WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF

[Leilah]

[googlefont="Amatic SC:400"]

aint it fun

Life had been easier at some point. Or at least that’s what Leilah came to believe now. Back when her family had been complete, when she had enjoyed training her brother or with her father; now she could hardly stand the sight of him. A part of her blamed the evident similarities between Hephtus and Eli, but within the depths of her mind, in the darkest corner sat the truth that she so feared to accept. Lately, the grounder girl had been occupying herself with anything possible, except for training. She merely had no desire to pick up a training sword and join. Instead, she’d been watching from afar as other villagers trained together, some out of fun. Others to show off, full of pride and arrogance that wasn’t difficult for Lei to detect within their facial expressions. Although, there were the few who tried to maintain a stoic expression.

Leilah had spent most of the day inside, until her ears perked at the distant sound of a gathering from outside. Curiously, she got out of her seat in the kitchen and headed straight for the door, poking her head out through the ajar door to scan the small crowd forming around someone or something. Leilah instantly abandoned her premises to investigate the situation, joining the crowd as a faint voice became clearer by each step she took forward until she reach the front row. With furrowed brows, the girl took in the faces of those she was surrounded by.

tagged: @lexa

made by ∆ ashycat of adoxography

[Deleted]

"We will still have daylight for a few more hours we could make it to-"

Lexa silenced Gustus with the slightest inclination of her head as she dismounted from her horse, handing off the reins to one of the other warriors."It is safe here Gustus." The 'you worry too much' was clearly implicated but left unsaid. She addressed the rest of her entourage. "Talk to the people of the village, see what they know and what they say of the skaikru. Be prepared to leave at first light."

With Gustus but a half step behind her Lexa strode towards the center of the village , where the sounds of warriors and their seconds practicing could be heard. A few people were watching the sparring but after Lexa arrived and the realized that their Heda was amongst them more and more started to gather. At a break in the sparring Lexa approached a warrior and his young charge a boy of no more than thirteen. "Your form is good, what is your name?"

"I am Martin, Heda and this is-"

"Iskan." The younger boy piped up. "My father was one of your lieutenants, but I'm going to be a general like Lucien." While Martin looked somewhat annoyed at Iskan's outburst Lexa merely held a steady gaze on the boy, though it almost seemed as though the barest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Perhaps." Lexa unbelted the ceremonial sword, handing it over to Gustus before asking for Martin's practice blade. It was a formality of course, not even Heda would interfere with the training of another warriors second without asking permission, though no warrior in all the twelve clans would've refused it. The others had stopped their own sparring to give their Heda ample room and to watch.

The first few engagements Iskan was all energy and aggression, easily turned aside by Lexa's blade and superior skills. But after the first few passes the boy seemed to settle down and remembered his training. Lexa was obviously sparring down to his skill level, letting him earn a few moments when his form was well executed and punishing him with the flat of the blade when making a mistake. A bit of uneven ground sent the boy sprawling as he retreated from one of Lexa's advances and though he threw himself after the blade Lexa was upon him, sword at his throat before it could be snatched up again. "Do you yield?"

Iskan clearly hesitated for a moment, but nodded eventually and after he did so reached out a hand to help the boy up. "I will warn Lucien." She said, clapping the boy on the back before picking up the other practice blade.

"Who is next?" Lexa asked the gathered crowd, turning to look at each of them, before her eye settled on one latecomer who had worked their way to the front. "You then." She said, tossing the practice sword in a high, easily grabbable arc.