The Golden Coast

Callie looks to Talyssa, ready and eager to begin the lesson when another voice pulls her attention away. A female, introducing herself as Haydée, requests to join their little lesson and the hodgepodge-hued girl nods warmly, shuffling along with Talyssa and Fern to make room for the new comer. Once they are all settled, her cousin kicks off the lesson and Caladia gives Taly all of her attentiveness. Eyes slowly widen as the information is laid out and her head bobs every now and again. Balance is something she is keenly aware of since most of sword fighting is about being able to maintain control of a heavy object with simply your body.

Fern and Haydée stand with her and the other two move off a short way so that they all can practice balance without knocking into each other. Caladia spreads her front paws, making sure they are shoulder width apart before slowly settles her weight down over them. Talyssa is a great teacher, seamlessly integrating one piece of information to the next with barely a pause. Giving a demonstration of what she means, Taly then looks to her with the instructions to try it and Callie dips her head in agreement. Knees bend slightly as if she preparing to fight, body instinctively falling further into her stance without much thought.

Then, without a word, she shifts her weight, tossing her hips to the side to dodge an imaginary enemy that tries to strike her side. The movements are far from smooth but the intention is clear and the results unmistakable. Blinking, Callie looks to her cousin, tail slowly beginning to wag as she asks, “Like that?”


"Caladia Carpathius"