A glint of steel (Open)

[Rowana]

Merridan poised herself gracefully on the balls of her feet. She was dressed as she usually did for morning exercises: tight fitting pants, boots, and short sleeved shirt. Even so, she still looked like a boy. Nature hadn't bothered to endow her with much in the way of female anatomy. Balanced in her hand was a medium sized dirk. Several other daggers and knives were tied in sheathes around her person. She'd even recently increased her armory to include wrist guards.

Eyes closed, Mer took a deep, calming breath, her weapon at the ready. Her eyes opened and she lunged at her enemy. Strike, parry, strike, dodge, an intricate dance of movements that were almost too fast for the eye to see. Mer ducked and weaved, circling on her feet as she balanced on delicate feet. Her blade flashed in the morning sun as it spun around her target. Spinning quickly, Mer turned to give her foe one last stab and...

"Chirp!"

"Vikky!" Mer nearly dropped the dirk in a wild effort not to hit her fire lizard. The silly creature had decided to land on top of her practice dummy and try to put it's arm back up right. "Shards and shells," Mer breathed, trying to calm herself down. "Auran! You were supposed to keep her away from me while I practice!" The blue, watching from a nearby tree, snorted indifferently. What was he supposed to do? Sit on her?

I think Vikky feels sorry for it, Chaoth chuckled from behind her. He leaned over her head, blocking the sunlight. I am glad not to be on the other end of your blade myself. Mer sighed, but smiled patiently at Vikky. "I still need practice. My reaction time is slow." Vikky had just proved that, and she needed to learn to deal with surprises better.

Practice makes perfect! Chaoth agreed. He stood tall, stretching his wings experimentally. Chaoth was a big believer in achieving things by ones own efforts. Shall we try flying later? He wanted to get better at agility in the air. His size made turns and tricks difficult. "Sure. Just let me have another go at this first." Mer plucked Vikky off the dummy, much to the green's distress, and put her back on the branch with Auran. "Now stay!" Turning back, she ready her blade to begin again.

[heisokufire9]

Y'kiro sighed. He was walking along the river no particular destination in mind. He was just enjoying being out. It was a pretty morning. The lean brown at his side was enjoying the start to the day as well. Suddenly his head perked up.

Mine I think I hear someone up ahead. And I think they are practicing with a blade. the dragonet said excitedly and took off.

"Auwanath! Wait...shards!" Y'kiro muttered following after the brown. They came to a clearing where a girl with a green firelizard and a brown dragon were. It was obvious from the dummies that the girl was practicing. That and the dirk in her hand.

Look mine! She is practicing with a blade! Oh do ask her to give you some lessons! Auwanath pleaded turning hopeful eyes to Y'kiro. The pale blonde sighed running a hand through his bangs and glanced at the girl.

"Sorry to bother you. Auwanath wanted to watch and I could use a little practice myself." he said.

[Rowana]

Auran was first to notice they had company. He gave a warning cry and soared down to Merridan's shoulder as she turned around. Vikky fluttered around the tree in confusion, not really sure who to greet first she was so excited. Chaoth raised his head and rumbled pleasantly to the younger brown. Good day, young brother! They hadn't met officially yet, but Chaoth thought of all dragons as brother's a sisters. Mine and I were just exercising, will you join us? Truth be told, Chaoth wasn't doing much at the moment, but he could only do so much while Merridan was busy with swords. Besides, he had learned well that it was just as important for Mer to learn to defend herself as for him.

Merridan raised an eyebrow at the newcomer. Was he one of the new weyrlings? She wasn't positive, but given the size of the dragon with him, that seemed likely. She shrugged and offered he hand. "It's not a bother, unlike some green flyers I could name," she sent Vikky a annoyed look. The little think spun around Auwanath's head, chirping greetings almost too fast to understand. Mer sighed. "It's what I get for letting her drink too much tea in the morning." Auran snorted from her shoulder, as if to declare his opinion of giving in to silly desires like tea. "Swordplay, eh?" Mer continued. She couldn't say she was opposed to having a sparing partner for a while. "Do you have a blade?"

[heisokufire9]

Y'kiro nodded. "I do have a blade. I'm Y'kiro by the way and this is Auwanath." he replied shaking her hand. Auwanath rumbled pleasantly back at Chaoth.

We would be happy to join you. he replied glancing up at the flitter circling his head. Good morning to you too. he greeted the flitter amusement flashing through his eyes.

"She like tea huh? Well that's interesting. I didn't know firelizards liked tea." Y'kiro said chuckling a bit as he added, "But I'll remember it makes them hyper."

[Rowana]

Manners, Merridan, Chaoth tutted privately. He was more amused than annoyed. You forgot to introduce us. Yes, mother, Mer answered with mild sarcasm. She would have rolled her eyes too, but that might have been confusing. "Good. Nice to meet you," she answered Y'kiro with a grin. "I'm Mer, that's Chaoth, this is Auran," she jerked her head at the blue fire lizard on her shoulder. "And the hyper one is Vikky." She shook her head, trying not to laugh. Vikky was so happy to get a reply from Auwanath, that's she'd landed on his head with her wings flopped out like a hat.

"I don't think they do," she went on thoughtfully, thinking about fire lizards and tea. "Auran doesn't, anyway, only Vikky. She's an odd one." Vikky even looked odd, with her over sized hind legs and small forelegs. She looked more like a grey-green hopper with wings, than a fire lizard sometimes. She shrugged, moving away from the topic. "How much do you know?" she asked, holding up her dirk. She wanted to gauge his skill, before they jumped straight to sparing.

[heisokufire9]

Auwanath was a bit startled at the flitter landing on his head but he didn't really mind. I will watch Y'kiroMine. This should be fun. the young brown crooned. Y'kiro resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"I know enough to keep myself alive but not much more." he answered Mer and added to Chaoth and Auran, "It's nice to meet you." He was rather amused that Vikky had chosen Auwanath as her perch but as long as the brown was fine with it Y'kiro didn't mind. He pulled out his own dirk and checked the blade. 'Thank faranth it's still good. I'll have to remember to keep it clean.' he thought absently as he glanced back at Mer.

"What do you want to start with?" he asked.

((OOC: Pretty much Y'kiro only knows the basics. As he said only enough to keep him alive. Mer is probably more skilled. Feel free to beat up on him a little XD he needs some humbling.))

[Rowana]

Not to be out done, Auran soared gracefully away from Merridan's shoulder. At least until a small gust of wind send him tumbling through the air. Ignoring Vikky's chittering laugh, he landed on Chaoth's head. From here he could gaze down at the practice fight and keep an eye on his foolish younger sister.

Mer nodded while she considered. She had been hoping he would be a skilled practice partner, but it sounded like he at least had a good start. His blade looked alright too. "I guess we should start with the basics." No time like the present either. "Guard up!" She warned, before raising her own blade. She brought up an easy strike aimed for his left arm. Not fast enough to actually hit him if she didn't want to, but fast enough to see if his reaction time was good.

[heisokufire9]

"Guard up!" was Y'kiro's only warning before Mer was aiming a strike at his arm. He managed to parry the blow and was only vaguely surprised at the strength behind the blow. Well she did have some training he reminded himself as he struck back at her right side.

'She's pretty good.' Y'kiro thought.

Auwanath watched with fascination as His and Mer started training. His seemed to be able to hold his own fairly well. He wasn't the most skilled but at least he wasn't getting his butt whipped. That would have been just sad.

[Rowana]

Good, Merridan thought with approval. Y'kiro had reacted well and his balance was good, or else he might have stumbled. He might only know basics, but he clearly knew them well. That would make this much more fun. It had been quite a while since Mer had had a good partner. She hoped she wouldn't prove too out of practice herself.

She parried his blow, testing the weight behind his blade as she pushed it aside. Faster, she brought her next swing lower, going for his legs. This was a good tactic to knock an opponent off balance, and one Mer liked since size was not usually on her side.

[heisokufire9]

Y'kiro wasn't surprised when Mer parried his blow. She'd been training with her weapon probably much longer than he had so it was only natural that she had good reaction time. He barely managed to parry the blow to his legs after she pushed his blade aside. He retaliated by aiming for her side.

Pride shone in Auwanath's eyes for his bonded. Y'kiro was doing well in his training.
Ours are doing well are they not Chaoth? the younger brown asked of the older. It was evident that both of theirs knew the basics well though Mer might have the upper hand because of more practice and knowledge. But that was yet to be discovered.

[Rowana]

Merridan decided to change things up a little. Instead of parrying Y'kiro's strike for her side, she stepped backward, allowing the blade to swing past. The weyrling was still doing well, Mer decided. In time she was sure he could be an excellent swordsmen. Like anything, it would take practice, but that was why she got up so early everyday to come out here. As Y'kiro's blade whooshed past, she brought hers back up in a thrust for his midsection.

They are indeed, Chaoth agreed with approval. He was pleased that Mer had someone else to practice with. She was constantly complaining about the limitations of just using dummies. Anything that helped her improve, Chaoth thought was a very good thing. The boy was doing well too, and the older brown admired his willingness to jump right into the fray. Not that Mer gave people much time to think. Yours learns quickly, Auwanath, Chaoth went on thoughtfully. Perhaps my Merridan will have a challenge.

[heisokufire9]

Y'kiro stumbled a bit as he overreached but managed to avoid getting cut on Mer's blade. As he was avoiding her blade however he tripped over a root and landed on his butt. Blinking startled for a moment as he wondered how that had happened he got to his feet with a sheepish look on his face.

"Well that was embarassing." he said and added, "But thanks for the practice. You're really good. I enjoyed it."

She may have if she hadn't changed up on him. Auwanath agreed with the older brown. Y'kiro's eyes flickered to his brown momentarily before going back to Mer.

"Are you going to be out here practicing anymore?" he asked tilting his head. He didn't want to end the training session but he probably needed to get back to the barracks.

[Rowana]

Merridan was a bit surprised when Y'kiro fell farther back that she'd anticipated. She brought her blade back, trying to hide a laugh at his predicament. He did look a little awkward having stumbled like that. She offered a hand to help him up, but it looked like he had it well under control. "Could have been worse," she told him lightly. "You could have landed in dung." That was her painful lesson the first time she'd lost her footing in blade lessons.

Sheathing the dirk, she grinned. "Thanks," she returned. "It was good to have a partner for once. You're pretty good for a beginner," she admitted thoughtfully. "You need to get better with your feet is all." She tried not to look embarrassed at the praise. She wasn't that good. Most of her brothers, plus a large number of the older riders, could still beat her easily. Still, she had been working hard to get where she was, so it was nice to hear someone say she was having some success.

Chaoth chuckled, but not unkindly. She may have gotten a little too excited, he confessed. Mer rolled her eyes at him. Sometimes he could be such a mother hen. Yours still did well. Chaoth went on, ignoring Mer's look with long practice.

Shaking her head at the dragons, Mer turned back to Y'kiro. "Maybe a bit longer," she said, after a moment's thought. "But I promised Chaoth we'd do flying drills this morning too." She eyed the new weyrling critically for a moment. "Would you like to practice with me again, sometime? I can't say I'm the best teacher, but maybe we can at least keep your feet on the ground."