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G-Milvus-Adult-1

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4th #Windsonde challenge for Milvus... I've been working on this and her 1st war picture at the same time but I wanted this to be submitted first to show she had some fighting skills training before going out to get into scraps with Skrekrill...

1. Your new role as a clan member comes with both new responsibilities and new rewards. Show yourself performing an activity relating to the clan you have chosen.

A nervous twitch flickered down Milvus' spine as she landed lightly on the ledge of the training cavern. She was newly initiated into Balach, the clan she'd idolised since she had been rescued from Skrekrills as a gryphlet, and she wanted to make a good impression.

She waited on the ledge, listening to the muted sounds of a conversation going on inside the cave. No, it was a lecture, only one gryph was talking, and the voice did not sound in a good mood. It wasn't long before a huge owl gryph exited the cave, clearly sulking and looking decidedly roughed up. Milvus didn't even have time to greet the other before he took off, winging away with his head low.

"We can't train out on the ledge recruit. Come inside and we'll get started."

Milvus' head snapped round and she entered the cavern, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dim light within. She was momentarily taken aback when she saw who was waiting for her, none other than the Maralach Skerry!

***

Skerry inwardly sighed as the young recruit came into the cave. She was clearly nervous, he could see the tension in her stiff movements, and from the look of it she was intimidated by him.

Not the best start to a combat lesson. If she came up against Skrekrills she wouldn't have time to be intimindated or too tense to move.

Not for the first time this day, Skerry questioned Skooma's wisdom in getting him to stand in as the combat mentor, even if it was just for a few days while the normal instructor was away, fighting at the war front. But as all the 'all rounder' fighters were away or on guard duty, and there were no 'special assignments' currently to take him away on a mission, he had been left in charge of getting the basics into the newest batch of Balach fighters.

He gave the reeve a quick once over, a kite gryph, all tail and wings. He flexed his shoulder blades, the previous 'student', a big owl gryph with an even bigger ego, had been quite the workout for him, and couldn't be more different from this compact creature. Not that it mattered, whatever body type, whether they used strength or agility to try to gain advantage, he had a strategy for all of them.

"Your name?" He asked simply

"Milvus Sir" Came the prompt response. The use of the formal title and her accent clued Skerry into why she was so twitchy around him, must be from a Faclair family who would know his status and proximity to the Queen. Inwardly he smiled, if that was the only reason she was nervous then prehaps she wouldn't be completely useless after all. He'd rather her be intimidated by rank than by the idea of fighting after all.

"Very well Milvus. This is what we are going to do. We are going to fight, and we are not going to stop until I say we are done. Do you understand?"

A nod.

"Good" and he sprang at the young warrior, silent and looking to see what she'd counter with.

*** LATER ***

Her muscles screamed from the hold Skerry had her in. Over the last three hours she had learnt that struggling or pure strength would not break his grip, nor would luck. Skerry didn't make mistakes. She curved her spine and tried to bring her hind legs up into his belly, to wind him so she could get free. But the older gryph was ready for this, releasing her at the last moment and using the motion of the now useless attack to throw her accross the cavern. She twisted, trying to regain her footing as quickly as possible, he'd be on her in seconds!

But the follow through to the throw never came. She looked at her mentor, completely unfazed and unreadable on the other side of the cavern. Movement caught her attention, feathers lost in the grappling drifting in the breeze from the cave mouth. She noted to her chargrin that they were mostly hers. Fury mounted in her heart once more, she could fight! She knew she could, but this gryph might as well be made of water, there was no holding, or striking, or doing anything to him!

"We're done for today." Her attention snapped back to the dark gryphon standing across from her. She didn't know what to say, what could you say to one that had out classed her in every possible way during their session?

"Not bad kite gryph, you've at least got some fight in you. Now, what have you learnt today?"

Milvus again was silent. Rage and respect battled inside her head.

"Out with it. You're not stupid, there was a point to me beating the crap out of you, besides getting feathers to fill another of Titania's pillows"

The casual mention of the Queen only hammered home to Milvus' Skerry's rank, she could not be insolent to him, no matter how mad she was.

"I have learnt... that I cannot beat you."

Skerry nodded.

"Good"

Was that all!? Milvus must have let her suprise show on her face as Skerry continued.

"Right now, with the war, the most important thing you must learn is not to get into fights you cannot win. Do not let your own arrogance or pride lure you into foolish confrontations you have no hope of winning. Use your head to identify your opponents weaknesses and exploit them if you must, but if you can escape and bring reinforcements... we need live warriors, not dead ones, to win this war with Skrekrill."

Skerry crossed the cavern to her, she couldn't be sure but his tone got, prehaps, a touch more friendly. Or less harsh at any rate.

"On a personal note, you did not do badly today. You at least moderated your counters once one type proved futile. Experience however is the greatest teacher, and as long as you keep this lesson in mind, hopefully you will live to accumulate much of it."

Milvus nodded. What could she add to that?

"One last piece of advice, keep to the skies. Your wings are a strenght there, while on the ground they are a hindrance. You are built for agility, not overpowering opponents."

Outside on the ledge, another gryph had arrived. He was rudely peeking into the cavern, and Milvus' felt all her irritation focus on this impatient individual.

"Off you go, send the next one in."

She wanted to say... something. But what on earth would be right? Thank you? Wishing him well in the war? In the end she left in silence. Scowling she told the waiting gryph to get inside the cavern for his lesson, and she took off for home.

Skerry watched her leave, and the next recruit enter. Another head to bash for the next few hours. Skerry's eyes narrowed, he didn't really mind. If it helped reduce the number that fell to Skrekrill's claws, then it was a small price to pay.

THE END

agh I love Skerry so much! He's so badass. I hope I've written him right, he has a good personality description but for some reason I found it hard to write for him >.<

My pics seem to be taking me longer and longer to complete. Mostly, I think, because I'm trying to make my backrounds, y'know, better. I was trying to use a 'pointillism' brush for the sand but it looked awful so I got rid of it, I must be doing it wrong, anyone got any hints on such things in photoshop? =)

Many thanks to ~rydicanubis for letting me borrow Skerry, go bask in his awesome jaguarundiness here: [link]

and Milvus is mine =) [link]

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wyrd66's avatar
I was wondering who might train the Grandesque warriors, and Skerry seems perfect for the job! I really like the dirt streaks and Milvus' outstretched wings; it looks like she's trying to keep from flailing off-balance. :) I look forward to seeing her War challenge!