Completed Chasing Rabbits

[Wyatti]

45th of Winter 512
Snowpea patch: Late Morning

The plateau that Snowpea patch laid upon was near silent, and would of been absent of life if it was not for Wyatti. The kelvic raced about, boots having been forced onto her feet, eyes watching and exploring everything. It was different here than down in the streets, it was open, clean, the air fresher but still receiving the sea breeze. Everything was new here, and so sparked an interest in the Kelvic. She stopped at a fence, peering over it with thought. She studied the field carefully for a moment, before climbing over it. She paused, quickly scanning the open space before dashing across it. She stopped at the overturned soil, studying it carefully, her fingers reaching out and touching it. She raised her hands to her face, remembering the smell and texture before running off again.

Despite the cold Wyatti felt surprisingly warm, mainly due to the coat she was wrapped up in and the scarf that hugged against her face. She pushed her hands into her pocket, keeping them warm as she walked about, exploring, looking and climbing into whatever was possible. It was the best way to explore after all, mysteries would never reveal themselves. She gave a laugh when she watched a rabbit dart out from its warren, and proceeded to make chase. If others were watching she did not care, she was having fun, even if it was an instinct of a young predator coming out in her. She leapt at one, soaring through the air at it, her hands out stretched as if to pounce at it. She missed of course, her fingers briefly touching its fur, before she landed on the floor in a heap. She did not cry like most children would. Instead she laid still for a moment before rolling over onto her back laughing, covered in a thin layer of dirt. She sat herself up for a moment, still laughing, her eyes darting about as they chased after the rabbit before it retreated down its hole.

[Valo]

It took a little wondering, but alas Valo had found him self hovering on the edge of the snow pea patch. His fingers flexed and recoiled repetitively in a desperate attempt to shake off that painful numb feeling that came with he cold. His mother always told him he was the hands of a woman, though the real problem was bad circulation, perhaps this was the reason why the very tips of his fingers were now almost white. He was getting old and despite the new rays of sunshine which his new comrades brought him, he couldn't shake this strange detachment that overtook him. Seemed every times he had a moment to him self, a moment to really evaluate his own existence, a melancholy swept upon him like a great wave of the Suvan sea, crashing at the shores of his mind. Then again perhaps this was vitamin D deprivation talking, because of his work he hadn't been getting enough sunlight lately.

Wyatti was different. He now stood and watched her from a distance, chasing after rabbits and rolling over in the ground. It was lovely, seeing the joy in the child's face. Such simple things amused her. So lovely she was and content with her own little game.

Placing the cold-stricken hands in his pockets, he began strolling in her direction, for Valo was little more than a red spot on the landscape. The wind blew at his hair, causing it to drift around his ivory face. He seemed paler than usual.

[Wyatti]

Wyatti leapt up, inhaling deeply, eyes wide and playful looking. For a while she stalked about, her breathing deep, focused entirely on her game. She could smell them clearly, their scent caught on the wind. She prowled around the edges, a low underlying growl as she came close to their warrens. But then she straightened, her ears pricking, and sharply turning. She sniffed the air as a new scent came, a familiar one of oil and paint and one she recognised as Valo.

Within seconds the Kelvic had bounded up to him, a large grin, as her hands reached out for him. She grabbed onto his arm, and tugged at it, eyes meeting his. For a moment she stilled, and blinked up at him, her previous nature dulling down and becoming quiet.

"Valo..." she was straight to the point just like most children "Can we... uh..."

She pursed her lips, a habit she had gotten into when thinking. She pulled away from the Inarti and looked upon him, her hands placed on her hips. She gave him a regarding look before pointing at him.

"I challenge you to a duel!"

If Wyatti was an adult, armed with a weapon of some description many would of taken her seriously. But being the child she was it would of been a difficult task to. She gave him a challenging look, eyes narrowed, but perhaps not a full understanding of the term. Yet still the Kelvic stood her ground, in an attempt to look mature in front of the adult. In reality however it was a simple want of play and attention, not that she could of simply asked that, it was impossible right?

[Valo]

His keen eyes watched as she darted off after rabbits, prowling the ground like a miniature hunter. There was something incredibly whimsical about her. Perhaps it was her innocence, or her simple love for life and her energy, buy the very character of Wyatti captivated him. He adored the very ground she stepped on as if she was his own little sister, or perhaps even his own daughter. Valo would have made a wonderful father at this point in his life, before life has a chance of ruining him.

She cried his name and ran over to him, tugging at his arm sweetly like she always did. And so in turn he knelt down to her level and ruffled her ash coloured locks like he always did. "Hey there little one." he said to her, his face alight and carefree. She never ceased to put hi in a good mood, which is something Valo found him self in desperate need of.

Stepping a short distance away Wyatti placed her hands on her hips and Gave him a challenging stare. "I challenge you to a duel!" she spoke boldly, almost like a little actress. Her eyes narrowed and stared defiantly into his.

"Ah do you now?" he smirked the kind of smirk that showed off all his teeth. His entire body took on a more animalistic nature as he crouched before her, his chin raised, looking down on her somewhat. His eyes also narrowed and eyebrows raised. "Watch out," he started and in a flash his eyebrows pulled together and he ran at her crying "I'm gonna get you, little one." He grabbed her around the waist, and lifting her off the ground he spun the little Kelvic around once before placing her little feet back on the ground.

[Wyatti]

She let out a cry, not of terror, but of amusement and joy. A true laugh that could only be expressed by a child when having true fun. And who better to have it with? Valo had always been nice to her, and she in return. Even if it was simple humouring it was appreciated, he had after all filled a space that would of otherwise been left empty, desolate and left to rot. Perhaps it was because he did fill that space that Wyatti found comfort with him, and although he was no replacement of her mother, he did fill the faint outline image she would of had of her father. A man with a kind heart and a good soul.

She staggered when he placed her down, her head for a moment spinning as she tried to gain her foot. She beamed at Valo, her hands outstretched as if to grab him again. But instead the Kelvic closed her fist, a struck it against Valo. Although it was not hard a hard hit, it was firm and trained, not a random hit one would receive in a brawl. She quickly leapt back, her hands returning to her hips, a defiant look on her face.

"Come on! Duel!"

She quickly dashed up to Valo again tapping his side before stepping away. Eyes wide with excitement, the urge to play filling them.

[Valo]

She reminded him much of kittens, play-fighting. Though to any potential onlooker this behaviour would seem hard and vicious, the reality was she didn't hit him very hart at all. In fact the little punch caused him a merry laughter. Wyatti only appeared a hungry little predator, but the impact of her actions was in all sense of the word, innocent. If it was a duel she wished for, a duel he would give her. But it was by far not a gentlemanly deed to hit a girl, no matter how boisterous her behaviour, so instead he would retaliate in a way that turned her own actions again her. Though having little experience in hand-to-hand combat, Valo wasn't quite sure how to achieve that yet. He'd simply go with the flow. Leaving his actions crude and uncultivated, but then again, everything comes with practice. And once he gets the chance, he'd tickle the little girl until she would cry tears of laughter. "Come on! Duel!" she cried with excitement, tapping his side again before vanishing. "Ah you little devil." laughed Valo taking into account the swift way she moved whilst executing the blow. He made a mental note of the position of her feet which was very similar to the last time she did so. This artist will not fall for that a third time. Wyatti was fast and clearly better at this than he was, but Valo was of sharp wit and an admirable ability to learn. And so he bent his knees and rested both hands upon them, so that he looked at her from beneath his brow. A challenging smirk. "Come at me then, little one!"

[Wyatti]

Wyatti charged him. No fear, no doubt in her movements. It was fast, and furious. A speed greater than her previous attacks. At the last moment she took a giant leap, her weight behind her as she soared through the air, her hands out ready to strike. She did and the contact was immense. She slammed against him, rather roughly with no holding back. The force most likely made him wobble, but before he had a chance to react Wyatti used the impact to push her back and out of his reach.

She skidded against the floor, a brief lost of balance as she staggered. She sharply took in some air, and then dashed to his left, not wasting any time before she continued her assault. It was another jab, this time on his arm, a solid hit this time, not as gentle as the first. Not that perhaps the Kelvic would of realised, she was currently too focused on the 'Duel'. She ducked down, making herself as small as possible, her feet nimbly stepping back, her fists brought to her face and her stance strong. The innocent girl disappeared for a chime, to be replaced by a person who seemed fearless and ready to stand their ground, a strong defiant look growing around her.

"Too slow!"

She gave a snort, and began circling him, her eyes sharp and not leaving him. A different side of Wyatti had come out, and one that had yet to be seen by another.

[Valo]

She was right, he was too slow... no longer. He had previously underestimated the little Wyatti but now was time to truly make an effort. He stood very still as he circled him, but not for a moment letting her out of his peripheral vision. Keen eyes watching the predator which he became and if he, him self, was on the hunt for her. Eyes sharp with predatory precision. Mind calculating his next move. Where was better to strike so that he didn't end up truly hurting the little girl? Suddenly he had decided upon the root of conduct. He had caught a window of opportunity when she was just to his side, lunging so quickly that perhaps he might have looked like a statue that just came to life, or a Venus fly trap who after months of waiting very still, had once again snapped shut on the fly. And Wyatti was that fly. In a display of cleverly calculated footwork, he had suddenly found him self before her; his feet crossed in such a way that one was directly in front of her and the other one lingering just past her ankle. Valo's elbow stopped just short of her face, the other arm grabbed one of her's and pushed her right past his foot so that she would no doubt loose her balance and fall to the ground. And after the execution of this he too retreated, dodging the defensive blow she might have wanted to throw at him. And he continued to step back a little more, just to ensure he was out of her reach.

[Wyatti]

It was this moment that had taken Wyatti by surprise. She froze, and it was in that instant she was left open. The sky wheeled above her, as she was pushed, her arms flailing for a moment, grabbing at air. She fell backwards, landing with a firm thud on the ground. For a moment she laid there, paralysed, unmoving, the cold of the soil creeping in. It was an opportune moment for any attack, and leaving herself like that meant she was open for Valo's torment. She rolled onto her side and pushed herself up, shaking off the dirt and cold that clung to her. She shot a mean and instinctual look, one that would match a predator.

She had to be faster, she had to be more agile, she had to win. She turned on her heel, her stance becoming solid, aggressive, adrenal pumping, her teeth becoming locked together. Wyatti lunged forward, fists clenched, the flow of combat consuming her. She watched him move back, taking a stance ready. But it was weak and untrained, and she doubted he would be able to last a full assault from her. So that was exactly what she did. Her fists came flying out in all directions, at first wild and off, but quickly they found their mark against Valo. She threw in her weight, but instead of pushing herself off like last time, she followed it through. The sheer momentum sent both of them to the ground, but with Wyatti she had a human cushion between her and the floor. She quickly leapt off and hovered over Valo, the previous look having vanished from her face to be replaced by a large grin.

"I win," she beamed.

[Valo]

"You win, you win little one." he laughed. A face lit up but a grin that matched hers. His ever animated eyes bore nothing but happiness within their green surface which now twinkled in the sunlight. His hands were raised in a sign of surrender as he lay there on the ground, his red hair sprawled in all directions as if it were a bleeding wound to his head. Vibrant and red and snaking in the soil. Beaten by a little girl. Then again he had never been any good at this and the few chances that he had managed to escape bullies in his childhood were down to pure luck rather than any actual skill. Then again this was more fun to him than an actual fight. She hovered over him now, basking in the glow of her victory. So sure of her self, she was and quite rightly so for seemingly effortlessly she had brought down a man twice her own age. Then again there was one thing she perhaps had not considered. Valo had watched closely her every single move, the elaborate footwork, the accuracy and magnitude of her blows. The very execution of the whole. And his mind now calculated how to defend him self next time. Perking him self up on his elbows Valo gave her another charming smile, cooking his head to the side a little in much the same manner she did when she was wondering something. "Then again it was clear from the start I'm no match for the almighty Wyatti." he joked in a merry tone.