And on Day Five... (Celeste)

[Mirage]

e
The fifth day arrived, and as if it sensed the mood the wind itself blew littled. The sky was overcast, hinting at rain to come but never quite reaching the point at which it began to fall. The time was early morning, though there was little difference in the light as it began to inch close to noon. Tierra and Brom stood their usual vigils, nervously watching the pit for any signs that Celetse would emerge. Brom absently played with a blade of grass, a bit more fidgety this day for he knew what was to come. Teirra and he passed knowing glances between each other, but neither said a word. Celeste had grown in her abilities, increasing the time she could stay down significantly in an astonishingly short time. It was nothing short of a miracle, but still they both knew the worst was yet to come.

Riyanna had come to watch with them today, standing back with her arms folded over her naked breasts as she waited. She had arrived some time after Celeste entered into the pit for the morning's first meditation. She drummed her fingers on her arm, slowly swaying back and forth in a mood not quite impatient, but a mix of nerves and apprehension. Her hair this day was short and spiky, bits of bone laced into the strands of hair itself, and it was all a deep blue color. Her eyes were almond shaped, pupils slits and golden. Her teeth were their usual points, which she ground the longer she waited. When Celeste finally emerged from the Pit Riyanna was simply crook her finger at the girl, and turn to walk toward a small outcropping of stones just a few yards away.

As Celeste past him Brom would catch her arm, looking concerned, yet not as much as when she had first begun her training, "Look... no matter what happens, just remember what you have learned. Don't be impatient, but don't hesitate either. Just... Just go with it, just like in the Pit."] He could not quite find the words, but then both he and Tierra were sworn to secrecy about the next stage of training. It was the final secret of the Wardens, and only Riyanna could pass it down to Celetse.

Tierra stood and hugged Celeste, holding her at arms length as she looked her up and down, "I know you can do it. Stay strong, don't cower, and remember that everything she does, Riyanna does because she wants you to be strong. She wants you to survive... This hurts her more than you can ever realize." With a final nod and a smile for reassurance Tierra let Celeste go, stepping back to watch her, the smile slipping somewhat. Brom stood and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, whispering softly so that Celeste wouldn't hear, "Don't worry, I am sure Riyanna wont hurt her too much the first time. Remember how she did with us."

Tierra choked a sob and pressed two hands over her lips and looked away, "But you know how she gets Brom. She forgets herself..."

Brom hugged the other Initiate closer, shaking his head, "But this is Celeste Tierra. She is different. RIyanna... Surely she will keep in mind what the situation is."

TIerra merely shook her head, folding her other arms over her chest to hug tightly against the anxiety.

Riyanna would be sitting cross legged on one of the smaller rocks, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin i her hand as Celeste walked up. There was a different air about her than usual. She did not smile, did not warmly greet Celeste. Simply gazed over her Initiate, slit pupils gaging her like a predator would her prey. At length she would ask, "What lessons have you learned in the pit...?
e

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste felt the caress of the Pit, reminding her to change and so she did, guiding it as per usual, this time toward the fine web of her hair. She isolated the change to just a portion of her djed, seizing the strands with precision, bending both the aura and the energy to her whim. This change was distinguished from all the rest, threads linear and matte amongst the shine. Once it was complete, the Pit said goodbye and she agreed. It was time to move forward. With a full heart she nodded, pulling herself up the ladder, knowing she knew she’d back one day.

When Celeste emerged, there were no words to pinpoint the difference. She looked sober, unfathomable. It was obvious she’d forgotten her original form. The shape she wore looked similar in some ways, but ideal. It was as if Celeste worked from memory, recreating that which she could not remember in a perfected sort of way. Her rounded nose was contoured and straight, her cheekbones high and broad. Even her hair and eyes were different, though the change was clearly intentional. They were both tyrian purple, excepting a single lock of black at her brow, lancing from root to tip.

She did not smile when she met Riyanna’s eyes. She was different, remote. There would be no tearful reunion, not just yet. She simply regarded the woman evenly. But of course, as Brom gave his advice and Tierra wrapped her up in her arms, the young initiate smiled. Through the Pit, they’d forged an unbreakable bond. ”I know,” she replied, almost sadly.

Finally, she turned to face Riyanna, strengthening her resolve. In this form, her breasts were larger, her legs longer. She looked to be about fifteen, almost sixteen rather than the shade of adolescence she’d been before. Celeste stopped just a few feet before her master and smiled, though it devoid of any real pleasure.

”I learned to be the change.” Without a second thought, she reached within and accessed the loom of her arms, picking at the weave, thickening the strands there and turning them sharp. A cleave of bone shot from one arm, keen and sharp, grown from just below her wrist joint. Not a second later, it was gone, djed totally at her command, strings falling back into line, dancing to the tune of their puppeteer. ”I learned to utilize every weapon at my disposal, to use and be used in kind. I learned to embrace possibility.”

Eyes hard and bitter, she continued to smile.

x

[Mirage]

e
Riyanna's eyes scanned up and down Celeste's body, watching ever subtle shift that she made in her djed. Then there was the smallest hint of a smile, something that had not been seen in days as she said, "It's a start at least, but you have the basic idea. I am not sure if I should call you cutie or not anymore..." The smile faded once more and here eyes slipped away, "But in the end, I will be the ultimate judge of what you learned."

Closing her eyes the Warden almost looked like she was praying before she stood up from the rock, stretching her arms over her head and saying in her usual, almost cheery way, "You know that the Wardens are considered the best combat mages on Sahova right? Well have you never wondered why you have not learned a single bit about my combat techniques?" She opened one eye to look at Celeste. Lower her arms she rolled her shoulders, then her neck, and arched her back even further. Her body was slowly thinning, losing fat and even muscle right before Celeste's eyes. Then it was like she rolled int he air, her entire body flipped over in a tumble, not a part of her touching the ground as she flue at Celeste. She landed on one slender, slightly elongated leg, the other hooked between Celestes, catching the Initiate's knee with her own. One arm wrapped Celeste's waist, twisting her right arm behind her back as she did so. Riyanna's right arm hooked under Celeste's left armpit, forcing the arm up with more strength than one would expect from so little muscle. The Warden had completely twisted herself around Celeste's joints, barely keeping her balanced on her one free foot. The Warden's face was right next to Celestes', they were cheek to cheek in fact, and there Riyanna whispered softly, "Because the training would have torn you apart."

Just the slightest motion and Celeste was suddenly falling backwards, thrown off balance by the odd contortions of her master. The rolled as they hit the ground, Riyanna's hold on each of Celeste's joints putting such pressure that it felt like they would all come out of their sockets, yet the Warden simply let her go, flinging the girl several feet to land in the dust once more. Riyanna, on the other hand, used the momentum to return once more to her feet, spinning for a moment on one tow as she slowly lowered her arms out to her sides, like a dancer ending a performance.

The Warden's form was filling out once more as she continued talking, "Everything you have done in the Pit has only been preparation, getting you ready for the real training. I will teach you the secrets of the Prairie Wardens, but unlike Tierra and Brom you only have five days to learn all that you can." She held up ten fingers, "My combat techniques consists of 10 forms, each with highly specific purposes. Together these forms make up the unique combat arts of the Prairie Wardens, which are called Vasat-dala. The Ever changing Battle."

Setting her hands on her waist Riyanna looked toward the Pit, "With only five days I cannot teach you everything that I know, so instead I will focus on teaching you two forms of the Vasat-dala. From this point on each and every day will be torture to you. You will meditate in the Pit until I come for you, then you will train with me in the arts of combat, and then you will return to the Pit once more to meditate upon what you have learned. The chances of injury are great, and when you return to the pit after our training you will quickly discover how much of a toll weariness and pain can take on your mental ability to control the changes. This training was never meant to be done as quickly as you are doing it now, and honestly I do not know if you will survive." She looked at Celeste, eyes hard, "But I cannot go easy on you now. Celeste Arumen, this is the consequence of your actions and your impatience. Live or die, that is up to you. I can promise than before the 25th arrives, you will already wish you were dead. So..." Her eyes softened, the old Riyanna peeking through the forced strength, "Just... Just this once, I will offer you an escape. A ship will leave for Sunberth the day after tomorrow. You can choose to end this now, and flee from Sahova forever. You will never be able to return, but you will be safe. You will be alive. It is your choice sweetie... I will understand if you want to end all of this now, before it gets even more painful."
e

[Celeste Arumen]

Her chest swelled a bit. She hadn’t expected even the slightest hint of approval. But the moment passed and they were back to sizing one another up. She puzzled over Riyanna’s inquiry; why hadn’t she learned the woman’s combat techniques? Now that was a good question. But before she could even attempt an answer, the woman began to move. Celeste took a reflexive step back.

And before she knew it, she was skidding across the ground.

Coughing, she tried to collect herself. The woman had done some sort of flip to close the distance between them and before she could even so much as blink, had her by every meaningful joint in her body. In the present, Riyanna did a pirouette and got back to her feet. The young girl felt extraordinarily weary, all of the sudden. She had a feeling this would set the tone for the days to come.

”Vasat-dala,” she agreed. The words sounded familiar, as if she’d heard them before. It was likely she’d come across something similar in the uphill battle to learn nader-canoch. But as the Warden continued, she sighed, trying to relish her last few moments of freedom before she was thrown back into the endless spiral of “do or die.” Riyanna would do everything in her power to break her. She could not let that happen.

She smiled and some of the previous bitterness left her eyes. Just for a moment, Riyanna exposed herself. This would be the final opportunity for them to speak on good terms. ”You know better than that,” she replied softly. Even her voice sounded fuller. ”I want you to know that if you kill me, I won’t hold it against you. You only wish to make me stronger. But know that I’m keeping my promise. If I live, I won’t let it change me. I may look different, but you can still call me cutie if you want.”

She rolled her shoulders back. ”Teach me all that you can. Just don’t go too easy, now.” Which of course, was a very stupid thing to say. But with the beating she was looking at, it was obvious she could do no worse. Celeste looked confident and cool headed, even though inside she was sweating profusely. This was going to hurt.

A lot.

x

[Mirage]

The Warden almost smiled once again, "Then prepare yourself. There is no going back anymore."

Riyanna rolled her shoulders, stretched her back, flexed her hips and thighs. Twisting her body this way and that, she prepared herself to teach one of the greatest lessons an Initiate would learn from her Warden, "These two forms are the most basic, and are intended to be used interchangeably. They are highly adaptive, can be used with any model be it humanoid or beast, and are effective in a variety of situations." Then she flexed her muscles, hunching her back as she concentrated, arms curled before her chest. Her skin bubbled and bulged, forming section all across her body which hardened before Celeste's eyes. The plates were interlocked, layered over one another, and shimmered green in the light. The plates covered the Warden from head to foot in what looked to be reflective armor, but somehow she looked more like a two legged beetle, "The first form I have named Three Layer Defense, and is perhaps the most important of the two arts I will teach you today."

Straightening the woman walked closer to Celeste, extending her plated arm for her too look at, to study, "This is the first layer. In this form you use an exoskeleton, similar to what you would find on a beetle, to help dodge and deflect strike and piercing based attacks. Feel the texture, how smooth it is. It is covered with a very thin layer of silk. With it a blade can be redirected from vitals, and even some elemental magics can be evaded as well." Leaning down Riyanna would pick up a fist sized rock and slam it down on the plate on her left forearm. The reflective plate cracked instantly from the force, "But as you can see, blunt force will easily make your defenses crumble."

Stepping back Riyanna raised her arms out at her sides, and the shiny plates morphed once again. Thickening, hardening to bone white, "The second layer is one that I have already taught you, and one that we use most often. Bone is used to prevent stronger blows from piercing through. The first layer can be used to deflect, but if an attack is aimed at a single point, or if the plower has too much force, the plates will crack and leave you defenseless. This layer, the second, will protect you from stronger forces and piercing attacks, however, bone is heavier and not as flexible and will limit your movements. Because of its density it will also do more harm than good if too strong a blow is struck against it, because it will not absorb the impact as well as the first layer."

Clapping her hands together the bone plates melted back into her skin. Once more her skin began to bubble and bulge, but this time only on her right arm. Curling her arm, the skin there swelled, layer upon layer packing until the appendage was swollen and deformed looking, nearly three times the size of the other arm, "The last layer is one that should only be used sparingly, when the situation calls for it. With it you create several extra layers of soft, fatty tissue over your skin, like a callus but much bigger. It is useless in combat save for absorbing high impact force strikes. It is very rare that one needs the third layer, and unless your opponent is using a blunt weapon or you are falling from a great height, it is all but useless. The layers are heavy, you become sluggish and unable to defend yourself. This is an 'as needed' defense only."

Letting her arm return to normal Riyanna set her hands on her hips, "All three layers should only be used in sections. Covering parts of your body that need protection, or at higher risk for damage. Only use the first layer when your opponent is using precision attacks with blades and some magics that use projectiles, such as reimancy. The plates are best equipped on the forearms, and the shins, which are the most maneuverable arts of your body. The Second Layer is one that can, and should be used often to protect those vital areas. Use them in your travel forms to protect the soft underbellies, and the neck area. This layer is for when the chances of deflecting an attack are small and you must defend yourself with a ridged defense. Bone plates along the palms of the hands can be used to catch blades mid swing, but this is ill advised. Finally, the third layer is to only be used when you are expecting a great impact that has to be dispersed over a large area. The soft tissue will not protect against any blade or magic, but will help you absorb the impact of, say, a club or even a fall from a steep cliff."

Tilting her head Riyanna asked, "Any questions?"

[Celeste Arumen]

This, she already knew. There had been no going back from the day she’d set foot in Sahova. That choice had long since been made. The girl listened best she could, fingering at the strands of her djed. As the Warden’s skin bubbled, she made the connection. So this was the origin of the armored plates. But something didn’t add up. She hadn’t remembered them to be so light and the pattern, she couldn’t identify.

But as the woman drew in, she realized just why. Riyanna had called it “the three layered defense.” As this was the lightest, it stood to reason it was also the first, meaning she wouldn’t have seen it beneath the bone plating she knew so well. The girl ran a hand across the surface of her forearm. ”Now how exactly do you shape the djed? I’ve never been a bug before.” To which, she stifled a grin. Not yet, anyway. ”Is it made of chitin? Or is it something I haven’t heard of before?”

As they progressed, she made note of the strengths of each. In the back of her mind, she was already plotting the best possible defense. Annalisa’s show of force was clearly, still nagging at the back of her mind. If she were to layer the exoskeleton as best she could, with the bone plating covering her vitals, she might actually stand a chance. It wasn’t probable, given the defense was more than likely weak against extreme temperature, but it was something at least.

The last layer made her think of cushioning a fall, or perhaps rolling with a punch. In regards to hand-to-hand, it could be used to great effect if timed properly. Of course, she wasn’t nearly as quick as Riyanna, but it was definitely something to consider at least. Celeste thought carefully about her advice. It was obvious that were she to pass up the question and answer round, she’d get a first hand demonstration almost immediately. It was best that she got a good grasp on just how the artform worked before she got laid out again.

”Okay, so I can manage the bone plates.” Thinking of the composition of bone, she reached within to her neck first, twisting the strands there, generating extra almost, creating another layer with which to work with. At first, it resembled the callused material of the third defense, but she moved quickly to alter the shape, thickening and reinforcing the energy, simplifying the structure until it was sold white bone.

It was a little thicker than she’d intended, but it got the point across. As she spoke, she whittled away at the density. ”I’ve seen them before and they’re closer to what I know. I think I can manage the third defense too, though I’ll need to work on it.” Pruning a few more of the ends, the protection around her neck was far more suitable, allowing her to turn her head a bit. ”But the first one? I haven’t got a clue. What morph would be similar?”

She hedged a bit with the next question. ”Also, say you were facing a very talented opponent, in the art of reimancy.” Oh, this was loaded. ”One that could you know, fry you from the inside out? How effective would these defenses be? Or would it be better to just try and bite their head off really quick?”

x

[Mirage]

To Celeste's first question Riyanna extended her hand, turning it so that the girl could see her nails. She wiggled her fingers, "The first layer is very similar to creating large fingernails in place of the bone plates. The main difference between the first layer and your fingernail, however, is that the first layer defense has to be much rounder, and perfectly smooth. You cover the very surface of it with a thin layer skin, so thin that it is in fact transparent to give it make it smoother still." She made a fist, and on the back of her hand one of the first layer plates began to form. Turning her hand so that her knuckles were toward Celeste, the plate facing up, Riyanna ran a finger over the colorful, rounded surface, "See how it is raised and rounded, like a half oval? This is very important to the entire 3-layer defense. The rounded surface, combined with the smooth and slippery texture will make it so that most physical blows can be deflected or slide right off of your defense before it can do any real damage."

Folding her arms over her chest, Riyanna raised an eyebrow and looked away, "The three layers is effective against several forms of reimancy. Water based attacks will simply roll off of the smooth surface, and the 3rd layer beneath will absorb the impact of the spell as well. The 2nd and third layer are effective against earth based strike and pierce attacks, and wind is easy enough to deflect with the combination of all three layers. Fire can be reflected for a short time, as long as the spells are not continuous. IF you try to block a fire spell with the first layer it will work for a little while, but as the thin layer of skin you placed on the surface is burned away it loses its effectiveness in other forms of combat. It is also quite painful." She sighed, "No matter what though, you do not want to fight head to head with a reimancer. They are simply much better equipped to fight long and mid range. Instead you should use the three layers to get in close, and finish them off with another form before they can put distance between the two of you again. Overtime Fire will wear you down, and there is no defense against lightning and lava. If they open a crack in the earth beneath you, you have to adapt and climb or fly out. If they blast you with wind, you alter your weight and shift to the 2nd and third layers for defense. I can only show you the forms, you have to learn how to use them yourself."

Looking at Celeste once more, Riaynna held her hands out at her side, "Now each of the layers I have shown you can be done on their own, but their true strength lies when they are used together. You begin with the 3rd layer, the deepest layer, creating a cushion to absorb impact damage." Around her forearm her skin bubbled, rising about half an inch with thick, pad like tissue, "Next comes the second layer, the hardest and heaviest layer used to protect slightly against impact damage and to prevent your body from being pierced." Over the padding formed white bone, hardening and thickening making another half inch of protection, "Finally the first layer, used to deflect damage before it ever reaches you." Over the bone formed the first layer defense, a single, perfectly smooth rounded surface that wrapped around her entire forearm. It was a brilliant green color and formed one, continuous piece giving just a little more than 1/4 of an inch at its apex. The surface was bright, slightly reflective and almost beautiful as it caught the suns light, "This layer you want to make a bright color, usually greens or pinks, to help confuse an attacker or for distractions. Make it as smooth and reflective as you possibly can so that it catches the light to reflect it back at an opponent, hopefully blinding them just long enough to counter. The tree layer defense should only be used in pieces, on certain body parts that are often used for combat like the forearms and shins. Because of their weight they can be difficult to maneuver with, so you do not want to constantly wear them but summon it when the need arises. If at all possible end an encounter before the need for defense arises. As you said, an opponent without a head is no threat to you."

She nodded to Celeste, "Try it now. Form the three layers individually, and when you have it we will begin your lessons in earnest. You will learn the second form while you practice this first one."

[Celeste Arumen]

Right. So in the end, it was best to close the distance and make the kill. Equipped with the three layer defense, she was reasonably certain her tiger model would serve best. While Celeste didn’t relish the thought of having to fight an opponent like Annalisa, it certainly made her feel better knowing she could, were it to come to that. The girl mirrored Riyanna’s earlier action, stretching her tired muscles.

Turning phantom eyes inward, she surveyed the composition of her djed, a complex roadmap to every last aspect of her being. She scanned through until she arrived at the weave of her skin, knowing it to be the outermost layer of her (currently) human form. Carefully and yet, with precision, she began pinching the strands, shaping them outward, adding mass when needed, as if integrating clay into the mold.

As she worked, she listened quietly to her own internal orchestra. The djed resonated beautifully, more so than ever before, now attuned to the hand that shaped it. The feeling was incredibly gratifying, akin to pulling on a warm sweater after a long, cold night. Her skin bubbled, much as Riyanna’s had, growing a new layer. At first, it was a fraction of what it should have been, but the girl adjusted on the fly, continuing to shape the djed until it served her purpose. The ability to do that had been all but lost on her before. But now, after days and days of the Pit, she found herself able to make adjustments unblinkingly.

She hesitated, allowing the Warden to scrutinize her if she so desired, before moving on to the next layer. The second was a bit easier. She looked to the already formed bone plate encircling her neck and studied the structure before systematically moving to imitate it throughout her form. The composition of bone was always so very rigid and thus, the djed rang out in low, brassy tones, a compliment to the rich, stringed vibrations of her skin. She worked from chest to feet, taking care to stack in atop the third defense, mirroring the plates she’d once seen on Brom and Tierra.

Again, she paused to let Riyanna study her work.

Finally, she focused on trying to imitate the first layer, the one she found most difficult of all. Now, this would be a process of trial and error. Atop the plates boiled another layer of skin, ready to be molded. Celeste took the excess data and began to experiment, adding a rigid quality, much like bone. However, instead of keeping it thick, she made it thin and flexible, smoothing the energy down again and again as she worked. She felt much like Osd as he labored over the forge. She had to make sure the plates were pure, smooth, devoid of flaw or imperfection. There could be no chink in her armor, literally.

At first, the consistency seemed wrong. It was too matte, too much like the second layer. So she tried to divorce herself from the idea of bone and try something more abstract, something out of her comfort zone. As best she could, Celeste tried to imitate what she thought flexible glass might look like, but more organic in nature. This was more difficult than she realized. The djed leapt to her command and she began to pick at the loom. Each stand was like the piping of a flute, lighter than before. Between the three layers, she’d reached a symphony.

The formation of the glass-like plates caused her to shiver - they were strangely cold. At first, they were just feeble representations of what she thought the layer should be. They didn’t even interlock as was proper. But Celeste went down the line, starting with the shoulder, seizing the bundle and styling into very fine web of carbon. When the consistency finally pleased her, she began to mimic it throughout her form.

Before long, she had something to really work with. The plates were translucent at first, but she quickly turned them opaque, trying to add some luster and shine. The djed complied, skipping to her tune, the fringe elements twisting and forming into a solid, reflective surface of bright pink. She capped it off by adding the smooth, translucent silk atop. Strangely, this took the longest of all. She found that something so fine and yet so dense required concentration. Silk was incredibly complex in nature - so many delicate strands, tightly woven together. But once she was done, she was satisfied.

Celeste looked to survey herself. She looked almost like a very peculiar golem, or absurd sort of failbeast.

[Mirage]

"The first layer should be thicker, rougher like the padding of a cat or dog's paw. Remember what you do for your tiger and lynx model? It is similar, only it is not restricted only to the palms of your hands and souls of your feet. This layer is to absorb impact, so think thick cushion or padding." Riyanna instructed, moving closer to inspect Celeste as she went. The Warden did not have anything further to add as she watched her apprentice finish her work. When it was all done Riyanna would look the girl up and down, "I believe I said only to create the 3 layers in smaller sections on your body, preferably your forearms and shins. When you encase yourself in the layers you will lose all of your agility, and your ability to move and fight effectively."

Celeste would find the areas where she did not carefully and precisely create openings in the joints she would be unable to move. The stiff bone plates rubbed against one another, creating friction and made it difficult to move. Any areas she did not provide proper spacing of the plates, bone or exoskeleton, she would find she could not bend properly at all. Things such as raising one's arms, or even walking, were awkward and difficult. The weight of all three layers was more than one might expect as well. Bone was dense, and pulled heavily on the limbs, and all three layers together tended to trap heat, making it easy to become dehydrated and too hot.

"Once more alter it so that the 3 layer defense is only in the most vital spots. Equip your forearms and shins for now."

When Celeste had done so the Warden would step back, rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms out once more, "The next form I will teach you is called Tooth and Thorn. It is a close range form, best used when you are already close, and preferably when you are in a human form. Now, anyone can fight Celeste. it is instinct, it is a fact of survival. I do not have to teach you how to use your claws and fangs when you take on your tiger skin... but there are times when you will not be able to do a full transformation, and you will instead have to rely on something more cunning and deceptive."

She raised one hand, palm toward her eyes, "In those moments when you cannot take on an animal form, instead you must rely on something else. For myself, I particularly enjoy this one." Suddenly, at her wrist, there sprang a sudden appendage, a long spoke of bone that hooked up and over her extended fingers, "Tooth and thorn is only slightly miss leading, and will perhaps be the most difficult of the two forms for you to master because it involves a change in mass, but not one that effects large portions of your body." The bony spike slowly retracted back into Riyanna's skin, molding with it once more to leave no trace behind, "It is like pressing all of the change in mass into one single spot of focus, but instead of increasing out, you increase length and press it out from the skin itself. This form is simple in concept, much more difficult in practice because of the amount of focus required to get one spike just right, but it is highly effective in offense and defense."

The Warden pulled in a deep breath, pulling her arms in as she exhaled all at once and from her skin lept thousads of bony 'thorn like' projections, each close to an inch long, "As you can see these can be used offensively, as well as defensively if the need ever arises. It is difficult for something to hit you or, say, bit you if you are covered in thorny spikes." This time she really did smile as she retracted the spikes into her flesh once more, "Both of these forms, at first, will take some time and focus to bring them out. As you master these forms, however, you will find that it becomes second nature to summon the 2nd layer to protect against a piercing blow, or to will a spike of bone to your hand to deflect a dagger blade. It takes time, and practice, but you have only five days to become a master. I don't know if you will be able to reach that point or not, but we have to try."

Setting her hands on her hips she looked up at the skin, the sun now high overhead, "Tooth and Thorn has two parts, but for now I will only be showing you 'thorn' because that will be of more use to you. As I said this kind of form is best used when you have the advantage of surprise, when you can come in and get in a quick stab through the abdomen and get out. Use this in your animal forms to produce spikes for defense, or to increase your offensive capabilities. This is not a form to be used on its own unless you strictly cannot avoid it. When possible do a full morph and fight with your animal instincts. When you do not have the time for a full morph, or you don't have the space, rely on Tooth and Thorn to buy you time to either escape, or get to an area where you can use a full morph. Do you understand?"

She nodded, growing two more spikes, one on each hand. Adjusting her stance she readied herself, "Now then, let your training begin. Today we will focus on your defense, and you will be defending yourself against me... Don't die." She charged forward without warning, eyes narrowing as she stabbed forward with the spike on her left hand, aiming for the center of Celeste's chest. Her right hand was at the ready, raised near her cheek in position to strike or defend.

OOCOK! At this point you can start your solos, AND we can move forward into the Heartlands! Yay! I need some more details in your morphing, about the changing of her djed, how her anatomy changes, etc. I had a hard time visualizing exactly what Celeste was doing in your last post, so if I made a mistake somewhere please let me know! We are getting into very advanced and complicated styles of morphing, that means very detailed descriptions will be required so that both I, and all of your future thread partners, will know EXACTLY what is happening. Morphing, as I have always said, will really test you to see if you are as good a descriptive writer as you think you are. I have already started to find that it is difficult to always find the right words! Anyway, lets get to it!
NoteFor an idea of what I was going for with the spikes, look up Spike from X-Men

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste flushed at the reprimand. She’d been so preoccupied with getting the layers right, that she’d misheard her direction. The girl wanted so desperately to be perfect. But she knew in her heart of hearts, that it just wasn’t going to happen. With a sigh, she began to rework her djed, some of the external layers shrinking and disappearing as she returned the energy to normal. It felt peculiar, almost like she was morphing in reverse. The sensation was indescribable. She made sure to isolate all three layers to her forearms and shins, just as she was told, though a small voice in the back of her mind said otherwise. It told her to protect her vitals. But Celeste didn’t listen.

As they moved on to the next form, she noted that it was very similar to what she’d been considering before. Surprise was a very effective tool in combat. The ability to skewer an opponent by say, extending a preexisting bone held a certain appeal. Theoretically, of course. For all her thoughts of assassination, she girl could scarcely stomach the idea of killing another human being, though the vast majority of her targets would more than likely be already dead.

With a keen eye, she watched her master. Spikes all over the body, eh? From where she was standing, Riyanna looked like an especially attractive hedgehog. The young girl grinned. It was a clever tactic and one that would spell death for an overzealous opponent. Hopefully, the failbeasts of the Heartlands would be more brawn than anything. But something about her encounter with the Hel’atian told her otherwise. What made a creature truly dangerous was sentience. That was what made humans the deadliest of all.

So she would try her best to stall until she got into a full body morph, then. That was the key to staying alive. As Riyanna asked, she nodded.

And immediately staggered to defend herself.

Mind scrambling, she tried to summon a bone plate to her chest. That was the first order of business. But she knew that if the first strike didn’t connect, the other hand was sure to follow. Wincing, she tried putting space between the two of them, but she knew Riyanna would be too fast. Running was not an option. She had to prioritize.

The skin of her chest bubbled as she frantically twisted the djed there, summoning the bone plates best she could. The morph wouldn’t be perfect, but she didn’t have time to make it that way. Using the precision taught to her by the Pit, she created mass where there was none and pulled it fast. Her skin tightened uncomfortably as the plates sprang into place, gleaming solid and white in the afternoon sun. But was it too late?

Meanwhile, as she morphed, she moved her forearm in front, in the hopes of blocking the attack were she to be too late.