Make a man out of you
Fighting lesson with Atreyu
Atreyu lay in her makeshift den at the base of an aspen tree far away from the creek that ran through this area. Steady rain had created a somewhat soggy place to sleep, but she was on a tour of her own through Auster. She had to learn her new home at any cost, even if it meant sleeping on damp earth during the rainy season. Sleeping peacefully, Bigs and herself are woken up by a howl not far away, one that was meant for Atreyu. Looking to her companion groggily, Atreyu blinks her holographic eyes and rises. She stretches and moves to the edge of her den, listening to the voice that summoned her, and recognizing the voice. Alaric was healed up and ready for their lessons.
Excitement bubbled up in her as she motioned for Bigs to follow her, the call had been close so it wouldn't take her long to find the older warrior male. Her paws muffled the sound of the wet grasses beneath them, though her dire size gave her position away with feet that squelched in the wetness of the ground. She didn't bother to hide her approach, choosing to come into view before him instead of behind.
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
It wasn't that long ago that Atreyu had received her first lesson from her father, and the thought of someone else having to teach her now brought a pang of grief to her heart. She tamped the feeling down, not wishing to fully delve into the deep losses just yet. She had recently received a good sign that they had made their way to the Summerlands without her being able to have their funerals. Kiska must have made an exception for them since they were brutally murdered. Atreyu returned herself to the present, focusing on Alaric in the here and now. Did she want to spar again? Perhaps it was best for Bigs if they only did a lesson this time.
While the dog was good in a fight, he was awfully small. He would need to learn how to handle himself against enemies that could be up to ten times his size. What would she do if she lost Bigs to somebody's leopard companion? Maybe Maul and Cinder could help the little teacup while Alaric taught her.
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
Once Atreyu had time to respond, Alaric would clear his throat and begin. "I noticed how you were holding back in your attacks in our battle." He began, pausing to let it sink in. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as his tone changed to a more serious one. "You cannot do that with when your life is at stake. It is dangerous to hold back when your opponent is clearly not." He told her sternly.
As soon as the lesson began, Atreyu sat and listened, her attention rapt and unyielding on Alaric and his words.
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
Maul and Cinder were doing their best to train Bigs. Being unable to speak, Maul was using Cinder as a stand still dummy of sorts. Maul would chuff and use his paw to gesture towards Cinder. His paw would point at the sensitive underbelly, tail, even genitalia of Cinder. In his own ways he was telling Bigs to use his size to go for the most painful low hanging fruit of his opponents. Where Bigs's little maws would do the most damage to a much larger opponent versus a head on attack.
Atreyu stayed quiet when Alaric answered her question, then fell quiet himself. She recognized that stare, the look into the past and getting lost, and she instantly regretted asking him about his battles.
Bigs was perhaps doing a little better than most would expect, as a dog himself he easily understood the barks and growls of Maul and Cinder, following their direction though he would refuse to go for the "low-hanging fruits" of any creature. There was no way he would be putting anyone's genitalia in his mouth or on his paws. He barked his refusal, snorting and shaking his maned head. He might be naked, but he had some dignity.
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
Maul and Cinder would tilt their heads slightly as they watched Bigs refuse the knowledge given to him. Cinder would shrug his shoulders indifferently while Maul snorted back and shook his head. Maul let the topic go it seemed. Now Maul straightened his posture and motioned Bigs to watch. Suddenly, the black cane corso had tackled the grey, lighter, Cinder to the ground. Cinder wiggled and struggled underneath the male but ultimately settled, accepting his position. Maul used a paw to point to Cinder than Bigs. He was trying to tell the little dog that Cinder was Bigs in the scenario. They were playing out a situation as if the little dog had been pinned. Maul waited until the little canine understood what he was trying to say. He looked at Cinder and barked, nodding his head. He placed his paws on Cinder's chest dominantly. Cinder would be calm and patience, making sure Bigs was watching before he would show Bigs a way to escape such a pin.
Bigs watched the pair of dogs without blinking, which could get unnerving because of his beady little chihuahua eyes. Still, he paid attention to the motions of Cinder and Maul without flinching, noting the way Cinder was pinned and devising his own ways out of such a hold. Being small if the opponent's feet were anywhere near his mouth they would receive a nasty bite to the toe, but if he was unlucky and they happened to be his size, Bigs might have an issue. He paid attention without interrupting this time, his ears erect and pointed right at Maul while his eyes took in everything.
"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
Maul noticed Bigs was watching and pointed to Cinder. Cinder was using his front paws to now push on the limb that was holding him down while simultaneously moving his body to the side. The combined movement was making it hard for Maul to keep a steady grip, eventually Cinder had been able to squirm his way out of the grip. Cinder rolled out from underneath Maul and then looked to Bigs and tilted his head. As if to say: 'Need to see it again?'.
Bigs watched closely as Maul and Cinder demonstrated how to get out of the pin that they were in. Cinder asked silently if Bigs wanted to see it again, to which Bigs replied with a silent nod of his own. 'How would I go about getting out of a pin? I am only so big.' The chihuahua mix said, wondering genuinely about how he could get out from under the paw of someone's predatory companion. Perhaps, he could bite a toe, or sink his teeth into an ankle.
"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'
![](https://i.imgur.com/s0pDte6.png)
Her companion, Bigs, is assumed to be with her unless otherwise mentioned. |
Maul would shift his gaze to Cinder and then fall silent. The cane corso seemed to be in deep thought. He motioned Cinder back into his back and placed his paws once more on the chest of the other dog. Cinder began to kick with his back legs and wiggle intensely, wiggling his body side to side as he kicked with his back legs. Cinder also leaned forwards and tried to bite at the forearm of the leg. The commotion was enough to break free. Once Cinder was freed, Maul stepped back and glanced at the little dog. 'Got it?' He seemed to ask as he tilted his head.