Late night Visits...

[Ashstripe]

Again, he was taken aback, he assumed she left him alive on a whim, a plan, a something. Something planned. Obviously she didn't quite understand it herself, which of course meant Ashstripe wouldn't have the slightest idea, he could base it on his personality but that would result in a more or less incorrect answer. Instead, he felt a smirk rise upon his features. She's confused, he mused to himself, finding this somewhat amusing.

His frown deepened as she simply stood, obviously awaiting an answer, how was he to know? If it wasn't instinct or impulse in a battle situation, or some calculated plan he wasn't sure what could possibly affect someone in such a situation. He lowered his sword, taking a casual stance, he was going to choose his words somewhat carefully, but he was fairly certain he would fuel her rage further.
"Then ye conscious begs to spare me." He uttered eventually, almost whispering the words, he himself couldn't see the logic in that, but this whole night had been anything but logical.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna's eyes narrowed in furry. Here she was asking her most precious questions, and he was mocking her! "That's it Ashy, you die by wood." She said, changing her sword stance from an defensive position to an offensive one in a slightly flashy manner. Suddenly she was attacking again, her sword coming swiftly at Ashstripe, Luna's rage so intense that she hadn't even bothered to check if he was ready...

[Ashstripe]

Quickly raising his weapon based on pure reflex, he barely managed to steady his paw and wooden blade to intercept the on coming attack. He definitely hadn't chosen his words carefully enough, as he had struck a nerve there. Wrong answer.. He thought to himself with light sarcasm and gave a slight 'hmph' to his own newly found light-hearted disposition. However, this was much better in his opinion, Luna wasn't thinking, she was acting now and if the two were to work together, even briefly, they would have to set aside their differences; in one way or another.

Ashstripe smiled, a smile he gave as if he was throughly enjoying himself and had slipped into a semi-bloodwraith state, that is all the lack of sanity, minus the power.
"Good." He finally spoke as their weapons met and brought him back a few paces, "Don't think. Don't give me a second chance." His lips curling back, revealing his abnormal smile, he was going to keep adding fuel to the fire until he deemed it too enough.

As he blocked, the tip of the rough wooden weapon managed to actually prod his chest, had it been steel, he dared not follow that path.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

Ok... Those Badgers are dead... Fighting as I'm trying to take a nap... Jeez... No respect. Never have I had to sleep in this dirty of a place. Sure, camps like this, but at least when someone is trying to sleep...everyone is trying to sleep.
A white fox walked slowly in the halls as his own guards stood at his sides. Merrito soldiers were coming everyday as Zeffer had sent letters to the remnants of his kind to gather together. About a 100 had answered the call, while children remained hidden in High Myta after WARR had left it in ruins.
The Silver armor shimmered as light hit it to give a fairly impossing figure. It was artistic, if it were not deeply scrached with blade slashed. Zeffer towered above his own soldiers by about an inch and far above most of the hares. Quickly, and quietly he walked over to the mess hall to see the two badgers fighting. He was about to say something but stopped as he watched. The two guards looked at Zeffer for a moment with there own look of confuson. Zeffer crossed his arms as he watched. He noticed breeze so ways away by the door.
"So... what ignited this?" Zeffer asked in a curious manner.

[Luna Broadsword]

"If you don't want me to 'old back..." Luna grunted pushing down on his blade, her teeth bared in a growl of effort, her eyes narrowed. Suddenly her eyes opened wide, her mouth opening to yell out her next words. "DON'T SPEAK!" Her blade slipped out from the block, and Luna was twisting and ducking at the same time, her sword a brown whirl headed toward Ashstripe's legs. She was angry, but it wasn't the kind that came from bloodwrath or hatred. Luna's came from her frustration with herself, for acting the fool in front of her enemy. Stop showing weakness, and wipe that arrogant smile off his face, she advised herself. Luna's expression twisted into a bitter smile. She intended to do just that.

[Ashstripe]

It had been too long since Ashstripe had experienced the immature amusement of annoying another, not since he was a pup, fighting his siblings. It was a wonder how he had forgotten about such simple life diversions. He nearly laughed out loud, the very thought that his enemy had a more complex reasoning then he initially assumed was hilarious in his eyes, only due to the sheer irony.

His inner amusement silenced itself as he twisted and felt the back of his leg buckle somewhat. He stumbled back a few paces, not so much as to regain his balance, but to realign his focus. Luna's expression was what it should be, the same smile that he so often recognized in battle, one that saw his failure.
He grunted and stroked his chin slightly, it appeared her inner conflict was over. He wasn't going to ask anytime soon anyway.

He charged forward once more, the distance was small and good enough to let his weapon fly in a horizontal arc towards Luna's waist; this was going to be a long night.

_______________

Breeze was almost startled by the sudden query that announced Zeffer's presence, then again it was to be expected, these two were fighting, not sparring. But lashing out at each other's throats, the only thing keeping them alive, ironically enough were their weapons.
He let loose his default grin and casually explained the 'situation',
"Ol' moonshine was diggin' 'round in 'is Lordship's drinks." He felt that was adequate enough of an explanation, after all, it was no big secret that Ashstripe was touchy about his drink.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"Drinks... Seems unbecoming of the stripedog to be angery over something so miniscule as drinks..." hissed Zeffer as he watched the two fight for a moment before glancing around. He never liked this mountain, he was more of an outdoors creature, coastal even. He loved the smell of the sea as well as high to look over the land. High Myra, Zeffers homeland, was the embodyment of his loves and joy. The Merrito Coastal Capital city had stood as testiment to one of the oldest cultures. The Merrito were a very proud people, as well as very dutiful to there own honor as well as duty to not there own desire, but to their nation. These hares were the opposite of what Zeffer held dear. The Long Patrol were never as deciplined as he would have liked, never as serious. The shameless flirting of hares sickened Zeffer to no end as well.
"Hum...fighting....It reminds me of my peoples', 'Quala'ah Oblarr'...So, rabbit...Just cause I'm curious... how exactly deciplined is your Long Patrol?" inquired Zeffer as his guards remained at perfect attention.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna twisted her wooden sword, resting one paw against it's flat side as the blow came. She had been standing up again, and wasn't in a good position to be blocking though, and the blow knonked her over. She instinctively rolled, pushing off the ground with one paw as the other held onto her weapon. She stood in a crouch, her weapon in a position now that would be of little good for anything but blocking. Luna however was unsure of what Ashstripe was doing as she regained her footing, and had to be prepared incase he'd gone on the offensive again.

(Not the best, but I'm ill.)

[Ashstripe]

The wooden weapons met with a loud crack and then another followed shortly by another, all coming from various arcs in Ashstripe's arm. He was swinging like a maniac at Luna's defense now. After all, he had her in a corner now and he felt something buckle and bend as he swung, he wasn't sure if it was her weapon or his; it didn't matter, he would continue even if his weapon snapped, provided that there was sufficient blade left to fight with.

________________

"Then y'obviously don't know 'is Lordship too well, wot?" Breeze replied with a chuckle, then again Zeffer did have a point, behind his shell of honor and virtue, Ashstripe was as bad as the rest of them. With a temper to boot. He raised an eyebrow at Zeffer's next inquiry but he saw no reason to deny him an answer,
"As disciplined as we need t'be ol' boy!" He gave a rogue grin, "There's a time'n' place fer it all wot wot!" His whiskers twitched happily as he preached his belief, knowing the time and place for work and play was something Breeze had yet to comprehend completely, but something he respected all the same.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"REALLY..." hissed Zeffer as he turned his gaze to the small 'rabbit', at least compared to him, Breeze was small. There was a low, even hostile growl in his throat. "Geh... That is what is most angering about your kind. Unprofessional..." Zeffer stood up straight, stiffing his stature. His armor seemed rather uncomfortable as he moved around.
"Play is a waste of time... action is the most important thing. Play distracts from the young, the warriors, and all from remembering what they must do... Such... Foolery is dishonorable..." growled Zeffer as he seemed to be trying to antagonize Beeze into a fight. He turned his gaze back to Ashstripe and Luna, a half smile on his face that seemed barely noticible.

[Ashstripe]

Breeze wasn't used to such a hostile reaction to his beliefs, sure he'd receive insults and a bit of a lecture on how he'd take it a little too far. But none of those responses quite leaked that almost murderous aura.
With a little more then a shrug and another grin Breeze placed his paws behind his head casually,
"Life is wot y'make of it ol' boy, a great big shark comin' t' tear y'leg off, or a dolphin fer a bit of sport." He smiled again, the wrinkles in his fur pushing his eyes to a near squint.

((I'm not sure if dolphins even exist in Redwall, but I know sharks do, so meh.))

[Luna Broadsword]

(Sorry for slacking off on the posting)

Luna felt a fear stab at her heart. I can't win this, her panicked mind told her and she began to be pushed back by the attacks. Her body swayed in the direction of each blow. Unconsciously her features softened, and fear shone there for the first time. I'm just a little girl compared to him... her mind suddenly flashed to an image of her mother, standing before her.
"Lady Badger's do not hope or plan for war. They are dutiful and respectful towards others, and always help those in need. That is what you are: A lady badger. We cook and clean and take care of others." Willow stood in front of her, holding a bucket.
"But mum, I what about the Lady Badger's of Salamandstron?"
"We're not in Salamandstron, we're at Redwall. One day, when I'm gone, you'll be the Badger Mum here."
"I wanna learn the sword!"
"You can't. You're just a little girl, and one day you'll grow up and realize that you don't want to learn to use a weapon. You’ll find out that all you really want is to get married and raised a family of your own. I did.”
As the memory stopped Luna’s attempts at defense all together, and the thick wood of the practice sword struck her in the face, the resentment that Luna had felt toward her mother for saying those words bubbled up inside her. The force of the impact caused her to fall to the ground, and for a second it seemed she might not get up.
“No.” Luna’s voice was quiet with bitter anger and fierce determination. Her dark eyes looked up into Ashstripe’s, an inner fire burning in them, and as she spoke, her words seemed to come from a place deep within her that few had ever seen. “I will not lose. Not to you, not to some silly idea of what should be and what shouldn’t. I am who I am, and no one will change that. I will not lose, I will not stop, not now, not ever and most certainly not to you.” Than she was on her feet again, her sword coming down with all the force she could put behind it. It didn’t matter to her if her weapon broke. In that case, she would simple resort to hand-to-hand combat. She meant what she said, and there were only a few things in this world that could stop her now. Her jaw hurt terribly, but she didn’t go into blood wrath. Luna wanted to fight this fight on her own terms.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

Zeffer ignored the hare as he turned his attention back to the badgers. He stared for a long moment watching as the fight seemed to intensify. He was silent as he stared.
"I wonder.... do the badgers share the same ritual as my peoples' Quala'ah Oblarr?" he said out loud as he watched the two badger's fight. Zeffer shifted his strange eyes to the hare.

[Ashstripe]

I must be insane..There was fear there... Ashstripe frowned as his weapon managed to connect to Luna's jaw, something isn't right. Or perhaps there was more to Luna then he previously thought. But things become more stranger still, her expression changed, quickly, to a very determined poise. Yet the bloodwraith wasn't evident either. No matter, at least she was on her feet now.

On the outside, Ashstripe simply continued his stoic expression, the madness having subsided, the rage of loss had passed and now the calm collection of experience settled on him; a few years too late but still there. He twirled his wooden weapon as if it were a short staff and could feel the wood twisting in directions it shouldn't be, it was slight, but it was there.

Inside however, he was smiling, grinning without a care in the world. Such powerful words, such determination. Foe or not, he respected something like that and would dangerously encourage it.
But he would keep his facade up, with a frown he simply barked a harsh reply;
"Ye sound like a pup who nae wish t'do as she's told!" Those words hurt him, for he had been told that a few times before in his life and now he was using them; cycle of life, he mused.

________________

"Qublah-wot?" Breeze replied almost instantly, he wasn't sure what that could possibly mean or even if the badger's did such a thing. He winced slightly, realizing the error of his reply.

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna's anger was already as hot as could be, as she looked into Ashstripe's eyes, her expression never faltering once. "Are ye so different?" She asked her voice dangerously low. She aimed a vicious blow at his side. "My mother taught me that badgers never fight each other, nor do they truly enjoy fightin' an' that a boy should never harm a girl, an all that. Yet here we fight as if our lives were at risk, an' I can tell yer enjoyin' it. So, I ask ye, how different are we?" Her own sword was starting to crack under the pressure of each blow, yet Luna pushed on. It felt like she had a personal stake in it. "Tell me Ashy, HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT!" Her roar echoed in the hall as her attacks continued.

[Ashstripe]

Indeed, how were they different? That was something Ashstripe had always assumed to be simply be, without any reasoning behind it. He certainly wasn't enjoying himself that much and after all, Luna was the one to begin this entire conflict. She had a point though, it was common belief and chivalrous to never harm a female if you were male. But what was common these days?

"Psh." He replied to her roar, a slight grunt as if brushing it aside no more then one would brush an annoying insect. A smile formed an disappeared on his features as quickly as it had come before he gave his reply, contemplating his words carefully. All the while holding his weapon in front of him, for it was now bearing the blows rather then giving; little difference from the weapon's point of view.

"There be little separating us lass..." He replied slowly, keeping his stance steady, "We be no better than the other...Ye know what separates us?" He smirked to contain an inward chuckle, indeed, there was much he had to learn about how Luna's mind worked. "Our means, how we go 'bout getting our desire." Of course there was much more to it than that, but Ashstripe liked to keep things simple. He steadied himself once more, he was going to either strike a nerve or pretty close to it.

[Luna Broadsword]

For once, instead of intensifying, Luna's rage seemed to be calmed from Ashstripe's words. A simple, and uniquely happy smile darted across her face in a similar manner as Ashstripe's had done, and was gone just quickly. "Aye, we do 'ave different way's of doin' things an' different dreams." She said her voice less angry now. She didn't let up on her attack though, and the sounds of wood beginning to break could be heard. "What shall we do, when these wooden swords break?" She wondered out loud, her mood far more lifted than it had been before. She looked closely at the older badger, wondering if he was weakening yet. Their contest had gone on for quite a while, and Luna would be lying if she said she wasn’t getting tired.

[Ashstripe]

"Call it a draw 'n 'ave brekkers!" Breeze called out unexpectedly, the sun was starting to rise now and the two hadn't relented in their little 'spar'.

Ashstripe's head snapped to Breeze and nearly growled a warning to shut his trap and stay out of it, but Breeze did have a point, they had gone on for quite a long time now and he was tired. He could feel his heart thumping and his body quivering slightly in the early morning air. Those feelings were quickly forgotten once more as his head was knocked back by Luna's weapon, he rose and straightened himself as he stepped back, massaging his jaw lightly. That was going to leave a mark.
"'How about it then?" He replied uneasily, "I think our dispute is settled...For now." He winced at the last few words, whether it was from his pain or the fact that he said that he didn't know; he didn't care right now either.

[Chancellor Zeffer Winterfur]

"Quala'ah Oblarr..." repeated Zeffer as he looked at Breeze. His guards stiffened slightly as he spoke the words of his people's ritual. "It is my peoples ritual for... what is the word... Unity of a female and male..." His soldiers glanced to him as the looked slightly more as if they were silently questioning him. He saw that the fight looked to be subsiding, something that Zeffer did not want to see.
"Hey Luna... Looks like he is taking the 'high' road of not fighting with a female..."

[Ashstripe]

Even Breeze could put two and two together and come to his own conclusion but kept it to himself and burst out laughing loudly, holding his sides as he nearly collapsed with the lack of air reaching his system.
"Oh...Ah..." He wiped a few tears from his eyes and began to calm himself as Zeffer tried to fuel their fight further, hopefully neither caught wind of what he was implying, "Y'probably wrong ol' boy...I think...Wot?" He replied uneasily. He found this to be hopelessly amusing and unnerving at the same time.