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Post by Isaiah on Jun 20, 2019 15:35:28 GMT -5
**Roughly sharpened wooden sticks fenced off a lopsided perimeter of Abbey grass. Around the "arena" was strewn various makeshift weapons: wooden swords, slingshots, and stale candied chestnuts. Two leaning dibbun dummies cast long shadows in the late afternoon sun, constructed of old pillows that had had all the feathers beaten out of them. Isaiah picked up a small wooden dagger, tossing it upwards by the blade, and then failing unceremoniously to catch it as it struck his footpaw with a resounding thunk. A hop, skip, and a dash of pain later the mouse sheepishly picked the weapon back up, hoping no one had seen his little dance of ineptitude.
A practice swing resulted in a satisfying swoosh as the wood cut through air in a dramatic fashion. Ordinarily, the mouse was more of a ranged fighter, but as an elite DAB soldier he had to brush up on a few of his less used areas of expertise. Now, where was his challenger?**
Ya there! I 'foughts we agreed t' dis!
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Post by Celebes on Jun 21, 2019 11:59:57 GMT -5
**Beside the sparring yard and growing somewhat into it, an alder tree hung its leafy limbs out to capture the sweet summer sunshine. On one of those boughs laid a squirrel, Dewbelle, splayed tummy down with her chin resting gently on the bark. With her paws hanging off on either side of the sturdy branch, she had been watching Isaiah for a little bit now. So far he hadn't done anything to make her want to change her mind and climb down.
The only reason she had dismissively agreed to this was because he had practically ambushed her this morning with a challenge, in the middle of a dorm filled with waking dibbuns. Any other time she would have said "no". Dewy was a fair weather DABer. She would go to their parties and games when they looked like fun, but when their activities sounded like drivel she always opted out. But this time, her pride got the better of her. She didn't want to look like a scaredy-squirrel in front of everybeast, and so she had reluctantly said she'd show up.
Well here she was. She was technically here, yeah? Maybe a few hops above where they agreed to meet, but still at the same longitude. She knew this wouldn't do, of course. Isaiah would let everybeast know she didn't show up, so she'd have to just figure out how to talk him out of this whole silly thing.**
Ya there! I 'foughts we agreed t' dis!
**The challenge surprised Dewbelle, and her startled spasm made her chin bonk hard against the branch. How'd he know she was there? She knew only squirrels ever looked up. Unsettling. But her faith in her theory was quickly restored when she saw he wasn't looking at her, but apparently just made a generic call out. It took a moment of soul searching, but she finally committed to an answer.**
I'm here, yeah? I a'ready know how to foight, so yous should just pack it up an' we can go do somethin' funner.
**Of course, when she said "we" she obviously didn't mean they'd go something fun together. No way. She wasn't about to hang out with him.**
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Post by Isaiah on Jul 15, 2019 15:33:21 GMT -5
**Isaiah found leaning against the fencing that encircled the arena rather difficult without receiving a painful splintering of wood. Giving up on assuming some cool position in which to await his opponent, Isaiah dropped to the ground, sitting with his legs crossed and tail twitching. Some part of Isaiah knew he should probably be warming up, giving his wooden implement a few more practice swings—but his pride caused him to wait impetuously. The haughty Dewbelle had to show up eventually, else she forfeited. For some reason that didn't seem like the sort of thing she would let go.**
I'm here, yeah? I a'ready know how to foight, so yous should just pack it up an' we can go do somethin' funner.
**Cocking his head upwards, Isaiah scanned the leafy foliage for some sign of the challengee. Unfortunately, the blooming greenery masked any tell-tale movement, acting as a great camouflage. Still... the voice had drifted down from above, that much was sure.**
Knowin' how t' foight trees n' acorns ain't count as fightin'. **Isaiah considered asking what constituted as "something funner," but thought better of it. He was here for a reason and Dewy wasn't about to talk her way out of a good spar.**
Ya too scared? Or ya jus' gonna stay up there foreva'...
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Post by Celebes on Jul 16, 2019 23:23:14 GMT -5
Knowin' how t' foight trees n' acorns ain't count as fightin'.
**As Isaiah let loose his reply, Dewy decided to get up, though not without a sigh. Lifting her arms onto the branch, she walked her paws back towards her body until she could scrunch up into a sitting position. Tail and footpaws dangling, she plotted out her route of descent even as she was shooting back a retort.**
Maybe, but any acorn I tussles with cans put up twice da foight as yous!
**Dewbelle followed her comment down a few branches, causing quite a bit of rustling towards the ends of the leafy limbs. A shame it wasn't closer to autumn, otherwise she could've showered Isaiah with quite the pawful of dead foliage. Would serve him right for his jibe about her being scared. Dewy stopped short of completely exiting the tree, coming to rest on a branch just a couple dibbuns higher off the ground than Isaiah. It would be the perfect spot to place a swing if it wasn't so near the dibbun's dedicated romping grounds.**
Betchya don' even know 'ow to foight a paddermox! Father whallops dose all tha' time, an' I know everythin' he knows! **Dewy blustered, in a boast that was nearer to fantasy than truth. On multiple accounts. Regardless, she didn't know what her plan was. Maybe she'd just overawe Isaiah into giving up. It was a shame Dewy hadn't been more thoughtful in picking her trees, otherwise she could have just thrown a pinecone at him.**
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Post by Isaiah on Jul 29, 2019 17:06:54 GMT -5
Maybe, but any acorn I tussles with cans put up twice da foight as yous!
Oh, ya...?
**Isaiah searched for the proper rebuttal but the right words eluded him. Rather than spitting out some half-baked insult, the mouse let his voice trail off, hoping that the wind had snatched away the beginnings of his poorly thought through response. Instead of wasting time on crafting the perfect slight, Isaiah locked his focus onto Dewbelle, his eyes tracking her movements down the tree as she left the thick camouflage of the higher boughs. She was still too far away to swing at, but closer now, and most importantly she was visible.
Arms hanging limply at his sides, Isaiah started strolling around the arena, zig-zagging his way towards Dewy with as much disinterest as he could muster. Still, his eyes remained locked on the taunting squirrel.**
Betchya don' even know 'ow to foight a paddermox! Father whallops dose all tha' time, an' I know everythin' he knows!
**Isaiah's brow furrowed as he came to a rest just beneath Dewy's perch. He cocked his head, gazing straight upwards.**
Wha'sa padda'mox? **Then, jerking his right arm upwards, Isaiah sent his weapon spinning towards Dewbelle.**
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Post by Celebes on Jul 30, 2019 20:03:17 GMT -5
**Dewbelle heard the clacking of wood-on-tree before she saw it. Isaiah's surprise attack had caught the young squirrelmaid completely off guard, and only an unlucky rotation (for him) caused the spinning dagger to hit the branch she sat on instead of continuing upwards. It was more than a little startling.**
EHya! Yous a cheata', pond bwains! An' I'm not even playin', yeah?!
**Dewy was standing now, one paw gripping the trunk of the tree as the other was curled into a tiny, vengeful fist. From the sound of it at least, the dagger would have hit pretty hard had it struck fur. Even now, the blade managed to sink deep enough into the loam at Isaiah's footpaws that it managed to stay erect. Dewbelle was rather tempted to jump on him, if only to stop him from picking the weapon back up. And unlike him, Dewy was pretty sure that she wouldn't miss.**
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Post by Isaiah on Sept 17, 2019 0:18:38 GMT -5
EHya! Yous a cheata', pond bwains! An' I'm not even playin', yeah?!
**Isaiah couldn't help but be visibly disappointed that his weapon had missed, even letting out a naughty word or two under his breath. Keeping his gaze fixed upwards, Isaiah slowly kneeled, feeling around for his dropped weapon. The position of the squirrel was frustrating. He couldn't very well climb the tree after her. Even if he could make it up there he'd be giving her ample time to get away, or even retaliate. Really, this didn't seem quite fair at all. Why had she even bothered to show up?**
This ain't fair! You'se just a lousy coward!
**The weapon returned to Isaiah's waist, shoved hastily into his waist-cord. He turned his back. Dewy wasn't a threat. She wasn't even fun.**
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Post by Celebes on Sept 17, 2019 9:51:31 GMT -5
This ain't fair! You'se just a lousy coward!
**Dewbelle fumed as the Isaiah disdainfully turned away. While being called a 'coward' didn't get her any more riled up than any other insult, she had certainly had had enough of the mouse harassing her. She came out here as a favor, suggested they do something funner, and had it literally thrown back at her face. That weevil! Fine. He asked for it. She'd show him how to really fight.
Fortunately for both of them, Isaiah had put enough ground between himself and the tree that Dewbelle couldn't leap on him, otherwise there would probably have been serious injury. Instead, the squirrelmaid lowered herself to the ground by grabbing the branch she stood on with her front paws and lowering her body over before plopping to the ground. It was doubtful she would have achieved any sort of surprise as the branch rebounded into position with a great rustling of leaves, but yelling out afterwards certainly sealed the deal.**
Foine! I'll pertend ta be as lame 's you on the ground longs enuff to beat you, yeah?!
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Post by Isaiah on Sept 27, 2019 14:00:55 GMT -5
Foine! I'll pertend ta be as lame 's you on the ground longs enuff to beat you, yeah?!
**Isaiah whirled around as the sounds of a tree branch snapping and creaking back into place alerted the mouse his opponent had landed. Well, the shouting about being on the ground had also alerted him. A mischievous smile crept across Isaiah's face, his arms crossed in a posture of waiting expectation. His mood had swung in an instant. Suddenly, the promise of a playful and fun afternoon was still a possibility.
Isaiah waited, watching Dewbelle carefully for any sudden movements. He'd waited long enough for the squirrel to finally grow some guts, he could wait a little longer. The mouse was curious too, what exactly the squirrel might do if Isaiah only provoked her through words. Charging rashly was his usual go-to plan, but something about this encounter instilled a quiet patience into Isaiah. That was new.**
How ya gonna beat mes den? Jus' standin' dere?
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Post by Celebes on Sept 27, 2019 18:42:48 GMT -5
**Dewbelle watched as Isaiah spun and shifted, thinking of little other than where best to bite him. Yet there was still a small bit of room in her mind for surprise to leak through when Isaiah didn't immediately assault, especially considering how much he had been pressing for a fight just minutes before. But now committed, she would be more than pleased to start the fur flying.**
How ya gonna beat mes den? Jus' standin' dere?
**Dewy's pose had shifted little from the low crouch she had assumed when she plopped down from the branch, only the slightest tensing of her brushy tail betraying her annoyance at his taunt. He'd have to wait for a more verbal reply. For a myriad of reasons, the squirrelmaid had decided that, however this fight went, she wanted it over fast. Dewbelle had somehow gotten it into her mind that Isaiah may just try running away when things got rough, and she wanted to make sure this whole dumb thing only needed to be settled once. She needed to keep him here.
With no more warning than a shift in her eyes, Dewbelle squealed as she made a running dive forward, aiming to tackle Isaiah's legs out from under him. With any luck, she'd be able to keep him here and down by making a grab for his tail while he recovered his bearings.**
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Post by Isaiah on Oct 28, 2019 20:49:50 GMT -5
**Isaiah was disappointed that no retort cut back at him this time. His favorite part of these spars was often the verbal back and forth that could last for hours, starting long before and ending long after the physical fighting had petered out. He considered sticking his tongue out in an effort to provoke a reply, but decided he'd like to retain his status as the "cool one," if that were possible. Pettiness would have its place once they started sparring. If either of them actually made a move, of course. The mouse relaxed, slouching with his eyes half lowered, and one paw dancing lazily around his weapon. He could wait all day if he had to.
Without warning, Dewbelle transformed into a blur of fur and tail as she dived for an attack. Isaiah had just enough time to draw his wooden blade in both paws before he felt the ground give-way beneath him and saw his vision fill with the cool blue of the autumn sky. The pain and shock of having the wind knocked out of him came only a second later, as the mouse made harsh impact with the grass.
The mouse was caught off-guard and disoriented; but he still had his weapon. Gripping the wooden implement with a fist, Isaiah swung his paw around in a wide arc, hoping to make contact with the blur that now threatened to pin him down.**
Yeaoooww'mfh! Gerroff me!
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Post by Celebes on Oct 30, 2019 22:29:00 GMT -5
**Dewbelle's head collided with Isaiah's shins in a painful way, and actions on the ground evolved faster than she could have ever expected. Luckily, she had hit her opponent hard enough that she had managed to pass under his falling body. The rasping of a play weapon against the grassy ground nearby startled her out of her brief daze.
Well, she had done...it. Whatever she was trying to do. Dewy crawled quickly to her feat, eager to keep her opponent down. She couldn't resist making a tardy follow up to his earlier comment as she searched for her next move.**
aHAH! Well a'least I'm STANDIN'!
**Deciding that the wooden bludgeon was making any move against Isaiah's body a bit too dangerous, Dewbelle tried to grab at Isaiah's wrists in a hopeful attempt to wrench the weapon away. Failing that, she could go back to her plan of biting.**
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Post by Isaiah on Nov 1, 2019 14:30:38 GMT -5
aHAH! Well a'least I'm STANDIN'!
**The remark stung, even more humiliating than the bodily act of having the wind knocked out of him. Now, he was losing on both verbal and physical ground. If he didn't do something quick, this spar would be over far too quickly, and with the wrong victor! However, Isaiah's position was awkward, and the desperate flailing of his wooden implement above seemed to buy him only a precious few seconds. He needed to get off the ground.
Before the mouse could even consider returning to his footpaws, he felt a sudden weight on his sword-paw as Dewbelle tried to extricate the handle from his grip. Isaiah was holding on but it was a losing battle; he just didn't have the leverage from on the ground. Instead, Isaiah seized the moment to try and recoup some of his disadvantage.
Spinning about on his back—smudging dirt and grass all about the backside of his tunic in the process—Isaiah aimed both his footpaws at Dewbelle's midsection, rearing up for a resounding kick. At the same time, he attempted to wrench his paw away from Dewbelle's steely grip.
As he let his kick fly, Isaiah could not resist retorting.**
Are ya STANDIN' now?
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Post by Celebes on Nov 2, 2019 10:34:50 GMT -5
**Isaiah was putting up a stiff fight for the blade, and Dewbelle wondered through gritted teeth whether she had already blown her chance by not swiping it during the initial surprise. She had certainly lost the initiative. Dewy was forced to step back as Isaiah began break dancing lest her footpaws be swept out from under her. Maybe she'd be able to screw it out of his paws while he readjusted his grip during the turn. But that's when it hit her.**
AwUF!
**Isaiah's footpaws landed forcefully on Dewbelle's belly, causing her to reflexively disengage from the grapple. Stumbling backwards, she barely managed to keep her footing as she bent over double, clutching her middle. Tears sprang fromm her eyes, but she was too focused on cringing to wipe them away. It felt like that time she had tried to leap across the dorm onto her bed, but instead landed on the corner of the mattress with her middle.**
Are ya STANDIN' now?
**Barely. But she'd make sure HE never did. He had his fancy splinter, Dewy had eight curved claws. With revenge on her mind, Dewbelle straightened her back out just enough for a rash leap towards Isaiah, weapon or no. If she could just managed to pin him down, she'd rake her claws over whatever part of his body she could manage to reach. That'd teach him.**
Shtupid mouse!
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Post by Isaiah on Nov 11, 2019 23:33:23 GMT -5
**Isaiah was briefly disappointed to see he'd been unsuccessful in knocking Dewbelle off her footing. There was no time to dwell on it. Scrambling backwards across the dirt, Isaiah desperately tried to put space between himself and the rabid squirrel. Getting off the ground was his next priority. Leaping up, Isaiah groaned, his back was sore already. He needed to end this fight quickly.**
Shtupid mouse!
**Time seemed to slow as Dewbelle launched herself forward for another attack. Isaiah was unprepared; he did not wish to wind up in the dirt again. He had to act quick, and he had one advantage over Dewbelle despite his position on the defense. The mouse held the weapon in his paw outstretched, a barrier between him and the leaping squirrel. Somehow, he had to stop her before she got within range to wrench the dagger out of his hand. Not hesitating long enough to reconsider his action, Isaiah reared his paw back and released the wooden sword, sending it spinning toward the squirrel that was currently leaping towards him.**
YAH!
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