Stoking the Embers

*Resin* · 11-28-2020, 04:21 PM

"Resin"

It seemed as though the boy wanted to talk so Resin moved in close and lay upon her stomach. As he came forward to nuzzle into her leg, she scooped him close with one giant paw and licked his forehead with a dusty blue tongue. A serious expression stole over his small features and Resin steeled herself for the request that she knew was going to come. Rudyard had held the same expression when he begged her to teach him how to hunt. Sure enough, Artorias asked for help, then launched into the reasoning behind his desire to fight. The giant woman's chin tilted downward so that she could give him her full attention. He deserved to be taken seriously for it was a serious request that he was making.

The ash and onyx fae was pleased by the fervor with which her son spoke. She was warmed by the fact that he thought so highly of herself and Tamsyn. It was nice for their efforts to be recognized, especially by a child so young. She and Tam both worked incredibly hard to get where they were. Things were going along smoothly now, but the road to the top was bumpy and full of curves. If he wanted to learn, it wasn't going to be easy.

A low rumble of consideration reverberated through the scarred fae's chest. She wouldn't deny him any training. She wouldn't deny any of them any training. However, she wanted Artorias to know the amount of work that he would be forced to put himself through to attain his goals. She pulled the boy closer, settling him between her outstretched forelegs. "Let me tell you a story first," she began, keeping her tones low and serious. "When I was your age, my mother and father, the leaders of the pack, decided that I would be a wife and a mother and began to teach me the skills to take care of a den and pups. I had different plans, however. A mischievous glint sparkled in the woman's lone eye. I began to train on my own. Every day I worked to make my body strong. I hunted, sneaked, fought with wild creatures. Anything that I could do to prepare myself for anything that would come my way." The memory of this part of her childhood was burned into her mind. She'd never forget it.

"One day as I was training, I looked up to see my father watching me. I thought he would be angry, but instead he was proud. We began my official training the next day. If I thought I expected a lot of myself... he expected so much more. Each night I would return him battered and bruised, but stronger than I was the day before." She needed him to realize how much work it was going to be to turn into what she was. "I trained every single day until I was the best among my siblings. Then I trained until I was the best among the young wolves. Then I trained until I was the best in the pack. After that, I tested myself with outsiders."

"The training never ends. I still train. I still push myself and spar with any who care to accept the invitation. I fight the beasts that threaten our land. I kill when necessary, both beast and wolf alike." The woman's gaze was hard as she looked down upon the small boy. "The path is not easy. You will get hurt. You will break bones. You'll curse your path, but you'll continue because not doing so would be letting your mothers, your siblings, your packmates down."

"I need to know that you want it. If you do, I won't be easy on you just as my father wasn't easy on me." The woman snuffled in the fur atop the child's crown in a rare moment of affection. "If you do want it and you commit to the life of a warrior, we'll be so proud. I'll be so, so proud." Iolaire hadn't had the makings of a warrior, but perhaps Artorias would. Would this black and blue boy continue her legacy? That was entirely up to him. "So, Artorias. What will your decision be? Will you commit to the path of the warrior?"

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