. Knowing the ins and outs of the lighter daggers did not prepare her for stabbing the heavy shaft. It shook in her grip, and she didn't know where to put her arms to lessen it. She found herself being dragged with the blow, her opponent dodging easily and coming at her with...

Tinnok's eyes widened, her lips smirking as the dagger cleaved upward toward her. It was almost as if the female was trying to fence with the dagger. She wiped off the expression swiftly, realizing she had no room to boast when she could barely keep hold of her spear. She regained composure, tilting her head to the side and simultaneously leaning backward to avoid the blow, and letting herself fall back, shoulders over her back, holding the spear in two fists and rolling backward over her curled fits in a neat somersault before jumping up and triyng the same exact move again.

This time she tried to center her weight, one foot back, one forward and she stepped in time witht he jab towards Tazi's stomach. This move was slow, too slow because she was more focused on making sure her body was in sync with the weapon. The Tempered Steel had many lessons about becoming one with your weapon, this was simply another.

Her grip still shook, she wasn't sure how far down and apart to place her hands on the spear, but the movement was smoother, felt...right in her hands, and this made her smile again.

[Tazi]

Tazi grew a little frightened when Tinnok’s face changed from disappointment to a smirk. Or had it actually been a frown? Tazi could not remember because it had been a fleeting attitude change. The dagger had floated through the air, neither nicking skin or even a bug. It was rather sad, her attempts to use a dagger. It was a short weapon, which made it even more dangerous. This half-breed was using a weapon that extended her reach. Granted the pointy end was only so long, and if Tazi could get in close enough, that would make her spear obsolete. This thought triggered a new idea in Tazi’s mind, keeping her somewhat distracted while her opponent regained her composure and stance.

Tazi was barely capable of moving out of the way from a serious blow, taking a relatively shallow gash to her right abdominal area. Had she been focusing, it would have been another easy attack to dodge. Blood smeared along the tip of her opponent’s spear, while some of it began to well and drip towards her pants. Grumbling slightly due to her own stupidity, she switched the dagger clumsily between her right to her left hand. If she was fast enough, she would grip the shaft of her opponents spear, pushing it away from her body before lunging forward. Tazi kept the dagger down, instead going for a more physical attack. All she had to do was get in close, and the battle would be more in her field of play.

OOCSorry it is a bit on the short side. I'm getting a feel for the fight.

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Myrian

[Tinnok]

oocNo worries!

Tinnok had a sudden realization that this was not a fair fight in the slightest, even though she was the one acting a child with her spear, attempting to simply get a feel for it. Her move had been slow, and in her mind, easy to dodge. But then again the half breed had been dodging things stabbing at her for her entire life. Something about the way her opponent both handled her weapon and the fight made Tinnok imagine a child just learning how to fight. At first her mind thought of the rudeness of this, but simultaneously she contemplated the absurdity of it. All Myrian children were taught to fight from a very young age, handling wooden weapons before they could walk, going on hunts, visiting the training yards before out of swaddling yards. How had this female slipped through?

As these thoughts were roiling through her mind, Tazi came in for another attack with her dagger. She was trying to get in close, negating the tip of Tinnok’s spear. Now that was clever, a tactic she herself employed with those weapons. She watched closely, stepping backwards in time with Tazi’s lunge, and stepping to the side, Tazi’s fist hitting herside loosely and causing the half breed to grunt, but avoid the blade entirely. Tinnok turned and lunged backwards. Currently her spea rtip was facing Tazi, so she decided to try something to keep from cutting her opponent up in a spar anymore, and flipped the Spear awkwardly in her hands in attempt to bring the butt of the weapon as she turned it, directly down on Tazi’s head. Hit or miss Tinnok would lunge backward, butt of the spear outwards to try to keep Tazi from closing the gap with her dagger again. She was used to close combat with her own daggers, it was time to try keeping the fight at a distance.

Her breathing was getting heavier, and now she spoke. “That last move was good, but you must strike where your opponent is going to be, not where they are when you attack. Keep your dagger ready until you know you have an opening to land a hit, or you will land none.”

She danced from one foot to another, a small smile alighting her face. “I do not mean offense…but you do not seem good at this. Have you served your time in the military, or are you a new recruit?” She honestly did not want to insult the woman, but saw two possible outcomes. One, she would get angry and this would give Tinnok an advantage in their next little bout, or two she would learn more about her, both seemed advantageous possibilities in the eyes of the half breed.

[Tazi]

Something had changed, but Tazi wasn’t entirely sure what it was. Her dagger had missed, her knuckles meeting the soft flesh of the half-breed. At least she had landed something, even if it was not how she intended the strike to end. Light on her toes, she was able to dodge the flip of the spear and prevent a rather harsh tap on her head. That move would have been rude, embarrassing, and ultimately a blow to Tazi’s small ego. It would have simulated being hit by one of the elders with their cane when doing something incorrect. This was a spar, not a teaching lesson. That, and as far as she knew, the half-breed looked young than she was. Being scolded by a youth was even worse.

The words hit Tazi like a heavy slap in the face. Clearly the half-breed was more intuitive than she suspected. It was good advice, but Tazi did not want to outright admit that. It was when the half-breed began to dance on her toes and coyly smile at her did Tazi leap back to address what was being said.

“I am not good at this. I understand the dagger to an extent,” Tazi offered, holding the hilt tightly as she lowered her center of gravity. Just in case her opponent decided to take this moment to attack. “I am at the end of my time here. I am a healer. My fang protected me for my skills in medicine.”

She had little to no reason to fight when it came to small border skirmishes with wild animals or a nomadic Constrictor. All she had to do was get out of the way and bandage the wounded while the experts with weapons took care of the threat. With her time in the military coming to an end, she would have to find work elsewhere. Staying in the compound did not suit her in the least.

Returning her mind to the fight, Tazi tested her balance. If her opponent was going to offer up advice freely, it would be wise of her to try it out. Switching her dagger so that the point was facing up and towards the half-breed, she imagined where point A and point B would be. Then, she threw the dagger as best as she could towards Tinnok’s left. As it sloppily faltered through the air, being heavier and off balance for a throwing knife, Tazi lunged for Tinnok’s right. For some reason, she imagined that the half-breed would move in the opposite direction of the missile in hopes to dodge it. If she were lucky, Tazi would slide past the blunt aspect of the spear and wrap her arms around the woman’s abdomen. She was shooting to take her down to the ground and make her spear obsolete in this fight.

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Myrian

[Tinnok]

‘Healer’. The half breed mulled over this word. She knew of Myrians knowing of medicine and healing, but to have your fang protect you, for you not to be able to fight? Tinnok could not fathom such a thing. Or perhaps it was just that she could not fathom herself doing this. Her fang would have taunted her mercilessly, she already was taunted mercilessly, and she was a good fighter, to have that taken away…she would be next to nothing to them, and a shudder went down her spine at the thought.

But fighters needed healers, it was why the med bay of the barracks was always filled with them, really every fang should have one person focused on medicine, only Tinnok had never heard of someone focused in medicine and not fighting…Was that why she was not cruel to her? Or was it the fact that she did not have the prowess to beat Tinnok senseless, thus earning the right to be cruel to her? The half breed could not decide which.

In all of this, Tinnok was expecting another haphazard attack on the part of the woman, and so when the dagger flew clumsily from her grip, she thought she knew what was occurring. In fact those yellow eyes, almost like a hawk’s in that instant, sidestepped the move, one hand gripping the spear loosely, the other flashing out to grab the dagger. She was hoping to time the catch perfectly so that she could grab the hilt and simply pluck the weapon out of the air, but her coordination was not so expert yet. Instead she caught the blade, nicking two of her fingers, but managing to keep her hand mostly intact, a small gasp of pain escaping her throat, before she realized the whole dagger thing…had been a feint.

Stronger arms then she had expected wrapped bodily around her torso and the full weight of a Myrian woman shoved into her, toppling both of them to the ground. The air rushed out of Tinnok’s throat as her back landed heavily on the ground, a puff of dust dissipating into the air as she assessed her next move, lungs burning.

She had dropped the spear in the fall, but still held Tazi’s thrown dagger, and now held it to the woman’s throat. She had the advantage of being on top of Tinnok, but what precisely was she going to do with it?

“G-good.” Tinnok choked. “Tricked me, but it is a mistake to give up your weapon unless necessary, you don’t know when your opponent can use it to their advantage.”

To emphasize the point Tinnok pressed the dagger blade tighter against Tazi’s neck, though not hard enough to draw blood.

But the dagger was a feint for Tinnok too, whose knee slid with a scratching of gravel and dirt, moving between Tazi’s legs to ram up into her groin, hoping to get her off of her body and leap upwards and away with her new dagger in hand.

[Tazi]

Somewhere deep down, Tazi was overjoyed that the attack had worked. With all the brawls she had gotten into in the past, with a young eager girl to name one, it turned out Tazi was slightly better at hand to hand unarmed combat than understanding the use of a steel extension. The poof of smoke clouded around them as they collided with the ground. They laid there like a couple of lover, Tazi’s arms tightly around her middle until she managed to pull them somewhat free and move her palms to Tinnok’s shoulders. It was a fine pressure point to keep the woman down. The mistake was not binding her opponent’s hands, especially since they now held her former weapon.

Tazi looked down through half-lidded eyes, keeping her head up and barely moving as she felt the edge of the dagger against her throat. Cold steel was one thing, and she reveled in the fact that the half-breed was holding back slightly to prevent blood from running down her neck. Any other person probably would have left a mark, and a sharper blade would have done it just because that was what it was meant to do. Instead, it was a duller blade in the hand of someone who knew this was a spar. It kept her still though, and she believe that was the point as Tinnok’s knee came ramming up into her groin.

Her abdomen tightened as pain shot up through her hips. Tazi was forced to roll off to one side. Thankfully she was a woman and was quickly back on her feet. Without the extra parts that men had, she did not suffer quite the same pain. Now that kind of blow would have crippled a man. She had seen it done many times in her clan when she was younger during friendly spars between children. It was an easy blow to end a fight. Sometimes, she thought it was one reason why women were superior.

“You don’t have to teach me you know. No one has in the past, so why start now?” Tazi grumbled, not to fond of the pity that was often showered on her for being incapable to fight. She skipped back a few steps, kicking the spear away from her opponent at the same time. Tinnok had the dagger. She didn’t need the spear as well. Once at what she believed to be a safe distance, she leaned down and picked up the spear. It was heavier than the dagger, so she spaced her hands pretty far a part to hold on to it. Then she held the pointy part towards Tinnok. With no skill in either weapon, Tazi knew she would not win this fight. Of course, being in a fight had not been her goal in the first place.

“I do not mean to insult, as it was never my intention to offend you, but I never wanted to fight. I was just curious if you felt as alone in the world as I do.”

They had different backgrounds, but Tazi sometimes felt like a half-breed or a diseased, weak Myrian. She was completely capable of learning to fight, had the build for it and everything. It was the fact that she did not want to fight that crippled her. It made her just as much as an outcast as her opponent. Granted, she didn’t have the scourge of Dhani blood to add further damage to her name, but maybe the half-breed had already proven herself to make that point moot.

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Myrian