Tiny Soldier ((Braythe, Jamie, open))

[Cross]

"The firs' thing I want you an' anybeast t'learn, is how t'protect yourself with a weapon." Jamie made a motion with two fingers, indicating eye-contact between them. "Don't focus on my blade, keep your eyes on mine. Your peripheral vision will take care o' watchin' the blade, don't worry." As he said this, he swung the blade around a bit, but not at the mouse. "Keep focused on your opponent an' you'll be able to anticipate their movements. That'll come far more swiftly t'you than you'll realize. It's not so much a skill as it is nature."

Vicky followed Jamie over to the corner, out of the way of the other sparring hares. Everything he said made sense, at least. He was obviously a good teacher. However, she found herself wanting to keep an eye on not just his blade, but her own as well. However, she knew how to handle a knife. She had to keep reminding herself that. She knew where the blade was at all times, so avoiding any untoward accidents would be the easiest part.

"So how d'ya feel. Give it a try?"

The little mouse took a deep breath and nodded. She smiled, albeit a tad nervously, up at Jamie. "I think so," she answered.

-----

"I see yer tryin' to spring away when I attack, but just remember sometime's there's no room for all of that. Sometimes it's best just to use yer shield or your sword to block, otherwise yer might back into somebeast -- could be yer own comrade, and it could end badly fer both of you."

"Aye, Badgerlord's right y'know," Corporal Cordin Dorchester lightly bumped his shoulder against Heart's, as if to prove Braythe's point. "Don't want t'jolly well turn yore comrades into bloody dominoes, wot?" The buck grinned at the rabbit and the badger, deftly twirling his own saber. He was obviously in a good mood, even more so than normally. He'd spent the entire morning dueling against any hare who'd stepped up. Training always put him in the best of spirits.

((Thought I may as well bring Cordin in.))

[Tracy]

Jamie wished he could pinpoint what was causing the mouse's hesitation. He was sure she had a number of things she'd rather be doing than learning to use a blade, but that didn't really account for her apprehension. Annoyance, distractedness, ambivalence: he was prepared for any of these. But she was nervous. The lieutenant knew she was shy, but that didn't seem right either. Was she afraid of getting hurt? Well, maybe one lesson would cure her of that.

"I think so."

Nodding and watching her briefly, Jamie gave one last little twirl of the dirk over his paw. Getting his grip back on it, he swung the blade in an underhanded arc toward Vicky. Even if she missed the parry, it wouldn't hit her, and he actually adjusted his grip as well, so if she threw her arm in the way accidentally and in the -very- unlikely chance he couldn't correct in time, her arm would only be met with the flat of the blade.

He was usually fairly careful, but was being especially cautious with this mouse. Jamie had absolutely no idea what the mouse's reflexes were like, or how quickly she'd figure out how to parry. Once he got comfortable with her abilities (and she was more comfortable just in general) he would push her harder.

[nikki]

""I see yer tryin' to spring away when I attack, but just remember sometime's there's no room for all of that. Sometimes it's best just to use yer shield or your sword to block, otherwise yer might back into somebeast -- could be yer own comrade, and it could end badly fer both of you."

"I see what you mean, sir." Heartsease nodding, taking stance again as she considered this. She was, no mistake, afraid to try to block a blow from a creature of Braythe's size and obvious power - but he'd said he wouldn't cleave her in two, and the badger was no fool. He would, surely, know better than to give her more than she could handle before she got her bearings.

"Aye, Badgerlord's right y'know," Corporal Cordin Dorchester lightly bumped his shoulder against Heart's, as if to prove Braythe's point. "Don't want t'jolly well turn yore comrades into bloody dominoes, wot?"

"Cord--Corporal Dorchester!" She smiled as she flicked her ears toward the hare, raising the blade a bit in salute before bumping lightly back in greeting. (Oh dear - she hoped, a bit too late, that it wasn't too improper.) "Certainly not, might be a bit of a bother mightn't it?' She grinned ruefully, looking up at Braythe again.

"So... while I can certainly hope Lord Braythe won't go full force on me, what should I do with larger opponents who will?"

Deflect, maybe. Turn the blow aside... less leverage than with a spear, but these could set her right. Not that a larger, stronger opponent was something she imagined the Badger Lord facing, of course - not like her, for whom nearly all opponents were likely to be larger - but, well, one wasn't a Badger Lord or a Corporal for nothing!

[.:Fawn:.]

"So... while I can certainly hope Lord Braythe won't go full force on me, what should I do with larger opponents who will?"

Lord Braythe's bronze eyes settled on Cordin Fuzthrite Liztine Dorchester, the badger giving a curt nod in greeting -- mulling over Heartsease's question. "Yer best bet is to outsmart 'em, Whitefoot. I once saw a ferret tricked into tripping onto his own spear by a much smaller 'un, but I don't think yer ready for that just yet. I'd dodge and evade them with all the speed yer can muster -- even if bigger beasts are stronger, they get tired just like any other creature. If you keep wearin' 'em thin by hovering just outta reach or ducking & weaving under their swings, you'll get 'em." Braythe turned his dark eyes upon Heartsease, as though sizing her up.
"Yer still a novice swordsbeast, but yer quick on yer paws, I'll give ya that."

Glancing to Corporal Dorchester, it was then that the badger lord realized he might be a bit too much for the little recruit to handle. Cordin, on the other hand, was closer to Heartsease in species, though just strong enough, big enough and skilled enough to provide the little rabbitmaid with the training she needed.
"If yore lookin' for a fight, Dorchester, I believe Whitefoot here fancies 'erself a spearbeast," Braythe looked at Heartsease, not entirely sure whether to continue trying to teach her swordfighting or let her spar with Cordin to observe her abilities with a polearm. Well, perhaps he'd get a better idea how to train her if he could see how she fought with a weapon she was comfortable with?
"We can always pick up sword fighting later," added the badger, lowering both his arms.

For this round, Braythe didn't mind not fighting. He could always pester some high-ranking officer to draw his blade and entertain him with a good ol' test of skill later. Right now, however, the badger lord would focus on the youngsters in front of him -- mustering up all the knowledge he possessed in the hopes he might be half as good a teacher as a certain Lieutenant a few feet away...

[Cross]

Vicky kept her eyes on Jamie, just like he'd told her to, but her gaze flicked down as his blade came closer. She brought up her dirk to parry the blow, wincing with the (albeit soft) impact. It hadn't hurt her, just startled her. Of course, she knew he was going slow, and that he would be gentle, but she was still nervous when it came to learning how to use a real blade.

But she had to question herself, then. Why was she nervous? Jamie wasn't going to harm her. In fact, he was going to teach her. But he was teaching her how to harm others, should the need ever arise. Well, no, that wasn't true. He was teaching her how to defend herself in case some other beast tried to harm her. Oh, raspberries, this was complicated . . . no wonder she was still nervous.

"Uh, like that?" she asked hesitantly.

-----

"So... while I can certainly hope Lord Braythe won't go full force on me, what should I do with larger opponents who will?"

Cordin let Braythe answer that one before stepping in. "I agree with Lord Braythe, Miss Heart," he replied. "'Tis always the best blinkin' stratagem t'outlast your enemy when he's bigger'n ye are." He held out his blade. "In your case, I'd say t'would be better if'n ye stayed out of his flippin' reach. 'Tis easier t'keep him running than t'keep close and try t'twist yourself t'evade him, wot? With more practice, t'will come easier."

"If yore lookin' for a fight, Dorchester, I believe Whitefoot here fancies 'erself a spearbeast,"

Cordin nodded with a smile. "Oh, aye, m'Lord," he replied. "But she wants t'learn bloody swordplay, don't she?" He winked at Heartsease. "If ye got someplace t'go, Lord, I can flippin' take the jolly ol' lesson from here, wot?"

"We can always pick up sword fighting later," added the badger, lowering both his arms.

"Hehe, aye, sir," the corporal chuckled. "That we jolly well can. The ol' halberd's been beggin' me t'practice with 'er all bloomin' morning, she has." Idly twirling the saber, he turned once more to Heart. "So, little Braveheart, wot would ye jolly well like t'learn?"

((Sorry, Nikki. XD Had to call her that.))

[Tracy]

Jamie kept his gaze trained on the little mouse, hoping to keep her eye contact as he swung the dirk. He wasn't at all surprised when Vicky's eyes flicked away to look at the blade. A vast majority of young cadets, especially during the first lessons, found it very difficult to maintain eye contact. It was only natural to adjust your attention to the sharp object flying in your direction. Some creatures could discipline themselves out of the habit within the first lesson, and others took much longer.

"Uh, like that?"

Jamie smiled a little. "If the blade doesn't hit you, then yes, like that." The hare took a small step diagonally to see if Vicky would automatically pivot to correct her position in front of him. It was important that she move about on her footpaws for plenty of reasons, but especially right now to keep her balance. He watched her, checking to see how she distributed her weight. "All right, again, but keep your eyes on mine. Don't tense up, be immediately ready for another swing."

The lieutenant swung the blade again, a little harder, a little faster, and was pleased that the mouse was quick enough at least to parry the blow. But she looked away and tensed herself up again, completely unprepared if he were to come around and take a swing from the other direction. Jamie held a paw up briefly, to call a pause. Sea-green eyes studied her for a moment, thinking. He had a technique he used when cadets couldn't keep their eye contact. When it worked, it worked really well, but it only worked about half the time.

"Vicky," he started. "I want you t'carry a conversation with me this time when y'parry the blows. Tell me about somethin' you know a lot about. Somethin' I don't anythin' about." He thought for a second, eyes straying to the young rabbitmaid nearby, who now had a third skilled beast stepping up to offer her lessons. Smiling, amused, he looked back at the mouse. "That rabbit gel, her name's Heartsease; after some plant, right? Tell me anythin' you know about the plant, can it be used in medicine?"

[nikki]

Heartsease nodded as she took in Braythe and Cordin's voice. Keep moving, but not so much you bump into otherbeasts. Outlast. Keep close, but presumably not outside of her own weapon's range.

"So," she ventured slowly, "I suppose in the crush... it comes down to being aware of otherbeasts, members of a unit and foes, just as I would a rock or root that might trip me up... and use peripheral vision to keep out of collisions... er, if that makes sense." A sheepish smile, her ears unconsciously falling back. "I suppose that's something I pick up and one of the reasons for training, isn't it?"

The rabbit brightened at the mention of spearwork, looking hopefully at Cordin.

"Oh, yes! You offered a spar the first day I was here, do you remember? That is, I'm very much enjoying the swordwork - I like this two-pawed blade! - and I certainly do want to learn all the weapons I can fit my paws around, but I don't want to fall out of practice with my spear either!"

"So, little Braveheart, wot would ye jolly well like t'learn?"

She laughed at the nickname, brightening further. 'Everything' seemed like it might be too broad an answer, really, so she thought a moment before settling on something.

"Well! I've only ever sparred with Timothy, who was really a swordbeast, so I got used to pressing an advantage of reach and leverage. I think I would like to start with defending against equal or greater reach, when fighting another polearm. And maybe mix up what I know with whatever style you favor, and... and... I'd like to work footwork a bit further too. Oh, and maybe later I could try different sorts of polearms? I mean, the spear is very versatile and I like working with it very much, it feels solid and right in my paws if you understand, but I'm awfully overspecialized I think, so I would like to break out of routines with it as well as learning other sorts."

She paused, grinning at the hare as she tilted her head.

"Would that be all right? Well, one thing at a time, certainly, but... er...."

She realized she was rambling and trailed off, trying not to fidget.

[Cross]

"Vicky," he started. "I want you t'carry a conversation with me this time when y'parry the blows. Tell me about somethin' you know a lot about. Somethin' I don't anythin' about." He thought for a second, eyes straying to the young rabbitmaid nearby, who now had a third skilled beast stepping up to offer her lessons. Smiling, amused, he looked back at the mouse. "That rabbit gel, her name's Heartsease; after some plant, right? Tell me anythin' you know about the plant, can it be used in medicine?"

"I--okay," the mouse replied. Her eyes flicked to the rabbit cadet on impulse, but she quickly returned to Jamie. Inhaling deeply, she readied herself. Heartsease . . . okay, she could do this.

"Heartsease is kind of a pansy-like flower in appearance," she began, trying to get her voice above the level of a quiet murmur. She forced herself to keep her eyes trained on Jamie's. "In--in fact, it's often called Wild Pansy, since it actually gave rise to cultivated pansies."

She bit back a surprised squeak as she blocked another blow. Don't panic. Panic only makes it worse. You can do this, Vicky. "Viola tricolor--uh, heartsease, I mean, is used in treatments for--for epilepsy, asthma, and whooping cough, I think," she continued. Okay, this was getting a little more comfortable for her. At least she was maintaining eye contact better.

-----

Cordin chuckled, patiently waiting for 'Braveheart' to finish speaking. He dropped one ear to half mast comically, sheathing his saber. She wanted to learn just about everything, didn't she? Well, far be it from him to withhold his knowledge from an eager mind.

"Jolly good, Cadet Heart," he replied, keeping up his air of formality around the Badgerlord. "I fancy we start with polearms, broaden your bloomin' scope with your spear, wot, wot? Never fought a beast with a halberd, I bloody well bet, have ye? And then I dare say the Badgerlord's right. Swordplay can just bloomin' well wait a tick, wot? I do enjoy sparrin' with other beasts who favor the ol' polearm like I do. Don't go anywhere, m'gel."

It took him but a moment to retrieve his halberd. Twirling it deftly, he grinned at Braveheart. "I won't say I'll jolly well go easy on ye, cadet," he warned. "But I won't bloody try t'take your head off. That sounds fair, wot?"

((Feel free to wrap this thing up, y'all.))

[nikki]

"I won't say I'll jolly well go easy on ye, cadet," he warned. "But I won't bloody try t'take your head off. That sounds fair, wot?"

"Quite fair, Corporal!" Heartsease sang out, giving her spear a deft twirl before hopping into stance with a joyful little bounce. Cordin was right - the rabbitmaid had never fought a beast with a halberd. Her experience with other polearms was restricted to fighting with staves, whether plain or weighted to simulate a spearhead before her squirrel mentor deemed her trustworthy with a pointed object, and the bulk of her experience was gainst only that squirrel wielding a sword.

Besides that, of course, the maid was simply far too young and inexperienced to be a master of anything.

Nevertheless, the boost in confidence and competence was phenomenal once she had her spear in her paws. Though not a master, she was far from a beginner and quite talented with the weapon, favoring an ever-moving style from a tip-pawed stance calculated to let her move in any direction (the same tactic she'd been attempted to employ with the sword). She also seemed determined to use not just the two-edged spearhead but the entire weapon, punctuating slashes and stabs with spinning staff-like maneuvers and strikes from the metal-tipped spearbutt, occasionally also trying to capture Cordin's weapon with the lugs beneath the blade and use leverage to pull him out of attack chains.

A match for the Corporal? Not at her age and experience level. Unused as she was to other polearms, she could often be surprised and pushed back (though she clung stubbornly to the weapon if ever a disarm was attempted). Still, there was promise there, and she was nothing if not eager to learn.

In any case, Heartsease would keep at until she was exhausted or Cordin called it off, the rabbitmaid's narrow chest heaving with effort as she beamed up at the hare.

"More later, Corporal Dorchester? For now, well, I have to admit I'm rather famished, do you think there might be those little wild strawberry scones for tea? Haven't had a bite in hours, and this is hungry work!"

((Wrapped up Heart with combat overview and a need to feed! X3))