[ P ] Scratched Leather

Nassar sat at a corner of the clearing, her expression impassive as she waited for the youth—the captain—to arrive. Amber eyes would ghost by the thick oak trees that oversaw the sparring field. In spring there would be patches of grass attempting to grow in the expanse of dirt and loose gravel. In summer, they would have wilted and come fall, their corpses were revealed after the groundskeepers swept away the leaves. It was in winter that the dirt was bare, unflinching in its duty. And it served them well. Here, new recruits were tested and trained. Her daughters had stood here months before, saluting their new Lieutenants soon after taking their vows to guard Rionnach and the crown. Today, Nassar was to be evaluating a young man that had shown impressive skill in both training and the rebellion. Prodigy some dared to say though the Lieutenant Major was loathe to use a word so strong. Still... she was curious. Would he prove to be as good as they said? Would he best her today? He had won his rank in a competition, one held out of morbid desperation to fill the ranks of those they had lost in battle. A shadow loomed over the field and the fire-coated wolf looked to the left. Ah, he had arrived. “my sin, my soul.”

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@Ramses

burn like a fire,
willful and woe.

Ramses was a punctual man.

He was never someone who would keep another waiting - especially when that somebody was none other than Nassar Tiamat. She was a decorated officer, respected and revered by those who served beneath her. The Lieutenant Major was known for her stern nature, but Ramses didn’t see a reason to fear her. If anything, he wished to get on her good side. Today, she was to be evaluating him to make sure he deserved the rank he’d won in a tournement. He understood the scrutiny he was under. He was just two years old and already carried the title of Captain.

The brown male approached the clearing with brisk strides, his paws settling in the dirt with precise movements. He paused a few feet away from the wolfess of flame, his crown dipping in greeting. ”Hail Lieutenant Major,” he spoke, his crown lifting to regard her with his sulfur colored eyes. ”I understand you’re to evaluate me today? Are we to spar?” He inquired, his words remaining cordial despite the deep-rooted anxiety that rushed through his veins. He would never allow his features to reveal his nervousness as he stood before the officer, but he also felt it was to be warranted. Ramses had never been subjected to such close observation before.

It was both thrilling and nerve-wrecking, but the male wasn’t known to back away from a challenge.

-

Don't close your eyes, safer to stare into the sun than to turn away from what you could become.

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@Nassar

sparring fade Tan paws planted on the dirt once more, the soft thump serving as the final gong of their spar. Ramses, overall an eloquent soldier, was left to shake the loose leaves from his fur and find his footing. As he righted himself, Nassar approached, her expression neutral and no longer a mask of concentration. Their spar had ended and, although he had not won, he had not done poorly. "Widen your stance a little more in the future," she remarked, amber eyes traveling down to his foreleg. She had drawn blood... but hopefully the wound was not deep. "Can you still walk?" Her tail flicked and, assuming they assessed his health properly, she would grant him his verdict. "You did well, most would not have responded as creatively." Ramses' technique could always be improved, but his cunning could not. There were always stronger and faster wolves in the field, but only the sharpest could serve as proper captains. One's ability to find weak points was of the highest importance, equal to one's ability to adapt. "But will the pressure of being so young not prove to be too much?" “my sin, my soul.”

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@Ramses

burn like a fire,
willful and woe.

Ramses couldn’t say he was disappointed with his performance that day. Losing to someone like Nassar wasn’t an embarrassment. He had hoped to win, but he was satisfied with his performance all the same. He gave a brief nod in response to the instruction given. ”I will keep that in mind for next time,” he decided, his pools of sunshine sliding down to his forelimb. He could still place weight on the limb, but he’d be lying if he said it didn’t hurt a little. ”Yes ma’am. It should heal just fine. In the meantime, it won’t hinder me too much,” he assessed, deciding the pain wasn’t all that unbearable.

He could hardly ignore the rapid beating of his heart as the fiery female complimented him. She was pleased with his approach, which was all that mattered to Ramses at the end of the day. ”Thank you, Lieutenant Major. I will take what I have learned today and apply it in future instances. This has been enlightening,” he advised, though the last question caused him to pause. Would the pressure of being a captain so young break him? Absolutely not.

”I have never been one to shy away from a challenge. I know this is different in many senses, but I am ready to rise to the occasion. I do not expect to be faultless. With some guidance, I hope to continue showing you and other’s what I’m capable of.”

-

Don't close your eyes, safer to stare into the sun than to turn away from what you could become.

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@Nassar

He was polite. Perhaps it was cliché to find a soldier more trustworthy when their words were manicured and clean, and yet he projected maturity in his voice. He was aware of her rank, respectful of it, and yet not overly complimentary. Her advice was taken in stride, her comments accepted and weighed alongside his own. If she was being honest, Nassar had expected Ramses to be a plucky young soldier with no appreciation for the weight of his office. A battle royale for gaining promotions was not exactly the most traditional of methods and she had anticipated a cocky youth to stand before her. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that she had mischaracterized him unfairly. “You are easy to respect,” she said suddenly, her voice almost thoughtful as if she was speaking to herself. Amber eyes searched his face before falling to his shoulders and paws—once more taking him in. “And that is perhaps one of the most important qualities in a leader.” He had a way of carrying authority without pairing it with condescension. Moreover, he was humble yet carried a quiet certainty. He reminded her of... Kohl. She felt a slight pang in her chest. A frown threatened to appear on her lips mere moments before she brushed it away. “I am pleased to have you in our ranks, Captain,” Nassar offered at last, a smile now carefully erasing the split-second of discomfort. “my sin, my soul.”

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@Ramses

T

he captain hadn’t been expecting the sudden compliment to roll so easily from her tongue. She was genuine, thoughtful, and Ramses couldn’t blame her for that. He had won his title in a tournament which was one of the less practiced ways of gaining a footing in the Imperial Army, and he could understand why one would expect him to lack a certain amount of humbleness. His pride lurked in the darkest recesses of his mind, but the male always was respectful first and foremost. Were he less refined, he might have grinned from ear to ear when she added more. ’And that is perhaps one of the most important qualitites in a leader.’

He didn’t do that, though. He accepted her words with a gracious dip of his crown, his eyes fluttering to half-mast as he allowed her words to soak in. ”Thank you, m’lady. I am pleased to hear such high praise from you.” Of course, everyone knew the rank that Nassar held - she was someone to be respected.

Ramses was observant enough to notice the subtle change in her constitution, but it simply wasn’t his place to ask her about it. If she wanted to talk about her emotions, she would have attempted to do so. ”And I am pleased to serve the King alongside you. I do have a question for you. I’ve only just obtained the title of captain, as you know, but I still have much to learn. I was hoping to ask you which leaders would be approachable if I needed guidance.”

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@Nassar

They traded compliments and, while Nassar usually loathed this activity, she appreciated his kindness. It was pleasant to speak with someone whose words were worth hearing. When he offered his appreciation, she did not see it as a thinly veiled request. Rather, she took them at face value. How long had it been since she had been able to talk so plainly, so politely, within the army? During the war, every wolf had been stretched impossibly thin. The stress of fighting, especially amongst loved ones, had almost torn the nation apart. Nassar paused and focused upon golden eyes as Ramses asked a fine question. “I would be happy to help,” she responded, dipping her head slightly. “Colonel Kvothe Immortalis as well. I imagine you would like him,” though it would depend on how Ramses viewed Kvothe's little misfit unit. Some wolves doubted the Colonel's skills because he was saddled with most new recruits and unwanted wolves. Nonetheless, he was an immaculate soldier and she imagined Ramses would get along quite well with him. “My daughter, Cairo, is of rank with you. She is a vicious opponent in battle,” Nassar responded and her heart warmed slightly. Her smile, too, became a little lopsided. “If you want to practice being more offensive, I suggest you spar with her.” Cairo was raw fire. “I can introduce you, if you like,” she offered with a twitch of gray ears. - exit to go bug Cairo if Ramses says yes, or just a polite nod and farewell if he says no - “my sin, my soul.”

STOCK ➤full credits ART + CODE ➤ twisty

@Ramses