Only half a season til Orangemoon. That was the main thought that occupied Aryel's mind. Half a season til her duel with Crowley. Half a season til she could finally send the arrogant unicorn crying for his mommy. She couldn't wait.

But although the mare was foolhardy, she wasn't a complete idiot. If she was going to fight Crowley and do it well, she would need to be at the top of her game. Practice made perfect.

The first horse willing to spar with her was Note, another Throat soldier. She had met him briefly once, but they had not had a chance to speak much before they had to resume their patrols again. Neither of them had duty today, however.

"And again, I really appreciate you lending your time for this." the blue mare was saying as the two of them navigated the small canyon that led to her favorite sparring ground within the Throat. The walls of the canyon were far over their heads, and a lonely wind whistled through the sandstone gorge. A canyon certainly was an odd place to spar, but Aryel knew it wouldn't be narrow for too long. She had used the walk there to explain about her future fight with the Basin's Weaver, as well as her desire to train until then. "Oh, here we are." she said as the canyon opened up into what was nothing less than a natural arena. The ground sloped down slightly into a large, circular floor of sand ringed by canyon walls. The ring was not enormous, but more than wide enough to give two sparring horses plenty of space. She had fought here before, with Levi. She felt a pang as she realized it was the last time she had him. Where was her friend?

Aryel paced towards a large outcrop of rock that bulged out of the wall, then turned to look over her shoulder at the bundle of sleeping bat that crouched on her withers. "Java." she said quietly, causing the bat to wake with a tiny snort. Noticing the rock, he clambered up her neck and across the bridge of her nose to cling to the rock with his hind claws, wrapped his wings securely about himself, then went to sleep again almost immediately. Once her companion was secure, she trotted to the center of the ring to wait for Note. "We can start whenever you're ready." she said, turning to face the stallion and assuming a light-hoofed battle stance.

(No magic or companions, 3 posts each. I can sketch out the arena if you need me to.)

Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."