Pack Practice! Issue #1

[Rafael]

Today was the day that he had been looking forward to for what felt like a long time now. Rafael the unofficial leader of the small pack of Beasts was waiting for all of the girls to wake up and well wake up really. He was out by the small stream that ran through the home that the Beasts had made out of the clearing atop the mountain. He had been here for roughly an hour now waiting with a body full of excitement and energy.

He had told Zadora, Lolth and Lisa yesterday that due to the attack from the insect like Beasts and the conflict against the Shinigami in the town like area that they had come across a short bit ago. It had been during that conflict that Rafael had come to the conclusion that things like that were simply going to keep happening. It was better that all of them know how to fight. So starting today Rafael was going to fight all of them and see just what they could all do and then hopefully they would help one another get better. Now if only they would wake up.

[Zadora]

Zadora knew she needed to get up. Having promised Rafael to train with him in the morning and it was morning now. But she didn’t want to get out of her makeshift bedding. But she felt like she had to uphold her promise.. Well knew she needed to. The others were going and she needed to start moving. Her arms stretching above her head as she preparing to get herself moving. She couldn’t have the others waiting for her since she just wanted to continue her catnap.

She forced her tired limb to start moving as she got up from her bed.”So tired…” The white tigress muttered to herself as she moved around until she was determined she was ready to head out and meet with the rest of her pack. Forcing tired muscles to move and head towards the steam that she adored so much. Mild excitement to jump into the water raced through her but she pushed it aside to head towards Rafael.

[Lolth Orbweaver]

Lolth awoke only slightly earlier than she normally did. She liked to make sure that the nocturnal little ones made it back to the safety of their deep cavern alcove for slumber before she started her day, so early hours were not new to the spider woman. Her stomach grumbled, as she walked to the entrance of the cave. She took a raven cocooned on a wall near the entrancement to her section of the cave. There was a slight smell of decay already emanating from the partially balding bird. It was like waiting for fruit to ripen. She opened her mouth and bit into the bird's body injecting it with enzymes to break it down for her. She was perfectly able to eat solid food, but soup like flesh was easier, and faster to digest getting her going far quicker than normal. It soon became apparent that one would not suffice, so she took another for the road. 

She held the mostly eaten bird in her mouth thanks to the small chelicera over her mouth. Her four arms swung loosely by her side with a second bird in hand. She listened to see if any of the other's were still sleeping. She heard the sleeping breath of Lisa. She quieted her footsteps to avoid waking her. There was something about her that Lolth was not comfortable with. She didn't dislike the wasp girl, but wasn't willing to let her guard down just yet either. Zadora and Rafael were already awake, and most likely waiting for them. Lolth's white, silk dress billowed in the slightly breeze blowing off the cool stream. This was another reason she liked coming out in the early morning. To enjoy the refreshingly cool air. 

She approached the two giggling at Zadora's complaint about the early hour, and following Rafael's impatient foot tapping. "Good morning, it seems most of your harem awaits you Rafael." She teased with a kind smile. Her chelicera clicked lightly as she spoke. Since Rafael returned with Lisa in tow, Lolth couldn't help but tease the panther about how all the members of their pack, other than him, were female. She waved a greeting to Zadora with one of her lower hands. She lifted the second bird to her mouth and bit down waiting for the enzymes to take effect before feasting. She hoped that Zadora was getting more comfortable around Lolth, and her little ones. She noticed her nerves around her during their first meeting, and still wanted to tease her a little if she could. 

[Rafael]

Impatience. Perhaps one of the biggest personal issues with Rafael. (That he himself knew about) He really didn't want to wait here waiting for the others to get the heck up and meet him here. It was simply to exciting to actually get started training with all of them. He loved to fight and even though this wasn't going to be an actual fight practice was still invigorating. He loved nothing more than a challenge and while he knew he had become the strongest out of them all he wasn't quite confident that he could handle all of them at once.

Even if he could that just meant that the others could get better as well. He wanted them to get even better than him so that he didn't need to worry about any of them being attacked and not being able to simply beat whoever was dumb enough to challenge them. He couldn't always be there to take the blunt force of whoever wished them ill which was why he sought so hard for them to become mighty. Zadora was already and had always been faster than him and he had already taught her the basics of how to fight. She still had a lot to learn though especially in regards to her lightning like ability.

Lolth on the other hand had seen very little combat and hadn't been taught the basics. Although in fairness Rafael wasn't completely sure she didn't already know how to fight or if she was even really able with her lack of sight. Then there was also the case that he had no clue what her ability was as a Beast. He knew his own and Zadora's and had been told that all Beasts possess some sort of power. What Lolth's happen to be though was a mystery. Perhaps he would find out today if it had manifested already.

Then there was the case of Lisa. The newest member of the pack. (Still working on what name they could all be called) He knew other packs had names, but the four of them were just friends that quite frankly didn't even know much about each other yet. He'd have to come up with something and see if the others liked it enough to agree. He had seen Lisa fight and knew she was still very instinctive both personality, ambition and fighting wise. In time he expected her to fit in more again though patience. Her ability just like Lolth's was a mystery. Funny it was both insects instead of the rumored lazy feline.

Zadora was the first to greet him by the river remarking about how tired she was which . . . well wasn't a surprise. She had done the same thing during their training and some times when it was her turn to go hunting. "Splash some water in your face that'll help." Rafael felt a little better if Zadora had gotten up then he was sure Lolth would, although he still wasn't quite sure about Lisa. Almost as if on cue though Lolth came strolling out of her cave a snack in hand. Rafael unlike Zadora didn't have any problem with Lolth being a spider and simply welcomed how she went about things finding some stuff interesting and quite frankly simply cool.

He couldn't help, but roll his eyes at her harem comment again. Yes it was quite strange that he was the only male of the pack and while he had brought back Lisa he would have done so for any Beast that showed enough restraint and reason to be around others who needed help. He had even thought about extending a hand to Skoll although that black dog was very mean. He couldn't see it working out well with the girls, at least at first. "Morning. How are all the little ones? Before I forget I was wondering if spiders have any preference on food. Will you and the others eat fish?"

[Lisa Ko]

Waking up early mornings wasn't something that was foreign to Lisa. Soldiers had to grow accustom to waking up at cruel hours of the day, even when if they didn't want to. The Insectoid kept herself awake during the nights to better help her with her night time prowls. It was certainly the night fall hours that usually screwed with her as her sights usually relied on heat. This was how most of her kind, and that of the Bees, operated to find pollen and other key resources to help them develop their Hives, and to survive. This was why they often appeared during the hottest time of the days, or just overall during hot days in general. The hotter their environment was, the better it was for them to see. Although that was the case back when she was a lot smaller, with this new body, her sights were a bit more clearer. She didn't see things in red as she did before, though there were faint traces of her original sights lingered. So, it did help her out a ton when flying around, and telling distance. Still, she had some trouble with wandering around at night.

She stirred around in the corner of the small cave. Lisa was the newest member of this Hive, and kept to herself for the most part. It was a strange Hive with other creatures, just like the one with the Naga in it. A stir of emotions roused her from her slumber, more so with the slight shifting of movement. One of her eyes opened to see that one of the creatures moving about in the cavern. Was it time already for them to move out? The Black creature discussed this earlier with Lisa, wanting to do something with the Hive. Learning to fight was it? Fight? She wondered what that was. All she knew was to defend the Queen and the Hive from threats. All she really had to do was stab her target with her stinger until they stopped, even if it took the entire Nest to do so. This was probably what the Black Creature wanted to do. Maybe something was going to threaten the Hive; the Black Robe Humans?

She felt the rush of panic and alarm. Her bone like fingers dug into the stone material of the cave's interior, and strolled along the ceiling. All six arms being put to immediate use whilst her legs kicked her body upwards to propel herself further along her path. The light at the entry welcomed the Insectoid with a warm embrace, bringing her view back to how it was suppose to be. But that had to be put on hold as she caught the sights of the three Hive members below her. They were still around, but with no sight of the enemy along the horizon.

Lisa hissed through the pair of mandibles. "No...t---threat.... Hive....safe." she chattered what she could manage through the narrow speak pattern she learned from the Humans. She remained over looking the trio from her high point on cave's roof. Hunching over, she prepared herself for a possible attack from the Humans, or from those of the Black Robed people. She would insure that she killed them first before they could destroy another Hive.

[Zadora]

Zadora looked to Refael's form. She could tell that he was getting impatient with everyone that was arriving to meet with him. He must have been up early and waited for them since then. She felt her muzzle scrunch up in detest at waking up early but yet here she was, up before she usually was heading towards his side. "Why must you insist we be up this early Refael?" She grumbled out tiredly towards him.

Kneeling down at the bank of the river. Scooping up a few handfuls of water and splashed her face with it in a attempt to wake herself up. After a few quick splashes, she rose to her paws and turned to look at Refael before noticing yet another of their pack as joined them. Her golden eyes looked to the spider woman who walked over to them with a snack in hand. She perked a brow for the moment. Rolling her shoulders as she took in a calming breath.

The tigress shuffled a chuckle at her comment of the harem comment directed towards Refael. Though it almost seemed true since he was the only male surrounded by three woman. She turned to look at Lolth. "Morning Lolth.." She greeted the other woman seeing as she was slowly growing used to being around the woman and her little ones though she was thankful that her little ones stay with her. And her dear cub wasnt bothering them and rarely ventured to the female's side of the cave.

Then came Lisa. She turned from the spider woman to the hornet the seemed rather paniced above them. She blinked at her poised form that hoverd above them. She turned to look at Refael for a moment with a perked brow in question. Shaking her head she turned to look at the hornet woman before calling from where she stood. "Why dont you come down here Lisa and join us." She watched the woman, hoping she would come down and join them.

[Rafael]

"The key is to get up early Zadora." Rafael answered although now that someone else had asked Rafael turned not wishing to show her his face. He really didn't know why they had to get up early. All he knew was that soldiers in the human world got up early and his sensei had made him get up early on training days. He had to appear to know what he was doing though otherwise he wasn't all that confident he would get the girls to do much of anything.

It happened faster than he had been expecting, but even Lisa was leaving her section of the cave that danced around the inside of the mountain. From what he had seen of her so far at the moment she looked to be doing well. It was incredibly hard, but he believed he was starting to pick up on how to tell her emotions. She still was keeping a decent distance away from them. Zadora surprisingly beat him to telling her to come down to them. "Lisa everyone friends, allies."

[Lolth Orbweaver]

She was already eating when Zadora greeted her, so to show some manners, she just nodded her greeting in return. She finished just in time to answer Rafael's questions about her little ones. "They are doing well. It takes a bit of time to adapt the cave to our liking, but it should be finished now." She took a moment to think about his question about their dietary habits. "I can eat just about anything. If I have trouble eating it as is, I can just break it down. The larger little ones, can adapt with time, though the smaller ones are more restricted. We can make do. We always have." She said confidently. She tensed her body when she heard the buzzing of Lisa being up and about. 

Lolth noted that she was flying over head. She hovered no doubt looking for something. She called down to the group that there were no threats. It was Lolth's turn to roll her milky blue eyes. She knew there were no threats. Lisa needed to learn to calm down. Lolth kept her complaints to herself though. She was one who would rather avoid a confrontation than rather than fight it out. What was the phrase the black robed ones liked to say? Discretion was the better part of valor? She didn't fully understand it, but put enough of it together to get the meaning behind the words, and thought that it was a wise way to think. "If there were any threats, I would be the first to know." Lolth said calmly to the flying woman adding her own insistence that everything was OK. 

She returned her attention back to the panther leader of the pack. She was curious about what this was all about. "So Rafael, what is this all about again?" She asked crossing both pairs of arms across her torso. "I know you didn't ask us to wake up and meet you here for a friendly conversation alone." She had a few ideas about what was going on, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth. She shifted her weight onto her heels "looking" at the panther patiently. 

[Lisa Ko]

It didn't take long for Lisa to realize what the others spoke of was true. After all, there was nothing off putting about the wind in the surrounding area. It was safe as the small pack said that it was. That was the only reason why she decided to come down from her temporary perch on top of the cave. The fluttering of her wings allowed her to hover to the surface below. Talons landing first in a loud thunk before coming down on all six arms. Among the pack, Lisa realized that she was the only one who remained in a animal-like stance, while the others stood on two legs, like the Humans. She never really understood that at all, trying to be like the Humans. She really never understood why they would want to be like those who destroyed their homes and ruin their Hives.

The mandibles within her human-like jaw hissed as they rattled from within the depths of her throat. She didn't like the idea of their kind being like the Humans, but if there was some form of advantages to it, then she would find it, and use it against them. To add on to her newly forming list of dislikes was the fact that the newly formed pack was giving her orders. Creatures that resembled some part of her previous Hive, they were very new to her still. Not really knowing what a pack was, there was only one figure that her insectoid habits responded to. The black thing that brought her to the new Hive was the only sensible being to follow considering he was strong, and to enforce that idea were the others around her. They each responded to him, coming to fulfill his call to them all. A clear designation of a Queen, or King in this case. The only figure that was deemed to be important while all others became disposable.

Much of her Hornet characteristics were what ruled her little mind for the time being, yet the stirring of newly formed connections and emotions were something that she never experienced, and played with her mind. Ever since her arrival to the world, the Hornet could never make sense of such things. They confused her, and forced her to act in manners that she didn't know she would. It was only by the word of the black thing that Lisa did consider the other creatures around her as "allies." Didn't know what the word meant, but seeing how the black thing didn't fight them, and how they followed what it said, then the proper sense she could make of it would be "family" or fellow soldiers. As such, if that was the case then the proper attitude towards them would be friendly. At least until they did something that would go against the Hive, and its safety to their home or King.

That was the reason why her inner jaws withdrew back into the crevass of her mouth, and faced the black thing. Crouching, and stilled in place, she didn't care what reason they were called out for. All she knew was that she had to follow orders from the newly appointed King. And that was all. That was all that the soldier had to do if she wanted to get stronger, and rid them of the noise that the Humans have made.

[Rafael]

It hadn’t been that long maybe a year since he had started this new life and in that year so much had changed. He didn’t feel alone anymore, he actually had what he could consider a real family. Although everything was still fresh to them all, he felt closer to them than he had to his own father. Now hearing from each of them Rafael could only feel he urge to keep this peace alive.

“I’m glad to know that all of you are finding the cave system inside good. We'll need to make it bigger at some point, but knowing there aren't any problems is good." Rafael was glad to see that despite being the newest addition to the small pack that no one really had any problem with Lisa and the large Hornet girl was slowly getting used to them around her. Time was the biggest thing that could help the social interactions between all of them. Although he was young Rafael was starting to learn more about the world and the people or in this case Beasts that lived in it.

"Well you're not wrong. If I wanted to just have a group talk then I wouldn't need to have you all wake up so early. The reason I've asked all of you to meet me here this morning, well it's to start working on being able to protect each other." Rafael had been thinking about how he could say this to all of them since last night and still it just didn't come easy. "We've been lucky so far when faced with those that intend us harm. When I found Lisa and learned that the Shinigami are what ruined her pack before us. Well it was enough. After what happened in the village two weeks ago. It's time that we start learning how to really defend ourselves and each other."

"I don't want anything bad to happen to anyone. None of us know if we'll be found by the Shinigami, but if we are I want to know that each of you can defend yourself against them. Not to mention those strange Insect Beasts that seem to attack everything they come across. Last time it nearly won. So Starting today I'll try and help each of you get stronger. I've already helped Zadora a bit and together we found out what her power is. Lolth, Lisa have either of you experienced an unexplainable ability?" Rafael was so caught up in what he was trying to say that he hadn't actually been thinking about what Lisa would understand only now he realized she might not know what he was meaning. "Can you do something weird or new?"

[Lolth Orbweaver]

Lolth shifted on her feet uncomfortably with both sets of arms crossed; her hands cupping her elbows. Her eyes were down cast when he mentioned training to fight, and all the things that they all had been through at both the human settlement, as well as with the weird bug man. It didn't take long for Lolth to figure out that she had several disadvantages compared to most beast men, let alone spiritual beings. The obvious was her blindness. Her other senses made up for it, but it was still something that could prove a hindrance. There was also the fact that she was just not as strong as the average beast clansman. She had to adapted quickly to learn to either flee from combat all together, or go about it a lot smarter than others. 

She thought back to the two battles that she had participated in with this pack. First was with the bug man. No matter how hard she hit the thing, she could not harm it. It's exoskeleton was too strong, and a single blow from it would have crippled, if not killed her. Rafael did most of the fighting, and maybe Zadora, but all Lolth did was maybe hold it down. Then there was the fiasco the human settlement. When the fighting started, the first thing she did was run. She had activated her abilities on instinct, during flight, and though she didn't fight directly, she did manage to help this time. This left Lolth in a very conflicted situation. She would rather just avoid any conflict, fight just enough to flee, but there was some wisdom in Rafael's plan. 

Then he asked Lolth, and Lisa if they were able to do anything new or unexplained. Lolth visibly hesitated about answering him. If she told him, she knew that he would insist on training. She didn't want to force herself to get stronger. If she got stronger in time, great, but she didn't seek strength. She signed figuring that they would all find out sooner or later. "I wouldn't call it any of those things." She started meekly. "I can produce sticky web, and lay eggs. You know, normal spider stuff." She said tightening her grip on her elbows. It was clear that she was uncomfortable with the idea of combat. Some were naturally inclined for it, others were bred for it, and some, like her, simply were not. 

[Lisa Ko]

If she were to be honest, then she wouldn't know what the Black Thing was really asking about. Strange? What about it all was strange to her considering waking up in a new world, with a new body, being something that is completely foreign to her, so what would strange about any of it? Strange itself was a concept that the girl didn't know yet really narrow it down. Though, if anything ELSE did occur out of her brand new ordinary life, then nothing has occurred from what she knows of already. She knew who her enemies were. She knew where her home resided. Comrades? Well, that was something that was still under consideration based on her new living arrangements, and what the conditions were that pushed her into these circumstances. For that reason, the anger brewed deep down inside was constantly leaking as the Black Thing continued to talk about fighting the people in black, and those who would come to harm the Hive.

Her blood boiled and was ready to get started with it all. Lisa wasn't really one to use words to communicate, but rather with action to help explain her emotions, and desire. But for now, for the Black Thing's question, all that Lisa could manage was simply, ..gr..g.an...body.." she directed her attention to herself, regarding her overall features. She just didn't know what he meant by new or weird since everything is still new to her. So she didn't know how to respond to the Black Thing than with what she did already. All she wanted to do was get started.

When the Black Thing spoke to the others, or she would assume are the names of the other creatures, she would take in their characteristics and possible threat levels. Zadora, since the other, multiple appendage creature immediately called out when the name Lolth came about, was the one who faced Black Thing. That was the thing that Lisa was looking to do. Her desire to grow was directed at the necessity in wanting to harm the Humans that soiled the Hive, and destroyed her people. They were not as strong as before, when they towered over her old Hive. In this foreign Hive, she was nearly as big as them, if not bigger than them. And with knowing that, she could already tell that she will be stronger than they are. More or less reacting out of habit from her old life a small little Hornet. But now she has already began to understand that things were not as the same as they were before. She was different, and the Humans knew it. They feared it.

Still, there were those Humans who posed a threat to her and the Hive. The Humans in black. They were the ones that were coordinated and had as many numbers as her old Hive had before. The black garbed humans were definitely organized, and moved like a Hive, which was the reason why they were capable of responding quickly, and operated in tangent. They had special feats that were capable of hitting Lisa, despite being very weak physically. She had to learn, and find a way to go against it. A soldier was useless if they couldn't adapt and develop themselves even more. Evolution was something that the Insect Kingdom was well known for considering their inability to rival most other predators in the Animal Kingdom. For that reason, each generation is required to grow, and develop themselves to be more different than their predecessors.

And seeing how she was different now, she was a clear sign of evolution taking place once again. Perhaps, she was meant to be a Queen? Who knew really, but seeing what this "training" would do for her. Lisa hissed, rattling the inner mandibles in her human shaped jaw. ...aaaacckk.....fight...now.." she eagerly said.

[Zadora]

Zadora keep quiet after calling down the on edge bee woman. Her eyes following her movement when she had finally came down from her advantage point in the air to join them down on the ground as she had asked. Still trying to shake the tiredness out of her as she shook her head and knelt back down near the water. Splashing her face once again, mildingly paying attention to their back and forth conversation. Catching bit and pieces of their conversation

She jerked her head up when he spoke of him wanting them to practice on protecting themselves. She looked up to him quickly with narrowing eyes then glanced to the other two female's. Lolth didn’t seemed to be really into the idea by her appearance. Much like herself. She turned to Lisa who seemed to be buzzing with excitement with the idea. Bit back a retort with the notion of him wanting them to practice.

She huffed as she pushed herself up onto her feet, standing near them and looked to each of them. Holding back a growl of displeasure in her throat. She turned her head to the side looking at the water. Calming her nerves by counting in her head. Her tail flicking back behind her in a rapid motion of her irritation. Her arms crossed as she stared at the water them shook her head, skaomg the water off her face.

[Rafael]

Rafael was in a bit of an unexplored area for him. He hadn't ever been a leader before finding all of them and now with him taking the lead and doing whatever he could to make sure that everything was always going to be alright, he had to question what they all wanted and what they thought about things as well. He hadn't even ever really had friends, but he just had to do whatever he could to make things better.Whether his decisions would lead to making things better or not though. That was perhaps the scariest thing he had ever faced.

After everything that had happened he felt like all of them needed to get stronger otherwise what was going to happen should they be attacked. He didn't have enough confidence that he could stop any and everything that could come. He had been defeated several times even if nothing had managed to kill him yet. The biggest issue though was that he could feel how Lolth felt right now. He wasn't quite sure how he was, but he could tell that she wasn't comfortable with the idea of fighting even just to train to get better. He had loved fighting since he had been taught, but prior to that it had always been the worst possible thing.

He knew what it was like to always been uncomfortable, to be afraid of being beaten. He didn't want Lolth or anyone to ever feel like that ever. Kneeling down it really showed just how immense the size difference was between the two of them. Lolth was the size of an average human girl yet Rafael. Kneeling on his right knee he could look her directing in the face. "I'm sorry Lolth, I don't know any other way right now that'll help all of us be safer, besides if you get stronger you can protect your children easier too."

"I've noticed that there are many different ways to fight. I don't think you're suited to face off against others up close. So why don't you practice what you can do while staying back, like using your webs. I'm sure with your brains and everyone's creativity we can figure out ways that you'll be saving us if anything happens." Rafael wasn't altogether sure if he had said anything that would actually make her feel any better, but he didn't know what else to say right now. Zadora was splashing her face again in the stream "Geez how much sleep does she need?" thought Rafael wondering why if she was having such a hard time waking up he could just . . . well open his eyes.

That's when he heard the sound of Lisa's mandibles rattling and knew that she was eager to start. "Well at least I'm not the only one to enjoy physical exercise." Stepping back roughly ten feet now back on his feet Rafael was approximately six feet to the stream which was on his right side. "Alright get wherever you wanna go and then we'll start. I want to know what you can do and remember not to hold back otherwise I won't know what we can all improve on." Rafael would wait for them to get into whatever position each of them wanted and then get into his own stance. A masisve smile spread across his face and all of them including Lisa would somehow feel the happiness almost radiating off of him as he shouted. "Go!"

[Lisa Ko]

The fluttering of her wings immediately began to blur before the words were even said. Like starting the engine of a vehicle, Lisa was already reeving up her muscles away further from their sleeping status to fully awake. Their joints resonating into that of a blurred motion, the four silk like wings quickly dissipated from the average Human eye, causing the dust beneath their oversize length of the wings to disperse away from around her. The tiny spines that run along her arms and legs twitch before the large Hornet girl took off into the air. This was where Lisa excelled at due to her nature as one of the Hornet race, but with her arrival in the Spiritual World, who knew what else she was superior at. She wanted to test it, she wanted to know.

Upon hearing the order from the Black Thing, Lisa plummet down to the ground in a rapid charge. Diving down towards the ground, her wings spread forth to push down into the ground before making contact. The quick reflex of her wings caused her body to remain off the ground to continue to charge towards the Black Thing. All six arms spread outwards. Two of her long arms pried open their talons as the third set of arms, her lancer spikes, bent over her shoulder as a means to spear through Rafael. Like a large spear charging head first into its target, Lisa was set on her target as her mandibles crawled out of her Human-like jaw, rattling themselves open to prepare themselves to sheer and tear away at flesh and bone.

This was how Hornets like herself fought. Brutal, a lack of remorse, a lack of fear. A war between hives had no practice rounds or training sessions, as they were a live or die scenario. Even against one another over small issues, there were was no holding back or friendly confrontations. Everything was meant to be a due or die situation. Which is what Lisa saw this situation to be, another life or death situation.