The italics are in Viridianish. Viridiani. Hm, need to come up with a name for the language. Struggled enough with naming the country. Seriously, if you have a suggestion for a better name for something or someone please tell me. Usually I just resort to translating random words to do with their character.
The sound of wooden swords clashing was audible before the training area even came into sight. It was based in one of the larger trees with a multitude of tree huts poking out from its branches and ropes leading away from it. On one plateform teenagers were reciting ancient strategy poems in their own language while their one-eyed instructor watched grumpily, his small dark mask not hiding any of his displeasure as he interrupted a student yet again to correct their memory
"'I have heard that in war, haste can be folly' Master Li. Not that I know that in war haste can be folly."
Further down the tree, just above them, younger students were practising hand-to-hand combat, which would have been a serious class had it not been for their ridiculous boasting before each practise fight. It seemed that some of the twelve year olds had yet to embrace the silence and serious atmosphere of the adult population.
"I am the greatest fighter who ever lived. Bow to the future Captain of the Guard, Dragonwind!"
"Wind is right! Fart of the Dragon! I am greater than mere wind, I am Stormking!" The two circled each other confidently, watched by their exasperated teacher.
"Wolfpaw!" The trainee closest to the edge of the platform noticed their small group.
"Wolfpaw!"
"It's Wolfpaw!" They abandoned their lesson and slid down the ropes and tree branches to surround the visitors.
"Wolfpaw, who are these guys?"
"Are you coming to teach us Wolfpaw?"
"Wolfpaw, mentor me. Please!" Wolfpaw smiled at the kids
"These are the visiting Aruleans. Can you show them your language skills?" He asked
"Hello." One of the trainee girls said shyly. Thw others suddenly lost their shyness
"Oh, oh are you rangers? Leafwhisper said rangers were really stealthy and awesome. Better than him."
"Yeah, and Sparrowshot said you were great archers too! Does it take ages to become a ranger? It takes ages to become a Guard. I have been ready for a year!"
"I bet you couldn't beat Captain though."
"He's the best!"
"Okay, okay. Calm down now. Let them have room to breath." Wolfpaw interrupted. The students started to lose some of their energy, subsiding to whispers and grins "Do you mind if them ask you some questions?"
"Not at all." Will said easily
"Ooh! Is it true you can turn invisible?"
"Can rangers really seen dirty air where you have been breathing?"
"Do you have a top secret base?"
"One at a time." Wolfpaw reprimanded them. The little students fell silent.
"We don't turn invisible, we see tracks on the ground, not the air and if I told you we had a secret base I KNOW certain people won't rest until they find it." Gilan said. There were a few knowing smiles in the little group.
"How long do you train for?" Halt asked "And what weapons do the Guard specialise in?" He glance sideways to Wolfpaw, checking he should be asking questions back. The eyes behind the wolf blinked slightly in surprise as Wolfpaw took in the ranger's almost chameleon like way to immerse himself in different cultures. Juts the language and looks, Wolfpaw thought, or I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
"Ooh, ooh!" Halt looked at the sea of little hands. He pointed to a little girl who was positively jumping up and down "We train until one of the existing members is satisfied with our abilities and is ready to take us with them on their duties."
"But Wolfpaw's NEVER had an apprentice." One of the others said, turning pleading eye to the man "And he's been around since the beginning." The girl glared at him for interrupting before continuing.
"We specialise in whatever feels most comfortable with us. We try lots of different weapons in training and choose our favourite. Usual our mentor is someone with similar talents, but not always. We always thought Falconheart would be apprenticed to Sparrowshot, as they both use bows, but Boarskull uses spear and javelin."
"Sharasan, Wolfpaw." Hayate stood on one of the platforms. His mask glinted in the sun and he was leaning on a wooden sword. "Taking a tour as well?" He gestured behind him to the Iberion Princess and Skadian Oberjarl.
"Captain!" Wolfpaw said smiling. Hayate moved smoothly down the rope to land next to them
"Sharasan. It is nice to see you again."
Hey! Sorry it took a while, but my mocks are finally over! Hopefully I'll be faster now.
And yes, Guest. Wolfpaw and Gilan are certainly going to have a sword fight, haven't decided who will win though. You guys want to choose?