<strong>Name:</strong>Izzy<br/><strong>Time:</strong>10:00 AM<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Celeste's Villa, Training Grounds<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Rein, Celeste, Onyx, Rose (m), Lamont (m), open<br/><hr/><hr/><br/>She would remember this particular exchange as the one that defined the battle.  She'd vaulted over him, her twin hooves soaring into a kangaroo kick as he went low to avoid it.  She twisted in midair, trying to bring the shield down on his head, while he twisted upward from the ground, trying to club her.  The two weapons rang against each other in mid-air.  All of the tactics leading up this point, and the fact that neither of them was willing to let a potential strike get away.  And the fact that both of them were impressed with one another, improving one another slightly just from this short bout.  All of that meant less than the wordless, nameless feeling she felt.  That moment in a fight when combat takes you somewhere higher.  That 'drug' that Ludis and Izzy had once chased together.  It was a fleeting, wonderful moment.<br/><br/>Her hooves hit the ground, spinning her back to face him.  She hissed as he brought the spear whirling around, clipping her leg.  He pressed his advantage, dropping the spear and charging forward with the club.  She was in a new spot, her mobility momentarily hampered and her hands filled with a newer, more unfamiliar weapon.  Even so, she moved forward, not back, eager to close the range and see how he'd handle with only the club.<br/><br/>However, his stance changed as he moved.  Izzy slowed as well, reading the tells that he was done before he even said them.  It was a nice place to stop, she thought, although she had to chuckle at the idea that she was going to bruise him.  Patting her stomach, she shook her head and smirked.  In terms of who won, she thought, it was clearly his victory.  She'd downed him twice, but both times he'd gotten back up almost instantly, and in ways she didn't predict.  He'd also managed to land the only really solid blow.  She didn't envy herself later.  Taking a good whack to the stomach and then immediately vaulting into a kangaroo kick had a price.<br/><br/>Still, he complimented her on her strong points.  In reply, she gave him a respectful bow.  "I can still learn a few things from you." she said, her voice lacking any trace of bitterness.  It was a high compliment.  It wasn't that she saw him as the master and herself as the student.  But if there was one thing she'd learned in this life, it was that everyone had something to teach.  This wolf happened to have something she wanted to learn more about.  She gave him a smile, and moved to put the shield back on the weapon rack.<br/><br/>Rein mentioned that a good romp always made him hungry, and Izzy gave him a side-long glance that felt more characteristic of her.  It would take more than one practice round to knock that chip off her shoulder, but if that was his goal, there was evidence he'd made some kind of progress.  He offered the bucket to her and invited her to take the first drink.  Izzy held up her hand, and continued putting the weapons back in their proper places.  A nice gesture, refused only because she had her priorities in a certain order, and wanted to see the training grounds clean before she relaxed.<br/><br/>Of course, putting the weapons back took her in the direction of the two resident reptiles.  Celeste was watching, and Izzy gave her a nod as their eyes met.  She hadn't lied earlier: whatever else she thought of this place, Celeste was worth a chance.  She had a vision that spoke to Izzy on many levels.  That and, being massive grappler like she was, Izzy was eager for their one-on-one's.  Of course, then there was the other reptile...<br/><br/><em>"Today is polearm day, but I never specify which 'pole'."</em><br/><br/>...and Izzy gave her a look that could wither a tree.  Her 'mistress' was a mess of bad habits held together with scales.  Izzy set the spear and club back in their proper places, and decided that the aforementioned relaxation wasn't about to happen out here in the training grounds.  She spared a glance for the dragoness, little more than a bitter, taciturn acknowledgment of her presence, and then moved to find something else to busy herself with.  Food did sound good, as Rein had dubiously but accurately pointed out.  Perhaps Rose needed some help.  "I'm going to check the kitchen."  Izzy mentioned as she moved past Rein.  Her tone was even, but the look on her face made it clear that she needed a moment.<br/><br/>Knowing how Rose was, Izzy probably wouldn't even get through the door before she burst out of it, jittery from extremely strong coffee and extremely weak chemical resistance.  But if she saw her and neither of them were splayed onto the ground, she'd offer to help her.  Funny, she thought.  There were six of them.  Oh, right, the loquacious black rat.  He had the same problem with daylight that Rose did, if she remembered right.  But unlike Rose, with whom Izzy shared a<em>rather</em>close proximity, she'd had very little to do with the refined rodent.  She wondered where he might be, at this hour..