Xairo trudged across the battlefield, his paws aching and his pride bruised. The sting of defeat still lingered, a bitter taste in his mouth. He had been so sure of himself, so confident in his abilities, but his opponent had bested him with humiliating ease.

Gritting his teeth, Xairo scanned the rocky terrain, his green eyes sharp and calculating. He would not leave this place until he had proven himself, until he had shown everyone that he was a force to be reckoned with. Failure was not an option for him, his fierce determination burning within him like a blazing fire

"Xairo Saxe"

A yearling no longer, the Morningstar watched the pup from a short distance - his cyan eyes soft with concern as they traced the determined, yet troubled, movements of the younger wolf. The battlefield was a harsh place, but it had it's way of drawing out strength. It seemed capable of drawing out something else, too: vulnerabilities.

"Hello," Oath called out gently, his voice carrying warmth despite the weight of the scene around them and the knowledge of what most wolves came here for. He approached slowly, his posture non-threatening, his red horns catching the fading light like flickers of fire. "You look like you've been through it. Are you alright?"

He sat down a few strides away, giving the pup space but making it clear that he wasn't leaving nor planning to attack. "I know that look. I've worn it myself a time or two. Sometimes it helps to talk about it. I'm here if you want to."

Oath's tone was calm and steady, offering understanding rather than judgment. He hoped the pup would see that he wasn't here to challenge him or belittle him, but to genuinely listen.

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN

Xairo's ears flattened against his skull as he heard the approaching footsteps. He whirled around, his muscles tensed and ready for another fight. But when he saw it was just an older wolf that did seem to be an immediate threat- his posture relaxed slightly - though wariness still shone in his piercing green eyes.

He couldn’t help but scoff at Oath's concerned words, though, trying to mask his inner turmoil with bravado. "I'm fine," he snapped, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "Just taking a breather before I go back for round two." Xairo paced restlessly, his thick fur bristling with pent-up frustration. He cast furtive glances at Oath, unsure of the older guy’s motives. Part of him longed to unburden himself, to voice the gnawing doubts that plagued him. But vulnerability was weakness, and he couldn't afford to show any cracks in his armor.

"I don't need to talk," he growled, though his words lacked conviction. "I need to win. I need to prove that I'm strong enough."

"Xairo Saxe"

Oath didn’t flinch at the sharpness in the pup’s tone. He had heard words like those before- spoken by others, and perhaps, by himself once. His cyan eyes remained calm, reflecting a patience that only experience could bring.

“Proving yourself, huh?” he murmured, tilting his head slightly as he watched Xairo pace. “And what happens when you do? When you win?”

He let the question hang in the air for a moment, his voice low and even, as if he were speaking to the restless wind. "Are you sure winning is what you truly need to prove your strength?"

Oath stood and stepped a bit closer, though still keeping enough distance to give the pup space to breathe. “I’ve been where you are, you know. Trying to claw my way out of my own doubts. Thinking that if I could just beat one more wolf, I’d finally feel strong. But it doesn’t always work that way.”

He sat back down, his red horns gleaming faintly as he added, “Strength isn’t just in your muscles or how many fights you win. It’s in how you handle what’s inside- like the fire I can see burning within you right now. That fire can consume you, or.. with mindfulness, it can light your way.”

Oath’s tone softened, not pushing, but inviting. “I’ll still listen if you change your mind. Talking doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise enough to know when you can use a little help.”

"Speech"

Oath Morningstar

CODE BY SIN

Xairo paused in his pacing, the stranger's words seeping into his mind despite his efforts to block them out. He glanced at the older wolf, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face before he quickly smothered it with a scowl. "I don't need your philosophy lesson," Xairo growled, his tail lashing. But even as the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of doubt. What if this brute was right? What if winning another fight wouldn't magically fix the turmoil inside him? He shook his head stubbornly, refusing to entertain such thoughts. "You don't understand. I’m Xairo Saxe, and if I am going to be Sultan, then I have to do this. I have to show them all that I'm not weak, that I'm not a failure."

Xairo stalked away from Oath, his claws digging into the rocky ground with each agitated step. The older wolf's words echoed in his mind, refusing to be silenced. Handle the fire inside? What did this stranger know about the inferno raging within him, the constant need to prove himself, to show everyone that he was worthy of his title and destiny? He came to an abrupt halt, his chest heaving with pent-up frustration. Xairo closed his eyes, trying to center himself, to regain some semblance of control. But the doubts continued to swirl in his mind, taunting him with his own inadequacies. How could he ever hope to be Sultan if he couldn't even win a simple fight?

A growl rumbled in his throat as he turned to face Oath once more, his green eyes blazing with a wild intensity. "You think talking will make me stronger?" he challenged, his voice raw with emotion. "Prove it then. Fight me, right here and now. Show me how your 'wisdom' holds up.” He said while dropping into a combative crouch, his muscles coiled and ready to spring.

"Xairo Saxe"