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The big male stood on guard. The weeks had passed slowly, but as they passed he had trained with Kaelyn, he'd felt old muscles he hadn't used in an age creak and groan, but eventually they remembered what they were supposed to do and when they remembered he fought. He was still young he realised as his shoulders bulged with muscle, his claws sharpened, and he even sped up, a little. Of course he had never been much of a speedster, his sheer size saw to it that he was slower than most but if he could get close enough his weight became his advantage.

At first, when the chocolate lioness was healing up, he had been faster and much stronger, despite the fact that he hadn't been using his fighting skills she was quickly dispatched most days, but as she trained she grew stronger and swifter and sleeker. He couldn't help but admire her. She wasnt exactly one to hold back her punches either so that was why he was on guard.

Over the past few days, he felt her skill set had improved, she seemed to be back to perfect health and while he stepped away from the punches, only pushing her away when he needed to, she had come along in leaps and bounds. The time was coming, she would leave them soon, it left him, distracted despite being on guard.

Wessex sat on the sidelines while the big lions duelled, she knew Dooley would never hit her properly, sure, he would use his weight and subdue her but he would never truely strike her, it was a shame, she thought, Kaelyn didnt seem to feel the same. She watched as Dooley went on the defensive and shook her head. This girl would be the death of him, she was pretty sure, though he seemed better trained for a fight now than she felt he ever had, even when leaving the firekin. He had been an adolescent then after all, now, he was a full grown, hulking adult and his muscle tone had improved, he had remembered how to fight, or his muscles had. It heads been interesting to watch but as she did, she knew, soon, the lioness would be gone and she would be left with a heart broken lion to console. She dreaded that day, but she knew, she knew it was nearly here.

Dooley felt the press of the liones against his chest and he felt the ground leave his front paws. He pushed and scrabbled but he had lost purchase. He could feel himself topple even before he knew he had gone. He honestly didnt know what Kaelyn's goal was, he just knew she wanted to train and train she had. It seemed she had pretty much gained her old strength back and while he too had pushed himself back in to real fitness she was trying for a reason, he was trying just because she wanted it.

He felt the crush of the ground and as his head hit he raised a paw hoping to stop any onslaught to his throat. He never was sure if she was going to kill him in these matches. He could never decide if she was Tyrell trying to destroy him or if she just didnt know how to hold back. "Okay, okay, I surrender." He chuckles rolling on to his back and putting all four paws in the air.

Wessex barked as her partner was toppled, she shook her head. The big lug didnt seem to be too in to it today. Maybe he was fed up of fighting? She wasn't sure, honestly, he seemed to be getting more and more quiet as the days rolled by. Perhaps the big guy had realised their time together was drawing to a close. She felt so sorry for him. Still, she could at least try and cheer him up. "Oh Dooley, big mammoth of a thing, how can you let a girl knock you over." She grins at Kaelyn and hops off the rock she had been sitting on to watch the fighting match. "Though Kaelyn is hardly a normal girl. Think she can finally beat you big fellah."

Dooley rolled on to his side and huffed a cloud of dust lifting from the ground by his nose, he chuckled quietly and pawed at Wessex. "How about some sympathy for the fallen hero instead of sarcasm?" He grins, he knew Wessex was trying to cheer him up, he had to try and be his usual self. It was just, so hard.

"Blah blah, you girls, always ganging up on me!" He huffs "Suppose my mind was else where, but, yup you certainly won this one Kaelyn!" He smiles from his prone position, allowing the lioness her moment of glory towering over him.

Dooley stayed laying down for a moment, he listened to her words and his heart dropped in to his stomach. He closed those perfect blue eyes and stretched out feigning a yawn he gave a nod and rolled to his paws. "I'm glad you have reached your goal, but really, toppling me over shouldn't have been a goal." He managed a laugh. The little touches she had started to give him, a paw in his mane, so close to his throat she could have killed him, those little touches they both thrilled and hurt him. He had sworn to himself he would not be upset when she decided to go. He had promised her he would let her spread her wings, he would see her strength restored and able to go and fulfill her dreams.

It seemed their time together was drawing to a close. "Three.. Days." He cleared his head and forced a smile on to his maw. "Sounds good, I'm sure they've been, uhm, waiting for you?" Were the stormborn expecting her? He had heard a little of th place Kaelyn was intending to go, to seek her revenge, to gain her pride back, pride that had been scarred so deeply by their homeland. He looked to Wessex and licked the dog roughly. "Looks like it's gunna be you and me again pal." He managed a pained smile, he knew, when he lifted his head the furrow between his brows had to be gone. He couldn't ask her to stay, that would just hurt her. He knew that. His mouth felt dry and he let out a silent sigh lifting his head he gave a nod. "A little stretch would be good before a nap." He yawned a massive toothy yawn. "Probably an idea to go to the water, wash these little cuts you've given me." He scoffs.

Wessex whined quietly as Dooley licked her she quickly hid her disappointed sound with a bark. "Ugh, Dooley! You ruddy great idiot, I don't want to smell like cat slobber." She huffs and passes between the two lions, she looks up at Kaelyn and nods, padding off ahead towards the water. Dooley let himself be scratched. He hadn't left a mark on the females coat but his shoulders, his paws and even his hide were definately marked. Why had this girl come in to their lives? She knew Dooley would be heart broken. Biting her bottom lip the pale dog glanced backwards. She would speak to Kaelyn, tonight, when Dooley went to sleep. She would speak to her, female, to female. She had to know the truth. She couldn't leave wirthout it.

Dooley tilted his head, and raised a brow. "Being toppled by a girl is no fun you know?" he grinned a hard grin, he was trying to stay positive. "I know, that's always been your goal I understand." He looked away taking himself in to the water and bathing his paws. The scratches she had inflicted would heal but he doubted the ache in his heart would.

When she asked if she should leave sooner he twisted his head, probably too quickly, he frowned "Of course not, don't be silly." He forced a smile on to his maw. "You don't need to go until you want do. Wessex and I would never chase you off. Not that we could, seems you can turn me over like a cub now." He chuckles quietly turning his attention back to his paws watching as the stream, washed away the blood and dirt from the fight, though really, that was just an excuse to look away, if he looked at her now, he would probably look like a wounded gazelle begging for its life, he couldn't do that to her. She had her goal after all. He had promised himself he would not stop her, what ever she decided to do, he had to support her that was what he needed to do to protect her. For her to be happy, he had to let her go.

Wessex paced the bank watching Dooley, she noticed the slope in his shoulders and huffed. Turning to Kaelyn she padded close and pawed at her. "When Dooley goes for his nap, can I speak to you?" She wags her tail hopefully. She wasn't asking for much and she knew that Kaelyn had no reason to suspect what she needed to say. Still she asked permission because she knew she should. She had something very important to say after all.

Dooley nodded and got out of the water. His shoulder felt warm where she had cleaned it and he knew it was more than just her grooming. It felt that way because of the brief touch. He had to stop. He knew he did, that didn't make it any less hard though. He knew he had to say good bye. She had given them a time frame, he would wave her off happily, he would wave her off and push these feelings down and go back to roaming. He had been happy roaming... right? The question struck him sort of like a pile of bricks. Had he been happy just moving around?

Shaking his tan maned head he stepped out of the water and flicked his paws to get rid of the water that now dripped off them. "Yeh I could probably do with a nap. Maybe I'm getting old. Wessex am I getting old?" He scrunched his face up in a deep comical frown.

"Yes Dooley, you're getting old, you let a girl kick your butt, all that intimidating size and you get knocked over." She pulls a tongue and nips at the big lions heels gently. "Go and take a nap we'll join you in a few." She looks at Kaelyn and nodded to one side. "Maybe Kaelyn and I can catch something little for you to snack on."

Dooley shook his head. He sort of guessed that Wessex wanted to talk to the lioness alone but he was wondering what it was about. He nearly offered to go with them on the hunt but decided against it, maybe a moment alone to nap and let his thoughts wander else where was a good idea. "Yehyeh, have fun." He grumbles padding up the short incline and settling himself in to a comfortable slouch. He watched the girls carefully though, he could watch them go before he took his nap. He could watch them go.

A hunt was actually a good idea and as Kaelyn slipped in to the long grass she followed in silence. The lioness was a great hunter, she knew what the firekin lands were like, you learned or you died. She supposed it was something she and Dooley had in common.

With their hunt successful and with Dooley far behind them the pale jackal sat on her haunches and took a deep breath. "I can't carry that back alone." She looked at the large carcass and shook her head. Kaelyn was over ambitious in everything she did, even hunting. It made her laugh a little, someone so intelligent and strong yet she seemed to blank on something right under her nose.

The black bottomed Jackal gave a nod. "Look, I know you have a mission, and I know Dooley is going to let you complete it. He's like that, you know that right? He won't see you held back, he will watch you walk away with a smile and a hug and you will go about your business without another thought or care in the world." She paused and shuffled her paws looking around herself to make sure the tan maned male, definately, had not woken from his nap and followed them.

"You must have realised by now that he is in love with you right? You setting that deadline, I think you broke him." She frowns deeply, she wasnt really an emotional female, she had protected Dooley his whole life, she had gone from nanny to best friend and perminant companion. Seeing him hurt, it broke her heart and left a very tangled knot in her stomach, she held back the tears she could feel pricking at the corners of her eyes. She could not cry, she had to stand up to this female who could kill her if she wanted to. She had to be brave.

"Look, I know you don't feel that way about him, I know you have things you need to do, but you can't let him think that anything is going to happen. I want you to go, while he's asleep. Go and don't look back." She got to her paws and looked at the carcass that the lioness had brought down. "Look after yourself Kaelyn, it would hurt him to think of you in pain." She huffed. "I'll tell him you decided to move up your deadline." The female jackal flattened her ears and bolted off through the long grass. That would be the end of it. She wouldn't see that meloncoly look on Dooleys face again, she never wanted to see that look ever again.