Returning to the Yards (Pt5: Returning for Talyn) !!OPEN!!

Brand was good at what he did, Cari wasn't sure what had happened but as they began to spar things picked up. It was still a friendly fight but the feirousity of it intensified. A simple slash landed and Cari could feel it jarring her arm all the way to her shoulder. It wasn't that she wasn't very good at this, or that something was a miss, Brand was just better. And he was here to show her that he was. He didn't waiver and Cari was glad for even a small breather.

Cari managed a few hits but nothing that resonated as he was doing to her. Her arms ached and her legs were sore. She would soon be out if this were a real battler, the loss of blood would probably be her down fall if it had been real. She could fight through the pain, but your blood was your life and if it was gone so where you. Cari knew that well, and she relished the thought of watching antoher lose their life line. It was the only thing that could quell the thirst at times. The blood lust that always enveloped.

Cari's own thoughts were her downfall as Brand laid her out with Arc of the Moon. It was a fatal blow regardless if she could continue, that spar was done, but it was enough to pull her thoughts out of the blood lust. "Again."

Brand smiled at Cari and he took up stance. He must be thinking she was a glutton for punishment, and perhaps she was, but she knew she could beat him. And she would end up doing that. But not because she was necessarily that much better, but he made a mistake. Cari wasn't sure how far into the spar it had happened all she knew is it wasn't early and they'd been sparring for a while before they both began to tire and something happened, Brand looked at her almost in recognition and paused. Paused just long enough for Cari to knock his feet from under him and bring her hidden dagger to bear at his throat. A killing move in the end. That was how Cari herself had landed the scar on her back. A moment's hesitation was all it took.

Cari offered Brand a hand up, which he took. They both said their farewells and Cari returned to the inn with the children. They talked all the way about their day and the spar, and they were more than happy to retell the tale to Demus when he arrived.

Cari