Kalama was doing great. She hadn't been angry or annoyed within the past two hours. She'd released her spawn upon the world. A menacing creature, who'd only get stronger with experience. She just needed more ways to show him how to get stronger.

"Kalaziel," She called behind her. "You're going to hunt something bigger than that mouse today."

She didn't look back, expecting the creature to be there, hobbling after her. It was small and weak still. Hunting a Hydra lesser would help them get more powerful. That was how things grew up she was sure. She'd start them off small.

Work with a eyehook vulture, or a sand scorpion, and graduate them to a sandworm once they killed that. Kalama wasn't quite sure what to make them do after that. Maybe she would make them fight an ice worm. And then two ice worms! Two ice worms and two eyehook vultures! That was how a parent do. The sounds of bones and pebbles knocking against her claws was gradually replaced by the soft 'shf' sounds of sand beneath her feet.

"We're going somewhere new today, Kalaziel." Her eyes gleamed viciously. "I'm the champion of Hydra. The cave we're going to today to train. I'll be there to coach you if anything goes wrong. "

Kalama could fend off whatever dumb lessers Hydra had that weren't worms or vultures. And if a worm attacked, she could fight it off. She had gotten her legs broken by a worm once. It was impossible she'd get her legs broken by one again. The smaller lessers couldn't even touch her.


think "speak"

@Orthoclase-Alpha
@Kalaziel

Kalaziel

I feel most times we're high and low

If I had my way, never let you go

The young gembound toddled after their mother, determination running through them. Kalaziel was eager to take on a few more challenges for their Life-giver. It shouldn't be too hard for them to master. The mouse back home was easy enough. If the worm could even consider that home. Another step in the journey to becoming stronger.
"Something bigger." they thought, trying to imagine what types of creatures they would possibly face. The fluffy creature took a minute to take in their surroundings, viewing the dirt on the ground beneath their claws as it gently started to shift into a softer more malleable substance. The increasing heat was also noticeable as they continued to follow the set path.

Kalama had informed them a little now about the place they were headed. Kalaziel was inspired. Their mother was a champion. Someone who for sure knew all the ins and outs of this new and harsh landscape. The worm shook themselves out for a moment, wanting to be a bit more presentable before the sands were sure to ruin their feathers. Kalama's words were somewhat reassuring. That in the event that something could go wrong that she was going to be there for them. However, it would just mean that Kalaziel was going to need to train harder to become every bit stronger.
"Champion of Hydra? the worm asked curiously. "How did you do it?"
They wanted to know more about what heroic deeds their life-giver had completed before they attempted to catch anything else. A small boost of confidence to push them forward.
"Could I be a champion someday?"

Art by Deirdre Harder
@Kalama
@Orthoclase-Alpha

Something bigger.

Hopefully, either of them were prepared to contend with something quite big, and quite nasty, pacing out of Tunnel P and licking up fat gobs of saliva from its jaws. It was on its way - of course - to prowl around in search of rats to shove down its gullet and for sure disrupt the entire local ecosystem (if it hadn't already) with how much and often it ate.

Rather than the frankly ominous and heady, silent air of Canis, Alpha was greeted by raucous crowing and an oversized chicken yammering to her stumpy little spawn. It would've ignored them both, if not for the choice few words it conveniently picked up and swung its head for: "I'm the Champion of Hydra..." "... how did you do ... be a Champion someday?"

Toxic eyes narrowed, staring at the feathery things approaching, quills pricking with lukewarm curiosity.

It shifted, putting a large forearm out in front of Kalama, crowding in on their conversation with a grunt, "you are a Champion?" Eyes scanned up and down (though, without pupils, that wasn't really visible) and squinted with slight disbelief. "Show me."

@Kalama

Rated M for one spicy word

Kalama bumped into Alpha's arm without much fanfare. She let out a single quiet cluck, startled. But then she was all puffed feathers and angry caws. This creature towered above her. Bigger than even Dread, by the looks of it. But she wouldn't fear them. She was important and busy. She took a single step back. No further. Kalaziel was watching. Kalama had to set a good example.

"Get out of my way, shitty lizard! We have places to be." Spittle flew from her over-toothed beak. "Isn't that right Kalaziel?"

With the realization that her ego would be stroked, she soothed slightly. "Ohoh! A fan! Yeah, I'm a champion. Kalama of Hydra. Destroyer of the snow." The title was a work in progress. "Killed an iceworm by myself. Made that thing out of the shard." Kalama's wing stretched in the direction of Kalaziel.

"Show you?" She said. Kalama would beat up a fan for free. She'd fought Dread, learned from it. She could fight this thing. Teach it not to bother her or her son ever again. "You don't look very tough, for a fan." Kalama stretched her legs, flexing the claws. "I'll thrash y--demonstrate to you so we can get on our way."

"Kalaziel," she barked, turning her head to her kid. "Watch how a champion of Hydra fights." With no other warning, Kalama launched herself at the much larger creature.

think "speak"

Round: 1/?
Attempt: Attack flurry
Defense: HA
Injuries: N/A

@Kalaziel

Kalaziel

I feel most times we're high and low

If I had my way, never let you go

Vacant eyes did a double take at the extremely large creature in front of them. Those acidic green eyes were surely burned into the young gembound's head. It was safe to say that Kalaziel was a little concerned about the size of the lizard. They watched Kalama carefully, observing how calm she seemed in front of the other creature. Kalaziel felt pride in the fact that they had been made from the strength and love of the Hydra Champion. What a strange occurrence to have happen on their way to Hydra itself. This had certainly been an unplanned bump in the road for training.

Seeing Kalama's wing extend towards them, the small worm gave a squawk in response to their life-giver. Watching the chicken spring into action without a second thought, the young gembound settled back a few feet to observe. Kalaziel ruffled up his feathers in an attempt to gain some more heat. This was only to make sure their strange power was ready to use if the need arose.

Kalaziel felt a small amount of heat creep into their body, dispelling some of the cooler air around them. They'd stay in the ruffled position for a little while, just to make sure they were prepared. Comfy and in position, the worm turned it's eyes to the beginning battlefield.

Art by Deirdre Harder
@Kalama
@Orthoclase-Alpha

Bump. Bawk!

Faced with the very same reaction it'd likely spring on others, Alpha had no choice but to bristle and bare its teeth. It pivoted around its arm, turning so it was fully facing the chicken in all her furious glory. Kalama was a self-important fool - one that it was completely doubtful that any part of that story or titles were legitimate. She was apparently a champion, destroyer of the snow, and had made that... thing. Toxic eyes turned on Kalaziel, and squinted in a grimace; it was lumpy.

"What is your designation?" it clipped, on the off-chance that this was an ancient being it hadn't heard of quite yet.

In any case, the challenge (and bait, maybe) had been taken, and the stakes were amplified tenfold by "you don't look very tough, for a fan." IT'S A TRAP IT'S A TRAP IT'S A TRAP - "You won't put a single scratch on me." Just to be that much more of an asshole, Alpha immediately decided it would absolutely embarrass this chicken; absolutely dredge her in thirteen different flavors of humiliation.

Kalama charged, and the kaiju raised a meaty set of wicked claws in anticipation. She made her approach, and it made to swat at her and ruthlessly drive that momentum to a screeching halt, pin her to the ground by the chest.

Round: 1/5?
Attempt: Just... hang out under my foot for a bit.
Defense:
Injuries:

@Kalama

Kalama attacked, but she didn't go anywhere. Alpha's paw caught her midair, and slammed her to the ground. She coughed under the weight. Kalaziel could see her. Kalaziel could see her getting Epic Owned by Alpha. It was one of her worst nightmares. It was really uncool. Angry, she spat and cawed at them, wriggling all the while. Alpha's question had caught her off-guard.

"Designation? My designation is Hydra. Why else would I be going to tunnel P, idiot!" She said.

Why Alpha would be concerned about where she was going, she had no idea. "And get off me!" She said, struggling. Flailing was getting her nowhere. Changing targets, Kalama aimed her jaws at Alpha's claws.

think "speak"

Round: 2/5?
Attempt: bite hand for freedom
Defense:
Injuries: bruised from getting slam bam'd

@Orthoclase-Alpha

"My designation is Hydra."

What? "What?" Alpha's weight eased up just a bit with its confusion, then even more with a loud "RRAUGH!"

Chicken-raptor teeth, it seemed, were incredibly sharp. The orthoclase withdrew its claw, and hid that moment of weakness under a growled, "that's destination. What's your designation?" Didn't it already state a name - it swiped out with its unbitten foot, claws kept somewhat in and only with the intentions of bruising.

Instead, its arm completely whiffed and smashed into its own other side. If that wasn't embarrassing enough, that was enough to send it off-balance and stumbling onto its front.

Round: 2/5?
Attempt: Smack
Defense:
Injuries: Nibbled footsie :(

@Kalama

The lessened pressure gave Kalama enough leisure to scurry from beneath Alpha's foot. She gasped, shaking her feathers out. She tilted her head, considering Alpha's words.

"What? Designation? Destination?" She paused, thinking. She felt as if...maybe there was something she was missing out on. Something that would make her look super cool. But on the other hand, Kalama was already cool. Plus, she needed to get Kalaziel to fistfight that sandworm. Clawfight? Anyways. "I dont know what a designation is, I dont care about any of that! I just wanna make Kalaziel fight cool stuff!"

Alpha stumbled, and Kalama watched. Surprised. And then she snorted out a laugh. Kalama had thought them more...experienced. But maybe they weren't. Maybe they were a kid. That was good. Beating up a giant kid would make her look super good in front of Kalaziel.

"You know, I can train you too. You seem like you could use some help learning how to fight. I'm super good at fights!" As if to prove her point, Kalama rushed forward, intent on attacking one of Alpha's limbs


think "speak"

Round: 3/5?
Attempt: Just attack one of those feets
Defense:
Injuries: bruisy

@Orthoclase-Alpha

Alpha glanced towards the... oddly banana-like beast. Her spawn, perhaps? They were already a sizable creature, and it wondered... no, no, see if the parent's good enough, first.

Crouched on its front, the kaiju growled and grimaced. Kalama darted for a leg, teeth finding purchase and hooking into the joint of its wrist. Alpha shifted weight onto that leg, teeth gnashing together. (Who knew that a bunch of chickenraptor teeth hurt so bad?) It snapped once at her without much real intent but a distraction while it swung and scratched at her with its opposite arm.

So much for not causing a lot of damage.

Round: 3/5?
Attempt: Scritchy scritchy for Kalama
Defense:
Injuries: Nibbled footsie and wrist :(