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Post by Venus on Jun 10, 2009 17:23:48 GMT -5
Aisling skidded on the soft earth of the thin passageway, scampering back to accompany her friend. She grinned sheepishly, scratching her head with ebony talons.
"Sorry Aleiko... you know what I'm like when I get too excitable. We'll go together."
Thanthero, meanwhile, was having little trouble navigating the passages, following his senses towards the scent of sunlight and pine. Oh, this was going to be good.
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Post by Fury on Jun 10, 2009 17:52:43 GMT -5
"It's alright!" He replied with another bought of laughter. "Trust me, Ais! My heart's pounding too!"
(pronounce that as you will...Ais o.O interesting shortening lol)
Tatsu followed Thanthero close behind, keeping his back in a nice arching curve as he used to. It truly was good to be back. "Coming Tia? Or are you going to wait up for the younglings?"
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Post by Venus on Jun 10, 2009 17:56:59 GMT -5
Her grin brightened.
"Come on - let's go!"
The passageways soon widened and fell away as they tumbled into the main spell-casting chamber. Tiamat glanced back with a welcoming smile, answering Tatsu while beginning to walk towards the tunnel, beckoning her apprentices after her with a wave of her tail-plume.
"I think that's answer enough, Tatsu! Come on you two - time to see some new fighting styles and spells."
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Post by Fury on Jun 10, 2009 18:06:43 GMT -5
"I had a feeling something big was going to happen. This seems to be it! I guess I was picking up on the trace amounts of spirit energy still around Tatsu and reading his anxiety from the impending sparring match?" Aleiko asked as he followed Tiamat beside Aisling.
Tatsu smirked to Thanthero. "Don't go easy on me."
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Post by Venus on Jun 10, 2009 18:13:50 GMT -5
Thanthero smirked widely as he emerged into the fresh-scented clearing, cracking his claws and stretching his legs before settling easily into one of his usual fighting stances. "I wasn't planning on it, my friend wallflower. If you want to cure my attitude problem, you'll have to do it with your claws and teeth." He tilted his head, yellow eyes sharp. "But then again, I think that after a few too many years, I'm far past the point of 'help'."
Tiamat settled herself next to the entrance of the Earth, tail wrapping neatly around her feet. Aisling soon followed, dropping in a sprawl to her left, eyes locked on the impending fight. "This is going to be good!"
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Post by Fury on Jun 10, 2009 18:20:34 GMT -5
Tatsu's body positioned into the shape much like a striking snake, with his top half raised up. "Well then... Fight's on!" he called, watching Thanthero with narrowed eyes. The assassin was a tough opponent back in the old days, no doubt he had more tricks up his sleeve. Then again didn't Tatsu himself have more experience as well now?
"Very good indeed!" Aleiko agreed, coiling up next to her. He was especially interested in how Tatsu would fight a dragon who was not an Eastern. Did strategy change?
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Post by Venus on Jun 10, 2009 18:28:01 GMT -5
Tiamat tilted her head, smiling indulgently at the pair. "It'll be interesting to see how their styles have changed over the years, if at all- oh, here they go!"
Thanthero, instead of striking head on, pushed upwards and off the ground with a snap of his wings. Eyes glinting as the pupils shifted, he called his aura to the surface. The darkness spread beyond his body, seeping into the air surrounding him in swathes and curtains of shadow, starless night.
"Come on then, Tatsu. I'll give you first strike, since you have a body to get used to again. How gracious." Than wrinkled his nose. "God, I'm getting soft."
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Post by Fury on Jun 11, 2009 14:33:33 GMT -5
Tatsu nodded then struck out, much like a viper would. He was in the air and intending to curl himself around Thanthero. If he could get a hold on the assassin and block his wings there would be no escape from the easily used constricting method that was available to Easterns.
"Wow... He's so fast! Even when he's not used to his body!" Aleiko gasped, impressed. He hadn't seen anything yet. Just wait for Thanthero. Then it'd be a real fight.
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Post by Venus on Jun 11, 2009 15:09:11 GMT -5
Than allowed himself a grin at seeing his friend fighting again - his speed was impressive, especially considering he'd been stuck as a spirit for an endless number of years. But despite that, the fighting style was eerily similar; the constrictive move that Tatsu was attempting was very much an old foe.
He shifted his weight backwards, sweeping one wing forwards while flaring the other one back, effectively turning himself in mid-air. Claws crackled as they swept up to meet Tatsu in a defensive move, magic burning to the surface.
Tia smiled widely. Just like the old days.
Aisling blinked, enraptured with the fight. "Wow... they're good!"
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Post by Fury on Jun 11, 2009 15:17:16 GMT -5
With a shift of movement, Tatsu dodged the magic-attacking claws. His body rolled into a circle sort of formation with his tail wrapped around to nearly touch his nose. Was this meant to be a defensive or offensive thing? He hoped it confused Thanthero.
Aleiko fell silent as he became entranced. Now was the time to observe the dance that was battle. It was one of the few things that really encircled both mind and body in one simple way... awe inspiring!
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Post by Venus on Jun 11, 2009 15:21:05 GMT -5
Thanthero propelled himself backwards and away from Tatsu on a changing air current, borrowing its strength to further enhance his speed. Eyes sharpened as he scrutinised this new strategy; he had never really fought many Eastern dragons, and although he had studied some strategy, this was one that he hadn't seen before.
Erring on the side of caution, he settled into his own favourite stance, both arms crossed to his left and wings flared out. His tail swung impatiently. "And again, or do you want me to do the attacking?"
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Post by Fury on Jun 11, 2009 15:25:09 GMT -5
Tatsu unrolled, springing off the ground on his front feet. He shot upwards at Thanthero again, talons outstretched. His eyes glittered like somebody who knew something the other did not. "It's no fun if I do all the fighting, Thanthero... but alright because you asked!" The blue Eastern was up to something. Anyone observing could tell that much but 'what' was the obscure question.
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Post by Venus on Jun 11, 2009 15:31:36 GMT -5
"Fair enough!"
Thanthero snickered and blurred to meet Tatsu head-on; his tail lashed up from his back, right arm slashing out to intercept Tatsu's talons while the left followed quickly to try and damage his unprotected belly. He increased the pressure of his aura in the air, attempting to repel Tatsu while giving himself some leverage to continue an attack. His magic, for the moment, remained unused aside from the usual crackle at his claws.
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Post by Fury on Jun 11, 2009 15:39:27 GMT -5
Tatsu's own aura blazed in like a starburst, the blue rippling like the water magic it represented. Swirling around him it rammed against Thanthero's as the two dragons locked talons. Tatsu smirked with a sort of cockiness about him. He curled his body to block the attack aimed at his belly then wrapped his own tail around Thanthero's. They were a knot of scales and fur. "Now how will you move?" he asked his friend as they met eyes. Somehow Tatsu's aura wasn't budging.
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Post by Venus on Jun 11, 2009 15:45:25 GMT -5
Thanthero tilted his head in a sharp movement, the yellow of his eyes vivid and piercing even in the daylight. The trails of his aura shifted, maintaining a slight distance from Tatsu's as if it were... considering? A smirk slowly unfolded, held for a few moments, and...
Magic flickered, and he was gone.
Tiamat rolled her eyes. "That shadow teleport again. Come on, Than."
Aisling blinked. "What? Where is he?"
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