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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:35 am
Surtak's ears moved forwards, briefly, when the small Firekin cub spoke. The answer received a puff of air from the back of his throat, which escaped through his nostrils.
"One lion?" The brown lion asked skeptically.
He waited, patiently letting his eyes scan the area. Then, he continued as though he were reiterating a speech ingrained into him, "Let them try the first strike, and get behind them. Lions have no power from the back. Break their tail - that is enough pain to momentary stun even the most robust enemy. And if you are fast, sever the life running to their skulls." A low rumble came from the back of his throat.
Nahmba laid back her ears, teeth clenched together. Eyes rolled from cub to Hraga to Surtak, tail lashing nervously.
Invading lions did not often lead to bloodshed. Most males gave up before they entered the pride, not wishing to lose their lives. Killing was done when needed; it was done without remorse for lions who murdered without purpose, rapists. War was a funny term. There had been nothing to go to war over.
"Why are you invading at all?" Wasn't that a more important question?
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:42 am
Baie looked around curiously, listening to the Abazingeli’s answers and some of the Firekin’s as well. The cub’s answer was by far the most interesting and disturbing but cubs had a way of saying the silliest things. Baie doubted the Firekin actually did make hats out of their enemies’ body parts.
“We sound the alarm to warn the Abaholi and send the cubs into hiding.” This was an easier question even if her answer was probably the opposite of what this training lesson meant to achieve. But not relying on an Umholi for the protection of the pride was a difficult concept as far as the orange lioness was concerned. She nodded at Surtak's answer approvingly before looking at Nahmba with a thoughtful expression.
-------------
Thuli looked at the tiny lion with a look of obvious surprise. Well, he was definitely that lunatic’s son and if she hadn’t been completely certain of it before, Thuli was now. She wondered what had made his mother send him here for the lesson before narrowing her eyes at Baie’s words. That hadn’t happened last time! Granted, it was hard to call it a real invasion as most of the Firekin hadn’t been really aggressive but they had claimed part of her pride’s territory! And while the Umholi had arrived at the scene pretty quickly, the cubs – she’d been one of them – had remained in the area until the negotiations had been completed.
“I’d call as many Abazingeli as possible and surround you.” Thuli said with a challenging grin. Her eyes widened at Surtak's answer. He sounded like he'd done it before which was a somewhat unnerving thought. She nodded in his direction. "Or that."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:55 am
Elda sat close by, the hulking, silent brute. She'd not come here to take part, only to watch, and so she did so: her face grim, jaw set. Her paws were tired from her recent jaunt from the desert and though she had slept off much of the weariness, the bleak expression in her eyes seemed to betray something deeper.
Maybe she was homesick.
The thought of it sickened her and whenever it rose up in her mind she would stamp it down immediately. She was to be a Sentinel now. Travelling was part of that role. So what if the ground here didn't shift and move? So what if the sun didn't feel quite right? Everyone else seemed to be doing okay so why couldn't she? She was probably just being silly. Yes, that was right. She was fine.
It probably wasn't helping that there was also a cub currently trying to sink his teeth into Elda's tail...
She gave a low growl and, without warning, yanked he tail free from tiny paws and tiny teeth. A small, frustrated whimper broke the air and then she felt a thump on her hind-quarters.
"Oof!" Kerra exclaimed, his startled expression transforming into a wie grin as he realised the adult lioness was staring at him. "Uh...hello?"
"You." Elda rumbled. "Learn."
"--uh, I'm sorry, Elda. Is he bothering you?" Heti had arrived late, puffing as he came to join the group. He was still getting used to the fact that he was a father...still shocked, to be honest. He didn't know how to be a dad, either. Not a good one, anyway. He only had Azar'bijan to go by and that wasn't much of a good example. What if he got it wrong, too? What if his kids ended up growing up and thinking him a useless lout?
"Come on, Kerra." He murmured under his breath. "Pay attention to the lesson."
Kerra pouted.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:48 am
"That depends on how you go about invading, but I'd probably see you before you saw me and get the hell out of there," she decided, in a tone that indicated she thought the answer was obvious. "I'm not going to fight you if I don't have to, and if I did, I'd make sure it was on my terms."
Her time as a rogue had made her into a survivalist by necessity; she'd fight, sure, but discretion was often the better part of valor. What good did fighting and winning do if you were badly injured in the process, or even sustained a small wound that became infected? Surviving a fight just to die later was pointless.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:37 pm
Chazama's ears perked to catch what Hraga said next, and her attention soon came to his next question. Hmm, if he were an invader, what would she do? She wasn't the best fighter, she knew that much, but that wasn't exactly helpful in that sort of situation. It was Surtak's own answer that had the young lioness glancing in the Umholi's direction, if she was surprised she hid it well, but she was kind of impressed. She hadn't known Surtak to be overly violent, heck she didn't know him to say very much at all, but he seemed knowledgeable in the subject. That was oddly comforting.
Back to the question at paw, and Chazama mulled over her options once more. There many answers, most with reasonable backing, but what would she do first? "I'd try to get an advantage over you," she decided. "By either picking some place I knew better and could use to hide or ambush if it became necessary, or staying in an area with many pride members that we could use to outnumber you." Yes. That was her answer. Whether or not it was the right one, she'd just have to find out.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:13 pm
Listening to the other lionesses, Mhisani contemplated her own answer. If an enemy was coming into THEIR territory, obviously the home pride had the field advantage - They knew every blade of grass, every rock, every tree that grew or sat in the pride's lands. Finally, she came to an answer. "I'd treat the enemy like prey, gather my sisters and brothers to hunt them. The enemy is coming into OUR territory, right...? We know every inch of it, the enemy won't. So we'll know all the places to hide and evade detection, gain the upper paw." Plus... They were brown pelted lions, mostly. If a fire pelt came in, or some other lion with an odd colored coat that stood out, they could easily be found and stalked.
"And what if it's an enemy from WITHIN the pride?" It was a well and good question. The world was full of spies, after all - The Firekin currently held a Nergui, who was to say any joining rogue WASN'T a Nergui at this point? There were also Firekin befriending the Ithambo - Huria would be placed here, and if they decided to join, that was someone on the inside with sympathies for the Firekin. An enemy that one couldn't right away recognize as such was dangerous, so how would these little sand-pelts handle such a thing? When she returned to the Firekin, she'd have to ask this very question of the Regents. How were they to know that joining rogues weren't secretly Nergui?
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:10 am
Hraga chuckled at all the varied answers, his ears flattening. "Those are all good answers! But yes, actually. The correct answer is to call for help first. Even firekin are told to alert the guards, and it was one of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn. At the end of the day you can't help your pride if you're dead, no matter how noble or glorious your last stand was. If you know there are people around who can help, you always call them at your side."
He nodded his head, indicating the ones who had offered up the answer. But the other questions... "The other things are not something you may ever know. Knowing why I'm here is important, but it won't help if your enemy is here to do you wrong. In the longterm, sure, it is the most important thing. But shortterm, you may never know. If the person isn't stopping to ask questions, it could be anything."
"If its someone you know turning against you...that's really not something you can plan for," he admitted. "If you suspect your friends of turning on you all the time, you probably won't have many friends at all soon enough."
"But lets talk about shortterm. For whatever the case, you are alone. You've called for help, but no one is coming, and you can't run. The only course of action is to engage and defend yourself," he turned his head towards Elda and Heti. "Maybe we could give a good demonstration of how to counter an attacking opponent?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:18 am
Thuli beamed with pride when she realized her answer had been correct. The adolescent puffed up her chest, grinning excitedly as Hraga carried on with the lesson. The idea that someone in the pride could turn against her was not a frightening concept as it did not feel particularly realistic. She did not even doubt the newest and somewhat mysterious Umholi because Surtak had her older brother’s trust and surely Gakere would be able to spot a traitor. At least that’s what she chose to believe.
“Finally, some real fighting!” she said with bright eyes, watching the Firekin pair eagerly.
--------------------
“Hush, Thulisile.” Baie said quietly, giving the young lioness a stern look that she knew would have little to no effect on the excitable Lusizi. But while she was interested in Hraga’s words and happythat many like herself had given him the correct answer, like Thuli she also longed to see some real sparring. That was what they were there for, after all.
She eyed the Firekin lions with visible interest, taking quick notes of their markings and size. Against these giants, Baie wondered if any of the Umzingeli would ever have a chance in a one-on-one match. Time would tell.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:58 pm
"Oh. Of course." Heti sounded surprised to hear his name, nodding as he regained his paws and took a step towards a small stretch of open space. He seemed to remember his son then, and turned his head to tell him to behave...
...except that Kerra had chosen that moment to dart across to his brother, Bakar. Oh, well. Boys would be boys. No doubt someone would scold them if they got into trouble whilst he wasn't looking.
And when Heti turned back it was to see Elda already in position. The lioness had never been one to fuss and as he took his place opposite her, she already seemed to be preparing for the demonstration. He was about to ask whether he would play the attacker or the defender when she came at him, the muscles in her hind legs working as she leapt. If this was simply a demonstration, the vicious snarl certainly seemed real enough. He felt her forepaw graze his tail as he evaded telling of how close it had been. He span on his heels a split second later to face her; knowing the second attack would come just as swiftly as the first. He had been right. Elda was there again - except this time he knew it was coming.
Playing defensively was his speciality.
He braced himself against the ground, planting his paws squarely and tipping his weight forwards to meet her. The forwards motion carried him beneath the swing aimed straight for his snout; ramming the flat of his skull against her chest hard enough to send even the stocky Elda sprawling backwards in the dust.
Elda twisted back to her paws, snorted the dust from her nostrils and looked relatively unfazed, though her tail twitched as if she meant to come at him again. Instead, however, she cleared her throat and spoke: "An example of how well a defensive stance can work." She rumbled, sounding strangely shy for such a large brute. "Is that well, Hraga?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:47 pm
Oh, boy. Oh, boy! Eld was one of the excitable youngsters on the firekin side, and it was the first time he visited the outpost. He did his best to behave more maturely than the smaller cubs running around, and so far he had avoided trouble. Must be some kind of personal record. Instead of causing havoc he was busy gawking at the huria-coloured strangers. The excitement of seeing the strangers up close was enough to keep him quiet and reasonably well behaved. He didn't answer he questions since he figured he'd know them better than the bonelands lions did. It wouldn't be fair to show them up, right? He scanned the crowd eagerly to see if there would be any strangers young enough for him to spar with later.--- Buna wasn't sure what had possessed her to join the group of Boneland members going to the training session. She told herself that someone needed to keep an eye on the younger females, but as they passed into the outpost and formed a line she started to regret her spur of the moment decision. She wasn't a fighter and she didn't desire to become one. What on earth was she doing here?
She remained uncharacteristically silent as the big, dark pelted Hraga questioned them. The talk about calling for backup first sounded reasonable, and she nodded at that. The fight demonstration made her stomach sink again. It really looked as if that female wanted to kill or seriously maim the male, and his defensive move looked just as serious. That must have hurt, but the large red female acted as if she had hardly felt the impact. Buna frowned.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:36 pm
Nuria snorted softly, but was then kept busy with trying not to burst into laughter at some of the answers they were getting. It was clear most of these lions had never seen a real warrior, to have such weird ideas about what they were. They had even less of an idea of how to deal with one. Running from them, or treating them like prey, would accomplish nothing if their enemy was truly out for blood. At least they had the right idea about sounding an alarm--they might not be entirely hopeless.
-----
Maru's eyes widened at the thought of someone coming from so far away. Sure, he knew some of the Bonelands lions came from other places, but what Hraga spoke of sounded...really far. He scrunched up his nose at having his bit of mane ruffled, but then the black lion's question (and his big sister's more narrowly-aimed one) made him frown in thought. What...was a warrior? Was it something he wanted to be? "They...they know how to fight, don't they?" he said, looking up at Chazama. "Kind of like the Umholi?"
His eyes went back to Hraga as the dark male asked the next question. The cub hadn't the foggiest idea of what to do with an...'invading' lion, and so he listened to Surtak's explanation with fascination. He watched the two red-pelts face off against each other with even more of the same fascination--this, this fighting, it looked interesting.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 5:16 am
Hraga nodded his head, not even noticing Elda's hint of shyness. "That was perfect. As you can see, in the best case scenario a warrior can control the battle. It isn't all about attacking. And for those of you afraid of fighting, remember that every blow you are able to deflect is another moment of time bided for your friends to arrive."
His eyes moved over to the crowd. "So, who is brave enough to try it? As I said, I am an invading lion." He continued, waiting to see if anyone was bold enough to step forward.
Beside him, Bakar immediately connected with his brother and started wrestling. Hah! They'd show them how it was done! Who cared about defense when you could go right for the ears?
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:17 am
The show of force was, to put it simple, very impressive to the tan lioness. She sat up, letting out a quiet 'wow' as she watched Heti and Elda mock-fight. One day, they'd be able to do that! Hopefully, anyway. Mihsani didn't particularly care, herself - She just wanted to be able to go out hunting. When she had daughters, she'd ensure THEY hunted. Suddenly, Hraga asked about volunteers and the lioness shrank back, eyes growing wide. Fight? HIM?! He was larger than even some of the males in the pride! How could one lioness fight someone that big? She shuffled back a bit, ears going back.
Also watching Heti and Elda, Aurinko couldn't help but smile. Indeed, she, too, found it an impressive thing to watch, and felt a sense of pride. These were Firekin, up near the top of their class. When they clashed with an enemy lion, it was business. When Hraga called for volunteers, she couldn't help but smile a bit more, turning to the male. "Perhaps someone smaller than you to start, as an opponent?" Even she could find him intimidating - She was only a young adult, after all. If she were male, she'd have just come into the full mane.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:38 am
Chazama's interest was immediately caught by the demonstration, recognizing yet another male on the Firekin side. This time it was Heti! She had sparred against not long ago in this very outpost, and the splotchy lioness couldn't help but twitch and twist her tail in eagerness to watch him fight. Oh, that female was huge as well. Chazama didn't know lionesses could get that big! It was a shame that she was mostly finished growing, from what her mother had told her, she would have liked to be that big. She watched the two clash, flinching just slightly as Heti took on the full blow of the female's charge. Ouch. That actually looked like it hurt.
When Hraga spoke next it was to ask for volunteers, and the pink eyed lioness almost missed it. She had sparred with two Firekin before, but never with an audiance, and never in front of anyone from her pride. Her eyes immediately darted to Surtak. And an Umholi! She... she might actually make a fool of herself, but watching one of her own shrink back already she decided she might as well. With a settling breath she leaned back down to whisper to Maru, "Yes, warriors fight just like the Umholi. Now watch your sister be brave." She almost added and don't tell mom, but she gulped that part down.
Getting to her paws, and never before feeling quite this shaky in front of her pride, Chazama flashed the Firekin side a toothy grin. "I volunteer! Just tell me what to do." Oh geez, she hoped she didn't screw up in front of the other Umzingeli, or worse, Surtak! That would be embarrassing!
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:08 pm
Ah! There was a volunteer. Hraga bowed his head, ignoring the sounds of the two cubs wrestling behind him. "I don't see any need for that, bravery clearly isn't lacking," the black lion said with mirth. "But if anyone else would like to try, Aurinko is willing."
But for the moment, he turned his attention squarely to Chazama, who seemed more than eager to prove herself in front of her friends. He tried his best to look agreeable, but he was always a somewhat wild looking lion. One thing he'd never grown out of as a kid. "Alright, what we're going to do is try to copy what we just saw Elda and Heti demonstrate. But it doesn't need to be exact. All you need to do is find the best way to stop my forward charge."
"I should add, you are not looking to engage in this fight. You rarely, if ever, want to meet your opponent at a full charge if you can avoid it. Let him, or me as it were, tire myself out running over to you. Find the best way to misdirect the charge, and all I've done is wasted steam getting over to you. A lot of lions will fall into the trap of wanting that big epic clash with your foe- but let me tell you, all that will get you is some very sore shoulders if you are lucky, and a quick death if you aren't."
Hraga took a few steps back. "Once you are ready, we'll begin."
He hesitated a moment before she gave the go ahead, and then began a short charge towards her.
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