[CHAL] The Return [Tethys / Zili]

[Kimaria]

[damn you, Zili XD;; that is a lot of 1s]

The black lion had been gone for a while. Long enough to have missed a whole heap of goings on - that no doubt he would be filled in on if he finally earned his place. Still, the time away had not been misused. He had sought the aid of Destati - as Tethys had suggested - and found that his seer abilities had finally helped instead of thwarted him. And, since the fateful day of their meeting among dark shadows, he had been working hard to get himself ready for this return.

It was nearing twilight as he picked his way carefully across a rocky outcrop and issued his first challenge; putting as much strength as he could muster into his roar. Be confident, he snarled at himself, gripping the stone firmly beneath unsheathed claws. He had to believe in himself. Trust in the guidance from Destati and throw caution to the wind. He couldn't come back to the borders to allow himself to be beaten again and again until his pride was turned to ashes. He'd burn out eventually and this time they might not relight.

Besides, he had to fight better. For Destati's honour as well as his own.

Or, he thought a little more hesitantly, at least not lose so badly that he would bring them both shame.

He growled at himself then, throwing his head from side to side as if to shake the negative thoughts away. He'd already lost if he allowed them to linger.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

(Lmfao Zili, you never fail! xDDD Destati obviously here too as an observer.)

He'd lost his confidence, for the briefest of moments he had stumbled and Destati could do nothing more than grimace. He would need time, if necessary Destati would physically haul his a** back into the ring. However, until he had officially seen what Zili was up against he wouldn't provide any further advice. It might even be a case of the black lion finding his feet again... a breath or two might help, but as it stood...

The elder lion merely shook his head and strode off to the side, settling against one of the outcroppings as he waited for the challenge to be met. If Zili's explanation was clearly understood, then one of the nearby 'Reavers' would show themselves.

There was considerable delay to Zili's initial challenge and then slowly but surely a figure moved in to view.

"Well, well, well..." Destati murmured as he recognised the form of his own offspring. However there was something different about him, an air of greater confidence than before. Clearly the pride had been good to him, he wasn't under his sister's thumb anymore.

Zili would find that he could relax though, because as the elder's son recognised him, a broad smile appeared on his lips. Zili certainly looked healthier now, still nervous, but healthier and therefore he would be given the opportunity to prove himself...for as long as he could muster the strength.

"Looks like you found him then," Tethys acknowledged his father and then returned his attention to Zili. "Welcome back," he offered and took a breath, giving a series of stretches to reawaken his stiff limbs.

"I'll let you do the honours."

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

As time passed, the black lion set into a short path of pacing, using the rocky ground to help take his mind off of what would soon be occuring. Perhaps, even with all the training in the world, he'd enver truly be ready. And yet, at the same time, was it not wise to be cautious and wary? Better that then headstrong and blind to potential danger. Yes. It was wise. It was wise. And so he kept telling himself until, at last, his call was answered.

Though Destati was off to one side, his acknowledgement did not go unheard and Zili paused, turning his head to look in the direction of the reaver. The dark lion was not sure, at first, whether to be happy or nervous at whom his call had summoned. Pleased to be up against a familiar face whom had offered him guidance instead of a cutting claw? Or concerned that he was about to do battle with the son of his mentor.

"I did, thank you. It is...good to be back."

Maybe.

He moved into his defensive stance, taking a moment to adjust his footing as he had been shown, seating his weight evenly across the rocky surface. He drew in a breath and held it a moment, trying to grab hold of his nerves and not let them get away from him.

And so it began.

He edged forwards on his exhale and, with a low huff, used his hind legs to push himself on and close the gap, thrusting out with a forepaw.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

He was hesitating; Destati grimaced as the lion telegraphed his movements far more than he really should have. If his intentions had been lost on Tethys then the elder lion would be disappointed in his own son. Unsurprisingly he filed this one away to be flagged later, already Destati had called this one as a loss, there were a few little things that needed to be tidied up before Zili got back on the horse again.

Short of a miracle, it was unlikely Zili would recover from this one, he was too green.

As Destati had anticipated however, Tethys had seen the rather telegraphed intentions and as the black male had thrust his forepaw out he had deflected it with one of his own. It was followed by a raised brow and a rather lack lustre slap back, in fact, he deliberately mimicked Zili's own actions to make it abundantly clear that it was easy to read.

It appeared that it wasn't just Destati that was coaching, even if Tethys couldn't say anything directly...

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

He clenched his teeth at Tethys' mimicry [it was taken as such, in any case] and shoved himself backwards, already struggling to find a weakness in his defense that he could manipulate.

Destati's teachings began reeling off in his mind as he sought one that he might be able to use. The lessons were clearly there, all memorised and taken to heart, but there had not been enough time to make them an automatic reflex that took no thought at all. He pulled back a little further, trying to move around to the side, keeping his stance low as he felt his way across the rocks. With another growl he threw out another paw, hoping to use it as a distraction so he could go in with a follow-up attack and land a blow on his opponent.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

Better. Destati thought, though he would need to keep up in much the same fashion if he were to win.

The next blow hit and Tethys took a step back, it wasn't a really hard blow, but it wasn't glancing either. Zili could take pride in the fact that his opponent had to give his head a quick shake to right himself. Now if only he could hit him a little harder and force him to take longer to recover.

"Better," Tethys echoed his father's silent thoughts as he pounced forward and swung out his own paw in return. "But you're not supposed to leave it at one smack," he pointed out as he bore down on the male.

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

Zili was surprised, to say the least, when his paw landed a hit - a small one, yes - but a hit nonetheless! He would even have broken out into a proud smile if the other lion had not been so quick to counter it.

Stupid! he cursed himself, knowing that he should not have been so quick to celebrate and yet doing so anyway. Tethys' paw connected against his jaw, making his teeth rattle and, in that moment, the dark lion gave Tethys' the opening that had not been so easily found in his opponent. A sudden great weight fell on him and his forelegs collapsed beneath him so that he landed twisted on the ground. With his front half pinned, his hind legs scrabbled to gain purchase against the rocks and failed. Yet, not quite ready to give up, he gave an angry shout and tried to force strength back into his shoulders to shove upwards - though his forelegs shook beneath him.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

"Shouting isn't going to do anything," Destati chastised, though he didn't specify why. All it did was expose the lion's irritation and some opponents might play on that until he was defeated in his own head. That being said, there was a part of him that was already beaten in his own head.

"Stand up," Tethys instructed as he kicked his hind legs, taking advantage of the almost childlike posture Zili had adopted. However unlike some Vikings, he chose not to be relentless and instead he moved away from the black lion once more.

Pacing back and forth at a distance, he regarded Zili expectantly and raised a brow in silent challenge. So long as Zili wasn't injured beyond repair he could still fight, perhaps that was the entire point of the restraint shown...

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

Well, he felt like it had done something. Or...well...no, actually, it hadn't, since he had still been pinned with his forelegs unable to bear the weight of both him and Tethys. He stood the moment the other lion moved away and staggered back a little - feeling strangely light now that he was not being born down on.

"I can do this." He replied, feeling cross rather than defeated. He had worked hard in the short time he had had to learn and train. He had done everything expected of him and still he was no match. What was Tethys doing that Zili wasn't? Was it a matter of sheer experience that only time would teach? But if that was true, how had Xochi managed it? Could her time in the roguelands alone really have been better training than that he had received with Destati?

He growled, backing off, "give me a moment," he said, needing to catch his breath and gather his thoughts.

Epine de Rose

 

[Epine de Rose]

As Zili conceded, Tethys gave a small nod and backed off.

At least this time he was in the condition to try again once he had regathered his composure and got his head on straight. That aside, as Zili backed off to mull over his approach to his challenge, Tethys took note of his father approaching. Perhaps now was the time for a reunion?

"Less hesitation, more conviction," Destati murmured in to Zili's ear as he strode passed. Nevertheless he had no intention of embracing his son at this particular moment in time, he had something else in mind...Granted it would still be a reunion of sorts, just not what Tethys might have been anticipating.

Kimaria