Private The Dog Goes Woof

[R'Ruug]

R'Ruug's blows seemed to do something to the shorter padawan, as he had to fall back and regroup. The Whiphid scrunched his brow in concentration, taking a step forward to continue the chopping assault. He was mid-step when Tenn shot back with a quick blow to his side. The bulky farmer tried to jump back, but he was far too slow, as the yellow blade passed along his ribs. A killing blow, had the duel been real.

"Hmm," he grunted thoughtfully.

R'Ruug barely felt the blow, his tough hide absorbing any discomfort from the low-power blade. After taking a slow step back, a poor attempt at a dodge, the new Jedi was back to his one trick, running forward like a madman to chop at his sparring partner. This time, he had the foresight to chop from slightly different angles. Up-left, up-right, straight down. There was no hint of defense, as the Whiphid tried his best to overwhelm Tenn's arm.

Still not even a suggestion of finesse, but perhaps it was a little better than his first attempt.

- Tenn Kalos -

 

[Tenn Kalos]

The blade made contact. Tenn was suddenly impressed with himself. He couldn't begin to compete with R'Ruug hand-to-hand, but he could dance his away around the bulky Whiphid all day long.

It didn't stop him from trying the same strategy all over again. Tenn prepared to roll again, only to see his opponent had changed up his strategy just enough to mix in some horizontal cuts. Tenn's overconfidence in R'Ruug's predictability became his down fall, and even as he began to strafe, he was struck by one of the sideways swipes. The force of it stung, and he fell back onto his rear. "Ouch," He felt it a little more than the Whiphid did, "Alright, alright. You're learning," Slowly but surely, just like Tenn. The padawan went on the offensive, rushing forward, and as he got close, he would attempt to slide under R'Ruug's legs, and attack from behind.

R'Ruug​

 

[R'Ruug]

R'Ruug's thoughtful hum was the exact same as he scored a hit on the more experienced Jedi. So, that worked, and the first thing he did didn't.

So... he should do more of the second thing.

"Thank you." The Whiphid felt a little spark of pride as Tenn pointed out he was learning. It wasn't a feeling he got often, so it took him a moment to identify the burning happiness in his heart. But soon enough, his opponent was up again, and R'Ruug set himself up again.

He didn't expected Tenn to take the initiative, or for him to slide under the farmer's legs as he executed a poorly-timed swing. He felt a tingle as he was tagged again, and spun as fast as he could to keep the street kid in his sights. "You are very fast," he said, scrunching his face. How could he keep up?

Maybe he just had to swing faster?

So that's what he did, muscles in his arm, built up from years of hard work, bulging as he tried to swing from side to side at Tenn's midsection. If he was quick enough, maybe the near-human wouldn't be able to attack him back?

- Tenn Kalos -

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn grinned, feeling his blade make contact. "Thank you," Tenn replied. He didn't have many people he could spar with like this, so it was a nice experience for both. To keep up with his opponent's speed, R'Ruug hastened his flurry of attacks, and had the stamina to keep it up. Tenn jumped back, avoiding the first swing, but they kept coming. Each swing was strong and just fast enough to keep Tenn from mounting any proper response, so they were engaged in their longest bout yet; Tenn constantly stepping backwards and putting up a block. R'Ruug's strikes were easy to read, but difficult to counter, leaving Tenn with little more than a hope that he might outlast being batted around.

Given R'Ruug's nature, that was unlikely. And after numerous exchanges, Tenn moved back again, only to find himself stopped by a wall. The surprise that came with it, and his lost mobility, saw Tenn disarmed, his hilt skidding across the ground, while he rubbed his now stinging hand, "You are very strong," Tenn appraised.

R'Ruug​

 

[R'Ruug]

R'Ruug's flurry of attacks was quick, devastatingly strong, and entirely telegraphed. There was never any doubt about where the Whiphid was aiming, when he would hit there, and how hard he would strike. It was... a perfect reflection of him. Resilient, hard-working, straightforward, simple.

But, at least this time, simple seemed to do it. Tenn backed himself against the wall, stumbling as R'Ruug batted away his saber. The new Jedi blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that, either. R'Ruug let out a single, long breath, taking a moment to glance down at the training saber, and thumb off the ignition.

Then, it took him a couple of tries to clip it to his belt. He would need to get used to this new tool.

"You are very strong."

"Mmm," he grunted, a smile tugging at his face. Mr. Kalos was nice. The golden-maned boy massaged an elbow. "I could not... think... While we were fighting. There was not time. And you were... moving, and rolling!"

"How do you think so fast?"

- Tenn Kalos -

 

[Tenn Kalos]

There was an aspect of Tenn that was a little embarrassed, effectively being beaten by a kid who just got here; But R'Ruug was nice, and didn't seem to dwell on it much himself. In fact, he was already talking about what Tenn had done right in the battle, rather than relishing in anything he did. Tenn was cocky at times, but he wasn't particularly boastful, and he appreciated when others could hold that back themselves. Neither young man was a born and bred Jedi, here they were out of their element. Perhaps there was some camaraderie to be found.

"I… dunno," Tenn replied, scratching his head. He'd never really thought all that much about how he was fast before, "I kinda had to be fast when I was young, so, years of practice, I guess." After a pause, he tried to approach the subject from a more Jedi-like mindset, "The Force helps to. It protects, can help keep you safe from danger, if you know how to listen to it." And sometimes even if you didn't. As he had gotten more training, Tenn had realized much of what he was learning, he already knew, but never had a way to process it until then. A sixth sense that had always been with him, improved his reflexes and intuition. Before, it had just been one of those things he didn't think about; Something he might as well assumed everyone experienced, if he ever did wonder.

R'Ruug​

 

[R'Ruug]

"Mmm." Another grunt of muted understanding came from the tall alien's throat. "I had to be strong when I was little, too." They both had years of practice being them. Who they had been before becoming Jedi, a street kid and a laborer, deeply informed their styles. Fast, strong. Smart... slow.

Tenn talked about that Force again. Valery Noble had explained it to him yesterday, but still it was... confusing. As were a lot of things. R'Ruug turned towards the tree, studying it with blank, golden eyes. "I still do not understand the Force." The Whiphid continued to massage his elbow. It had been aching ever since he'd awoken that morning. "It is... energy. That you cannot see or touch or smell or taste... How do you listen to something you cannot hear?"

R'Ruug could speak with animals. He could use the Force, in that very specific skill. But he'd never felt it before.

- Tenn Kalos -

 

[Tenn Kalos]

"Sometimes I don't feel like I do either," Tenn admitted, "That's a… very good question." It was hard to comprehend the experience, and almost just as hard to explain it. Certainly for a kid like Tenn, and certainly to a kid like R'Ruug.

"It's every sense, but also none of them. It's something that you don't feel quite like you do the rest. You can taste, and you can smell, right? They're completely different sensations, but at the same time they're linked. Does that make sense?"

"The Force is kind of like that, with all your senses. It can be hard to recognize it, but once you've found it, you'll start to notice it all over. The Jedi around here will teach you as much. As they've put it, the Force is pretty much… everything." Tenn paused a moment, trying to remember the words from one of his lessons, "It binds anything and everything together in the galaxy. Like nature," He appealed to R'Ruug's sensibilities, before shrugging once more, "Basically. That's all I've got, anyway."

R'Ruug​

 

[R'Ruug]

For the first time since he'd arrived at the Temple, something explained to him about the Force made complete sense. He'd never thought of it like a new sense, he'd never used anything besides the regular ones before. But he had this sense, he knew. He just needed to learn how to use it.

R'Ruug listened intently, golden eyes glowing with the intensity of his stare. Then, he nodded. "I do know that. That nature is everywhere. That we are all... bound." He let his mind flood out in every direction, his joy at being here, being alive, being free saturating the air around him. Every insect in the air, every duracrete slug in the walls, every padawan's pet in the area, even Tenn himself, would feel a great elation suffusing the area.

"That is the Force, maybe. All of us, connected. Being together, being happy."

"That is a good explanation, Mr. Kalos. Thank you. And thank you for the spar."

- Tenn Kalos -

 

[Tenn Kalos]

Tenn was surprised, and happy to be understood. He pointed approvingly at R'Ruug, "That's it. That is the Force," If they could both understand it that way, there had to be some truth to it. Tenn had become acquainted with some of his peers, but none quite seemed to register on the same wavelength before R'Ruug. It was a pleasant experience. He breathed, and the world breathed along with them.

"That is a good explanation, Mr. Kalos. Thank you. And thank you for the spar."

Tenn dipped his head, "Thank you as well. It's been good to meet you, R'Ruug. Maybe we can find more time to practice." Shep hopped up and stretched, as if sensing that things were wrapping up. He joined Tenn's side, panting up at the Whiphid expectantly.

R'Ruug​