ORIGIN - Eat Hot Chip and Cry

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James nodded slowly and lifted his head, definitely unsure and a bit scared, "I'm ready. What are we doing first?"

Maybe if he ran into someone like Alpha again, he could find a way to escape more safely or even... defeat him. A childish thought, yes, but... It gave him hope.

"Do I just... run at you?" he asked, pawing at the ground gently, ears down.

@Eythan

"What are we doing first?" "I'll have you start with just giving y'self more time to escape, especially if someone's real close," Eythan chirped.

He slunk forward carefully to indicate towards one of the colt's legs. "Striking at someone's joints or feet is good, especially if it's an elbow." A set of claws tapped against his own elbow, then at James's. "It'll buckle in a bit and surprise 'em if they're not ready for it." Eythan drew back with a soft hmm, "or, y'could stomp on a foot. Yours look like they'd put a hurtin' on anybody."

Simple, common sense stuff. "Try 'n put your... uh, knee into my elbow - hard as you can," the gryphon turned slightly, putting his leg out so it was a bit more accessible, "it won't hurt me."

@James

James listened carefully and eyed Eythan's elbow, then his own hooves. His hind legs could crack bark off trees if he hit hard enough, though it left the limb jarred afterward. But against a softer target... maybe they could be useful.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded and tried to do as explained. He drove his knee into the other's elbow a bit harder than he really intended, and immediately leaped away, ears pinned as his jaw dropped.

"... Did I hurt you?" he asked immediately, looking rather terrified at the prospect, "I'm so sorry-"

I mean, he knew that they were supposed to be practice-fighting, but still. He'd feel awful if he hurt Eythan even a little.

@Eythan

The knee came up, Eythan tried not to brace himself terribly much - and James received a rather hearty grunt and slight buckling of the gryphon's leg. It'd hurt for that brief second of bone-on-bone, but otherwise, he'd managed to catch himself and was fine.

James, though, was fretting and worrying about, ears pinning back. The hybrid shook his head, plastering on a genuine smile, "nah, kiddo! That was great!" Bright eyes gleamed, and he shook his tail out eagerly, bouncing in place to regain the steadiness of that arm. "Another thing y'could do - only if they're close to y'height - is headbutt them. Just give 'em a good 'ol bump on the noggin. Just make sure they're not coming at y'too, or you'll end up hurtin' a whole lot."

Readying himself up to receive one (1) horsey headbutt, Eythan squared off and lowered his head.

@James

James blinked and perked up at the praise, ears going forward and his feet picking up as he walked, his body language showing his glee. And the huge smile on his face, too.

"Okay..." he said rather breathlessly, before shaking his head and readying his stance, brows furrowed in determination.

He nodded at Eythan's instructions and jumped forward, preparing to deliver a horsey headbutt that would (hopefully) not hurt the other too much, just stun. He made contact, the hard gem in the center of his forehead ensuring a hard hit, and backed off, ready for the next instruction.

A moment of doubt came up once again, wondering if he'd hurt Eythan...

@Eythan

Eythan'd never been praised for having any foresight or good common sense. Somehow, he'd completely just missed the glimmering gemstone square on James's forehead - the very thing about to mash into his own skull. But, damn, if the gryphon was going to make sure this kid got those little things to help him achieve self-confidence.

So, as much as that hurt and really shoulda broke skin, he bit down an oof and barely budged. Sure, his vision'd gone the equivalent of overexposed for a moment, but he was ultimately fine - and ultimately impressed.

Keeping that dazed state on the down-low, Eythan lifted his head and grinned, "nice hit! That gem'll do a whole lotta work for you, I'm sure! Wow." Wow was said in an equally breathless tone as the colt's okay... If he was a person, he'd have his hands on his hips like a baseball dad.

"That's about it for the basics, to be honest - 'cept for stuff like tossin' up rocks 'n dirt at someone, but y'don't really have hands for throwin'." Hooves could work, but James's aim wouldn't be true, would it?

@James

James practically beamed, his face splitting into a blinding grin. He hummed for a moment and looked around on the ground, quickly finding a suitable rock. He narrowed his eyes and glanced to Eythan before glancing at his target... a rock perched just on the edge of a small outcropping.

He kicked up the rock and swung his hind legs around, snapping a leg out to hit it midair. His hoof clipped the rock but didn't hit square. Close, though, proving that he could... just not at that moment. He stamped a foot and pinned his ears, brows furrowing at his failure before he shook his head and looked at Eythan.

"I can do it..." he mumbled, eyes flicking down before he trotted over to Eythan and stood in front of him.

"I'll practice," James said, "Could you teach me more? Later? And... teach me to fight? I don't want to ever use it, but... just in case."

@Eythan

"Can's better than can't, kiddo," Eythan grinned, lifting a talon high up to ruffle the colt's forelocks, "and practice'll make perfect, just you wait." One bright eye winked: "nobody becomes an expert in a day, and everybody's got a different pace."

Earnest, truly. "You're doing great, bud."

Chocolaty wings shuffled at his sides, and he nodded, "'course I can teach you more. I'm usually in Canis, but I'll try to stop by more. We can spar 'n sh- stuff." Fuck, dude. His head turned slightly, peering around, "your house's near here, right? I can swing by there every once in a while - and if you're there, we can have a session. No stress or pressure."

(And no need for Eythan to show off how bad he was at being on time for things.)

@James

James snorted at having his forelock ruffled, feeling like a kid being babysat by the 'cool uncle'. He nodded up at Eythan at his words of wisdom, making sure to keep in mind that talent was encouraged by growth, learning, and practice. He could be good at something, but he'd never be great if he didn't try.

"Thank you," he said graciously, bowing his head slightly, before looking up at Eythan once more.

He nodded at his question and turned, pointing his nose off in the distance, "It's over there... I can show you, if you want."

James' little tail flicked back and forth excitedly, the prospect of learning to defend and protect (and attack, should the need ever arise) getting him all hyped up. Maybe... maybe he could protect Ari. Even though he had claws and teeth, it didn't hurt to have someone at your side willing to aid you.

And perhaps... Pride could be proud of him. It certainly fit his name to do so, at least.

@Eythan

Cool uncle, indeed. Eythan's greatest aspiration in life.

"Anytime, kiddo," he chirped, smiling warmly. Anything for a good kid. Just hope that Pride doesn't mind me moseying in on his training time. Surely he'd appreciate a free physical training coach.

"I can show you, if you want?" "Sure! I have a nest to keep my stuff in, but it doesn't have walls," the gryphon trailed after James with rather paternal enthusiasm, chattering more idly as the colt pointed out features here and there.

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@James

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