[Cobalt Mountains]Perverted Eagle or Curious Kelvic?(Sondra)

[Ethan]

“Your way then. I hope you get attacked by ticks and learn a lesson.” Ethan had to stifle a laugh as she said that. It was sweet in a gruff way. More and more she was turning out to be like his old master. Sadly, Grimm wasn't ever nice. Even for a second. Where as Sondra seemed to have a pleasant side to her. Of course that good mood didn't seem to last. She explained about the gods and who they reigned over. Giving the Kelvic many new things to pester Hadrian and Kendall over, but after that she seemed to quiet down. He could only guess why she was a little chilled towards him. He was used to the treatment though. Grimm never was one for words. His moods were foul and his words were rough. She was no different, and he knew how to deal with grumps like her. Keep quiet and speak quickly. In a way he liked it. It was a chance to calm down, and gather his thoughts. Not having to be witty or charming was nice. Sondra was also much prettier to look at. Her silver hair and pail smooth skin was as exotic as it was enticing. It was also cute when she paused for a moment to figure out where camp was. He could of told her in a heart beat, but he didn't want to disturb her. They went into camp and Ethan quickly snatched a pair of breeches from a pack by Hadrian's tent. Ethan didn't have one himself. No need since he slept in the trees to keep a better look out over the camp. By the time she was out of her tent. He was laced up and presentable “I’m off to use this thing, birdie.” His eyes went the cruel piece of steel she was carrying in one hand. Thick oak shaft with iron brands to keep it from splitting. The hammer head was thick and blunt at one end and had a massive spike on the other. Definitely something Ethan never wanted to face in a real fight. It could crush a mans chest with one swing. She walked past him and kept going away from the tents. “I’m off to use this thing, birdie.” Ethan grinned and kept stride with her. ”As you wish Mistress, Since I am a little more dressed I will accompany you. We can train together if you like? Also Hadrian wouldn't be pleased if you got lost in the woods. I can be your compass.” His smile was wide and full of mischief. He felt a little naughty poking fun at Sondra.

[Sondra]

Indifferent to Ethan’s chatter, Sondra kept walking. When he offered to be her compass she looked back over her shoulder with a sour look. “I wander different times and men’s memories.” She gestured at him with her hammer, no easy task considering its weight. “Knowing the here and now perfectly would make my head crack.” Swinging the hammer in an idle arc in front of her, Sondra continued her plod. There was no flourish to the way she handled her weapon. Some women liked the artistry of a blade, or prided themselves on a lithe dance they called fighting. The Konti’s choice of offense was a clear assertion she thought all that was shyke. You hit a man fast and with something brutal enough to keep him from second chances. “Training with me is relative, birdie,” she eventually said, as if the several minutes of tense silence weren’t in the least bit rude. “It’s a bit hard to spar with a hammer unless you’ve got a shield. The idea is one and done. I brawl a bit, but the principle is similar.” She paused a moment, a little lost, once again. Her glance flitted to Ethan, but she immediately thought better of looking vulnerable and picked a new route hastily. “I’m no fool. I won’t say I can take a man in a fight. But my goal isn’t winning, it’s surviving. Fighting dirty is the only way for me to do so.” Forgetting how she wanted to gloss over her less than reputable past, she continued. “I fought a few ladies bouts in Sunberth for money. Closest thing I know to a stand-up fight.” Cutting to the heart of things, she asked with what might have been a smile in her voice. “So what can you teach me, bone-breaker?”

[Ethan]

“I wander different times and men’s memories.” Her back was still turned to him as they walked. It was a Good thing or she would of seen his puzzled look. It was such a odd thing to say though. It created more questions to ask later. “Knowing the here and now perfectly would make my head crack.” The Konti said. As she continued to swing her hammer and trample through the forest. She will wake the whole forest with this noise. He listened to the silence between the two. Enjoying their little walk. It was odd but the silence soothed him. He had the chance to listen to her heavy breathing. Or watch small creatures escape their nooks and hiding holes to seek safer grounds. Flying was amazing but their was something deeply soothing about walking in the woods. When Sondra stopped for a second to find her way again. He had to smile. She was going to so much trouble to not look lost. He was liking her more by the minute. She was tough and confident and a little pig headed so far. It reminded him of childhood. All she needed was the smell of ripened cheese and sodden cloth. “I’m no fool. I won’t say I can take a man in a fight. But my goal isn’t winning, it’s surviving. Fighting dirty is the only way for me to do so.” Sondra said in her strong exotic voice. “I fought a few ladies bouts in Sunberth for money. Closest thing I know to a stand-up fight.” . And with a small smile she added. “So what can you teach me, bone-breaker?” Ha, That's a good name. I should take it if I ever join the pits myself. And why would you fight in Sunberth? I can't say that I am surprised though. Your beauty seems to masks your liking for smashing in skulls. Ethan smirked and looked at her hammer, the cruel weapon it was. He felt a little useless against something with that much force behind it. And it wasn't like an animal to play against the odds. ”Although, I don't know what I can teach you in a fight.” He said in a casual voice. ”I have a little skill with my hands, in more ways than fighting mind you. But my greatest tool is being underestimated and going unnoticed. If you had wings I could teach you to dive from hundreds of feet to claw any creatures eyes out. That is a useful skill but I think we can stick with fists for now. If that pleases you Mistress. He got a wicked smile on his mouth and pushed her playfully with one hand. ”I can also dance around that stick of yours. Or are you too scared of 'bone breaker'?” Ethan said with a laugh. He didn't know if it was a good idea to mess with such a strong woman but worst things have happened to the Shifter than a black eye.

[Sondra]

Sondra laughed raucously at Ethan’s compliment, she might have even snorted at one point. “Beauty? Lady-lis you don’t get out much. Should’ve seen me when I had hair and bathed regularly.” Her answer was off-hand and part scoff. “I fought for drinking money, birdie. What else? At the time, I thought I would be lucky if someone kicked my head in.” It was a larger confession than she meant to make, but the Kelvic was clever about getting her tongue moving. Mercifully, he kept talking, letting her slide out of further explanation. His bravado had a charm to it. It was the vigor of youth with a touch of wildness. She sniffed and smirked at the double entendre. His offending hand was regarded with a raised eyebrow. “Course,” here came a predatory smile, “Can’t you see I’m petching terrified?” She hoisted her hammer to her shoulder in a single gesture. “Hadrian would boil my ass with his weird mage shyke if I broke his Kelvic. But if you are a dancer, I’m game.” Pointing upward she made her demands, “Can you get me a branch to use? We’ll just work on my accuracy for now. I’ll swing the real thing at you later for strength. I promise.”

[Ethan]

When Ethan teasingly pushed Sondra. He had half expected some humor in return, but she only met him with a slow smile that made his hair stand on end. ”Can’t you see I’m petching terrified?” He shuddered and forced himself to smile politely. Human's never picked up on body language like Kelvics did. They were a bit too introverted for that, but Ethan read the message loud and clear. I could crush you boy. It was the same message he often got from Grimm. “Hadrian would boil my ass with his weird mage shyke if I broke his Kelvic. But if you are a dancer, I’m game.” Ethan felt a little irritated by her words, but kept it to himself as she spoke. Sondra raised her war hammer to her shoulder and pointed up. “Can you get me a branch to use? We’ll just work on my accuracy for now. I’ll swing the real thing at you later for strength. I promise. Ethan grunted and looked up. ”As you wish, Sondra.” Ethan walked to the tree she pointed at. There were a couple decent branches here and there. Seeking one out closer to the base. He used both hands to slowly snap it from the trunk. ”Just to let you know. I am not Hadrian's. I am his Student, nothing more. I'm no slave.” The branch snapped relatively clean. It was blunter at one end. Giving it similar weight to a club or hammer. If she was going to practice. She would need something with the right weight or their was no point. ”Here, it should be the proper size. And don't be afraid to make me bleed. Hadrian won't try and cook you, he is a softie. Besides, you can see Hadrian and his magics.. You can's see feathers and talons in the dead of night.” Ethan smiled slyly and handed her the wooden stick. Then gave them a couple paces of space. He had no doubt Sondra was good at what she did. She would probably make him bleed for his big mouth, but he liked being around her. So that didn't matter too much.

[Sondra]

The Konti said nothing at Ethan’s swift rebuttal regarding Hadrian’s claim on him, but surprise hit her eyes and her body flinched. Sondra slowly received her new “hammer”, grateful for the gloves she consistently wore. It was lighter than her usual choice and imperfect in shape, but beggars couldn’t be choosy. In a pinch, it might have been an effective weapon by itself. “I suppose you can’t see a bird in the dark,” she answered with an indulgent smile, “At least I cannot.” The soft concession was a minor apology until she cold formulate a better one. “Don’t you want one too? Maybe something to at least block with, makes for better sport.” She took a couple practice swings as she waited for Ethan to decide and act. She was feeling the cadence of the weapon in her hands. Her hands were adjusting to the shape, remembering how they held her hammer when it counted. She wondered what would be the best grip for the bird: lower for power, or higher for control. “It’s not always a bad thing to belong to someone,” she said suddenly, “We belong to mothers and lovers, not only masters.” Sondra shrugged, her personal tic when working through a thought. “But I was mistaken to say so even in jest. I figured you two were bonded.” She swung the branch at air again, moving her hands from one position to another, gauging each. At the end she decided to use fewer fingers on the grip, lighter strike, good for practice. Her brief sincerity dissipated with a jaunty grin, “Then again, you seem like a pain in the ass to keep around.” Moving to the crux of what she came out here to do, she gave her style a hasty introduction. “Most fights with a weapon like this last about half a chime. It’s made for close combat and most effective against armored sorts. Then again, if you’re not wearing armor, the fight tends to be even shorter.” If the exercise was going to go beyond swing and miss, he had to see the reasoning behind her style. “If you’ve got a shyketon of armor on I use the blunt end to stun and the sharp end to pierce at the joint. My personal favorite is the neck.” She extended the “hammer” to point at her areas of interest, “If you’re not in armor, I want a blow to your head, ideally. But I’ll be pleased with any to your chest and joints. If I can’t kill a man, in a first blow I at least want to see him hobbled.” Looking straight into the Kelvic’s extraordinary eyes, she finished, “Understood?” An answer wasn’t necessary, only a show of attention. Because she wielded a two-handed hammer, her beginning pose was with the branch raised over her shoulder. “Ready when you are, bone-breaker.”

[Ethan]

Ethan wasn't mad at Sondra. Her words were rough, but he could tell she meant no harm. It was just the stereotypes enforced upon his race that made him upset. No matter who he met. If they knew about Kelvics, the only thing they were concerned about was who his master is or was. It always revolved around Ethan being bonded. They only saw him as a slave waiting to become someone's property. She was not to blame for the world and its views. She was a Konti and just curious. “Don’t you want one too? Maybe something to at least block with, makes for better sport.” Said the Konti, swinging her crude hammer, in practice. Ethan observed her movements and the placement of her hands. Looking for the best way to disarm her. ”It's fine Sondra, I do better with my fists.” He was about to make one of his witty remarks when she cut in suddenly. Apologizing about the jest she said. It was nice to hear someone regret what they said, but she didn't need to. It was his own fault for getting defensive from simple words. It made him smile all the same. “Then again, you seem like a pain in the ass to keep around.” Sondra said with a grin. She had a sense of humor and wasn't afraid to use it. He was liking her more and more. Ethan snorted and said. ”A charming and handsome pain in the ass, mind you.” He looked at Sondra affectionately She went on to discuss her fighting methods. Telling him the spots of interest and even pointing with her hammer. It was exhilarating how casual she was about hobbling Ethan. Like taking to the skies during a storm. “Understood?” Said the Konti Warrior. Ethan nodded, and grinned as she said “Ready when you are, bone-breaker.” He had enjoyed the names she had dubbed him. Birdie and now Bone Breaker. He was leaning towards the latter though. ”You are far too sexy to be going into battle. Anyone ever told you that? Certainly got my feathers ruffled.” Laughing he flexed his arms and got closer. Crouching down low to find his center of gravity. Hoping his words didn't cause her to hit him prematurely. ”Im ready, and don't worry about hitting me. Not that a pretty thing like you could.” He said, provoking her with a cocky little smile

[Sondra]

Sondra sniffed at the clumsy come-ons and answered flatly, “No, birdie, they haven’t," she raised an eyebrow, "They seem to be more concerned about the fact I want to make a hole in their head.” When Ethan continued to prod she merely shrugged, “Maybe not.” With a sudden turn of her shoulder, both her hands grasped the “hammer” handle. She rammed the tip directly toward Ethan’s chin, using the force of her whole body. Instead of coming from the outer side, she went straight for the messy middle before snapping back. It wasn’t the expected move, most would assume the offense started with swings, but this was a good way to make the fight a close one. Better yet, she liked her opponents on the ground. It was far easier to smash a downed man than an upright one. Her following smile was quick and bloodthirsty, “But won’t stop me from enjoying the attempt.”

[Ethan]

Ethan knew teasing the Konti would get him nothing but a bad bruise, but he didn't expect her to be so fast. She swung the stick in an upward arch aiming for his chin. The branch whistled through the air, and narrowly missed. Ethan lurched back and threw his fore arms up to block the blow. Causing the branch to clip his arms instead. He was taken by surprise but wouldn't let her get away with it. Ethan quickly side stepped and swatted her side playfully, dancing away with a smile. ”If you land a blow as well as you place a kiss I think I might be falling in love.” He could feel the blood dripping down his arms. It felt warm and strangely familiar. Adrenaline was pumping through his body so he didn't feel the pain, but he still remembered it. All the “lessons” he received as a boy. Horrible as they where. It was still his childhood. Before he could quip anything else, like the smart alack he was. She swung low and hard, aiming for his ribs. The blow landed true but he threw his elbow down just in time to feel the sickening crack of stick meeting bone. Clenching his teeth, he decided to keep quiet for once. He didn't remember the stick being so heavy or her arms being so strong. Sondra could definitely hit, but somehow that made her even more attractive. He backed up and managed a pained laugh. ”Why don't we just skip the foreplay and tumble in the grass? You look like you could use some hands on attention.” He held his elbow close but kept an arrogant smile. She struck harder when she was provoked, and he didn't want her going easy.

[Sondra]

Her original intention had been target practice, a moderate thump on any part too slow to dodge. Nothing more than feeling the familiar rhythm of a good offense or a test of her accuracy in the face of speed. By the second strike, the exercise had already degraded to a catharsis. She briefly wondered if it was ill-informed to spar with an animal. The lines between real and feigned aggression could meld immediately. One didn't even pretend to trade blows with a bear. Her and Ethan may have liked the taste of violence too much. It recalled more than stings and bruises, it was integrated into their history, part of their masochistic purification. Ethan's quips dipped into consciousness, interrupting her doubts. Foreplay? It was tamer than what she'd heard in Sunberth, almost playful. "I have a strict 'no chicken' policy in bed." She wielded the "hammer" like she was going to give it another swing, but let it drop from her hands as moved forward in a stomping kick towards Ethan's knees. "But 'hands-on' I can do." The offense was changing, as she could not in good conscience keep this up until he had his own "weapon" to hold. He was too stubborn to fully dodge, as if he wanted to test his ability to take a hit.