Shaping Young Bodies {Younglings}

Taking in a deep breath and letting out a long sigh with her eyes gently closed. Lamilia opened them once again after letting out the calming sigh, moving into a classic Soresu stance as she uttered in compliance to her Master's advice, "Yes, Master."

She motioned to attempt to deflect the feint falling right for it out of her lack of experience, especially one at the Sage Master's level. Her eyes widened upon realizing the feint, she quickly attempted to readjust falling back to the modicum of Makashi she knew to block the strike coming at her legs. Cringing as the attack came down at her left shoulder, she immediately used the Force to increase her speed and leap backward narrowly evading the attack by less than an inch. Sliding on her feet in a low three point crouch, she breathed heavily with wide open eyes. It was quite evident to her she could not keep up with him, there was still a large gap between there ability as what would be expected.

With a deep inhale and exhale calming herself once again as she centered herself with the warmth of the light side of the Force, she rose back to a Soresu stance. With a twirl of her blade she spun around cross-slashing at the Sage Master's left side. She had not taken notice, yet to the younglings entering the sparring area, her mind was too focused at the task at hand - sparring with her Master. All other distractions she tried the best she could to block out of her mind.

({Note: Ekerin's thoughts in italics, speech in green. Here we go...})


Ekerin slowly padded down the hallways of the Jedi temple, steps ahead of the small mass of other assorted younglings following him. He wasn't exactly happy he had been more or less elected to lead the others to class today, and his face held a rueful smile that barely turned the corners of his mouth upwards. Soon though, he located the sparring chamber that Sage Master Ackbar had designated for afternoon training, speeding up his pace while stepping off to the side so that he wasn't trampled by the younglings around his age that edged past him excitedly, guessing at their destination. Leaning against the wall next to the door, the Amaran smiled reassuringly as he ushered the smaller, more hesitant younglings inside the room.

"Come on Keria, I don't bite."

Ekerin said, permitting himself a small laugh as he guided the last eight year old girl into the room. After giving the hallway another quick scan to make sure that everyone had made it inside, Ekerin smoothly slipped through the doorway himself, almost running into the mass of children he had just guided inside. Standing on tiptoes to see over the larger apprentices, Ekerin watched Master Ackbar and his apprentice Lamilia sparring, and his clawed digits readjusted themselves over the comfortable handle of his lightsaber in anticipation. The subtle thrum of lightsabers in use reached him as he started to draw upon his senses, and Ekerin's ears rotated forward while his tail shifted behind him anxiously, all of his attention now raptly focused on the match in front of him.

({Constructive criticism of posts welcome by the way. X) })

Tanak flitted in and stood watching the match in awe. He stood near Vakar, his Zabrak friend. They watched, impressed as the duel moved between the combatants. Tan wanted to so badly move like that. It was an amazing feeling to spar at his level. He would work like they did so he could see how it felt one day. He nudged Vak.

"What sequences do you think they'll teach V-man?" His friend just shrugged without taking his eyes off of Master Ozzril and his apprentice.

Knowing he was was not going to recieve a verbal answer anytime soon he began to look for someone who'd be a good partner. He and Vak sparred far too often and needed to learn other peoples styles. Tan hoped he could pick up movements and ideas he had yet to think of from different opponents. He nodded at ekerin when his glance passed by the boy. He was a decent guy, and he looked out for the younger kids. Of course, he mostly looked out for them so Tanak and Vakar couldn't use them to grab extra dessert during dinner.

Ekerin caught Tanak's nod of acknowledgment out of the corner of his dark blue eyes, and issued one of his own with a quiet, wary smile that didn't reach his cunning eyes. With that, the slender Amaran slowly started to sidle forward against the wall, trying to help guide the other younglings out of the crowded entryway and disperse farther out along the walls. While moving, Ekerin's mind started to carefully arrange his observations about the human boy.

First observation. They were both about the same height. Equal footing there.

Second observation. The human boy was much bigger and heavier than him. And probably slower.

Third observation. One of Tanak's friends was around, and should be watched carefully for signs of scheming, though he doubted anyone would be dumb enough to try something with master Ozzril in the room.

The Amaran sighed mentally. He had barely managed to avoid getting splattered with juma juice from one of their pranks the week before. And his split-second evasive roll had still managed to get his clothes dirty. However, the lithe Amaran could care less about clothes, most importantly, his pride had been wounded at the time by Tanak's laughter.

Ekerin owed Tanak a little something for that incident... He decided that, given the chance, he would choose to spar with the human boy, if appearances were anything to go by, it would be... interesting...

Tanak let a sly smirk pass onto his features as he turned from the small vulpine boy. He knew the boy was faster than him, and perhaps a bit stronger than the slim formed creature appeared.

His attention turned back to the duel at hand and his eyes moved carefully over both the master and his padawan. He took in their stances, the position of the blades, and there distribution of weight. When he had entered moments ago Master Ozzril had fired off two quick strikes before commiting to his actual attack down on her shoulder.

He was confused when Apillis doged and retaliated with a slash of her own. He wasn't sure, but the calm and steady energy Apillis exuded from her person and her stance was a sign of Soresu. He had read on it, and seen some of the masters use it on occasion when they sparred.

With the little he knew, a practioner was supposed to wait for an opening to appear in their opponents defense. Perhaps she was forcing an opening? He watched for any kind of error, but could not find one. The smirk that had remained in place since the begining fell. He began to formulate motions, evasions, and strikes he could incorporate into the sparring and practice that was about to occur.

{OoC: Well, due to Apillis taking a break, I will be excusing her from this thread, after this post, Lamilia will no longer be in the room. Also, though I would have rather waited for more younglings, this will have to do.}

Ozzril smiled as Lamilia returned the attack, her form perfect, but not practical. Lightsaber still clutched reverse style in his right hand, he brought the blade up so that Lamilia's would collide then slide down the blade, as her lightsaber hit near the tip of his the aqua blade he jerked it up, knocking her blade high as he spun and stopped with his blade hovering just over her right shoulder. Had this been a real fight, Lamilia would now be missing her right arm.

"Good Lamilia, good, except for one thing- a Soresu user doesn't respond in combat until the moment is right, and by attacking me, you forfeited the battle. Keep that in mind dear, and I'm pleased to say it looks like your stance has been perfected."

As he finished speaking he turned to see the younglings. He noticed several of them had taken to talking among themselves. Lightsaber still lit, Ozzril swung it fast and hard, the aqua blade humming loudly in the air. That should get their attention...

After that Ozzril turned and eye to Lamilia and reached out with the Force to her. Dear, I can feel your exhaustion in the Force, go clean up and rest a bit, I'll come find you when we're done...

The old Mon Cal turned his attention back at the younglings as Lamilia left, his mouth opening into a smile.

"Good day younglings, hope you came ready with your lightsabers."

Said the Jedi, grateful that these lightsabers could no more cut than they could play a holonet show. He stepped back all the way to the other side of the sparring pad, motioning for the younglings to follow.

"Come come little ones, leave everything but your lightsabers on the floor. Line up with two bodies of space around you and ignite your training sabers."

Ozzril smiled as the various lightsabers ignited, blues and greens shooting up from their handles. He himself lowered his to a comfortable position before taking a step forward and snapping the aqua-marine blade upright in a two handed grip.

"Do as I do, this is a starting stance for the base of all lightsaber forms- Shii-Cho."

And so the class started, and Ozzril was ready to part knowledge unto these young minds, how to use a Jedi's greatest tool- the lightsaber.