Serious Business|Clan Fira, Naurorod

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Ansrax was a professional, first and foremost. He handled everything with emotional distance and analytical prowess, and flexibility: If a plan did not go as it should have, you either went with the backup plan or the backup-backup plan, or you improvised.

Right now, he went with improvisation. Completely winging it. He would ask Ann questions, hear her answers, explain he was not going to go easy on her, and go from there.

So after a simple breakfast and tending to Belaria, Ansrax waited, whittling a pair of knives from some dead wood he had taken from Clan Char's grounds.

[Northen Light36]

Ann doesn't take long to come running up, her dingo pup by her side, her spear in hand and her eyes bright with excitement at this new game. "I'm ready!" she annouces proudly, standing as tall as her lack of height will allow her to.

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"So you seem to be." Ansrax did not look up from his work. "I must ask you some things before we begin, Ann," he stated, straightforward as ever. "What do you know about disabling your enemy? If disabling does not work, will you find the strength to kill in order to protect yourself or someone dear to you?"

Now he looked at her. "And do you trust me not to hurt you, even though I will not, under any circumstance, go easy on you?"

[Northen Light36]

Ann hesitates for a long moment, then looks up at Ansrax. "When Mizra came to our clan, I speared him because he was going to hurt me. It isn't that different to spear someone and hurt them then it is to spear and k-k-kill them... is it?"

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"It is very different." Ansrax looked into the distance. "It is very different indeed. When you disable someone, you stop them temporarily. When you kill, you stop them for good, and it is heavier on your conscience."

He held out the wooden knives. "I will prepare you for that possibility, though with any luck, it will pass you by for some time. Now: You are aware of your size. Many opponents will likely be larger than you, though not as large as I. Where do you strike someone larger to disable them?"

[Northen Light36]

"Their knee?" Ann suggests. "Then they can't chase me if I run."

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"A good idea, but it is best to aim at a larger target. If it is possible, hit your assailant anywhere on the thigh. In the inner thigh, especially; there are large veins that supply blood to the legs. Even nicking one will make your opponent think twice about chasing rather than getting medical attention." Ansrax paused. "Do you become squeamish at the sight of blood?"

[Northen Light36]

Ann shrugged. "I don't like fighting, but I like my family getting hurt less. I fought in the war with Uncle Damien and with the scouts."

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"I will take that as a no." Ansrax held the knives a little closer. "We begin with these. Knives are easily hidden on one's person, and are extremely versatile. For someone of a small size, they are ideal. Work with a spear can come later, since you appear to have familiarity with it."

A final question. "Will your dog stay put if we are to spar?"

[Northen Light36]

"Ember's a dingo," the little girl replies, taking the knife. "Not a dog. But she'll stay if I tell her to. Ember, stay. Off guard." The dingo pup whines, but lies down meekly in the sands.

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"Good." Ansrax stood, setting his tools aside. Without warning he reached for Ann as if to grab and restrain her, just to see what she would do.

[Northen Light36]

Ann yelps, her mind suddenly recalling her kidnapping, and instintively tries to hit Ansrax, resulting in managing to clumbsily 'stab' her new trainer.

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"Very good." Gently, Ansrax caught Ann's wrists to get her attention. "Were these not wood, I would be on the ground." And if not for his pants, he would have a very red welt on the outside edge of his left thigh. It was just a scratch, however, a testament to how hard Ann had been swinging.

The bounty hunter released her and tried again, and again, finding himself pleased with his new student's reactions. Ann was a quick learner; it probably wouldn't be long until he would not be able to grab her at all.

Neither of them got a break until lunchtime, however.

[Northen Light36]

By the time lunchtime comes around Ann's visibly exhusted and it's only the stubborness her bloodline is famed for that's keeping her on her feet. No one's ever worked the young and admitedly spoilt girl this hard before.

"I don't wanna do this anymore!" she shouts, throwing the wooden knife at Ansrax. "I want to play. This isn't fun!" Scowling, Ann crosses her arms. "Get me something to eat and drink," she orders.

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Ansrax looked down at the girl, crossing his arms himself. "That behavior is most unbecoming, Ann. You said you wished to learn. Self-defense is not something you discard when you're bored and expect to work later," he said simply, just hints of chastising in his tone. "This is not supposed to be fun. You hurt now or you die later."

He knelt in front of her, placing a hand on her head, and made her look into his odd brown eyes. "Now collect your weapons, and politely request 'Master, may I please be excused for lunch?' I will pardon you then."