|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:50 pm
Fia was many things, but patient she was not. When she had her heart and mind set on something, she would follow it through immediately. There was no 'sleeping on it' or 'thinking long and hard'. Fia was fiery and spontaneous and even though her decision to fight had been made only a few hours ago, she was already up and looking for her first lesson.
She'd decided to follow Mzaa's advice and seek out her son, Mwako, to see if he would be willing to help. Heck, even if he did say no, she'd likely just force him into battle. She might not have been trained, but she was sure she could bat him about enough that he'd give in an retaliate - if only to protect his pride.
Her tail whipped as she moved down amongst the sands to find him, scenting the air for any trace.
If she couldn't find him, she supposed she'd have to find someone else. She had all this energy coursing through her. Energy waiting to be released. If she could train until she dropped, perhaps she'd get a decent sleep.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:57 pm
He wasn't able to find her today, and it worried him. His mother was acting awfully peculiar as of late and gave him no notion of why. It angered Mwako'Damu greatly, made his blood boil, and made the Firekin hunter, who trained in secret, want to opt for battle. Want to opt to face the nergui head on. He would protect his mother, his family, his pride. He would protect everything here so that perhaps one day, if his siblings ever returned, they would return to a healthy, strong pride.
Hunter by rank, but not by his father's lessons, Mwako was a large lion, even in the midst of the drought, and he would not let his muscles fall victim to circumstance.
Stretching before his lean exercise, he stopped, raising his head, letting silver eyes fall onto an oncoming dark form.
A little smaller, lithe, determined, by their walk.
He straightened himself, but knew with the markings on the incoming female who she was...his mother spoke of her so fondly. In truth, he wondered why he was not angry at her or anyone in the pride for sending his siblings away, but in truth, it was out of everyone's paws, the sun had other plans for her, he supposed.
Mwako'Damu watched her and as she was close enough, dipped his head slightly, "Finally, a face to the name my mother speaks so fondly of." He let his head rise and watched her idly, something appeared wrong. "There something I can help you with, Fia?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:04 pm
She blinked her odd eyes and pulled up short, speaking: "You are...Mwako?" The words were out of her mouth even as her eyes confirmed it. He was silver-eyed, big and strong, his scent was even a little familiar, tying him to her by blood. "Of course you are." She followed it up, dismissing her question with a wave of her paw.
She snorted, drawing her head up. As far as she was concerned, people should know who she was by reputation at least. Her tail flicked - though a little calmer now - and she drew in a deep breath to expand the lungs in her chest. "Apparently so. Your mother told me I should come and find you. She said you would be able to help me."
There was a pause and then: "I want to learn how to fight. You are going to teach me." She didn't phrase it as a question, thinking that perhaps he might say no. "Apparently you have some talent in the art of war. I want to learn from the best."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:13 pm
With her question, he merely quirked a brow as if answering yes, he was Mwako'Damu. She was distinct in character, she was not like some females here that still let a softness take hold of them. Fia, as it appeared to him, was hard and strong and fierce as the blazing sun, and as she spoke, he smiled. It would help her. He nodded, his dark mane falling into the view of his silver gaze, of course his mother had gone and told others of what he was up to.
But, in this moment, he was glad for it.
He could have been coy, taunted her, baited her a bit, but that was for a later lesson, "I will teach you," his father and perhaps even grandfather may not be pleased about revealing such things to an outsider of the family, of the bloodline. But Mwako'Damu was more of his mother in morals as he had grown.
"But first, I need to know what you can do," Mwako took a few strides from her and turned to face her, raised an arm and held a large paw, flat palmed out towards her.
"Come at me, and strike with all you have..." his eyes narrowed, "do not hold back...now!" he said with almost a roar, not of some infuriation with her, but to have her begin.
If she wished to learn to fight...he would give her all he had.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:20 pm
She gave a nod, feeling the heat of a smile at her success but shoving it back. She could smile later when victory was hers and she was declared ready to take on the 'monsters of the north'.
She blinked again when he shifted his position, turning back to face her with a paw raised up. What was this? Some kind of sign? Fia wasn't a mind reader! If he wanted her to react then--oh, okay, here came the explanation. Patience, Fia. Patience.
"You need proof? Very well." And she curled her claws into the sand and shifted, eyeing up the extended paw as if expecting this to be some sort of trick. Would he weave this into a situation that benefited him? Would she lunge and find her weight turned against her? Back to the sand. Spitting with rage at her stupidity? Her tail fell still and at his growling words she felt a snarl carve deep into her features and lunged out, quick and true.
She'd wipe the smirk from his face before this was done. She was certain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:32 pm
Mwako'Damu watched her, and she appeared confused. What was she waiting for? He quirked his brow again, silver eyes staring, and then she lunged, quickly, evenly, he watched her legs and paws as she moved, then her stomach to see if she was balanced. She had that, she had agility on her side. As her paw reached out towards his and struck, a slap of them together could be heard if others were around as she went passed him. He felt it in his paw, she had strength, but, he was not sure if there was hesitation, he needed that out of her.
He turned to face her, let slip his paw into the sand and maneuvered it to let the thrum disappear.
"Agility and balance in on your side, so at least those need not be taught," he spoke loudly and clearly. "However, as you strike, you must not hesitate." HIs eyes watched hers, watched for any spark of anger, emotion, anything. "When fighting, as I was taught, you can use pain, hurt, past experience and a want for vengeance, any of these, to fuel your strength, but, you must never let it cloud your judgement. It can become a haze and make it hard for you to concentrate and make clear attacks, clear strikes. Fighting with emotions is as if fighting with an eye closed, everything becomes skewed. That, is your first lesson."
Before she could speak, he walked towards her, calmly, "I don't know what you feel, how you feel, but do not think I am trying to push it aside, or trying to make you forget. I want you to harness it, use it to your abilities. Now, before we try another strike, I want you to know how to read another's movements."
He stood not an arm's length from her and crouched, "Watch me, my body, and mirror what I do, follow me, but try to not break eye contact, do not let your back become vulnerable, a hint, is to watch or get a quick glance at your opponent..or enemy's stomach or ribs. that area will move with them before they finish...now try."
He would start slow,y then pick up to normal speed.
She had the sight, the heart, and agility, and the speed, now she needed the determination.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:46 pm
Agile and balance.
She settled her paws deeper into the ground, concentrating on the sting of that contact made. It prickled the pads of her paw; itched in a way that made her want to strike out again in an attempt to rid herself of that sensation. And then his comment came. Hesitation? Had she hesitated? Well, if she had, she certainly wouldn't do so again! She scoffed, wrinkling her snout so that the tips of her fangs peeked out at him. The light of defiance came into her eyes.
It was good for Mwako that he had continued to speak, however, because once she got started on a rant about her 'hesitation' it may have been hard to talk much sense into her. "My vision is not skewed. I know what I must do."
Tear across the sands, roaring her fury, slamming into the Nergui with all the force she could muster, tearing and ripping until her enemies moved no longer.
She gave a low growl at the thought of it and the sand seemed to pulsate beneath her; as if to coax her into that action. But Mwako's voice brought her back and her bi-coloured eyes snapped to him, watching him move whilst he spoke. Something inside her told her that this would be one of the more difficult techniques to master. That was her problem before. She hadn't been able to read Mwako's intentions and that had had her thinking too long before deciding to trust him. In the battlefield, she could not do that. She needed to act instinctual and until she could, she would not be a force to be reckoned with.
"Very well, lead on." And she shifted into a crouch, trying her best to mimic his movements. Her eyes, as he told her to do, flicked to watch his side then darted back again to his eyes - as if not completely trusting that he wouldn't suddenly advance.
It was this lesson that Fia would struggle on. She was that passionate, angry fire that wanted to blaze uncontrolled. This would require practise and patience. Much patience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:53 pm
"Our worst enemy can be ourselves, Fia, if we do not trust what we can do, if you don't commit, well...I need not tell you...," Mwako'Damu simply, if was true. At one time Mwako'Damu wanted to be the best, try to use it to his advantage to try and find a female, someone to admire what he could do, but all too soon he realized his judgement was clouded by foolish desires. He had become his worst enemy at one time, but had long forgiven himself for it.
To be one's worst enemy was to be one's downfall.
As he lead on, she mimicked well, but, she seemed rather impatient through it. Her eyes, though dual colored, seemed to flicker with a desire he could not grasp, so he stopped and raised his body, watching her.
"Tell me what you want, Fia, what you fight for. What's your reason?"
He did not want her to have a petty reason like he himself once had, it needed to be more.
"I cannot teach you if you do not accept your driving force..." he said sternly, with a slight hint of a scowl across his brows..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:11 pm
She growled as he spoke, her eyes flicking, her limbs hastenign to catch up and follow his example. But the movements were odd and her muscles burned as she worked them. Exercise and training had never really been her thing...that's why she'd picked the nice non-moving work of Historian. That and because of Mzaa, of course. That female had been the only one to get Fia to commit to anything as a youth.
Mzaa was clearly a miracle worker.
And then he stopped and her growling silenced and she lifted her eyes to look at him, wondering why he had finished and whether the lesson was done. Perhaps she had done it perfectly?
"What?" The words blurted from her before she could stop them and then she pulled herself up and snorted. "What's it to you? Does it matter?" And then, at his next comment, her ears drew back and she scowled at him. "I want to fight for my people." She replied after a moment, a half-truth, she supposed. A moment later and she regretted it, though. This was Mzaa's son and here she was treating him like an outsider. She swallowed and tried again: "My nephew died. My sister will want to go to battle. I want to be there with her when she does."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:50 pm
"It is meant to matter to you, that is the point," Mwako'Damu was a proud lion, but he didn't want to pry unless it was needed. And if Fia wanted to fight, she needed to acknowledge for what or for whom she fought for. To fight for one's people was admirable, an honor, duty even, but it could not necessarily be the strongest force behind Fia's claws and paws.
They barely knew each other. He knew of her because of the fond words his mother constantly spoke of her. He felt as if they had known each other for a long time...although it seemed his thought was one sided.
She was defensive...and with her next words he knew why.
He nodded at her and took a breath, "to experience loss, that pain, can only be terrible I imagine," he, himself, only had the comparison of his brother and sister having to leave because of their huria rank. "But, you want to fight alongside your sister, your people, Firekin," Mwako took a few steps towards her to be close and outstretched a paw and placed it upon her chest slowly and gently as to not alarm her, "use what you've experienced, and make that your strength. Live your life here for him."
He offered her a kind smile and took a few steps back so that she might take it to heart.
If she did, he would take her to a spot he had shown no one, and her next training could begin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:02 pm
She truly didn't understand his meaning. He spoke of things she could not comprehend. She thought she had already turned her emotions to power. She could feel it molten in her veins; the need for blood, to fight, to kill. She drew on the feeling of her anger, pictured Nur'yu's image in her mind: the little cub chasing after her across the dunes. Eyes bright and cheerful. His shrill call of 'Auntie Fee-Fee' reaching her ears; carried by the wind. The tap of his paw on her shoulder as he tried to get her attention. His curiousness and boundless energy that had led to them finding Veru on the borders. So friendly and happy and she had refused to admit that she had cared.
Because she hated cubs, right?
No. That was a lie.
And, to her horror, the tears came unbidden to her eyes and - in an attempt to hide them - she growled low in her throat and tensed as he moved back; the weight of his paw remaining even after it was withdrawn.
"I will live for him. I will fight for him." She snapped. "I can do this and I will do it: with or without your help, Mwako'Damu."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:07 pm
Mwako's eyes focused on her, and as the shine of tears came to ehr eyes, it hurt his heart, he did not want the wave of pain to overtake her, but, she felt it, and that would be her strength. "You will, and you will make him proud." He offered her a smile while dipping his head. "You are ready, come with me, I'll show you what you'll need to take them..."
He took a few steps and waited to see if she would follow.
He would bring her to his training grounds, to the leanings, bleached tree that sat in the dunes have covered and have held up by stones that reached towards the sun.
"They will feel your strength once you are done, and they will know the strengths of two firekin in one."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:15 pm
Perhaps later she would sit and think and wonder whether Nur'yu would have wanted this for her. Nur'yu who would have wanted peace and harmony. Nur'yu who was gentle and kind and wouldn't want to have seen his family sad. Maybe later she'd realise that she didn't have to fight to make a difference. But right now Fia needed to do it. She needed to train. Needed to learn how to defend herself and the rest of her family members.
She was not going to stand by and lose another of her cherished kin. Not now. Not ever.
And thus, when he agreed to teach her, the relief of it must have shown on her face - if only for a moment. Then it hardened into determination and she gave him a short nod.
"Then thank you. That is all I ask." And she said it as if it were a simple thing. Something that could be taught quickly and with ease. Fia, however, was about to find out just how hard she would need to push herself if she wanted to rival that of the brutes threatening her land.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:26 pm
((time skip forward to mentioned location))
She had seemed grateful, even after what, some might think, he had put her through. He had not done such things to make her angry, saddened, or upset by any means. She needed to let go of what was holding her back, but harness it all at once. It was a difficult task but, in the brink of tears she had not wanted seen, the concept had settled within her. She was more than ready, and he would make sure her paws and claws could silence the roars of any who opposed her.
They came to the spot, somewhat away from the heart of the firekin, near an outskirt, not by any water sources in the past or now. Bleached by the sun, the great tree was white and barren laying against stones that jutted up towards the sky. They were like the slates the historians, his mother, Fia, painted upon, but were for training, not recording history. On the large tree, hardened by time and exposure, as well as the stones were scuffed marks as well as those made by claws.
Here is where he came to train, and where she would learn all he could give.
"The tree is hard, but if pressed upon from this angle, will move back against the stones, as if to give way to your body as if accepting the blow. The stones, however, will not move, but if you've an attack, a motion you wish to perfect, make stronger, make your paws more callous and ready, striking them will help."
He looked to her with a smile, "watch what I do, and try to mimic, as you see me strike out with this paw," he said holding it up slightly, "watch how I push my weight into it, and then release when I want to get away."
He then rushed forward at the tree, perhaps it was silly, to spar with something non-living, but as he jumped forward, his right forearm shot out, his paw outstretched, palm and claws out, and he hit it with a large bang, and he pushed his shoulder into it, then quickly turned and turned round the tree to land on his paws.
Mwako nodded to her, as if setting the release from where she stood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:35 pm
Fia had never been here before - though that was hardly surprising. The location was the middle of nowhere, the tree long forgotten by water that may have been and gone before even Makadari's reign. Even still, it was an impressive tree, standing there against all odds. Defiant. Brazen.
And then Mwako's voice rose up, distracting her enough so that she turned to look at him. He spoke as a master would and wondered, exactly, what rank he held within the military. She was not good at knowing who played what role within the army - seeing as she didn't have much time for the soldiers - but she was certain she would have known him if he bore the title of an officer. Was it just that he didn't want to climb the ranks? Was he just a lowly soldier?
And then he smiled and she couldn't help but smile back a little. He wanted her to attack a tree and better yet, he was about to demonstrate? She turned to watch him and then seated herself on the scalding sand, brushing her tail against gold to smooth the ripples made by the wind. He was swift, though, and afterwards she wondered why she bothered to sit at all. Mwako was on the tree within a split second and the dull thud of his attack shuddered through that tree. That miracle tree.
And then, at his nod, she flew to the task. She was enthusiastic, of course, and with them out here alone she didn't need to worry too much about looking stupid. Her claws out, she slammed her paw into the tree - seeing sparks as a blast of pain rang down her forearm. Then, in an attempt to copy him she tried to turn, though the motion was far from smooth. More embarrassingly, as she made the turn and landed again, the leg she had used to strike the tree gave way to a flood of 'numbness' and she almost fell straight onto her face.
With a loud snort, she pushed herself back up onto her paws, shook herself down and stomped the numbed paw down against the ground in an attempt to 'wake it up' again.
"That...could have gone better." She replied, somewhat gruffly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
