The training room is full of recruits practicing spear fighting with long wooden poles that have been rounded off at the edges. Among them is Dandelion, who is rather on the defensive at the moment. He seems afraid of the incoming weapon, and spends his time with the back against the wall, blocking and parrying without making a single counterattack.

Zeraph shifts into the room when he hears those fighting, always the curious buck. His whiskers give a twitch as he watches the recruits training with the spears, before the smile tugs at the corner of his muzzle. The fighter leans back against the wall here, just to observe the other hares. One ear is tilted towards the door, to listen for somebody if they happen to wander in.

Dandelion keeps up his exclusively defensive stance with mild panic in his eyes. He seems particularly afraid when the weapon comes near his face, something which his opponent notices fairly quickly, and takes gleeful advantage of.

Blue eyes shift towards Dandelion, and Zeraph just observes this particular recruit thoughtfully now. He makes that split second decision that he will probably not be a fighter, though it /really/ isn't up to him. The buck's attention focuses elsewhere for a while, to see if there is some officer present to watch the trainers.

Were there an officer around, Dandelion would probably have gotten a talking to by now, although he seems to wish for one, glancing around as if looking for help. Finally he's had enough of a beating for now, puts his hand up to stop his opponent, and goes to sit on a bench, rubbing his chest which is sore from all the blows he got from protecting only his face.

Zeraph hmms and turns back to Dandelion, though the other buck is moving towards a bench now. Well, recruits can be fun, especially if you're bored...and there are no officers around to bother you about it. The fighter moves up to the younger hare and leans down a little. "Good day." He offers a light smirk.

"Hello." Dandelion mutters, sounding tired and dejected. He glances up only long enough to realise it's not an officer, and then goes back to staring at his feet.

A thoughtful scowl is given, then he sits down on the bench beside Dan, watching the other recruits still go through their maneuvers, before leaning back, arms folded. "Having a bit of a time with it?" Zeraph questions, though he probably doesn't intend to be mean..well it all depends on what the recipient makes of it.

Dandelion grunts. "He was goin' for ma' face all th' time. He saw me gettin' that elbow to the nose yeste'day..." The buck reaches up to gingerly touch his nose.

Zeraph shifts so that he is sat up straight now. "Elbow to the nose?" His ears flicker backward and he shakes his head. "Bullies or something?" The fighter glances about the crowd again, searching out something.

Dandelion shakes his head. "No, no. Just accident in trainin'." The nose gets a thorough feel over. "Almos' broke it. Healer said to take't easy on it."

Zeraph leans forward on his legs now. Well, he can't stay still. Maybe he's just still going through the after-war boredom. "Aye...I know the feeling." The fighter lets out a sigh, then goes to stand.

Dandelion takes the cue to stand as well, picking up the wooden pole and looking around. The opponents have switched around, so his nemesis is beating up someone else now. As a consequence there is another opponent-less hare, on the other side of the room.

Zeraph goes to just sit down once more. Well, they switched quickly. "Maybe you'll have more luck with that one." He murmurs, then goes back to watching, all before-thoughts gone from his head.

Dandelion takes a look across the floor at the other recruit. "Don't know that one." he says, and then rolls his neck. "I won'er when they'll let us out for a bit? I'm fed up wi' all this trainin'..."

"You'll be happy for it when you're on the battle field." Zeraph glances over at Dandelion, with a smile. "And, no offense, but you may need all the training.."

Dandelion sighs. "Yea..." He tosses the pole from paw to paw, and then catches the other recruit's eye, nodding to him. "I don't plan on bein' on many battle fields, tho'..." he says, watching the other buck as he comes walking across the room.

Zeraph pulls his legs up on the bench, resting his arms upon his knees and watching the other recruit move across the room. "Then why'd you join the Long Patrol?"

Dandelion shrugs. "Wasn' much else t' do. I'm gonna be a runner, though, so hopefully won' have to fight all 'at much."

Zeraph laughs slightly and grins. "Aye, but runners..they usually handle the bows or slings..And, believe me, that ticks the vermin off real bad. They go after the archers often."

"Tha's what dad says too." Dandelion says, and then steps up to his new opponent. "Still, fightin's the last resort, isn' it?"

Zeraph nods. "Yes." He cocks his head to the side to observe the two as they train. Maybe he'll help them out?

It appears Dandelion's new opponent is more sporting than his last one, and a closer match as well. After just a couple of blows traded, Dandelion starts getting his confidence back and makes a couple of attacks. He's still fighting rather defensively though.

Zeraph seems to have a little more respect for Dan now, nodding his head slightly and staying back on the bench so as not to get in the way. He boredly looks off elsewhere again, but only for a moment. The buck won't interrupt them for now.

Dandelion trades blows with his opponent, neither one looking to be much of an expert in spears... but then again, that's why they're training. Every now and then one of them slips past the other's guard and gets a blow in at the chest at which point they apologise, return to neutral stances, and start over. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Zeraph can't help but think back to when /he/ was a recruit. They used to beat the heck out of each other and not even say sorry. That reminds him that he has to fight Icepaw again, though. If his ribs are better. "Having fun, now?" He finally asks. Of either one.

"Well, fun and fun..." Dandelion says. His opponent just shrugs. "It'd be fun to see th' outside of the mountain." he says, and Dandelion nods in agreement.

Zeraph grins, quite suddenly. It is an evil look. Perhaps they will learn, they are speaking with the Devil. "That can be arranged."

Dandelion and his opponent both lower their "spears" and look at Zeraph. "Oh?"

Zeraph nods and stands again. "Of course..If you want to leave so bad.." The fighter just goes to walk towards the exit, then turns, speaking loud enough for the whole room to hear. "That reminds me. The Colonel needs at least two of you recruits to assist me on the beach!" The buck looks thoughtful, then points to Dan and the other. "I may as well take you two. Drop your spears and let's go."

Dandelion frowns and shakes his head. "Can't. I have t' get by the infirm and have me nose looked at."

Zeraph sighs and just goes to head out. "Fine..Maybe later." Yep..

Dandelion resumes the mock fighting with his opponent. Parry, thrust, parry, thrust...