training day

<font color='#00FF00'><p align=right><font color=tan face="verdana"><font color=white><font color=brown>Day:</font> 23rd
<font color=brown>Month:</font> Dyo
<font color=brown>Year:</font> Two</font>

Talon strode purposefully towards the center of the Tsupeon, claws clicking softly as she padded across a rocky surface, eyes locked on her destination. Silently, the Jemdrull player whipped versatile tail through the air, a faint whistling sound heard as air got underneath that appendage's bracelet, less tightly clamped against it then the ones adorning each of her paws. Metallic earrings glittered softly in the soft light of dawn. It was the preferred time for training for this particular 'dragon, seeing as, unless they knew her timing, and were rather good spies, none of her opponents would be able to watch her practice and prepare for the games. No need to let her strategies slip through, not unless she wanted to be like every other Jemdrull player in existance. Which wasn't Talon's idea of a good thing. Unique. She had always been, always would be. No doubt about that.

Suddenly, she halted, as she reached a place that would be considered part of the practice field for Jemdrullers. The ball she had been smaking between heavy forepaws was now kicked out in front of her. Aerial appendages spread, and hindlegs coiled then uncoiled, just as the claws of her hindpaws also unsheathed, tearing forward and slashing at the thick ball, shooting it towards the other end of the field as she took off. Tufted tail hung limply as she drifted, suspended in midair for the flash of a second, before she was off, a mere blur of muddy hue as she raced after the target. Forepaws smacked the ball, hurling it towards the hoop that would give her team a point, were this a game. Mild smile creased her muzzle as she saw it go through, falling to the ground as she descended.

Wary occuli glanced about, eyes narrowing as she searched the nearby grounds for any sign of onlookers. She didn't particularlly like fans that hung onto watching her, either, since they weren't always her fans. In fact, Talon was yet to meet someone who watched her merely because they thought she was magnificant. Due to her solitary nature, though, she had avoided handing out autographs or anything of that type, though, so almost everyone ignored her. That was how she would prefer to be, the stars were the ones in danger, after all. A flickering of flame rose above her head as she delicately practiced Sorcery for a second, before allowing the fire to vanish. She had to stay in touch with her other trade as well, after all. No need to get soft. Jemdrull, she trained for it all the time, Sorcery took longer to acheive. It took a lot more concentration then Jemdrull, and occupied her thoughts and time. Slipping easily to her haunches, the female curled the tufted end of her tail about heavy forepaws. Waiting patiently. Someone would come. They always did.</font>

 

<font color='#00FF00'><p align=right><font color=tan face="verdana">Talon, absorbed in thought as she was, hardly noticed as the other 'dragon came into play, with only a cursory glance to the other. Vague attention returned to the field, eyes narrowing as she focused on her trade. Tail flicked and snapped out to spank against the side of the ball in front of her, a single forepaw tossing it into the air, before she agilely leapt up and caught it between strong jaws. Dropping the sphere to the ground in a careless manner, the Jemdrull player idly swatted it between her forepaws, practicing paw-eye coordination as she did so. A single forepaw swiped up to rub against an itching ear, before falling to the ground once more, settling beside its partner for a brief repast from working with the 'ball. As the other female approached, Talon's ears and head swivelled so that she could gaze at the other. Blinking mildly, and nodding ever-so-slightly at the words of the other, she replied in a curious tone.

<font color=brown>"Hally... my name is Talon. A... pleasure to meet you, Lyana. This is the Tsupeon, where Jemdrull is played. You've never heard of Jemdrull, then?"</font> She inquired, amazed that anyone could have never even heard of the sport.</font>

 

<font color='#00FF00'><p align=right><font color=tan face="verdana">Talon clicked her tongue apologetically, she hadn't meant to hurt the feelings of the other pendragon. Perhaps her words had been a bit... overly amazed? It wasn't Lyana's fault she didn't know, and Tal was hardly going to hold it against her. With a light, cheery, chuckle that was only partially feigned, the Jemdrull player smiled mischeviously. A flicker of cold fire enveloped the ball in front of her, dancing across the smooth surface. With a twitch of her ears, the sorcerous summon disappeared, and she glanced at Lyana, tilting her head slightly, contemplative. Finally, she nudged her own delicately etched cranium under the muzzle of the other, lifting the somewhat dejected looking Lyana's dial upwards. With an encouraging smile, she replied.

<font color=brown>"Of course I can teach you. It will take a while, to get everything down, but I can certainly teach you the basics, at the very least."</font> Talon said with a nod. Gesturing at the ball with a single forepaw, she batted it at the other female. <font color=brown>"Well, first of all, you need to start practicing eye-paw coordination. Move it around with your paws, get a feel for how the ball rolls."</font> Tal said, doing her best to sound like her coach, and not like a Jemdrull pro speaking with a peer. After all Lyana needed to start slow, get used to it all. Luckily, the Ottonu had a lot of patience. Someday, perhaps, she would retire and be a coach herself. Perhaps.</font>

 

<font color='#00FF00'><p align=right><font color=tan face="verdana">Talon smiled and nodded encouragingly, leaning back on her haunches, relaxing. There was no reason to stress over her newfound student's progress, seeing as this was the first lesson and, besides, the other 'dragon would never become a pro, not unless she suddenly decided to change trades. The swift eyes of the Jemdrull player picked up on the subtle movements and twirls of the sphere, and a silent frown knit between her brows as Lyana tried something different. Apparantly, the younger 'dragon had been aiming for her tail, but the ball landed short, and she attempted to turn and get it. Wincing, the cheetahlike 'dragon covered her eyes with a single paw, refusing to watch as her student fell in a very awkward manner. The soft crack of a bone caused her to wince again, and relieve her eyes of their shield, gazing at the fallen pendragon dispassionately.

As the youngster tried to get up, Tal shook her head disapprovingly, about to speak to inform the other 'dragon that moving wouldn't help. Before she got the chance, however, the younger 'dragon flopped back to the ground, and requested that they continue the lesson verbally. A single forepaw snaked forward to snatch the discarded ball, passing it between her paws, then smacking it so that it hit her tail, and curving it across that hind appendage, then back to her forepaws. It was a difficult manuever, but the female was demonstrating how things should have gone, if Lyana had managed to get the ball to her tail. Watching the other apprasingly, Tal yawned in a lazy, relaxed, fashion, then spoke.

<font color=brown>"Hm... you shouldn't have tried to move. Who's to say you didn't hurt it more by doing so? In any case, I suppose a verbal lesson may be of assistance, though it'll be hard to do. Here, I'll give you a scenerio, and you tell me how many ways you can think up for me to get this ball-"</font> She gestured at the ball in front of her. <font color=brown>"Into that hoop."</font> She gestured again, at the goal. <font color=brown>"Now... the situation is as such. There are two pendragons nearby. One is on the other team, hovering nearby to guard me from making a score, the other is my team mate, who I can pass it to... however, there is a catch, seeing as I have very little time to either a) make the goal myself or b) get it to my team mate. Plus that fact, there are pendragons behind me, surging forward to try and stop me, or assist me. I can also pass it back, although that is more risky."</font> Tal halted, wondering if that had been an accurate depiction. Her teammates would have gotten it, but they weren't here, now, were they?</font>