Rumors were like ghosts, in a sense; always haunting chatter and conversations, drifting across stagnant air, passing from ear to ear and possessing mind after mind. Orion (Alrik was assuming that's what this place was called, it had taken him 3 cycles to figure it out) had been a constant home for him. He'd only left twice, once when he was young and again when looking for a certain being, and both times had returned shortly after. It might seem silly for a child who tended to be so adventurous to never really leave home, but in Alrik's case, Orion was a fortunate pick for hermiting in. Everything seemed to happen here.

Including the Seven.

Alrik had heard its name. Vaguely, its purpose. He was looking for yet another specific kind of creature, and he figured the Seven and the residents thereof would match the criteria best. He had an even more specific creature in mind for this mission he was on, but on account of simply not knowing where that one was, Alrik decided to settle for this.

The stinky little gremlin named Alrik would sit by a big dull rock rising from the floor and stare up at the crocks on the ceiling while he waited for... I dunno, someone to appear.

He yowled for attention, not really caring who showed up to investigate as long as they fit the description he was looking for.

@James

James' hooves echoed on the stone floor as he walked, ears perked up and eyes narrowed. He'd heard a noise and gotten up out of his cozy bed to find out what the heck it was, leaving Sun to nap while he was gone.

"Hello?!" he called out, before facing the noise as it sounded again, like a cry.

He picked up into a trot and made his way forward, concerned. When he found the cat, recognition flared and his eyesbrows went up.

"... I remember you," he said, before frowning, "Why are you here? Why are you... yowling?"

He hoped there was nothing wrong. He didn't really want to deal with a horde of Batcat Jr.'s again.

"Ahem... can I help you?" he asked, wondering what was causing the cat such obvious distress (unless he was mad and screaming for no reason).

@Alrik

To Alrik's surprise, it wasn't just any random shmuck that turned up to investigate his noises. It was that one! The one with the shield who faced all those bats and got out alive! Alrik stared up at the tall fellow, evidence of awe left behind in Alrik's eyes.

"YOU! You're the one that helped that embarrassing dancing kid! And ya made a shield thing! How did you do any o' that?" This would be the first inquiry of many. The rock thrower was asking what Alrik was doing here, yowling. If it could help him. Wasn't offering help a sign of kindness? Alrik paused to consider for a moment what his response should be. The concept of considering responses was rather new to him. Lying was more difficult than he thought.

"I was lookin' for the Seven! I heard about 'em. I need someone strong to, uh..." It didn't seem like the Collector had wanted Alrik to tell anyone unless they were the right creature, and Alrik had befriended them. Alrik had been paying a lot of attention to the details (again, so, so far out of his comfort zone there) because he'd deemed it important. It related directly to him, and what he wanted. "...to train with!" Okay. You know what? That didn't even have to be a lie. That just sounded like fun. Alrik wanted to that!

"Why are you here?" Alrik had already used up a lot of what brain power he had trying to formulate one functional half-truth, okay, don't ask him to connect any dots now!

@James

James blinked and smiled gently, "I used magic. It's a spell that only the Seven can use- I'm one of them, you see."

He shook his head and wondered for a moment, "I could help you train. Pride says I'm nearly at Master level, so... I could help you. And if you want, I also know some basic physical training. Like sparring."

James cocked his head at Alrik at the question, "I live here. I'm James, by the way. I heard you yelling and came to see if something was wrong."

@Alrik

When Alrik heard that that shield had been magic, he grimaced for a moment. He hadn't thought much about magic since this mission had been given out, but whenever he did consider magic now, it was always a thing he tried to keep himself from envying. Whatever he was supposed to get, it would force him not to rely on such things. And he valued that. He wanted that. So he shouldn't be wishing to know more about magic.

The Seven, however. The rock thrower was part of it?! Really! Alrik never would've thought. He supposed there hadn't been any way to know if you didn't know about the special shield magic thing. They should carry around banners or something instead.

An acceptance to a training wish made Alrik's eyes light up, but when vocabulary that Alrik didn't understand begun gettin' flung, that gleam fizzled away. He cocked his head to the side. "Pride? Master??" He did not understand. What Alrik DID understand was that this creature, James, could spar with him!!! YES!!!

Alrik somewhat dismissively nodded at James's explanation for being here. Alrik didn't care about the why; it was the what they were gonna do now that was important! "Let's fight, James! Spar with me! An', uh, no magic!" Alrik didn't want to go up against magic. It was something he'd do best not understanding. "Oh, and also, by the way, would you consider yourself as, like, big, strong, an' kind?" Alrik didn't want to use any analysis to figure it out anymore. James was gonna have to tell Alrik point blank if this was the right move.

No matter the answer, though, Alrik would still be up for a fight.

@James

James blinked, "Oh! Pride, he's my mentor, and the leader of the Seven, I believe. And there are ranks of magic based on your experience. Fledgling, Pupil, and Master."

Sparring wasn't his strong suit, but he sure could try. He nodded and stepped back, standing at the ready. His training with Eythan would come in handy... though he wasn't sure if he'd crush the poor cat if he accidentally stepped on him. Hopefully that wouldn't happen.

"Of course. No dirty shots, like the face or erm... naughty bits," he said, before blinking at his next answer, "Oh, um... well I suppose. I'm not as big as the dragons, but I do believe I'm strong! Enough to protect people, now, and yes... I think I am kind."

He shook his head and crouched down, excitement in his eyes, "I won't go easy on you, kitten!"

@Alrik

So Pride was James's mentor, leader of the Seven. And there were ranks for magic users... AGH! Alrik tried to tune it out in his mind. NO no no no! He didn't need magical ranks. He was already great, and he was gonna get EVEN BETTER! He wasn't gonna need magic where he was goin'! Such a powerful level of awesomeness, unfathomable to magic users! YES!

Alrik nodded blankly at the conditions. Nothing dirty, yadda yadda, got it. Basic stuff! And apparently, James fit... two and a half of the criteria Alrik needed to fill. The size issue was a concern though. James knew about dragons, and knew that they weren't as big as one... how could James help Alrik fight one, then, if it came to that?

Alrik would have to think about it, but think came later! Fight came... NOW!

The pallas' cat grinned. "Cool."

And then, he tried to circle around James as fast as he could until he was perpendicular to James's flank. Then, Alrik tried to jump up and climb. Yes he had tried this before. Yes it hadn't worked then. BUT SHUT UP!

Round: 1/ 5
Attempt: Get to James's side and try to climb up him.
Defense: Hah nah bro.
Injuries: Wounded pride???

@James

James watched the cat circle, eyes widening when the other tried to climb him. james reared and jumped up, kicking his hind legs out before shaking himself as hard as he could to get the other off. He galloped forward and stopped before rearing again and spinning in a circle, determined to get the damn cat off of him.

Once he'd succeeded, he backed up, eyeing him carefully for his next move.

"You can't use that trick on me," he grinned, remembering Sun and Ari trying to do the same and requiring much less to get off.

@Alrik

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Shake Alrik off.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Ah, shoot! James was shaking him off-- down he went. It was a pretty safe landing since he'd prepared for it. It had been a good try! He'd need to keep out of the way of James's various natural-grown bludgeoning tools (ahem, hooves, ahm) some other way. But what other way? If only he could just take them, take those hits, then he wouldn't have to be afraid...

But even if he could manage the pain that it looked like those things could cause, it wouldn't stop them from essentially knocking him out of the ring if they hit him. So steer clear! Hah. Steer. Get it? But how?

"I don't see any other options!"

Alrik decided to back up and try to climb yet again, starting with more spring, because yet again, how could you possibly get the advantage over your larger opponent? By having the high ground. And James was the closest high ground in sight.

But, unfortunately for the Pallas' cat, avoiding the usage of claws due to their innate acrimony made it a lot harder to grab onto things. Especially big prey animals. Oof.

Round: 2/5
Attempt: Try to jump onto James
Defense: Still nah
Injuries: Wounded pride??? Not much else yet :P

@James

Aaaaand Alrik was on him. And off him, but it didn't matter, he didn't like it.

James squealed and jumped, lifting his rear into the air to kick out again. He did it once more, though this time he aimed for the cat. He missed and went cantering off in a circle, bucking and making a stink over the whole ordeal. Once he calmed he galloped back over to Alrik, ears pinned.

He did not like things on his back.

@Alrik

Round: 2/5
Attempt: Buck.
Defense: N/A
Injuries: N/A