[ P ] Training, Sparring, Etc.

Rhychdir found herself wandering, weaving through the trails of the Redwood. She was happy enough to have been told to stay in the area — it remind her so much of home, the red leaves familiar to her in more ways than she could have ever imagined. They must be the same type of trees, she had long since figured. She remembered as a child when she’d first left the slopes of the Volcano, how she had gazed almost lovingly upon the reds of the forest, alive with firelight from the sun’s rays dancing over the crimson hues. It had been beautiful, and cathartic to the sense of homesickness — it had cured it for a little bit.

But, Rhy doubted that place existed anymore. Home had seemingly imploded upon herself, and even when she’d turned back to try to find her way back after leaving, she… hadn’t been able to. She’d given up and wandered until she’d found Rionnach, and then from that point had given herself purpose amongst the Imperial Army.

Now, Rhy was beginning to consider this place home, something that she could call her own, in a way. She enjoyed her station, however ‘quiet’ it may be most of the time. Her multi-hued features peered around, heterochromatic eyes taking in the world around her. It was summer, and while she hadn’t been around long enough to have had seen the previous Summer in Rionnach, she had heard stories of the prior summer, and how horrid it had been.

She looked up at the sounds of another, drawn from her thoughts. A man she vaguely recognized — recognized only enough to know that he was part of the Imperial Army, just as she had become. She had seen him around from different points in her training, but nothing that she would ever consider a decent ‘interaction.’ She raised her tail in greeting, although she did not adjust her features, which had always settled into something of a scowl. 'Resting Bitch Face,' as some might call it.

"Greetings," Rhychdir said.


@Baelfire

baelfire
does she know that we bleed the same...

"Greetings," came the voice of another. Baelfire's ears perked and he turned his head to look upon the patchwork face of another -- one he knew to be in the Army and that was about it. He nodded his head toward her in greeting, though he wore a smile on his face which was quite the contrast to her scowling features. "Rhychdir, right?" he said, hoping to have gotten her name right. "Baelfire." he added, in case she did not know his calling.

"What brings you here?" he asked curiously.

The Redwood was a well traveled place, but not usually by him. He was stationed in the Highlands so that he could be close to his family but he'd made the trip down here to sign up one of his sons, Arran. His children had passed their first year and it was time they started pulling their weight and he was glad at least one of them seemed eager to serve. He was disappointed his other son had little to no interests in doing his duties, and Orlaith... oh, she was so much like her mother... but he loved them so, regardless.

Only time would tell where his children ended up but in the end he just wanted them happy.

...don't wanna cry but i break that way

code by claerie

The man looked towards her and seemed to perk up a little at the prospect of interaction. Rhychdir wasn’t always the most friendly individual — it was something that was well-known. She was no stranger to fights, even among her fellow soldiers. She was someone that others knew well enough by reputation, although she wouldn’t say she was ‘famous,’ by any meaning of the word. She just had a reputation for a bad attitude, although she was good at her job, and perhaps that’s why they kept her around. She almost laughed at the notion.

“Rhychdir, right?” The man asked, seeming to have taken a shot in the dark with her name. She dipped her head.

“Aye,” she said, a foreign accent thick upon her voice as she continued. “Rhychdir Bradshagh.”

“Baelfire,” the man introduced himself. She had guessed that that was his name, having heard others using it in referring to who she thought was him — although, one could never quite be too sure, as some pelt colors were more common than others. Her own patchwork was distinct, and something that seemed unique, although her colors amongst her family were not — but she was the only Bradshagh within Rionnach.

“What brings you here?” Baelfire asked.

“I usually stay around here; I’m stationed close by and have made this place my home. Reminds me of a forest where I’m from,” Rhychdir said. It was true, but the Redwood in her home kingdom had not been her home; the slopes of the Volcano had always been her home, her birthplace… but she had ultimately called many places over her years ‘home.’ “What about you?” She asked.


@Baelfire

baelfire
does she know that we bleed the same...

“Aye, Rhychdir Bradshagh.” she said in a thick accent. Baelfire smiled and nodded politely, he had no surname of his own otherwise he would have shared it. He supposed the closest thing to his own surname he had was that of his wife -- he was a part of the Kinnaird Clan now.

“I usually stay around here; I’m stationed close by and have made this place my home. Reminds me of a forest where I’m from,” she said. "What about you?" Baelfire nodded, it was nice to be stationed near home and he had the pleasure of the very same consideration. "I'm usually stationed near Perth. I know, it's far, but my family lives there and I was lucky enough to have my request for transfer granted." he said. "But I've gotta make my trips to Yorkshire every once in a while, of course." It wasn't like he could go without making his reports and what not.

"So Rhychdir... any plans for the day?" he asked.

...don't wanna cry but i break that way

code by claerie

Rhychdir didn’t know, beyond the vague familiarity, why she had begun to call the Red Woods home. She supposed it truly was the familiarity of it. She missed home dearly, but she wasn’t sure it even existed anymore. Her life then seemed so… long ago, even though it was only about a year ago before she’d set out to travel. She’d walked for months it would seem, and then shortly after finding the Kingdom, she’d joined the army just to have a sense of belonging in a palace where she was an outsider.

“I’m usually stationed near Perth. I know, it’s far, but my family lives there and I was lucky enough to have my request for transfer granted. But I’ve gotta make my trips to Yorkshire every once in a while, of course,” Baelfire said. Rhychdir nodded in understanding.

“Of course. I need to make a trip there soon, too.” She said, glancing to the side. The man’s next words brought her back from her wandering thoughts.

“So Rhychdir… any plans for the day?” He asked. The multi-hued woman shook her head.

“No. But, I do have a proposal, if y’ll take the bate,” she said. “How about a friendly spar?”


@Baelfire

baelfire
does she know that we bleed the same...

Baelfire nodded at her comment. Perth was beautiful and she should make her way there soon, if not to enjoy all the locals had to offer. He knew there were still tensions between the Highlanders and the crown but the more they mingled, the more they might realize they were one in the same.

“No. But, I do have a proposal, if y’ll take the bate, how about a friendly spar?”

"Well, sure!" he said, his single green eye glinting with interest. He hadn't had a spar in what seemed like ages and it did sound fun. What better way to spend the day than by training? Well, he could think of a few better things, but he was here in Redwood and those better things were back in Perth. So for now, training was the best option for a way to spend the day. He crouched slightly and let the fur bristle along his spine as he offered Rhychdir a toothy smile... "First move?" he offered.

...don't wanna cry but i break that way

code by claerie

In truth, all that Rhychdir had seen of the kingdom was beautiful — although there were many parts of it that she did not understand still. The politics of it all was new to her, and while she could sense the unrest that lingered beneath the surface, she could not decipher what it was or what it was about. But, then, in the end, Rhy didn’t really care just so long as she could keep doing the job that she had found for herself. She did not serve a single entity, but instead the kingdom as a whole. She felt the need to do better, to make better, perhaps in some way to make up for following a wayward path for as long as she did.

“Well, sure!” Baelfire said, his interest in her suggestion clear. Rhychdir’s ice-and-fire eyes brightened, lighting up with a level of joy that had not previously been present. Her tail lifted slightly, threatening to give a small wag of pleasure. She watched as Baelfire crouched slightly, a smile on his lips.

“First move?” He said.

Rhychdir grinned, a toothy thing with teeth yellowed from age. She lowered herself slightly, her tail beginning to flick side to side in a thoughtful manner. She inched closer slowly, eyeing her opponent up for a moment. He was larger than she was, but then, that was nothing for a Bradshagh. She had been taught to defeat her father by the time she was but six months old, taught from the time she could toddle around how to fight — and win. But then, she had to remember, a spar was not about winning. It was about learning valuable information about one’s fighting style.

Rhychdir lurched forward suddenly, aiming to put her shoulder into the man’s chest with restrained force, to get the mock fight going.


@Baelfire

baelfire
does she know that we bleed the same...

Baelfire hadn't had a good fight in a while. When he was a pup he used to spar with his father all the time, much to his mother chagrin. He had sparred with Arran a while back but it had been some time. The idea of training with a coworker more his size was a little more thrilling to the large man. So, he watched her as she came lurching forward, aiming her shoulder into his chest. He braced for impact and grit his teeth, a grunt escaping him as she pushed against him.

He would end up pushing back and then aiming a nip at her shoulder, since they were in such close proximity. He would not bite, no this was just a simple spar, but it should be enough pressure to make her wince if his teeth connected...

[Exit Baelfire via fade sparring]

...don't wanna cry but i break that way

code by claerie