[FIN] Day In, Day Out (Ndale & Lutum)

[mouselet]

Lutum had been chased away by Healers. They'd literally kicked him out of the den and told him not to return for several hours, saying that Taanisi needed rest. Well, one of the first things a lion learned in the Kitwana'antara was to never argue with Healers. So the Duke had bowed (somewhat graciously) to the inevitable and wandered off.

He was just walking around the pride aimlessly now, daydreaming about what it would be like once Taanisi recovered. There was no doubt in his mind that they'd be mated, of course, and formally for the benefit of the pride. He knew Nawiri would insist on it. But after that? He had absolutely no idea.

The brown lion was so blind to where he walked, he was wandering right into the training ground.  

[Uta]

And training was exactly what Ndale was doing. Or at least, he was making a good show of it, even if he wasn't feeling up to sorts. Unfortunately, the brute of a lion had been feeling more and more ill these past few months, and while he did his best to hide it from everyone, he sometimes felt as if he were overcompensating. He remembered Mittere's words, years ago, about not pushing oneself and knowing ones limits. . .

But he wasn't ready to accept just how sick he was feeling. He wasn't ready to accept the fact that the disease was beginning to truly get the better of him. No. He wasn't weak. He had fought this illness since a cub, and even managed to grow in to a strong adult. He would lick this thing just like he did anybody who caused him trouble or a problem. Hmph!

He especially didn't want Furaha to know. . . Something had happened after they'd decided to appease the matchmakers. They had done their duty, they had had four cubs, but now. . . Well. He still liked to check in on her, even if their children were long since grown. And he didn't wish to let her know of this weakness in him, even if she were aware of his disease. Nope. It was better this way.

Having stepped away to catch his breath, the large lion's eyes narrowed as he spotted the duke, Lutum, enter the training grounds. What was he up to to head this way? "Looking for someone?" He finally called out, deciding that the only reason the green maned lion was here was for business. "Or are you looking to spar?" He questioned, which might be the other reason. He didn't recall the lord Lutum taking a keen interest in a guard or warrior lifestyle.

Trotting closer, the large lion ignored the aches in his joints, and pride did not allow him to limp. Like hell he would.
 

[mouselet]

Lutum started at the unexpected voice, looking around for its source. He was...oh. The training grounds. And there was a big, black and white lion who looked kind of familiar. The Duke assumed that the other was a Warrior or a Guard, and that he'd been practicing or something, but he had no memory of either.

Then he realized he'd been asked a question. Two of them, even.

"What? Uh, no," the brown lion answered dazedly. "I'm just...wandering." Realizing that didn't sound particularly good, Lutum cleared his throat and tried again.

"What are you doing?" he asked of the other male.  

[Uta]

Ndale stared at the other with his usual scowl, waiting for the answer. He was surprised that the other lion seemed so distracted, so dazed, and had to wonder what was on his mind. Daydreaming? Probably. . hmph. Cubs these days! When Lutum questioned, and admitted to simply wandering, Ndale's scowl only grew.

"Wandering?" He repeated, arching a brow before giving a small snort. That's how he felt about that. Still, he wasn't trying to be rude, especially not to royalty. Whatever that meant. "I was training. . . before deciding to see if you were up for a spar, or simply turned around." Clearly, there would be no sparring, which was probably just as well. He didn't need to fight another in his current condition.

". . . I wouldn't suggest roaming so blindly this way. Someone might think you're a willing target." And wouldn't that be a sight. Granted, only an idiot would attack a civilian first before asking, but who knew? There were many idiots in the world. . . . "The exit's behind you." Obviously.

 

[mouselet]

We-ell. Someone here had obviously been taking lessons from the Master Warrior. Actually, that was a given. She trained anyone and everyone who wanted to learn how to fight. He'd been thinking more about attitude...

...wait, who was he justifying this to again? Whoops.

"I didn't mean to interrupt you," Lutum apologized, taking a few steps back, towards the exit. But he didn't leave. Not yet. He was kind of curious. He'd never really spent time here, since he'd never had to. The whole concept of having to fight for his life was a foreign idea to the Duke.  

[Uta]

The lion continued to stare at Lutum, even as the younger male stuttered an apology and retreated a few steps. Unfortunately, the young whelp didn't look like he had any intention of actually leaving. Oh brother. Still, Ndale wasn't really angry, he just didn't understand why the brown coated lion was wasting his time on the training grounds.

"Meh," he growled some, giving his tail a irritated swish and dismissing the apology as soon as it came. Still, he took a few steps closer to Lutum, looking the green maned lion over. He was young, appeared to be fit, and was far too plump for Ndale's taste. There could have been good muscle grown beneath that coat, and instead, all he saw was sloppy figure, sloppy form, and not an ounce of potential. At least, no potential if he stayed as he was.

"Well? Are you staying or going?" He questioned, tilting his head and puffing out his chest some. Aches be damned, he was a very seasoned guard, and if he hadn't been so damn ill, would have made a very good warrior. "If you're going to stay on the training grounds, the least you could do was respect what we do here, and train. Take a lap 'round, come on now... just to get that blood going." He growled in his usual bitter manner. Again, he wasn't trying to be mean, but the cub could at least train. . . or be chased off by Ndale.

Either way worked for him.

 

[mouselet]

Okay...this was getting uncomfortable. He didn't really like the way the older lion was looking him over, judging him. And Lutum had enough experience with being judged to know when it was happening to him...and the other male was making it plain that he'd been found wanting.

But...the question was interesting. He'd never really been invited to train, though he hadn't been discouraged from much either. No one had ever forced the young Duke to do a thing though. He was kind of curious...but it seemed like a lot of work.

Though he probably had several hours until the Healers would let him in to see Taanisi again...maybe it would be a good way to pass the time.

"I guess I could stay a bit," he offered. "What should I do?"

This was a change. Before he'd met Taanisi, the brown lion would've almost certainly been gone at the first hint of having to do actual work.  

[Uta]

Wait.

He was actually sticking around?

The hetero-chromatic eyed male was surprised, given that the training grounds were a lot of physical work. It could take its toll even on the strongest and most healthy of pride members, much less the diseased. He wasn't sure of Lutum's health status, but it wasn't important. The lion needed some good training no matter what. . . And Ndale was just the lion to do it.

Giving a small grunt, he glanced over his shoulder. "See the trail, worn down from the paws of your pride mates? Follow it. We'll start with a trot, before picking it up to a full out run, and then some springs, before slowing back down to a trot. There'll be a fork in the path -- we'll take the left one, as the right is more of an obstacle and agility course." Something Lutum was clearly unprepared for, according to Ndale's judgement.

"Come on then. . . " And with that, he turned and started trotting down the trail, fully expectant of Lutum to follow. . . and just as prepared to whirl and snap at the other if he didn't.
 

[mouselet]

Lutum gave a small shrug at the older lion's casual acceptance of his willingness to stay, today, and began to move after him. It had also occurred to him that the black and white male was sleeker than he and, truthfully, more attractive. Oh sure, Taanisi hadn't seemed to mind his appearance at all, but he wanted her to be proud of him. And pleased with him.

Depending on how much work this training was, the Duke might not come back every day or even most days. But even every now and then should help, right? It shouldn't hurt too much. Well, as long as he didn't injure himself. That would be regrettable.

Of course, it seemed to be a problem that he was starting to pant a bit heavily while the older lion was still breathing easily, if in the forced rhythm that their movement required...  

[Uta]

Ndale heard the lion behind him begin to pant. Still, he said nothing, didn't even bother looking behind him to study the lion. Instead, he simply offered the other a backwards turned ear, listening to his breathing. While it seemed that Ndale didn't care, the truth was he meant to push the other lion. . . . but he wasn't going to abuse him. So unless the lion truly began gasping and heaving -- which he would have words about -- he was going to give Lutum a little taste of legitimate training.

So it was, Ndale lead the lion down the trail, not bothering to slow. "We're going to break into a full run. If you can get to the fork in the road before me, we'll walk the rest of the way; if you don't, we'll follow up with sprints." Cruel of him, really, but who knew? Maybe it would light a fire under the brown male.

He wanted to see how far Lutum could push himself. He needed to know the others limits, and whether or not the lion would push, push foolishly, or give up. He also didn't tell Lutum that this was the short trail. . . And with that, the lion took off at a slow run, once again, expecting Lutum to keep up. "Push yourself, come on now. Pick up those paws!" He called back with a gruff growl.

 

[mouselet]

When the white lion began to outline exactly what else they'd be doing, Lutum would have been happy to argue. Or protest, despite his inclination to be a more...worthy lion for Taanisi. However, the brown lion simply didn't have the breath to spare for pointless words. And he got the feeling that if he were to respond negatively to the other's regimen, he'd be made to regret it. A lot.

So instead he focused on doing what he was told, picking up his paws and his pace a little. How in the hell did the Warriors and Guards manage to do this day in and day out without even breathing heavily? It was insane!

But, he'd committed to this much. He'd see this out...at least for today. Then he'd have a good long think on whether or not it was worth it to come back. Ever.