@Vex Cruor <3 Fury will take Sovereign's place in this thread after this post! Needed to save princess Sov from the checker lol
Mom had been more on edge after Elias and Panacea went missing.
Sovereign and her sister, in turn, were under somehow a much closer watch. Fury was constantly right on top of them, a fretful and cautious mother indeed.
This afternoon, Sovereign was tussling with her mother, who was being gentle on the rough-and-tumble pup due to her youth. But true training would start before too long.
Sovereign went for Fury's foreleg with a puppy growl. In turn, the wartorn mother placed a firm nip to her mini-me's scruff.
"Always keep in mind your faults, as well as your foes'" Fury replied as Sovereign yipped and backed away with a confused and hurt look on her face.
"Ma..." Sovereign grumbled,
"Why?"
Fury smiled fondly to her warrior-princess
"A foe will use your weak points against you. You must use theirs against them in a fight."
The child gave a slow nod in understanding.
I'm thinking Vex and Fury could spar and Sovereign could learn from it? -eyes- That's just my first thought on reading your post!
Vex had grown tired of roaming her forest, so today, she sought out Fury. Her scent hung heavy in the area, which was only natural, but then, she heard the Warchief's voice. The Cruor Queen let out a low bark, announcing her presence, before pushing forward and onto the scene.
"Fury — lovely. And is this one of yours?" She glanced down to the girl, offering her a toothy smile. Then, back to the girl's mother.
"I hope I'm not intruding."
Sure! always needing more threads for Fury's tactician mastery lol <3
Fury perked her ears at the low bark, taking a firm stance over Sovereign until Vex came into the small clearing outside the whelping den.
It was upon recognition of the Cruor Queen that Fury stood down and uncovered her daughter, who she smiled upon as Vex offered the princess a toothy grin.
"This is my first-born, Sovereign. get the feeling she'll be my mirror image to a T when she's fully grown." The mother chuckled softly.
"No, by the way, no intrusion. I actually think she'd see what I mean about weaknesses if you and I spar?" Fury offered, a true war-beast's gleam in her fiery golden gaze as she looked at Vex.
"I was explaining that in a fight, any foe will use your personal weaknesses against you, and that she should use theirs against them." Fury explained further, for context, though she felt the Cruor Queen would understand regardless of if the context was given.
Vex had been in her fair share of fights recently — two with that brute Kevalin, one with Vorilye, and of course her fight with Vivaan, the only one she'd lost. But, then again, part of her had wanted to lose — it was providing her with children. "I can spar," she agreed easily, giving Fury a small smirk. She was healing well, and she was still early on in her pregnancy that she doubted it would hurt the whelps. It would also serve as a good lesson for the girl. Looking upon her opponent, she knew she would be in the same danger as with Vorilye — Fury was much larger than Vex, and had more weight to her. If Vex wasn't careful during their spar, she would find herself easily pinned. Glancing to Sovereign, Vex told her, "In a fight, size matters, as I'm sure your mother will demonstrate that soon."
Fury nodded in agreement as Vex addressed Sovereign. Size did matter, in one way or another.
Bigger, more muscular wolves were physically slower yet stronger, where those more lithe were faster yet had less strength.
The Warchieftain decided to take a stance first, then, with little warning, she erupted forward like a striking viper, aiming her teeth for Vex's shoulder while she attempted also to swing herself into a sidelong body slam with the Cruor Queen.
It was not a move she'd tried before or even seen before, but she wanted to try something different than what she would normally do in a fight and be creative.
Adaptability and flexibility were also important in a fight.
A true warrior knew how to fight in any terrain, in any position and any situation.
Kynareth had taught her that.
Vex realized, almost at once, that she was severely outmatched. It wasn't just that her opponent was larger than her — she had no tells, little warning of attack. Vex had not expected it, and she was struck hard in the shoulder, then slammed with such force that she staggered sideways and very nearly lost her footing.
Eyes widening, a great grin spread easily across her features — oh, how glad she was to have met the Warchief. Vex would have to fight smart. A low exhale, and then she rushed forth, teeth aiming to grab a foreleg and then yanking backwards, in an attempt to unbalance Fury.
Fury blazed brightly with glee and warfire as Vex staggered sideways, then leapt for her foreleg in an effort to unbalance.
The Warchief instead leaned back enough to resist the pull, then lurched into Vex's pull, arcing her crown downward in an effort to headbutt Vex as she came toward her.
Spar after spar has she used a headbutt move, resulting in a hard head. It would hurt regardless, but she was used to it.
Sovereign listened with wide, curious eyes as the two adults talked.
Her gaze flicked from her Ma to the strange lady, before it was decided that this would be additionally a visual lesson.
Little Sovereign toddled out of the way, sat, and watched as her mother, monolithic and indomitable, rushed the stranger with little to no warning!
As far as she was concerned, her mom had no weaknesses so far as she could see.
But Vex pulled for Mom's foreleg, to which the young princess watched as her mother stabilized, then leaned into the momentum of the pull for a headbutt move!
The heiress was awestruck.
Fury's headbutt dazed Vex, but she rose back up, determined. She realized that she was outmatched, but it only made her fight harder. As the adrenaline rushed through her veins, Vex backed up several paces, circling Fury, looking for an opening. There — her scarred flank. She rushed forth, aiming to sink teeth into the scarred flesh, then pulled her body back, away from Fury's teeth.
Fury smirked at the dazed effect on Vex, though only grinned wider at the determination in the Cruor Queen as she backed away and circled, eventually aiming teeth for her scarred flank.
The Warlady was ready, and with a fearless, giddy cackle she drove for Vex again as soon as the Cruor woman closed in, curling inward like a vipet, and aiming well-practiced teeth for Vex's ribs.
Whether she drove her fellow monarch from her quarry or if she ended up drawing a little blood, there were clear signs Fury was made for nothing less than war, violence, bloodshed and death...
Especially with the crazed glimmer in her fiery eyes while fighting.
Vex had been bested, she knew this from the start, but the knowledge came again as blood was drawn. With Fury at her ribs, Vex released the other woman with a snarl. "Alright, you win! I give in," she panted, pulling away and assessing the damage. It wasn't bad, but she had been right to give in now rather than later. She met Fury's gaze, grinning. "That was the best spar I've had in a long time."
Sovereign had continued to watch with awe and a hammering heart as Fury and Vex fought.
To the princess, it was a spectacular sight, one she found herself hoping she would one day get to mirror.
Truly her mother's mini-me.
Upon Vex releasing her mom with a snarl, Sov watched the Cruor Queen give in to the mighty mother-beast.
She was starting to see what her mom and Vex meant about size, at least a little.
Her mom was far larger than the other woman and used brute force, where Vex instead was quick and as evasive as possible.
The heiress would take her visual lesson to deep heart, and make sure to remember it for later.
The Warqueen would relent when Vex released with a snarl and inevitably gave in.
Panting as well, Fury grinned wide when Vex complimented on their sparring session.
"You're not too bad yourself." She returned, swaying her tail a time or two as a further indicator of a sense of comraderie.
A quick glance to Vex's ribs to assess the damage she did.
It wasn't bad, some bloodspill, but nothing that would need a medic's attention, hopefully.
She would ask regardless.
"I didn't wound you too badly, did I?" Fury inquired with a rare concern.
They were allies after all, and Fury rather liked Vex, thus, the Warqueen would care about her fellow monarch's wellbeing.
So sorry for the delay! Depression had me there for a bit lol. Vex is a few days away from giving birth but Fury is ofc welcome anytime!
Vex had not been in peak condition before the fight; her body was littered with small marks, some fresh and some old, and Fury had only given her more. None of them were bad — mere cuts and punctures that would heal easily.
At the warchief's question, Vex looked up at her, a soft smirk playing on her black lips, her eyes of fire still dancing from their fight. She then shrugged, rolling her shoulders, and stretched; everything was working fine, and nothing was complaining, though she did have a slight headache.
"Nothing I can't handle, never you fear." Her eyes then roved over her scarred ally, also searching for injury — Fury fared better than she did. A final dip of her head, and she glanced to Fury's daughter, smiling slightly.
"I'm hoping for little ones of my own, soon. You'll have friends you can visit." Thoughts of an arranged marriage crossed her mind, but she was ahead of herself; her pregnancy hadn't even been confirmed yet. Vex gave a low chuckle, then looked back to Fury.
"You must visit me. My whelps will keep me bound to the forest."
it's perfectly alright! I completely get it, I deal with depression too <3
Fury returned the grin as Vex assured her she was okay.
Of course, the Warchief would understand the lack of peak conditions for her fellow Queen given the chances of being pregnant.
Fury rested a reassuring gaze upon Sovereign as the Princess took in Vex's words. New friends for the pups would be amazing, especially for socialization.
Then her attention returned to Vex as she addressed Fury.
The Queen gave a confirmational nod to Vex's not-so-vague invitation to visit.
"I will come when you deliver if that works for you? Just send a messenger if you can."
With that, Fury would offer her own dip of her head before Vex left.
<3
The Cruor Queen smiled, chuckling almost nervously as she admitted,
"My family tradition dictates that no men may be present during. It... would be nice to have company." The thought of bearing her children alone... she could do it, if she had to, but it wouldn't be pretty.
"I'll send word." Another smile, a final dip of her head, and Vex turned and left.