|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:59 pm
Elda had her orders: find a good teacher and find one quickly. Someone who was going places. Someone who had rank. Someone who could try and pass some ambition on and inspire her to do something with her talent.
Yes. Elda had a pushy, bossy friend. Sometimes she wasn't even sure why they were friends. She and Su were so different that most would have guessed that they never even would have spoken. Somehow, though, it had never really seemed like she'd ever been given any other choice in the matter. Su had spotted her and made that decision and the contract between them was signed and unbreakable. The little 'princess' was just lucky that Elda didn't mind taking orders - even from 'civilians', apparently.
Anyway, there had been some new promotions in the ranks as of late and the young soldier-to-be was hoping that maybe one of the corporals would have an opening for an apprentice such as herself. One of these newly promoted Firekin was a female by the name of Moto'Seide and it was she who Elda was currently attempting to track down. After all, Siede came from a good strong line of Firekin and had a good reputation amongst the soldiers. To be trained under her would be...well, it would be amazing! Elda was very rarely excited about anything, but the prospects of this had even her eyes sparking.
It was early morning and the young female headed to the only place she knew to start looking: the training grounds. They had been a little emptier than usual, since many had lessened their daily regimes to go and help search for water; a search that Elda had not participated in herself. It wasn't that she was lazy (she trained hard, after all) she just didn't like the thought of spending her time looking for water when she could be strengthening and bettering herself in her own craft. Her refusal to seek had earned her some annoyed glares, but so far no one had openly approached her about it. And, so long as it stayed that way, Elda was happy to stick to her normal routine. Besides, there were already enough eyes looking as it was and it was hardly likely that she'd ever venture far enough from the lands to spot anything. Going...out there was a somewhat daunting prospect.
Now, anyway, where was this corporal she was looking for?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:44 pm
"Vutha." The corporal's voice was loud and sharpened with agitation. "It would behoove you to try."
The male in question, dark where his sister's markings were light, shrugged his shoulders and gave a sigh. The male still lived at home, sparkling his orange eyes at Kaanga and managing to avoid his father's requests that he find a place in the community. He would accompany his mother to teaching children, at times, but he seemed more inclined to stay home and waste the day in the shade.
"I'm not really interested in guarding." Moto'Seide had tried to convince her brother that it was no different than his home. He could find a shady spot on the pridal borders, and talk back to anyone who tried to enter without permission. Vutha, however, had not shown up to his apprenticeship with a Guard twice over, and now no one wanted him.
Sometimes, she wondered why she tried. "Dismissed."
Moto'Seide's brows were furrowed as she watched him go, and she swallowed down the regret in her throat before going to check in with a Brigadier.
From the corner of her eye, she spied the young, strong adolescent female. One that seemed to be there with a purpose, but with eyes that were searching. A moment passed where Moto'Seide had planned to let this fact slide, and then the lioness stopped.
"Can I help you find anything, or anyone?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:33 am
Oh! There she was! Unfortunately, Elda was so taken aback that for a horrible, embarrassing moment, the only thing uttered from her maw was an extended, "Uh..." And then, after a few seconds, she clamped her jaw shut, shook her head and tried again.
"You're...Corporal Moto'Seide?" She growled softly at how awful a first impression she was making.
Elda was not as socialised amongst the troops as she probably should have been. She knew the other apprentices by name, of course, and a handful of soldiers, but conversations were not something she dabbled in much and approaching a lioness of rank was certainly a first to her. Strangely irritated at her lack of social skills, she curled her claws into the sand and tried again.
"I was, uh, looking for you, Corporal, Sir." That was a little better. "I'm Elda. I'm training to be a soldier... I was wondering whether you were accepting any...any apprentices at the moment. I'm told I have reasonable skill and...I need a new teacher." She cleared her throat hastily. Might as well get straight to the point. "So that's why I'm here, Sir. Someone told me you might be looking for some talent amongst the apprentices." She winced, wondering if that sounded too pushy.
It probably did.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:18 am
Kimaria Sorry about the delay! I got sucked into ME2.
"I am she." The answer was given with an upwards bob of her head. Elda was scanned from nose to tail as Moto'Seide made her own, personal assessment. Ears turning to catch the sounds of other shifting soldiers, the Corporal waited.
Another look over. Reasonable skill. Polite.
"I am." The tone of her voice had deepened, the vocal chords in the words more loose, as though she were pleased. They sharpened shortly thereafter. "Dedicated adolescents with work ethic, who know when to follow an order." Skill could come with time. "And when not to."
"I'd like to see you under pressure, first, but training would begin tomorrow, at sunrise. We will meet every third rise of the sun for specific training, and between those times, I expect you to be working and training with other soldiers." A pause, as she waited for questions, or concerns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:05 pm
Kaelyndra You can be forgiven for that! *has been playing the first ME pretty much every evening this week* ;; I have two more play-throughs to do before ME3! Need every variation possibleeeee!
An ear flicked and then the Corporal's confirmation brought her back into focus again, her eyes daring to meet with the elder one's again. Dedicated? Well, Elda fancied herself as dedicated as they came. After all, wasn't Su always complaining that she did nothing but train all day? Following orders? Ha, a breeze! Elda loved to take orders! She wasn't a leader by any means, which led both to weaknesses and strengths in her performance. But wait...
She needed to know when not to take orders? Well...that wasn't so good. How did she tell the difference between an order to action and one that should be ignored? Shouldn't all orders be carried out to the best of one's ability? Maybe...not?
There was a moment of silence before Elda realised that Moto'Seide had finished speaking. Oh, wait, no more thinking. Talk, talk!
She strengthened her posture and lifted her head. "Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir!" A blink. "I have learned much already and am looking forward to learning more. I was born to fight, Sir. This is what I want to do." A pause, thinking, and then; "You said, under pressure, Sir?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:26 pm
Kimaria You and Mims are ridiculous! Just the one playthrough exhausted me.
"That is what I said, Elda."
The lioness jerked her head to the sands behind them, where a space had been carved out by the repetitive movement of quick footfalls.
"Get in position."
Seide did not wait for Elda to ask questions, or rebut, instead turning on a heel and finding her own place in the practice-grounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:15 pm
Kaelyndra I have to confess to being a liiiiiittle obsessed. I'm currently on my fifth Shepard ;; although I haven't quite finished my fourth play-through yet, so it's more like 4.5 at the moment. I blame Mims. Mims and xbox achievements. But, mostly Mims.
Immediately embarrassed by her reaction and, feeling suddenly nervous, she threw a glance at the empty stretch of sand that had clearly been used in previous training sessions and gave a sheepish nod - probably the first she'd ever given. Elda was known for being a bit of a brute and a tom-boy, but her idolisation of her 'superiors' had made her suddenly shy and jittery.
Su would have laughed to see it.
She jolted into motion, hastening to get into place, shuffling the sand testily beneath her paws as she settled into a defensive posture opposite the other female. Was this a test? If she failed, would she be laughed out of the ring and forced to face the facts that she just wasn't good enough? Would all of her best friends plans be ruined? She couldn't even bear to think of letting herself down so badly. To make a fool of herself now...it would be devastating. Which meant, of course, that she had to do well. Or, well enough to impress the Corporal. So, what would impress her? A show of strength? Eagerness? The pushing of fear to make the first move? Perhaps...perhaps something more subtle; the hanging back to observe and wait. Elda hadn't really figured out her 'style' yet, though more often than not she'd be the first one to make contact - particularly when she'd rough-housed with her siblings (one of her favourite games.)
She said nothing - which was not unusual for those who knew her - and kneaded her paws into the sand, hunkering her body into a defensive position, tail swinging behind her. The eyes in her skull grew brighter and sharper; her heart pounding wildly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:00 am
Kimaria Lmfao! Wow. Yeah, I usually blame Mims, too.
It gave Moto'Seide an idea. "Have you had training outside pridal borders, yet?"
The lioness took a step to the right, beginning a slow walk around Elda, looking for weakness, and forcing Elda to rotate her position if she wished to her eyes to follow Seide's movements.
Then, a jumping lunge, towards the apprentice's back leg. It was a feint, aimed on causing Elda to turn her shoulder into an oncoming blow. It was not meant to humble Elda, but to test how her automatic responses operated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 3:22 pm
Kaelyndra LOL. Poor Mims. Bioware should employ her as head of the publicity department.
As her mind wandered, she did manage to pivot to keep the other female in front of her and, when at last she found a reply, it was only to find the Corporal leaping towards her, swinging out at her hind leg with a paw. It knocked Elda from her reverie and snapped her back into the test that she might fail at this rate. Snarling at herself, she span to evade the paw, twisting her body in the exact way that Moto'Seide would have predicted.
Elda realised her mistake all too late. Her hind leg had avoided being landed with a hit, but the evasion had left her front vulnerable and she felt the blow across her shoulder - a stark realisation that she was completely floundering under the skill of this more experienced fighter.
With a startled chirp, she leapt backwards, frantically trying to put some distance between them; kicking up great clouds of sand as she tried to settle back into a defensive posture. Her head had dropped low now, her eyes once again focused straight at the other. She tilted her body side-on and began to circle, cautiously moving closer as she did so.
And then she remembered the question.
"No." Perhaps an elaboration was needed? After all, it had been so long since the question had been asked. "Why would I want to train outside the pride? No fights will happen there."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:42 pm
Kimaria She seriously should be. Bioware no doubt is in love with people like her. Free advertisement.
"The sands strength," Moto'Seide began to explain. "Is also our weakness."
Yet, Elda was correct. This would not matter, if fights were kept to the Motoujamii lands.
"But where your job is to command your physical body. " Moto'Seide lunged, coming far short of Elda; testing to see if her apprentice would go the extra few inches to land a blow.
"Mine is to think ahead. If there is a known enemy at our borders, I would sooner see them perish before they can place ill upon our young and our elderly. It is more honorable to fight the home in the home, but smarter to dispel an enemy before home is reached."
Moto'Seide took her through three more experimental motions, lasting no more than a few minutes. When they stopped at the Corporal's nod, her breathing was increased though far from heavy.
"When I next ask a question, you will bring the answer to me at the beginning of the next lesson." The lioness shook herself down, flinging the residue of sand from her fur. She was not as sleek as she once had been - the water had taken its toll on the health of all.
"Tomorrow at sunrise. Do not forget. If you do not have any further questions, you are dismissed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:28 am
Kaelyndra Sorry, Kael ;; I suck big time at responding! At least this can be considered a closing post? If you'd like anymore RP, be sure to give me a shout! I don't know if we already have AIM addys but I'm Kimaria33 for future reference <3 I'm pretty much available for RP at any time.
Also our weakness..
The corporal pounced and instead of moving to take advantage of that weakness, Elda shifted further away - not realising, until it was too late, that Moto'Sieda had never meant to land a blow. A test then. One she had failed. Growling at her own inexperience, the young red female took up circling again, determined now to show some sort of talent to her future master. She nodded again, at the sage advice.
"Take the battle to them. Surprise in making the first move--an advantage."
Thankfully, her ability seemed to show through in the next few exchanges, though it could be said that she took perhaps a little too long to decide on her course of action as she tried desperately not to make a mistake. It was different, duelling against this female. Not at all like the clumsy bouts of attacking her siblings and other apprentices. And, unlike Siede, Elda was certainly tired out from all the concentrating and tension in her muscles.
Grateful for the test to be over, she snapped to attention when she was addressed and then bowed her head in understanding. "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. No questions, Sir." And then, dismissed, she backed up a few steps and loped off across the sand.
And though she was tired, there was certainly a proud angle to how she held herself. The Corporal was now to be her teacher! Certainly something to be excited about. Thankfully, Elda was not much one to brag.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
