[flashback] Winter thieves...Need to learn

[Ximal]

54th Winter. 510AV

Cold. Why was mid winter snow always the coldest snow. Xi found himself thinking this as he walked through the back alleys of sunberth. It wasn't exactly the safest of all placed but it was a lot warmer than out on the main streets. His breath snaked out of his mouth slowly, whistling off into a puffs of steam. He was cold, and a cold day mean his fingers felt almost numb, flexing his finger tips. he marched down the slightly warmer back alleys. in winter he really needed to find himself a tavern with rooms wither that or he'd probably freeze to death in the sunberth winters. Xi passed down an alley, and came out next to a dum fire, the warm orange glow bathing his face from below in both light and heat. The feel was exhilarating, He ran his hands over the brunt of the flames slowly a little ways above the fame to warm his hands and limber his finger and body back up. With a new leace of life and power brimming through him Xi stepped again through the open streets this time towards the pigs foot. If nothing else today he'd get a pint of ale, and try to find a room at another tavern.

[Runick Torian]

Rune walked in the freezing weather. The cold scratching at his throat. He was almost to the Tavern. It was just up the road. Each step seemed to twice as heavy as the last. The streets were crowded. The stench of unwashed Men and Women filled the air. Rune new that anyone of these people could be a danger. He kept his Head down and tried to draw little attention to himself.There! Rune thought seeing the sign. "The Pigs Feet"

Rune pulled off the main street into an alley and counted his Mizas. "Not enough," he said. He looked out at the crowd. "I guess I'll just have to borrow some." He stuffing what little Miza he had back into his pocket. Just a little more he thought.

He went back on the street and continued towards the tavern. He quickened his pace carefully looking at the people around him for a good choice of prey. After no luck finding a good candidate. He rested at the mouth of an alley by The Pigs Feet. Then he saw a boy about the same age as him headed for the tavern. This was his chance. Now or never. Rune slowly got up and caught up to the boy. Now! Rune thought seeing an opening and reached for where he believed he kept his Miza.

[Ximal]

Trudging through the deep snow, Xi sighed heavily as he heard the footsteps of people coming up behind him. slow, probably just going to the bar to get apint like him. Then the crunching of snow beneath foot got faster almost as if someone was running but why would they be running? It was only when the hand slammed into his waist that he relized what they were after...His money, the one thing that he knew he couldn't afford to give up. as the hand collided with his waist Xi bought his right forearm straight down like an anvil. Fast and hard, this thief wasn't getting away without some from of injury. Following the swiift arc down Xi began a twist with his upper body snapping out his left hand like a flash of lightning not powerful but damn fast. Brawls in sunberth were often the easiest thing to get into however one thing not all fighters took stock of was the environment, Xi spun to look the thief in the eye and now he locked his face like a bold brazen beast. A fury built up in him an anger of irritation. "You made two mistakes thief. firstly, trying to steal from me. Secondly, getting caught."

[Runick Torian]

Quicker. I need to catch him. Rune thought, the snow crunching beneath his feet. He was mere inches from the boy. Rune reached out for the boy's waist. Just a little money, I won't take it all. he thought to himself. Slowly, slowly. Runes hand hit the boy's waist. No! he thought as an elbow slammed into his head. How could he have been so clumsy. Rune reared back from the blow and fell back on his rear. He was seeing stars. Is it past reasoning with him.

The boy turned around."You made two mistakes thief," he said, his voice cold and filled with hatred, "firstly, trying to steal from me. Secondly, getting caught."

Runes head started to clear and he looked up. Fire was burning in his eyes. Rune could almost feel the rage coming from his opponent. I guess reasoning is out of the question. he thought. People rushed by not caring what was happening in the street before them. Rune needed to choose his words carefully or he would be dead.

"Yes. Mistakes are made by every race. Some more than others." Rune said as he slowly reached for his knife. "I hope my mistakes are not the end of me or you." he said lunging at him with his blade.

[Ximal]

Xi slid his right foot back more out of instinct than anything else. This thief was not going to give him an easy run. However that elbow had connected, and much better than he had suspected. Xi stared the other boy down his eyes still bringing with anger, not hate. Xi now let the man before him rise, his arms banded and covered by their vambraces as always. And now the boy before him began to talk. Every race makes mistakes, and some more than others. Why did this sound like a set up to to buy some time. Then the boy reached for his knife. and hoped his mistakes would not be the end of either of them....Fantastic. As the boy before him surged at Xi knife drawn and ready, Xi stepped into it, taking the knife blade across his bracer and then whipping the boys arm wide of him before following up with a right punch, so strong that if it his it would easily knock this boy clean off of his feet. Xi had little discipline of his won but the discipline he did had told him to watch, wait, and learn. Twisting back on his left foot he reset his stance and then sent out a flurry of strong jabs with his left hand. Xi would block every single strike and drive every single hit home. A blade was not a weapon he wanted to be hit with, and he really would not allow the blade to touch him. "The mistakes will not end you or me, but they will give you a very bad headache. I didnt kill people unless they've done something truly wrong. And you...Just chose the wrong person to try and rob."

[Runick Torian]

Rune lunged with his knife drawn. He didn't want to kill the boy, but he never knew what would happen. The kid parried his attack and gave him a sucker punch right in the stomach. His breath was out of him before the punch was finished. Down he went, and there he lay in the cold snow. The cold air made recovery hard, but Rune new better than to be found still in a fight. He jumped up ready to attack again.

The kid came first. He began a flurry of jabs, chaotic but controlled. He was fast, but not so fast that Rune couldn't dodge. Rune tried his best to move swiftly and fluidly to dodge the barrage, but the snow made it difficult to move. Ducking under the boys immense furry, Rune threw a punch as hard as he could at the stomach of the boy. Just maybe if it hit he could get his knife into position to get something out of him.

[Ximal]

Xi moved with the boy now the flurry of jabs he was unleashing with his left hand only was being dodged almost effortlessly, however Xi now need ed to be wary of botht e boy and the icy ground beneath him. However that would give him a kee clearance dodge and a nice return should this boy be naive enough to try something. and he was just that. Xi took the boys fist to the gut. Compared to what he'd had to endure that blow felt like a tickle, but now Xi had a perfect shot for one of his killer moves if the boy dodged or got up after this then good on him. Maybe xi would buy him a drink. Cracking his neck more intimidation factor than anything else Xi now used the footing to his advantage. Latching a hand onto the other boy's wrist he took his left foot to between the boy's legs. crouched down low lifted his left opponent's left arm above his shoulder, pivoted on his left lex which was now firmly cemented between the boys legs and prepared to throw the boy like a rag doll at the wall. If this worked then this would be more than enough force to cause the boy to either yield or at least feel some pain, as at the moment this kid was taking a battering and enduring it like a champion. should that not work Xi had his right elbow positioned to slam his right forearm into the boy's fist holding the knife. This kid was clearly a novice with his weapon but he showed fortitude. a good sign. "It's good manners to know the name of your opponent. My name is Ximal and what's yours?"

[Runick Torian]

Rune's punch connected cleanly with the boys gut.Yes! Now if only I could... he thought. He began to move his dagger into position when He felt a strong hand grasp his wrist. He looked down to see the boy had gotten his leg in between his own. Next thing Rune knew He was up against the wall. How much more can this guy take? How much can I take? Rune wondered. Rune juggled with his thoughts.

"It's good manners to know the name of your opponent. My name is Ximal and what's yours?" Ximal asked.

Ximal. So, that''s his name. Well, he was a good fighter. Rune could tell that he that he had no intentions of giving up soon. "Rune's my name. I can tell your not a bad guy. You had every chance to finish me off, but you didn't. I can tell you I'm also not a bad guy. Aye, I did try to take your miza, but we all need a little more every now and then," Rune looked the Xi over,"You're a good, where did ya learn to fight like that."

[Ximal]

Rune ? Well, for a thief he did certainly know how to take a punch, and even an impact. Still this man before him had tried to rob him of his coin. The money which would assure his safety for the next few seasons. The money that would allow him to survive in this harsh and cruel city. Still Xi began to have a certain respect for this man even if he was a thief. He'd managed to take a punch , an elbow and a throw from Xi. Not many people had taken that much and come away nearly scot free. Perhaps it's because his natural power want engaging it'self. Strange, maybe he needed to just flow out a searing want to kill to get it to emerge? Still what ever the reason Xi looked over at the boy. The question where did he learn to fight was something foreign to him. Everyone in sunberth had just taken fighting for granted, and Xi himself didn't know where his own skill came from. Shooting a quick glance at his fists Xi spoke again now this time coinciding with rune's words. "I don't know. I guess it's an inbuilt need, or reaction. Though your knife skills either need some work or I'm really just that good. Also if your a thief, sprinting before you take something ? You've really got to work on your technique." Xi took a step closer, closing the gap between them and giving rune less room to swing that knife. " Though you do loo like you could use a good drink. That and you've got a strong left punch. Try to develop that skill, or at least try not to get caught in future."

[Runick Torian]

"I don't know. I guess it's an inbuilt need, or reaction. Though your knife skills either need some work or I'm really just that good. Also if your a thief, sprinting before you take something ? You've really got to work on your technique.Though you do loo like you could use a good drink. That and you've got a strong left punch. Try to develop that skill, or at least try not to get caught in future, " Xi said as he came closer. A cold silence filled the air. Rune looked him over once again. This time he saw Xi's scars. Rune could tell that whatever he had just thrown at Xi was nothing more than a small nuisance. Rune couldn't help himself and he burst out laughing. "Well, that's one instinct you've got there!" Rune sheath his blade. "You know as well as I, a guys got to do what he's got to do to stay alive. No hard feelings?" Rune extended his hand towards Xi hoping he would accept the peace offering. "How bout a round of ale and we discuss what we know? Though, I'll need to borrow a couple Miza," Rune said with a sly smile.