Well, this was unfortunate. Teeth and snarling jaws clamped hard around his beak, preventing any forward motion, really, and forcing him to sort of stop in the whole chest-on-chest movement he had been attempting. Had he not been muffled, he would've probably yelled out: "no risk, no reward!" But, really, though, there was no reward here. None that he could see, at least. A few brief shakes of his head gave him absolutely no benefit, so he would have to resort to other methods.

Eythan still had a grip around the hyena's neck, as he noticed. It wasn't the strongest thing, but he still managed to hang on. Hmm. His hind legs were fixed rather strongly on the floor as he pressed up against Giggle's neck. There was no escaping this lock-jawed bonecaster's grip in this position. So, what other position could he take up? Maybe...

The hybrid relented in his pushing for a moment, hind legs bending a little. At a moment's notice, they would gather power and send him springing upward. Then, flapping his wings accordingly, he twisted in the air and stuck his legs out, intending to swing himself up onto Giggle's side and find some amount of a grip with his back right leg sprawled across her back --- not unlike a cowboy mounting his horse from the front side.

Of course, fate was a bitch and he threw himself upward far too hard and momentum carried him up and up. Eythan ended up in a rather uncomfortable position with his neck twisted at an odd angle and his legs stretched out to their fullest capacity so he didn't possibly snap it.

@Giggle

Giggle flinched slightly as Eythan finally moved, flipping himself around, and-... past her? And--what was he-...

As he landed, twisted awkwardly, she stared for a split-second. What was he even trying to do..?

An internal shrug; dismissal. It looked hilarious, but Eythan wasn't stupid; had whatever-it-was gone right, undoubtedly she'd have been in at least a little bit of trouble. But--well. It hadn't.

Maintaining her grip on his beak as best she could, in an attempt to control him from biting, she almost slowly rolled--toppling in an attempt to land fully on him. If she managed, she'd just lay there, his beak in her jaws and her weight on top of his, trying to pin him just by... well, laying on him, sideways. Taking a rest, as it were, with a feathery pillow.

Screw it, she thought. Let him do the exerting. And let him see why it's such a big part of a fight.

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ROLL THE BONES

@Eythan

Fuck, Eythan thought rather eloquently, half-twisted over himself. Again, had he been able to speak properly, he would've yelled that out loud. But, unfortunately, he couldn't. So, instead, he made a muffled phmmch! noise. And, out of the corner of his eye, he could see the ground approaching. Flapping his wings frantically, he pushed off just enough with his hind legs so that he wasn't so awkwardly twisted and instead somewhat above the hyena's back as she flopped.

Of course, as they both landed on the ground, Eythan's head was still at an odd, uncomfortable angle. But, at least all of his legs were clear. Now, it was just a matter of getting that iron grip off of his beak so he could try and tug at the bonecaster's ear.

Well, it was time for the oldest trick in a cat's book. He balled up the talons on his right foot, making sure that the sharp ends were tucked against his leathery palms. Then, he essentially swung his the side of his paw toward the back of Giggle's head in a motion that could only be described as a roundhouse punch.

@Giggle

Giggle's world suddenly jarred, spinning down to a bright point in a world of swirling grey. Only vaguely did she realize she was lying on the rock, and had been for a moment--and only then did she briefly wonder what the hell she was doing here.

Sound was gone. It was muffled, but coming back rapidly--Eythan scrambling, the sound of heavy breathing. She couldn't tell if it was his, or hers.

Oh, right-... the spar. She'd been nearly knocked out, or had, if briefly--and as she began trying to scramble back to her feet, her movements were clumsy. She was very clearly dazed, her paws scrabbling at stone, lips peeled back in a grimace. There were no witty retorts or comments on the fight; she only barely remembered that she'd even been sparring. She managed only a rough, slightly confused--

"--Good hit..."

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ROLL THE BONES

@Eythan

As soon as he felt any sort of release, Eythan quickly drew his head back (sweet relief) and pulled himself into a bowing position. While he was still down, his beak darted forwards to take a snip at the hyena's ear before bouncing backward. Unsure of if he actually succeeded or not, he put a little distance between the two.

Any sort of adrenaline left him, making way for concerned confusion as he arched his ears forward. Giggle took far longer than expected to get up. Had he really hit her that hard? He only meant to get her to open her mouth just enough so he could escape her grip. Ears flattening and ignoring her dazed compliment, Eythan stepped forward cautiously. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you that hard. We can stop if you need to." In case it was a clever ploy with incredible acting, the hybrid hung back a little. Nonetheless, there was a quivering hesitance to his movements, legitimate guilt flushing through him. He really hadn't meant to succeed this hard in hitting Giggle.

@Giggle

The hyena was about to mock Eythan--in a friendly manner, of course--to boast and jest and roughhouse in camaraderie. But the world spun around her, and again shifted to greys, and she swayed a second time. She'd felt the sharp nip at her ear, and as she stumbled a little on her feet, she inhaled deeply.

A stagger, a grimace, and she spoke.

"Might be for the best," she answered, a little sourly. She hadn't wanted to stop early, but she felt badly jarred. "We'll call it your win, what was it-... two to one?" She found that she'd forgotten. "What have you learned?"

She didn't seem bitter about losing, or even annoyed at the strength of the hit--just a little dazed, and trying to gather her wits back about her. She lowered herself onto her haunches, wincing, and looked to Eythan.

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ROLL THE BONES

@Eythan

Eythan himself winced as the hyena stumbled and staggered about, finally settling onto her haunches in her best attempt to be a little less dazed. Fuck, he felt guilty. Wings tucking close to his sides and feathers smoothing down, the hybrid plodded over to Giggle and sat down. He breathed heavily, far more so than he realized. As he thought of an answer for Giggle's question, he took in deep breaths through his mouth, exhaling through his nose. One, two, one, two. His flanks still rose and fell rapidly, but at least he could speak properly beyond a sentence.

"I think it was two to one," he said, repeating in agreement with a perceptible smirk on his face. "I learned to not throw myself under foes, to try and keep all four feet on the ground, to keep my opponent away from me," Eythan paused to take in a proper breath, "to keep in mind my opponent's strongest side and avoid attacking on it." Then, with a dry laugh, he added with a note of finality, "and punching works too well for a spar."

Already shuffling to his feet and heading toward the bonecaster, Eythan murmured softly and nudged at Giggle's shoulder, "c'mon, let's get to your den. The story can wait."

@Giggle

Giggle winced at the words and shook her head a little, not budging.

"I'll be all right, Eythan, it's just a smack," she answered, trying to keep the irritability from her tone. "And the story's important, and short enough. Just humor me. As for your lessons--good. It sounds like you've learned something, at least. We'll spar again another time if you want, tomorrow, in a few days--see what you remember." She fired him a crooked grin, the implication clear: a lesson was worth nothing if it was forgotten.

"We won't be long, anyway," she added.

The hyena cast a glance over her shoulder, rounded ears swivelling for a moment, and she listened in silence; but not a peep came from the den. Aure, hopefully, still slept. She turned back to Eythan.

"I don't want to leave the little one alone for too long. Consider that your insurance against a long-winded ramble." The hyena laughed, loud and rough, yet still keeping it quiet enough not to wake the young one, even if they did have some distance.

"Tell me, do you know who the Lorekeeper is? Have you ever met her?"

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ROLL THE BONES

@Eythan

"Just a smack," Eythan mocked softly, with a teasing smirk on his face as he nudged the hyena's shoulder again. He sat down anyways. "Just hit me up, I guess," he said, shrugging a little dismissively, "and I don't mean literally coming up on me and hitting me." Although it would be helpful to learn to avoid sneak attacks, he wasn't too fond of being in the business of paranoia again. He'd gotten out of there once and would like to stay out. The front of it had a little paper printout of his face reading 'BANNED,' anyways.

So, that was that.

As Giggle listened for Aure, the gryphon couldn't help but to as well, ears arcing forward as if the hyena wasn't likely able to hear better than he could. Insurance, she said. "He seemed pretty fuckin' tuckered out." Able to contain his gushing, he shook his head. "I've heard of her, but I've never met her." Should he? It didn't seem too much of a stretch to familiarize himself with the various creatures that called Canis home, especially those who were residents long before him.

@Giggle

Giggle listened, then nodded, closing her eyes briefly before beginning.

"She is ancient--far older than any of us. Crippled. She claims that she was never a child--perhaps created as-is, I don't know." Giggle's tone was somewhat dismissive, not in a rude sense, but in the sense that she simply had no way of knowing--and there was no point in dwelling on it. "She told us all a story, once, I think a true one. She said that once the world was very loud, that there were creatures you could trust and those that'd harm you and trick you, lead you to your death. She called that time the 'great noise,' and said that there were some similar ones who could trust each other. I don't know what she meant by that--something like 'those like us' but I don't know why. How."

Giggle eyed Eythan, her gaze solemn as she fought to remember every detail she'd secreted away that day. So much had happened since, but she recalled thinking how important it was that she remember. "She said those like her had to live in secrecy, in the dark and staying quiet. That many who failed were caught and killed. I don't know why. And then she said one day the noises stopped. They crept out from hiding, but it was all stopped, quiet--empty."

A long pause, and Giggle's eyes slipped closed, something of the storyteller within her rising to the surface now that her mind was clearer, and her breath had been caught.

"The Lorekeeper says that 'those like her' rejoiced, thinking they were free. That there was one cave, though, that they still feared, even though they wandered, now. She said it made them terrified. But everywhere else they moved through--she described Orion, Polaris. She said the Spire was 'harnessed,' once, by the enemy I think. The noisy ones." The hyena snorted, as if shrugging, in a sense--again a "who knows" sort of gesture. "They went to Pisces, Eridanus--I can't remember it all, Monocer--no, that came later, actually," Giggle corrected herself, humming for a moment in thought. Her brows furrowed. "She spoke of a buzzing leading them all, a sound they followed--to the 'cursed' cave. I believe, on what I know now--many cycles since this story was told to me--that they were led to Cetus, and the sea monster that lives there. Though they describe the creature as ferocious and terrifying, and from what I know it's sedate--even lazy. It might not be the same one. But the buzzing! That is almost certainly Nemean. Have you heard of her? Called 'betrayer' by many, and known for leading others to their deaths! Into combat! She has done it to many of the caves many times. I don't know everything there is to know of her--I haven't seen her--but she is tiny, so they say, and flies, and uses lights."

"Anyway, the buzzing led them to this terrifying cave." Giggle's voice was dry, unimpressed. "And then a voice becan to call out to them for help. They were fools, and went in," she added bluntly. "Lorekeeper said again how afraid they were of the monster and the curse, whatever it was. Then they saw the waters rippling--probably the marsh, there--and fled."

The hyena shifted with a grimace, stretching; her muscles were starting to feel the battering of the spar. "To make a long story short, they followed the voice again--like fools, again," she added, but now Giggle sounded grim, and a little sad. "It led them to Monoceros, this time, and there the dragon attacked them, if I understood it right. Raheerah, the black dragon--her description matches what I knew of him, though I've never seen him either." Truly, she'd remained secluded in Canis most of her life. "Others have fought him--some of them are still alive, in these caves. But to that group of poor gullible idiots, he gave fire. I can't remember if the others lived--I don't think so--but she was left behind."

Giggle paused again, thinking. The next part was important to get right, and she wasn't at all sure that she understood it. "She said that there was a weak lamb that she'd thought was 'one of them,' who'd been in hiding with them, if I understood. That she went to the dragon, and the dragon lay peacefully before her after having slaughtered the rest. That the lamb kissed the dragon. Then a great bird of ice swept in, and began the fight anew! The dragon took to the air, and they fought there, fire and ice, and their battle made the air churn in its violence, and there the storm in that cave was formed."

That had always been her favorite part, and she paused, for a moment, basking in it. "Lorekeeper spoke then of another creature I don't know of, or recognize, with long legs, arms, a gentle face. She said that now there were others present, strong ones I think--not her friends--and they were arguing over whether to let her die. The thing-with-arms took the ice bird away--allies, I think--to help him? And none of them ever returned. Lorekeeper dragged herself back here, to Canis, and only woke up when we found her. We heard her in the bones, and we dug her out!"

A pause, and another stretch.

"It's a rambling story, but it told us a lot, as we pieced it together--and it's time you understand it! It refers to time before ours, Eythan--before ours. When there was order, of some kind--and cruelty. When Lorekeeper, despite being gentle and crippled, had to hide or risk being slaughtered. It tells us again of Nemean's sadistic evil! It tells us that the ice-bird--he is still alive, and fought the dragon with the others--and the lamb are old, very old, and the dragon, too. They are all still alive, I think."

"The point is that there were plans, here. There was violently-enforced power, maybe rigid order! There was a time when Gembound had to hide for their lives. And there are still remnants from that era. We have to watch--always--to be vigilant, to warn others in case of their return, and to make certain they don't drag us into another such era. I, for one, am not interested in skulking about in the dark while noisy monsters impose their order on our caves. This is our home now--and we need to keep it that way."

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ROLL THE BONES

@Eythan