Stoking the Embers
Resin
Knight
Fleet-footed
12-16-2020, 03:43 PM
The black and blue boy was like wet clay in Resin's large, capable paws, allowing her to form and mold him to her satisfaction. He planted his paws firmly once she had adjusted them, getting a feel for how it shifted his weight into a more balanced stance. He kept his wide amber eyes on hers while imitating the way she moved her head, lowering just enough to get his skull and spine in perfect alignment. He also did not lower his eyes. If he was facing an opponent, he would want to keep them in his sights at all times. That's what Mom did, and that's how he would do as well. Resin explained to him how every wolf develops their own style of combat. His eyes moved to her mouth as she spoke, spotting glimpses of this serrated fangs that could so easily rend and tear flesh and sinew. Artorias ran his pink puppy tongue against his smooth, average lupine teeth. He did not have the same kinds of teeth as Resin did. Part of him wondered why. A greater part of him had also started to secretly wonder why he and his siblings didn't seem to resemble their mother. He had seen the Adravendi and Fatalis pups and how they looked like their moms and dads. But him and his siblings... they'd come from two mothers. How come they looked so different?
Artorias pushed the thoughts back when Resin continued her lecture on the etiquette of sparring versus a proper bloody battle. He felt a little bit of guilt when she told him to make sure his spars always happened on an even playing field. He had certainly not given Rudyard that courtesy in their last fight. But they were pups still, and they were always learning. Next time they fought, he'd make sure Rudy had a weapon, or they'd both fight unarmed. That would be the honorable thing to do. At least Artorias hoped Rudy would continue to spar with him. He knew Rudy hated losing, but he was also Art's best friend. They both pushed each other to be better and had fun while doing it. It did make Artorias wonder though... could his own unique fighting style include some sort of a weapon? Was that who he was meant to be? To supplement his lack of his mother's deadly teeth with something equally as devastating? The thought made the boy tremble with excitement.
Resin explained how a true battle was starkly different from a spar. It sounded rough, violent, lawless. If he were being honest, it intimidated him a little bit. Dunkan had explained to them some of the ways wolves would try to maim them. Resin was solidifying that fact. Warfare was not a pleasant business. It was dirty and dangerous, bloody and brutal. The only thing that mattered was doing what you had to in order to win. At least, that's what it was sounding like. That made sense to the young Artorias. When you were facing something that wanted to kill you, the only way you won was by killing it first, no matter the cost or what had to be done. If the goal was just, surely that justified the means, no matter what they may be... right? Artorias nodded his head slowly. "I understand, Mom." He paused briefly before asking a follow up question. "Have you ever had to hurt someone you didn't want to? If someone you care about try to fight you, are you supposed to show them any mercy?"
"Speech" | Thoughts
One big happy family
Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
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