Flash Lightning (Serenity)

Morning sunlight warmed Darius’ body as he hurtled through the air at breakneck speed. The young werewolf was in the mass of Autumn trees that lined the right side of the dirt path leaping from branch to branch with an agility that was both unnatural and superhuman, even for someone of his species. His legs, covered in dark blue jeans that were worn and faded, launched him easily from one branch to the next. He continued, unfaltering and going on instinct alone eyes fixated on the foliage around him searching for the next thing to jump on. Sweat matted his hair and skin as well as his body but he was not tired at all. His large frame was fitted with equally large, toned muscles that craved movement. Muscles clenched in his abdomen as he hit another branch, squatting and springing through the air to grab the upper branch with two powerful hands. He flipped around the branch in one full circle, heading for the one to his right that was a metre up and caught it again with both hands. A couple of leaves fell down along with a bird’s nest that tumbled down part of his exposed chest. He was only wearing a crisp white long-sleeved shirt today, the tie having been discarded somewhere further back.  It’d been because he’d been contracted to stand in to do life-threatening stunts for an actor who had been playing a suave, charming prodigy doctor who had been at a party with friends. He’d been thrown off a balcony 10 storeys down onto the ground. Not life-threatening for a werewolf but very much so for a human which the actor had been. It’d been easy money that he could blow at the movies or even on some new gadgets that he could use maybe in the future for the pack. Darius swung on the branch, letting go with one hand as he completed the turn. His body twisted sideways, rolling over branches in one graceful arc until he completed the movement by landing in a smooth half-crouch on a thicker branch, his shirt billowing out behind him one hand gripping the bark. His heart was racing like a hummingbird on hyper-drive, blood coursing with energy. With a booming laugh that echoed through the wide forestry, he pelted for the next branch, breaking the one he was on with a snap like a gunshot. He went faster and faster until the blood roared in his ears and the wind howled past him in fragmented shards fumbling with clumsy fingers to grasp him. It never could until Darius stopped moving. The trees grew sparser, becoming green and brown blurs that whipped past him. The sun had crept into the area freely as the trees thinned out, bathing the forest floor in massive patches. Only a dozen more trees were available in front of him, spread out evenly. Darius grinned, light brown eyes full of life and in one gigantic bound, cleared all the branches. His arms and legs were extended to their fullest, back straight. Bulging muscles strained against the fabric of his shirt. There was something utterly primal and raw in that one move, free and untameable. Power rippled from his form, unbridled and unleashed. When he hit the ground, his right hand touched the ground to carry the momentum as the rest of his body followed in one fluid motion to make a clean sideways roll. Bright red autumn leaves and twigs sprayed in the air along with a few stones. When he stood up, he was on the dirt path with stray leaves and a couple of spindly twigs in his hair. Part of his left sleeve had been torn from the fall. His heart was pounding, the rush still flowing in his veins and chest rising up and down rhythmically. The sun cast its gaze on Darius, dappling his body until it seemed to glow with vibrancy and warming his chiselled, handsome face. Darius rolled his shoulder. It was good to keep his muscles flexible and strong. As he turned, starting to head down the path his feet brushed against something hard and cold. He glanced down. Some coins had tumbled from his jeans pockets. Darius knelt down, scooping up the coins in one hand into his palm. Chuckling he tossed one into the air, catching it inside a closed palm. Tails that something exciting would happen to him, heads that he’d spend the rest of the day by himself. He opened his palm. It was tails. Today was going to be one beautiful day.

Today, Serenity thought that she would go for a stroll and get to know the land in which she now lived. She didn't take forever to get ready anymore; her appearance was more toned down now as it didn't feel necessary to impress the judgemental public. It was peaceful not living in a house located in a busy, built-up area; a cave within a tranquil forest actually felt more comfortable. She settled in well and was passionate about becoming a skilled warrior who could fight for her pack if the occasion arose in which she had to battle. Not currently being particularly skilled in the craft made her feel slightly vulnerable but she was in search of someone to assist her in training. Deep within the forest, Serenity casually made her way through the maze of towering trees. Animals would creep out of hiding and dash off when they noticed her presence. The rushing wind carried the scent of a nearby deer, triggering the werewolfess to transform into her beastly form. She wrapped her powerful arms around a tree and dug her claws into the loose bark as she peered around to see a family of 3 deer. Her focus was solely on the mother. Partly because she was closest. Pieces of bark broke free from the tree, making a crunching noise, which caused the deer to raise their heads and begin to sprint through the foliage. Instantly, her large and strong body curved around the obstacle and chased after the target who separated from the others. With little effort, Serenity pounced onto the deer and clenched its neck within her jaw, puncturing the wind pipe with her sharp teeth and slowly draining its life. The warm, red blood decorated the crisp snow as it trickled from the fatal wound. After killing the animal, she devoured its flesh until mainly bones were left then returned to her human shell and carried on through the woodland. The trees started to grow more sparsely around the area she had reached. A trail etched into the earth's surface became noticeable under the light covering of snow, so she decided to follow its course. The mild sun fought through the heavy, snow-thick clouds and started to beam its rays onto the pure white ground, making the iced crystals sparkle around her. Before long, the musky scent of a male drifted on the light wind towards the warrior who was in search of someone to help train her. As she paced forward, a brawny man who seemed fairly amused by something came into view. A slight smile spread across Serenity's lips as she headed in his direction, her golden eyes inspecting the brute before her.

Just as quickly as it had been Autumn, it had changed to Winter. Yet here he was, doing the same thing. It’d been like dejavu all over again. Except instead of wearing just a shirt he had another shirt underneath it and a thick heavy black jacket with a wide hood. And just like last time, coins had fallen out. Splinters of bark had caught on his hands, peeling off from the tree when he’d been swinging and his feet, covered by winter boots, shuffled across the snow-covered path. He put his hands inside his pockets, beginning to turn when he heard the snapping of bark echo through the air. A gust of wind scraped by, cutting gauges into his exposed skin with chilling fingers. He scented a deer and another, the scent of a one of his own. It grew stronger within seconds. She’d changed into her werewolf form. He knelt down, scooping the coins from the snow pausing as he heard the bark breaking off from tree trunks, the sound echoing through the air into his enhanced ears without pause. Blood trickled through the air, invading his senses. It was close. So close. He rose to his feet, throwing one of the coins into the air with one hand. Heads, something bad would happen to him on this cold Winter’s morning. Tails, something good would happen. It rotated as it ascended higher and higher and dropped just like that into his palm. Closing his palm before-hand quickly just as it landed, he opened it up. Tails. Excellent. Maybe it had something to do with the sound he’d heard earlier. Maybe he’d have the pleasure of making a new friend within the pack. It was not his Beta’s scent that had wafted through the cold, wintry air to fill his nose just then. It was someone new. It was someone he hadn’t met before. He heard something, the crunching of feet across brittle ice crystals. Confident and steady which was reassuring. And the smell became stronger, infiltrating his nose. She was right behind him. He turned around. It was a tall, willowy, golden-haired female with warm golden eyes which were inspecting his form generously. Brushing twigs and snow from his hair carelessly with one hand, he pocketed the coins inside his jeans with the other. His muscles weren’t as noticeable under his thick jacket as it was too bulky. His jeans though weren’t so bulky so the toned muscles there were well defined. Darius was usually not the one to shy away from initiating a conversation with another, whether it be male or female. With females, he was more inclined to do so for the simple reason that females fascinated him in ways that he enjoyed more than males.

Sunlight trickled through the stormy clouds, waves of golden-spun heat splashing across the snow-worn ground languidly. In the wintry, desolate decadence of the frost, snow and frozen-over snow his expression was still bright and warm shining like a beacon. A spark of mischief twinkled in his light brown irises. He slipped the coins into his pocket, face lighting up as he started to smile. He strode forwards, boots squashing the snow-laden path noisily. His movements were easy-going but raw and purposeful, almost turning into a lope. He was happy to meet another werewolf. There were so few of them here it seemed. Perhaps she was another warrior like him, or similarly a lone wolf who had been a Beta formerly and now sought to be a warrior instead. Whatever the case, he was pleased to see another of his kin and one appeared to be fierce and strong. He slowed to a slow, smooth stop as he neared her, withered twigs breaking underneath his feet. Extending his hand towards her, roguish eyes crinkling into a smile at the corners he said, “Greetings stranger. I’m Darius. Who may you be?” He was joking of course. They weren’t really strangers. They were pack-mates, for he could smell the scent of another male on her which was similar to the Beta who had been at the border for him. But he wanted to make things friendly between them.

The thick ashy clouds crowded over the sun, filtering most of its greeting rays. The remaining beams of light played on Serenity's fair face and hid behind the male werewolf who was almost directly in front of her. Her pace gradually slowed until she came to a halt; the flick of her boots shuffling the most recent addition of snow to the ground. The clouds eventually won and stole the warming sun's touch but it didn't make much of a difference as she was accompanied by a seemingly friendly man who radiated warmth. Today had created the perfect chance to make a friend, the she wolf hadn't properly met anyone yet, up till know she had only spoke briefly with the Alpha. After the fellow warrior extended his arm out to greet her, she did the same and confidently shook his manly hand. Serenity was used to shaking strangers hands as she did so with her clients when meeting them in her work office. He introduced himself as Darius and she was fond of that name. Her richly golden orbs looked into his; velvety brown and full of life. The friendly smile that she gave remained upon her face and grew into a contained grin. "Greetings Darius. I'm Serenity. Warrior Serenity to be precise, but Serenity or Ren is probably best to you. Which rank do you serve?" A question was her attempt to start conversation. Her shoulders fell as her posture relaxed around the man in her presence. The consistently irritating wind blew a section of hair over her eye, leaving the sole eye to trace over his masculinely chiselled features, down his body and finally taking in the sight of his strongly built legs through his jeans. The jeans that she wore were also fitted but for a purpose. His 'rough and ready' appearance symbolised strength and stamina. He looked like he would be a good fighter, she thought. A good anything in fact. He seemed intriguing. There was something within the way he looked at her that drew the werewolfess to him. She swiped the hair from her face and looked down to her partly uncovered arms which her sweater didn't reach as the ends of her sleeves were rolled up. With a nail she drew patterns onto her skin, watching the pale streaks follow where the nail had pressed. Steadily, her eyes moved back onto him. She had a feeling that herself and Darius would make good friends as he seemed to be the kind of person that she liked to associate with. Hopefully he would like her too. Her deep brown hair brushed against her cheeks and wavered in the momentarily delicate breeze. A sprinkling of snowflakes floated down from up above and danced around them both before settling on the compacted layer of white that carpeted the forest floor. It was unclear which way the weather would turn.

Her skin felt smooth when he shook it. There was nothing but strength and confidence flowing from her the shake. Had he found another warrior? One that he could fight and train together with and had the same lust for life in all its grandness as he did. When their hands parted he found himself meeting her eyes with his. They were vibrant, lit up like a pair of early sun-rises in the desert. The smile only complemented her eyes making her face seem a thousand times more alive. She seemed like she would be a vivacious character, something which Darius was attracted to in a woman. He loved living and life itself in all of its aspects. When her smile turned into a grin he was reminded briefly of Alessandra, the closest thing he’d had to mate after what had happened in China. She had the same vibrancy, the same charm which radiated vivacity from the grin. She had the same long, dark hair with luscious chocolate curls and heart-shaped lips. Except she seemed slightly softer. He wondered what kind of work she did. Something creative and fun maybe? He smiled back at her, the irises in his eyes seeming to shimmer as sunlight graced them with its presence. She introduced herself Serenity, a warrior. So his assumption had been right. His eyes strayed to her jeans which outlined her legs well. Toned and lean, used to exercise. As a warrior’s build should be accustomed to doing so. His smile grew into a grin as she asked what rank he was. He gestured to himself and said,“Well Warrior Serenity, or Ren, it looks like I’m in great company. I’m a mighty warrior, just like you.” He paused as the wind blew past, pushing part of her hair across one of her eyes. It made her look more mysterious, more sultry and alluring. He liked that. It made him want to find out more about her. She had something that he was attracted to that he couldn’t explain. She was cute in a way that was not quite traditional with defined features. Her figure could be easily seen with her clothes outlining every curve and the jeans especially, highlighting her legs. She was without a doubt, friendly with no reservations and outgoing. If he had to guess, he would guess she would also be fierce when she needed to be. She seemed like the type who knew what she wanted and had the drive to seek it out. If all that was true, he would probably enjoy her company and they could become great friends. Perhaps, their relationship could develop into something beyond friends. As the snowflakes fell around them in a cluttered mess around them, some falling on their clothes and hair his gaze became curious.  

He wondered what she was doing out here in the snow and cold. Perhaps training like him or hunting? He could smell some deer blood from her. Maybe she had something to do with the noise he’d heard earlier. So he asked with a joking tone at the end, the grin still on his face“So why are you out here at this time Serenity? Training by playing tree ninja like me?”

It was obvious to Serenity that Darius and her were going to get along well. Although they had just met, she felt safe and at ease being in his presence. The high-reaching trees that surrounded the pair's course wore white coats which almost disguised them within the washed out snow-white sky. As the fellow warrior spoke, her gaze moved from his soulful brown eyes to his slender pale pink lips. She was assured that he was a mighty warrior like he said, but herself? She knew that she definitely had great potential but at the moment she lacked training and experience. A surprised smirk appeared and she shook her head. "I'm not a mighty warrior, Darius. I'm a warrior who doesn't know how to fight as expected to. Pretty useless. I need urgent training. As for yourself, you look like a fine specimen." After she spoke, she realised that she sounded negative about herself but it was kind of true. The smirk transitioned back to a gentle smile. A series of questions came to mind but this was their first encounter so she didn't want to overwhelm him. After all, there would be plenty of time to find out more in the future. Her honey glazed orbs gradually ventured back up to his chocolate eyes. Secrets were hidden deep behind them. Secrets were hidden behind hers too. If she could've chosen someone to train her, she would choose Darius. However, she didn't want to directly ask him as he was probably busy and she didn't want to take his precious time away. Serenity knew full well that there aren't enough hours in the day, especially after work. His grin was cute and cheeky, but most of all, charming.

The snowflakes which danced around them began to settle on the werewolfess' hair; shining like diamonds in the harsh winter light. The light did nothing but compliment the brute's fine features. He had a complexity about him which added to his attractiveness. Standing still in the bitter wind started becoming monotonous so Serenity turned away from him and began to walk ahead. She came to a halt and looked over her left shoulder to answer his question. "I was just wandering about the forest until I noticed you here." Her tone was gentle and soothing. Her plump lips came together to form a glowing smile as her hair floated on the passing breeze. "Tree ninja? That's a form of training?" She finished her response with an amused laugh and leisurely paced on, expecting the pleasant rogue to accompany her.

Darius always believed that anyone could do what they wanted to do, within reason and within the extent of what their natural attributes allowed them to do. The warrior standing before him had the potential to become great. She had already started so all she needed was more practice and experience, if she hadn’t already had enough. He reached out, touching her shoulder gently with a steady, rough hand and smiled at her showing a glimpse of his fangs, sharpened teeth that were the mark of his true nature. It would probably have been less reassuring, menacing but there was nothing but genuineness in his eyes with a hint of impish charm. There was no ill will. He said,“You keep on saying that, you’re going to start believing it okay? But I’ll help you if you need it then. We’re pack-mates aren’t we?” He laughed at her next statement, accepting her words calmly, comfortably. He was aware of his appearance and he was grateful for what he had been blessed with. He would not deny it as gaining such a compliment was something that was not easily gotten. He chuckled,“Thanks and same to you.” He released his hand from her shoulder, putting it inside his jacket pocket. The weather had taken a turn for the worse. Icy winds blew by, wintry fingers grasping at the skin and attempting to burrow deep into the bone. The omnipresent cold enhanced the chill and it was part of the reason why Darius had did what he had done. To get active and warm the body. The air smelt crispy and almost fragile, bringing with it the smell of fresh snow and a multitude of scents that included partially melted snow and leaves and dirt encrusted with thin layers of frost. Cold water. That was all it was. He could also smell the blood and the tangy, tender smell of the deer and birds in the forest. Shaking his head to bring himself back to the situation at hand, he glanced back at Serenity. She was smiling and his grin, that had faded just slightly as his thoughts had wandered briefly, returned back to the forefront.

The snowflakes had increased and some had settled on her hair, forming a sheet of glistening silver-white orbs that adorned her hair in an impromptu hat. He would have brushed them off but it complemented her. And they would probably melt once they started training. It wasn’t an ideal place to train but it would do. The cold would wake them up, get their blood pumping. He looked around, searching for an area that was sunnier, less chilly. The fact that she wasn’t fully covered was not a good thing. She started to turn and walk. Darius looked at her in slight confusion, taking one step forwards. Had she changed her mind? He took another step towards her, dirt grinding underneath his boots. Then she stopped, answering his question in a tone that made him melt a little on the inside. The smile only made him feel even better, accentuated by her hair which lifted into the air by a breeze. In two quick strides, he caught up with her as she started to walk ahead and said pushing her shoulder roughly with a hand,“Hey tree ninjas have to go through a lot of training don’t you know? It’s intense.” His tone was still joking, deep voice riddled with humour. He fell in step beside her, walking side by side in the winter morning. It felt natural. He cast a side glance to her, eyes tracing the features of her face. It was sharp but somehow feminine and soft at the same time with bright eyes and now that he was close by, he smelt a fragrance from her that he could only identify as her own scent. Warmth spread through his stomach and suddenly, he imagined what it would be like to kiss those lips and have her underneath him, to feel her against him. Besides that, he was eager to know more about her but first, he would attend to her request.“So since you’re a warrior with no training then we’ll have to do something about that won’t we?” He said. He walked a little ahead of her, facing her with an open expression, “I’ll show you how to punch and block first, how’s about that?”

It felt nice when he touched her, even if there was a sweater between his palm and her skin. It showed that he wasn't afraid of doing what he wanted and the she-wolf respected that quality in people. Serenity almost raised her hand to rest on his but it was possibly too early for such actions and he may not have liked it. Instead she tucked a section of hair behind her ear. His words were reassuring. Maybe he could see that she had potential like she had thought. Her mind went into thinking as he spoke but she still smiled and nodded in agreement as she stared into his orbs. His gaze spoke along with his mouth. Serenity found it easy to read people simply from looking into their eyes. The look in his eyes reflected interest and support. He began to laugh after she spoke which was a good sign. A very good sign in fact. She never tried to make people laugh but still managed to amuse him. The laugh which rolled out of the warrior's mouth built her slight smile into a beaming grin which radiated the happiness that she felt around the likeable rogue. Playing on her senses was mainly the pungent deer blood from earlier and Darius' scent which she had encountered on several occasions on her day-to-day roams around the territory. As she began to fight through the harsh winds, the fellow warrior joined her.

They were similar heights but as she was wearing her usual brown ankle boots, she was possibly slightly taller. She could sense that he was going to joke with her and she wanted him to. With a stern hand, Darius pushed against her shoulder which didn't particularly phase the she-wolf. She smirked and continued to walk, the brute following by her side. Despite meeting a few moments ago, it felt like they were two close friends enjoying each other's company. Serenity's gaze focused on the surroundings around the path which they were relying on. She didn't exactly know where they would end up if they followed the pathway but it didn't matter at the moment. His eyes were on her and she could feel his gaze smoothing over her gentle skin. She didn't bother to look back; she was allowing him to inspect her up close. His thoughts were sadly contained within his mind but hopefully they were of a good nature. It had been a very long time since a man had paid attention to the fae. Nobody had loved her in centuries, not in the way she wanted to be loved. There was a constant feeling of loneliness which scared her, especially when nighttime approached. Men were interested in her but no aspects of love were considered. Sex, yes, but not love. Serenity could be described as an independent woman; she supports herself on her own entirely and is proud to be able to do so. A single night of love was easy to find but true love was not.

The sun started to shine again, illuminating the lands around them with a sparkling shine. Soon, the lavishing frost would melt to revive the land to its luscious green state. Prey would become plentiful as animals awaken from their slumber and roam in search of food. Young would also be born within the joyous spring season. Serenity rather liked spring; the depressing winter weather would slowly begin to fade until summer arrived. The werewolfess silently walked alongside Darius until he walked ahead and turned to face her with an open expression. "Lovely" she replied. He was dedicating his time to teach her some basic but fundamental moves and she was grateful. As she looked into his eyes, she walked towards him with small steps; one foot in front of the other, whilst motioning her hips seductively. Her boots mixed the dirt brown and pure white together as the covering of snow wasn't particularly thick and wouldn't be around for much longer. Once face-to-face with him, she raised her arms to a defensive blocking position. "Let's begin" she whispered as she raised her brows simultaneously with her words, accompanied with a playful smirk. She waited for the experienced warrior to make his move and share his useful knowledge with her.

It wasn’t ideal weather for a walk but with company, it was better. She was only a little taller than him at the moment, not by much but he pinned that down to her boots. It was a trick he’d seen a lot used by women but it seemed kind of pointless to him. He had expected her to push him back because that was what he was used to but then he checked himself, reminding himself that she was a woman so perhaps she wasn’t so accustomed to good-natured rough-housing as much as he was. Nevertheless, he enjoyed her company. When she had tucked part of her hair behind her ear he felt a twitch somewhere in his heart, like he wanted to get closer to her. The gesture was cute, adorable. As her smile turned into a grin of happiness, he was in turn happy to be the cause. There was something he was attracted to her with her that he couldn’t, for once, explain but he knew it had something to do with her vibrancy, her smile and the way she moved. Not only was she a black beauty but she was easy-going and lively. He craned his head slightly as she walked towards him with seductive swaying of her hips. He couldn’t help but grin. Lovely, she said. It was an apt description of her as well. He was glad when she faced him without fear, showing her enthusiasm and willingness. It was always a good sign. He raised a tight fist so that she could see the fingers and thumb. The thumb was tucked inside his fist, fingers around it. He said, “One thing to remember. Make sure your thumb is never like this when you’re punching or you could break bones in your hand.” He took a step backwards to increase the distance between them, moving to her left so that she could see better and said, “Watch me first then you try. Then if you feel comfortable with the movement practice on me and I’ll show you a counter-attack to block and turn the tables. Careful if you’re going to go for the face. The head is the hardest part of the body so you could break something if you don’t do the punch right or aim for the right part. Go for the side, not completely on the front. So…”

He unhooked his thumb from the clutches of his fingers, positioning it so that it was around his index and middle finger. Taking one step forwards with a right foot, he spread his legs out and twisting his hips, swung with his right arm. It wasn’t straight but the arm was bent at the elbow slightly to allow for more strength behind the punch. The wrist was turned along with the punch, facing upwards at first then rotating as he would impact to drive his fist home. He completed the movement, where it would have hit an invisible opponent with maximum impact to give maximum damage with his knuckles and slid back into his original position. The force of the punch was in the momentum of the arm and speed. More speed, more power meant more damage inflicted. Glancing at her, he said with a reassuring look,“Easy right? Follow what I do and you'll be fine. Just remember to align your body like I did so you’ll be hurting your opponent more than you hurt yourself.”

She lowered her arms to her side and watched as he raised his fist. Instantly, she knew what he was going to show her; the rule about not holding your thumb within your fingers whilst going to punch. Serenity had heard little things throughout her many years of existence about fighting but she never really had to worry about practising these techniques herself. Therefore she was a little bit sceptic about trying them out, especially on his godly face. What if she messed up? Now wasn't the time to show weakness so she watched him carefully and tried to register every word that he said. She also wasn't overly sure about her strength. Being a werewolf would obviously give her an advantage over the humans, mora and shifters. She wasn't quite sure about a vampire's abilities. Turning into large beasts allowed her race to kill anything, should they wish. They were certainly deadly creatures. It was interesting watching the warrior's ease and perfection. He had likely had to fight on several occasions and had probably killed many during his time. Serenity observed as he positioned his body in preparation for his swing. She imagined her long gone partner, Ray, standing in front of Darius. The edges of her full, well-rounded lips curved upwards towards the blank, dull sky. The divine movement of his arm and swing of his fist sent the imaginary man flying backwards before falling down onto the cold ground. The werewolfess began to clap as his skill was flawless and desirable. "Well, my punch probably won't match that but I will go ahead anyway", she said lightheartedly as she approached his rigidly positioned body.

Once she was a step in front of the brute, she turned so that the left side of her body faced him. She spread her legs to give her more support; allowing her upper body to twist with the swing. Whilst adjusting her foot position, she glanced down briefly before inspecting his face for where to hit. Or at least aim to hit if all went to plan. His left cheek seemed like a good target. Standing straight and proud, she balled her hand into a fist and pulled it back whilst focusing on the target area. She didn't fear much about harming the warrior but more of what he was going to do back. She wasn't overly sure of what a counter-attack consisted of but she hoped he wouldn't take her down with all his strength. If this was the case, there was a chance that she would lose her cool, more likely so if the opponent was of a different race and had the intent to harm her, which may seem embarrassing as he had offered to help her and grant her wish of seeking training. A final retraction of her arm was given before she swung fairly powerfully for the warrior's cheek, not wanting to injure him of course.

He had no idea what she was thinking as he proceeded with his demonstration, only hoping that she was following what he was doing and saying well. He wouldn't ask of her to do anything that she didn't have the capabilities to do. That would be foolish. Although, he was initially confused about her reaction to his demonstration he was pleased at the same time. Getting a smile was always the best response. The clap made him feel even better, making him laugh and grin, chest out in a show of pride. Though, he had an inkling that she was imagining an invisible opponent being hit with a punch. Perhaps an abusive ex-lover or boyfriend. He said reassuringly to her words,
"It's just a punch, nothing complicated."

As she punched, he stepped forwards and raised his right arm to the outside of her forearm to parry it. At the same time he pulled his arm back, grabbing her wrist at the same time. Both actions were simultaneous, one fluid motion. Using her own momentum from the punch, he yanked her forwards towards him in the direction of her punch and paused, letting her process the movements and told her,“Once you have your opponent in this position you got all the leverage.” He moved to the side smoothly still holding her wrist and turned, left hand taking her knee firmly at the same time.“Lift and throw the person to flip him or her upside down with your left hand.” Letting go of her knee back into straightening position he curled his hand into a fist and drove it towards her rib-cage stopping as soon as his knuckles grazed her skin.“Then punch hard and fast when he’s down. Or stab with something sharp if it’s a survival situation. You could probably stop a heart if you punch a human, Mora or Shifter hard enough.”

Of course, she could just punch straight away instead of flipping but the other way meant that the opponent would be down and vulnerable giving her a clear opening to strike if she was fast enough. It was entirely up to her which one to use but the main thing was to be fast and hit hard. Taking a step back, he gazed at her, one foot sliding back as he got into position. He had faith in her. The counter-attack was simple enough, something which a trained, fit person should be able to do with no worries. He attacked, fist hurtling through the air in a powerful punch at her. He held nothing back, trusting that she would be able to defend herself.

The fast-flying punch which was heading for the brute's face was stopped within a flash. His strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her forwards before lifting her knee temporarily off of the ground. Everything that he was showing her made sense and she began to think of scenarios in which she could display these moves. Rather than replying to his every word, she simply followed his order of instructions whilst they were being performed on herself. After releasing her knee and standing straight, he went to punch her ribcage and effortlessly halted his arm as it touched her body. His precision was flawless and it was clear that he would be a very successful member of the pack. Nothing that was being taught by the warrior was difficult to understand or overly complicated. Once you master the art, you will reap the rewards. In this case, learning to fight and block attacks could save you your life. It was most likely that Serenity would have to fight some time or another. Whether in a war between her race and another or even if she got into a fight with an individual. Darius' words were very true; a single punch did have the ability to kill a human, Mora or Shifter. But Vampires were more of a challenge.

Now that he had shown her the counter-attack, it was her go to practise it. She took in deep breaths to slow down her fast-beating heart so that she stood still as she focused carefully on the brute's reactions. He was going to launch his fist at any second and she had to be ready to block it. After positioning her feet at shoulder-width apart for support, her gaze locked on his tightly clenched fist. Suddenly, it cut through the air and sped towards the fae. Her lightning fast reflex caused her to lift her arm to meet his and stop the punch from reaching her, then she forcefully grasped his wrist to prevent him swinging again. Although this wasn't a battle situation, her fighting instincts seemed to kick in which was a pleasing sign. She used her free hand to swing for his stomach but only gave him a weak punch as she didn't need to cause him any pain. Once she performed her counter-attack in a way which she felt comfortable, her eyes averted from where her fist had hit, up his body until she was looking into his comforting light brown orbs. Her hand loosened from his wrist and her arms fell to rest by her side. The werewolfess quirked a brow and mildly smiled; she was fairly proud of herself. Darius was definitely capable of teaching her and she enjoyed the way in which he did so. "Was that okay?", she asked as she hoped that she performed the counter-attack properly although it was her first time of attempting such a move.

He was pleased when she managed to grab his wrist as he had shown her but she hadn't managed to pull him in close to her for some reason. A grunt came from him as her fist hurtled into his stomach. It was unusually weak though with not as much force as he thought she would have possessed. It still had impact as he’d felt some pain but only for a few seconds. He guessed it was because they were only sparring or she would've punched harder. She would have to especially if her opponent was a vampire. And it would have gone without saying, but if it was a life and death situation then she would have to go for a killer blow. Darius had fought vampires before and won but he knew that there were stronger ones out there that he had never encountered before with powers that pure, brute force couldn’t defeat. He’d seen a vampire use emotional manipulation on other beings and the results had been horrifying. Luckily, he was a werewolf so that didn’t work on him but he was sure a more powerful vampire could manipulate him so that was where cunning and stealth came into play and might well be the thing that saved a life. Same thing applied to Serenity. If there was a chance she was going to cross paths with one of them and they were to fight to the death, she couldn’t hold anything back and use everything she had to win, including some street smarts. But fighting was what they were in this pack for so that was what he’d concentrate on. She was taking the first step to becoming an efficient fighting machine and that was all they could do with the knowledge they had so far about the vampire clan that ruled Lunari. One had to learn how to walk before they could run after all. He gazed at her, waiting to see if she would do anything else. The flipping wasn't really an option anymore unless she pulled and stepped to the side but it seemed she had the principle down. When her eyes went up from her fist to catch his he smirked slightly. She was an eager learner and she caught on quick. Also, he could tell she was doing her best. He wouldn't mind continuing to do this with her. And besides being attractive, she was fun to be around and confident enough. Straightening as she let go of him, he reached behind the back of his head with both hands to clasp the fingers together and stretched the muscles in his arms.    

Flashing a reassuring grin at her, he said, "Not bad. Just remember next time, pull in the direction of the punch straight away after you've grabbed the wrist so that the opponent's thrown off balance. That way, you're the one that's in complete control. But that'll come with practice." Lowering his hands and sliding one foot back in the snow-covered path he rolled his shoulders casually to work out some kinks and said,"You ready to learn a grappling move?" He added teasingly, starting to turn to walk down the frost-covered path,“Or if you’re too scared we can do it next time.” Of course, he would’ve been happy to show her but not if she didn’t believe that she could. He believed she could within reason but he wasn’t her and it was her decision alone. Her response to what he said would show him what she was made out of but he suspected it was of a strong heart otherwise she wouldn’t have been made a warrior. He glanced over his shoulder back at her, half-smiling, anticipating. At the same time, his gaze never left hers. He was ready to go at it again.

Feedback was always a vital part of Serenity's life. It was necessary in her job; if a client of hers wasn't satisfied, it would be her own fault and there was a risk of not being able to hold the crisp cheque after all of the hard work and time spent on designing their customised piece. Being a fashion designer was like having a hobby that pays well. Poor communication in her previous relationship is partly to blame for it crumbling to pieces although it was not Serenity who was in the wrong. She often had to do things against her will in order to please her dishonest and belittling partner. He'd tell her one thing yet do another behind her back. With her sorrowful days behind her, she was now eager to start a new life with a purpose to fulfil. All she ever wanted was to be happy. Her idea of happiness was being in a true relationship with someone who loved and cherished her. Also, having a playful edge to a relationship was what she desired. The werewolfess was currently unsure about finding love again as everything seemed so right at the beginning of her first found love but it unfortunately ended so tragically. The outcomes were a broken heart and one which was stripped of its beat. An unfortunate series of events lead her to where she is now although she currently felt comfortable about how her life was going. A small ember had began to provide some brightness within her dark life. Now in a pack, things could only get better. She had hit rockbottom hundreds of years ago. She was a pearl enclosed within a clam, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by its possessor.

Darius asked if she wanted to learn another move which was likely to be more advanced and challenging. But what would be the the point of life if everything was straightforward and there was no way in which you could grow and develop? He was offering her another opportunity to learn a useful move so she may as well grab it with both hands. The first was more of a warm-up possibly and now the real action was going to begin. Even if she made a complete mess of it, it was still worth it. She wasn't afraid of learning another move; after all, the more she knew the higher the chance that she would respond well to an actual fight. The brute sounded like he was doubting that she would say yes which made Serenity want to prove him wrong. Being underestimated was one thing which she couldn't stand. Just because she was female didn't mean that she couldn't get down and dirty. Even if she didn't look like she would want to play rough, with the right person, she was more than happy to. As Darius looked back at her teasingly after assuming that she was too scared of learning the move, Serenity smirked and flicked her long hair over her left shoulder. She leant back on her heels and looked down at her boots; making the cheeky warrior wait. As the wind began to pick up, she glanced back up to meet his gaze and walked up to him. Once she was by his side, she rested her hand on his right shoulder and placed her left leg in front of his before standing fairly hard on his foot with her heel. "Too scared? I'm actually excited to see how the grappling move goes." She removed her foot from his and looked deeply into his eyes. "Let's go again", she said enthusiastically and winked to the brute.

A second passed then a minute as he waited to see what she would do. Then she flicked her hair over her shoulder, leaning back and looking down at her boots. Darius started to turn. She was playing and he knew that well. He wouldn't bite but he knew she wouldn't back down from being called scared. He wanted her to prove him wrong. A massive, wolfish grin wound its way across his face when she called his bluff, catching up with him. He looked at her, momentarily surprised when she touched his shoulder but he enjoyed it nevertheless and he knew. Up close, he could see the bits of snow on her eyelashes and the stirrings of a rosy blush on her cheeks. It made her look angelic and soft. He brought his arm over the inside of her elbow, hand starting to grip her arm with hard, calloused fingers.“Great, I’ll show you how to…ow!” He winced as her heel stomped hard on his foot, unintentionally squeezing her arm as a reflex action. Composing himself, he loosened his hold so he wasn’t hurting her and continued as if nothing had happened. “Uh yeah so…” Shifting his foot out from underneath hers, he closed the distance between them so that he was directly up against her. Skin to skin. He paused, unable to stop himself from taking in her features and look away from her eyes-that and the expression she had on her face. Excitement and pride, tempered by realism about her capabilities but willing to learn and grow. Three of his favourite things which he loved in a woman. And the last, was something he abode to in himself because there was always going to be something new to learn no matter how long he’d been around. It seemed like he had a livewire on his hands but that was the best kind of fun. He wanted to get to know her better. And with that, he grabbed her arms in a vice grip with a hand on each and hooked his right leg around hers, securing a firm grip on it and twisted at the knee, jerking it out from underneath her to knock her off balance and send her to the ground. He held onto her arm tightly to guide her fall, going into a one-knee kneel with his right leg bending. It had been a test of sorts, to assuage how alert she was. Making sure she was alright, he got further down closer to her. The next step was the grappling move, one that was efficient for their purposes.

“What I’m going to show you is a choke-hold. This can be dangerous so just tap me to tell me to let go if you feel like you’re going to pass out and I will,” Darius told her. He released her hand, getting on top of her with his legs on either side of hers around the back of her knees. His right arm went around the back of her neck. The other arm was up against the other side of her head. It was a circular lock with his right hand completing the hold as soon as his fingers touched his biceps on his left forearm. He said, “Make sure you’re in this position, legs and arms and everything. Apply pressure on the neck like this.” He squeezed his right arm applying pressure to the neck. Letting go, he rose to his feet and said facing her, “Now you try. See if you can make the two moves into one and be fast. You’re lighter so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll tap you to let me go if you’re doing it right.”

Watching his eyes smooth over her features felt unusually good. Now closeup with the brute warrior, she could take in every fine detail. His scruffy jet black hair, light brown eyes and warm-hued skin worked together so flawlessly. He was certainly handsome and she couldn't deny that. Getting to know him on a more personal level seemed a nice thought. If he felt the same, it was likely that the two would meet again sometime soon. As her heel lowered onto his foot, the hand which held her arm tightened around it. His hard grasp loosened as he realised what he was doing and left a pink handprint on her pale skin. He pressed his body up against hers and continued to admire her features. She didn't know where to look when his eyes caught hers so she looked down at where their bodies met and smiled; almost beginning to laugh for some reason. After a small pause, he took her arms and curved his leg behind hers to bring her down. She eventually lost her balance and gradually lowered to the ground as he guided her fall. Her hair spread over the earth around her pure face. She smiled as his body came closer to hers. Was that the grappling move? The werewolfess wasn't sure but it didn't seem so bad.

Then Darius began to explain that he was going to put her in a chokehold. Her eyes widened slightly as it was a fairly scary thought of being strangled and not being able to breathe. Despite all the disturbing thoughts going through her mind, she trusted him. After being instructed to tap him when she wanted him to let go, Darius positioned himself on top of her and hooked his legs behind her knees. His strong arms moulded around her neck, restricting her breathing. Before long it was too much to bear. With her right hand, she tapped his back twice; straightaway his tight hold loosened and his arms parted from her neck. Her face now had a rosy glow and she looked into his eyes whilst thinking of something to say. "Good job, I'm sure that will be a useful move", she said quietly as she caught her breath. He then stood up and so did she. A slight smile formed as it was her go and she had the opportunity to put him in a chokehold. She wasn't sure if it looked easier than it really was but the werewolfess was definitely going to give it a try. Positioning her body up to his, she hooked her right leg behind his left and pushed forward. He was thrown off balance as well as her. She screamed momentarily until the two hit the frozen ground. The impact of hitting the ground caused her to lie flat against his body. Her hands held onto his shoulders and her lips were unintentionally pressed against his. Everything happened so fast.

When she smiled it was without a doubt the most charming thing he could see from her. Her lips were plump, heart-shaped and practically invited kisses. And her eyes. He had almost wanted to slide his finger underneath her chin to lift her head up so that he could see them fully. He checked her to see if she was okay from what he did. No bruises or signs that he’d done more than he should have. He let her go when she tapped him and stood up. Was she blushing? Darius said to her response, “In a one on one fight it will be. Vampires are all about mind tricks so you have to make sure they can’t use them on you.” He inclined his head, eyes drifting over her shoulder down past her neck as she stepped up against him her leg going around his just like he showed her. He braced, expecting her to throw but she didn’t make it all the way. Something must have thrown her off balance. The scream, as it was, momentarily surprised him and made him laugh when his back hit the ground. She had gotten halfway there but for some reason she’d fallen short and she’d been so close. When he reached up to push her off, he froze when her lips touched his in a sudden kiss. His mouth parted briefly in surprise. His fingers, which were wrapped around the sides of her waist to initially push her off, tightened. One of his jean-clad legs raised up for a short moment unconsciously before he ended up pushing her off anyway. Sitting up, he looked at her blankly his hair coated with wispy snow and clusters of frost. Silence settled between them. Then his face broke out into a wide grin. “Well if you end up falling instead of taking your opponent down then a kiss wouldn’t be a bad way to distract them. But don’t get so scared okay? Your enemy’s not going to be as nice as me.” He stood up, stretching and extended his hand towards her in a gesture to help her up. He said, the roguish grin still adorning his sculpted, rough features charmingly, “Think that's enough for today. May I help the dear lady to her feet?” If truth be told he hadn’t minded the contact at all and though she wasn't that good at the moment he knew these things took time and practice. Lots of practice. For someone who didn't have much experience it was as good a start as any.

As soon as her brain registered that her lips were against his, she pulled back; kissing the brute wasn't on her agenda right now and she felt slightly overwhelmed from it all. His hands held tightly onto her waist during the accidental kiss before pushing her off of him. His action was favoured by the werewolfess. This degree of closeness was currently too much for the fae. They both sat up and stared at one another silently. Delicate snowflakes resided upon their dark hair and melted onto their toasty flesh. The atmosphere grew faintly awkward until Darius' face brightened with a wide grin. His expression in turn made Serenity stop from biting her lip and flash a smile back. Her negative thoughts were cleared as soon as his lips parted to form an encouraging grin. His smile was so genuine and comforting. Being outside in poor weather attempting fighting moves with a stranger wasn't really her kind of thing, but alongside Darius it was enjoyable to a degree. Serenity nodded to his words and laughed a little, making humour out of the whole situation. The brute rose to his feet and politely offered his hand. She took it and helped to pull herself up, smiling at his gesture. "Such a gentleman", she replied with a gentle laugh. The two followed the path on their way back to the heart of the territory. Today's events were totally spontaneous and Serenity didn't plan anything to happen apart from taking a walk on her own. Darius' company was very nice. The constant exchange of smiles symbolised that the two got on fairly well. After eventually parting ways with the brute, a glowing grin remained on her face. Regular training with the brute sounded splendid. Getting to know one another more personally was an exciting thought. Having a close friend is always a comforting feeling; someone who you can talk to no matter what can sometimes keep you from going insane. A friendship could always blossom into something beautiful.