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 Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:23 pm
"Perhaps," Azarax agreed. He could only hope that they would. It was the only way that he might ever see them again, and find out more about their family.
He knew he could live without it, that there was no curiosity in him so great that he simply had to satisfy it no matter what. He knew that, one way or another, he could live out his life without ever finding out more, or ever seeing his siblings or his mother again. He could do that, yes. He only wished he wouldn't have to.
The tan lion turned his gaze toward Kidondo, smiling at the Regent's request. "Odder things have happened to me before," He said with a small chuckle. "I'd be honored to spar with you."
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:04 am
Kidondo turned a thought to his own siblings, to Koka and Kaanga, and the others whom he'd barely spoken a word to since childhood. Even when he was tiny he'd barely spoken a word to them. He had been the silent watchful type as a cub. Now, however, he'd seemed to have learned the value of words. Wise words, atleast.
He bowed his head briefly, trying to hide the hint of a smile playing on his maw, but failing.
"I feel like I could do with some exercise." He chuckled, shaking his mane to free his eyes.
He wanted to test Azarax. He'd proved that he had a sound, sharp mind, but what about his ability to fight? Kidondo had a sneaking suspicion that he would do well.
He changed his stance, readied himself for a pounce and leapt.
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:58 pm
"What better than sparring, then?" He agreed with a grin. He, too, changed his stance, holding his ground as he awaited Kidondo's first move.
His first instinct told him to leap as well, meeting the other half way. His instinct, he knew, was something to be followed, and something his body followed on its own.
Even as he felt himself leaping to counter Kidondo's pounce, he heard a voice whisper in his mind, counseling his actions and attempting to overwrite what instinct told him to do. There is always a balance. Two extremes will cancel each other out. Be strong where there is weakness, and weak where there is strength.
Use your mind, he thought, as everything began to slow down and fall into place. Still, he knew he was in the air and leaping toward Kidondo. Not just instinct. Both.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:00 am
They were similar in size, possibly similiar in strength too. Kidondo didn't think he had much of an advantage over Azarax. Yes he'd been in a couple of fights, he'd had a couple of lessons as a cub, but really he hadn't fought much.
Kidondo wasn't a pacifist, but he did believe in the power of words over muscle. Words first, brawls a last resort. But he was no fool. He knew that one day he may have to fight again and as Regent, he was expected to keep himself fit and healthy.
Besides, sparring was good. It sharpened reflexes, gave him an idea on strategies to put to use in real battle.
And as Azarax leapt and the pair met, Kidondo braced himself for impact. His hind legs found the ground to stable him and as quickly as he could, not wanting to risk being pinned, he pushed himself backwards again. Being pinned beneath the opponent meant failure and it was an easy maneuvre in the air, with his paws unable to balance his bulk.
He landed squarely, waiting for an opening, a second of weakness that he could manipulate.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:45 pm
A sort of peace seemed to settle over him, as the first moves of the sparring fell into place. As if he now existed in a bubble that consisted only of himself, Kidondo, and the sand that surrounded them. Nothing else in the world mattered, and sound seemed to fade from his ears. Everything seemed to slow down, as if now, he had all the time in the world.
He felt the impact of the two of them as they met, pulling his hind legs under him, seeking purchase in the sliding sand. There. He felt the familiar sensation of the ground beneath his paws, found his balance, and felt Kidondo's push backward.
He allowed the strength from the other to carry over, feeling his own body moving backwards, away from Kidondo. Then he landed and found his balance in the sand.
Good, good, The voice whispered. Face him, don't turn away for anything.
Making sure he faced Kidondo, the tan lion took a step to the right, then another, seeking an opening of some sort to use as he circled. A moment's delay in the other's reflexes, something.
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:39 am
Maybe it was only a Firekin trait. The ability to focus so deeply on a fight that nothing else seemed to matter, that the heat of the battle became a part of them. Kidondo had always felt a slight distaste at this natural thrill a battle brought. Even a simply sparring match seemed to light a fire in his soul.
But he was a Firekin and it was in his blood. It had been for generations. And it had been in Azarax's family too. It was in all of them.
He could see, now, why others had become locked in their bloodthirsty ways. They'd become addicted to the ways of tooth and claw. Kidondo was glad he'd never had such urges. If he had, he wouldn't have been here today, leading the others into a new era of prosperity.
He was impressed, however, by his new opponent. Azarax wasn't taken by rage like his father was in their deadly duel. Neither was he an inexperienced cub. He was a worthy adversary and clearly had skill in the art.
He could tell that Azarax was waiting for him to slip up, just as he was waiting for him. What would happen, he thought, if this didn't happen.
He mirrored Azarax's first few steps and decided to try something else. He turned on a paw and lunged for the pale lion, leaping sideways at the last moment, hoping to evade Azarax's paws.
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Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:47 am
There was something in the way Kidondo moved and mirrored his own steps that suddenly told Azarax that, like in many things, experience came with age. He was younger than the Regent, and less experienced, and he knew finding a mistake, or reacting quickly enough to take advantage for one, would be more difficult for him.
In an outright duel, where one engaged both teeth and claws as if there was no tomorrow, no matter how long Azarax was able to hold him off, he knew Kidondo would emerge victorious. Still, the knowledge did little to throw him off. If anything, it seemed to aid his defences, making him more aware of this little weakness of his. To hide it.
Then Kidondo lunged, and Azarax reeled back, sinking his weight onto his haunches, full well ready to allow the other's weight and momentum to carry them both over if they made contact, or to push back up and take advantage of the move to advance.
In the split second before the tan lion was prepared to relax for the tumble, Kidondo leapt away. Just as quickly, Azarax felt his hind legs push, throwing his weight forward as his fore paws lashed out, seeking to land a blow on the red lion.
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:29 am
He realised how much he was enjoying this. How much he was enjoying this sparring, this testing of strength. It could make a lion feel alive!
And then Azarax made his stand and as Kidondo leapt away from his feigned attack he felt the tan lion's weight against him, paws striking out at him. Azarax was quick to recover from attack. The surprising actions from Kidondo hadn't phased him in the least.
With a grunt he shifted his body, strengthening his stance to push against his adversary and maybe topple him off balance with his head and shoulders, forepaws leaving the ground as he asserted as much force as possible.
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:20 pm
He felt the impact of his strike, pushing forward even more in an attempt to drive the attack home, and take full advantage of the small window of opportunity.
Through the calm that seemed to envelope them both, he could feel a sense of power and nature, all conspiring to bring to them the sense that they were doing exactly what they were made to do. Much as he disliked the thought that sparring was really just a step away from a fight, which in turn was only a step away from war, the actions made within their sparring felt only too natural.
Then he felt the red lion pushing back against him, felt the weight of the move. In his position, with both forepaws off the ground, he was at a disadvantage. Kidondo's move pushed him up and back, throwing him off balance.
Come on... His mind clicked, and, in an attempt to keep himself from being thrown completely, he planted his forelegs on the ground, without taking the time to seek purchase in the sliding sand, and attempted a leap backwards. Farther away, more time to balance.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:33 am
For a moment Kidondo thought neither lion was going to give up on his hold. That maybe for a long while they'd be pushing against each other, unable to tip the balance. And then, just when he readied himself to give an extra shove and risk exhausting himself, he felt the tan lion move.
And he landed heavily on all fours, sending a cloud of sand around him.
Seeing the younger lion tip off balance and gather himself to make a hasty leap back, Kidondo bounded after him, hoping to catch him before he could regain his senses, hoping maybe to throw him offguard.
Hoping that he hadn't misjudged his attempt, he lowered himself and at the last moment propelled himself at Azarax, paws leaving the ground completely for a second.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:02 am
For a fraction of a second, Azarax hesitated. Kidondo was powering toward him. The window would only be open for a moment. Then the red lion would have landed, and who knew when he would find another opportunity like this.
His mind flashed as he attempted to decide how to counter the move, evenas his brain was still processing the new information.
This was a problem. He had to move if he was going to catch Kidondo up in the air. His body reacted immediately to the thought, sending him scrambling sideways.
Now! He was on the side of the Regent, at least for the moment, and this was the opportune moment. He lunged forward, paws outstretched, hoping he hadn't waited too long. Hoping he hadn't overshot the jump. There had been far too little time to get his own body under control enough to correctly judge the move.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:16 am
He watched Azarax's eyes, watched that moment of decision lighting them and waited for a reaction from him. And the moment he left the ground, Azarax was moving and Kidondo knew the end was nigh.
Neither fear nor indecision had stolen Azarax's mind. He was thinking clearly and fast, on his feet. He was led by his intitiative as the young often did.
And as Kidondo landed heavily on the sand, no lion beneath his paws, he knew his decision was made. Azarax was one of the lions he needed in a position of power.
He turned his head just in time to see Azarax leaping for him. He didn't turn, for fear he would slip, and instead braced himself, setting his feet solidly, drawing his head low and shoulders up. He was unsure whether he could bear the weight of a fully grown Firekin male or not. But either way he was about to find out.
And before he could even worry about it, Azarax made contact and Kidondo's paws slid and then he was tipping, losing his balance as Azarax's weight pushed down on his side, urging him to topple. Realisation setting in, Kidondo let himself fall, rolling away at the last moment to protect his underside.
He looked up at Azarax, smiling. "I yield." And laughing, he stood, shaking the sand from his mane. "There is a good future in store for you, Azarax."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:36 am
Before his mind even fully processed that his lunge had sent him crashing into Kidondo, his body had braced itself for the fall and roll. As he hit the sand, he realized with pang that his leap of faith had panned out exactly as he had hoped. Luck had been on his side. Luck and the blind faith he had somewhat foolishly put in himself.
Still, the move had had its intended effect, and he grinned as he got to his paws and shook the sand from his coat. "Thank you," He said with a chuckle. "Though sometimes I fear I act too blindly. Had that lunge failed in battle, more than likely I would be dead by now."
That was something he would work to correct. Now that he realized it, he knew he would more or less adjust his own mindset so that he worked less on pure instinct and good faith.
"It was... refreshing," He said. "Truly refreshing. The sparring. It..." He shook his head. It was hard to explain. Lacking the fight-or-die attitude of actual warfare, it was truly a sport, of sorts, to enjoy.
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:55 pm
He nodded, understanding fully how the younger adult felt. He felt it too, the drum of life in his veins, the warmth in his soul. Whether the Firekin blood was to blame, or the fact that they were lions, top of the food chain, beasts with claws and teeth, he did not know.
"Experience will teach you. And sometimes risks are worth taking, especially if you think your opponent won't expect it. I certainly wasn't expecting you to recover so quickly. I'll remember that for next time." He nodded, knowing that the next time they met in a sparring match, it would be far greater than this first encounter.
"Sparring is a good way to learn the skill of warfare. I'm a creature who believes in the power of words. But when words fail, we need to be able to fight. No and I will be pressing this matter onto everyone. There will be an army one day." He flicked an ear idly. "An army greater than any that has walked these lands." And when he spoke his eyes glittered with pride.
"In any case, it seems I could do with some practice myself. I wonder, Azarax, would you say no if I were to ask you to become my sparring partner? You have such potential and it's about time I started learning the proper way to fight. I too relied on instincts in the fight against my father. If it had not been for his injury, I fear the outcome in our duel would have seen me dead on the sands. No tells me not to say such things, but I believe it to be true. Until today, fighting you, I hadn't realised how much luck had been on my side that day."
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:37 pm
"Time seems to slow down for me when I spar," He said by way of explanation. If it had been any other thing he had been doing, he knew there was no way he could ever have reacted as quickly.
Azarax nodded. He understood the logic behind Kidondo's words. Yes, words should come before battle. A single word could speak volumes more than a thousand battles. "It is a shame that I am not too good with words myself, then," He said with a small smile, though his eyes lit up with interest at the mention of an army.
This, he attributed not to bloodlust, but more to the fact that having a great army would mean the pride would remain safe. If the army was one day to be as great as Kidondo predicted, then their reputation might well precede them. It was always far easier to keep the peace if the enemies were scared off already.
"I," He said with an uncharacteristically broad smile. "Would definitely not say no." Sparring was, indeed, good practice, and what better way to use it if not to help his Regent?
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