❝

Cowards and the brave are all looking to save what little pieces left of their imagination. 'Cause the rest is adrift deep inside the ocean.

⚓︎ The sun cast a shimmering glow over the crystalline world below. It was almost soundless up here today, the winds atypically caressed her skin instead of whipping it. The snowfall on these peaks were iced over making each footfall ring out with a satisfying crunch. Rivia stood at the precipice of the lookout and enjoyed the solitude for a few moments. She drank the winter air slowly, filling her lungs with the morning until she expelled a breath from her nostrils that coiled and faded.

Stepping back from the cliff, she turned to inspect the space she had to work with in order to create a training ring for the two women. While she could've asked @Sabine to meet her at the pit she has sparred at a few times, she felt like they would benefit from the seclusion they could achieve up here. Unbeknownst to Rivia, the idea was likely born from the selfishness to spend more time with her.

Rivia traced a circle in the snow, dredging her way through the powder until she was satisfied with the size. She used her body to push most of the snow out of the center and pack the edges, using a pine branch she brought with her to brush the ring out until the frozen stone underneath was reveled.

The dark cat pat the ground as if praising it somehow. Her dark cloak was tightly wrapped against her body, the hood hanging loosely over her head to shield herself from the cold while she waited for Sabine. Rivia idly licked in between her toes to remove any ice or sleet that clung to the sensitive skin from her building.

novi

    Before leaving her den, Sabine rolled amongst her herbs, cloaking her scent in that of unfamiliar fragrances. She had heard this was a way to cover her scent, so she wanted to give it a shot. Today's mission was stealth, at least until @Rivia noticed her, then it was "How Not to Get You Ass Kicked For Dummies, Volume 1" and she assumed that would be... less fun than scaring the dark cat.

    With ferocious strides, Sabine seemingly flew over the snow, gliding almost just above the surface. She did love running and likely her only advantage was that she was quite fast. As she made her way up the mountain, she slowed, quieting her steps. She picked the branched path that led to the lookout, sneaking low through the thicket. Sabine still moved relatively briskly, not wanting Rivia to wait too long...or maybe she just wanted to reach her sooner.

    The snow masked her footfalls and she moved with silent strides. There you are, Sabine thought to herself, spotting the woman prepping their battle zone. The lynx hunkered down, watching the feline move. She really was a scary creature if you're her enemy, which Sabine no longer was, but still, watching Rivia's muscles ripple beneath her skin had the smaller cat feeling all kinds of things. She studied her quietly.

**Sabine is attempting to stay hidden**

+5 Practice covering your scent (1/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*
+5 Study a dangerous animal (1/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*
+5 Practice running or speed (1/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*

❝

Cowards and the brave are all looking to save what little pieces left of their imagination. 'Cause the rest is adrift deep inside the ocean.

⚓︎ Time passed slowly and Rivia began to wonder if Sabine would make it. It seemed odd that she wouldn't show, but maybe Rivia jumped the gun on setting something up for them today. She wasn't entitled to her time — just like she wasn't to hers. Perhaps something came up.

Though, Rivia could admit to herself now that she was beginning to feel the pang of disappointment swell within her. As they spent more and more time together, she was starting to enjoy their time together and actually look forward to seeing her.

She thumped her tail on the ground and rose to her feet. Rivia paced the circumference of the handmade ring which evolved into fidgeting with the edges. That could only get her by for so long until she exited the ring and moved back to stand at the lookout. Violet eyes peered out into the great landscape below, her eyes darting to different landmarks as if she would somehow see the lynx from here. Rivia tapped her toes and debated how much longer she would wait for her.

Patience was hardly one of her strong suits, but overtime she had found she could expend more than she thought she could when it came to @Sabine. The dark cat lifted a paw and pulled her hood off her head and let the chill nibble on her ears; a drawn out exhale escaped her.

A few more minutes. Just in case.

novi

    Sabine was careful, tactful as she slipped through the brush unseen and undetected, even analyzing the breeze to further cloak her scent. She was a ghost; though, as she watched the dark, dangerous cat before her, she could see @Rivia's growing frustration as her patience slipped away. She picked up on the subtle movements and body language of her restless mind. The lynx wouldn't make her wait any longer.

    Like a shadow, she shifted through the thicket, from rock to rock, hiding place to hiding place, slowly erasing the distance between them. She was getting better at hunting, she had been practicing. Here in Amaryllis, she couldn't survive solely on fish, and it was clear she had made some significant improvements. She leaned back onto her haunches, her muscles tensed, ready to explode. She sank her claws into the earth for traction, shoulders rolling softly. With a little wiggle of her rump, Sabine was airborne.

    She sprang forward, seemingly out of nowhere and just mere steps away from Rivia. "Boo!" she cawed, sprinting passed her and whipping around her in a quick, tight circle before settling at her front like an eager puppy. "I'm here and ready to learn, Sensei!" Sabine said with a wide smile, her chest heaving with excitement, adrenaline, and also to simply catch her breath.

+5 Practice covering your scent (2/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*
+5 Study a dangerous animal (2/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*
+5 Practice running or speed (2/2) - Pathfinder *double xp*

❝

Cowards and the brave are all looking to save what little pieces left of their imagination. 'Cause the rest is adrift deep inside the ocean.

⚓︎ The atmosphere up here was still soundless and uneventful even after more time passed in her solitude. Rivia sighed and began to turn to take her leave from the peaks, but she was stopped. A paw was raised in the air at the ready to take a swipe at whoever had decided to sneak up on her — a sneer curdled her passive expression.

It was Sabine's smaller form that erupted from out of thin air, whipping around to her front where she heaved puffs of air between them.

Rivia curbed her defensive position and leaned back to sit down; plopping her rump in the snow with a 'hrmph'. She wiped the sprayed snow from her cheek and stared down at the grey cat. "You've been here the whole time," she questioned with a cheeky, lopsided grin, "haven't you?"

Patting the top of her head like she were a child, Rivia stood and walked past her into the ring she so tediously perfected for her. "Clearly, you don't need any help in the stealth department," She began stating over her shoulder, her voiced raised to make up for the distance she was starting to put between them by walking away.

"But your combat skills suck, Freckles." Rivia said, orienting herself to face her now that she was in the center of the ring. She wasn't completely helpless — she would know — when it came to defending herself. However, she did promise to show her some moves. "Come here," Rivia beckoned.

novi

    Maybe..." Sabine replied with shifty eyes; though, her nose wrinkled at the pat on the head. She watched as @Rivia moved away and into the fighting circle or at least, Sabine assumed it was a fighting circle; technically, she didn't really know. The lynx said nothing until she was beckoned, following the command without hesitation. "My father always said I was a good sneak," she said, her tone rather cheerful, probably more cheerful than Rivia had ever heard before. She trotted smoothly through the snow and into the snowless patch the dark woman had created.

    "He also used to say 'A great defense is the best offense,' which I used to think was just a cheesy thing dads would say, but... now I kind of think he was trying to tell me I suck at fighting and defense my best option," Sabine explained with a short laugh, "I guess he was right." The brightness and delight in her expression faded, a small from forming on her face, but she gazed at Rivia, attentive and ready. The thoughts of her father still made her feel sorrow. She wondered when that pain would subside so she could simply enjoy his memory like she had seen others do with their past loved ones.

❝

Cowards and the brave are all looking to save what little pieces left of their imagination. 'Cause the rest is adrift deep inside the ocean.

⚓︎ She listened to her tell a tale about her father, recalling that he was gone that night she told her about her family. Rivia elected to avoid the topic for now, but nodded along with her. "But sometimes your only defense is a good offense." It was a little odd seeing her as cheery as she was, but she figured that's what she gets by getting to know the lynx more.

Rivia looked upon her fire-eyed student, going over things in her head in debate on what to show her first. Moving to the edge of the ring, Rivia bowed and pulled the pelt off her, freeing her body for their exercise. She placed herself near the opposite end of the ring and rolled her shoulders forward; narrowing her eyes and leveling her head with her spine to follow. "Come at me," she requested, awaiting to see how she would approach an attack.

Though, she was a touch more relaxed in her stature since she knew this wasn't going to be a full spar or fight. At least, not like they used to, and she was glad to have those days behind them now.

She couldn't help but wonder what their future would've looked like if they continued on the path they were on before. Seeing as how their last fights usually ended in @Sabine getting the raw end of the deal Rivia could put bets down that she probably would've killed her by now.

novi

    Sabine was a little taken back at the fact they were just getting right into this. Perhaps it was nerves; though, what did she have to be anxious about? @Rivia had seen her fight several times, she knew her moves, but still, there was a small level of embarrassment entangled within this lesson for Sabine— a wound to her pride. "Just like..." she stuttered in her confusion, unsure of how much strength to put behind her initial attack, how much effort, "Okay..." Sabine shrugged, flattening her ears before thrusting forward.

    The lynx moved in low, coming straight at her front, dipping in an attempt to come up under her chin to grab her chest or neck; however, even if her attack landed, she would just mouth the flesh, like a mother to a cub. Her movements were quick, but visibly lacking in confidence. She had never fought for fun before, never fought for a lesson either. Maybe if her family had spent more time training, than fishing, they'd still be here today.

❝

Cowards and the brave are all looking to save what little pieces left of their imagination. 'Cause the rest is adrift deep inside the ocean.

⚓︎ PP permission given.

Her lack of confidence was tangible, oozing out of every movement. Rivia watched her carefully, unwavering in her stance as Sabine rushed in head on. In some ways, this caused her to reflect to her fight with Ishak. The red woman took the same approach so Rivia used that fight as an example here.

As Sabine's jaws clasped on the fur at the base of her neck, Rivia would lean her head in and gently secure her mouth near the base of her skull. She would aim to use her right leg to wrap around Sabine's right leg and pull it out diagonally from under her. Pushing against her neck with the momentum of her loss of stability, Rivia would guide her downward into her cupped left paw to keep her from hitting the ground; she wouldn't let her just fall.

She stayed there for a moment before releasing the lynx and backing up. "You have to be careful when you come in like that. If your opponent is taller than you, you open yourself up to get your neck snapped or overtaken." Rivia explained, her tone edging on soft in her casualness. "I'm small compared to most of the lions I've met here. Which means you're even smaller. You have to be quick."

Giving her some time to recover her stance, Rivia continued, "If you want to come in like that, don't give them room to still use their teeth. So, like, here-ish," She leaned down to 'bite' around her lower jaw where it hinges and meets her neck.


+5 Teach someone a new fighting move (1/2) — Barbarian; double xp

novi

    It all happened so fast... Though she had made contact, it didn't matter. @Rivia countered her flawlessly, just as she had done so many times before when they fought for real. It's why Sabine just kept losing; even when landing an attack, she lost. She listened to Rivia as she explained once she had been released, narrowing her gaze. "I am quick," Sabine argued; though, nodded. She understood and with a grunt, rose to her paws and steadied herself before shaking off.

    Rivia continued, leaning in to demonstrative exactly what she meant. Sabine let out a small gasp, the lesson really clicking within her mind. "That makes so much sense," she said, actually impressed. Pulling away, Sabine took a step back, eyeing her "opponent." She nodded her head again, going over what she had just been taught. She would remember that. "So... what would be the best way for me to initiate a fight, if the stars aligned and I could adjust my attack in the moment however I wanted, what should I do?" she asked, "Obviously, my method of going straight in, head on, needed to be adjusted, but is head on the best method for someone my size?"