Days were running short to make sure her children were prepared for the upcoming raid, now that they were old enough to take part, she thought it best to see what they had managed to learn while she was indisposed. Blood still splattered her legs, chest and face from her activities earlier in the morning, though it would be difficult to discern from the dark colour of her coat, the heavy iron scent still hung in the air. She supposed they could consider it emmersion training, if anyone questioned it. Especially if Ignis planned to show up.

She drew out rough circles in the sand so the kids wouldn't pummel each other before the right time, and set to limbering up her own muscles by stretching. Modesty had sent her kite to round up the kids. They'd be doing a few sessions like this before the big day.

“Speech.”

-fight lesson 1/3-

Keyways mother's bird was mean when it wanted to be, even going so far as to pluck some fur from his tail when it deemed he wasn't moving fast enough away from the grotesque display spread out about the pool, oh but his paws itched to get a hold of that tail and turn it into something pretty for his mother, or maybe even to get some pocket money from Deluge by making her something pretty to sell? Ooo his back end gave a wiggle to try and escape the incessant pursuit of his mother's companion.

He tumbled down the beach, half wiping out his own circle before finding his paws and redrawing the line. His head canted as he watched his mother's movements and did his best to mimic them on too long legs that he was yet to grow into.

"speech"

Tarnish settled into the sand, stretching his paws out and spreading his toes. It felt good though it wouldn't last. He had entirely the wrong fur color for sun bathing and soon enough the heat would overwhelm him. He was roused from his stretching when his mother's kite appeared and told him they'd be doing some training. His ears immediately perked up. Yes! That's right, there was a raid coming up and he was eager to participate.

Tarnish got to his feet and raced across the bridge to Daager Isle where his mother and Kenway were gathered. He noted the smell of blood in the air, emanating from his mother but he didn't question it. They were here to fight and as far as he knew his mother had been practicing ahead of time. Of course there'd be blood. "What are we doing today, mom?"


Raider Brats

The shrill call of her mother's kite was annoying. Damn bird wouldn't leave her well enough alone. Not even a snap of her jaws or that yipping bark she was working on would shoo the bird away. Did none of the others want in on training with her mother? Sid? Nim? Nav? None of them? Ugh. Fine. Cal's eyes roll as she follows the kite that soars in the air ahead of her to go gather the others who would give in to some official training. It wouldn't take long until her long legs brought her to the scene of her mother stretching and Ken and Tar somewhat following along. Noticing the circles etched out in the sand, Cal's brow furrows and her lips screw up into a scowl. What did she have planned? Unsure and untrusting (of anyone really), Cal finds her way to the last circle without a body in it. Coming to stand, her tail hangs low and almost twitches as if she were a cat. Glancing to Ken and then Tar, she makes sure to stick her tongue out at them before bringing her attention to Modesty.

Modesty's lips pursed at Kenway's arrival, her brows pinching down ever so slightly, was nothing ever going to be taken seriously? She relaxed some when Tarnish joined them, followed closely by Calliope. They were all large, all legs but nearly to their adult heights, maybe one or two more growth spurts to go, so it made picking an area for them all to focus on just that much easier. “You are all quite big, but that means when you face a smaller opponent they may be quicker than you.” She should have roped Jael into helping her demonstrate, but her antlered rabbit would do for now. “They'll try to dart between your legs, bite at the delicate flesh that is easily torn on your underside. They might go for you ankles, try to trip you up... They might even try to go for your genitals, why not? You'll instinctively try to protect them.” She could feel the rabbits antlers angling to indicate the areas she had mentioned. “How do you suppose you fight back against something like that?”

“Speech.”

-lesson 2/3-

Ken was oblivious to the look his mother gave him, too busy trying to stay within his lines, stretches all but forgotten as he stamped the sand with tapping toes, the line in the sand a barrier he didn't dare to cross. By the time Cal joined them, he was practically spinning, unused to being kept in one place for so long. Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, his mother began to speak, and her rabbit hopped about between her legs, gesturing with its antlers to all the places he mentioned, his tail tucking when she mentioned someone might try to bite his bits. That was a really unpleasant thought. "Y'could-uh... bite their butt?" It was difficult to imagine what other target might be presented if someone dove between his front legs.

"speech"

Tarnish stuck his tongue right back out at Calliope as she wandered into the group with the usual sour look on her face. As she turned to face mother he did as well and then the lesson began. Modesty started speaking, talking about the raid and the fact that many of them would have to deal with smaller opponents, especially since most of them were on the bigger side. He listened diligently, taking in the words she had to say and then he pondered her question. "Let your weight fall on top of them? Squish them if they get under you? Yea, you might fall into their jaws but the force might dislocate their jaw." He assumed the question was what to do once they got under you, ideally it would probably be best to prevent them from getting there in the first place.


Raider Brats

Calliope's chest puffs up when Modesty mentions they are larger. In fact, she is the largest of the litter. Take that dummies! Weaklings! Her lips curl, amused with herself as her sour thoughts get the best of her. Of course, Modesty isn't speaking to just her. No, she's speaking to her brothers as well. Cal's brow furrows again as she focuses on the lesson. She can't help but laugh though. "Good thin' I ain't got balls," Cal shoots Tar and Ken a look that meant best watch yourselves. When her brothers give their suggestions, Cal rolls her eyes. Bite their butt? Sit on them? What? Did they only think of butts? "They may be faster, but if ya can pin them, then they can't get anywhere. Think smart, not fast. One kick and we'll send them flying," the sinister grin that lights up Cal's features as her shoulders hunch and teeth clench together, it's obvious she's excited for the raid. For the blood to spill. To deal out pain on someone else. "You gon' make us fight yer rabbit or somethin'?" Cal asks, for once showing a slightly curious side similar to her father's.

   

Modesty considered her children's answers, Ken, well that boy was probably a lost cause, but look who she'd chosen to father him, was it really the kid's fault? “Pull on the butt of someone that has a hold of your leg and Sakana might have to cut the whole limb off, think about hunting large prey, you target the soft spots, the inside of legs and where the chest meets the front leg because that is where the major arteries are, they lose blood, and strength and then they eventually can't run anymore.” She had to remind herself she was, literally, explaining this to children. She breathed out through her nose. The other two were closer to the mark, and she nodded.

To illustrate, she allowed her legs to fold beneath her. Her rabbit, who was used to the manouver, lunged from beneath her, but not quickly enough, his back legs caught beneath her belly, she turned and booped her nose to his temple before shifting to adjust her weight to let him free. “Their size gives them speed so the more area you can cover the greater your chances of pinning them down, once you have them .” She nodded and the rabbit ran between each of the kids legs a few times, giving them the opportunity to practice. “If you want more practice, I suggest you seek out Jael. She is small, and fast,” and soft, and terrified... Would she really push the children to be their best? Modesty would go and speak with her once they were done here. Hanging back just long enough to see if her kids had any more questions for her.

“Speech.”

-fight lesson 3/3-

She isn't a huge fan of the circle that keeps her in one spot. Though she isn't one of the ones that is high energy, she still doesn't like being barricaded. Trying to ignore the drawn line in the sand, she stares at her mother as she speaks. Modesty was making sense. Cal could picture the prey in her mind. That soft sinewy flesh that tore so easily between her teeth. Fresh, warm blood spilling down her chest as limbs are ripped from bodies. Blissfully fun and now she was getting the chance to do that to something that would fight back? To another wolf? Thrilling! Pleased more that her guess about pinning them was correct, her chest puffs up. More excited to get the training done and over with, Cal focuses on the rabbit that zips between their legs. Watching the companion with darting eyes, she waits. Waits for the opportunity before quickly lunging down toward the sand with her chest and front legs in hopes she'd pin the rabbit down. Unfortunately, the rabbit had more practice than her and ended up zooming away and out of the circle. Letting her rump come down so she was laying in the sand, her brow furrows as she glowers at the rabbit. Practicing with Jael didn't sound like such a bad idea...

Tarnish rolled his eyes at Calliope, though he understood the point she made. Ideally you would prevent an opponent from getting under you, but no one was perfect 100% of the time. Sooner or later an opponent would get under there and he wanted to know what to do when they did to minimize damage. Modesty started a demonstration with her rabbit, crouching down low, letting gravity bring her down swifter than the rabbit could run, pining it. His ears flicked forward, a grin on his face as he mentally cheered on his mom. He made a mental note to seek out Jael…. Jael…. was that that weird looking wolf? Maybe he could find her later. For now he focused on the rabbit.

As the rabbit dove toward him he let his front legs fall, seeking to bring his chest near the earth with his weight balanced on his back legs and one front leg, at the same time his other front leg darted out in a swiping motion, seeking to knock the legs out from under the rabbit. He was close. The sudden drop sent the rabbit skidding to a halt and as it tried to change direction he smacked its legs with his paw. However, before his jaws could grab the quick creature it had recovered and with a mighty leap was out of range, leaving Tar's jaws to snap on empty air.


Raider Brats

Ken watched as the rabbit darted between them, Cal missed, Tar came close, but to him, they seemed to be overthinking it. With all the grace of a baby giraffe, Ken allowed all four legs to collapse beneath him... well, at least until the rabbits antlers jabbed up aggressively into his delicate undersides.

He yelped, losing his footing in the sand and tumbling to the side, over and over again, until he stopped on his stomach, propping himself up on his elbows. He shook his head and grinned confidently, although his heart was still racing like crazy! "I meant to do that!" He declared, tail sweeping the sand from side to side. He missed the way his mother rolled her eyes.

"speech"