The beach was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of the waves and the occasional cry of a seagull. The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden hue over the sand, illuminating it in a soft, autumnal light. The sky above was a vivid blue, its color deepening as the sun cleared its apex. All in all, it was a very pleasant day for training. While Talyssa had never been much of a fighter herself in practice, she did have a sound knowledge basis that she was more than happy to share with anyone who was interested in it. And for this particular outing, it just so happened to be her cousin, Caladia. But with the talk of an outing to the beach, her aunt Fern had expressed interesting in coming along to observe- and of course, the welcome was extended for her to join.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the familiar shoreline. The sand was cool beneath their feet, a stark contrast to the warmth of the sun on their skin. Taking a moment to pause and soak in the serene beauty of the beach, Talyssa couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her. She loved it here. Though when it came to finding a good place for a self-defense lesson. there were plenty of options. "I think this is good enough for our little lesson. What do you say?” She asked her cousin with a brightened grin.

"Talyssa Carpathius"

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The beach that the castle butts up against has always been beautiful and the fact that the small group are going down to have a fighting lesson on the golden sands, delights the young girl. Talyssa is a wonderful teacher and Callie is thankful that her smart cousin has agreed to teach her a few things about fighting. While she has been training with her uncle to better her sword skills, the girl knows that is also important to learn how to take care of herself without a weapon.

The cool sand tickles her paw pads and draws a smile from the girl as she travels with Taly and her mother, eager to begin the promised lesson. As the group pulls to a stop, Caladia allows her gaze to rove over the beach, admiring the way the water seems to glow in the afternoon light. Taly’s words pull the girl’s attention to fawn spotted woman and she nods enthusiastically in agreement, saying, “Yes, yes!” Paws excitedly tap the ground and, while she is no longer a puppy, the girl often finds that she has a hard time containing her excitement.


"Caladia Carpathius"

Fern happily treks with Talyssa and Caladia down to the beach, the wonderful day simply too nice to pass up. While Rudyard and Kipling had returned home, the news of her boy wishing to strike out on his own, has sent her into a spiral. The woman needs to get out of the castle and this seems like the perfect opportunity.

Paws crunch the golden granules as they go and she enjoys the warmth that the sun has to offer them. Taly eventually pulls the group to a stop and turns to them, suggesting that this place was good to do their lesson. A gentle laugh fills the air as Callie excitedly agrees and she dips her head in acknowledgement before folding her haunches.

Coming to sit lightly upon the chilly sand, Fern wraps her tail around her hip and turns her focus on the teacher, respectfully giving the young woman her full attention. While this may be Caladia’s lesson, the older woman will never pass up a chance to brush up on her fighting knowledge. After all, the only time you stop learning is when you die.


"Fern Carpathius"

As the sun began its downward trek across the sky, Haydée set out from Ethne toward the Hallows in the hopes of visiting her mother. Steps are light as she quickly marches across the golden sand, tail slowly wagging behind her because she is happy. The day is wonderful and her mother and Gav would be returning home to Ethne soon! What did she have to be unhappy about?

Voices from up ahead have her pawsteps faltering a moment but, as the scent of Hallows wolves reaches her nose, the young Leader quickly picks up her pace. Arriving as the words of a lesson are spoken, Haydée joyfully bounces toward trio, calling out, “Excuse me! Would you mind if I join in the lesson? My name is Haydée Kedieo and I am the Leader of Ethne. I promise to be very quiet.”

Tail wags behind her as she casts her emerald gaze around the group, hoping they will accept her into their fold.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Art by Moonfin

Talyssa's gaze shifted towards the approaching figure, a hint of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. She had heard of Haydée Kedieo, the young Leader of Ethne, but had never met her in person. The request to join their lesson caught Talyssa off guard, but she couldn't help but be intrigued by the wolf's enthusiasm and polite demeanor. A smile tugged at the corners of Talyssa's lips as she responded, "Of course, Haydée! We'd be delighted to have you join us.” She gestured for the young leader to come closer, making room in their little circle on the beach. "We were just about to begin practicing some self-defense techniques. It's always good to be prepared.”

Once Haydée had a moment to settle in, Talyssa began. "When it comes to self-defense, there are several crucial elements that everyone should be aware of. The first and most important aspect is awareness and observation skills. It is essential to always be aware of your surroundings and trust your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut and get out of the situation as quickly as possible. Being proactive and avoiding potential danger is always the best course of action.” It was a lesson she had learned from her father at an early age, and seemed fitting to add to her own version of the retelling. "But assuming we are beyond prevention and actively engaged with someone, there are still key techniques to remember. The first is maintaining balance at all times.” As she speaks, she makes an obvious demonstration by widening her stance. "This reactive stance is crucial in defending oneself against physical attacks. There are several benefits. But it will help keep you upright, and able to move quickly when you need to.” There were many other reasons worth mentioning, but she was trying to keep her little crash course as stream-lined as possible.

Transitioning to her next bit of information was seamless. “It's crucial to always stay one step ahead of your opponent in a fight. The key is to not get caught off guard, which is where quick thinking and nimble feet come into play. Evading an attack should always be your first instinct, if possible. A swift side step can quickly move you out of harm's way while still maintaining your balance and keeping you close enough for a counter attack.” As she spoke, Talyssa did her best to demonstrate the strategy of evasion. Showcasing short choppy footwork with the mindset of covering ground in a way that maintained her defenses, but still was effective at covering distance. "You try.” She looked at Caladia with a brightened grin, but shifted her attention to Haydée once again in case she wanted to participate.

"Talyssa Carpathius"

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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"

Fern sits on the chilly sand, a happy smile on her lips as a young woman approaches them. At the introduction, the gray woman dips her head agreement and stands, moving along with the others to make room for Haydée to join them. Talyssa is a natural born teacher and the lesson she presents is clear and an extremely important one for all wolves to know. Blue eyes look over the two girls as her niece speaks, noting the way they both seem to be enthralled with the what Taly has to say.

A bright smile is on her lips as she looks to the smart Carpathius young woman and fans out with the other two students to practice their balance while dodging. With an ease born from years of rigors practice, Fern settles easily into her defensive stance. Usually she has Lark’s Song clutched in her maw but the woman also knows how to move without her trusty sword. Then, without a word, the woman nimbly dodges, maintaining her balance with the ease of a dancer.

The woman does not do it to show off but to show her support of Talyssa and the young woman’s willingness to teach all those who approach her. A warm smile is on her lips.


"Fern Carpathius"

The group, thankfully, accepts her into their ranks, and Haydée does not waste a moment joining their small circle. Enthusiasm colors her emerald gaze as she watches the teacher, wishing to make a good impression on the others since this is their first-time meeting. Not wanting to interrupt the lesson for trivial matters such as knowing the other’s names, the young Leader decides to wait until after the group activity is done to get to know them a little better.

All, the information that the pale girl offers is important and she nods eagerly wherever a natural pause occurs. When they shuffle away slightly to put theory into action, Haydée mirrors the other two and settles into her defenses. One by one, they each dodge an imaginary attack and she is no different, making a short, choppy attempt sidestep an unseen attack while keeping her defenses up. With that done, she looks to the teacher, tail wagging slowly behind her as she waits for the lesson to continue.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Art by Moonfin

Talyssa observed with satisfaction as each member of their impromptu training session absorbed and applied the self-defense principles she had outlined. Caladia's eager attempt at evasion brought a proud smile to her face, confirming that the lesson was resonating. Fern's graceful maneuver demonstrated the fluidity of experience, and even Haydée, the youngest girl, displayed a promising aptitude for the techniques. "Excellent, Caladia! You've got the right idea,” Talyssa praised, her tail giving a subtle wag of approval. "Remember, the key is to make those movements second nature, almost instinctual. You're off to a great start.” Turning her attention to Haydée, Talyssa nodded with encouragement. "Well done, Haydée! Keep at it, and you'll be untouchable in no time. Now, let's delve a bit deeper. The next crucial element in self-defense is understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent. Knowing how to exploit vulnerabilities can be a game-changer.”

Talyssa paced a few steps, gesturing for everyone to gather closer. "Each opponent has patterns and tendencies. Study those. If you can predict their movements, you can react more effectively. For example, if you notice an opponent consistently favoring one side, you can use that information to your advantage during an encounter.” Talyssa continued her lesson, demonstrating various techniques for exploiting an opponent's weaknesses. She showed them how to use an opponent's momentum against them and the importance of keeping a safe distance while still maintaining control of the situation.

As the impromptu self-defense lesson neared its conclusion, Talyssa felt a sense of fulfillment watching her companions absorb and apply the principles she had shared. After a few more demonstrations and practice runs, Talyssa called for a break. "Nicely done, ladies,” Talyssa commended, her voice carrying a genuine tone of pride. "Remember, self-defense is not just about physical strength but also about outthinking your opponent. Understanding their patterns and weaknesses gives you a strategic advantage ... It's kind of like a dance of both body and mind.” She glanced around at the trio, acknowledging each participant with a nod. "Thank you all for joining me out here, maybe we can have another practice again some time.”

With that, Talyssa took a step back, allowing the group to disperse or linger as they pleased. The lesson might have been impromptu, but it was certainly productive!

"Talyssa Carpathius"

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At Talyssa’s praise, Caladia’s face lights up and her tail wags happily behind her. Head bobs in acknowledgement, absorbing all the information that her cousin has to offer as they continue. The trio listen, practice, and delve into topics that the youth has only skimmed over briefly before. She gives her rapt attention, joyfully practicing stances when offered and discussing tactics as they are laid out before her. With each passing moment, her knowledge is broadened and she savors the thought of becoming a better fighter. Mismatched eyes sparkle with awe as the lesson moves on and she hopes that they all can get together soon to have another one.

The impromptu self-dense lesson eventually draws to a close and Callie feels fulfilled but sad that this has to end. Again, she is praised and the girl beams at Taly, saying, “Well, we had a great teacher!” More things to think about are offered and she nods eagerly, ready to apply the experience she gained here to the lessons she has been receiving from her uncle. Taly takes a step back and Caladia bounces forward to her cousin, offering a warm hug as she says, “Thanks Taly! You are the best. Will you teach us more… soon?” Eyes are alight with happiness as releases her cousin and turns, gazing at the others as she waits to hear what they think.


"Caladia Carpathius"

Fern dips her head in a small bow to Talyssa as she instructs them and a soft, warm smile never leaves her lips. The lesson moves on smoothly with the young woman easily steering the group from one topic to the next with hardly a pause. She participates fully, offering ideas where the other two may stall and practicing stances beside them. The two, younger woman seem eager to learn and she is happy to be there as a sounding board. It is informative and Taly’s ability to teach is put on full display for them.

As the lesson draws toward its conclusion, Fern watches as the two girls swarm their teacher, stifling a laugh as she beams at Taly. When Talyssa is free, she steps forward and dips her head in appreciation as she says, “Thank you Talyssa. You have wisdom beyond your years.” And offers the young woman a hug. Stepping pack, she casts her blue gaze over the group and says, “Well! That was an amazing lesson but I beat you guys are hungry! What do you say we all go up to the castle and get some snacks?” Eyes dance as her idea is met with enthusiasm from both Callie and Haydée and she laughs joyfully.


"Fern Carpathius"

Haydée has always been an eager student and the fact that she is allowed to participate in an impromptu lesson, has her eager to prove just how seriously she takes this. At the praise, she flushes with pride and her small chest sticks out slightly as she nods vigorously at Taly’s words. They lesson moves on and she gives her undivided attention, offering ideas and thoughts to the group as they go. Stances are practiced, ideas shared, and thoughts offered as they go.

The lesson draws to a close and Haydée looks at the group, saying, “Thanks for letting me join! I would love to do this again.” Eyes sparkle as she looks at them, grateful for this opportunity. After hugs are offered, food is brought up and she joyfully says, “I would love that! I’m going to visit my mom too!” Happily, she bounces along with the group as they turn toward the castle.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Art by Moonfin