Joined: Jul 19, 2009
Posts: 40
Location: Minden, LA
Status: Offline
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Malc ran his hands over his coat as he walked towards the front door, looking over the fine details of his attire as he moved to exit the house. It was the first time he'd really paid attention to the clothing in years, the first time he'd been able to. Underneath the coat was a suit of equally well made chainmail, which made practically no sound as he walked. It was his first time out of the room since the procedure, and when he stepped out onto the porch, the sun burned his eyes more then a little. He raised a hand to shield himself from the light as he looked around, taking the yard in.
The sun cast shadows over the backyard of the house, which was where Okami sat sharpening a long dagger with a worn hilt. The smooth stone in her hand made the blade ring as she drew it across the edge. Her legs stretched out in front of her as she leaned against the side of the house, wearing fitted brown leather pants and a loose blue linen shirt that set off her hair hanging out her hat which was in a single braid hanging over her shoulder. She was watching idlely as Tokon's dog wandered the backyard sniffing about, he had probably smelled her friends sometime ago. She glanced up just a little as she heard the front door open, but ignored it for the moment continuing to sharpen the blade.
Malc walked the length of the porch, running his hand along the rail and admiring the sight of his surroundings. He took in the sky above, the ground below, and everything else. With a content sigh, Malc walked down the steps slowly, one by one, and turned his attention to the scraping sound of a blade running across a stone. Malc glanced over to the woman sitting against the house, and began to approach. It was his first time seeing the person, but something about her was..familiar. By the time he'd gotten close, he knew who it was he was looking at. Or he thought so, at least. "Okami?"
Okami smiles just a little as she tilts her head to glance up at the previously blind man. "Yes, Malc?" The familiar, Saldean accent floats to him. She peers at him through the veil she'd grown so used to wearing lately. Occasionally though she wished the world weren't so brown looking. "Are you feeling better? Did it work?" She had halted the stone against the blade and let them rest in her lap, unconciously she reaches up to see if the top of her shirt was buttoned properly.
Malc almost laughed, relieved to finally put a face to the voice. As much as a face he could see, at least. The veil registered as a little bit odd, considered the rest of the womans attire, but he paid it little mind. "I am, and it did. Things are a little..different." His vision when he woke up during the night had been astounding, but colors came and went, and he found shadows dancing into his vision from time to time. "But it did work. I'm still getting used to seeing everything again, instead of just hearing. You and Kaitrine are the only ones I've talked to since waking up. It's nice to actually see you for a change." He grinned and ran a hand through his loose hair, and took another long look around, enjoying seeing the sun again instead of just feeling it's warmth.
"Good." Okami's smile broadens as the man laughs. "You look well, Malc. I'm glad for you." Reaching over, she slips the stone into a small pack that sat next to her. The dagger lay across her thigh. "I'm sure Kaitrine is happy that her venture has shown achievement." She still tilts her head to look at him for a moment more, before standing to look him over. "What do you plan to do now? Still going to the borderlands, I hope?"
Malc nods, his smile never leaving his face. "That's the plan. Tokon has the means to get me there and back quickly, and it's a trip I must make. I must find Lord Jagad and report back to him. I'm not sure what good it will do, but he needs to know I'm still alive. It's not something I feel I can tell in a letter." It wouldn't be fair to deliver such news in a letter, not considering how much time the two had spent together during Malc's time on the Watch. His hand casually drifted across the hilt of his sword. It had been Lord Agelmar Jagad who'd put him on the path of the blade. "I've got much to thank him for before I return here, or where ever Kaitrine's training will take me. I know you're original goal was to head north. Will you be going with me?"
Okami seems to think for a moment as she places the dagger in a sheath at her belt. "I suppose I may... but haven't decided whether or not I'll return with you. It's different down here." She looks off into the distance as she thinks about it for a moment more. "Though the prospect of dealing with Tokon's ability is not very thrilling." She frowns a little thinking on it more, but eventually shrugs and returns her attention to Malc. "Will you return to the Watch?"
Malc let his hand fall away from the sword hilt, and shrugged as he crossed his arms. "I was born to lead armies into battle, but I cannot return to the Watch. Not now, at least. My place is with Kaitrine, and I intend to stay true to my word. I do not know where this will take me, only time will tell..Hopefully not far away from my friends, though. I've spent enough time away from people as it is." Malc looked to the sky, staring off at nothing. "Two paths pulling me in two different directions..One thing at a time though. One at a time.." Finally, he seemed to snap of out his trance, and returned his eyes to Okami. "Alika and Tokon tell me grave things, Okami. They tell me in the years I've been gone, the end of this world as we know it has gotten closer. I don't know what you have in the Borderlands, but now isn't a time to be alone, on the road or anywhere else. I would like it if you'd return with me, but the decision is yours."
Okami looks him over considering him for a moment. "I'll think about it." She was never alone really, but people were still an odd thing for her. Despite the attraction to lose herself in the wolf, something about her humanity always seemed to tug her back. "The Borderlands just feels like home to me. Though I suppose home is where you are in the Pattern... It is nice to be able to share with someone, like you can with Kaitrine though. It would seem this ordeal with your father and his eyes has brought the two of you closer." Before she'd imagined they might have been brother and sister if not for the obviousness of it. "I may come back with you... the thought of being among my friends is nice."
"That would be good. Dark times are coming, it seems. Best to keep friends close on days like these." Something nagged at Malc about the woman, something he couldn't quite pin down. Something was..odd. "You know, for many years I wore a blindfold, I had something to hide. I didn't want to scare people, or shock them by walking down the streets with empty eye sockets exposed. It was a gruesome sight, so I covered up." Malc tilted his head to one side, eyeing the veil. "Kaitrine has seen the worst of me, the lowest point of my life I've ever fallen to. I was surprised when she didn't reject me for what I hid under the blindfold. During that time though, I understood that I was hiding. If you don't mind me asking, what are you hiding?"
Okami peered at him, cautiously through the veil. Her silence stayed, letting in the sound of the morning birds as she tried to decide what to tell him. A simple face deformity wouldn't stop his prying and she would not result to sheer vanity. Perhaps just the mystery of herself? Her lips purse as she considers the man, still undecided as how to answer him and her arms fold under her breasts. Finally, she speaks but her voice is a little quieter. "I don't mean to offend you Malc, but through my years I've developed a hard time trusting people. I'd rather not talk about it. I'm sorry."
Malc had spent a long time seeing nothing, and now he saw things most would never look for. Either way, he wouldn't press it. "I understand. Some subjects never become easy to speak of. As far as trusting people goes..well, it's an odd world we live in. You never know who to trust. I just learned that lesson again myself." A memory of his father popped into mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Malc figured it was best to change the subject up. "You know, I sincerely wish I could have packed up my setup back at the shop and carried it with me. A lot of work went into that practice yard, and now it would do me more good then ever. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to build all of that with no bloody eyes to see what you're doing."
Okami points to the back yard, "Well... Alika had Tokon build her a practice yard in the back. I'm sure she wouldn't object to you using it." She turns just a little beckoning for him to follow as she moves from the side to the back of house. "It's good that you kept practicing when you couldn't see. I've known some that would probably just give up." She glances back to him just a little, her eyes holding high appraisal. "It's very admirable of you. Even some Watchmen I've met would likely give up thinking themselves useless."
Malc looks to the back yard, taking a few steps to get a full view of it. It was an impressive set up, far better than what he'd strapped together back in Caemlyn. "I've spent the better part of my life with a blade in my hands. Even without my eyes, I held on to hope that as long as I could use my sword, I'd never truly be dead, even though I felt as such sometimes." He'd been so close before he lost his eyes..So close to the point of mastering the blade that Lord Jagad had made more mention then one of a Heron. It had all been lost. "Many years ago, I started down a path with this blade. I'd be failing more then myself if I had given it up." He looks back to Okami, wishing he could see through the veil. "I thank you for your words. It was never an easy thing, but it had to be done." The swordsman turned his attention back to the yard, and gave an approving nod. "That will surely do the job, I think."
Okami smiles at his pleasure of seeing the yard. "Good. Perhaps I'll watch a little. Alika is still asleep. Tokon and Kieryn have already left for the morning, I believe Kieryn took Galamos with her." She shrugs a little, glancing across the yard where she'd watched Alika practice before. Reaching up, she pushed her braid back over her shoulder and stretches a little as if opening her arms for the sun light.
Malc makes a circuit around the practice yard, taking note of the sparring area in the center. He noted a nearby shed, and approached it. Inside was a collection of lathes and staves of all shapes and sizes. Rummaging through the collection for a moment, he found a nice lathe that would require two hands, like his own weapon. The weight and length felt right, so he rested it across his shoulder and stepped outside, moving to the sparring area. "Well, I'll not be fooled by gender or looks, friend. It was you who chased my father down and finished the deed, so you must know how to use those knives you carry quite well." His smile faded and his features took on a more serious, determined look. "You say you have a hard time trusting people. A wise individual once told me you can learn everything you need to know about a person when you lock blades with them. Perhaps you'd like to get to know me better?" Malc set the lathe to the side and unbuttoned his coat, discarding it outside the circle. He paid no attention to the dirt it fell in, when most would never even own such an expensive coat. He discarded the chainmail next, leaving him in just his breeches and a sleeveless shirt. He returned to the center of the circle and picked the lathe up, slingig it back over his shoulder. "Besides, I believe the knife is well sharpened now."
Okami opened her eyes wider in surprise as she watched him. He was direct and strong, she could see why Kaitrine liked him. She glanced down at the dagger at her hip before looking back up at Malc, she was standing at the edge of the sparring pit. "I don't think that's such a good idea, Malc." She folds her arms infront of her and tilts her head to the side. Her lips purse just a little as she considers him and her face is placid, neither smiling nor frowning. "You've just regained your sight, I wouldn't want to hurt you. Maybe after you've gotten used to your eyes again and you've recovered from your Healing well enough." The wind blows against her blue shirt pressing it to one side of her body, the other side whips a little as it kicks up.
Malc the same gust of wind caught Malc's long hair, blowing it free from his face. His icy blue eyes stared across the yard at Okami, a determined grin spreading across his face. "My eyes work, and if I can stand, I can fight." He still felt a bit of weakness from the healing, but he'd fought battles in far worse condition. "I would consider it an insult if you didn't take me up on my offer. Besides, there are three people at this house that have the ability to heal wounds. I'm sure you won't do anything to me that can't be undone." He gave a small wink, and dropped the lathe from his shoulder to chest level, holding the blade at an angle. "Let us see if these eyes do any good, shall we?"
Okami licked her lips hesitantly, "I'm really not sure this would be a good idea..." Despite her words she did step past the ringed edge of the pit a little closer. A worry in the back of her thoughts was growing. 'What if the wolf comes? What if I lose control? I could kill him if I lost control...' She put her hands up in kind of a holding fashion, "Perhaps later... I'm sure Galamos would like to have the first go at you anyway." She watched him carefully, "You might want to warm up on some of the other equipment."
Malc frowned, not sure how to take being discarded like a broken toy. A good spar was never turned down, back in Fal Dara. "One hundred gold marks says I'll put you on your rump. You weren't there, but Galamos and I sparred. Before I had my eyes back. Have you noticed that scar on his head?" The determined grin returned, and he gripped the wooden lathe even tigher, and advanced forward a step. "When you sleep at night expecting a Fade or Gray Man to break your door down at any moment, you never need a warm up."
"I was there. You fought well, but I'm not certain it wasn't luck. You took a good beating before your victory." Okami started circling him slowly, there was only the faintest of a grin behind her serious expression. "Kaitrine would never forgive me if I hurt you right after you'd been Healed." The very tip of her steel bracer reflected the light dully from beneath her sleeve. She wasn't sure whether or not she was provoking him into attacking her... Also she wasn't sure whether or not she was doing it intentionally at this point. "Besides I wouldn't feel comfortable taking your coin, only to be able to blame it on the Healing anyway."
Malc matched Okami's circling movements, remaining in place but turning as she did. His feet slid across the hard-packed dirt, never leaving the ground. His lathe began to weave back and forth in front of him, seemingly ready to deflect any oncoming attacks, even though Okami presented none at the moment. His eyes narrowed as the blade dipped back and forth, and he continued to turn. "Do you hesitate in an attempt to throw me off balance..or.." The determined grin turned into one a bit more sinister. "Perhaps you're afraid to find out what this weakend body can really do?"
"No, Malc... I really am concerned about your health." Okami's hands were still out infront of her, she estimated if he attacked she'd have time to move and draw the blade if she needed. Her eyes narrowed as the blade moved though, hands up in a defensive posture rather than a surrender. She lowered herself, bending her knees as she circled with him. Her footsteps not making any sound on the packed dirt as she moved.
Malc knew there was some truth to her words, but he'd proven people wrong before. He intended to today as well. "You'll not draw your weapon, I see.." Malc suddenly lowered the lathe, letting it fall to the ground. "During my time in Fal Dara, I met an interesting man that traveled with odd company. He was the first Aiel I'd ever laid eyes on. He taught me that not every weapon had a blade on it." Malc raised his hands before his face, open with his fingers slightly curved. "Perhaps if you won't draw a weapon against me, you'll use the ones you already have." In the blink of an eye, Malc sprang forward. All the grace of movement he'd learned in the Borderlands came rushing back. He cleared the distance in a fraction of a second, throwing his right hand forward in a chopping motion, aimed for the side of Okami's head.
Okami didn't blink when Malc moved. "Mal..." She didn't finish as she bent backwards and to the side. When she turned her head to look up, she could feel the wind from his hand across the top of her nose. Placing a hand to the ground, she rolls her hips over and swings her leg around to sweep his feet from under him.
Malc jumps straight up, clearing Okami's leg just a moment before it would have sent him to the ground. He skipped back a few steps, allowing Okami to regain her footing. "I was created to be a weapon in this world. I was shaped and formed in battle. You wish to know more about me? You want to know if I can be trusted? Come then, my friend. Learn what you need to know." He would have been disappointed if his first attack had landed. The woman before him would not be a pushover, and now he was sure he would not be underestimated. Malc's hands raised before his face again, his feet spread out and locked in place.
Okami's leg continued it's spin as she stood fluidly in the turn. "Fine then..." There was a grin more evident on her lips. She raises her chin toward the discarded lathe. "You might need that." Her stance was angled towards him, and despite her hands hanging loosely at her sides she still felt ready as she watched him. Knees slightly bent, ready to move as she waited on him.
"We shall see." Seeing Okami make no move for a weapon of her own, Malc surely wouldn't touch the sword. Instead, he renewed his assault and lunged forward again, this time stopping just short of Okami and kicking straight out, aiming the bottom of his boot directly for the center of her chest.
Okami bends backward again, this time both hands go with her finding the ground behind. Her feet follow going over her head and landing on the ground that was behind her. She lunges forward, herself as Malc recovers from the kick, swinging her left fist at the side of Malc's head. Her other fist trails behind ready to follow the first with a lower shot to his stomach.
Malc throws his own left hand up, quickly blocking the shot to his head. Somehow, he doesn't register the second blow quick enough. Okami's second attack hits home, a powerful blow he wouldn't have expected from the woman. The shot to the stomach took his breath away for a moment, but he refused to lose his pace. With his hand that blocked the first attack, he quickly jabbed at Okami's throat. His right hand jumped forward in an attempt to seize Okami's wrist of the hand that had hit him in the stomach. She was quick, perhaps too much so to catch, but he had to try.
Okami's high hand comes down to parry the shot to her throat as she dodges her head in the opposite direction. She feels Malc's fingers close around her other wrist and as his other hand retreats, she opens her palm and strikes at the center of his chest. She had expected him to be challenging, she was still afraid how her instinct would respond though. As the fought, her senses heightened taking in the sounds he made and his scent.
Malc accepts the blow to the chest, in no position to dodge or block it while he holds Okami's wrist. The impact from the blow takes him back and step, but his grip tightens on her wrist. He throws himself backwards, using the momentum of her blow as he falls to the ground and jerks as hard as he can on Okami's wrist, hoping to throw her overhead and to the ground. She was quick, and he knew that there was a good chance she'd land on her feet. His best option, however, was his strength.
A glimmer of surprise as Okami feels herself being pulled forward, she'd thought he'd sacrifice his hold on her to keep his feet. As she adjusted to the downward lead, her wrist twisted in his grip and she tries to pull the edge of her wrist through his fingertips. The other hand is her lead as it makes contact with dirt beyond him as she prepares to roll when she hits the ground.
Malc feels Okami slip free from his grasp, and makes no attempt to regain his hold. As Malc lands solidly on his back, brings his knees to his chest and launches himself back to his feet, spinning to face the woman as she rolls. He falls back into his defensive position, open hands floating before his face, and crouches slightly. He was tall, and he knew his height gave his opponent more room to hit him, so he did his best to minimize it. "Tell me, friend, do you still think I'm too weak from the Healing for this?"
Okami stood up facing Malc at the end of her roll that could've been considered graceful. Her hands were up and opened defensively, her body turned slightly to the side as she faced him. "No, Malc I guess not." The grin was on her lips, though her eyes never lost focus of her opponent. "I think not. You'll give Galamos quite a problem now, I believe." Thought of losing control of herself were gone now. "I've also heard of your theory of knowing someone in battle. I don't think I can do that unless you're in your element..." She glances down at the lathe that was at her feet now. The tip of her foot catches it and brings it up into her hand. "Lets see who you are." She tosses him the blade, lofting it a little toward him. She waits only a moment to draw her blade and charge at him, the lathe would reach him a few moments before she got ther. Her dagger was layed down the length of her forearm, ready to brush past the lathe with her bracer and make a slash for his tricep.
Malc blinked. In the time it took his eyelids to shut and reopen, Okami was at him. He snatched the lathe out of the air, but knew he couldn't level it in time to block the attack. Determined to try anyway, he brought the lathe forward, only to have it knocked to the side by the bracer. Exposed, with the dagger reaching for him, Malc danced backwards until he was out of ranged and planted his feet once more. Okami's hesitation was gone. He renewed his own attack just as soon as he fell back, delivering a series of powerful stabs and thrusts, hoping to supress Okami with the strength of the blows, if nothing else.
Okami turned to face him after she passed him with the blade. She saw the lathe coming at her and gave ground as she backed up. Parrying with her bracers and the dagger, dodging what she could. Sharp eyes watching the small muscles twitch in his arms to see if they would telegraph some of the movements.
Malc continues his assault, lathe working back and forth through a series of swiping motions, with a jab thrown in here and there. Okami had parried the blows from the beginning of his assault, and Malc was biding his time with these, seeing just how well the woman would hold up against the strength of the blows. He attempted to force Okami back, taking a step forward with each renewed swing.
Okami is focused on deflecting and dodging the attacks from the much longer weapon. She is relaxed and fluid with her movements, the longish dagger weaving in the air shaving off thin layers of wood from the practice weapon. As Malc moves in for a forward thrust, she swings her bracer hard up and to the side into the lathe and she ducks and rolls in the opposite direction. In the middle of the roll she drew a dagger and threw. As it spun toward him, it was aimed to hit his thigh with the hilt.
Malc spins with the momentum of his wooden blade being knocked to the side, making a complete circle as Okami rolled away. He angled the lathe down as he completed his spin, and the hilt of the dagger connected with the damaged lathe, sending a large crack down the already damaged piece of wood. He drew the lathe back up, angled in front of him in a defensive posture. "You're going to destroy this poor weapon before I ever have the chance to hit you with it, aren't you?" Not waiting for a reply, Malc rushes forward and dives at the moving Okami with a powerful overhead swing.
Kaitrine steps around the corner of the house, keeping her distance, watching quietly as Malc runs at Okami. She's wrapped in a fairly warm looking sweater, and moves to sit on a nearby bench. She'd a thought that she needed to learn to keep herself calm, and that this might be a way to do so.
"You're the one that decided to use that instead of a blade..." Okami's voice fluctuates a little as her stomach tightens to control the roll. She could hear Malc's rush for her and kept her momentum, rolling to the left before standing from the initial vault away. Her movements kept a tight circle as she spun up from the second move, her leg sweeping in a large arc, foot moving in for the side of his head.
Malc dropped down low, very narrowly avoiding the kick. It had been a battle of incredibly close calls for the two, and Malc didn't regret making the challenge for a second. As he dropped down to one knee, he lashed out with the beaten lathe, aiming for the single leg that Okami stood on as her other soared over him.
Kaitrine bit at her bottom lip, hands settling at the edge of the bench as she watches Malc and Okami. Maybe it was easier, because she trusted Okami, trusted that this was just a spar and the Saldaean woman wasn't actually trying to hurt Malc.
Okami was grinning as she fought, the thrill of fighting was with her as instinct took over. It was a different instinct though, pure and calm unlike the feral rage that took her when she chased down Trell. Hands still up, the dagger laying down the lenght of her forearm to hold her balance. She could feel things slowing down for her as she focused, the keen mind of the wolf. She hadn't seen Kaitrine yet, but she could smell the light perfume drift over from the bench. She kept her leg rotating and jumped over the lathe, the foot she'd kicked with planting as the other leg rotated over the back of her heel following as she brought it down aiming for the top of Malc's head.
Malc began to rise as Okami continued the spin, bringing his lathe up to parry the kick, which it did. Okami's kick also snapped the lathe in half, and found it's mark across the top of Malc's skull. His rise was quickly countered, and he found the ground once again. He threw his legs over his head, rolling backwards and rising to his feet several paces away. The attack shook him, but by the time he came to his feet, Malc had retrieved a long-bladed knife of his own from under his coat. He gripped it tightly, the blade pointed away from his body, but not flat against his arm like his opponents. "I suppose that's what I get for counting on a piece of wood, hrm?" He takes another step back, weaving the knife back and forth in front of him, ready to block or lash out at a moments notice.
Kaitrine's knuckles go white as her hands grip to the edge of the bench where she sits, and she'd turned her head away before Okami's kick had hit Malc, shivering at the sound of the lathe snapping in half. She took a moment, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, in and out, trying hard to keep herself calm - and not yet seeing that both of them were using steel now.
"I suppose so..." Okami's sly grin still evident on her face. She moves in quick similar to how she had with Trell. Careful though as she moves, her thoughts focused on Malc's body language. Her bracer swung down to move Malc's blade away from her, the blade would follow shortly after to slice across his chest instead of his throat like she had made for Trell.
Malc jerked his upperbody backwards as his blade was knocked away, Okami's dagger narrowly missing his chest. As Okami's knife-arm swipes in front of him, Malc angles his own blade back around and lashes out, attempting to score a blow on the back of Okami's arm, close to the elbow. Knife fighting wasn't his strongest point, he knew he'd be outmatched in it, but he had other possibilities to fall back on of this plan of attack failed. It was only as he was leaning back and returning the attack that he noticed Kaitrine on the sidelines, clearly worried about their fight. Malc knew deep down that there was no need to worry. Cut they may be eventually, none of it would be lethal.
Okami had moved in to far into Malc's sight as she made her cut. She could feel the blade cut through the cloth and into her arm, causing her to growl sharply. Shifting her arm back into her body she whipped her hand to move around Malc's using the hilted end of the dagger to try and loop around his blade wrist and lock down on it.
Kaitrine looks back, trying very hard not to look upset. It was just a spar. She smiled towards Malc and Okami, though her hands still gripped tight to the edge of the bench. The smile actually touched her eyes when Okami growled, and she did start to relax a little bit, though biting her lip occasionally.
Malc planted his feet as Okami tangled her arm around his, making their blades practically useless. Neither would really be able to move the knives without putting themselves at a clear disadvantage. It was time to attempt to counter Okami's quickness with some power. One of his legs went forward, attempting to pass behind Okami's, and his free hand shot forward, aiming directly for her throat with the area between his thumb and index finger. If he succeeded, the force of the blow would knock her back, over his leg, and drive her down. It was his best bet, considering how close the two were.
Okami realized her mistake a little late. She had disabled the blades, but gotten herself in a tie up with a stronger opponent. Her mouth stayed shut and she dipped her chin forward as Malc moved into her. She could feel his leg reaching the back of her legs and she started to move like she was sitting to cushion her fall as she went. As she fell for him, it would cushion the blow to her throat moving with the force. Her free arm reached up and over Malc's forearm and she pulled her elbow into his to draw their elbows into her chest flat. If done right, he would still be ontop but he would fall with her instead of landing atop her.
The knives fell off to the side as Malc and Okami, arms tangled, fell to the ground. Malc landed on his knees, still atop Okami, but one arm was rendered useless from the hold. The other was free, but there was only so much he could do with it. Due to the hold, he couldn't reach up to get access to Okami's head or throat. His options were limited, so again he hoped to rely on his strength. Leaving his arm tangled with Okami's, he slipped the other under her, between her back and the ground, hoping to lift her directly up off of the ground, and into the air
Okami is a little surprised as she feels herself being lifted straight up, he was strong but both of her arms were mostly free. The arm she had trapped was still mostly around her throat. Reaching with the arm she was pinning him with, her fingers reached for his thumb to pull back from his hand. Her other free fist would be swinging as hard as she could for his chin.
Malc felt his thumb being forced back, nearly to the point of snapping. The sensation distracted him, and he didn't even seen the punch coming until it was too late. Okami's fist cracked against his chin, and he released his grip on her while she was still mid-air. The Swordsman stumbled backwards as he dropped Okami, trying to keep his footing. He was several steps back when he shook his head to clear the blurring, and quickly threw his hands up in front of him, ready for anything else Okami had in store. He still couldn't help but feel a little bit dazed. The woman hit like a charging Trolloc!
Okami let herself hit the ground and crouched as she watched Malc stumble back from her punch. She charged him again straight this time. With the wind in her face, she hadn't even realized the previous entanglement on the ground had knocked her hat from her head. The braid her hair had been in, had come loose red hair trailing behind her. When she reached him she moved for his forward wrist, reaching for his arm. Grabbing his wrist, she vaults past that side using her momentum to kick over his hoping to scissor it between her legs if he didn't duck in time and take him back to the ground.
As Okami grabs his wrist and launches herself past him, Malc finds himself in an unfortunate situation as her legs wrap around his head. He hits the ground again, although this time his positioning putting him at far less of an advantage. His arm still pulled above his head, which is trapped by Okami's legs. Malc reaches up with his free hand, grabbing Okami by one of the legs that was wrapped around his neck. He quickly located Okami's kneecap, and found what he was looking for. A pressure point that existed on both sides of the kneecap. Using his index finger and thumb, he dug in. Hard. If he wasn't going anywhere, neither was she.
Okami yelled as he gripped her knee, she held onto his arm but could feel her legs loosen from around his head. Swinging her hips she tried to jerk her leg away from his hand, while spinning over him to straddle his chest and keep hold of his arm.
Malc released Okami's leg as she swung onto his chest, still holding his arm all the while. It was the move he'd hoped she'd make, and it gave him one chance, he had to take. As she mounted his chest, he kicked straight up, aiming his boot for the back of Okami's head.
Okami cried out again as Malc's foot connected with the back of her head. It was enough force to project her forward ontop of Malc. She slumped dazed over top of him, though she still held tight to his arm as she thought that focus might be the only thing keeping her concious at the moment. She could see the dirt just above Malc's head as she lay forward over top of him, and she could feel him pressed tight into her as she held onto his arm with what she had. Struggling, she would eventually regain herself.
Malc considered trying to roll over and pin Okami to the ground, but he hesitated. He'd broken bones with kicks like that, and he was worried he may have crossed the line. Ignoring his trapped arm, he paused for a moment. "Are you alright? We'll prove nothing by killing each other today."
Okami merely grunts a little as she releases him, still dazed. She pushes herself up on her fists, lifting her chest off his face to look down at him for a moment. "You might have a point..." She sways still woozy for a moment. Letting herself back down on top of him, she rolls off of him to one side and lays on her back looking up at the sky. "I guess I shouldn't have been worried about hurting you." The Saldean accent comes out quiet, perhaps just a little weak.
Malc lets out a rough laugh, trying to catch his breath in between the outbursts. "If you decide not to come back after our trip to the Borderlands, I'll be hard pressed to find someone else I'd trust to watch my back." Malc sat up, favoring his arm, which had been in a rather uncomfortable position for quite a while. He glanced over at Okami, noting for the first time that her hat was gone. An eyebrow raised, but he said nothing of what he saw. "Today, I learned much. What about you? Did you learn anything of me?"
With closed eyes, Okami whispers to him. "That you can be trusted..." She turns her head toward him and opens her eyes looking into his. Honey golden eyes peer at him from her face now framed in her loose red hair. "I trust you to keep this. I've been chased from villages and towns by men with swords and arrows. On horse and foot. You know now and I'd hate to have to kill you because of it." She smiles at him, a mischevious grin on her lips. One of her throwing daggers had appeared in her hand, the tip tapped the inside of his leg. "I believe that I can trust you though."
Malc looked down to the dagger against his leg and grinned. "I've seen something similar, once before. You know as well as I do, in the Borderlands, wolves are a good sign." He threw a knowing wink, and pulled himself to his feet. He extended a hand to Okami once he'd regained his footing. "Nobody will be chasing you anywhere, if you plan on sticking around. Besides, where Kaitrine and I are going, she's going to be too busy with her studies to watch my back, so who else is going to do it?!" His grin looked as if it would split his face in two, an odd look for the normally stone-faced Shienaran.
"I suppose I could hang around to look after you. Light knows, you'll need someone after being coddled by her for so long. Don't think that I'll be such as she though." Okami grins and pushes the dagger back into her sleeve, before taking his hand and getting to her feet. She wavers a little and grabs onto his shoulder for support. A hand runs through her hair gingerly, touching on the back of her head. There would likely be a good bruise, but she didn't think anything was broken. "Good kick..." She murmurs for him to hear, though she was speaking to herself as well.
Malc reaches up to rub his chin, still incredibly sore. "Good punch. Never let anyone tell you you're not versatile in a fight. And that dagger you threw, broke the damn lathe clean in half." He glanced over to the discarded, and poorly shattered weapon. "You know, this isn't exactly how I planned my first venture outside the house, being able to see now..but I suppose it was better than walking around staring at clouds." Malc moves to retrieve Okami's hat, tossing it back to her as he goes to collect his chainmail and coat. "And with a trip to plan for today, too!"
Okami chuckles quietly as she catches the hat. Looking down at it, she turns it in her hands looking it over. With a small sigh at deciding she still felt the need to wear it, she dusts it off and replaces it leaving her hair unbound around her shoulders. Carefully she moves to where their blades had been lost and retrieves them, along with the dagger that had broken the lathe. "Well... I'm glad I could brighten your day." She smiles, eyeing him as she replaces her blades. "A trip with Tokon doesn't take very long, so I doubt we'll need too much planning." His blade is extended out toward him as she stands on the edge of the sparring grounds closest to the house.
Malc smooths his coat as he puts it back on, ignoring the heat from the spar. He took the knife from Okami and held the coat open, sticking it into a carefully placed fold, where several more of the knives could be seen, though they varied in size. "That's true. My old friend does have ways of getting us from A to B quickly. Well then, I suppose I'll go rouse him, then. Surprise him with the news! I'd bet he didn't plan on venturing to the Borderlands today." Malc chuckled as he began to approach the house, wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his fancy coat. "I do appreciate the good workout. Second time I've wielded a weapon against another person in years, I've missed it quite a bit." |
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