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 Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 11:01 am
Keahi's ears twitched as Feng began to spoke. When he introduced his 'companion' she was quite intrigued by it. It seemed quite intelligent, but not to their extent and it had wings just like their mother. Her eyes followed it as it took off into the skies above.
Once more her attention was drawn back to Feng as he began to speak about the evils beyond the mountains. They knew full well of them. Shen's discrimination mostly. His words brought rising hope, that things could get better.
"Yes!" She called out, quite surprising herself, with her near instant reply. Ever since they had left their home, Keahi had become a bit more quiet and more of a deep thinker then a spontaneous responder. Her previous personality showing for a brief moment before she regained herself. As their days would be harder from thus forward. She could not allow herself to slip back, it was something that she had silently decided on her journey here. From their familiar home to this unfamiliar terrain.
She watched in a bit of awe or admiration on how Feng moved from his spot on the rock above to the land below. His movements seemed effortless.
When Feng spoke again she nodded. It was understandable. Something she came to notice on their way over. She doubt the boys understood as they raced all the way over, not feeling how the subtle shifts in the land below could be quite disastrous.
WC: 244
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:51 pm
 His gaze continually moved between his comrades Mazin, Keahi, Feng, and Ren as their meeting proceeded. Sej stood straighter on the four paws that held him upright as he puffed his chest forward. Though not as broadly as the spirited grin he boasted while racing, he smiled with a very serious determination, tacitly joining in the agreement between them all and including a nod of his head for good measure. He was aware of the evil currently being discussed to some extent and especially that some of the matters of concern surrounding the core of danger warned against was why they remained away from where that source is said to be found. He watched Feng move with silent amazement next. His facial expressions yet again giving away his train of thought. And Sej's intense staring seemed to be trying to imprint Feng's motions into his memory. It seemed that right now speech was evading him. So in the meantime, Sej focused on utilizing his vision at full attention to gathering as much details as he could at present.
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 4:29 pm
Mastering oneself would be a particular challenge to Mazin. He wasn’t great at the whole fighting thing. He told himself that he evaded fights because he didn’t particularly fancy the idea of hurting another b’alam. It wasn’t entirely untruthful. Hurting others, emotionally or otherwise left a sour taste in his mouth.
It just wasn’t the prime reason.
Until now he had gone out of his way to avoid physical confrontations of any kind. The idea that a bigger, meaner, craftier B’alam then him wanted to tussle was just not a reassuring feeling.
However, if he wanted to be a help in battle knowing how to fight was a pretty good way to assist.
Besides, the dark cub had to admit, he was excited to finally be training and learning useful skills here. Moving provisions and supplies around was good and all, but combat training was sure to help all of them out in the long run! As an extra ticket of motivation Mazin told himself that with enough practice of whatever Feng taught them, even he could learn to be a graceful battler.
“How are we going to do that then?” Mazin inquired.wc: 193
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:39 pm
The eagerness of their replies surprised him. But...then again, they came from the Fire Capital presumably. They knew what they were fighting for, they had seen it with their own eyes. They likely had friends, family, a place they called home... quietly, Feng envied them. This place, the unforgiving shale-covered sea of obsidian was his home. It was cruel, rough, but it held its own beauty and charm. It was the only home he had known. Ever since he had met Volga, the first B'alam he had ever met, he had been told of a horrible tyrant on the other side of the mountains, a land where liquid fire warmed the ground, where mountains belched smoke, and where a noble people lived in fear. It was a homeland that was not his own, a people that were not his own...and he was expected to fight for them.
But then... if he didn't, who would? Feng didn't know why he had been selected, perhaps he never would. Perhaps there was more to this whole situation that Volga had been keeping from him.It was hard to say.. for now- these cubs would be his family. His siblings. He had a father-figure in Volga, a mother in Xian, an aunt and two uncles... and of course a friend in Ren.
He straightened up as he walked among the other cubs, glancing to their raw, swollen paws. There was a time he had suffered the same hurts.
Mazin spoke up and Feng turned to him first. "We do this by understanding two things- one: you cannot control your environment. You can only control you. Two: your core is what moves you, what directs you."
He reached out to Mazin and put a paw to his back, "When the earth shifts under you, move your spine and belly- not your paws. Let your paws move with the ground. They know what to do. Keep your body centered over your paws and you will not slide. Before you can run- learn to walk. Balance. Patience."
He removed his paw and nodded to a nearby pile of shale. "Try it. Just walk from one side to the other. Nothing fancy."
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 2:04 pm
Walking on the shale. Well, Mazin had already nearly fallen while running on it and he imagined little else was worse than that. Well not exactly excited at the prospect of having hard rocks be introduced to his face, he had lived through the near-worst part already. Besides, in order to leave the area they’d all need to march on the shale again right? Yeah, so this was no big deal...
Trudging on over to where the short stack began the black cub stared at it for a moment in contemplation. What had Feng just said? Balance over his paws and not worry where his feet went. Okay, that sounded easy enough he supposed.
Mazin took a sharp breath in and held it as he took his first step on the smooth stones. He tried to adjust his weight so he leaning more towards that foot as he did so, then he took his other foot and brought it next to the first one. When nothing overly disastrous occurred other than his feet shifting slightly the cub perked his ears up in delight. “Hey this isn’t so hard!” He exclaimed, taking another few steps on the rocks. He spoke too soon however, as he lost balance on his hind right paw and it slipped out from underneath him. He imagined that the resulting thud of his stomach meeting ground sounded a lot worse than it felt. Or maybe it had been as bad as it sounded. At least telling himself that it wasn’t so horrible made the hurting seem less drastic.
He gave a soft mewl of distress from his newly acquired boo-boo, and it took several minutes before he could find balance to stand again but Mazin was continued walking. He wouldn’t let this little tumble slow him down! He was going to reach the other side of this slippery rock pile!
wc: 313
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 11:46 am
The Nah listened carefully to the Feng as they explained how to do it. It seemed simple enough, she had a vague idea from her journey over. The pain in her paws was no longer a distant thought in her mind. Would she be able to rely upon her claws for this exercise as she did when she made her way over. Unlike Mazin who jumped right into the exercise she though long and hard on it. Going through the motions with her body without moving a step from her spot.
Finally after long moments of silence she began her trek across the smooth ever shifting stone. She had her eyes closed as she began to walk, feeling the rock move under her. Trying to get a feel for how it would move. Step by step she went. Moving quite well and a bit more quickly then Mazin. She was confidante in her abilities to crossing the Shale. She nearly slipped a few times but was able to regain her balance using her claws to keep her paws from shifting out from under her. As the Shale shifted she shifted her body with it.
The more she walked the more fluid her movements began to become as she let herself get used to it. And finally she made it to were Feng Stood.
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 1:07 pm
So, in moving, he should proceed by leading with his body? Was the way he was summing up the first lesson to repeatedly chant a few words as a reminder in his head going to suffice as a start while he endeavored to also go about executing the same smooth motions Feng had demonstrated? Well, there was only one way to find out, Sej reckoned, and that was to test his thoughts for an initial approach out. He looked from the expanse to traverse to the progress being made by and current status of Mazin and Keahi before he fixed his gaze back to the path ahead of him he decidedly resolved to brave the obstacles of. I have to move by leading with my body, he began to repetitively say in his mind as he hurried forward with a push of his form that willed his feet to go with the swaying of the bulk of him. It wasn't long after he started moving to cross over the prickly and slippery surface that he began yelping in barely managed whispers. And then, ack, he eventually paused in place and stared with darting back and forth looks at his paws and the ground that from his expression could have been alive with nipping foes. What was wrong?? As the needle-like sensation in his limbs subsided while he was halted in thought, Sej decided that perhaps he was going too fast. Then this time, he began proceeding more cautiously as his vision met the ground immediately ahead of him first before being followed by his torso and then limbs. And this time, he started slipping less and was not stepping on much sharper patches on the surface as often as before he stopped to think about the beginning of this little journey. Gradually he was now making more progress and less painfully so.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 10:20 pm
Feng watched as one after the other, the younger cubs made their pass over the slippery stones. Their paws were already worn and raw from their trek over the shale this far. Small cuts and gashes disrupted worn, dirty paws. Their spirits had ignited however, and the fire inside drowned out the burning pain of their bodies. New determination and purpose replaced the curiosity in their eyes and focus came to the forefront.
"Better." He said as Sej made his crossing. "Again- back and forth. For now, keep your eyes beyond the trial. Don't let what stands between you and your goal distract you."
And so over and over the cubs were drilled over the shale. They would learn their own bodies, how to shift just the slightest bit of weight, tense the right muscle while letting another go lax, in order to move without letting their paws get away from them. They drilled long into the night and again the next morning. Every day their walk grew longer and longer, their path a little harder. They met only after Feng had concluded his own training with Volga and his four commanders. Often times he came battered, bearing a limp, or nursing a fresh cut, but every day he joined them in their drills over the shale.
Once their paws had grown hard and their bodies had learned themselves, he turned their training towards the small, stocky trees growing near the lake. He demonstrated how to climb it- sinking his claws in deep and pulling himself up to the branch notched off for him at the top. It was the very same drill that his general had him face. Moving across the terrain had taught them agility and self-awareness, the climbing was a test in strength and determination. It was difficult- especially here. What the trees lacked in stature they more than made up for in their hearty, stocky build. Their back was rougher and thicker than most and claws could not penetrate the bark nearly as easily. The B'alam had to anchor themselves with their claws but the majority of their effort came from swift, powerful pulls and kicks up the trunk. Every day the cubs were tasked with climbing just a bit higher. Feng would climb first and cut a notch in the tree. Every day they drilled until all three cubs had touched the notch.
By the time all three cubs had touched the final notch, their bodies were much longer and more lean. They were able to move across the landscape without thinking once about the shale under-foot, they were able to scale the slippery mountainside without tumbling to an unfortunate end.
Three months had passed and the cubs were growing into their bodies. They no longer hugged the unforgiving ground or hid in dens while the adults hunted. Today would be the most difficult lesson thus far.
Feng approached their meeting place with a somber look in his eye and a limp, bloodied creature in his maw. It was small and rodent-like but plump enough to provide a single B'alam with a meal. He stood, just long enough to gain the attention of the others, then dropped the carcass at his paws. Blood spattered his muzzle and his claws. Clearly the hunt had been a messy one.
"Brothers and sister... I'm afraid that today we begin a new trial." He laid his paw on the departed creature and took a slow breath. "Our allies are hunting every day to sustain us here. They gather what they can but our meals have come to us by their efforts. We are no longer cubs- soon we will stand with the adults and soon we will have to bloody our claws on something far worse than our next meal."
He tore his eyes away from his kill and lifted his head, "For now, we take up this new task- we hunt. For the first time since your arrival we will travel outside of our borders to seek our prey. The skills you've learned will help you- but now you must learn two more: first- out-thinking. A preybeast cannot reason the way we can. The Weaver put them here for us, but that does not mean they are willing. They will fight and run for their lives- and we must unfortunately take them." What a bitter thought... he swallowed the rough lump in his throat. Up till then, his meals had been brought to them. For the first time he had seen the beasts before they were....food. They had lived, slept, and ate same as him...
"You need to out-think them to live. This is something that will save you later on. Second-", He pushed his kill to the side, "Brotherhood. Not one of us eats if another goes hungry. We do not return until each of us has a meal for ourselves. If we must all help one that struggles- so be it."
OOC Yup, a slight time jump! It'll keep things interesting. :3 At this point- you can assume that the cubs have been training for months and are nearing their adolescence. I'm adding [ Radical Dreamer ] into the tags so that her character can begin teaching the cubs some strategy. >3
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 7:30 am
Prior to Feng’s arrival this day Mazin had set about to his daily task of amusing his battle siblings.
He knew that soon they would be faced with a dark turn of events. It was inevitable, and quite frankly entirely voluntary. They had each signed up months and months ago for the very fate ahead of them. They knew perfectly well what they were getting into. That training to stop a dictator like Shen wouldn’t be easy. They had endured sore feet, splinters from tree climbing, and they had sacrificed the cushioned safety of cubhood in exchange for warriorship. Mazin looked back on the past few months and thought them all worthwhile. The now not-so-cubs were capable warriors and… and they became a second family to him. Such a bond made all the grueling training in the world seem like nothing. He was even convinced that in the face of the oncoming battle they had a pretty big chance of success.
Yet it all didn’t make the task waiting for them any less terrifying. Mazin was aware of this, because he felt a creeping sensation of fear when he thought of what awaited them. That and a feeling to seek vengeance. A feeling to protect the innocent b’alam that Shen would ruthlessly injure.
So in order to evade these heavy mixed feelings of confidence and potential failure the black pelted b’alam was dashing between his shield siblings. Every time he reached Sej or Keahi he made a goofy face before spinning around and whisking back to where the other was. He did this over and over again in hopes of prompting a reaction out of them. To keep spirits high by making them laugh or something like that. He hadn’t considered the fact that his stupid faces were probably just annoying them...
Only when Feng showed up did he cease his running and dashing all over the place and sat still. Though initially it was for concern that Feng had showed up with a new wound again, it shifted into a new kind of worry when he announced the goal of today’s lesson.
Hunting. Killing. Eating. Necessary, but brutal. Though like most new activities Mazin tried to approach this with a degree of optimism. They wouldn’t be relying on others to feed them anymore. That was a good thing. Though the fact that they would be going outside the borders today was intriguing. “So where are we going?” He asked curiously.wc: 411
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Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 4:56 pm
Golden eyes rested gently upon the cubs, Feng's 'brothers and sister', they had grown strong as well. The Nahtlil's thoughtful sight took a moment to reflect and search the young set of eyes that looked upon their peer leader. They where all filled with a young ferocity and shined with a clever gleam, but above all they where determined.
Silently the Crane's regal tail shifted behind her, it's tip curled carefully and firmly around the handle of her paw crafted fan. Gently it's white plumage rested against her pelt and at her side.
For now, and only until she was introduce she would remain as a shadow. As the the ebony cub spoke up, Xian's attentive dark ears turned forward, and her delicate brow raised. the one still fan shifted against her pristine pelt, ever so slightly.
'So where are we going?'
A charming tame smile curled at the crimson crane's maw, how precious and eager the little one was. His dark pelt reflected handsomely among the glassy sharp plain. Such a rough terrine had done well to temper the cub's paws. they had trained there everyday with the young Lord, the spirit the little ones held inside them was truly a sight to behold.
Tough as they Eager cub spoke, Xian's maw remained still as her eyes shifted with woven elegance and poise to look over the two other cubs. Another Tahtil and a Nahtlil, both where decorated with wonderful fire like patterns. Between the three cubs and the young lord, their pelts showed the creativity of the paw of the Grand Weaver.
Hunting.
White tail tapped the fan carefully against the Nahtlil's pelt. This was going to be the day that the growing cubs where going to test their maw and claws on flesh. It was time for them to help join in the hunt, it was something Xian had no doubt that they would excel in. Not right away, however. No, natural skill had to be tempered. Just as they where naturally woven soft paws, it was only with training, and wear that they became strong and calloused. It was difficult and painful, but it was done so that they would be able to trample on the harshest of terrain. Because one's pray doesn't think or care where they run, as long as it is away from the maws of it's predator.
But still, speed, stamina and endurance was nothing with out the wit....
And wit, was something Feng had asked Xian to help pass along. Just as he shared, it was something most creatures where without...584
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:46 pm
He registered the spirit of Xian just behind him, one of a few beloved and trusted shadows always at his back. As much as they were coming to trust his abilities, there was still a chance that he would face something he wasn't prepared for. Volga would defend him with strength like a thunder storm and Xian with a cunning that would make even a paroo hang its head in shame. He acknowledged her with only a smile over his shoulder and a shifting of his eyes in her direction.
Keep focused on the task at hand. He reminded himself firmly. Xian was his mentor in the art of tact and strategy, she was likely here to observe for herself the fruits of her labor.
Mazin spoke up, likely voicing the same question that the other two had in the back of their minds but had been too hesitant to ask. Feng's soft expression hardened as he lifted his head. High above, a shadow broke over the sunlight. With a whistle from his master, Ren came diving downwards, tearing through the air towards the earth. His wings flared out at the last moment, catching a pocket of wind to slow his advance. With practiced ease, the Paroo landed on his master's horns and clicked his beak. Feng regarded the creature, waiting for it to settle. Once Ren had adjusted its feathers along its back it turned its beak towards the south and gave a quiet chirp.
"South." Feng announced, turning back to his siblings. "Beyond the shale where the ground becomes soft and green- it's alien to us and well beyond the borders of our tribe. There, the free lands are untamed, without patrol, and unpredictable." He rolled his shoulders back, "But there grows our prey. They, like Ren, are living, breathing entities- but in order for us to live, they must give their lives. Know this- but do not let it detour you. Only honor what has been given when you have secured victory."
He glanced to Ren and tossed his head to one side. The parroo launched off again with a caw and flew outwards, catching a warm updraft to send him skyward. It had taken weeks, but by having the creature accompany the hunting parties, he had been given scraps from the kill at the site. Now, knowing where the source of its meals came from, it eagerly sought out prey on command. It got first pickings- and it was more than willing to assist its masters.
"Any further questions?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 3:41 pm
As Feng acknowledged the tactician's appearance, long elegantly tail shifted from her side to place the fan over her maw. Tilting her golden horns toward her leader, she gave him a returned hidden smile behind the mask. One, if he had been paying attention he still would be able to see. Straightening her stance, She took in gracefully how Feng returned his attention to the others before him and who he was addressing.
'Very good, sweet cub.' Silently Xian took in a slow prideful breath, She was proud of the cubs....all of them. They have grown so much.
Xian attention and gold eyes looked from the cub's to only glance at the shadow that fell on the ground. Swiftly it trailed closer, it was the shape of a Paroo, a strange creature that was rare to such parts-it's shadow in it's self was telling who it was; Ren, the young lord's personal paroo and friend. Swiftly it landed at a careful perch on his horns. Watching the creature shift and move out of the corner of her careful gaze she smile to herself. Just by the proo's perch it was noted how much Feng how grown, when he was smaller-Ren's wings draped down and all but engulfment his head. The Tactician surpassed a soft chuckle.
As the leader went on to address the questions before him, a trace of reconciliation flicked across the crane's golden gaze. South. Just south of here past the Shale. Oh yes, the lands where quiet green and soft...beautiful, and for her full of first memories...
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total:844
claim here for magus
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 12:22 am
An amused smirk barely contained Sej's laughter, narrowly preventing it from bursting out loudly and instead it pounded in his mind like a cheery song. Eventually though, Sej did grin as he looked once more toward the lively Mazin and then Keahi before he had approached a tree and endeavored to sink his claws into the places in the bark he had made contact with after a purposeful leap at that surface. Feng arrived shortly after this commenced though. And thus, Sej pushed off upon releasing his claws' hold, halting any progress he made in the attempt that had been geared toward preoccupying himself as they went about their assembly so that he rejoined the group quickly and silently while listening in. Xian and Ren appeared on the scene as well; Sej's quiet alertness taking their arrivals in, too. They were going to hunt and Sej acknowledged and braced himself for the task they were beginning now to undertake as their prey's location was decided. "I have no questions to add right now," was his response as he attentively followed the way these moments were unfolding so as to also act and react according to the plans and goals they were setting as a team again on this occasion like others before it and to come time after time.
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:33 am
Mazin breathed out steadily in his readiness for the task before them. Hunting would prove to be a lot of work, mentally and physically. He held no doubts of this. However as Feng had already said it was a learning experience, and the group would grow closer as a team. Stronger. Better. Succeeding in this lesson would provide the dark b’alam with more reassurance that together they actually could defeat Shen.
He briefly ruminated on the fact that he had almost forgotten what soft ground felt like under his paws. He wondered what it would be like setting foot there for the first time. Would it be a relieve to his paws? Or would he not even notice? Or would it be like walking across the hide of a giant fluffy creature?
The final thought brought a smile to his maw but Mazin quickly shook it away. Hunting… Killing was no laughing matter. “No questions here.” He informed Feng with a neutral look on his face.
wc: 168
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2016 2:14 pm
Feng nodded as the others gathered, ready to go. They seemed to trust him enough to offer no rebuke or question their training that morning. It would be their first time away from their homeland, their first time seeing the plush lands beyond the obsidian flow and the shale-filled mountains. It would be his first time actually setting paw onto the terrain. He'd seen it from a distance, his heart aching, but he had been cautioned against venturing out. It looked inviting, but there were enemies out there. Faceless, nameless enemies thus far- but enemies none the less. They'd not hesitate to take advantage of them. The enemies on the other side of the mountains very likely had no idea that they existed...but it couldn't last for long. Soon, they would have their first conflict. They'd have to announce themselves, if only to pose a challenge to the tyrant within.
All of it... a world, a war, a conflict that he had no personal investment in... it seemed wrong to pull his foster-family into it. He regarded the young faces down below with a sad warmth. He was asking them to fight, to take injury, to even....
No. He'd not allow it. He'd push them as hard as his masters pushed him so there wasn't even a chance that they'd fall like that.
"With me then," He threw a short look to Xian, "All of you."
With that, he turned and broke into a brisk trot over the shale, his paws expertly navigating the ebony landscape. They knew this land like the backs of their own paws now. Every crack and slide, every shale-covered slope and every slab of flawless stone was as a part of them as the fur on their backs. Their paws were calloused from navigating this place, hardened to the heat the stones radiated in the sunlight, and trained to the uncertain slips and slides that the land gave them. They moved like water spilling over the face of the land, effortlessly and easily. He trusted that the others were behind him, just as they trusted that he knew where he was going. They had to remain as one mind, one body. Xian assured him that hunting was similar to scouting out an enemy. They had to tag an unfamiliar entity while keeping unseen. They'd have to follow, stalk, form a strategy without a word passing between them at a moment's notice. When it was time to act- they would have but one chance. Failure in a hunt meant an empty belly but failure in a scouting mission meant discovery.
As the shale tapered into the plush green of the grassland he pressed on, mentally marveling at the softness under his paws while physically he moved without hesitation. He couldn't appear to be thrown off, couldn't be seen marveling- he had to know this place, know what he was doing. They counted on him.
"Keep your senses sharp." He called back, puffing slightly from the long lope, "Listen for danger- one of you keep an eye out for any movement. Smell- anything odd needs to be reported."
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![[ Radical Dreamer ]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/bd/31/67015f213931bd_flip.png?t=1537333447_6.00_01&a=1&i=10071121&s=stand&f=front)