Avantika again stood alone in the courtyard, having just called for any pups who had a desire to be taught some of the skill of fighting. She thought they had actually been pretty good at showing up for her calls, showing that at least a few of them had some ambition to learn. While the Hallows was kind and accepting of every wolf as far as Avantika had seen, it was still important for them to work hard. They were only children, but eventually they would have to earn their keep by helping her, Mercury, and every other warrior of the Hallows to protect those within. Or they might choose a different path, to heal their sicknesses and wounds, hunt prey to feed them, explore and increase their knowledge of other lands, or nourish instead other knowledge and alliances of the pack through study and diplomacy. All were important, though Avantika of course had her favorite and the one she felt most qualified to teach. She didn't quite know where her expectations for the pups were -- or even precisely what their current skills looked like -- but she had not seen anything that had her less than impressed.

"Speech"

The call from her Aunt tickles the pup’s ears and the desire to better her skills has Caladia spring to her paws. She had been enjoying the spring weather, the warmth of the sun lolling the pup toward a nap as she lay in the long grass of the plains. But the call drives away any vestiges of sleep and the hodgepodge hued pup races to the courtyard where Tika awaits.

A flicker of movement catches her attention and the girl notices her bother, Kipling, running to answer the call as well. A grin splits her maw as she beats Kip to the meeting area, skidding smoothly to a stop in front of her aunt. Tongue lolls out of her mouth as she grins at her, happily saying, “Hi Aunt Tika! I’m ready to learn!” Head turns to follow Kip’s progress, bounding over to him when he arrives and giving him a small headbutt of greeting. This is going to be fun!


"Caladia Carpathius"

Kipling had been braiding some thin stripes of leather together, his nimble fingers had figured out how to do this much at least.  He could use braided leather in a trap, somehow.  Kipling had tossed aside the leather when he heard Tika’s howl.  She was fun and of course, he wanted lessons!  The boy ran as fast as he could towards the call.  Excited, Kipling’s gait had some manner of stride and hop as he ran, bounding over any obstacle as if it was many times larger.  Stick on ground?  Best jump as high as you can go to get over it!

Spotting his sister going for the training Kipling grins at her and then he’s grinning at her backside as she beats him there.  Oh yeah? The boy collects himself for a leap, his back leg flowing in its final leap so that it's right next to the front, then releasing himself like an escaped spring.  The boy flies at Caladia and as her head turns to look at him they collide.  Kipling knocks his sister down proudly, and nips the tip of her each, just a little pinch before letting go and sitting down in front of Tika looking up cheerfully.

The proud victor’s back is to Caladia, no longer interested in his bested enemy.  “Hi Aunt Tika, I got her good!  See? I’m ready for anything!”

(note: permission given from Hermes to pp successful attack)

"Kipling Carpathius"

It didn't take long before two pups raced each other over to her. Avantika couldn't help but grin, over the moon with their enthusiasm -- although it was also possible that they just wanted to beat each other there. Caladia. Kipling. She'd met both pups before and was glad that they were showing more interest in her lessons. Caladia got to her first, chirping a quick greeting before Kipling leapt at her, knocking her down. He then sat up, looking pleased with himself. Avantika's smile only grew as she replied, "Good work, Kipling. Catching your opponent off guard is a valuable strategy."

She glanced between both of them. "Before we begin, is there anything in particular either of you would like to learn or practice?" She had plans even if neither child had suggestions, but she wanted to tune her lessons to improve skills they already had or were actually interested in if she could. She just hoped neither of them would pick using weaponry, since Avantika didn't have the wooden practice swords near and also had never really learned how to use a weapon herself. All she could do was point them to Art, the main swordsman of the family.

"Speech"

As Caladia pulls to a stop in front of her aunt, happily greeting her as the girl remains unaware of her brother’s incoming attack. As she turns to look at Kip, the girl finds him in midair… right before his body slams into her. With a loud, “OOF”, the collision sends the pair tumbling to the ground and Kipling comes to stop on top of her back, where he gives both of her ears a nip before getting off her.

Huffing indigently, Callie stands and shakes out her coat, glaring at Kip as aunt Tika praises him. Oh, she will get back at him… soon. For now, she sits nicely next to brother as Tika asks what they want to learn or practice. With raised eyebrows, Callie swiftly asks, “Can we learn ways to take down larger opponents? Being small kind of… sucks.” She giggles and ducks her head, as she thinks of all her bigger cousins. It would be good to know how to bring them down… if she needed to.


"Caladia Carpathius"

Oh yeah, Kip’s feeling pretty proud of himself after that successful attack.  Between the glare of his sister and the praise of their aunt his chest was proudly puffed up.  Caly gets a smug victory grin before his attention shifts to his aunt again.  What did he want to learn?  Caly’s response was bigger enemies and that made sense.  

“Fast fights also,” Kip had to put his own bit.  “I want to know how to win as quickly as possible.”  Kip wouldn’t admit it but he was aware of areas that would be harder on him than some.  He’d be an excellent fighter someday but in his own way.  Tight pivoting and spinning about would be harder on him than some enemies.  “So, best spots to bite I guess, or whatever.”

"Kipling Carpathius"