Closed Crossing Swords (Alori Sai)

[Iosha]

Still trying to catch her breath from the spar, Iosha looked over at the blond foreigner. Alori came from across the sea, so she was thinking Alori's home city was in either Syliras or Zeltiva by the look of her complexion. She didn't have the look of someone from the southern region of Mizahar. Iosha listened to the girl, and she seemed to hesitate on the specifics of her home city. It was curious to hear, but Iosha wondered if the girl didn't want to bring up the memories of the past to a complete stranger. She decided to drop the conversation about Alori's past, and the human girl must have been thinking the same thing because she asked about Iosha's reason for coming to Wind Reach. Iosha came to Wind Reach to learn about her father and his people. While she was thinking of way to phrase her reason for coming to the land of gingers, Iosha decided to be a little childish. The konti picked up her wooden sword and tried to balance the sword hilt in the palm of her hand. It was difficult task, and she had to catch the sword multiple times from falling on blond human woman. Still concentrating on balancing the sword on her hand, Iosha said without looking at her, “My father was a Endal in Wind Reach, so I came to the city to live and learn about my father's people. Also, I would like to start a new life in the city. Even though, I miss my beloved island of Mura, I still thought of Wind Reach as my second home with all the stories my mother told me about her time in the city with my father.” Iosha was glad the sword was wood because it kept on “threatening” the life of the human. She hoped Alori was annoyed at her strange behavior, so the konti decided to give up on her childish behavior and sat the sword across her lap. She looked at her and continued talking with a silly grin on her face, “I apologize my sword seemed to have something against you.” Iosha blew a piece of hair from her face, and she looked off into the blue sky. She sat their for a moment looking at a black bird dance in the sky. Iosha looked at Alori and said with a giggle, “I have to warn you living in Wind Reach is a dangerous past time. I must have almost died three time already, and I only just arrived seven months ago. It part of the reason I am sharpening my combat skills. I figure if I ever want to survive the Unforgiving. I must learn how to defend myself.” Iosha looked back at the black bird, and it seemed to have found a friend. The konti looked at foreigner, and she asked with smile, “What is your favorite part of the city, so far? I made the Twin Lakes my own private sanctuary. I enjoy swimming for freshwater oysters at the bottom of the lake. I am trying to find pearls, but I haven't had any luck yet.” Iosha had a bad habit of rambling when she first talks to a person, but even if she had a approachable personality, she still had a tendency to feel awkward and self-conscious in new situations. Iosha looked at Alori and asked softly, “Do you have any friends in the city yet?”

[Alori Sai]

Aela was drained and what she felt like doing was laying on her back and relaxing for a while, but the training area wasn't the best place to relax, nor was it clean. Instead, she leaned back as far and she could and stretched her legs out. She felt a bit better this way, but soon enough, the hard rock edges on the seats would start to pinch and bruise her arms and back. She turned slightly towards Iosha as the woman spoke to her and listened to her story.

The moment that she said that her father was Endal, Aela started to feel bad for her. Wind Reach wasn't like other places, and family wasn't defined as those one's blood line, but those those that stayed closed and cared for each other. But i was possible, and there were some that had close tides with those of the same blood line but Endal didn't seem like the type to care. But, she couldn't say for sure, and the teen decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

But there was something else to direct her attention to, Iosha seemed nervous, and decided to attempt to balance her sword for some odd reason. Aela just watched, flinching and moving back a bit whenever the sword was too close for her comfort. "Do you always do that?" she asked, questioning the woman's horrible ability to keep the weapon upright. "You should probably spend more time on practicing with your sword instead of that...You're only going to get spanked that way." she added as she finally sat up.

The konti spoke about the dangers in the city, but Aela knew this all too well. But she couldn't say anything if she wanted her story to stand up. The girl could only listen and nod, taking it as advice instead of a common understanding. "I'll keep that in mine..thanks I guess." she wasn't sure how else to respond, she had never been warned about her own city by a foreigner before. "There is a dance club here..I forget the name, but it rocks. I also like to go to the archery ring and practice. There's another place with cherry trees, it's a nice place to cool out too."

Iosha asked another question, and one that caused the tiny Avora's youthful features to sadden. She had friends once, some she even saw as family, but along with the gift that she could return, there was also a price. "I've met a few people so far, girls that I see at the dance club and around the market, but not many. What about you, how has it been since you got here? Make any friends?"

[Iosha]

As she caught her sword before it fell, Iosha looked at the blond foriegner and softly, Sorry, I was having a little bit of fun.” The konti put the sword in her lap and wondered why the woman seemed to be so serious. It wasn't like Iosha would let the sword hit the human, but it seemed the woman had a single focus in mind, and it was her training. It sad really, but she decided to say with a smile, “Fine, I will take the spar more seriously next time, Alori.” The konti frown slightly when the human blew off her warning about the city, and she put a a piece of white hair behind her ears and listened to the tell about her favorite part of the city. The woman told her about the Inclement Weather, archery ranges, and cherry tree grove. Iosha had already been to two of them, but the cherry trees seemed to peek her interest.

Iosha ears perked up when she heard about the cherry trees because she enjoyed the blossoms in the spring and the fruit in the late summer. The konti made a mental note that she had to head down there at some point in the near future. Iosha observed the woman seem to sadden when she mentioned friends in the city, and the konti could relate to her feeling because she felt quite alone in the city herself. Iosha said softly, “When I first came to Wind Reach, I was pretty isolated and alone, but I soon got a job as a healer at the Infirmary, and I met a Endal named Aidara. I am pretty sure Aidara thinks of me as her friend along with her bond mate Sira. I don't have many, but I think they will be long term friends. Oh I forget to mention I met two musician named Aradia and amateur musician named Kovac too.” Iosha seemed to fidget with her sword slightly uncomfortable because she didn't want to sound like she was bragging with the amount of people she knew, but the human did ask, so she responded the best she could.

Iosha pointed the sword at the sun, and she said without looking at the sad girl, “I noticed the Inarta tend to be more livelier than the rest of humanity on Mizahar. The Vantha might come in a close second though, but after awhile, the ginger seem to grow on you. I can see myself spending a good forty years here before I move on the next adventure.” Iosha knew she had a somewhat chevalier look at a life because of her lifespan gave Iosha the opportunity to experience many different places in Mizahar for a long period of time. Iosha stood up, put the wooden sword on her back, and asked with a smile, “I know the Inarta tend be a passionate people. Are you intimate with anyone like a boyfriend?” Iosha knew how to bring life to a conversation, and she hoped the woman didn't take offense at question. The konti figured the foriegner wouldn't answer her, so she said with a smile, “You can choose not answer, Alori. Anyways, do you want to go another round? You can have first strike this time since you won last round.”

[Alori Sai]

Bright and mischievous hazel brown eyes stared at the woman, and Alori curled her tongue between her teeth as a smile rose upon her lips. The teen reached up and combed the hair from her eyes so that the woman could better see her appearance. "It...was supposed to be a joke. Never mind..heh." People often didn't understand her jokes and when she was serious, though trying it with a foreigner seemed like a good idea, and at the same time..not so good.

"Yea...I was just being silly, forget it."

Alori shook her head, and hoped that the woman wasn't too upset. She wasn't likely to make many friends if she put everyone off with her odd behavior. She noticed the look in the woman's eyes when she told her about the Cherry Grove. She was a bit surprised that she didn't know of it, though the place was more for lovers than anything else. "If you really want to see it, I can show you where it is..I guess."

The teen listened as it was the Konti's turn to tell her story. It seemed that she wasn't the lonely type at all, and had come to the city and made all the right friends. However, the first name that was mentioned, even Alori couldn't hide the emotion that came with hearing that name. Aidara was once her friend too, even more she was her mentor. But those days had passed and it was over. Alori could still remember how cold and distant Aidara had been on that day, as if she meant nothing to her..as if she was no one.

For a long time, the exiled Avora had blamed Sira for it. She had thought that the Wind Eagle Kelvic was the one who had turned Aidara against her. But she learned later, after it was Sira who had come back for her, that she had been wrong about her. It was confusing and emotional, and now Alori didn't know what to think or how to feel. She turned her head away from the Konti to hide her face, to pull herself together and flipped her hair back with a smile. She knew that one day, somehow, she and Aidara would come face to face again, but she didn't know what would happen then..and she didn't want to think about it.

"Aradia? I've met her, she's really nice. She has an awesome singing voice too."

It was the perfect out to change the subject, and get out of having to say anything else. Alori sighed softly, feeling the conversation had grown more than a bit awkward. And yet, she was wrong, the Konti was more than just talkative, she was also bold and nosy. Her question caught the tiny Avora off guard and a rush of red grew into her cheeks and she couldn't help but giggle. "No no, I haven't been here long. And well....I don't know. Not the right time I guess." Then suddenly, her demeanor changed, and the girl flipped her hair back again and stared at the woman with a smirk upon her lips.

"So, what about you? You mentioned a lot of names, gotta be petching one of them, right?"

She lifted her arms and hugged them across her chest as she waited for an answer. If gossip was the new game, then she was all in. This woman seemed to like the Inarta a lot, and she was curious to know just how much had she been liking them. Upon the invitation for another round, Alori picked up her talon sword and walked back onto the ground alongside her new gossip buddy. "Are you ready?" she asked as she took her stance, then quickly stepped forward with a slanted strike towards the woman's shoulder.

[Iosha]

Iosha was blind sided by her next question, and the konti's white skin turned a deep pink and said softly with a awkward chuckle, “I wish...” The konti knew all over her friends were beautiful in their own right, and she wouldn't mind spending a night a passion with each of them, but they were her friend, and she doubted either of them thought of her as potential lover. She regained her composure and said with a smirk, “Way to blind side the poor fish girl. You must have Inarta flowing through you veins with the directness of your questions, Alori. To answer your question, no. I am just friends with everyone at the moment, but who know maybe something will happen in the future. ” The konti gave her a big smile and said softly, “I promise to let you know if anything happens.” Iosha giggled to herself and apologized, “Sorry, I kind of get talkative when I meet a person for the first time. I didn't have many friends in Mura, so if I say anything strange or awkward just know, I don't mean any harm.” When Alori got to her feet, Iosha stood up and started to stretch her aching arm muscles. The konti knew that she needed to up her game if she was ever going to beat the nimble Inarta.

Iosha did a few practice swings with her wooden long sword, and she walked out to face her opponent. The konti held the sword with both hands as she stood in her defensive position with the sword out in front of her. The healer watched as the foreigner struck with a downward slash to her shoulder, so she stepped forward and swung her sword up to intercept the blade. Iosha heard the sound of wood and wood meeting in the air. The konti was starting to realize that she was starting to realize why non-konti seemed to enjoy the heat of the battle because it was a struggle between life and death, and a warrior need to think quickly, or his or her life would be taken away from them in a instant. When their swords met in the air, the konti was starting to realize that being on the defensive all the time seemed to put her at a disadvantage, so she parried the Alori's sword away from her. Seeing a wide opening, Iosha stepped forward and slashed across the stomach of the foriegner. If it hit, it would be deadly attack if they were using real swords. Luckily, they were just using wooden blades.

[Alori Sai]

Alori smiled and nodded her head, it seemed the Konti didn't know what she was getting into by asking the teen Inartan to play 20 questions. She had never been the shy type and if people asked, she was glad to tell them how she felt, but every since she was touched by Ivak, those feels and habits seemed to triple, the Avora was truly fearless now. "Poor fish girl? Yea ok, you do remember that you started this right?" Alori giggled a bit and shrugged her shoulders. It had been a long time since she had girl talk, and she knew now just how much she had missed it.

"Oh you better, and I want details. Well ok, maybe not all the details, but tell me something. Oh and you're fine. I think talkative is a good thing here. I mean, even the guys won't shut up."

The little Avora had to wonder just how shy the woman had been, and for what reason. She seemed at home with the Inarta, and apparently didn't take a tick to find friends and potential love interest. "You were shy? I don't believe it. Really?" She giggled again and stretched her arms. "Well if you're shy, I must be really shy." she added and rotated her wrist around to ready herself to try her weapon again. Practice seemed hard on her palms and wrist mostly, and to a lesser extent to her arms and shoulders.

The fight was on and Alori took the first shot. It wasn't a deadly blow, and mostly the teen was still getting used to using a sword. Her attack was weaker and Iosha blocked it. She had to admit the woman was skilled, at least as much as she was, but it was a workout for sure. Alori raked her weapon away from the Konti's, the audio wisp of wood sliding against the somewhat smooth surfaces sounded between them. It was Iosha's turn to attack and she went all out, attempting to saw her opponent in half. Hazel eyes widen, lips parted at the sight of it all, and Alori acted without thought.

She turned her arms in, and slid her weapon downward and swung it across her belly to smack loudly into Iosha's wooden blade. The girl gave a breath of relief, she couldn't allow herself to be beaten so easily. Suddenly wide awake and adrenaline pumping, Alori spun off the clenched weapons and turned her bare fist outward as she swung at the woman's head.

[Iosha]

Iosha was amazed at the agility of Alori body as she was able to swing her sword down to deflect the wooden longsword from gutting her. It was a sound deflection by the pretty teenager. Suddenly, the Inarta struck forward with a punch to the face, and Iosha took her left hand off her sword and brought her arm up to deflect it, but the konti's arm misjudged the speed of her fist, and it struck her in the jaw. Iosha stumbled back feeling a metallic taste in her mouth. She smiled at the Spitting the blood on the ground, the konti holding her long sword with one hand off to her side and said with a smile,
“Maybe we should practice our unarmed combat in the future too.” Iosha started to circle the woman as she tried to look for a opening. When Iosha found her opening, the konti stepped forward and thrust her sword at the heart of the woman, but she misjudge her aim and the sword missed to the right of the woman. The konti pulled back the blade, jumped back in her defensive position, and continued to circle her opponent. Iosha stepped forward and swung at the head of her opponent, but she misjudged the height and swung over her head. Feeling her muscles starting to give out in her arms, the konti knew that she needed to rest for a couple bells before heading to work.

Glancing up at the sun, Iosha put a hand up and pointed her sword at the ground and said with a smile, “I have just realized that I need to get clean up and get to work. I know Aidara is a sweet heart, but I don't want to experience the little woman's wraith if I am late for work.” Aidara was her boss in the infirmary, and she still had responsibilities to her job. The konti smiled at the foriegner and said softly, “It is nice meeting you Alori, and I hope to see you again, so please don't be a stranger.” She walked over, put a webbed hand on her shoulder, and said with a warm smile, “Maybe next time we meet I will have more interesting stories to share with you. Anyway, we should spar again in the future, and maybe I can beat you.” Letting her hand fall from the woman's shoulder, Iosha walk to be backpack and the rest of her equipment. When she picked everything up and secured them to her person, Iosha turned and waved goodbye to the her new friend as she left the arena.

[Alori Sai]

Alori's eyes widen and she lightly gritted her teeth after her fist smacked into the Konti's face. It had been a reaction and nothing more, and she surely didn't think she would bloody the woman's lips. It was a part of training, and anyone who claimed they trained and were never bruised, must have not trained hard enough. But there was something in the woman's eyes afterwards. A new fire rising.

"Ah, yea..ok."

Suddenly the pale lady attacked and went at the tiny Avora with a combination of attacks. Alori stumbled back, and jumped about. She jumped back when the woman swung towards her chest, and lifted her own weapon to sweep out to defend. The wooden talon sweep just over Iosha's weapon and cut through the air. The next swing by the Konti was high and aimed to take off her head. "Wow! ha!"

Alori couldn't move her arms in time, in fact she didn't even try to. Her body seemed to act on it's own, and in an attempt to evade the weapon, her legs buckled beneath her and the teen landed flat on her bum. Just when she expected the woman to take advantage and finish the match, she instead called it off for the day. The Avora sighed deeply, and wiped the damp strains of hair from her forehead. "Yea, already, guess I better get going too."

She sat there for another moment, regained her breath and stood finally once the Konti was done saying her good byes. "It was nice meeting you too, and I'm looking forward to hearing your stories. I hope they're juicy." Alori teased with a smile. "Maybe we can do this again sometime." Alori left as Iosha did and headed off on her way. It had been a good spar, and now it was time to relax.

[Harrier]

Iosha

Skills	Amount
Weapon (long sword)	5
Socialization	5
Rhetoric	2
Interrogation	5

Lore

Alori: Recognizing a fellow swordsman beginner

Sparring Aela

Catching ones breath: a chance to socialize

Wind Reach is dangerous: better hone your blade-ship

Questioning Aela: Got a boyfriend?

Alori

Skills	Amount
Observation	3
Socialization	5
Interrogation	5
Weapon (talonsword)	5

Lore

Sparring Iosha

Taking your anger out on a dummy

Iosha: she calls herself fish girl

Iosha: Both fighter and Healer

Catching ones breath: A chance to socialize

Questioning Iosha: Who you petching?

Bonus:

Additional Comments: Iosha: Make sure you note in these kinds of threads what kind of sword it is. Because there are various types out there and each handles differently, it's important to differentiate in threads. Other than that, I loved the inquisitiveness she has towards Aela.

Alori: I loved the reflection and inner conflict Aela presents. I've read a couple of your archived threads already and the history of it is really interesting. Her angst from being exiled is endearing and makes you wonder where Aela will go as time goes on. Will she stay where she may not be accepted? Really great job!

A wonderful read overall, you two. I can't wait to read some more!

(c) abstract