Get Out of My Way - Printable Version

He'd let it go longer than he'd meant to, but in his defense Magg was in a bad way and Aquene had been more exhausted than normal. He was trying to keep things safe without wandering too far from them, but he'd promised his guardians training time, and he wanted to see what they were made of, where they had room to grow. Maybe they could work on teamwork, maybe one-on-one moves. Nash hadn't fought another canine in some time... he could probably use the practice himself.

He found a nice clearing along the lake's shore, big enough for them to spread out a little but far enough from the dens to avoid disturbing those resting inside. He howled, summoning his guardians, and settled on his haunches to wait.

Leo had been a good boy, staying within the confines set by his leader, despite growing resentment at the inactivity; Who’d have ever thought I’d get itchy paws? But here he was, chomping at the bit to get to go back out there, to hunt for the enemy that wished his family harm, and perhaps work out a few other frustrations. But the rules were the rules, and Nash had promised his guardians that they wouldn’t be idle long.

So, when the call finally came, the older Vuesain rushed to answer, loping alongside the Lakeshore from where he’d been patrolling. Frankly, he was a little surprised to find that Galen had beaten him to it, having apparently been closer to their meeting place. Gasping a little, Leo gave his brother what was meant as an approving look, though his furrowed brows may have muddied the message. Then he turned to Nash, bowing his head to the alpha, every inch of him alert as he stood to attention, ready to finally act.

Thoughts ”Speech”

Coccineus, annamae22, stock-ashleyrwatts & Dawnthieves.de

SHE SAYS THAT BEAUTY IS PAIN

Magg was diligent in her recovery, and it showed. Things were infintely better, when you could actually do something about them. She was enjoying the shoreline, walking at different speeds, taking breaks to stretch, continuously working on getting a feel for this altered body. When her father's howl sounded, it was relatively near to her current position.

Guardians. Her ears went up, and she paused in place. That was her, wasn't it? Definitely had been before the avalanche. She recalled with unfortunate clarity how thoroughly convinced she had been that such ambitions were permanently beyond her, when laid up at the Falls. Now?

Magg's brows knit with determination, and she set back into motion, jogging the distance between.

Practiced at deception, it was all-too-easy (and maybe even enjoyable) for her to treat all three of the men present exactly the same as she had before her heat kicked in. She stood to Galen's left, just close enough to lean over and bump him with her shoulder in a familiar greeting. Past him, Leo was given a sheepish, almost too-small-to-see smile. She was definitely still the asshole when it came to what had happened on their scouting trip, regardless of whether he realized it.

Then she lifted her head high, and looked to her father for instruction with a cheeky smile. There were still plenty of restrictions on what kind of activities she could participate in, but surely he could find some meaningful way for her to be included, right?

AND THERE'S BEAUTY IN EVERYTHING

They assembled quickly. His ears flicked in surprise when his daughter arrived and he thought about telling her to go back to the den, but he thought better of it. Maybe a little movement would be good for her. He was just about to start when Matos arrived. He relaxed slightly; he would have been disappointed if his son hadn't come.

"Thank you for coming," he said. "I know we're all a little restless. I'd like a little peace of mind for each of us. Attack is not the only important thing in a fight. Disengaging is just as, if not more, crucial. Once they get a hold of you, they're not going to want to let go." He surveyed the group. "I have a particular move in mind I'd like to teach you. Leo, will you help me demonstrate?" He looked to his eldest guardian.