Pre-Party Rumble [Valhallan Fighters]

The healer observed quietly as the War Circle filtered in, smiling to each that entered, brows lifting at his sister as she came in with Viviane trailing behind her. His littermate was practically bouncing, happier than he’d seen her in a while, but his eyes went to Viviane and he offered a gentle, encouraging smile, brushing shoulders if she allowed it. As jarring as it must be to her innocence, this was part of her training in the long run. The scratches and lacerations and bruises that were likely to come of today’s training would be a useful training tool for the girl.

Aurielle began to speak, and he listened, then as Regulus took the floor and spoke his wisdom, Paladin nodded quietly. When it was his turn, he leapt lightly to the boulder and faced the group, haunches settling neatly as he spoke, low tenor lilting.

“If you are too badly injured, you must pull back as soon as you can. Adrenaline can mask the severity of your wounds. You must become accustomed to analyzing your own condition, keeping tabs on what hurts and how badly. Talis may have lost their raid against us, but there were several maims dealt, including to Regulus. A particularly dirty-fighting pack may try to maim you in a permanent way, such as full blinding, mangling your limbs, or castrating you, for the males here. Be ready for anything, even retreat. Your lives are not worth what resources might be gained.”

He took a breath, then added, “It is also likely that a darker pack or band may seek to take you prisoner. It could even be your own family doing so.” His black brows dipped slightly, some of the old anger sparking in his heart as he glanced to his sister.

“Be aware of scouts. Wolves skulking in the lands bordering ours, or acting suspiciously. Before Talis raided Celestial, I encountered two wolves, one at the Lake, and the other right here in our very lands. The latter I watched examine the stone border we had then after she tripped over it, then press onward. At her age there was no way she should have been able to mistake it for anything but a pack border, as we scented the border then, as we do now.”

His eyes turned to Viviane as he continued, “Healers should be prepared in a camp a little distance away from the raid, whether it’s one we’re mounting against another pack, or one we’re defending against. They should be ready to lay on paws from the moment the first injured wolf staggers or is dragged into the camp—the best herbs and mixes to have are obviously those that stop bleeding quickly, as well as supplies to splint broken limbs, and the best pain killers we carry. Other able bodied fighters should be delegated to guard any pups or elders, and the healer’s camp.”

His mixed eyes swept the group, grave and serious as he concluded, "War has a tendency to be glorified, visions of heroes and knights splashed across the lore of every culture in some way. It is not beautiful. It is not glorious. Lives are altered, loved ones wounded, some even killed, though we have been lucky to avoid such things as yet. It is messy, bloody. Yet sometimes, it is necessary."

His eyes shifted to Domari and Justice, querying as he nodded to them and retreated to his spot beside Viviane, waiting to see what they might add.