Edge of faith [OPEN]

[Ashstripe]

Once a year, once a day, once an hour...

It was an overcast afternoon on the Western Coast, the kind that sapped the energy of it's inhabitants without their action and caused the slightest exertion to be a battle of mind over matter.

But, a day was a day. No different from any other, the sun was still in the sky - and as long as it remained there - the hare's of the Long Patrol would train, a moment in laxity could spawn a field of rust over their skills. Even the slightest lapse in training could be the difference between life and death for these steel-nerved beasts, that one manoeuvre that wasn't studied, that tactic that wasn't quite remembered or even the name of the order given - could all lead to disaster.

That was how Kenzie saw it. That was how her Lord saw it. And that was how she wished the entire army would see it. Yet they could not, they could only wonder what would be on their plates, what they could do to entertain themselves or who has eyes for who.

Kenzie snorted from her place, leaning against the smoothed edge of a large gap in the sandstone that constituted a window. The soft golden rays played upon the tips of her cream fur, that moved like stalks of wheat in the wind. She was once like them, so pitifully ignorant - then life came up and smacked her in the face.

The life of a Long Patrol hare is not one of happiness, it is of discipline and training.

Today was the anniversary of that incident. The time where everything had gone to hell in a head-basket, the moment that her childhood friends - that she thought she would grow old with - ceased to exist. She had been in charge of that squad, she was the Corporeal leading the assault, and due to her own ignorance; they were dead. Cut down. The entire squad slaughtered to the last two members.

Breeze and herself.

The normally hardened Colonel blinked back tears of reminiscence and shame, the hot feeling in her eyes that threatened to drip down her cheeks. This was why she dismissed the training session of today, much to the joyous whoops from the rank and file.

They had seen her collapse, they had seen her hurt, they had seen her furious.

But they had never seen her cry and she would prefer to keep it that way.

She furrowed her brow, sniffling slightly as her paw reached for her sabre sheathed at the belt of her tunic. The tips of her paw playing upon the handle and pommel of the weapon, feeling every groove and scratch ever inflicted upon her most faithful companion.

Without warning she whipped it out of her sheath, a twitch at her lips signified a smile as the weapon rent through the air with a high pitched whoosh.

"A moment in laxity." She reminded herself.

[Elicia]

Elicia Pittney poked her head into the training rooms. "Ahh!! Colonel! Marm!" The young hare nearly fell flat on her back with surprise. "Didn't expect to see you here, wot! I, uh, wanted to come and train a bit...well...because I thought I needed the practice, ye see. I knew that you had, uh, dismissed us Marm, but I didn't know that anybeast was in here, sorry Marm!" Eli stood straight, although her eyes wandered around the room searching for something to save her from conversation with the Colonel.

The young hare knew she couldn't help ticking the officer off if they were talking freely, so something to provide an interesting topic would be necessary. Also, Eli liked to keep her practices to herself. If she messed up, no one saw. But now... the Colonel... Eli's breath almost caught in her throat. If she were to mess up now-when it was just the two of them-then she'd never forget it, ever.

"Uh...marm, you aren't going to make me leave, are ye? I mean, I don't jolly well care one way or another," She did care, though. She knew she needed the practice-and her sword was still at her side. What would her friends say if they saw her still with her trusty weapon by her side even after practice was canceled?

"Ah..you'd better bally well forget it. I'll go, marm!" The Patroller saluted and turned on her heel to go, her whiskers hot with shame for interrupting such a high-ranked officer. She knew she had most likely offended the Colonel in some way-it was her nature. She just couldn't pinpoint how she had done it this time.

[Ashstripe]

Kenzie turned slowly, her hazel eyes flickered to scrutinise the new-comer - the hare-maid was young enough and she certainly didn't seem officer material from the way she nearly stammered whilst addressing her; never mind the lack of salutes and other protocols that no one in this Mountain seemed to care about.

Half of her wanted to bark down this young subordinate for breaking her train of thought and making a mockery of herself - the other half wanted to humour her. Had this been any day other than today, she would have likely settled for snarking at the hare-maid.

She parted her lips to respond to the inane babbling that streamed forth from the hare-maid's mouth, it was constant, like a river that threatened to sweep her away. Whenever the beginning of words would escape, they would flow right back past her without reaching anyone's ears.

Her brow furrowed more deeply, not in anger, but in focus - not that it made a difference to everyone else - examining the hare-maid. She had a weapon and full-well intended to use it apparently.

Or apparently not.

The Hare-maid had turned to leave after a hasty salute, muttering something about not caring or other. Kenzie would have none of that.

"I did not dismiss you." She said in a low tone, it was almost dangerous and foreboding. The small Colonel took a few steps forward, the medals strapped to her tunic clinking with every step as she sheathed her sabre slowly - emphasising the scraping of metal against metal.

"Since yore so keen to practice - I'll bloomin' well give y'some." Kenzie spoke more loudly this time, her voice echoing off the walls of the Training Hall as if she was addressing an audience. Her footfalls still mingled with the clinking as one paw rested upon the pommel of her weapon. She stopped short of ten paces away from her subordinate.

"State your name and rank, Long Patroller." She snapped, "I am Colonel Kenzie Conzett - that shouldn't be a shock to you - And I will be your opponent today." Her tone had hardened, into a cold, polite speech. She was following the protocols and traditions that she had instilled, always introduce yourself in a duel, with your names and title.

Her paw drummed upon the weapon impatiently, yet her eyes remained, dry, straight and focused - she could use a distraction.

[Elicia]

"I did not dismiss you."
The words shot chills up Elicia's spine as she turned, very slowly, to the Colonel. Her eyes were scary....fierce with passion and something else she could not place. There was something in the tone of her voice that caught Eli, held her immobile. She didn't move, she didn't breath, and for a heartbeat or an hour she could not say. Then, finally, she moved. Her pawsteps hit the ground, thud, thud, thud, as the young hare walked closer to the Colonel. It was almost if the officer was glowing...glowing black, if that was possible. A certain energy radiated off of the older hare, and Elicia both respected it....and longed to someday be that perilous.

She had been frightened before, of the Colonel and what she might do to an interrupting private, but now the maid placed her paw on her sabre hilt. She felt the cool hardness of her protection and salvation hidden under the worn shell of a multitude of services to the Pittneys. It cooled her thoughts, for they had been fever-pitched while still brave. There was an adrenaline rush to be gained from this, and a story to be had.

The piecing gaze of the Colonel gave Eli chills, yet at the same time it calmed her nerves. Her heartbeat pounded out the seconds as she faced her new foe. She had never dreamed of this-a punishment, and yet a gift to her. No other hare in her circle could claim they fought the Colonel. This was a chance, a chance for Elicia to get ahead! A window of opportunity open for her alone! If the Colonel did not slice Eli to pieces, then at least the high-ranked hare would remember the name of the young maid who had fought with her that fateful day in the Training Room.

She walked forward the remaining space in between her and the officer. "Elicia Pittney, Private." Elicia saluted with her sabre, standing at attention. "Marm! H'appreciate this challenge, wot!" Something was stirring inside Eli-she wasn't afraid at all. Not at all. It was like the truth of the situation had been sucked from her mind, so that she was ready to fight anybeast who challenged her. She did not think that she would lose. Just that she would fight.

She would fight.

[Ashstripe]

Kenzie's lip twitched, a small smile that tugged at her features upon the mention of the name of her chosen opponent. She was going to have a duel with a Private - that wasn't her job, her job didn't even involve the rank and file unless addressing them in a pack of at least thirty. And here this young hare maid - Elicia - would have her all to herself.

'Well, this is certainly beneath me.' Kenzie breathed out a sigh from the corner of her mouth, seemingly already disappointed with her opponent when all they had done so far was state their name and rank.

"Appreciate th' challenge?" Kenzie sounded confused, but her expression begged to differ, "I suppose it would be 'n honour to learn somethin' 'round here. Wot with Captain Chuffachop handling the lessons." She spoke the name of the Captain with much disdain, Breeze was a knuckle head, an idiot, a layabout whom was more interested in playing his pranks and sneaking into the kitchens than any real duty.

And he was also one of their more veteran soldiers.

The short hare tilted her head to the left slightly, an empty, almost bored expression dulled her features, yet her posture remained near perfect and stiff. There was a slight bend in her legs as she seemed to tense for an attack.

Sure enough, she lunged forward and took a stab towards the right side of Elicia's body, it wouldn't be a fatal wound if it somehow managed to connect - and Kenzie didn't quite put her heart into it - but she was more interested in assessing the Private, trying her like the waters of the ocean before a swim.

"Lesson one, Private Pittney." Kenzie said midway through her lunge, "War is rarely fair."

[Elicia]

Elicia almost didn't see the lunge coming, but the ticking of her heart beat stilled her. When the blade came rushing to her side Elicia dodged-the Colonel was going easy on her! "Marm! Rarely is, Marm!" The Colonel was getting dangerous, Elicia could see that. The eyes...watch the eyes...and hers were too bright for Eli's liking.

Eli fell into fighting stance, ready for the Colonel's next blow. She could take this one...or should she wait until she was being assaulted full-force? It was hard to decide. There were pros and cons to each. Her Long Patrol training set in...though she felt severely lacking in experience and knowledge. That had been the reason that she had come up here. In the first place.

[Ashstripe]

"Lesson learned." Kenzie said dryly, she was somewhat bemused at the results of her half-hearted attack. That was a rough dodge, not a textbook manoeuvre, but still a correct response nonetheless. Kenzie was analysing to see if the Private was foolish enough to consider parrying a straight thrust and found herself pleased with the result.

She bounced on her momentum from the thrust, her feet padding against the floor lightly like rain, as she quickly opened the gap between them once more. For a few moments she had left her back exposed and had found there had been no reprisal.

Mentally, Kenzie shrugged. The Private didn't seem like the sort to go on the offensive anyway. Her eyes flickered and focused to her opponent, taking the fight a little bit more seriously and analysing her movements a little more carefully; shrinking into a fighting stance.

"Hmm. Very good - turns out the Captain does teach something worthwhile, occasionally."

The petite hare took a few menacing steps forward, intentionally taking her time to build up the tension between the two and let the fear of what could be play out in Elicia's mind. By the time she had taken her fifth step, she kicked off into a sprint towards the Private, sabre held out to her right and almost skimming the stone.

Her expression was a little more focused, her eyes searching for the slightest opening in the stance or even the weakest point of attack. Half-heartedly Kenzie had considered coming in for a more martial attack, but decided against it - they were practising weapons - not full scale combat.

At the last moment, she brought her sabre up in a large sweeping horizontal arc, aimed just at the chest and would likely result in severe injury if the attack went on unimpeded.

[Elicia]

Bloody heck! Elicia mentally reprimanded herself. Her back was exposed and you didn't go for it! Never mind that now, old gel- get in the fight! Her muscles were tense as the Colonel went at her again. But this time, where was her sword coming from? The side-a slice-the front -a thrust? She couldn't dodge it, it was too late for that. A little bittersweetly Elicia recalled being chastised about earlier in her career. "Elicia! Ye bally well have to know where the foe's sword is coming from! Otherwise ye can't parry or dodge!"Too late, just act. she thought as the sabre raced towards her. Too late to do a blasted thing about anything!. The only thing that Elicia could think of to do was to dodge, dodge, dodge, until she found a place where she could strike.

What am I thinking? No, WHY am I thinking? I should be focusing on the bloody fight, wot! Eli knew that she was processing the moment, storing it for later recovery, but it compromised her fighting ability. The ecstatic haze that had floated over her mind before the first blow faded, and she could see the odds.

CONS:

Colonel: None.

Elicia: A Private, in her first year on the Long Patrol. Barely any experience, and was already unsettled by interrupting Kenzie's thoughts. Scared stiff of fighting and officer as important as Kenzie, and still a little shaky in her standings.

PROS:

The Colonel: strong and perilous. Has seasons and seasons of experience under her belt, and the confidence to win this fight with a mere Private. Fast, efficient, a killing machine that could be programmed to any level of expertise-and right now, it wasn't set at LOW.

Elicia: Nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. Goose egg.

COMPARE.

With a very ungraceful move Elicia fell backwards onto the ground, sliding under the sword swing. Her head bumped painfully with the impact, and she regretted it immediately. Now she had shown herself to be a coward in front of the Colonel, as well as landed painfully on the floor. Oh well! Nothing for it but to jolly well try! Managing not to wince at her collision with the floor Elicia stood up once more, sabre at the ready. "Won't get rid of me that quickly, Marm! Sorry, but I intend to get something out of this fight, whether it's gonna be cuts and bruises or a job well done!" Cuts and bruises she thought miserably. Please, Marm, let it be only cuts and bruises! Then, Good grief, Eli! Pick up the pace! Too close. Better think of somethin' or the old gel will get ye off yore guard! The young hare cracked a little smile-she could play the unnerving game too! Smiling...although she had just compromised herself? Eli liked to think that it worked, although it probably was as useless as her attempts to talk big to the Colonel.

Then- by the Colonel. She had just swung. A strong arc! A moment of hope! The only chance I'll ever get in this blasten fight! Elicia bounced up on her paws, then ran towards the Colonel heart racing. She brought her sword up and around towards the officer's stomach, aiming for a quick frontal attack upon her opponent. Eli hoped to catch her off guard-but with the Colonel, you couldn't tell what she was doing until you found yourself unarmed with her sword at your throat. Not this time, me gel!Eli's face was set in a grim line as she tried to go faster, faster, to reach the Colonel before her glimmer of hope faded away.

[Ashstripe]

((Oooh you flatter Kenzie.))

Kenzie blinked. There had been a dull thud on the stone floor and her weapon had connected with nothing but air - she stumbled forward a few paces past her intended destination, still riding on the momentum of her previous attack and turned gracefully on the tips of her paws.

There was the Private, lying on the ground - if only for a second.

The Colonel could only raise an eyebrow at that somewhat desperate manoeuvre, all is fair in love and war they say, but she certainly wasn't expecting that. It didn't really matter though, this was a result that still was better than defeat.

A smile played upon her lips, it was very slight and there as a quiver of her whiskers, but the emotion was there, satisfaction.

"Good. It is the fool who fails to learn from their mistakes." Kenzie almost regretted her statement a few moments after quoting her words of wisdom; she had implied that everything the Private had done so far was a mistake.

Then again, it didn't matter. She was Colonel Kenzie Conzett; who was going to question that?

Kenzie took a few brisk steps backwards, bounding on the tips of her paws and stood fast, brazenly enough the Private was smiling - green soldiers rarely smiled in the face of opposition unless they were confident in their plan or had an epiphany that could surely achieve victory - a habit that the Seniors of the Long Patrol often drummed out of the soldiers.

'She's planning something - good.'

No sooner than had the thought crossed her mind did her theory become truth; an attack was rapidly closing in towards her torso. Her exposed torso.

'That's a recruit's error, Kenzie.' She chastised herself silently, clenching her jaw tightly in a repressed curse. Had this been a real combat situation, Kenzie would've likely been dead, thankfully it was only a Private she was dealing with whom likely couldn't spot Kenzie's mistakes from her own.

Her faint traces of a smile faded into obscurity as the attack drew closer, another inch and it'd connect with her flesh. Kenzie breathed deeply, twisting her stomach out of the way and simultaneously bringing her sword down on an angle to parry the attack into the ground.

"Not bad. Almost good." Kenzie remarked, concealing any signs of surprise or even worry that had plagued her thoughts for a fleeting moment,

"Lesson Two; The face is the doorway to yore thoughts - flippin' close the blighter." She gritted out from her teeth, almost casually.

[Elicia]

Elicia ground her teeth as her attack was driven into the ground. With a blink of understanding she almost cleared her face-almost. There was just the little bit of fear, the little bit of courage, fighting for sole control of her emotions. These lessons that Colonel Kenzie kept giving her were mysteries. The young Private listed them mentally as the count increased, but grew more and more puzzled at to whether Kenzie was trying to help her or shame her.

The sabre was cool in Eli's paws. She flexed her grip, loosened it, then tightened it again. The hilt was dull, the blade was sharp, and Private Elicia picked up the weapon from the floor. She didn't say anything, but tried to get her sword up to Kenzie again. Her eyes flashed to her opponent, to the sword that had moved so gracefully in the Colonel's hands, to the floor, and back to Kenzie.

Faster, faster, why was her sword so slow? So lax, so heavy. So slow as it rushed to meet Kenzie once again in a close arc at her chest.

[Ashstripe]

Kenzie's eyes widened by a fraction, the hazel was fused with the whites for only a brief glimmer of a second. There was no time for shock in a battle, even if she hadn't quite anticipated such a sudden reprisal.

'Idiot, anybeast in their right mind would do this.'

Her parry had succeeded in driving the weapon to the floor, this gave her a small window of opportunity to realign herself and regain a bearing on her surroundings. The Private had been toying with her grip, each moment of laxity an opening in it's own right - yet too small to exploit to any effect.

Too late for that she supposed.

The sabre was flying towards her, in a manoeuvre not unlike her own, targeting her upper-torso and threatened to bite deep into her flesh - a risk that she often took when she sparred with real weapons. Kenzie ducked, the already small distance from her head to the floor was shortened further as she nearly fell to her paws to avoid the arc, she could feel the wind rushing past the tips of her ears which she had unconsciously brought down with her.

She noticed a few strands of light fur fall to the ground slowly.

The Colonel glared, it had been a long time a recruit had come this close to actually striking her - she had been a laughing stock for it, at least, a laughing stock to Breeze.

This was an insult that could not go unanswered.

From her new vantage point closer to the ground, she pushed up from her feet, like tightly coiled springs she propelled herself up in an attempt to head-butt the private in the stomach, all previous thoughts of 'this is only weapons practice' were cast to the winds.

For all is fair in love and war.

[Elicia]

//Aaah! You made Elicia sound so much better than she is!//
Colonel Conzett only allowed Eli a small moment of pleasure from her trick. Then, with startling speed the officer raced towards Eli. She had bounced up, and forward, straight at the Private. Elicia had not been expecting the sudden assault, and it hit her full on. The sudden concussion knocked her backwards to the ground; there was no intentional ducking and weaving involved.

Bloody heck thought the private for the second time since her intrusion. Bloody, bloody heck. There. That was three times; odd numbers were always better than the even ones for Eli. A bit of superstition, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of hoping had gotten her to that conclusion-but now, in the middle of a fight she had no time to consider her folly.

She skidded on the ground roughly, the momentum of the attack carrying her backwards. Ow. That would bruise tomorrow. Still aching, Eli gave herself only a moment of pain before her face tightened again. It was a mask now-and she was mad. She was a private, and Kenzie a Colonel. That did not qualify for a weapons practice, nor for a response for a lucky strike. If they had been doing close combat with no weapons it would have been OK. But now....now was not the time to stray from their intended path! They were to spar, and to spar alone. Elicia didn't care how much unfavorable methods the Colonel used; she would stay in the fight and battle with her sabre. She would not cross what she had meant when she announced her name and title to the Colonel. She had been going to fight a swords battle and nothing would stop her!

Elicia got off the floor. She wiped her mouth with the back of one paw, staring at Kenzie. Her eyes, the eyes that had held fear and pain and expectancy were gone. These eyes did not belong to the sweet, smart-mouthing Elicia Pittney. This was an emotion that the Private rarely experienced. Something different than from when she had talked to her friends in practice, different than from when she laughed in the mess hall after a long day of training, different from the concentration that usually won over in her fights.

Anger.

Eli was mad-very mad now, eyes blazing with the fire of a beast who had been promised something, then betrayed. That promise, for a swords fight between herself and the Colonel, had been broken with that new attack that Kenzie had launched upon her. She could not say it was unfair, but that breach in protocol had snapped something. Honor. The head-butt had not only contacted with her stomach, but with her sense of honor. That had been uncalled for-the Private knew that the Colonel had other tricks up her sleeves that did not involve directly attacking.

Her grip tightened on her saber. "Again, Colonel, marm!" Her words were brave with foolishness, overtaken by her rage at the shattered treaty between the two of them. Elicia picked her sword up, and stood at the ready, in her fighting stance. Light feet, so you could move any direction. Good posture, for a strong swing-and all the time the fire blazed beneath deep brown eyes.

[Ashstripe]

"You seem to have forgotten Lesson One already, Private." Kenzie chided, she had quickly opened the gap between them once more and stood a good ten or so paces away from Elicia, "You seem to think that Vermin will only use what is in their paws."

Her voice was passive, holding no-judgement, as if she was just stating the facts, "Lesson Three; Honour is for Heroes and Heroes are always dead." She raised her free paw to indicate the number three to emphasise her point.

If Ashstripe had heard her words then he would've likely exploded into a long stream of counter-arguments that all basically meant the same thing; 'honour is the fine line between us and them'.

She watched with disinterest as the Private skidded across the floor, creating a horrid screeching as she went and remained motionless for a brief moment. It was a good thing Kenzie hadn't decided to pursue her, otherwise this battle could've been over with a less than favourable outcome.

Kenzie's eyes narrowed in scrutiny of the Private, her attack had struck something other than her stomach - her sense of pride perhaps? She snorted softly, better to learn the lessons here than on the battlefield. After all, contrary to popular belief, Kenzie held the concept of mercy somewhere in her hardened heart.

"Again?" She tilted her head quizzically, appearing confused at the invitation. Truthfully, she was just analysing the situation in the seconds that counted down, the Private's voice had a dangerous undertone to it, the kind that expressed a loose grip on reason.

The kind that could be exploited.

Hazel eyes narrowed in focus, as she took a few slow steps, just as she had done before. One foot in front of the other, dull pats upon the stone that slowly built up in speed until she had broken out into a full sprint once more. Elicia's stance was better; much better. She could likely block her attacks this time, which was always an improvement.

The moment her sword entered striking range, she feigned a swing from the left, a plain horizontal arc, the same as before. But before it had even completed half of it's path, she twisted her wrist and the attack turned into an uppercut towards the waist to shoulder.

[Elicia]

Elicia knew the attack was coming this time. She had asked for it, and there was nothing else to it. She stood ready-but the Colonel's words struck her.

"You seem to have forgotten Lesson One already, Private.[/i]"

"I heard yore lessons, Marm!" Eli's voice was gritted out through clenched teeth. She had heard the lessons, alright. The lessons that may have been helpful anytime but now, just when they could have been useful. "I just wish, Marm, that you had told me the blighters in practice-not that anything can be changed, wot!" Her feet were set and as steady as she could make them as the officer ran towards her. Time flicked passed, quickly-too quickly. The Colonel advanced too fast, her saber flung out in complex moves flashed in the light of the sun almost too quickly to be seen.

"Honor is for Heroes, and Heroes are always dead."

The words sent another spark of anger up Elicia's spine. Not...true! "Sorry Marm." The blow came up at Eli, and the young hare sliced her saber downwards, barely blocking the blow. Her paws and arms were shaking with the effort it took her to keep the Colonel's sword at this position. "Sorry." She repeated herself for a bit of impact. Her eyes were once fierce, but the effort had taken a little of their spirit out of them and her paws were trembling violently. The Private knew she couldn't keep the opposing saber still for much longer, but managed to growl out "That's not true, Marm. Honor is for everybeast! Not just the living, fabled" She put emphasis on the words, but spat the last one out. "HEROES!"

Her paws almost slipped, would slip, certainly would fall and she would be at the mercy of Colonel Conzett.
She couldn't hold on any longer. The saber clattered to the ground.

[Ashstripe]

Their blades had locked and shunted, along with their wills and spirits. This was rapidly transforming into something a little more interesting than a simple beat-down of an irritable Private; this was turning into something much more merciful on Kenzie's behalf.

The Private had spirit. Kenzie had to grudgingly admit that much, few in this Mountain that knew of her dared to speak out against her - fewer still were those whom were below her rank and skill.

Her arms held true, years of training and conditioning had long offset her petite size in terms of strength, having long reached her natural threshold in muscle mass. Her wiry limbs were capable of holding back an upstart Private, but still couldn't quite hold back a mature male Hare.

She smiled again, a parody of the genuine happiness, more akin to a grim truth, "So young." She said with edge of sadness.

She envied Elicia, the harsh realities of the world hadn't gotten to her yet, she hadn't become hardened like she had, she hadn't seen just how much blood one beast could leak before they died.

"You've never fought in a war, have you? Of course you haven't - nobody who's ever fought in a war talks like that." Kenzie said with an edge of world-weariness, she had widened the gap between them once more the moment Elicia's weapon had left her paw; disappointed with the outcome of their lock - it could've been fatal on Elicia's part.

"Now then, be a good 'gel and come at me." The Colonel announced as she turned to face Elicia, her sabre hanging in a grip that appeared loose and pointed down towards the ground, "I won't bite."

[Elicia]

Elicia's eyes were still burning as the Colonel stepped away. But now...now there was a bit of sadness in them too. "I've never fought in a war, Marm. Never." She picked her sword up, and stood at the ready. "I intend to, honestly, and it'll be my bloomin' fault if anythin' happens to me!" She looked all around for weaknesses, found none. She stepped forward, back, forward again. Her paws were too heavy on the ground, beaten from the blows but determined to continue.

"I won't bite.[/b]"

Elicia almost chuckled at the words. "A Colonel, Marm? Not bite?" The young hare thought that was funny, in an odd sort of way. Just wait...just wait. Kenzie would bite, alright, and she'd bite back hard.

The private decided that fakes were her best chance, as she was neither the faster nor the stronger of the two. Slowly, Elicia started moving to her right, one pawstep at a time. Edging, she looked for a space, and opening, which she could exploit. Seeing none, she picked up the pace. Honestly, old gel Eli thought to herself. I have no bloomin' clue what yore doin', so you'd better figure it out quick, before the Colonel does!

When Eli had reached halfway around her circle she started towards Kenzie. Not the fastest run, not the most skilled blow. But Eli was trying for power on this one, not anything else. Her hind paws were fine-she knew that instinctually. They were getting clumsy from her earlier falls, however, and she hesitated for a second before continuing with the right-left slice that she had intended at about waist height.

[Ashstripe]

"No flamin' point in joinin' the Long Patrol if y'ain't plannin' on fightin' in any wars now is there?" Kenzie snarked, "Fightin' and dyin' - that's the Long Patrol way."

The small Colonel stood her ground, her mouth shifting as her teeth ground together; the Private was getting unpredictable, whether because she couldn't read her movements or because she was making it up was she went along, Kenzie wasn't quite so sure.

She gave a wry smile at the Private's remark, finding some dry amusement in the whole situation. She remained silent and motionless as Elicia began to advance and circle her. Kenzie breathed deeply, as if sighing, it was like she was a large monolith that a small stream was trying to sweep away.

And it wouldn't happen.

Her eyes constantly flickered over Elicia's paws, there was little given in her expression now; Kenzie could read some traces, but it wasn't blatantly spelt out like before. Good, she wouldn't rely on that now, she would focus on the obvious.

Sure enough, her paws declared her intentions, she stepped into striking range and launched a horizontal swipe towards her waist. Kenzie breathed as she spun on one foot, bringing her body out of harm's way whilst bringing her vertical sabre to intercept the attack. The blade rattled and shook with the collision,

"Not bad, almost good." She said, although her face remained the same, her eyes weren't so cold and calculating for that one brief moment.

[Elicia]

"No flamin' point in joinin' the Long Patrol if y'ain't plannin' on fightin' in any wars now is there?[/b]"

Elicia posture hardened at the insult. "I said I would, Marm, willingly! I ain't gonna run like a bloomin' coward!" Did the Colonel think she was that dim-witted as to join a REGIMENT and not go to fight ANY wars? She pushed harder on her saber.

She had said one thing...and the Colonel had interpreted it as another. A tactic? Or just a mistake? Eli couldn't tell which it was, although it worked in putting her off slightly, whatever it's intention. The private grimaced, trying to force the blade to move just that little bit faster as she saw Colonel Conzett raise her saber to block the strike.

Their swords met, both straining for the upper hand. Well, Kenzie wasn't so much straining as... lightly pushing, while Eli was throwing her weight onto the blow. She held the position, but her arms were already sore from the last attack that Colonel had devised for her

"Not bad, almost good.[/b]"

Eli's eyes brightened at the Colonel's almost-praise. It gave her paws a bit more pep, a bit more spark as she grinned wolfishly at Kenzie's block. That was all she needed to go further. She pulled her sword from their lock and lunged forward, trying for power not speed, but otherwise using the move that the Colonel had used earlier against her.

If the old gel falls for this one... Eli made a mental shrug. I won't know what to jolly well think, as it's her bloody move!

[Ashstripe]

"Tch." Kenzie breathed out in response to Elicia's angered retort, it wasn't exactly the response she had envisioned but it was still a response; and that was what she had aimed for.

Suddenly enough, the lock was broken as the Private shunted her blow and lunged forward for what seemed like a thrust - not unlike the manoeuvre Kenzie had employed earlier.

'So the Private does pay attention.

The Colonel smiled in cold amusement, sure her footing may have been a bit off and the angle of her blade probably wasn't exactly precise, but it did demonstrate learned knowledge.

"So you have been paying attention!" Kenzie said in disbelief, "Well I never!"

Her eyes narrowed into a look of pure focus, she was going to teach the Private two things - first and foremost, how to properly counter this particular attack and secondly; Kenzie does not lose at her own game.

She waited until the blade was no more than an inch from it's target did her right foot twist, she twirled gracefully, whilst using the momentum of her twist to bring a counter-strike towards the thrust; disrupting the momentum that flowed forward and hopefully throwing Elicia off balance.

[Elicia]

Elicia was knocked off to the side by the Colonel's block, but still faced her opponent, careful not to leave her back exposed. Bloody heck, bloody heck. Thought Eli, still keeping to her odd-numbers rule. She blocked my best attack without battin' a bloomin' eyelash! She growled, annoyed that she had been put off so easily.

The Private fingered the hilt of her saber. It was almost involuntary-she did not know that she was giving away her attack plan to Colonel Conzett. She was aware that the fight was not over-and of the looming truth that hung over her. She was not strong enough to continue for much longer. Her paws had fumbled, her grip was weakening, her body ached from the pounding it had received during her numerous falls and failures. She couldn't give up though. She had come too far, held out too long against her formidable foe to quit because of some bumps and bruises! She felt them all the same, though, and nothing could change that.

//How much longer are we going to RP this fight? I need to know so I can tire Eli out according to the battle length.//

She waited until the blade was no more than an inch from it's target did her right foot twist, she twirled gracefully, whilst using the momentum of her twist to bring a counter-strike towards the thrust; disrupting the momentum that flowed forward....[/b].

Elicia almost twitched at the Colonel's graceful feet. She was still up there? Fighting...like that, and she was still not tired? Eli looked on enviously. Perilous... She thought to herself. But, old gel, you'll never make it there if ye don't pick up your bloody sword, wot! She lifted the saber higher than she had been holding it, a little higher than waist height, and waited for the next attack.