The ivory lioness called for @Eina and gave a louder roar for @Tamotsu. It was time for her son to come back to the nest, she had words for him regarding her plans. She had not seen enough of him lately and she needed to speak with him. The lioness had something new in mind for today, a new lesson for the charcoal child.

Kimagure had already begun to teach her to hunt, now it was time to teach her to defend herself. Combat was something you continued to perfect your entire lifetime, but she was more than old enough to start learning. The lioness also called for anyone who would like to face her. While Kimagure had no desire to teach her real tricks to a stranger, she was not averse to using the opportunity to cover the basics.

She made her way quickly down into the bottom of the pit, standing at its center as she waited.

(@Jewel)

Eina

The longer she stayed with Kimagure, the more her muscles were filling themselves in. Her ribs were far less prominent than when she first met the ivory lioness, and Eina was growing quite fond at the guardianship she provided for the cub. As the days went on, the suspicion of neglect or harm planned for Eina became less and less, and at this point, she felt less wary of the large feline.

When the rumble of Kimagure was heard, the dark cub made her way to meet up with the lioness. Her claws scraped against the limestone, holding her steady as she hastily made her way to the lioness when her ghostly figure came into sights within the crater. When close enough, her silver eyes would look up at the lioness with a polite smile.

"Hi, Kimagure, what're we doing today?" It still frightened her just how gigantic the lioness was. She could probably break Eina's neck with one good smack to the head if she wanted to. The thought made her stomach tighten for a moment. Curiosity nipped at her as she focused on the woman's prominent facial scar, but it didn't take a genius to know such curiosity remained private.

⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr

Tamotsu had indeed been wandering further out then normal. There were many lands for this young male to explore and well he hadnt been keeping full track of his mother. However he had been near enough that the call had caused him to quickly move. Upon the arrival in this pit like area he saw his mother, and a dark colored cub he recognized as the one his mother had taken in. With a head held high he moved in and stood in front of this mother. "Mother, Eina, how do you fair?" light and polite as normal. If his mother had taken in this younger girl then he would protect her, though he had yet to spend much time with her.

@Kimagure @Eina

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

The ivory lioness did not have to wait long for Eina or for Tamotsu. She observed them descending into the pit, Eina arriving first. The girl seemed to have warmed up to Kimagure considerably, and Kimagure was fond of her. She was an easy child, listening well and doing most anything she was asked. Eina had proved the easiest child she had ever had. Tamotsu was still growing, a truly massive male. He was impressive, to say the least.

He stood several inches taller than her and was much broader, and Kimagure had always been an exceptionally large woman. She couldn’t help but smile. It was so rare that she felt the need. Kimagure lifted her tail in greeting, nodding to both.

”It is good to see you, musuko. (Son) It is past time for you to begin learning to defend yourself, Eina. The most important thing to remember is to always be alert, be prepared for any situation to go bad. It’s when you have let your guard down that you become most vulnerable,” she began, voice becoming more serious as the smile fell from her face. Her ears flicked backward.

”Keep your ears and eyes open, scent the air often. It’s twice as difficult to win a fight you weren’t expecting. On the opposite side, the element of surprise can make the difference between winning or losing, especially if you are weaker than your opponent." she continued, even though the last part should have been easy to infer based on what she had already said. Kimagure then turned her gaze directly to @Eina.

"When it does come time for you to fight, and eventually it will, never forget set yourself up for success in defending an attack, and that's by laying your defenses. Always defend your most vital areas first. Lower your head to make your throat harder to access," she explained, lowering her own head so to demonstrate.

"Spread your paws apart to give yourself a wide base of support, it will help with maintenance of balance. Bend your legs to lower your center of gravity, it also makes your belly harder to attack." Kimagure bent her legs slightly and planted them firmly apart, still attempting to meet Eina's eye. "Next, narrow your eyes, protecting them from stray claws or teeth. Then pin your ears to make them harder to grasp. Your tail can be tucked to protect your belly or outstretched for balance, both are viable tactics depending on the circumstances." Yet again she mimicked the actions she spoke, her eyes narrowed and ears tightly pinned while her tail lashed out behind her.

"Keep your mouth open, it further protects your throat and prepares you to bite. After that, raising your hackles will make you look bigger, while curling your lips back will show you're serious. It also, to a degree, protects them from being bitter or clawed. And finally, claws unsheathed for grip and to be prepared to attack. she finished, setting the final defenses.

"Now, show me your defenses." she told Eina, then turning her gaze to @Tamotsu to see if he had anything to add so far.

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

Eina

As she waited for Kimagure's answer, Eina was somewhat startled by the arrival of Tamotsu. She had met him only once prior, and goodness did he look just as terrifying as his mother. Unbelievably large, as if Eina didn't think anyone could surpass Kimagure. She shuffled uncomfortably as she looked away from Tamotsu, not quite fond at the idea of their eyes locking. A small burst of excitement overpowered her discomfort as Kimagure had opened a lecture.

She listened closely, not daring to miss vital information. She nodded occasionally to show she was listening, and she watched closely as Kimagure displayed her defenses. Lower head, spread paws, bend legs. She began to make a shortened list to help herself remember. Narrow eyes, ears back, move tail, open mouth, raise hackles. This was becoming a lot to remember. Of course, unsheathed claws. And before Eina knew it, Kimagure was asking for her own display. Oh!

Suddenly jolted by energy, Eina ensured she stood up straight as she called for the list she had mentally created. Starting by lowering her head, she looked up at Kimagure, ready to mind any immediate critique as her legs bent and her paws spread to cover more ground. Her jowls lifted while her jaw fell, Eina hoping that exposing her teeth would offer an intimidating display, despite it not being mentioned. Her colorless eyes narrowed protectively while her ears fell back tightly. Her dark hackles lifted, though she forgot one thing: her tail. Her tail instead was tense behind her, though not stretched nor tucked. She waited for feedback patiently.

⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr

Nala wasnt far at all as she without being asked to followed her family out of her new home. Eyes of pink shined in joy and excitement as her tiny legs carried her through the pit, as the dust-covered her legs. This place seemed plain but nonetheless fun for the cub who saw the good in everything and everyone. The cub sat down to observe what the rest was doing, but in the meantime she watched the surroundings, hoping to see if anyone else would come. She was always on the lookout for potential new friends. Yes, all the friends! She then found a stick and quickly began to crouch, like if the stick was prey. This was all made from pure instinct as she had no previous training on the arts of the hunt. Quickly she walked in silence and when she was at a good distance she pounced against the helpless stick. And just began to chew on it. This would help her be entertained while the rest was on their thing. @Kimagure @Tomatsu @Eina OC- She is on the side so she can be skipped!

Art and Code by cloudy

Kimagure Stagner

A beating heart of stone...

Kimagure paused for a moment to wait for Tamotsu, but when she noted Eina missing an important defense she opened her mouth to correct her. Nala, the little cub Kimagure had been keeping an eye on and waiting for her mother to look for her. So far no one had come for the little girl and it was beginning to look more and more like Kimagure was going to be responsible for her. She could not drop the child with someone who did not speak her language, and Kimagure herself did.

She stood up to her full height again, dropping her defenses as she examined the child. The girl attacked a stick, already seemingly practicing stalking the object. Kimagure let her eyes flick back to Eina, noting that the girl had wrinkled her lips on her own accord, a good thing. "Good, Eina, just be sure not to forget your tail..." she remarked, trailing off as she examined the younger cub.

"This is Nala, I rescued her from a hyena a few days ago, but her mother has not come back for her... She speaks Japanese, and little or no English," Kimagure explained, her tail flicking back and forth as she watched the little girl play.

@Tamotsu @Eina @Nala

(Skipped tam.)

She watches. | "She speaks." | 'She broods.'

Art by Luyene

Eina

As feedback was pending, Eina was surprised at the presence of another cub. Much younger than herself, yet bearing physical similarities with Eina in terms of pelt color. Her silver eyes observed the cub curiously as a stick fell prey to her play. Upon feedback, her dark head swiveled to look back at Kimagure. Her tail? Oops. "Yes, ma'am." She uttered as she followed Kimagure's gaze, Eina's attention returning to the unknown cub. Nala, she was called according to Kimagure.

From what it sounded like, Nala had been abandoned. Or died. Eina felt a weight that caused her head to lower slightly. Both terrible situations. Though, gladly she managed to shake off the emotional weight for the time being, both metaphorically and physically. She wasn't too sure what Japanese sounded like--English was the only tongue she was familiar with, but she knew others did possess other ways of speaking. "Hi." She tried, determined for politeness, whether Nala would understand her or not. It was the best Eina could do, really. So was Nala Kimagure's as well, now?

⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr