It was easy to wander away without being noticed, the Raiders did not create chaos. They thrived in it. That was exactly what the pack was like. Chaos. So she would use her little nose to find a certain someone. The sun was high and there were plenty of hours in the day still. For whatever reason the man could be found at the lake. Lyra was not sure what he was doing here, and she would not inquire.

His scent was distinct, a refreshing breeze of pine and rain with a sharp undertone of spices. That was Gil. Although she wasn't quite sure who he was to her, she knew he was important. He wasn't her father, but he was the father of someone she called brother or sister. The way both her mothers revered him was enough to tell her to do the same.

She opened her maw to speak but hesitated. What should she call him? Dad? But he wasn't really, was he? Well, he did take care of her; she had yet to experience any disfavor towards her. "Uh... sir?", she would say timidly. She spoke not often, so every time she did, the vibrations felt foreign. Clearing her throat, she would try again, "Excuse me! Could you help me? I'm tired of losing to my siblings. I'm tired of them being stronger, can you help me be better?"

She wasn't sure how to present herself, but she didn't want to seem weak. She was embarrassed even to speak such a thing out loud. However, the stark difference between Lyra's size and rate of growth in comparison to most of her siblings was becoming more obvious by the day.




"Speech!"

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His patrol had taken him away from Raider territory toward the lake in the shape of a wolf's paw. There he stands with a bleeding carcass at his paws. The coyotes that had decided to try and get into the estuary to steal some birds would soon realize how low of a tolerance they had for thieves. As he licks his lips to clean his maw of the crimson fluid, he hears steps behind him. Freezing for a moment, Gilgamesh turns slowly to see the young pup, Lyra, approaching him. He raises a brow in question - mostly as to why she was outside of the territory without an escort. Her size made her much more a target compared to the others.

As she speaks, her timid words continue to prove that she probably needed some sort of protection. Would Urtur ever had babes so that he could gift his offspring companions to help keep them alive? Returning his focus back to the girl, Gilgamesh lowers his head down toward her level as she requests training so that she may best her siblings one day. He cannot hide the red-stained smile that breaks out over his slate lips.

"Dear Lyra, of course I will," Gilgamesh practically croons as he shifts his body downward until he's lying in the grass with his belly touching the ground. With her size being far smaller than the rest, it would be easier to start here and move upward. There would be no sense in attempting to teach such a young pup while he was at his full height. "What exactly would you like to learn?" He inquires, head canting slightly as he watches her.

The Raid King, Gilgamesh

table coding by bunni ♥

He would lower herself to his level, laying all the way on the ground. She would like to think it was cause he wanted to get comfortable and not because she was so tiny. Lyra didn't know enough to be aware of what she didn't know. She just knew others were better. The specifics were lost on her, so when he asked her what she would like to know, her eyes dropped to the floor. Thinking very hard. Trying to find the words for the feeling she had.

"I dont know... everyone is just bigger than me. Stronger than me. Why am I so small?" Was this a problem she could fix?

"I don't see an advantage to this at all."




"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Gilgamesh hums quietly as Lyra admits that she notices how much larger and stronger her siblings are. Which in truth is very correct, but that doesn’t mean they are better. He smiles, a paw reaching out to jab gently at her to see if she’ll correct her stance and retaliate.

“You have never seen your mother fight so it is fair that you believe that,” Gilgamesh comments, before prodding the pup once more. “The advantage to being small is that larger opponents are not adjusted to fighting someone of your size,” he taps his paw on the ground, imitating that it is an opponent. “See how you can dart side to side faster than my paw can? That is the same when you fight. Focus on speed, not strength,” his gaze watches her carefully, watching to see if she’ll pick up what he’s talking about.

3/3 get to know a pack mate
1/3 teach a fighting lesson - speed vs strength (professor bonus)

Her eyes followed his paw as it tapped the floor.

Focus on speed and not strength? The idea never dawned on her. Constantly seeing her greater siblings throw their power around made her lack of it such a big idea that she never thought of what she was naturally good at. She always felt that Jael was far more dangerous than expected, and finally having someone confirm it made her feel better.

"So I don't go and try to overpower... I try not to get touched?" She was trying to imagine it and it seemed more difficult, "Well how do I get faster? Do I tire them out? What if they get ahold of me?"

The more she thought, the more weaknesses she imagined. How could she possibly win? But she remembered what Modesty said: this body was not forever, what failed now may succeed later. She was young and in a rush to grow up. She was competing with others instead of herself. How could she be better than now?


PROF FIGHT LESSON 1/3


"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Gilgamesh gives Lyra time to process and consider the lesson he's presented to her. At first she seems stumped by the question given to her, but after a moment, her own questions arise. He nods slowly to show that he understands where she's going with the line of thought.

"If you are fast enough to not be touched, but can also pack a punch, you'll be invincible," Gilgamesh states, once more lifting his paw to move it back and forth on either side of the pup. "Practice is how you get faster. Run every day until you can't. Work your paws through the mud. Try to climb a tree. Climb a rocky hill. Tiring out your opponent is one smart way of doing it," he begins to move his paw slower and slower to motion how much more quickly a bigger object could tire compared to her. "If they grab you, bite them back. You have teeth, use them," his lips lift to bare his fangs, showing her how fierce they could appear if he wished. "Show me how fast you can run between my paws," Gilgamesh directs her, leaning his back and widening his paws as far as they can go to give her space.

Practice is how you get faster. Run every day till you can't.

Gilgamesh proceeded to give her more ideas and opportunities. If she had a notepad, she would have written them down, but instead, she made it a point to ingrain that in her mind: Practice every day until you can't. She planned to. For most of her days, she sat there in mild envy of her sibling's strength. For most of her days, she was annoyed that she couldn't change. That she just pulled the short straw in life. However, today, Gil showed her that she could become whatever she wanted if she wanted it enough.

Outlasting your opponent was the key if you could become agile enough to avoid being touched. She nodded, hanging on to every word he said as if her life depended on it. Well, it did in the long run. Eventually, he would order her to run between his legs. She was laser-focused but knew she wouldn't be as fast as she wanted.

She hesitated momentarily, scared to fail as if this were some test. After a few breaths, she forced herself; Lyra reminded herself that it was okay to be slow for right now. Her tiny legs kicked off the floor. Her paws, a bit too big for her body, were slapping the ground as she pulled herself as fast as her little body could. While the distance wasn't enough to necessarily get a good run-off, it was enough to show that she was, in fact, not fast at all.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

He notices her hesitate, but he makes no moves. Watching her as she begins to run between his paws, back and forth, demonstrating the little skill she does have. Sloppy and slow like any pup. It was to be expected. He's not disappointed, not in the least. Rather, he wishes to give her an opportunity.

Gilgamesh was not small like Lyra or Jael, but he had fought small opponents and had helped the pups before her learn. It was no different. One just needed to learn their style of doing things. "Why allow my paws to be a boundary? Don't be afraid to break a few rules to reach the finish line," his yellow gaze is hard pressed upon her, still watching, still thinking. Always thinking. Would she get it?

The Raid King, Gilgamesh

table coding by bunni ♥

She was confused, truly confused.

"Well..I- uh... What if it hurts you? I don't want to hurt someone I love.." Even though she knew this was training, it was hard to ignore the fact that this was a person quite important to her. Perhaps with a stranger she would be more capable of cruelty or even someone less valuable to her.

But she was supposed to think outside the box. She circled back around so she was in front of him. Staring with much thought. What could she do? What would Korona do? She had her answer. This time around she would decide to go through his legs or at least his front right one. She ran as fast and as hard as she could at it in an attempt to try to knock him over and reach the other end.
"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN

Gilgamesh does not say anything as she stares bewildered at him. A single brow is raised in question to her question. Hurt him? Did she truly think she could hurt him? He wants to chuckle at her puppy-like concern, but holds back. It clearly is just a sign that she takes on the likes of Jael, someone who had a lot of sympathy and empathy for the world around her.

As he continue to lay on the ground with his front legs spaced and stretched out to give her ample room to run, he is surprised at her next tactic. She wanted to try and run into his leg? His brow furrows, eyes narrowing as he feels the slight weight of Lyra crash into his leg before stumbling over. Unmoved by the attempt, Gilgamesh gives his head a slight shake.

"I meant jump over my legs," he says, motioning his muzzle in a pattern to show that she should utilized the entire space of the clearing around them. "I talked about speed earlier. You are small and not as strong, but you can be fast and agile. You must use what you have to best those who take you for granted," Gilgamesh's voice is slightly stern, but only because he wants her to get it.

The Raid King, Gilgamesh

table coding by bunni ♥

[OOC: LMAOOOOO I TOTALLY MISREAD THAT AND ASSUMED HE WAS STANDING UP AHAHAHAHAHA]


Oh. How could she have missed it? Now that Gilgamesh had provided more context she couldn't help but be embarrassed at her stupidity. If she wanted to get better she would need to seriously listen to him and train hard.

Lyra did not speak for she could tell her voice would crack with shame. Instead, she nodded. Soaking in every piece of advice the brute gave her. The small pup would note his head movement, not giving herself time to doubt her capabilities she would act. This time she would run around him and once she reached his head she would back up a yard or so away. She was not strong. She was not large.

But she could be fast and agile if she pushed herself to be. If she utilized what she had. In other words, don't be so concerned with what others excelled in especially when such attention came at the expense of your own improvement. The soft round pup would tense her muscles, bracing herself. Lyra stared at his legs with intent. if he wanted her to go over then she would go over.

Finally, she would burst as fast as she possibly could and jump over the massive wolf's front legs. She did not anticipate landing so early but used a rear paw to bounce back up off the floor in the space between his hind and front legs. Using the momentum of her initial movement she would land a few feet away from his tail. Lyra was quite proud of herself, and her tail betrayed her pitiful attempts at stoicism.

She did it! Was he proud? Did she make him proud? Her tail was slapping the air around her as she smiled looking at Gilgamesh for signs of approval. Having succeeded she would feel invigorated and quite motivated for more.





"SPEECH"

CODE BY SIN