Story name: Testing 1,2,3,4
Author: Chris O'Kane
Publication date: January 5, 2000 (on TSA-Talk)
Date: Early September, 706 CR
Location: Metamor Keep (Long House)
Overview
Misha practices his taur form by having a duel with Rickkter in the Long House.
Summary
Rickkter enters the Long House to find it padded with straw for combat. Misha is in his taur form practicing with Danielle, both armed with staffs. Misha easily knocks down Danielle, and is glad to see Rickkter has arrived, so he can have a real fight. As Rickkter gets prepared, the Longs question why Rickkter is here, and why they should trust the equally-suspicious Matthias over him. Misha silences their concerns, that he knows Matthias's secrets and trusts him regardless, and that he knows Rickkter won't go easy on him. Meanwhile, Kershaw makes sure Rickkter's padding is on; there is always the chance of a serious injury or death.
With staffs ready, they first circle each other. Then Rickkter sits down and taunts Misha, trying to goad him into charging. Misha tauntingly suggests a staring contest. Rickkter suddenly charges, twirling his staff, but backing off whenever Misha tries to use his weight. After several minutes, both are tired, and Rickkter stops to analyze Misha's body and suggest some tactics.
In the next round, Misha takes offensive, but Rickkter is quicker, sliding under him and poking him in the underside. Someone jokes not to make Misha's girlfriend unhappy, and when Rickkter turns to retort, Misha charges and gets a few hits on Rick. Rickkter redoubles his attack and forces Misha back, to which Misha shoves him with his front legs, tossing him across the room over the mats. He staggers to his feet, and Misha decides they should break. He asks why the heavy onslaught, and Rick says he doesn't like being cornered, and to be glad he survived the fight.
Rick says he is impressed by Misha's powerful front legs, but wants him to try using his back legs. Specifically, he wants Misha to fight like a war horse, instead of like an infantryman. Misha starts up another round. After a slow start, and Misha over-relying on his staff, Rick tells him to fight like a horse; as if to emphasize, he jumps onto Misha's back like a horse. Misha tries bucking him off, and finally succeeds when he starts to roll over, kicking Rick before he can attack again. After more staff blows, Misha rears onto his hind legs and tries to kick. Rickkter jumps aside and knocks Misha's legs from under him. Misha falls in his direction, and though Rick jumps clear of his full weight, Misha's front paw hits him and hurls him into the wall across the room.
Rick nearly passes out until Kershaw throws some cold water on him. Both have mild injuries; the Longs help them limp their way to Coe's, where Coe finds that Misha has broken his ankle and will have to stay in taur form for a few days, while Rickkter has sprained his shoulder and side.
Caroline and Kayla arrive, furious. Misha assures her that it was an accident and he'll be fine, but Caroline accuses him of being stupid and trying to out-macho Rickkter. Misha says he wanted to get stronger so he can protect her better, and prevent what happened to her or Craig. Caroline stops him, and gently says it was bad luck. The two reconcile and head back to Misha's apartment.
Kayla, meanwhile, grabs Rickkter by the ear and hauls him off. Coe grins as Rickkter screams down the hall.
Characters
Main characters:
- Rickkter: A raccoon morph, a battle-mage and Misha's friend. He helps Misha fight more efficiently in taur form. He suffers a sprained shoulder and side.
- He wears chesting padding and gloves.
- Misha: A fox morph, head of the Long Scouts, Rickkter's and Matthias's friend. He is able to assume the taur form, but wants more practice with it to protect Caroline. His left ankle ends up broken, and will need to spend the next few days in taur form.
- His taur form weighs about 900 pounds. His front and back legs are 6 feet apart, and can stretch to over 10 feet. He has two hearts, one in his anthro torso and one in his taur torso. His diet has not changed as a taur; he merely eats 5 times as much.
Minor characters:
- Danielle: A pine marten morph, a Long Scout. She distrusts Rickkter.
- Kershaw: A red panda morph, a Long Scout. Of the Long Scouts, he seems to have the friendliest relationship with Rickkter, personally ensuring that Rick's armor is secure.
- Baldwin: A condor morph, a Long Scout. He openly questions Charles's background.
- Arla: A collie morph, a Long Scout. She asks why Misha would rather fight Rickkter than a Long Scout. She trusts Misha's friendship with Rickkter, and is among those suspicious of Charles.
- Caroline: An otter morph, a Long Scout, Misha's girlfriend. She is learning the flute, and was at an afternoon music lesson when Misha got hurt. She is furious that he would hurt himself on something as stupid as a duel, but gradually softens when Misha admits that he's scared of not being strong enough for her.
- Brian Coe: A raccoon morph, the Keep physician.
- Kayla: A skunk morph, Caroline's friend and Rickkter's girlfriend. She enters with Caroline, and says nothing until Caroline has left, and just hauls Rickkter out by the ear.
Important mention:
- Charles Matthias: A rat morph, a Long Scout in training, secretly a Sondecki, Rickkter's rival and Misha's friend. Not long ago, Rickkter gave his Sondeshike, a Sondecki fighting pike, to Charles, who then never returned it. Rickkter is angry that he hasn't. As Charles is joining the Long Scouts, the Longs have more sympathy for him than Rickkter.
Referenced:
- Craig: A prairie dog morph, who died on Caroline's last mission. Misha was a close friend of his, and he wants to prevent anyone else dying like him.
Locations
- The Long House usually has carpets and furniture. Here, it is instead padded with straw mats.
Chronology / Story Connections
- Misha's concern for Caroline, as with other recent stories, stem from Casualties of War.
- Caroline's music lessons began with Dream's Aria: Light Meets Caroline.
- She was still too injured to play for a while, but if she is able, then this also takes place after Rickkter's healing in Balance in All Things; a fact corrobated by Daylight Fading, if Kayla was with Caroline.
Points of Interest
- Rickkter has never seen a centaur before — which perhaps shows how isolated Rois is in the Keep.