Asterion It does not matter how well-intended, how studious a student Asterion is; he is a novice and he makes a novice’s mistakes. He is lucky his teacher is tolerant, if not kind – and he wonders if Calliope will be the same. There was no time for satisfaction that his kick had landed well (or well enough; the twilit bay counts any strike on the older stallion as a success); like a whip Raymond’s tail comes swinging around, and Asterion thinks that it is a far more deadly thing than even the unicorn’s rapier-sharp horn. It is as quick as a snake, and like a snake striking the bay catches it only in his peripheral vision. This time it is not a feint. He has few options, and so he takes what scant opportunity he can: as Raymond pivots Asterion takes a stride forward the opposite direction, and so the flat of the blade catches him on the muscular curve of his haunch. At first the impact it more surprising than painful, and Asterion squeals like a petulant boy being spanked. It stings too much for him to yet count himself lucky; he bares his teeth in a grimace as it burns wickedly. He knows, of course, that it could have been worse (that it could be his death, any time Raymond wanted it, wielding a weapon like that), but he is no longer in a grateful mood. Certainly his mood darkens further when he realizes the predicament he’s put himself in – in keeping his head way from Raymond’s uniquely deadly tail, he has allowed them to travel in opposite directions. There is little to be done about it now but continue to learn. And so he grits his teeth, blood stinging in the shallow scrapes along his back leg, and circles back toward his opponent. Here he is met with another predicament: there is no approach with Raymond that is safe, especially not from behind. He can only hope the man will once again be kind enough not to mortally wound him. He extends with all the grace of his thoroughbred bloodlines, and it is enough to catch up within a few strides. Asterion had circled wide enough to approach from an angle, wary of that flashing tail. When he cuts in he does his best to make it abrupt, and use his hand of height advantage to jar Raymond shoulder-to-shoulder, hoping to press him into stumbling. It is not a particularly invigorating end to the session, but pain is singing sweetly along his skin, and sweat slicks his sides to a sheen, and it is a relief, after he is done, to come to a halt. His smile is a little less tight, though his leg disagrees. Asterion blinks the sting of sweat from his dark eyes and wonders what, if anything, Raymond will offer him by way of criticism. Perhaps the smack on the ass was enough. “I’m glad you’re here,” he says at last, and takes a step toward home. @Raymond |
Summary: Asterion takes the flat of Raymond's tail-blade to his haunch and realizes they're going opposite directions and feels dumb. He turns, a wide-ish arc, and catches up to Raymond, approaching from an angle to avoid the tail and using his larger size to try to shoulder him into stumbling.
Attack Used: 2
Attack(s) Left: 0
Block Used: 0
Block(s) Left: 1
Item(s) Used: NA
Response Deadline: 5/6/18
Tags: @Raymond, @
