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#Post#: 410896--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Dems Darkfire Date: September 17, 2020, 4:37 pm
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His smile only grew larger as he had seen his student survive
the first attack. His bushy mustache bristled from side to side
as he remained in his position, ready for the response of his
students. After seeing Iyah still standing, the other students
started to cheer some.
“I will show the power of THE BOULDER!” He flexed and pumped his
arms over his head and attempted to lift his feet. Her movements
where noticed, but ‘surprise’ painted his face as he could not
‘lift’ his feet. He braced himself in position and readied
himself.
The two stones launched at him we’re quick and powerful, but he
used his locked position to his advantage to steady himself
against heir force. Xo would catch each one in turn in one of
his hands and then push them off course to either side of him.
As the stones hit the ground behind him, it became apparent that
he did not just deflect the attack, but changed the composition
of the rock to become sand. And as both rocks his behind him
full force, a dust cloud kicked up and engulfed the master, and
soon the fine silt would carry in the air and cover the entire
training area in a blinding cloud.
Xo broke his feet free and began to dance around inside of the
cloud, feeling the movements between the two of them. Xo would
keep his feet to the ground, sliding one foot around the other
as he drew fissures around his student just out of where he
assumed their vision was in the cloud. “You continue to improve,
Iyah.” His voice floated on the cloud. “But prepare for the…”
He brought his foot up and once again slammed it into the ground
before thrusting his arms out and pulling back with both hands.
From the fissures behind Iyah would shoot out three pillars of
earth, aimed for three points along her spine which if hit would
send her forcefully reeling out of the ring.
Either way, this was not his true attack. Hit or miss, Xo would
take another big step with the opposite foot and then pull down
his arms. The dust cloud would sink to the earth revealing his
student’s new position where he would jut out his left arm,
point at her and scream. “HERD ATTACK! BAAAHOOOO!!!!” His voice
echoed long and loud across the grassy plains and the earth
trembled as the Herd heeded his call. Swarms of white fur both
big and small would pounce on their master’s selected target.
The other students made a break for it as soon as they heard his
call.
#Post#: 410899--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Trinity Date: September 18, 2020, 4:18 am
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The cheers from the other students encouraged her some, noticing
that the crowd had increased in size; people loved watching Xo
train and fight his students, he made it so entertaining,
sometimes comical, but behind every fight, there was a deeper
lesson to be learnt, despite his hearty nature. She noticed how
he used her first attack as an advantage to fend off her second
one, completely destroying the balls she had formed, already
understanding why he had crumbled them into sand.
The damn cloud.
She was blind. The layer of thick dust that had formed around
and above her took away a vital sense. Sight. But the last few
training lessons had proven to be helpful, and she finally
understood why he had blindfolded her. It all made sense, losing
her sight forced her to focus and enhance her other senses,
especially sound.
“You continue to improve Iyah,”
She demanded every molecule in her body to find the source of
the voice and where it came from, jerking forward slightly in
the process.
Iyah thought the movement was made of her own accord but her
eyes widen when she realises why she had moved, how the small
gust of wind had carried her and practically saved her from an
attack that would’ve split her in two for days; she makes a run
for it, conjuring an earth wave but becoming victim to her own
attack as halfway through the field and away from the three
pillars, she falls flat on her ass.
As the dust finally sinks into the ground below, she looks
directly at her master, a slight tinge of satisfaction raising
goosebumps on her arms; without realising, she had become more
attuned to her senses, but slowly it dissipated when she
realised the pillars were just a ploy to distract her from the
real attack.
No way.
The earth below rumbles, both from Xo’s voice and his heard as
they came galloping down the field, quickly scurrying to her
feet and making a run from it, like the other students that had
gathered.
“DAMN YOU OLD MAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!”
Her scream fades out into an echo the further she gets from the
heard, eyebrows wrinkling as she looks around for a house, or
tree, and when she finds a large boulder, she runs towards it,
bracing herself to jump onto it, fingers wrapping around any cut
in the stone so she could grip it and climb to get away from the
animals. When she does finally reach the top, adrenaline courses
through her veins, her heart beating like a drum as her gaze
drops onto her master, a giant compared to the 5’4 Iyah. She
crouches and exhales heavily, trying to catch her breath as she
watches the animals stomp around the field.
#Post#: 410901--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Akira Date: September 18, 2020, 11:11 am
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As expected, it wasn't long before Calia stopped to set up camp.
Zico watched from the trees, sure to remain upwind as the Light
Clan Soldier and her Panther-Wolf drifted off to sleep. He
carefully dropped to the ground, and approached slowly, seeing
that she still carried his blade on her belt! He wanted it back!
He advanced carefully, until the beast's ear twitched, and he
raised his head to look at Zico suspiciously.
"Easy Xanther..." Zico said calmly, advancing to scratch behind
the wolf's ear, and smiling. Comforted, the beast lowered his
head once more, and went back to sleep. He was so easy...
Calia though, not so much! When he thought he saw her stir, he
rushed forward, pressing a knife against her neck!
"Don't move." He commanded in a low, but dominant voice. With
his free hand, he reached down, and retrieved his blade from her
belt, putting it away slowly.
"Stop following me. Look at what our fighting has caused
already! I'm going to go my way, and you go yours. This could be
a new chance for both of us!"
He didn't know where this sudden streak of mercy came from, and
he had a feeling that he would come to regret it one day. But in
the moment, it felt right. They were on a new land with endless
possibilities! Why should they waste it continuing to do what
they had always done? He searched her eyes for understanding,
and once he received his confirmation, he would back into the
shadows; Hopefully to never be seen by her again!
#Post#: 410910--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Dems Darkfire Date: September 18, 2020, 2:22 pm
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His bristly mustache twitched with his nose as his nostrils
flared. He watched the arena and the surrounding area clear just
before the mass of white swarmed by like a passing wave of
water. They moved around their herder, a rock in the sea, as
they continued their pursuit of the target. “haHAA!” Xo would
triumphantly turn as the herd passed and watched as his students
made a break for the horizon.
Those who got a head start seemed to do fine, but the slower
students didn’t stand a chance and they where swept up in the
rolling mass and, as they continued on their way, left behind to
be smothered lovingly in the fluff of the animals, who licked
the faces of and trounced across their captive. Iyah, ever
resourceful, opted for the high ground to avoid her fate. The
small creatures swarm around the boulder which let many of the
other students escape in the process. They swirled in circles
around the rock and did not stop until the once heard the call
of their master.
“BAAHOOOO!” Xo shouted once more across the fields.
The animals bounded away from their captives and away from the
rock Iyah had managed to climb, and once again poured across the
field back to where they had come from. A few of the smaller
ones stopped by Xo. He would lean down his arm and let a few
climb up onto his broad shoulders.
He approached the boulder and looked up to his student as he let
out another laugh. “Iyah, I must say,” Xo stomped the ground
once more and then pushed down the air with his hands and
lowered the boulder Iyah was standing on into the ground so that
she was about eye level with him. “you continue improve.” He let
his grin spread wide. “For someone with complete sight, you’re
catching on to seismic sense very well and have shown the next
steps in learning how it works.” The small creatures on his
shoulder hop over one another and Baa as if in agreement with
the large man.
#Post#: 410913--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Trinity Date: September 18, 2020, 3:27 pm
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It wasn’t fear of the herd that forced her to run, she knew the
animals were harmless, to her anyway, but the fact she disliked
feeling the wetness of their tongue on her face, or anywhere on
her body for the matter. Just thinking about it caused her spine
to curl and her body to shiver.
“Yurghhh.”
As the call resounds through the field, the animals disperse
through the rocky terrain, keeping herself aware and not letting
her guard down, unable to take her eyes off her master, even
though she knew they were done for the day. Just as she’s about
to stand up, the boulder sinks into the ground, just barely
keeping her balance until she’s eye level with the rock of a man
standing before her, the whole exchange between him and the fury
animals enough to make her laugh. She didn’t though, her mouth
agape with shock at what just slipped out of Xo’s mouth.
“Really?”
For years, she had been trying to understand seismic sense, how
to be in tune with her senses enough that even a slight change
in the environment couldn’t go undetected. Xo’s was so
spectacular, she almost always forgot the man was blind in one
eye. The compliment lifted her heart until it was in her throat,
a slight smile lifting the sides of her lips. It was fleeting
though, and when the wave of euphoria passes, her eyebrows
furrow again.
“So are you gonna give me the rest of the scroll or do I have to
go look for it myself?”
The reason why she had improved lately was because on top of the
training she did with Xo, she was also training alone in the
woodlands, to enhance and perfect some of her own techniques,
though to no avail because she simply didn’t have the focus
required for some.
#Post#: 410914--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Dems Darkfire Date: September 18, 2020, 6:07 pm
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“ahHA! Of course. When have you known me to be insincere?” He
once more wiggled his mustache back and forth, up and down, and
gave her a strong nod before bringing his hand back and giving
one of his famous back pats to the student. Full force, without
realization what he was doing, once again. “THAT WOULD BE
RIDICULOUS!” He laughed once more. Before The pat could knock
Iyah one way or the other, he brought his great paw down on her
shoulder and clasped. His hand seemed to only fit three or four
fingers comfortably on her shoulder, but he gave her a small
shake anyway.
His right eyebrow perched up at her question. His right eye
seemed to open once again as he looked at her and spoke in a low
voice. Upon hearing his second call, students began to make
their way back to retrieve their things and brush the white fur
of their packs and clothes. He spoke just loud enough for her to
hear and no one else.
“What rest of the scroll? That’s all there is, my bright
student. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” One of the furry
creatures bounded down his arm suddenly and landed on his large
mitt and landed a sloppy lick on the face of Iyah before running
back up his arm to the opposite shoulder. “You know, Some of the
animals seem very partial to you. Are you sure you would not
like to take one home?” He asked this question almost every day
of the week since she had started training with him nearly seven
years ago. And he knew her answer already.
Xo would remove his hand from her shoulder and stretch into the
setting sun. “I will be traveling to the Capital City tomorrow.
I have to check on the young trainers there.”
#Post#: 410920--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Trinity Date: September 19, 2020, 12:52 am
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She caught her breath after a few seconds but the moment his
hand came crashing down on her spine, it knocked any sign of it
out again, her entire body losing balance and jerking forward
only to be caught by a hand on her shoulder. Given her slanted
position, her whole weight rested on his palm, so if he let go,
she would go rolling down the boulder.
“You know th-“ she masked the irritation in her voice, realising
that he had the advantage here but her eyes widen when the
animal crawls down his arm, unable to push herself back to avoid
the attack, “no no no no no nooooo!” Her screams were cut short
as the animal smothered her with affection, face scrunching up
at the thought of where his tongue had been before licking her.
“I’ll kill them all one day.”
Ever since she had known Xo, that had been her response to that
question. Animals weren’t her thing, the whole town knew it.
“Her eyes widen as he removes his hand from her shoulder,
rolling down to fall face first into the dirt beneath. The
muscles in her body ached and screamed as she sat up, the
largest scowl on her face, though now his back was facing her so
he didn’t see.
Wait, “the capital?”
Her interest peaked again, and she jumped to her feet, closing
the distance between them and stepping around him so she could
look at him. All her life, she had never travelled anywhere,
especially somewhere like the capital; the townsfolk always
spoke about it but she needed to see it for herself.
“I’m coming with.”
She didn’t need to ask when they were leaving, and it wasn’t a
question, it was irrefutable and Xo knew it. Iyah would go to
the capital whether he approved or not, and with it, she turned
around and began making her way home, stopping by a street
vendor to eat some rice and roasted duck. Excitement bubbled in
her stomach at the thought of eating elsewhere; what they did
like in the capital? Tomorrow, she’d find out.
#Post#: 410921--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Dems Darkfire Date: September 19, 2020, 1:23 am
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He simply laughed at her response to the question. Same
question, same answer. He’d hoped one day it might change. But
for now, Iyah remained stonewalled against the idea of taking
care of one of the animals herself. “You’d have to kill me
first.” He split his face with another large grin, full range of
teeth nearly visible. But there was still the seriousness to his
tone that was always there when he answered her.
He heard her thud to the ground behind him, but kept the large
smile on his face as she questioned where he was going. “Yes.
The Capital. Where else?”
She moved around him and he looked down at her, both of his eyes
un-squinting enough for once to reveal both his green eye and
the one, dull white one as he stared at his student. His blind
eye typically had mixed results with his students when they saw
it. “I will not argue. First light tomorrow is when…” He barely
got the words out of his mouth before she bounded off towards
home “I’ll be leaving.” He let out a grand laugh and shook his
head.
Xo would stare up at the great wall of Ba Sing Se and let out a
soft sigh. He never liked leaving the city for long. The animals
did not like to be away from him for long. Xo walked over to his
chair and lifted the objects with one hand. He moved over to his
patio and placed down the old, chipped wooden rocker onto the
dull beige earth before sitting down and propping his feet up on
the handrail next to a stone banister.
Xo watched as the shadow of the wall spread out further and
further across the field. Animals took shelter on his porch and
in the pens on the opposite side of the training grounds. Many
of the smaller animals joined him by sitting across his body. Xo
placed his giant hand on one of the larger ones and gave it some
pets and pats. He would eat soon, but for now he would watch the
light fade as the sun disappeared further away.
#Post#: 410922--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Trinity Date: September 19, 2020, 2:32 am
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After the feeling of fullness and warm food settled in her
stomach, she got up to make her way home, avoiding the main
roads and blending into the alleys and secret walkways.
Sometimes, crowds of people were too much to handle, their loud
roars, crying children were the worst of them; their squeals
ringed in her ears for days after. The town was simple, but
profound, great stone sculptures decorated the centre, turning
back so she could admire the faces of her ancestors before
continuing on her journey.
The skies were turning from peachy oranges to deep reds and
mahogany as nightfall swallowed day. When she reached her house,
the events of the day took their toll on her body and after
cleaning up and tending to her wounds, she falls back on the
floor, on a thin mattress and lays down. It didn’t take a second
and she was drifting into another world. One of dreams of what
tomorrow promised. A new adventure.
~
It was barely dawn, streaks of light didn’t slither into the
room but a feeling in her stomach woke her and she flings up,
tousled black hair making her a thing of nightmares. Her eyes
scan the horizon before she jumps up and stuffs a brown backpack
with essentials, and a change of clothes. Not forgetting the
teared scrolls, stuffing them in as far as they could go, just
in case she was able to get something out of Xo while they
travelled.
A drink of water and she dashes our the door, her slow jog
turning into a sprint until she was at her masters, reaching him
just in time to find him walking out the door in a sleepy haze.
The animals weren’t around but she could feel their low spirits,
filled with the knowledge their owner would be away, perhaps for
days. That same feeling of excitement bubbled in the pit of her
stomach, as she waited for him to close the distance between
them and they could begin to make their way.
#Post#: 410926--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Earth Kingdom
By: Calia Date: September 19, 2020, 1:42 pm
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Calia awoke with a stir! But when her eyes opened, she was
already at the mercy of Zico's blade! With his knife at her
throat, there was nothing she could do as he reached down, and
retrieved his blade from her. Was that all he wanted? After
everything they had been through? Everything they had done to
each other? To each other's loved ones?! Why didn't he cut her
open then and there?!
She hated to admit it, but his words made a lot of sense. It was
all the fighting and feuding that landed them here in the first
place. This could be a chance to put an end to all of it But
Calia just couldn't see that happening. Even if they stopped
fighting each other, that didn't mean their people would!
Hundreds of years of feuding didn't just wash away overnight!
What he was speaking was nothing more than idealism. But he had
gotten the best of her, so she had no choice but to submit. She
gave Zico an eye contact that communicated that she understood,
and surely enough, he backed into the shadows.
Calia wanted to go back to sleep, but she found herself sitting
up through the night, trying to calm her heartrate, and
contemplating her next move! It would be unwise to continue
pursuing Zico, and she had no idea where Nitara had gone! The
Shadow Clan was gathered outside of Capital City, so that wasn't
an option. And she couldn't show her face around her own people
either! She needed to find a safe place to stay until she had a
plan! Until then, she was a sitting duck!
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