A chat among soldiers.

Kupatikana

Ahh, beautiful spring air, the perfect season for patrolling. Well, that was almost fully true, the only thing that sucked was that he didn't have his horns to protect him from any predators if they decided to come and attack him and his patrol buddy. He looked over to the stag that was walking beside him, Kupa had to admit that the stag was very full of energy and happiness. Kupa didn't want to feel like he was staring at the other, he still didn't know how work well with patrolling with other stags. “So, why did they only send two of us out here? Shouldn't there be, ya know, more of us?” He said, wanting to know why they did only send out the two of them. He was used to being in groups of 3-4 other stags.

Feu

Feu was in good spirits, well, not that this was very unusual for him. The golden stag was in good spirits most of the time. Today however he was in especially good spirits. Not only was it a wonderful spring day, but he also had been assigned to patrol with a new partner. Feu always loved meeting new people and he especially liked it, when they were handsome stags, like the lad he had been assigned to today. Even if his name was quite the sort that made your tongue go into a knot quite quickly.

“Huh?” he said, returning his attention to Kupa, followed by flashing him a bright grin at his question, “Pfff, you’re patrolling with me, Kupa! There is no more than the two of us needed, if I’m involved.” the golden stad said with a wink, prancing on some.

“Nah, seriously though, many soldiers are needed to protect the herd. The fawns are being born and predators are, despite popular opinion, no idiots. They only wait for their chance to grab a hold of a weakened doe or her newborn. That’s why the focus currently is herd patrol, but of course, we also need to make sure the rest of the kingdom is safe and that’s why we two brave jocks come into the game.” he explained cheerfully, winking again at the end.

“Let’s hope we find something to do soon though, nice spring air is good and all, but it gets a tad boring over time, doesn’t it?”

Kupatikana

Kupa smiled, this stag’s happy energy was contagious. “I guess you're right, you're pretty ok.” Kupa said, giving Feu a side eye glance. He flicked the other stag with his tail, chuckling to himself. “Don't let it boost your ego too much though.”

“It's good to know that they think I'm good enough to protect the herd with only one other stag. Makes me actually feel good about myself.” Kupa looked over at Feu again, returning the stag’s wink. He may not have it all figured out in his head quite yet, he hasn't even participated in rut yet. “I agree. Did you feel like doing anything while we are out here? I haven't sensed anything yet, so I think we should be good for the next couple minutes.” His ears flicked slightly, trying to get rid of the pesky flies that would dive bomb him every so often.

Feu

Feu threw his legs high in a prance, tossing his short mane somewhat,

“Okay? I’m stunning, my friend! The best in everything I do!” the golden stag chuckled playfully, granted it was unclear how much of it was really a joke and how much was part of his ego, for what he might lack in height somewhat, Feu definitely made up in self-confidence, “My ego has an infinite room for boosts.” he then snorted in a laugh, “Keep it coming, man, keep it coming.”

“See! You always should think the very best of you, there are plenty of others who want to get you a scratch into your ego, but like the lion can’t scratch the rock, nobody can hurt you, if you know how good you are!” he snorted yet again, giving a flamboyant swish of his tail.

A smirk crossed Feu’s lips, when the other stag returned his wink. He was quite a handsome fellow indeed, yet Feu knew better than to think too much into such a small gesture. He probably was just trying to be friendly and that already was enough, least, Feu always tried to convince himself it was.

“Well, we could practice some?” Feu then suggested. Patrolling really could get somewhat boring, if nothing happened, “Get these muscles warmed up or heat a lil’ fire!” he said, snorting out a couple sparks playfully.

Kupatikana

He couldn't help but smile at the stag next to him, he was full of it, in a good way. “Oh really? The best? Well, show me how good you are.” He said in a playful, challenging tone. “Maybe you could teach me something while you're at it.” He let out a low laugh, it rumbled through his chest and made him feel good. “Hmm, how should I boost your ego? I mean, you already are so amazing.” He wagged his eyebrows at Feu, hinting towards something, though what he didn't know for sure. Weren't feelings supposed to be between a stag and a doe?

“Oh, a lion can't scratch a rock? Are you implying that I am like a rock?” Kupa winked at the golden stag next to him, an ego boost for him was amazing. “I mean, there must have been a reason I have been in the army for so long, maybe that's why.” He looked down at the ground when a couple rocks came into sight, he didn't want to be twisting his ankle anytime soon.

He thought on if he wanted to spar or not, he could use the practice. Though, his fire magic really needed to be worked on. It didn't like to listen to him a lot, and all he could do was create a small little flicker. “I wouldn't mind a bit of both, my fire likes to misbehave.” He couldn't help the grin that appeared on his muzzle, “Man you are a fiery thing, how do you have so much energy?”

Feu

The golden stag gave a flick of his tail, snorting somewhat,

“You bet on it Mister! Lieutenant Feu aspires high, you’ll see once I’m a general...King maybe! Nah, king’s too much politics and too less fun.” he said playfully, shaking his head with a chuckle. He did aspire high, that was true, maybe one day even try himself at challenging for general, then again, he enjoyed his soldier duties and training with his doe soldiers far too much to really wanting to give it up for a higher, but more political position. Actually, he was quite happy where he was.

“Well, I sure can try, but I’m pretty sure a guy like you also has quite some stuff to strut!” Feu then grinned, followed by a shrug, “Oh, my ego has infinite space for boosts, so, go on. Don’t hold yourself back!” he smirked, giving Kupa a friendly little bump with his shoulder.

“See it as you will, but yes, I’m sure there is a very good reason they chose the two of us to patrol together. I mean, neither of us is a noob, no?” he winked it the other stag again, “If we meet some Oakfern scum creeping about to steal away fawns, the two of us will show them how hot the fire of Silverthorne burns, no?” he tossed his head somewhat.

When they then talked about fire, Feu gave a little snort.

“Don’t worry, it’s no shame, if your fire isn’t obeying, it’s more important you know your limits and don’t try to control fire too strong. If you practice, I’m sure you’ll learn how to make it follow you lead.” he said, snorting out another spark and igniting a little flame on a branch, feeding it with some more magic to snake about his ears like a horn made of flames, before calming it down again, until it died out once more.

“Haha, I guess you gotta be born with it, my mom used to curse my energy a lot when I was a colt.” he then chuckled, “I guess everyone’s fire is just different, I’m a bonfire and you’re more...the vulcano.” he grinned.

Kupatikana

Kupa couldn't hide the grin that spread over his face. “King huh? You aspire high, but I could see you up there, maybe things would get a bit better for the herd if you were King…” He trailed off, thinking about how his sister was treated both in the military and in the herd. Thankfully she knew how to train and keep herself fit so any older stags knew not to mess with her fiery spirit. “You know my sister don't you? Inatisha? I think she would fair better if you were King.”

“Hmm, I don't know how else I would boost your ego. Besides you being a hunk, I don't see anything else more that I could compliment you on.” So what if Kupa called him a hunk? He had heard a lot of other stags compliment others on their muscles and how well they looked. “And no, 5-6 years of training makes sure that I know what I'm doing, plus another 5-6 in the military helped a lot. Those cave rats got nothing on us.” He hopped on top of a rock, posing in the best way he could think of, hoof raised high in the air like a regal stag.

He smiled down at the stag, that was so true. He wasn't always energetic, but man did he get random bursts of it. “I guess you're right, my energy comes when everyone least expects it. Oh well, better for me then because I'm not driving my family crazy.” He hopped back down off the rock, landing right in front of Feu. “So, shall we go hunt down some cave lions, or would an open field be more your thing for training?”

Feu

The golden stag gave a bob of his head and a snort,

“Sure thing, always aspire as high as you can!” he said with a little swish of his tail, “Ohhh, you bet man, party all night! The kingdom would be a warzone. A war of fun!” he laughed good-naturedly. He didn’t really think he ever would actually become king, he sure was realistic enough to know no General would likely ever choose him, but still, one could always dream big, there was no harm in that.

“Suuure! Ina! She’s rad!” Feu snorted. He very much liked the fiery dark doe, she was an exceptional soldier and he was glad to call her part of his little squad, “Hm, yeah, honestly? Does like her should be given some more credit. I mean, sure they need to take some time off when they breed and they really need to consider before doing it, I mean, you can’t be a soldier and nurse a baby, but yeah, your sister is a strong doe, you should be proud.” he nodded earnestly.

The golden stag gave a laugh, when Kups hopped on top of a rock, posing, Well, he was quite a hunk himself, wasn’t he? Feu however kept that to himself, he knew innocent compliments between stags were common, but he also knew not to go too far, it could end ugly very easily.

“Pff, I bet they’d love you either way.” he winked up at the other stag, “Random energy bursts or not.” he nodded, followed by a snort, “Well, I know of some rogue lions stalking nearby recently, let’s first check out their tracks and if they won’t show up, we sure could train some on the fields, what’cha think?”

Kupatikana

A grin grew on Kupa’s face as Feu talked about how his sister should get more credit. Saying she was strong was a compliment to both of them, it meant that their training had paid off. “Thanks so much Feu! I'm sure she'd be glad to hear that from you, she's usually not praised by others.”

As they continued to walk, Feu said that some rogue lions stalked nearby. “Sounds like a plan, should probably make sure they aren't that active so the fawns don't get picked off one by one.” Kupa walked in silence for a bit, thinking to himself. After a few minutes, something popped into his head. “Hey Feu, do you have any fawns?” He decided to make small talk, not thinking they'd be there right away.

Feu

“She deserves it, though.” Feu nodded with a snort. He thought high of Ina and to him she deserved every kind of praise any male soldier would deserve. It really kept rubbing him the wrong way, how many soldiers either thought it pointless to actually acknowledge female soldier’s abilities or treat them like they were little fawns, who had managed to jump over a log. Sure, there were does who wanted to be soldiers, who ended up not exactly fitting the bill, but it was the same with some stags and if a doe was dedicated and able, why not praise her? Of course, this was a highly dangerous opinion and so Feu knew to keep it to himself or the company of his doe-squad. Kupa was an exception, he was Ina’s brother and appeared to be a fine guy.