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 Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:07 pm
 Training with Megaera had started out well, but she was merely one of the cubs. Facio fully intended to train all four of them as far as each could possibly go. If only one succeeded to his standards, at least he'd have doubled the amount of area that could be searched at once. But the pink male had no intention of settling for only one at this point in time. Now he awaited Tisiphone, the second eldest. Facio had no reason to go in anything other than age order, so he'd simply started with the oldest and would go in descending order. This did mean his only son would be last. This could be a good thing, for at least he'd have done this three times by then. So far, he was pleased overall. Now he awaited the purple cub.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:20 pm
Tisiphone had heard about Megaera's training with their father and was eager to prove herself to him as well. Unfortunately, she had no idea what to expect despite what she had heard so when she was summoned for her turn at it, she tried her best to present a serious face but nearly tripped over her own feet when she approached her father. Her eyes widened and she caught herself, stomping her paws and standing firmly in place a few feet from Facio. "I'm ready, Father!" she squeaked.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:37 pm
Facio raised one eyebrow as he considered this, his second child. Whereas Megaera had been controlled, calm, and determined to emulate her father, Tisiphone was excited, clumsy, and obvious. He'd have a lot of work to do with this one.
"Are you truly?" the lion asked. "This is not simple hunting or combat you will be asked to perform. Do you truly believe you can infiltrate any group, find out any information, and leave again without being caught?" The male's tone indicated that he severely doubted that would be the case.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:56 pm
Despite her clumsy entrance and her father's doubtful tone, Tisiphone held her head up, puffed out her chest and narrowed her eyes. She would show him she could do this! Because she would do it, she would make him happy. She would, in fact, do it right now if she was asked. How successful that would be depended on who you asked.
"Yes, sir!" she said, "I am!"
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:00 pm
The adult's expression didn't change in the slightest. Enthusiasm was all to the good, but utterly useless if it couldn't be concealed behind whatever expression was currently necessary. His own sister, the one he sought so dearly, could not for the life of her fool a person into thinking that she felt something she didn't. However, she had long made up for that shortcoming by hiding all thoughts behind a simple expressionless mask. Which was better than this cub of his had done thus far.
"You have not proven this yet," he rebuked Tisiphone. "I know you are eager and excited. But so does anyone else who might see or hear you. How does that serve your purpose?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:09 pm
She frowned at her father's question. It didn't serve any purpose to be obviously excited.. but she had tried to calm down, to look ready, to be ready! What was giving her away? Visibly deflated and doubtful, she looked around her feet and realized her tail was moving erratically. With a glare, she stilled it and with great force of will, she kept it from starting again. She turned back to her father, nearly shaking from the effort to stay still.
"I- I can learn!" she said forcefully, "Please, Father! Teach me!"
Tisiphone was still barely holding onto the hope that this was not going to be just one lecture about her inability to sit still when it mattered. She was determined!
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:14 pm
Well, this was improvement. Focus the cub's attention, point out where she was failing, and she was indeed capable of learning. He hated to have to be so obvious, but perhaps he could manage to teach the child subtlety. That would be an admirable goal for this one indeed.
"Better," he allowed. "But you must not allow your control to slip so easily. Sometimes it is useful to show your true face. Most of the time it is not." He waited to see if she understood before moving on.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:42 pm
Now that she was standing still, she certainly looked more attentive. Thankfully, putting on a blank expression was effortless or she her resolve to stand still might have dissolved. Now the primary issue with her posture was the visible tension created by holding it all together.
"I understand," she said, her eyes determined, "I won't slip!"
Thinking of it as literally slipping helped. It was a balancing act. She had good balance!
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 6:30 am
"Let us test your determination then," the adult replied simply, expression unchanging. Facio approached the cub finally and began moving her limbs into position. It was easier than trying to explain what he wanted at first.
"Tighten those stomach muscles, but not so much that you appear tense," he ordered. "This is a basic stance from which you can fight, run, or defend. It will be your foundation, just as you must cultivate a neutral expression that can become any you need to simulate."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:03 pm
It was a struggle to stay still and tense enough to keep her body under control and loose enough that she was easy for her father to pose. When he finished, she relaxed- and amazingly, held the position he had put her into easily. She fought off a smile that barely reached her eyes before doing as instructed and pulling her stomach in. She was still a chubby little cub, it would be a while before it looked as effective as it meant to be.. but it was a good start.
She took a deep breath, focusing on what he said.
"Yes, sir!"
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