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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 3:36 am
 Flashing hazel eyes watched them from the cover of green, lush grass. The cub had precious little in the way of camoflage; her bone-white pelt caught the light like so much cloud, the fires of her front paws crackled obstinately against the green. Still, she applied herself with the practice of one who hid too often. Her head bent back, keeping the curling horns at her crown tucked well out of the way. Her claws kneaded the earth below her - she ignored both them, and the way her fur formed a fluffy, anxious ridge down her spine.
They looked like her.
Their rolling forms - their horns - their tails and paws and eyes. Was that what she looked like when she ran? Long and loping, graceful and beautiful? Did they always move together? The white cub was all at once humbled by the sight of them, by the very idea that these others existed. Was she - were they - supposed to be all together? Was she wrong for waking up alone?
She closed her eyes tight. She squeezed, squinting her brows close and clenching her jaw with the effort of it. When she opened them again, though - they were there still. She at once hated them for moving past, and very much yearned to call out. The sensation of them, tearing her between the possibility of friends and the dire warning of foes, was equal parts humbling and scary. Yet no sooner had she realized that fear than she grew furious with herself, that she allowed it into her heart. Getting scared had yet to help her, so there was certainly no point in letting it get to her now.
These others looked like her, sure. Or she looked like them. But if it was more than looks; if these others could do half the things she knew herself to be capable of... If they were anywhere near as dangerous as she knew herself to be! The white cub shook her head, eyes riveted to their passing forms. There would be better things to think about than being afraid anyway.
The cub attempted to move away through the grass, slinking mouse-quiet and belly-low.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:43 pm
As the group galloped over the grassland it was evident from the look on his face that Mazin was surprised by the texture touching his feet. His eyes widened and he cast his gaze downward, watching with fixation the way his feet fell to the ground as he moved. He had surmised it would be plush, like the sparse amount of rugs that adorned the dens they slept in. While grass did, somewhat contain that quality it was more solidified than what Mazin’s imagination had led him to believe.
Cracking a grin Mazin resisted the urge to howl with amusement. Such might draw attention from less-than-kindly animals hiding in the unfamiliar terrain. Moreover his obsessive gazing at his feet had nearly broken the group’s practiced running formation. Mazin did not particularly fancy the idea of being left behind because he had distracted himself looking at his feet.
Attentively listening to the tasks Feng shouted back at them to begin, Mazin set his nose to work and began to absorb the various scents around them. The earthy smell beneath them, the fresh scent of a warm breeze as it passed through the area… Something unusual caught his attention though. Something living, moving roughly within their proximity.
A surge of excitement and fear rushed through him. Had he really discovered prey? This quickly?! Maybe it was just his nose tricking him. Or him getting overly excited and smelling things that weren’t real. Regardless, it seemed worthy to report. “There’s only the five of us here right?” He nodded in the direction of the smell. “I think something that’s not us might be nearby.”
wc: 271
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 9:33 am
The graceful tactician remained poised and still as the Cub Lord spoke to his followers. Golden eyes placed themselves peacefully on the grown cubs that looked to him for instruction. Pristine tail shifted the fan in front of her maw ever so slightly, a musing in thought.
As the young Lord Feng spoke, Xian responded with a understanding nod. She would fallow wordlessly, but it was his lead. She was there only to advise and teach when requested.
One by one, the cubs gracefully spilled after their leader. Swiftly Xian tucked the fan to her chest and her graceful paw steps totted after the party. Golden horns remained poised as her careful gaze remained on the terrain and their surroundings. This was the cub's first hunt, she was there to instruct when Feng requested, though as always-she was still his protector. Senses heightened as their paw steps landed softly in the familiarity of green pastures. Maw parted slightly as her thoughts carefully filtered out the memories of her past....
Though there was something else, nearby. More then just memories of the past, or the pray they sought..She could sense it, and knew the cubs if focusing on it- could sense it too. Golden eyes took a glance up to Feng's Paroo, Ren. He would see it before them...
Long graceful strides picked up to gracefully catch up to the young lord's side. Jogging beside him, the Tactician gave the young leader her golden gaze, her dark slender ear turned to a cub's seeking questions; but yet her focus remained on Feng. It was a questioning look, a testing one, a waiting one-curious to see what he would do.
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:00 pm
Back and forth she practiced keeping her balance as she crossed the shale. A few times her paws slipped as she began to focus to much. It was soon though that she had began to master the task of walking upon the shale letting her body react to it rather then letting her mind force her body to something else. In a sense she was becoming to be a natural at the task.
Aside from the training with Feng and the rest of the group she worked on her own training, determined not be left behind by her new found brothers. Of course Sej was her brother by blood but the other two quickly became family to her as well. After all it was natural for one to see it that way, after spending so much time with them.
Her muscular form rippled as she made her way to the meeting place for that day. She had been the last to arrive to it as Feng, Mazin, Sej and another were waiting there, a pristine adult Nah. Normally she would not be late for their daily meeting but she had lost track of the time with her own pre-training that day. Both mind and body she had to keep sharp.
She remained silent as she arrived not wanting to interrupt Feng's words as he addressed them. Hunting was their task for today. It was to be expected, the war was near, and it was high time that they began to fend for themselves. They were no longer the cubs they once were that first day of training.
Mazin spoke the question that had formed within her mind. Keahi did not have to wait long for the question to be answered. South, to lands they had not seen before. Excitement welled with in her, curiosity began to spread, as paws shifted under her. No, she could not let this emotion control her, she had to focus. The task was hunting, this was going to be no sight seeing trips.
The Nah had no other questions either as she tried her best to hide her own excitement. "I have no questions either." She spoke softly.
Once Feng began to lead she followed just like the rest of her brethren. As they entered the grasslands she made many mental notices about the lands around them. The difference the ground felt upon her callused paws. The smells, though there was something else about this place. A sense of being watched almost. Keeping her sense sharp she focused trying to figure out the origin of this feeling.
Just like Mazin she too had noticed the different smell, but it was not just a smell. It was another B'alam, though it was faint, she could tell by the spirit. Being surrounded by the two Tah's all the time she had quite an easy time depicting another one like herself. This was no prey, but it could be an enemy. Her body tensed. "Another Nah is there." She whispered softly trying not to be too loud. Indicating in the direction that Mazin had nodded to.
Her eyes trailed to Feng, waiting for him to decide what they should do. They were one b'alam after all and he was the head.
WC: 543
((Catching Keahi up with everything))
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:12 am
Feng slowed only a little, knowing that in a new terrain they would need a moment to take their surroundings in, to observe the differences in biome and plain, and adjust accordingly. In the obsidian flow, there was little movement aside from the very sparse, spindley scrubs that grew. Here, when even the slightest breeze whispered through the entire land seemed to shift in response. The grass was like fur on the back of a massive sleeping giant and moved in waves of shining emerald. It was difficult to adjust their trained eyes to taking it all into account. Above them, the boughs of trees waved gently while their leaves hissed, shimmered, and danced in the wind. Small birds darted through the air, bounded through the grass, and zipped through the branches. Out here, the world was alive. Sight and sound was hard enough, but there were a plethora of new smells to take into account as well. The obsidian flow had a distanct freshness touched with the salty sea air but here, they couldn't even see the sea nor hear the almost constant roar of water clashing with earth. Instead, the world seemed strangely quiet, the air carried with it far too many new things to give a name to them.
It was easy to be over-whealmed, but he, like the others, picked up on the stranger almost instantly. He sensed, more than he saw or smelled, another in the area. Volga had mentioned that there may be hostiles out here, hostiles or scouts for the hostiles. It made sense- they had a watch posted around their perimeter to protect their army and to observe any odd movements or happenings. The enemy likely had one of their own.
Feng stood himself still, his ears erect and his tail snapping from side to side behind him. He jerked his horns towards the others. When pressed by a hostile, they would stand in a circle, their backs to eachother and their horns, claws, and fangs facing outwards. It was both a shield and a sword- but right now they knew nothing of who might be out here. For the moment, it was best to be on alert.
"I sense her." He kept his voice low, "Near there. Keep close- move slowly. If they attack, pair up."
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:23 am
Xain's careful eyes looked to the others making sure none that had followed had gotten lost. Golden eyes quickly glance over the horns present. They all seemed to be there. Good...
Ears remained erect and poised. Attentive. Listening to everything around her, but more so to their leader.
His words where wise, and she trusted his squad was obedient. One had seem to know how to distinguish spirits, that was good. Such a comment earn a subtle answering nod.
Lowering her alabaster body, Xian was able to slink herself to a hover over the ground under her. Her paw steps where careful and her action was that of the will of her lord. This was his and their hunt, and perhaps a little distraction such as this was necessary lesson.
However, the Nan has already passed by...
Regardless, the Teacher was curious to how the others where going to act.
(Sorry on my phone, no quotes or pretty colors.)
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 9:54 am
Mazin had prepared to position himself in the practiced circle shield and had taken one or two steps back towards whoever was behind him. Feng’s gesture indicated that was not the go-to move at the moment, and the black coated tah mentally scolded himself for the slip up.
He couldn’t afford slip ups in real combat! Granted, this was the Yao Yang’s first real journey outside the coast. Yet Mazin didn’t take any comfort in that knowledge. From everything that he had gathered about “real combat” it didn’t take much for everything to start going really, really wrong. Therefore he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes! No matter how insignificant...
Mazin proceeded slowly, tail waving uneasily as he starred in the general direction the mysterious Nan was supposed to be in. He was straining to listen, to see if he could hear anything that indicated where the stranger was positioned. It almost seemed like that Nan wasn’t there anymore. Had she left?
wc: 162
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Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:17 pm
She couldn't run forever. The Nan's ears pressed back against her skull with that knowledge and how secure she was in it. There was still a little piece of her that wanted to ignore them, but that was the fear again. The cub shook her head, shook that fear away, violently. They knew she was there anyway.
The grass parted to reveal her horns first. That golden crown was followed closely by white-hot flames and an ivory coat. Her eyes blazed with their own fire, at once livid at the sight of this unit of her kind and longing to be a part of them. Once upon a time, she hadn't minded being alone...but Akun had taught her otherwise. Together with him - even though it had been so short! - was so much better than time spent by herself.
The sight of the lot of them, though, was a lot to take in. They all but burned her eyes with their vibrancy: in their pelts, she saw the flaming colors she had so loved in Akun's mane. They had their own friend, as well. Xiao's horns were scarcely gold at all compared to the larger Nan's shining crest. That didn't help the cub's temper. Now she found herself confused as well as irritated - why had they gotten to keep their friend, and she had not?
"There is no they," Xiao said clearly, hoping her small voice wouldn't shake. Not now, when she needed to be firm. If these others were here to cause her harm, she was not allowed to be afraid. "I'm not going to attack, either, unless you do first. Who are you?" Her tailed lashed to one side, just as much a warning as her forward stance and hunched shoulders. Claws kneaded the earth again, ready to pounce. Let them be aware that she could attack if she had to. Let them believe that she didn't know how to be scared.
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:50 pm
Feng's ears flattened and his shoulders tensed as a pair of horns parted the grass ahead of his small unit. The small head that followed belonged to a young Nan, perhaps around their own age, with a firey but uncertain look in her eye. She knew she was out-numbered, but she still presented as defensive. He couldn't quite blame her. She was out here alone in what very well could be hostile territory.
Feng extended a paw, motioning for the others to remain behind him, but to remain on guard.He didn't know this Nan and for all anyone knew, she could very well be counted among the enemy. Regardless of the poor state of many coming into their lands, he couldn't afford to let his guard down. The bloodied face of the pale refugee had haunted him. Somewhere out there, beyond the jagged peaks that defended them, was a Tah willing to put claw to his own kind unprovoked.
He would not reflect that beast...but he'd not let his guard down either.
"We are only defending our border." He stated plainly. "We attack only those that show ill intent, I assure you."
The second question merrited caution as well, at least until he knew this one better. His informal name would do well enough, "My name is Feng. These are my brothers and sisters in arms. And you? Why are you here?"
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Flashing hazel eyes watched them from the cover of green, lush grass. The cub had precious little in the way of camoflage; her bone-white pelt caught the light like so much cloud, the fires of her front paws crackled obstinately against the green. Still, she applied herself with the practice of one who hid too often. Her head bent back, keeping the curling horns at her crown tucked well out of the way. Her claws kneaded the earth below her - she ignored both them, and the way her fur formed a fluffy, anxious ridge down her spine. 
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