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 Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:00 am
 He was lying sprawled on a slope in the sand, his hind legs draped out behind him and his forepaws crossed before him. He was a funny looking boy, thick-set and chunky with a loose jaw and serious eyes. He had a humour to him, but not much. For him, everything was about winning play-fights, getting stronger, achieving his greatest ambitions!
His name was Azar'bijan. He had many nicknames, many variations but most called him Bi, possibly because there was already another Azar in the Simo, possibly because he liked to be different and Bi certainly did sound different.
At the moment he was staring off across the sand, a distant look on his face and a long, shimmering line of drool hanging from the edge of his mouth. He swung his head at the sound of a distant lion and the drool swung too, like a pendulum.
"Ugh...hot. Bored. BORED!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:07 am
Ka was escaping from his sister for the moment, for as long as he could get away, she was acting strange during certain days, and then he noticed she would sneak away now and then in the midst of the night, when she believed he didn't know what was going on. He ad followed her, on several of those occasions and found she returned to the same place near the borders, looking out with almost mourning crimson eyes shining in the night, looking, and waiting for Ryujin and Ra'd. He knew why she did it, she missed her older brother who really acted like their younger brother, but she also missed Ra'd, for his friendship, and what was becoming more of a friendship, he sighed to himself as he moved over the dunes, pelt hot and making him restless because of his dark pelt.
Kai wasn't getting distracted usually during the day though, even though she still seemed to ache to have Ra'd and Ryujin here, though he had reassured her on several sparring days that in a few more moons, after they were full fledged members, Ryujin and Ra'd could venture here for their turn. He and Kai would speak well of them, and they were training, to his knowledge, through Kessek, which was making them stronger during the wait. Truth be told, Ka was anxious as well, to see his brother, and have Ra'd here so that Kai wouldn't be melancholy during the night, waiting, and wishing in her dreams.
Moving over the dunes he spat onto the sand, mouth dry, his muscles were aching today from sparring with Kai the day before, but it had been good, and he smirked to himself, and it would get better as days wore on. Ka and Kai would prove their worth here, and show No and Kidondo they made no mistake by letting them come into the lands.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:14 am
Azar had nothing as taxing to think about. His most aching thought at the moment was beating his othe siblings and rising to successor of the litter. It wasn't going to happen, of course, though he didn't yet realise this. No. He was not the strongest. Not the bravest. In fact, Azar'bijan wasn't much good at anything other than talking big and getting into scraps. He liked that, though, the excitement of a fight, the not knowing what might happen. In fact he found it rather addictive.
Yes, it was most likely that he'd end up a trouble maker later in life, destined for a path he would not wish to follow. However, maybe he'd grow up a little in mind and body - given time.
At seeing the other male approaching, the cub smirked, smacked his chops to rid them of the drool and bounced to his feet - heat forgotten in his relief at finding someone out and about. Then, moving to his belly, he crawled forwards, trailing after the older male with an intent look in his eye.
A moment later and he halted, gathered himself and leapt, aiming for the other's hind legs. "Rrrrawwr!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:25 am
Ka was on a ramble of his mind, moving through some new moves Kai had taught him, going through them slowly, frame after frame, slowing it down taking in each detail, one watching him might believe he was in a trance, and he was, in a manner of speaking. he wanted to be better, stronger, make others proud in the pride he would call his home. Although kai was the only blood relative he had here now, he felt as if he might prove himself, and then others of the pride might keep him close to their hearts as well. Family, real family was what he and his sister had lacked back home, they never had a family, only a strange area in which they were supposed to call home, but couldn't bring themselves to do it because of their mother.
Ka snapped out of his trance like state when he heard a voice, ears flicked and listened to teh wind, sensory, senses, they were important. behind him, Ka turned in a manner and out of the corner of his eye saw a small frame and lifted his hind legs balancing on his forelegs to remove them from the child's grasp. A side flip, one might call it, Ka would call it a close call, if the cub had been larger, and an opponent, it would have been too close for Ka's comfort.
Turning and landing his paws solid on the sand, Ka quirked a brow at the child, so bright, definitely firekin red upon his shoulders, Ka smiled, someone new...
"Almost got me-"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:31 am
So close....
...But alas, not close enough. The hind legs slipped far from grasp and suddenly the lion was tumbling away from him, out of reach. The cub skidded to a halt, amazed and startled at how well the lion had moved to evade him. His mouth, without his knowing it, hung agape. And, after a moment he lifted his eyes to look into the face of this dark lion.
Firekin were red and Azar'bijan was indeed very red. Even his eyes were red. He'd prided himself on that. However, this male here certainly looked very striking with those markings and that vivid red on darkest black. It made him envious...almost.
"Almost." He replied, reaching up a paw to rub the spittle from his jowls. "Only cos you're bigger, else I'd have had you and that'd be the end. Well...not really. I wouldn't hurt a firekin, well not too bad. Maybe rough 'em up a bit." He grinned. "You wanna teach me that trick?"
Children...did they all lack manners?
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:36 am
"Mhmm, yes, if you were bigger, but if you were bigger, I' be bigger too," Ka said with a smirk. So red, blatant against the sand beneath the child, amazing, he had not seen such a brightness with lack of any other colors, really, usually there were bits of white or black, but no, this boy was all red, pure firekin, interesting, and it almost made Kai wish his black was replaced by a deep red, almost, though the black on his pelt reminded him of the past, and the reason why he had come here, and that, Ka did not want to forget, ever, no, it was a part of him, and he would, at least he hoped, would relinquish the beast and monster he had to unfortunately call his mother.
"Sure, you like to fight?" Ka asked, taking a few steps, watching the child, a dumb question perhaps, though he knew some children liked other things, like Nima, she wanted to be a storyteller, that was it, he remembered.
"First I would like to know the name of my pupil for today," he said in a joking manner, flicking his tail he waited, names were good, names were important.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:44 am
"Whatever." Bi dismissed with a shrug. He'd be bigger if he was bigger and all that jazz. He didn't really want to confuse his brain with such pointless thoughts as that. No, certainly not! Even more so when there were far more important things to talk about. Such as fighting!
"Wow, do I!?" He blurted. "I'm gonna be the best fighter around, I'm telling yah. Gonna beat all the best. Gonna be a soldier, gonna be more than that! Gonna be a hero!" He was bouncing on his paws now, eyes bright with vivid excitement. Yes. This was what he lived for!
"Azar'bijan. Call me Bi." He settled himself, realising that he hadn't seen any grown-up soldiers bouncing around like children. "Means fire hero, see? It's been fated. Destined for greatness." He grinned wider. "So you're really gonna teach me, huh? Wow, this is gonna be soooo awesome!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:54 am
"Bi, " Ka gave a slight bow of his head to, perhaps a trait of himself he could not break sometimes, although it was a nice gesture to others to show respect, and even Bi, he deserved respect for being so eager already to devote his life to the pride. "I am Ka," he said with a smile, crimson eyes meeting Bi's, fire, fire was in Ka's eyes now knowing that he could make another difference, teach Bi something that perhaps would aid him someday in battle, in defense of the pride, something, anything at all.
"With such a fierce want to be a soldier already, in time, with practice and training, you'll be a fine soldier to the pride," Ka said reassuringly. "Though you have to put your heart into it, your passion, someone who fights without passion or meaning is weaker than someone who fights or battles for a reason, remember that, always, passion can make a strike more powerful, a lunge faster," flicking his tail he circled Bi, not in a threatening manner, just to see his stance.
"To learn what I did, you need to have an even stance, balanced, like this" he stood next to Bi, and showed how he ad even balanced between his legs, "If you know where your balance is, and can feel it, that is step one. You need to know how your body moves, how it wavers and wobbles with each step or bounce, try this, shift your balance onto each leg slowly, and move to the next leg, by doing this, you can feel how your body moves, how your muscles react to the movement."
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:05 pm
He nodded slightly at the other's name. It was short and simple. A good name, he thought. His full name was a little too long for his liking, though its meaning ran in favour with him.
He lifted his tail with apprehension, turning his ears so that he could listen to the other's words, intent on not missing a single one in case it was important and ruined his ability to master new techniques. His eyes glinted with eager anticipation to get down to the real learning. "Heart. Passion. Got it." He nodded, though it wasn't clear whether he had got it. He did a test swipe of his paw but it was mere childsplay compared to a true strike.
Bi was certainly full of buzzing energy, much like a 'bee'. Yes, the name was becoming more and more suitable by the moment.
As Ka circled, Azar made an attempt to follow him with his eyes, failing when his neck reached its farthest point of turn. Then, he was forced to turn his body with it, seemingly not realising that he had already started his training. He was just about to open his mouth and question this when Ka spoke again, silencing the little cub and saving him from looking silly.
"Okay!" He spread his legs a little futher apart and then tried to mimic what the older lion was doing. He shifted his balance as best as he could, but his face was as clear to read as if his thoughts were written there.
He didn't get it at all.
"Ugh." He sat after a moment. "Is this balance thing really that important? Can't we just get to the fun stuff? Can I try pouncing you again, huh?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:10 pm
Ka chuckled and nodded his head, "Without balance, you can't really execute any fine-tuned moves, you'll fall over," Ka took a few steps back and shifted the balance in his body to his forearms, and pushed from the sand with his back legs, on his forearms he took a few steps forward, feeling the street on his shoulders, his muscles, but he grit his teeth, strength was important when doing certain things, but balance, was where it started.
Settling back onto the sand, Ka took a breath, eyes watching Bi, "Without balance, you can't do that, and you can't shift your weight to certain limbs to push away from an attacker like I did," he said with a nod.
"Try to balance on you left foreleg and left backleg Bi, be be mindful of your balance, alright? I know this isn't the fun stuff, but it prepares you for what you think is fun, so when you do the fun stuff, you won't need to redo things as many times as you would if you didn't try to be mindful of where your balance lies."
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:15 pm
"Aw no fair." He complained loudly, puckering out his whiskers. Why did learning have to be so boring? Why couldn't he just leap straight into it and learn from firsthand experience? Why was life always so complicated?!
Eventually, after watching the demonstration, he decided to relent a little. If he wanted to get to the fun stuff he had to do the boring stuff, right? So...might as well get it out of the way.
With a small huff he did as he was told, first bracing himself on all four paws and then slowly shifting his weight onto his left side. The concentration was rigid on his face and for a moment it seemed like he might actually pull it off. Then, quite suddenly, the sand shifted beneath his paw and he was forced sideways, off of his paws and into the ground.
He stood up, spitting sand, clearly annoyed. "Okay, okay. Balance is fine. I get it. Fighting now?" He blinked. "Please?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:24 pm
"Alright, alright, but you have to make sure you practice your balance, because once I start teaching you, I will be checking up on you to make sure your doing well with it, and if you are, maybe I'll teach you something else," he said with a smile, hoping to bait Bi into practicing, which was indeed a feet because cubs usually weren't interested by the same thing for long hours on end.
"Alright, say if an opponent was going to lunge for you, like this," Ka moved slowly, right arms outstretched as if he was going to push his paw against Bi's chest, "You would push on those legs," he motioned to the ones closest to his oncoming paw," that way," he motioned with his head, "once you land again, you would push with your other legs to come back at me, paw outstretched for your attack, watch."
Ka moved away and pretended as if he was getting attacked, dodging one way then landing and pushing himself right back, "Now you try," Ka moved himself again in his play attacking position, and started to move his paw forward at Bi.
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:37 pm
"Okay, okay. Whatever you say, so long as you teach me fun stuff!" And he was bouncing on the tips of his paws again, shaking the grains of sand from his crimson pelt as he waited. And then the lesson began and his eyes soaked up all of Ka's movements. The adult made everything look so easy. So fluid! Azar'bijan watched him and knew that he could do it too. Then everyone would watch in amazement as he performed such incredible feats. He'd learn quick. Become the best fighter ever known to the desert. Then he'd challenge Ka and beat him and everyone would recognise him for his true potential.
So caught up in these thoughts he missed the last part of the demonstration. But he was confident that he knew what to do and with a nod he pushed himself into bracing position - one he knew well. Then, with a playful growl he leapt sideways. The movement was not as clear cut and precise as the other's. In fact it was sloppy and slow and there was no way he'd have moved out of anyone's lunging attack. In any case he slowed himself to a halt, gathered himself and began his charge, roaring as he went.
"Got yah!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:49 pm
Ka had thought Bi was paying attention, but evidently he wasn't watching the whole thing, was he already getting preoccupied in his mind, already bored? He seemed so eager though, huh. Though Ka watched as Bi lunged for him, and Ka dodged out of his way, landed, and pushed back, what Bi was supposed to have done. Ka moved quickly and then pinned Bi onto his back, Ka holding him down with one paw on his chest.
"When you dodge out of the way and push back, all that energy is transferred into your muscles, and they don't weaken, it becomes stronger because of the extra energy you add to the thrust of your muscles, your body moving with the energy driving it, you have to pay attention Bi," Ka said with a smirk, Ka stood straight, and watched Bi.
He was anxious, impatient even, but he had to stay focused and learn one move correctly before he could do more, Ka didn't want Bi to get messy with his style, but what could he do? "You need to practice, or I can't teach you anything more Bi, you need to stay focused," he said with a nod, Ka lifted his paw his Bi's chest and took a few steps back. "Practice, and come find me again, practice hard to, because I'll be expecting more from you since I'm teaching you myself, and not my sister," Ka said with a nod.
Would Bi practice though?
"Can you do that for me, practice? Then I'll teach you more?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:22 pm
The air was pushed from his lungs and where once he'd been running he was now lying flat on his back, pressed to the sand. He was vulnerable. He was beaten. He squirmed, trying desperately to wriggle free from the lion's grasp.
Then he was talking and the litlte red cub fell still, lifting his eyes hesitantly to meet his teacher's. "Yes...sir." He mumbled, knowing that Ka was right but not quite willing to admit it. His mood improved when he was allowed up and rolled himself back up onto his paws, waiting eagerly for another chance at an attack. But apparently he wasn't going to get a chance. Ka was talking about practise again and the very word was boring to his ears.
Practise? Really?
His ears fell down around his face and he sighed rather dramatically. "Fi~ine. I'll practise. Every day. I promise. Then I'll come back and see you and you can show me more cool stuff! Then I'll totally kick my brothers and sisters down in the dirt!" He was off again in his dream world.
"You wait and see, Ka. Someday I'mma gonna beat everyone!"
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