[PRP - North] Rethinking [Thrain & Rumi]

[Quaji]

It was wonderful. There was an active recruitment going on for more to fill out ranks in the North which meant that there would be new blood to train soon enough. Still, as great as that was, it meant there was more work to be done which meant late nights and early mornings. Not like he already didn't do that, but he probably end up more tired than he does now. The male lion walked through the central hub of the North, trying to relax before his evening training session with a few rogues that wanted to become guards. It wasn't nearly as impressive as the West's bazaar, and the sound of song did not fill the air as it did there. There was a longing for that house again in his eyes as his head turned to face its border, but the North was his home. It, along with the rest of the pride, needed protection and he had a duty he was proud to play.

Still, it was lonely. He was a captain. Many say him simply as some strict, impersonable stick in the mud. It made for boring days and boring conversations that were filled with nothing but work. One of the few lions who did not see him as such was actually a duke of the North, but that didn't help people's view of him.

"I wonder how dad's doing...?" Thrain mumbled to himself as he looked over the faces of the North that congregated to trade the sparse resources it had with traders from other houses.  

[Quaji]

It seemed neither of them were truly paying attention.

Despite looking around him, Thrain seemed to have neglect to actually looking in front of himself. It was a little too late for that as something bumped directly into his chest. Startling him out his people-watching, Thrain stumbled back, shaking his mane, obviously trying to recompose himself just in case he had somehow managed to bump in to the emperor himself. As he looked back, expecting to see someone he would recognize, he found himself accidentally staring.

He didn't recognize her. Nothing about her coat rang any sort of bell in the back of his head about who she was. Was she important? The Lord's mate perhaps? A princess from a far off land on a diplomatic mission? Or was the reason he did not know her because she ranked lower within the pride so he didn't concern himself with knowing her? For whatever reason, he s till apologized. After all, he was still a captain and he still had to keep up appearances.

"My apologies, I didn't see you there."  

[Quaji]

"There is nothing selfish about thinking of one's self."

It was something that Shan had told him at least one time that Thrain could recall. Despite the hectic lifestyle that many lived, everyone needed to make time for themselves, lest they lose their sanity to whatever ails them. "Besides, we ran into eachother, so we are both at fault. No one is more to blame." Perhaps the duke's calm way of life, taking things in stride, was beginning to wear on him. Soon enough Thrain would probably be sipping tea in one of the North's hot springs. The imagery of that alone was amusing.

"Do you...have a name?" Regret fell over him as he played back the stupid question he just asked over again.

Of course she had a name.  

[Quaji]

Língchén. He would have to remember that name.

"Mine is Tie Shi." Thrain replied with a dip of his head, giving his own name in exchange for her's was polite, though truthfully he probably should have given his first. Particularly right after the two had collided into one another.

Her question though took his back slightly. He would have expected that kind of question from one of his soldiers, but she didn't seem like a soldier, but then again. The members of the Tianxia were fiercely devoted to their pride, so it wasn't so far-fetched. After pondering for a moment, Thrain managed to think of a sort of reply, many thanks to duke Shan for getting certain notions in his head.

"If we always put the house before ourselves, we would all be dead." How odd of a thing for him to say. Quickly, Thrain continued his thought. "The hunters would work to exhaustion and become ill. The guards would patrol until their paws bled daily. There would be no rest. We would all either die from starvation because our hunters could no longer hunt or simply all collapse from exhaustion. To benefit the North the greatest, one must look after themselves before tending to the needs of others. Because we care for ourselves does not mean we no longer loyal to the North, to the pride. It simply means you always want to give it your best. Which is what it deserves, is it not?"

Shan always stressed to relax, enjoy life, to not take things too fast and now it seemed the duke's philosophies were wearing on the captain. Somehow the words he just spoke didn't even seem like his own. They were too deep, too thoughtful.  

[Quaji]

He hadn't meant to go on for so long, talking that was. Somehow he forgot how much her talked if there was no one there to stop him. Typically that was Han or Shan, but they both had the authority to tell him to shut up. In this case, he outranked her, why would she stop him?

Almost anxiously, he shifted his weight from one paw to another. "Others may suggest what they see fit for you, but they only see part of you, though they may see parts you do not. Follow your own instinct. No one here will force you to become more than you want to be." She had a good mind though, and if she was already considering becoming a guard, maybe...

"Would you...be interested in sparring with me? It would let you test your skills and maybe seeing how you fare will help you reach a decision you are comfortable with." Truthfully, Thrain was interested in seeing if this hunter was right about if becoming a guard would be a better use of her talents. There would always be hunters, but even guards were in short supply these days. A new recruit would always be welcome.  

[Quaji]

"Wonderful!" For a moment he let his normally stoic appearance fade to show his genuine enthusiasm at getting a chance to duel against her. It didn't last long though. Clearing his throat, the mask came back on, one that let him be the guardian that the North needed him to be. "I assume you know where the training grounds are. They aren't hard to find, any guard or soldier can direct you to them." Really it was just a rare flat, open space but it served its purpose, as did they all. "Tomorrow at sunset then?" The question was more of a suggestion which didn't leave much room for negotiation. It did seem a little romantic, but it was easier than meeting at high noon or some hour in the afternoon where it would be easy to leave one of them waiting for hours.

"If you'll excuse me though, I have others waiting on me. I hope to see you there, Língchén." Leaving her no time to truly reply, deny his time or anything he smiled, bowing his head to her and finally left meet his trainees.

If she really wanted to spar with him, she'd be there.