Pounce [Rhuryc]

[Atzi]

Spring 30th, 511AV Just outside of Avanthal's walls The Kelvic was giddy. It had been a long time since was able to play. A few days prior, Rhuryc had asked her if she would like to spar; and Atzi could barely contain herself. She was down right ecstatic. She had jumped up from her seat and enthusiastically agreed. To her, sparring was not work, no, it was a game, it was play; and she loved it. The morning the the 30th was an early one. Atzi woke up and quickly prodded her mate into rousing. A bright smile rested on her face as she hovered over a sleepy Rhuryc. He would wake up. And the two would go play. “Come on, Rhu!” She said, bouncing on the edge of the bed before hopping down. The two got ready for their trek to the snow covered land just outside of Avanthal. Atzi wore her boots, mittens, hat and fur cloak. Rhuryc had asked her to spar in her animal form, which Atzi preferred to fight in anyways. The young woman cheerfully skipped around the house as she waited for Rhuryc to finished donning his gear. The two soon were out on their way, the sun just peaking over the walls, blinding light reflected all around. Atzi's eyes constricted as the light hit her corneas. She squinted and glanced from Rhuryc to the path before them. The Kelvic continued to skip as the two traveled to their destination. Within a few chimes the pair stepped through the gate and into the endless snowy terrain. “Do you want to fight with your weapons? Or would you prefer unarmed?” Atzi had little idea how to deal with weapons other than just pouncing on the attacker before they get the chance to brandish their tool. “I will do whatever you feel up to.” Atzi started to removed her hat and mittens. “You're going to owe me a hot bath and warm meal after this.” A smirk crossed her face as her feet slipped out of her boots. In one fluid movement the fur cloak slipped off her shoulders, exposing pale skin covered in small raised scars. Before much of a look could be granted Atzi shifted, light surrounding her as she became a large tiger. Bright fur contrasted against the white snow as she padded towards Rhuryc, nuzzling his free hand for a moment, waiting for the mans decision.

[Rhuryc]

Getting Atzi to sleep in her own bed was impossible. Whenever he mentioned it she gave him that look. Even if he was firm, she would disappear and later he would wake to her having boomeranged back to him. So it was that he gave up. After the first few nights he abandoned the idea and resulted to sleeping with pants on. When he awoke to the insidious prodding of the Kelvic he was not surprised. In the least. He had the day off, after all, and she had been waiting for this morning for some time. As to not disappoint, he offered the woman a sleepy grin and rolled over, his blankets discarded in favor of a cold morning. Slipping out of bed Rhuryc stretched and made to wash his face, going over a few necessities before they left the cabin. Food, for one. He grabbed some of the dried meats and some cheeses, split them between the two, and donned his casual garments. Breeches, boots, tunic, coat. A fur cloak was thrown over the mess and his sword belted to his side. Rhuryc grabbed his flask and they were off. Not too cold. Good. Their spot was not quite so far away from the city. Still within eye sight, they picked out a location away from the main road leading into the gates and behind a high, slopped hill. When Atzi spoke he turned to the woman and removed his sheath from his belt, tossing it aside along with his cloak. It was far too dangerous to even think about using real weapons. How silly. She would if he asked, though, and that much almost disturbed him. "I'll warm the water myself." He spoke while he removed his coat, the thick leather discarded alongside the rest of his equipment. Briefly, he averted his gaze and allowed Atzi her privacy - though it was often that she forgot he had such sensibilities - turning back only once he felt the gentle muzzle at his hand. He grinned and ruffled her ears, the scratch sliding down from her head to the neck, and eventually winding up below her chin. She seemed to like that more than anything. He stopped and set his eyes on her level, knee placed against the snow. "I don't have trouble with men, I know how they move. I can't recall how many times something, ah, larger has had me pinned, though. And if we're going to be traveling, I want you to be able to defend yourself." He leaned forward and set his forehead against Atzi's muzzle. "Don't go easy, hm? I'll be fine." He stood back up. Taking a few steps back, he turned and dug his heels into the ground, arms out at his sides. "On you, cat."

[Atzi]

Rhuryc tossed his weapon aside, that was enough of an answer for the Kelvic. Of course, the woman was not quite aware of how much of an advantage she would have over this man, the last time she wrestled with a human as a tiger was when she was a cub and easy enough to toss about. The man was kind to what any modest woman consider private, averting his gaze until her soft head nudged his hand. The man ruffled her ears and scratched the side of her head and under her chin. The kelvic would have happily rolled over and had Rhuryc continue the scratching and rubbing on her stomach and sides. A rumbling purr grew in the tigers throat as she pressed her head against the mans hand. Rhuryc ceased his affections, moving to her eye level. He knelt down, green eyes staring into large gold ones. Atzi sat, her tail twitching among the snow. “Why are you worried about me defending myself? If I recall correctly, I did not need to be carried back to this snow fort.” The tiger thought to herself, the memory was a mixed one to the woman, happy in so far that she had found him, sad in that he was so hurt. Non-the-less, the tiger nodded to man, she would do as he asked. Rhuryc leaned forward, resting his forehead against her face. The tiger felt her heart leap, such joy from such a simple action. “Don't go east, hm? I'll be fine.” The kelvic made a small grumble from her throat, an agreement. Before the man stood, Atzi rubbed the side of her snout against Rhuryc's face, her whiskers tickling against his cheek. The familiar man stood and took a few steps back from her, he assumed a fighting pose before speaking to Atzi. “On you, cat.” The Kelvic let out a short rumble, low and fierce. “My name isn't, cat.” Golden eyes remained on Rhuryc as she circled him. Her head was low, shoulder blades sticking up out of her back like two pronounced mountains. Her mouth remained slightly ajar, small puffs of steam left her mouth between sharp teeth. Suddenly, the tiger stopped pacing only to leap as soon as she stopped towards Rhuryc. Her claws remained retracted as her body flung forward, her front paws aimed towards the man, her rear feet supplying the force behind her movement. The Kelvic flew through the air, snow kicked up behind her, Atzi was mindful of her paws, she knew she was not light by any means as a tiger, her paws would not directly impact Rhuryc, hopefully, but land on either side of him. Atzi wouldn't go easy on Rhuryc, but she was not about to try to harm him.

[Rhuryc]

Rhuryc smirked. Atzi did not like the nickname, or rather, maybe she did not understand it. No matter. He watched his new opponent. She circled. The wolf had done that. Was that just a habit of the wild? He mused only for a moment. Otherwise he kept his full attention on the Kelvic, There was a method to her madness. The taunt, powerful muscles, the constant breath as it left his muzzle. It was a pattern. He did not so much as watch the Tiger as watch her motions. The gentle rise and fall of the paw, the almost gentle cant to her movements. Natural, graceful, deadly. Only when she stopped did he feel at odds. The twitch in her muscles was subtle and quick. One moment she considered, the next she pounced. The window was short. Rhuryc dropped to a knee. As Atzi came in he dipped his shoulder and tossed his weight forward, his body rolling to the side and away from her path. As the Tiger landed the man recovered. He turned, his feet digging into the ground while his hands hit the snow. With a pivot he shifted and lunged. Already close, he lanced out with both arms and attempted to wrap them around the Kelvic, his boots digging into the ground once contact was made in an effort to push and tackle the over sized cat. Not the smartest of maneuvers - Rhruyc had no idea what she was capable of in a grapple - but then again that was the entire point of the exercise. It was not every day you had a jungle cat that wouldn't eat you.

[Atzi]

Rhuryc dodged her, it wasn't too surprising, he was agile and much smaller than a full grown tiger. Atzi landed with a puff of snow disrupted around her landing. Gold eyes quickly flashed to where the man was, he had already recovered himself and before Atzi could shift, the man lunged at her. He was going to grapple her? If tigers could laugh, she certainly would be. Atzi lifted herself onto her back legs, large, heavy paws wrapped around the courageous-although foolish-man. The tigers large paws squeezed the man as she let the two of them fall to the side into the snow. Hot, moist breath ruffled Rhuryc's hair as Atzi squeezed the man. The large tiger then took her play thing and rolled onto her back and began grooming the mans head. With large, sand-papery licks, the tiger cleaned Rhuryc's hair. The kelvic began to purr, her eyes were closed, as she continued to lick the man. How pleasant! Atzi's purr seemed to grow as she squished the man between thick paws and her barrel chest. Unfortunately for Rhuryc, he would soon smell like cat breath.

[Rhuryc]

Well. That didn't work. Rhuryc found the tiger's paws wrapped around his body. Any other occasion and he would have started punching at the beast's sides, fighting for his life, but instead of biting down, she licked his face. Huh? Unless that was the common technique of defending herself, Rhuryc was not too sure Atzi understood the meaning of "don't go easy". Oh well. He was trapped and the desire to punch the Kelvic was next to zero, so instead he laid there, arms around about the giant cat as she cleaned him. When he did he last bathe? Not so long ago. Maybe his hair smelling like cat was not the best of ideas. As if he could do anything. She had him trapped. So he scratched her sides and buried his face into her chest. Having a pet tiger was an exhilarating experience, and her ability to grasp abstract concepts was endearing. Like the idea of not biting his face off. After a minute or two Rhuryc sighed. So much for the wrestling idea. "Atzi." He said, glancing up at the tigress. He lifted a hand and scratched under her chin. "Let me up, hm?" After some fuss he wiggled free and rolled aside, catching himself before he hit the snow and jumping up to his full height. He looked down at the giant cat, considering. If every endeavor was going to end like that then it was a waste of time. Of training time. Maybe this was play for her. She had been couped up more than she was most likely used to. "That wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I'm not sure what I was expecting. How about some exercise? I imagine those legs of yours could use a good stretch." A few steps brought the man to his coat. He slung the heavy, thick leather back over his torso and nodded, turning to take off. They could follow their own tracks back to his equipment.

[Atzi]

A loud, rumbling purr filled the silent landscape as Rhuryc began to scratch the tigers sides. It had been a long time since anyone had been able to get close enough to give a decent belly scratch, and trees were never quite satisfying enough. The woman was quite content to continue grooming the man and possibly even taking a nap, though it was too cold for the second idea. “Atzi.” The tiger stopped grooming, her gold eyes opening to look at Rhuryc. The man began to scratch her chin and the purr began again. “Let me up, hm?” A low growl could be heard through the purring. “Fine...” She let up her grip and as the man slipped back up to his feet, Atzi rolled on to her side. The tiger stretched and yawned, kneading the air for a moment. “That wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I'm not sure what I was expecting.” Atzi rolled onto her feet pacing towards the man to nuzzle his side. What did you expect when you tried to grapple me? I'm not about to try and bite you. Atzi thought to herself blandly, continuing to try to get more chin scratches out of the man. “How about some exercise? I imagine those legs of your could use a good stretch.” Yes, that they could. Gold eyes seemed to perk up at the idea. The man said nothing more, simply gathered his coat and returned it to his person before the man took off. “A chase? Am I still supposed to attack him?” Atzi was unsure, but figured he had wanted to practice being assaulted by a creature larger than him, at least he would get more practice, no? The tiger took off after the man, large paws flinging snow up behind her as she picked up speed. The frozen air ruffled through her fur, her eyes squinted, the cold bit at her eyes and ears leaving a dull sting. At least she had a hot bath and food to look forward to. The creature was catching ground on Rhuryc, it would be just as silly to try to out run a tiger as it was to try to grapple one. The large tiger caught up to the man and slowed her pace for a moment to keep pace with Rhuryc. Gold eyes looked over at the man for a moment. Atzi was trying to decide, to pounce, or not to pounce. After a chime of her thoughts the Tiger struck, kicking up off of the ground, front paws out as she flung herself the short distance towards Rhuryc. Atzi grabbed the man and the two rolled for a moment in the snow before coming to a stop on their side. Atzi squeezed the man again this time, but she didn't lick him, no, a low, malicious growl rumbled from her chest, her damp nose was pressed against Rhuryc's shoulder. Atzi wasn't going to let go, she wanted him to figure out how to get out of her grasp. The tiger was sure he could do it, and it was what he wanted, right?

[Rhuryc]

Rhury'cs legs took him at a nice, ease pace. It wasn't so much a chase as it was an exercise. His feet slapped against the powdery winter wastes, boots crunching along without so much as a clue to the creature behind him. He was getting better at this whole running thing. He was careful to measure his breath, in through the nose, exhale through the mouth, arms pumping in tandem with the rise and fall of his stride. His whole body was involved. On occasion his torso would twist or his shoulders would slouch, but despite the difficult terrain he managed to keep up a steady pace, buffeting the winds as it came his way. Almost at once his lungs burned. The sharp intakes of cold air was a deterrent to simply breathing let alone exercising, but it was his custom to ignore such things. It was almost pleasant to get out and be mobile. That was until Atzi decided to catch up. He heard the bounding. Confused, he turned his head over his shoulder just in time to see the tigress leap from the behind and slam into his back. He went tumbling down. Owe. She was heavy. They rolled, or at least, she rolled, and he was along for the ride. When they came to a stop he felt her paws wrap around his sides and pin him to her chest - again - the sheer strength of the animal keeping him in place. Son of a bitch. He pushed. Nothing. He glanced up. For a moment they locked eyes, the growl of his companion filling his ears with a challenge. Ah. That much he understood. She was stronger than him. At least now. The most obvious means of freedom was simple. Beat the crap out of her. In any other occasion he would just send several blows to her exposed midsection, maybe even stab at her face; but, he sort of liked the Kelvic. Instead he shifted. He brought his hands in and dragged his shoulders down, his body configuring until he was able to get some movement to his arms. He wiggled. That was difficult. With a struggle he managed to free a hand and grasp one of Atzi's paws. He pulled. Nothing. He shoved. Nothing. He grunted. Were those claws? How lovely. Maybe if he tried lower. "You know, when I said exercise I meant a jog. Not attack me." He chuckled into the Kelvic's fur as he moved his hand down, fingers wrapping about the back of the tiger's ankle joint. This worked on humans, why not animals? Pressure. He shoved a nail into the back of the joint. That must've stung. The hold loosened. Aha! Rhuryc shoved his shoulder into Atzi's chest. Moving fast, he brought his other arm around and pushed, freeing his side from the intense grip of his companion. His legs came next. He kneed the tiger in the side, his torso lifting as he pushed himself free and hit the snow. He rolled away and swung his feet around, turning and jumping back up. Hah! He spun and faced the woman, arms coming up to rest over his chest. "I imagine it would be easier with a sword."

[Atzi]

Atzi internally giggled at the mans struggle, he had freed one hand and had began to pull at her paw, this was something the woman found amusing. But, Rhuryc was trying, as Atzi had expected him to. She wasn't going to hurt him and this was practice of some sort right? It was unlikely such an occurrence would ever happen again at the paws of any other tiger, but it was better to be safe than sorry. [brown=color] “You know, when I said exercise I meant a job. Not attack me.”[/color] If Atzi could have, she would have corrected something, she hadn't attacked him, at least, she didn't see it as an attack, to her, this was play, and play was exercise. His chuckled seemed to reassure the kelvic that her actions were not too terribly out of place. Rhuryc was able to reach down and grasp the back of the tigers rear heel joint, the ankle more-or-less. His finger nail pressed into the tendon, pain shot up through Atzi's leg, a small whimpering mew was hushed in the back of the tigers throat, but it wouldn't be hard for Rhuryc to hear it. It had hurt, and her grasp on the man loosened, just enough for the man to shove his shoulder against the tigers chest, his torso was free, and with a swift and good knee to the tigers side, his legs were free as well. Oof. The wind was knocked out of the woman, she hadn't expected the knee to her side. The man hit the snow and rolled from the tiger. That was successful, not the most pleasant experience for the tiger, but it was good for the man. “I imagine it would be easier with a sword.” The tiger rolled onto her feet and stood, regaining her composure, hopefully that wouldn't bruise. The tiger trudged up neck to the man and brushed her length against his side, a dull purr vibrating through her. He'd done well, really well. The few times Atzi had wrestled with humans as playing never ended with both parties unscathed. After a few brushes past the man, Atzi returned to a slow jog, at a pace that Rhuryc had been at before. Running through the snow was strange, it looked a bit like sand, but did not handle like snow. She had traveled through most conditions, but never this much snow, the way it packed down, the way it stuck to the fur in between her pads, it was a nuisance, running in this as a human seemed like it would be easier. The kelvic continued padding along, the air burned her nose and lungs, sharp pins and needles filling her nostrils with each deep breath. The creature ran without further interruptions, there was no need to startle the man again, once was more than enough. Gold eyes wandered from time to time to the blond, her mind always felt fuzzy when she looked at him, a strange feeling, a dangerous feeling. Would this fuzzy always be there? How would she be able to defend him if she wasn't able to focus on the situation. The woman shook the thoughts from her mind as she skidded to a stop, slowly turning, time to head back to their things, her feet were getting cold.

[Rhuryc]

Rhuryc ruffled the hair on her head. He knew she liked the chin, but for some reason he was more found of prodding about the Kelvic's ears. Some things he would never understand. Oh well. After their routine petting session - or at that's what it appeared to be - he turned and started off after the tiger, hiking his pace just enough to catch up. The burning returned. How pleasant. With the sun already high the temperature was bearable, enough so anyway with the both of them generating so much heat. They ran alongside each other for some time, silently stomping through the snow-drifted fields on the outskirts of Avanthal. From out here the city was majestic. Quiet, peaceful, the wall surrounding it almost glittered in the sunlight, shining brilliant beneath the morning sky. For once Rhuryc could appreciate something. That felt nice. They stopped. If only for a moment. The man glanced down at the Kelvic and set a hand atop her head, his vision fixed to the city in the distance. "It's nice from out here, but I don't think we belong there." His head bobbed. "At least not permanently. Hah. Too damn cold." He offered Atzi a grin and a laugh before he started back off again, only this time he bolted forward at a full sprint, waving the tiger to follow. Why not make some fun of it? Following their tracks back to the gear, Rhuryc juked the Kelvic to the best of his ability. As she got near he would slow, suddenly, and switch over to her other side, stopping just long enough for her to get ahead and come back, then once more sprinting away. He did this for the majority of their return trip. To have some kind of companionship again was refreshing. Rhuryc was having fun. What in all the hell was that? And there wasn't even any alcohol involved. Finally, upon returning to their spot, the man recollected his items, clipping the sword back to his belt and slinging his fur coat up over his shoulders. "Your feet must be getting cold by now. You should put your boots on." And with that he turned away, his eyes drifting away from what he was sure would be the woman's naked form. He had become accustom to that, Atzi being without clothing - she didn't much prefer it - but he would never stare. Not yet, anyway.