@Njal
Though she hoped not to leave in pieces as some victim of a plot willingly walked into. Ever since her encounter with the gruff male on the mountain, his words had swayed her to truly consider his offer. Prior to the mountain, she had dismissed him as a cruel thing, not worth the second thought given how nastily he prodded at her, or so she exaggerated. It was more a wound dealt to her pride than her body, causing the female to cling to the mountains where she knew her weight and dexterity were used as an advantage. She fled from the land, lest another of his ilk came and harassed her in a similar manner. She had felt bullied then and had retained that fear. Though their second encounter had indeed given her a reason to relinquish her petty reservations and start again.
It was days since they had spoken, a long enough time to allow her to reconsider and silently accept, but with some apprehension given how far away she would be from the Vale. It was not the security of the Vale she feared for, but the disposition of the demon in knowing his ward had slipped his sight. Would he be enraged with her? Would he seek her out when her scent was not on the Vale for hours? Perhaps a day? Such thoughts gave her pause in her walk toward the known lake but were not strong enough to detour her. She was doing this not only for herself but him as well. For the whole of the Vale if it meant her grace could be seen not only on the mountains but the flatlands as well.
The familiar trickle of the lakeside beckoned to her, announcing that she had reached her destination. He had told her that he resided among the river wolves, but still she was reluctant to tread so close to another’s lands. Thoughts of the insufferable prodding still make her wary if not hesitant to advance. Perhaps he would find her here, she hoped as she lifted her muzzle to the sky in coarse song of her patience in waiting for a pale river wolf. She would wait as long as need be until sense better became her. |
It was during a routine patrol that a scent caught upon the wind, and was brought to Njal's attention. It was familiar in that it was mountainous, but there was something even more familiar than that. While searching along the border of the territory he caught her call upon the wind - the golden woman, there was no doubt about it. The man picked up speed and reached her position, and when the woman noticed him, he gave a small nod. There was a sense of glee in him that was betrayed in the subtle twitching of his tail; he had half expected her to ignore the invitation entirely.
"Hello," He greeted with a tinge of warmth. "I am glad to see you." Njal commented next, albeit a little awkwardly. What was he supposed to say? Hi there, lets have a friendly brawl? With a small shrug and a toss of his head, he invited her across the border's edge; the entire territory was flat land, clear of debris and provided ample room for a spar. But he wanted to do it where others would not bother them. It was in this moment that Njal wondered if Lethe would mind - maybe what he was doing was wrong, as this was not one of their wolves. He ignored his doubts for the time being, but kept his senses alert in case someone intervened.
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It was then that he paused in his stride, and turned to regard the woman. He took stock of her figure; this was not a lewd act in any way, but a constructive one. With a keen eye he traced the curve of muscle that sat naturally upon her haunch, her shoulder, and made mental notes. "We will begin when you are ready," He finally said, with a little nod. The man took a few steps away from her and his body arched, turning in a pirouette so that he could face her head-on and square his body. With a slow shift of his paws, Njal placed them in deliberate locations beneath himself; not too wide a stance, not too narrow, and then with a raised brow he prompted her to imitate him.
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Then, her attack. She was just as apprehensive with this motion as with any other; nervous perhaps for his retaliation, or thinking more about her own failure in the attempt. Njal couldn't know what caused her to be this way. While she reached, he ducked away and whacked with his snout against her chin - bringing her teeth to a close. The man took a few careful steps in a semi-circle so that he was facing her, while her own momentum carried her figure away from him.
It hadn't been a very successful attempt on her part, but there was lots of time to improve. "Again." He commanded, while squaring his body off once more.
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"No, this is not right." He commented half-heartedly. As he squared off again, facing her retreating rear end, Njal huffed and looked away from the lesson area - at the wilderness around them, perhaps to check for curious pack mates. When he turned back to Xinuata he was placid in nature, and disgruntled in expression. "You will need to come back again. Go home, but run there. Work your body in whatever way suits you - up and down rivers, along mountainsides, but work. Come back when you feel you are ready."
Perhaps he was being harsh - but she was in no physical condition for this training. Xinuata would need to shed a little of her extra weight. A week would do it; maybe two. If she worked hard, then perhaps another session would be beneficial.
Njal turned and began to stalk his way towards the edge of the packlands; he turned his ears to listen for her, but did not move to collect her in any manner. She would know by the rigid manner with which he was behaving that the lesson was over - and she would have to leave, before someone caught her upon Swiftcurrent lands. At least until the next spar. "I will escort you." His voice rumbled, rippling through the air between them.
[exit njal]
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