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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:31 pm
 There were distinct advantages to hunting with someone else and Asmar had to admit that once they'd actually found the prey, it had been almost too easy for Isibeal and herself to take down enough for the group. Then had come hauling the meat back and now the young lioness found herself underground, just outside the chamber where Hroarr was. Needless to say, she was nervous. The white lioness had explained that this lion was different from so many in his own pride, not to mention the one of Asmar's birth. She was here now to see if that was true, to see if she could become a reaver on her own merit, and be seen for the rank she'd earned instead of as a "mere lioness". Taking a deep breath, the brown lioness cleared her throat and stuck her head into the opening. "Isibeal said I should talk to you, if I wanted a place in your band," she informed the lion within.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:04 pm
Isi had breezed through, informing him of the rather unusual situation she'd found herself in. Picking up a recruit while hunting? He was rather uncertain of what kind of lioness he'd find this one to be. Who knows, perhaps it was another case of the pride's reputation leading her here. He arranged himself to look as dignified as he deemed wise, and as if on cue, the female stuck her head in.
"Yes, please come in," he said amiably. He wasn't the terribly stern or pompous sort. He was, especially now, just one of the reavers. His only distinction was that he had chosen to lead rather than follow, and was doing so to the best of his ability. "I am Captain Hroarr. How would you rather be addressed?" It was a polite but pointed question. If she asked to be called "miss" so-and-so, it was likely she was no reaver material at all, and might just find herself as one of the badly needed thralls instead. Whether she realized it or not, this was a rather critical conversation.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:10 pm
Well, he was polite enough, that was...promising? The young lioness took a couple steps so that she was actually in the room with him at his invitation. He was big, with a bold coloration that she'd never seen before on any lion. But older than she was, and so likely more experienced.
"Asmar," she answered shortly. It was, after all, her name, and she didn't want to be called for what she was, but rather who. She wanted her accomplishments and, yes, if they happened, her failures as well to be attached to her name.
She would not back down.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:25 pm
He nodded his head, as if taking mental notes, which he most definitely was. She was still quite young, a bit thin, and notably undeveloped muscles. Thus far, this one had not had to fight, or had not chosen to. This presented him a bit of a puzzle, but there was something in her eyes, a determination, steeling herself to something. Perhaps that was where the answer would lay.
"Well then, Asmar," he replied, his voice taking on the sternness of business. "Isibeal tells me that you want to join my warband as a reaver." it was a statement rather than a question. He sat back on his haunches and regarded her intently, as if trying to see through her and to her core. "Please tell me why you wish to be a reaver." This too was a test, of sorts. Starry eyed fools with whimsical ideas of battle were of no use as reavers, though sometimes they could be beaten and carved into good warriors. Glory was all fine, well, and good to pursue, but not with your eyes shut to the pain, the danger, the blood, and the need to face yourself afterwards.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:30 pm
Pink eyes narrowed as he questioned her further. If she was to dislike him, the only reasons Asmar could find were the obvious ones - he was male and in a position of power over her. It was...hard to put all that aside and resolve to answer honestly. She hadn't thought, back when she was listening intently to Jazua and learning how to survive as a rogue, that she'd have so much trouble leaving the Ukuucha'wafalme behind her. Apparently some habits went much deeper than she'd ever suspected.
Her inner conflict kept her tone sharp and her responses brief.
"She said reavers are fighters. I want to learn, to defend and protect myself. I will be no one's possession!" the brown lioness hissed the last sentence in true anger.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:47 pm
Ah, now there was the story. It made sense to him now, and left him much to ponder. So, she'd been either a slave or an unwilling wife, to his best guess. The question for him was, could she even learn to fight? She certainly had the spirit, but he wasn't entirely certain she had the right sort of attitude. He opted to continue to humor her and consider her for the position.
"You are right, a reaver is noone's possession," he answered her calmly, as if her outburst hadn't happened, or that he hadn't noticed it. "But you still would have to answer to me as your captain." He leaned forward towards her, looming above her due to the size difference. "Could you do that, Asmar?"
If he did take her on, the amount of training she'd need would be, at this point, quite massive. He would either need to train her himself, or put him int he hands of someone capable of such. Not every reaver was cut out to be a teacher. This would have to be taken into account as well.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:57 pm
Pink eyes met gold as Asmar considered the question carefully. She would have to submit to this lion, this male, and obey him if she agreed to this...and if he agreed to have her. It would be the end of the complete freedom...but in exchange for security and training.
The question was...how deeply was the Ukuucha rooted in her soul? And could she stand the pain of ripping it out by the roots?
And yet...
And yet he had asked her how she wished to be addressed. And was doing as she had asked, calling her simply by her name. Not calling her by any title and thus reinforcing her status or lack thereof.
She had had teachers before. Her father's Banu, as well as her mother, Jazua. It couldn't make that much of a difference having a male teach her...could it? And if he was her captain...her leader...could she do that?
The brown lioness studied the lion leaning towards her. He looked, and felt, solid. Trustworthy. Not someone who sought to be a leader, but someone who led well once in that position of power. Asmar didn't know where the feelings came from, but she knew instinctively she could trust them.
Could trust him.
"Yes," she answered softly at last, gaze never wavering from his own. "I could answer to a lion who sees me for myself and not as any possession."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:19 pm
Hmm. He supposed that would have to do. A struggle had been evident in her eyes for a moment, but there was only certainty in her voice when she answered. Still, she'd need tempering, to be sure. "I will not see you as anything but what you accomplish, Asmar." His voice was still stern, instructive, and held a faint hint of warning. "Do well, and you will be seen well. Do poorly, and you will be seen poorly." Hroarr refused to take anyone as a reaver who would not or could not properly take on being one.
He rose, turning away from her to walk to a pile of furs that was his and his mate's. "I can tell you that currently, you have earned nothing but the chance to become a reaver." He turned back to her in order to gauge her reaction. "You are ready for training, but not for being a reaver. Not yet anyway." His tone brooked no argument, but also indicated a certain assurance that she would achieve it.
"For now, if you truly want this training, you and I will agree to a... a contract, of sorts." He was thinking on what the band needed, and what this young reaver-to-be needed. "You will be accepted into my warband, but not as a Reaver. You will be a Freeborn, a rightful member of the pride." He sat himself down and regarded her assessingly. "You will train with myself or another I will assign to you. When you are not training, you will assist the thralls with the hunting. This is not the way of the pride, normally, but the needs of the band come first before tradition." He paused, waiting to see if she'd understood or not. "When you have sufficient skills, I will offer you the chance to prove your abilities."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:26 pm
She nodded once, in acceptance of what he said. That was all she had ever wanted out of her life - to rise or fall based only on what she herself did or did not do. To be seen as the sum of her accomplishments and failures.
Her eyes narrowed though, as he stated she wasn't ready and that he wanted to have an agreement with her, a contract. That she would be accepted to a lower rank and given the training needed for the position of reaver. That she would be asked to assist with the hunting. Well, hunting was no problem as today had proven. And she wasn't afraid of a bit of hard work.
"I accept your terms," she told the lion - Hroarr - now her Captain. She would not fail in this. She refused to fail in this. He was right, she didn't have the skills necessary. But she would learn, and then she would prove herself.
She would be the lioness she'd always dreamed of being.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:41 pm
He nodded once in satisfaction. She hadn't backed down or quailed at not being allowed her desired rank at once. She didn't whine or pout, thank goodness, or he'd have thrown her out on her tail, if she'd been lucky. She just might make reaver after all, if she kept up this determined and resolute attitude. "Welcome to the warband then, Asmar," he said, a broad smile brightening his expression. "You've done your work for the day by hunting with Isibeal, so you may rest now and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Be ready to train at first light tomorrow."
These were orders, not suggestions, not casual ideas. She would have to get used to them, sometimes even directing her personal life. Such was the way of a reaver, though more often than not, she'd be allowed to do as she pleased. "You have your pick of the empty dens, and I suggest you take some time to meet the others that are here." Imagine their surprise at learning she had been taken on as a Freeborn! They'd think he was slipping, but her performance would prove him right soon enough. "Dismissed." He softened this with another smile before turning to a scraped hide that had many things squiggled on it in many colors. Time to plan both for her training and the next viking!
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:46 pm
The brown lioness could feel her heart leap in her chest as Hroarr welcomed her. She hadn't been certain that he would, not until the words were fact. And for a first day, it wasn't so bad, given the hunting she'd already done. Being awake and ready to learn at first light might sound like a hardship, but it was better than being out runnning all night, fearing for her life.
She nodded at the dismissal and turned and went back the way she'd come. It would probably be best if she took his advice and met some of the other lions in the warband. The very idea made her nervous, but Asmar knew that none of the others would be as...difficult..as the Captain.
Tonight, meeting her new fellows. Tomorrow would begin her training and her new life.
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