|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:22 pm
 Chimera's extremities buzzed with excitement. He tried not to be too excited about it. It wasn't anything really important, honestly. It was just a little game with a pup, really.
But still, there it was. Excitement. Quivering deep in his chest.
He slipped through the trees, trusting that the other wolves would be quietly nestled away in their dens. He had snuck away into the night several times before, ever since he was a young pup. He and Isobel used to come and play at training when they were both young and such games were acceptable, before Isobel began training in earnest. He had good memories here, inasmuch as he had good memories about anything anywhere.
He settled down beneath the tree and waited. The bark was stripped away in places, clawed off by his own claws, and those of his sister. They had sharpened their claws against this tree trunk, and practiced climbing, and challenged themselves to jumping. He examined the trunk and smiled, slightly, recognizing his own marks, and those of his sister.
Now...to see if Lucian would come.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:48 pm
 This was foolish. He knew it. It was obvious. Even the stupidest of males would know not to do this. Obviously, then, Lucian was beyond stupid. He was clearly insane; because, rather than doing the smart, sane thing and staying in the den and forgetting that the strange conversation with Chimera had ever happened, he was sneaking out and praying that, whatever they were going to do, they would not get caught.
The young male sighed and shook himself violently. There was no use in worrying over it, now. He had made up his mind and, no matter the consequences, he would not turn back now. Not from so fine a prize as this.
All too soon, yet not nearly soon enough, Lucian found himself in the little clearing that Chimera had indicated, and found said wolf waiting for him. He greeted the older male with a nod and then waited, wondering what they would be doing, exactly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:03 pm
Chimera rose to his paws, looking Lucian over thoughtfully. "I wasn't sure you were coming," he said, sizing the younger wolf up. Lucian was younger, but already nearly his size. His weight, anyway. Chimera had always been scrawny and bony and angular.
"The queen's consort is a dangerous wolf," he said, finally. He wasn't sure how Lucian could possibly have grown up without knowing about his grandfather, but then, Achilles was rarely around, and the Sisters would hardly talk about him. "A trained killer. And he taught me...a few things. When I was just a bit younger than you."
He hesitated. Why was he doing this? Why was he bothering?
"Your uncle Patroclus was my partner, for awhile. But...not anymore. He and Achilles are....too busy." It was the game of pups, not something he was meant to continue as an adult -- of that much, he was sure. But Chimera had no intention in allowing himself to become weak. "So. You will take his place."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:23 pm
Should Lucian have been able to read Chimera's thoughts, he would have agreed. How could he not have known such a thing about his own grandfather? Never mind the fact that they barely knew each other. Such a thing was inconceivable. It was not something that one would think could be kept quiet.
Unless, of course, he had simply been living under a rock his entire life...which was quite possible, really. It wasn't as though he really cared about anyone other than his family, beyond their ability to help him further his goals.
Well, that was neither here nor there. He had more immediate matters to attend to, like wondering when Chimera would get to the point.
"I believe you have already indicated as much, cousin, and I am here. What is it I am to do, exactly?" How do I fight? What can you teach me? Are you as capable as you imply?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:36 pm
A small, coiled ball of dislike unfurled in Chimera's belly at the younger wolf's insolence. This was nothing new. Chimera felt dislike for nearly everyone.
"Well enough," he said, and took a deep breath, trying to think of where to start, and how to begin, and what to teach. How do you teach fighting? You fight. It wasn't that difficult.
Well, so there it was, then. Unable to think of anything to say, he darted forward, head held low, and aimed a bite at the other wolf's chest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:54 pm
Completely unprepared for the sudden attack, Lucian was barely able to scramble out of the way in time. Then again, perhaps he should have expected it. Chimera did have a bit of a nasty streak, or so he had always suspected.
But he had no time for such thoughts. He had to keep on his paws and it would probably be best if he could figure out how to strike back...
"What?" he asked the older male. "No pointers?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:06 pm
Chimera swept past him, then wheeled around, purple eyes glinting with something suddenly fierce and dangerous. "First lesson," he growled. "This is not a game."
This was a bad idea. He could feel it already in his heart, welling up unpleasantly. So much anger that lived just beneath the surface, and now with no prying eyes to watch, to condemn. His rage-filled cousin Django had almost fought with him...but it had never happened. And now, like a bomb, he was volatile and ready to explode at a moment's touch.
"Second lesson," he said, crouching down. "The best defense is a good offense. Hit me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:23 pm
It was impossible to miss the dangerous change in the other male. Suddenly, Lucian was even more wary of this whole thing than he was before. He should have questioned his cousin's reasons more carefully. Surely he would not try to kill him? How would he explain it? For that matter, how would Lucian explain it if he suddenly developed injuries overnight?
No.
No, there would be none of that. It would do him no good. Chimera was right about one thing. It was not a game. Wolves did not fight for the fun of it; they fought to survive. To protect what was important to them.
Lucian felt himself grow more serious. Almost unconsciously, he was analyzing his cousin's movements, watching how agile he seemed, circling the younger male like that. The position of his paws. How he balanced his weight.
Hit him? Well, that was the point, wasn't it. Still, a frontal assault seemed futile. If even he could dodge something like that, surely Chimera, who was much more experienced than he, would not succumb to something so simple. No. Something a little trickier. Using agility, like Chimera.
So, Lucian started for the older male, heading straight for him before dodging to the side at the last moment, hoping to catch him in the side. Hoping that he would not see through the ploy and would not be fast enough to dodge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:35 pm
Chimera was light on his paws, lighter than such a gangling wolf had any right to be. A lifetime of pushing his body to its limit and hard labor as a slave had sculpted his muscles into taut razor wire, and though he wasn't expecting Lucian's feint, he managed to dodge sideways at the last moment, feeling the other wolf brush past him. He aimed a donkey kick at him as he passed.
"Good," he said, wheeling around to face him once more, and without further speaking, he darted forward again to n** at the other wolf's flank, curious if he would think to defend himself so soon after a charge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:53 pm
Lucian did not, in fact, think to defend himself so quickly. Chimera's kick had taken him completely by surprise, and a whuff of air was forced out of him as he, too, scrambled sideways and away.
He was lucky, though; he was fairly sure that there was no serious injury. Just a little wind knocked out of him. He would not make the same mistake again. So, he quickly turned around, trying to recover precious oxygen, ready for whatever Chimera would throw at him next.
When the attack came, he decided to take the offensive rather than simply scramble out of the way again. He tried to imitate Chimera's ease of movement, twisting his body away from his cousin's fangs while trying to sink his own into his target, instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:00 pm
Chimera grimaced as teeth caught his skin, but the look on his slender maw was one of grim satisfaction. "Yes. Good. Give no quarter." He danced away from the pup, vaguely wondering if the bite had left a mark, but deciding it was not worth stopping to look. He'd come up with some excuse for it, if it became an issue.
"Attack, attack, don't give them time to recover." He slipped forward again, moving like a snake through the grass. Lucian had weight on his side; if he could hit Chimera just right, there would be no way for the lankier wolf to throw him off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:18 pm
Lucian was pleased with his small success, but he knew that it was not enough. One little n** would not slay an enemy, though he had no particular desire to kill his cousin, that did not mean he should not act like it. At least, he should be able to do better than that.
However, he had no time to dwell upon it as Chimera came at him again. What now? What was beyond a little n** here or there?
Lacking any particular inspiration, and not knowing what else to do - he had rarely gotten to see the warriors training - Lucian decided to try tackling his slimmer cousin. If he could pin him, the older male should be at his mercy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:27 pm
Chimera was fast, but not quite fast enough. He dodged almost completely out of the way, but Lucian's charge caught his back leg and buckled it. He allowed himself to drop, tucking his legs to prevent further damage. He might have been able to keep his feet under him, but not without risking a broken leg -- and that would be impossible to explain.
He hit the ground hard, awkwardly, caught on his side, for a fraction of a second completely at his cousin's mercy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:00 pm
Despite being amazed at his luck, Lucian did not hesitate to press his advantage, however brief it may have been. After all, was that not what Chimera kept telling him?
However, he found that his own legs had gotten tangled with Chimera's, costing him precious seconds before he could make any other aggressive motion. By the time he was free, he doubted that he would still manage get another hit on his cousin. Still, that did not stop him from trying. He aimed for the neck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:31 pm
Chimera wasn't sure how seriously Lucian was taking this. He was frightened that he might press his advantage too far, take the opportunity to tear him apart.
As the teen's legs grew tangled, Chimera struggled to get his own gangling limbs beneath him. He shoved himself messily to his paws, backing away and panting slightly. He ducked his head down, protecting his throat, and pinned his ears back, waiting to see what Lucian would do next.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
