Kitten and the Bear (Attn: Corellis)

[Damien]

Danos al’Sheen

Danos walked from the Master of Training’s office, a resigned set to his mouth as he considered the words he had just finished exchanging with Ferran. After the incident with Terric, Danos had been restricted from teaching, and sent to join classes where he could be supervised as he interacted with sparring partners. Many of the Drin’far’ji had looked askance at the lone Ji’alantin in attendance, but he approached his punishment with an open heart and took it for the lesson it had been meant as.

As Terric would have said, I owed the Grey Tower Toh , as a teacher I never should have let the lesson progress that far. Still it was like fighting a cornered polecat, and when we aren’t separated by rank it would be good to try it again, thought Danos as he touched his nose, feeling the lump from where it had been broken.

As he prepared the sands, he tried to recall everything he had been told about this next student but failed. All he knew was she was a Novice, short of stature and build much like Avyra. Although the Master of Training was quick to point out she had ended up in the infirmary as well, Danos thought to himself, annoyed as he set up the practice dummies and raked the leaves that had blown over the sands the night before.

Danos knew that he had never meant to hurt anyone, although he had to admit part of him ached to test his mettle against a true foe. He had been wrestling with the growing warrior spirit inside of him, and he knew as a Ji’alantin that mastering that would come.

For now, he settled into the forms and stances he had practiced with Dax Gaidin as he allowed the breathing and movements to warm his muscles. He used the dummy for strength training, his blows powerful and cracking hard against the wood as he awaited his newest student. One more beat down al’Sheen and I’m packing you off to the Citadel till you grow the brains to go with your bite sounded the voice of Master Ferran is Danos’ mind as he burned off his frustration.

OOC: Danos is the bear, you can be any animal you'd like if kitten doesn't work

[Corellis]

Elaile's feet were dragging as she approached the Warder Yards. She had never had weapons training in Tarabon, and truly did not see why she had to start now.

The Aes Sedai who had caught her switching a Tower Guard with a flow of Air had thought differently. Elaile's face was set in a scowl as she approached the area set aside for training. The guard's wandering hands had more than earned him a switching! She fumed. The absolute nerve of that man. If anyone had dared to lay a hand on her in the Panarch's Palace where she had grown up he would have spent his next birthday in the dungeons.

She huffed in indignation at the memory. The Aes Sedai had not only assigned her more chore duties and a very painful visit to the Mistress of Novice's office, but also had insisted that she receive lessons in unarmed combat. "The One Power is not to be used as a weapon. Better learn now how to defend yourself without saidar. You're lucky I agree with you that he was out of line, this is a serious offense Novice" Elaile could still hear the Yellow Sister's scalding tone.

Elaile saw the smooth sands of the training grounds before her and leaned casually against the railing. A very tall man was out on the sands, attacking a wooden dummy with vigor. The cracks of his strong fists striking the solid wood echoed loudly and Elaile's dread increased.

"What in the world did that dummy do to you?" she called out to the Ji, wondering if this was to be her teacher.

OOC: Kitten works... because they have claws

[Damien]

Danos

Danos was lost in the rhythm of the series of punches he was practicing, when a woman's voice asked ,"What in the world did that dummy do to you?"

Danos finished his final blow, and with the warnings of the Master of Training in his mind, decided against the formality of a normal spar between a Drin and a Ji.

"He lost a bet and wouldn't pay up," Danos quipped as he turned to regard his new student. As he scanned her with the flat appraising Warder stare he was beginning to master, he noticed her height and build immediately.

Slight, and probably on par with Avyra, he noticed the blond braids and was glad she did not have long hair. That would be one less changed to suggest for each class. She was a comely woman, with a self assurance that spoke well of her confidence. Or training, she walks as if one accustomed to being around those trained to own a room with their presence Danos thought to himself as he remembered discussions on such training with Avram and others who had come from more cosmopolitan cities than Jornhill.

"Greetings Novice, I am Danos Ji'alantin, and I was told you've been sent for training. I would ask why, and what you hope to get out of our time here on the sands," he said as he met her near the railing and allowed her to enter the circle.

[Corellis]

Elaile laughed at the Ji's quip, but the laughter quickly faded as he turned toward her and she got a good look at him. When he straightened from his practice the man stood easily head and shoulders taller than her. Between his imposing size and unnerving stare, Elaile found it hard to avoid shifting uncomfortably before him. Only years of training at her grandmother's side, and a stubborn refusal to show weakness held her feet still and her spine straight. Elaile hated being at a disadvantage and she knew virtually nothing about combat, unarmed or otherwise. The Ji's face didn't give away even a hint of his thoughts and Elaile wondered what was going on behind those hazel eyes.

She stepped gingerly onto the sands, shaking her feet as the fine grains started to fill her slippers. She carefully held her white skirts off the ground as she approached the giant Ji.

"The Light illumine you Danos, I am Elaile Daishar. As to why I am here..." a scowl flitted across her face, "A Tower Guard acted untoward and now I am being punished for reminding him of his manners with saidar." She was out of her element here in the Training Yards and tried to maintain her composure as she stood before Danos, wondering exactly what was in store for these lessons. "An Aes Sedai suggested I learn how to defend myself, so that is why I am here. I suppose I would like to learn how to put a larger man in his place if he gets unruly." She gave him an assessing look of her own. Even completely still he exuded a deadly grace that made her nervous about training with him. "Have you ever taught a woman before?"

[Damien]

Danos

Danos watched as Elaile stepped gingerly out onto the sands. It was clear the young Novice was green and unsure of the Warder Yards.

He could see her slippers filling with sand, and he could see her holding her dress to prevent it from dragging through the sands. Danos pursed his lips as he considered the dress, it would inhibit a lot of movement but he had rarely seen a Novice out of one.

"The Light illumine you Danos, I am Elaile Daishar. As to why I am here..." a scowl flitted across her pretty face, "A Tower Guard acted untoward and now I am being punished for reminding him of his manners with saidar." She stated, her voice clipped and formal. Danos felt his eyebrows raise when he considered both a guard being foolish enough to press the issue with a Novice, and a Novice actually using Saidar to strike. He knew the channelers had strict rules of conduct, in many ways stricter than those that governed Ji'alantin.

"I suppose I would like to learn how to put a larger man in his place if he gets unruly," she finished with a look on her face that reminded him of his lessons with Avyra. Elaile had more poise and bearing than Avyra had then, but he could well imagine her unease.

"I have trained with many Novices and female Drin'far'ji in class settings, however I've only myself trained one other Novice. But for the goal of defending yourself should a man get more invested than you would like, I can show you many things," Danos said as he settled into the guard stance, and let her observe the slow movements as he readied himself.

"Have you fought before Elaile? If not that is fine, we will just start at the beginning. If you have, I will need to see what bad habits that left you," Danos said with a smile. He had arrived at the Grey Tower as a blank slate, but he knew many did not.

[Corellis]

Although he said he had only trained one Novice, Danos' words put Elaile more at ease. This man clearly had experience working with those younger and less experienced than he if he had taken classes with them.

Elaile watched with curiosity as he slowly moved into what she assumed was a starting position. His movements were exaggerated, and she smiled at the odd sight, wondering if this was part of the lesson. She still was not entirely convinced that she needed this class regardless of what the Aes Sedai said, but if he could teach her to bring down a man as tall and muscular as himself...well it might not be a total waste of her time after all.

"Have you fought before Elaile? If not that is fine, we will just start at the beginning. If you have, I will need to see what bad habits that left you," Danos said with a smile.

She was startled by his words and their implication. Fought before? As if she were a street tough who ran around getting into skirmishes? Elaile sniffed "I have never fought in my life. Imagine!" she shook her head at the idea. "My grandmother is the Panarch of Tarabon, to fight anyone would have been absolutely shameful. She would never forgive me for such behavior."

Elaile realized the absurdity of her words as soon as they were out of her mouth. A bright crimson blush burned in her cheeks, and her green eyes sparked. Here she was at an unarmed combat class, and she had the nerve to be offended at the implication that she would fight. Elaile was not used to being so far out of her element and looked to Danos with chagrin. "Excuse me Danos. I suppose I haven't quite gotten used to the change in my situation yet. I appreciate that you're taking the time to teach me." She folded her hands at her waist and attempted to look meek and ready to learn. "How would you like me to start?"

[Damien]

Danos

"I have never fought in my life. Imagine!" she shook her head at the idea. "My grandmother is the Panarch of Tarabon, to fight anyone would have been absolutely shameful. She would never forgive me for such behaviour," the Novice Elaile stated with a sniff of disdain. Danos bit his lip to keep from laughing, as he knew this young woman was being sent here as much for seasoning as a lesson in unarmed fighting.

His sharp eyes noted the flush on her cheeks, and the sparkle of spirit in her green eyes before she once more assumed the meek and modest pose of a Novice, "Excuse me Danos. I suppose I haven't quite gotten used to the change in my situation yet. "How would you like me to start?" she asked, so much the perfect picture of meekness that he wondered how much training she had in poise. Not sure what a Panarch is, and I have only vaguely heard of Tarabon. Still I suppose that makes her the granddaughter of a high lord of Andor, or it’s equivalent, thought Danos as he marched forward without preamble and grabbed her hands, turning them over to look at the skin.

He noticed she stiffened at his touch, and as he waited on the balls of her feet, she seemed curious as to what he was doing, but not likely to strike. Seeing her soft skin, Danos could tell by the way his own hands seemed much rougher against hers that she had probably done little labour prior to coming here. Chewing his lips, he took the chance to consider where to begin as he went over to his bag and grabbed two strips of thick linen. With deft hands he wrapped her hands, paying attention to the tightness as he did not want her fingers to go numb, once he was done he stepped back and gestured towards the dummy.

“Those linens will help protect your hands as they toughen. Believe me when I say that the blisters and cracking skin are unpleasant, and I had the hands of a tradesman before arriving here. Still over time your skin will toughen, but for now please wear the wraps like that each time you practice,” Danos said as warmly as he could manage, wanting to put the young Novice at ease with him as it would make teaching easier. "And you do not need to assume meekness for my sake Elaile Novice, unarmed works better with some spirit behind the blows after all, and I do not view it in the same light as an Accepted or Sister who teaches you might," Danos said with a smile. He was beginning to relax as he fell into the role of teaching, this was something he could do and felt constructive as well.

“First, as you are a beginner and as a highborn lady I doubt you watched many practice sessions even, we will begin with the stance. I want you to stand in front of the dummy as if fighting him.
Now center your weight as much as you can, keeping your balance straight and true, bring your left foot forward, toe pointing towards the opponent. Your right foot should be behind and your foot sideways, this will keep your balance in the middle of the stance and make you less likely to fall. When one foot moves, so does the other,” Danos said as he slowly demonstrated the stance where she could see him doing so.

“Next tuck your chin to your chest to protect it, and raise your right fist to your cheek, keeping your elbow close to the side. Your other arm, you will keep you keep at your chest like so, and use your shoulder to rise up and cover your ear. I know it will feel awkward at first, but I want you to practice the footwork and this stance until your body does not feel so strange. It is the base on which much of what you will learn in built on,” said Danos as he finished assuming the guard stance and then began smoothly circling the dummy. He motioned for her to follow suit when she felt comfortable, and kept her in his sight so he could watch for corrections.

[Corellis]

When Danos grabbed her hands, Elaile stiffened in surprise. He had been so still a moment before, and seemed to burst into movement with the grace of a cat. Danos towered over her and flipped her hands over. Although his large hands were rough and callused from training he was surprisingly gentle as he wrapped each hand in linen cloth. Elaile wiggled her fingers and flicked her wrists experimentally, finding that they didn't restrict her movement at all. She nodded at his instructions to continue to wrap her hands before each session but cringed inwardly as he described what would happen to her hands during their training. She didn't want her beautiful smooth hands to harden! Elaile pushed that thought aside and focused on the task at hand. She could worry about her perfect hands later.

"And you do not need to assume meekness for my sake Elaile Novice, unarmed works better with some spirit behind the blows after all, and I do not view it in the same light as an Accepted or Sister who teaches you might," Danos said with a smile.

Elaile lifted an eyebrow and chuckled softly. No one would accuse her of not having spirit, she thought wondering if Danos had any sisters.

She carefully followed his directions, checking as she moved to make sure she was still in-line with the pose he held. As she pointed her front foot, she shifted her balance and realized what this reminded her of.

"It's like dancing!" she exclaimed, starting to circle the dummy like he was. "Well, the footwork is, and the balance. I can't imagine a dance with my arm crooked like this." She kept her fist at her cheek and her elbow tucked in as she circled, looking to him to see if she was doing alright. "If it's all like this I may surprise you- I have plenty of experience dancing."

[Damien]

Danos

Danos watched Elaile as she followed his directions and flowed into the guard stance.

He wasn't surprised when he saw her fighting the unfamiliar form and awkwardness of guarding with her shoulder.

"It's like dancing!" she exclaimed, starting to circle the dummy like he was. "Well, the footwork is, and the balance. I can't imagine a dance with my arm crooked like this," she said excitedly as he saw her move around the dummy with excellent form. Her feet moved as a pair, and he could tell she was well served by her experience.

"I've done little formal dancing Elaile, but I have heard many of the Ji'dar speak of combat as a dance. Some can even begin to read the beat of a fight, it's innate rhythm and use that knowledge," Danos said, glad she had found a way to relate to the lesson.

"The next thing I will show you is the four simple blows that will lead into everything else. Stand close and watch as I punch, if you watch closely you will see that the power begins in your hips and shoulders as much as your arms," Danos said, launching a series of punches that knocked the dummy back on its base each time.

"Aim just behind your target, get your mind thinking of striking through the target as well. Now the first punch is a straight jab, quick direct and fast. Secondly is the hook, bring you arm to your shoulder and bring the punch in an arc like so, you can drop your body to aim the blow. Third is the uppercut, bring your arm close to your body low and strike upwards. Lastly is an elbow strike, using your elbow will provide excellent power without bruising hands," Danos said , demonstrating each punch for the Novice.

" Try some punches, combine them as you like. And remember much like a dance you would never use one side of your body repeatedly. Like a scale you use your rhythm from side to side to help build speed and power," Danos finished as he gestured for her to begin.

[Corellis]

Elaile followed Danos' instructions and stopped circling the dummy to stand close by as he demonstrated the punches. She stood right behind his shoulder as he settled into the stance he had taught her, the bottoms of her skirts brushing his pants. She quickly backpedaled, almost falling over as he pulled back his arm and launched into the first attack. Her head was perfectly level with his elbow and she narrowly avoided a collision. She scowled as his back. He said stay close, shouldn't he watch out for her?

Her scowl went unnoticed by the Ji as he punched the dummy quickly and with dangerous force. Elaile forgot her displeasure as she became focused on his movements, and the way one blow seemed to slide into the next with grace.

"Aim just behind your target, get your mind thinking of striking through the target as well. Now the first punch is a straight jab, quick direct and fast. Secondly is the hook, bring you arm to your shoulder and bring the punch in an arc like so, you can drop your body to aim the blow. Third is the uppercut, bring your arm close to your body low and strike upwards. Lastly is an elbow strike, using your elbow will provide excellent power without bruising hands," Danos said , demonstrating each punch. When he instructed her to begin she stepped quickly up to the dummy.

Her first blow was weak and glanced off the dummy's side as she tried the hook. Resetting her feet she remembered what Danos had said and aimed behind the target's head, trying for a quick jab this time. The jab connected and the dummy rocked back. Elaile smiled widely as she moved again, this time with her left fist aiming an uppercut at the dummy's jaw. The blow struck but not as strongly as the jab. Elaile followed immediately with her right elbow striking at the dummy's nose. The last blow knocked the wooden form back and Elaile spun gracefully with a laugh. "Well!" she said, catching her breath and looking to Danos "That was a lot more fun than I thought. I just imagined that the dummy was that guard and it got a lot easier to hit it." She was feeling pretty pleased with herself and puffed up proudly.