Avantika was well known for always finding something to do. She was a hard-working wolf to her core, sure, but she was doing something different and more relaxing -- mostly -- than her usual patrols today: cleaning muddy pawprints from the padded floor in the dojo. They were her fault, so she figured she ought to clean them up. She'd gone in to try training with the wooden swords that hung on the walls. She'd played around with them a bit before, but never seriously. Weapons had always just felt kind of awkward to her, so she preferred using her own teeth to attack. But she'd seen quite a few wolves now using weapons so surely it wasn't that bad of an idea; she'd just have to work at learning to use them properly and then maybe find or craft one of her own. She could get a sword, but that felt kind of basic. Maybe she could fashion something to put over her nails or teeth. Or her tail? She almost laughed at the mental image of swinging her tail around to attack someone. She didn't even know if her tail had enough force and speed to both carry and do damage with a metal blade, but it was a fun concept.

This was what she was thinking about as she mopped the floor, a towel already on the floor beside her to use when she was done and needed to dry up the water.

"Speech"

It was no secret that Bramble was growing more and more interested in fighting lately. Any chance she had that wasn't spent bothering someone or exploring the castle, she was trying to sneak into the gardens to practice her skills. This time though, the gardens didn't feel good enough. She wanted to be like her dad and be able to use a sword! How else would she end up as skilled as he if she didn't start now? Knowing that the armory was off limits, Bramble quietly made her way to the dojo. At least the padded room with only wooden swords would be safe enough for her to practice. Right?

As she approached, she noticed the door was already open. Peeking her head inside, she smiled as she noticed Avantika doing something to the mats. Her tail wagged excitedly as she bounded over to her aunt. "Tika!" Bramble exclaimed as she fought to keep herself upright on the slippery mats. "Whoa, almost fell," her eyes widened as she let out a laugh. Finally reaching Tika, she looked up at the larger woman with a wagging tail and wiggling body. "Can I help?" She asked as her smile widened, hoping she could assist in whatever it was she was doing.

Bramble Carpathius

As Avantika continued mopping the floor, one of Art and Briar's pups tumbled inside, nearly slipping on the wet mats and laughing. Avantika laughed a little too, and affectionately said, letting the wooden handle of the mop droop in her jaws, "Careful!" The pup -- Bramble -- hadn't actually fallen and, of course, wouldn't have been hurt even if she had, but the overprotective aunt that Avantika was still felt some relief when she kept bounding up to her as if nothing had been askance. The kid's very body was wiggling with the force of her tail wagging as she asked what she could do to help. Avantika hummed. She had been intending to mop the floor alone, and really didn't need another set of paws, but she felt wrong telling the little girl that she didn't actually need her when she seemed so excited to be able to help. "Can you take that towel," she suggested, gesturing to it with a paw. "and use it to dry up all the water?"

"Speech"