Late night Visits...

[Luna Broadsword]

"Aye, terrified." Luna said sarcastically. She tested the weapon out with a few fancy slashed, giving her paw a chance to get to know the weapon. " 'Nough small talk though. I came here lookin' for a fight, not a conversation. With that she lept from the table, preparing to strike from above. She moved quickly, her thin and small frame no longer weighted down by steel. She noted that mentally, seeing it as an advantage in this fight.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe smiled, an expression he had yet to forget. That was the answer he was looking for, he knew she wouldn't back down as certain as he was the sun would rise every morning. Ashstripe moved to block the attack with his newly found weapon, but alas, the force behind the movement was too great. Where his arms were using the force used to shift metal of weight akin to that of a boulder, they found a twig, causing him to misstep slightly. Bringing the hilt to where the blade was intended and along with it, his paw and grip into the firing line.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna practice sword rose quickly, faster than she thought it would. It met Ashstripe's sword quickly, at it's higher point, narrowly avoiding his paw. "Careful Ashy, I wouldn't want to break something." She said, before twisting under the blades and attempting to whack Ashstripe hard in the guts. Luna was getting her wsh, dueling Ashstripe, thoguh the battle wasn't quite what she expected. The sword slipt in grasp slightly, and one stray splinter poke her paw, but she ignored it as her sword rushed to meet it's target.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe simply grunted in annoyance, he wasn't taking this little duel as seriously as he should but it was hard, his life wasn't in danger. But his pride was. That last thought was enough to snap him to attention, something much more important was at stake here.

He pulled his 'blade' away from Luna's and came in for the impending impact, the lack of burden was still impressionable upon him. He moved his weapon to his front, focusing for the force to move forward whilst keeping it horizontal. This way even if he misjudged the strength required his weapon would more or less greet Luna's. But for something that had played out so flawlessly in theory, failed so miserably in practice.

He felt winded suddenly and gave a weak smile, sure enough the wooden sword of his opponent had made way to his stomach, though thankfully not as badly as it could've. Using a free paw he lashed out and attempted to grab Luna's wrist that held control over her weapon, he had more then enough strength in the other to control the weapon and he felt confident that he could disorient her with his brute force.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna had other plans though. Instead of fighting Ashstripe's grip, she used it to her advantage, relaxing her arm. She twisted, allowing Ashstripe to hold on and keep her stable as she moved and attempted to drive her elbow into his stomach. Luna was no longer thinking clear thoughts, or planning out attacks. This was purely instinctual, and it was the kind of fighting she like best. She grinned widely as she moved, enjoying every moment of this fight, and the rush of adrenaline it brought her.

(Not the best post, sorry. )

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe grunted once more, Hmm..She seems to attack the same point..A good strategy. He mused to himself as he grinned slightly, feeling a wave of success as Luna had allowed herself to be caught in his solid grip. Hopefully she didn't weigh much.

As her elbow drew dangerously close to his already winded stomach he slid his paw up to her shoulder and felt confident with the grip he had attained as she continued to rely on him for support for his self-imposed attack. With a little more then a grunt and a mental shrug he exerted a fair amount of his mammoth strength suddenly, his grip growing tighter as he tried to swing her to one side, in hopes that he'd throw her off balance. All the while, not taking into account that he had another paw with a weapon.

((Late night posting..Bah.))

[Grusso Whitetail]

Outside of the mountain all seemed to be peaceful. Twoscore WARR hoardbeasts snuck around the exterrior of salamandastron, surveying better the position to attack the inhabitants tommorow. But they couldn't see the danger that was stalking in the dunes just south of them. Grusso Whitetail Was foaming at the mouth, still on the scent of vermin. He had his great silver blade drawn and was dragging it along the ground. As he rose to the crest of the hill he saw the mass of vermin. He was greatly outnumbered, but that never stopped him before. Eulaliaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! His voice boomed across the shores. The vermin were backed up by the rockface when they heard the roar, and were scrambling into position, their cover blown. When they saw it to be one badger, they laughed lightheartidly and charged at him. But they had no idea how savage he was.

Grusso swung his mighty sword and dealt end to five vermin at once. A large fox jabbed at him with a spear, which Grusso mearly grabbed and split in half, using the fragments to run two vermin through. He grabbed once more for his mighty sword and began to cut through the vermin numbers like a hot knife through butter. Onescore of the beasts dissapeared in a bloody massacre, the other wildly charging and stabbing at the massive white form. Some vermin did get the pleasure of slicing skin before going to the dark forest, but most fell trying. By now only ten vermin remained, and blood was seeping from various wounds on the badger's body. With one mighty swing he finished them, roaring out Be warn', Vermin! Ah'm Grusso the savage! I'l 'ave yer tails fer supper an' yer guts fer lunch! The crazed giant white badger began to sing a dittie, hoping the hares of Salamandastron would take notice.His deep voice range out:

If ye be vermin ye best beware
Grusso th' savage could be hiden there!
He'l Chop ye in two with a flick a th' wrist
And you'll be offa the tap o'er is list
Grusso the Savage, vermin beware
th' great golden armour an' thick white hare
Th' blue streak o' lightnin, the scar on 'is snout,
The fears'm silversword taller tan a whole mount'
the club at 'is side with a spike stikken out
and der one ting to most be afeared
Is the little silver dagger that 'ang out 'is ear


He laughed as he relized once agian that the last words didn't make any sense, because he wore no daggers on his ear. He managed to limp to the rock face, the scene behind him depicted as a bloody massacre, vermin bodies laying scattered across the shore, the sand tainted crimson by mixtures of vermin and badger blood. He stood at the rockface then drifted off into a light slumber

[Luna Broadsword]

"Sorry Ashy, but I don' feel like bein' held by ya righ' now." Luna said, truth in her words. She was tired of being restrained by the Badger lord's iron rip. She felt his paw change to her shoulder and changed the grip she had of her sword so that the point was toward the ground and quickly drove the sword back. It dragged against the ground, toward Ashstripe's feet and legs. She hoped this would force him to let go of her, Than Luna could recover and prepare for her next attack.

[Ashstripe]

Several trains of thought all moved within Ashstripe's mind, many of them colliding with only two remaining. On one paw, he could take the blow and maintain his grip. But on the other, this duel was more then a spar, it was a simulation, he and Luna would soon find themselves on opposite sides of a battle soon enough so it would pay to see if he could defeat her in a spar as if it were the real thing.

Eventually Ashstripe simply slid back across the stone floor, propelling himself off Luna and dug his clenched paw into the ground as means of balance and a braking tool. Satisfied with the distance that had come to exist between them he tugged on his paws idly, a somewhat crude warm up but a habit of his that he had picked up in recent times,
"Mayhap another time then?" He replied with a lack of care in his voice, he had no plan in his head so he had expected no success; he was simply making it up as he went.


Sentries and off-duty hares alike rushed to the battlements, they hadn't recalled the horde using singing to intimidate them nor did anyone else they knew.
"Wot th' flamin' 'ellgates was that!?" Came a cry from a rather confused young sentry,
"A flippin' ditty! Y'fool!" Came a reply from another hare, a somewhat obvious answer,
"Ho' lads! Th' 'ordebeasts left us a white rock wot!" Was the words of a more observant yet not very brighthare whom leaned over the battlements, the small Corporeal squinted into the darkness, sure enough her answer came with a sharp tug on her jerkin and a stare down from the officer in command.
"Tis a bloomin' Badger! Not a flippin' rock! Wot!" The Captain tapped the head of his subordinate lightly,
"Open th' gates eh?" He gave a slight grin, oblivious to the annoyance of his target.

And so the order was given and the cry echoed several times before the chains swung into motion, the steady creaking of the old wooden doors swung open slowly and a well prepared squad began to see to the Badger.

[Grusso Whitetail]

Grusso ended his singing drunkenly. his eye drifted about at the voices of hares, searching for the owners. " Ho lads, it's a blooming pink badger!" Said a youn hare, observing the mixture of red blood and white fur. He was cuffed in the ear by the obvious leader of the group. " T'wil be a red badger if you bally about all day, wot! Get to it then, on the double. Quicks the word and sharps the way, chaps." Grusso let out a hoarse chuckle. " Har never did git use ta are speech. Har, lad, cur ya grab yon swor, outta tha grey fox o'er ther?" The great silver sword was at the center of the massacre, running a greyclad fox straight through and pinning him to the ground. The sand was near red with vermin blood, and a only the sword seemed to remain clean.

[Luna Broadsword]

"Perhaps," Luna said with a slight laugh. It was no lady like giggle though, and promised that she wasn't done fighting yet. Luna flexed the sword, still trying to get used its weight and size. She slowly circled Ashstripe, always keeping at a distance even if it meant she had to climb over furniture. Her slightly pink eyes were calculating as she searched for weakness in his stance or sword arm. "Shall you begin the dance this time?" She asked mockingly, pretending that they were at some high court rather than in the mess all sparring. She even gave a slight curtsy, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

[Ashstripe]

Ashstripe bowed slightly at the waist,
"Tis would be an honor..Milady.." He nearly spat out the last word with a strong mix of sarcasm and contempt, that was a word reserved for the females that he respected(Not to mention probably the most formal in Ashstripe's somewhat limited vocabulary.) but it had simply come out. Used as a mere taunt. He was unsure of himself for a moment, what had prompted him into doing that? Normally he had a fair bit of self-control when it came to words..No matter he couldn't keep her waiting.

He kneeled slightly, enough to compress his legs in a manner akin to a spring, he waited a few moments, working out the finer details of his strike. There was no glaring obvious weakness that he could make out, she was smaller then him, but that wasn't exactly a weakness unless it came to a lock between weapons. He snorted softly, this was amusing, were he not a Badger Lord he probably would've been on better terms with her, perhaps even admitting what he saw; had he met Luna otherwise.
He shook his head quickly, this is why he didn't think in battle. Casting his thoughts to the wind he kicked off against the floor and rushed towards Luna, once again utilizing both paws he held his weapon behind him, seemingly dragging it in the air. Just before the moment of near impact he brought it around sharply, cutting the air with his piece of driftwood he sliced horizontally towards her waist.



The hare grinned slightly, as seemed to be the natural fear reflex for most residence of Salamandastron,
"Tis not safe out here sirrah! There's blinkin thousands of 'ordebeasts..It takes more then one flamin' badger to wipe 'em out wot! 'Is Lordship's tried doncha know?"

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna had seen him crouch, and had prepared herself, barely acknowledging Ashstripe's comment or the contempt he addressed her with. Her own thoughts traveled back two battles before this one, when they were fighting not for sport, but for the future of Salamandstron. She had gained a chance to end it right than and there, a perfect opportunity to strike. He had been badly wounded in the side and arm, a weak enough target that she should of easily defeated. Yet she had called a retreat, claiming she wanted to get her scout party out. Why did I do that... The question haunted her thoughts many times these days.

Ashstripe's attack scattered her thoughts like birds without a perch. She quickly blocked with her wooden sword, moving a few inches to the side with force of the blow. It took only a moment for Luna to gain her footing and a stronger stance. "Is that all ya' got?" She growled, her normally cheerful and mocking composer gone. Her mind was back in the hours after the first siege, when her anger at letting Ashstripe go was most potent. Her dark brown eyes stared into his, like smoldering coal. Luna's anger at herself was being realized in this fight, and the part of her mind examining this situation from afar was thrilled with the prospect. It hoped for come sort of closure to the whole situation, and fighting the one who started it might be the best way to accomplish this.

[Grusso Whitetail]

Grusso smiled at the nervous hare. He began his usual change of speeches. This time it was hare speech. Well then chaps, you bally well better get my bloomin sword outta that fox before ol grusso teaches you what and angry badger is like, wot! One hare, particularly suprised by his announcement, stood awstruck. '' e's talking like a bloomin rabbit, wot! the bloomin pink badgers gone mad!'' A bolder hare walked up and tried to pull out the sword with unsuccesful reults. " Say a little help over here chaps, this thing must weigh more than the blooming badger!" An older looking hare who was obviously in charged commented. " look at the mess this bloomin badger made. There must be near 50 of the dead blighters, all dressed in grey. I say, he helped us out a bit. You there, go get Breeze, tell 'im to get lord Ashstripe down here to lift the blighter. He should be in the messhal." Instantly all the hares were scowling and whining at the mention of food. A glare from the leader made them straight again.

[Ashstripe]

'Is that all ya' got?', those words rang out several times in Ashstripe's mind, echoing heavily in his ears for what seemed like an eternity. He was unsure of whether he should be amused or furious at the insult, but a glance into her eyes revealed she was obviously angered. He liked this, a fight with raw rage against raw rage, against a Badger no less. To what little he had of his memory Luna had remained quite calm during their fight, at least in contrast to his explosive mindset. He smirked, yes. This was good. Very good. He was going to goad her a little more and push himself into a similar state, the former being somewhat uphill but he deemed a worthy cause.

"Oh aye..There's more, but ye seem to be struggling with what ye have now.." He smirked once more, a very satisfying feeling enveloped him, "Finish yer dinner lass..Then ye may hap desert!" He pushed even harder at his final remark, reaching into more of his muscle, mass and seemingly endless rage that he harboured within himself. He felt a rush, he had slipped in terms of controlling his anger. But no matter, this was a good feeling. He hadn't felt such a rush in a long, long time, not since he had dwelt in the North.

His eyes darkened, the blood and adrenaline circulated thickly, pushing his veins to their limits. It was a good thing these were only wooden weapons, they were probably going to kill each other should it have been otherwise.


_________


Breeze watched with keen interest from the doorway, it was as if the earth and wind were fighting against one another, a mountain against the ocean, simply put, it was remarkable. He sighed as he observed the wreckage the two left, they could've taken this to the Training Hall but it was obvious they wanted to leap at each other's throats now.

"Cap'n! Cap'n Breeze sah!" Came a cry from the halls, to which Breeze snapped his head quickly, his eyes torn away from the duel,
"Wot is it?" He replied rather bluntly, odd of Breeze but he didn't like missing out on this,
"There's a blinkin' stripe-" Breeze cuffed his ears before he could finish that last word,
"Shhh! Ease on th' blinkin' 's' word wot! He notioned to the two enraged Badgers current engaged in a fight that may had well been for their lives,
"Ack! Sorry sah!" The young one gave a salute to redeem himself, "It's jus' there's a Badger out there!" He spluttered out quickly,
"Did y'let th' sod in?" The Captain replied with half interest,
"We need 'is Lordship to get 'im in!" The hare replied in a reporting fashion, his eagerness clearly on display.
"'Is Lordship is blinkin' busy!" Breeze snapped in reply, it wasn't often Breeze got annoyed but there was a first time for everything,
"Get a flippin' squad or somethin' on 'im!" He barked out his final order, he had to keep these two in check...Somehow.

[Luna Broadsword]

(Sorry for makin' ya wait. Home life is a bit of a wreck, to put it nicely.)

Luna gritted her teeth and pushed back against Ashstripe's sword, her whole body straining to keep from being pushed away like a leave in a river. "If this is whatchaya call dinner... than I'll jus' skip dessert. I doub' it would be worth the energy ta chew it." Luna replied, but she knew deep down she was in a fix. She was already being pushed back. Her light frame might make her quicker in a fight, but it didn't give her the same level of strength or mass as a normal badger had. Against Ashstripe, she could only hold out so long. Even now she was being pushed away, her claws carving holes in the floor below her. In a few moments she would be flung across the mess hall, and what would happen than didn't stand considering... or did it?
Luna's mind quickly worked out some quick calculations. I'll be off balance, she told herself. Adding that into the equation, she decided to go with the rash decision. She tore her claws from the floor, jumping up slightly to keep her feet from dragging on the ground. The effect was immediate, and she was sent flying across the floor, struggling not to turn head over heels with an instinctive yell. Her wits were blinded by fear: She was going far faster than she had thought she would. Luna's instincts quickly took over though, and her paw shot out toward the floor, her claws racking the ground. Her eyes twitched in pain as a few of her claws were torn out. Her crazy flight was stopped though, and she slowed down, though her balance was gone. Despite that, Luna was running toward Ashstripe only seconds later, giving a battle cry as she brought her wooden sword level to her side. It gathered force there and in moments she was close enough to Ashstripe to bring the bit of wood up in a brown angled arc that was headed straight for Ashstripe. She put as much strength as she could into that strike, despite her slightly unbalanced attack.

[Ashstripe]

((No worries, Ash has all the time in the world and nothing important to do with it.))
Ashstripe stumbled forward a few steps as his weapon soon found it was pushed against air and not Luna. That was a bit sudden to say the least, he would've expected Luna's break in the lock to be more subtle if he had won. He shook his head briskly and attempted to regain his composure, despite nearly smashing into a chair. He glanced in the general direction to which Luna had flown, oddly enough she was coming towards him not away from him and she was bringing her weapon in an arc.

He snorted and grinned to himself, She can recover her balance quickly.. he mused as he brought his weapon to meet with Luna's. And to her credit he was pushed back a few paces, he grunted in annoyance, She must've used her momentum to kick off the wall... He dismissed that thought, it wasn't important now. This merited a smirk on his behalf however, as he found this position to be similar to the lock as before. He pushed forward once more, having recovered from the initial shock of her surprising amount of force behind the blow.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna growled under her breath as she found herself in the same position as before. Not again... ah well, I'll figure out something else... She told herself, but her anger was making her slightly rash. She would later contribute that rashness to her sudden decision to start speaking in this fight again.
"Why did I let you go during the first siege?!" She suddenly demanded from, practically yelling as she tried to hold back his sword. Suddenly she slipped under the locked swords, ducking her head as she swung the sword at Ashstripe's stomach. Luna didn't know if her question had been an attempt to distract the badger, or if she thought he knew the answer. "I had a perfect opportunity to strike, and I didn't. Why?!"

[Ashstripe]

The question took Ashstripe off guard, he was stunned, to the extent that he barely felt the pain of the blow from the wooden sword. It winded him somewhat and his stomach was throbbing but it had moved to the background. Funny, he never questioned that either, Luna could've killed him, but she didn't. He could've left her out there to die and be done with it, but he didn't. Were his actions a feeling of debt? He frowned, Now I be goin' crazy.

With his brow still furrowed and a paw clenching his gut lightly he gave his reply to Luna's somewhat rhetorical question,
"Instinct." He replied dismissively, "Ye acted on an impulse." He stepped back a few steps whilst he spoke, this was something more then a spar for Luna apparently.

[Luna Broadsword]

"Instinct!" Luna shouted, turning to face Ashstripe again anger flashing in her eyes. "Instinct told me t'would be better ta kill you. Impulse would have had me spill your life blood on the sand. Twas something else that strayed my paw. Perhaps you know what it is, for I can't even begin to know." She lifted her sword in to a slightly offensive position, but did not attack. Not yet anyway...