Quinten Log 89 - 04 04 2006

Salamandastron: Training Room

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is the training room for the hares of the long patrol. The walls

seem to have taken a severe beating, more than likely not from stray

arrows missing the archery targets. There are several of said archery

targets lining the west wall, each with small oak stands a good

distance off to hold arrows, hang a bracer, and rest a bow on. The targets are

of simple design: a large, tightly wrapped bale of hay with a coarse paper

target on the front. A wooden mannequin, in no better shape than the

walls, is in the northeastern corner of the room. Besides that,

several wooden practice swords sit in a small pile. On the eastern side of the

room is a small, makeshift wrestling arena consisting of two mattresses

tied together. Then on the southern side of the room is a fitness

area, assembled from several pull-up bars, and a nice padded area to do push

up. Narrow, cylindrical weights (both wooden and metal) are pushed up

against the wall, along with a few straight metal bars for them to be mounted

on.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Alright, you did well," the major remarks to Flaxpaw, before turning

to the other two. "Now, can either of you give me a good reason why she

was able to defend herself so well after she was hit, then knocked

down?" The recruits stare at each other, and he directs the question to the

rest of the recruits. "How about you, do any of you know why?"

Flaxpaw looks around, a small smile evident, actual praise from an

officer, but keeps quiet, waiting, not sure she knows herself, really.

"The answer is simple: She stopped worrying about dealing with the

enemy, and started looking after herself instead." Darklett pauses to let

this sink in. "Once she stopped retaliating and keeping her defense

steady, she stayed alive much, much longer. Though, it'll take a very

skilled fighter to ever -win- against two foes at a time, if you can defend

long enough, you'll be able to get help from another fighter."

The door opens and Quinten walks inside nose in a book and not really

paying attention, out of uniform and with a puzzled frown on his muzzle,

white head-band standing out against powder black fur.

Bandem pause slightly to rub a bandaged shoulder, and slows down the

pace on the curls.

Flaxpaw looks down at the floor, nodding a little, and looking like she

may ask a question, then looks up as Quinten enters. her expression

closes immediately, and she tries to blend a bit more with the group of

recruits.

"Alright, then. Who wants to try next?" A few hares raise their paws,

and Darklett gestures towards one of them. "Alright, then. You," he

points to Flaxpaw. "Give him your sword, and you," he points to one of the

previous attackers, "You're on defense now. Remember what I said, and

when you're done, switch places. The rest of you watch, and learn from

them until they're done... I want every hare here to have at least one

turn at attacking and defending. Is that clear?"

Quinten looks up from his book and smiles wistfully when he sees the

class, he moves over to stand next to the major and salutes "Goodday

sir...mind if i watch?"

Flaxpaw hands over her practice sword, muttering a "yes, sah." with

everyone else. Her ears flick at Quinten, but she remains where she is,

scowling.

Bandem has left.

"Quinten, afternoon!" Darklett returns the salute and watches the

recruits begin training. "Sure, you can watch... When did the healers say

you'll be back to participating, anyway?"

Quinten turns to look over the recruits, waving his ears at some

friends and flicking them sharply at Flaxpaw "another week sa"

"Good, so you won't be out of practice." Darklett smirks and watches

the defending recruit try frantically to keep up with his opponents. "No,

no-- Mmm... No, remember, don't attack unless you're -sure- you're not

leaving yourself open!"

Flaxpaw only half watches the defending recruit, back turning a little

to Quinten and thus a little to the battling recruits.

Quinten Watches the recruits and nods "Hmmm tey are leaving their arms

too far apart"

Audri enters from the passage leading to the Second Level intersection.

Darklett shakes his head as the defending recruit gets whacked again,

as the result of a try at counterattacking the other two. "They're not

doing -too- badly, actually... Just got to get them to realize that the

point of battle isn't to kill the most, but to fight well, and still be

alive when it's over."

Flaxpaw smiles a little, sadly at Quinten's comment, but quickly

returns to her closed expression, leaning over to another recruit. "he's goin

to get a good hard whack there, not watchin the other two, just their

weapons."

Quinten shifts his eyes watching the recruits "Yes sir...quite good

really" he looks at the Major and shifts "Not that i should be commenting

on such things"

Darklett watches carefully-- evidently, the recruit on the defense has

learned, and swings his sword back and forth rapidly, defending with

loud wooden clacks. "Better, better, now keep it up! Well, Quinten... You

have to remember that you -are- good at fighting, but beating another

beast in swordplay does not mean anything unless you can turn around and

do it again, and again, until there aren't any more left." His voice is

firm as he makes his point, and the recruit finally falls over, being

'slain' by an over head strike. They then rotate their roles, the

defender now on the offense, and one of the attackers taking his role.

Quinten nods his head "Yes sir, i know sir...and really all my training

means very little if i can't make use of it in battle"

Flaxpaw's ears are pinned back, listening to Quin and the major, but

that's the only sign she gives that the wall of the training room isn't

the most interesting thing in the room.

Darklett watches the new recruit defend with a smirk-- he apparently

isn't trying to succeed at what all the others failed at, and simply goes

straight to defending. Of course, he keeps 'alive' a lot longer.

"Exactly, Quinten. That's why I do these sessions. Trying to give hares

battlefield knowledge before they have to learn it the hard way."

Quinten nods and smils up at the Major "And we thank you sir, its what

keeps most of us alive whgen we do wind up in battle"

Darklett's ears perk as he looks down to the side at Quinten. "I could

only hope for that sort of result. Haven't really had a chance to see

if I'm doing any good with these, anyway."

Quinten nods "Well you've done alright sir, Flaxpaw and Gregorian did

well in battle, and i am sure Terrance has as well."

Darklett grins. "But Terrance is the only one of those three that I've

taught before today." He shrugs, laughing good-naturedly. He at least

appreciates the attempt from Quinten. "I've got Private Niveus coming to

a lesson soon to help me teach by putting on a display of a spar with

me. You should come watch when that happens."

Quinten smirks softly "I've seen you and Private Niv spar sir...will

you win this time do you think?"

Darklett shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe." He watches the recruit finally

take a hit, pausing his talk with Quinten. "Well done, give him some

applause, he did well! Alright, now switch, then let somebeast else try."

Then, he turns back to the recruit beside him. "I'm a little out of

practice, still-- he'll probably whip me; I can hardly take him when I'm

in top form."

Quinten smirks softly, his ears fllicking from side to side "You could

always fight dirty sir....make the point that vermin never fight fair"

"Some do fight fair, actually... But I'd never do that in a spar."

Darklett shakes his head. "I'm doing this so recruits learn how to fight,

not how to be afraid of vermin."

You say, "Yes sir, it was justa suggestion" he glances at Darklett

"I've not had mch experience sparring with other sir, just SOrrel and

Zeraph""

Flaxpaw turns a little at the mention of both Sorrel and Zeraph, and is

caught by the current group of battling recruits, watching them

thoughtfully.

"Well, you should get on that once you're able." Darklett holds his

chin while watching the current string of recruits. "Sparring's a great

way to practice, and even learn."

You say, "I know sir, but Sorrel has been so busy of late and well

Zeraph....i'm hoping you'll give permission for me to help give Flax some

pointers in boxing and she can help me with sword play?""

"...Why do you need permission to do that?" Darklett looks quizzically

down at Quinten, his eyes flickering briefly over to the battling

recruits before going back to Quinten. "I encourage it, if you think it'll

help both of you."

Flaxpaw looks at Quinten, a little disbelieving, then comes over, not

real subtle about the eavesdropping. She smiles a little as she gets

closer to them.

Quinten flicks his ears at Flaxpaw and nods, its formal but piolite

"Wanted to check sir, Flaxpaw really is very good with those swords of

hers, i may be able to carve one but i'm still not so good at using it"

Darklett nods to the recruit. "Train away, it's good to have a partner.

You can help each other out-- though I'll be looking for big

improvements from both of you, alright?" He looks between Flax and Quinten,

trying really really hard to be stern, but it's just outside of his nature

in a situation like this.

Quinten smiles "Yes sir, i'll do me best i won' t let you down"

enthusiastic, really wants to impress the Major does our Quint.

Flaxpaw looks like it means more to her than training, and nods "yes,

sah. thank you." eyes on Quinten, not the major.

Darklett smirks. "Good. Won't expect anything less than the best from

any recruit..." He raises a brow at the two of them, then, without

another word, goes back to the trainees he's responsible for. "Alright,

switch it up. You, Flaxpaw? Get on in here, you're on the attack now."

In a room page-pose, Flaxpaw grins "just making up an argument. Quinsy

/loves/ Gabby." ;) *pokes* "doncha, Quinsy?"

Quinten smiles and flicks his ears to Flaxpaw politley and looks over

at the recruits and sighs "I wish i could take part sir...it sucks

watching"

Flaxpaw nods once to Quinten, then bounds out, taking a practice sword

from one of the others, and waits for the defender to be prepared,

starting out the attack with a feint to the right shoulder.

Darklett stands back as the recruits get started, paws folding behind

his back again. The other attacking recruit times his swings with

Flaxpaw's, the defending hare doing quite well to start, parrying both blows

in rapid succession, and sidestepping to keep the two from backing him

into anything.

Quinten flicks his ears and stretches "Well sir i'm going to go get

some more studying done"

Flaxpaw slowly moves to the side as she presses the attack, trying to

divide the defender's attention, making it harder for him to watch both

her and the other attacker. Her practice sword kittering a bit up and

down to heep him confused about when she'll attack.

Darklett looks to the side at Quinten. "Ah, alright. Good luck with

that, hope you get well soon!" And the attention of the major is directed

right back to Flaxpaw and the two other recruits. The recruit on the

attack swipes at the defender's side, and the defending recruit is having

a hard time keeping up with both swords attacking him... He sidesteps

to the right, swinging in a counterattack to the other recruit.

Quinten watches Flax for a moment "Good luck Flaxpaw" he shouts out and

then with a last look at the Major and a crisp salute he hops out

You room-page, "night"

End Log -