Lovers Quarrel

Smack! Sly's palm connected with Lara's toned ass as he slipped inside her guard and pushed the long-hafted axe strike off target. Lara, Ariel and Sly were stripped down, sweating and breathing heavily. Lara wearing a sleeveless knee length tunic, her hair and eyes wild as she wielded her blunted training weapon. Sly and Ari both wore nothing but a cloth wrap about their waists. Sly as wild looking with his grin as Lara with her scowl while Ari looked insufferably poised. Their dance had been keeping pace for long hours, becoming more and more of a teasing play as the afternoon wore on. The game had become a spectator sport at the end of the day for the locals who cheered on their favorites over Conor's first brew.

"You bastard!" She growled at Sly with mixing feelings of frustration. With a growing smile to match Sly's Lara looked past him to her angelic counterpart. "That's it! New game, Get That Fucker!"

"I like this idea." Ariel replied stifling a giggle. Prompting a chorus of cheers at the turn of events.

"I feared this day." Said Sly with exaggerated resignation as he took a sword blow from Ari on a forearm hardened with his new 'flesh of ironwood' spell at the last instant. As fast as he could react Sly was hard pressed to defend as Lara's sweeping strikes limited his mobility and Ariel darted in thrusting with inhuman speed. For several minutes he weathered the attacks, setting the pace with precise maneuvering.

The feeling of Nyali and her newcomers passing the gate was enough of a distraction that he slipped. Lara's instincts were sharp and she sized the moment to slam her shoulder into his torso, knocking him back. Sly regained focus in time to spot the set up. Lara's low horizontal cut was baiting him to leap while Ariel had unfurled his wings and was preparing to launch an attack from above.

With Nyali's group coming into sight he settled himself into fae-lord mode, best to make a good first impression after all. He caught Ariel's ankle with a root as the angel left the ground while he chose to handle Lara head on. With all the **** he could muster he kicked the haft of her axe, splintering it and sending her off balance as her momentum stopped suddenly. Knowing she was more likely to bludgeon him with the stick than give in right then he changed tactics, stepping in and pulling her into a kiss that broke her focus. Sly continued to grapple Ariel with roots until Lara went weak in the knees and Sly pulled away leaving her to sink to the ground.

"Ahhhh! That tickles, we give. We give!" Ariel cried out as roots crawled over him binding him to the ground. This set a new round of cheers, wolf-whistles and jeers through the spectators. Lara shot him a glare but acquiesced as Sly released Ariel and lifted her by the hand.

"Can I play too?" Nyali asked quietly as she approached the trio, to a few sympathetic voices.

Simon scanned the small cadre Nyali had brought. Five scarred wolf-kin bearing features resembling Terra, one adult pair standing at the fore with an elder male and two young ones behind them. An ancient orcish woman who's skin was covered in ritual scars accompanied by younger woman bearing fewer scars and a large pack. Almost overlooked were the three tiny women. The goblin lady watched everything with a calculating eye while the pair of halflings whispered feverishly to each other in hushed, sing-song voices.

Remembering what she was supposed to do Nyali began her introductions. "Pack Sablemane led by Eris and Flint." She indicated the wolf-kin couple. "Bone speaker Ugak and apprentice Snak of the Mighty Oak tribe." She indicted the orcish women. "The sisters Ata and Pika Greenhand." The Halflings did their best to look like they were paying attention when they heard their names, though no one was fooled. "And Seer Trossa of the..." Nyali lost her place as she had known this as Glazk's band and that wasn't true anymore.

"Maybe nothing." Trossa finished for the lost cat-girl. "If this is some treachery I die and the band scatters. If what you offer is real we would be... The Sly Lord's band... Unless the cat wants to lead."

Simon nodded in understanding before he spoke. "I understand what I'm asking of some of you. Raiding has become a way of life. The humans say hunting is theft, refuse trade and alliances. How could it not? What I offer is sanctuary, a third option. You may stay here, in my wood. All I demand in return is that you follow the One Law. If you wish to trade here and remain independent, I welcome you as friends. If you refrain from raiding in the Heart Margreve and wish nothing else to do with me then go in peace."

The Sablemane leaders seemed ready to explore the wood and Flint spoke up first. "We can smell the game, Pack Sablemane will bide by your law. Tir an Fiain will be home. Ask no more of us."

"Make good on your offer." Trossa said simply. "Then we see." That gained the grunted approval of Ugak.

"Nyali said you lick pussy real good." The older and thicker halfling added, to her sister's eager approval.

Sly laughed as Lara darkened and hid her face in his shoulder. "I keep my promises. For now, refresh yourselves. Tonight we feast in honor of new friends." He said to the assembled crowd, gaining a few cheers from slightly drunk locals.

From his shoulder Lara whispered. "Yer lucky those pixies are getting better, with yer last second feast. Now see to my friend, she's earned this."