Training and Insight

Loud grunts and shouts came from the training grounds. A Practice dummy made of thick straw and wood was being struck hard by the attacker in training.

"Better!" Smiled Captain Lance as he watched the tribal wolf girl continue her sword practices upon the training dummy. She struck it in the side with the sharp edges cutting away bits of straw that fell to the floor. "The Sides are excruciating but that is the start and finish with a thrust or a cleave of vital part that will finish your opponent off for good."

Karina outfitted in a new attire that she personally sewed and strung together. She wanted something that would not limit her or slow her down. She may not have armor upon her, but she made sure her reflexes would not allow anyone to ever lay a hand on her again in the midst of a fight. Too many times has she allowed herself to be captured and made a mockery upon. She was grabbed by so many that it became apparent to her that she had to be better than she ever was before. She could not allow herself the humiliation of being caught. Every time she was it was years to days of misery to even near death. This could not happen again.

Captain Lance oversaw the young wolves' training. It was not too long after she was brought back to the kingdom with, Prince Mowgli did she desire to learn all the techniques of hand-to-hand combat. She understand the art of battle. Safeguarding ones self and protecting those around her. Her hunting skills were remarkable and beneficial but that alone could only get her so far. Hunting and fighting were two different aspects.

Stalking prey and shooting it down from shadows and high places to standing face to face with an opponent bent on killing its challenger were another. One could face anything from an attacking leopard to a fellow wolve to even those that once enslaved both, Karina and, Prince Mowgli. An Opponent could be anyone and one always had to be steadfast in their training for whatever could come ahead.

Karina's hair waved about along with the two short skirts that hung from her lower body. The Outfit consisted of tanned leather tied and strung together only leaving what little was needed cover herself but allow maneuverability. While most would rely on armor to keep them safe in a fight, Karina would rely all on her speed to dodge an attack and counter before her opponent could deflect her.

The only pieces of clothing that Karina had were shin guards made from leather and wool tied under her feet and two wrist guards of the same material with one piece of the wool over her left shoulder to offer some comfort when she came to using her bow. But in this type of training, she had to use weapons for melee combat. Spears and Javelins could be thrown but that was only a resort should their aim be swift and true and when facing only one opponent. To be without a weapon in the midst of a fight that had multiple combatants could result in ones death if they were without anything to use for defense. One of the many lessons, Captain Lance gave her is to never lose your weapon in a fight and do not discard it unless its for a reason meant to kill your opponent accurately.

The Tribal wolf breathed heavily as she was training for hours on end. Day by day she would dive deep into training under the Captain of the Guard. By now she would have likely been part of the guard with all the extensive training she had committed but being part of the royal family with a future with one of the Princes it meant she was in line for greater things than a simple guard of the kingdom.

After one final thrust into the practice dummy Karina dropped to one knee as the exhaustion finally kicked in.

Captain Lance nodded in approval. Most of the time he would order any trainee to cease their sessions and exercises but, Karina would keep going even after being told it was enough for now. She was driven to become a better and stronger wolf. The Errors of her past haunted her deeply. The Moments she could not protect those closest to her or even herself hurt her. She believed herself weak and unworthy of anyone after all that had happened.

Lance came next to her offering his hand to her. "Well done, Karina. I fear for the next dummy that has to face you." Snickered the Captain seeing just how poor of a state that the practice dummy was in. It would need to be burned by now with all the damage, Karina had done to it. But it was not damaged so much due to, Karina's training it was as she was striking at something that angered her so.

Karina took Lance's hand, and he helped her to her feet as he retrieved the sword she left lodged in the dummy's chest. "Anyone in particular you wanted to finish off?" He asked twirling the sword for a moment raising it up letting the sun from the open area in the building to gleam off the cold steel with tiny bits of straw falling from it.

The Wolf Girl wiped her forehead off sighing in exhaustion, but her expression showed great frustration. "Just…imagining those that got away from me." She admitted.

"Who would they be?" Asked the Captain curiously.

"Abra that Primate Queen enslaved me and, Prince Mowgli. Forced me into wearing one of her outfits and nearly killed me. The Bandits that enslaved me and slaughtered my people. All of them that hurt me. All that…Ahhh!" She screamed in anger and punched a pillar in frustration her body pumping with adrenaline keeping her from feeling the force behind her impact. Her nerves on her fists were almost gone due to the years of training under, Captain Lance.

"Your thinking of the past. Your Anger is getting in your way, Karina. Anger can be useful in battle but if you let it consume you it will only destroy you from within." Informed the Captain coming up to her putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You are doing well in your training. You are doing the royals and myself proud but don't push yourself beyond more than what you can do. Everything comes with patient effort and time. Don't allow those of the past continue to affect you." Explained Captain Lance sheathing the sword and putting it on a rack nearby before sitting on a bench by the wall. "Sit with me, dear. Explain your troublesome past."

Karina did what was asked of her, and she sat on the wooden bench with the Captain. "Its just…I don't ever want to make anymore mistakes, Captain. I don't want to be weak and helpless again."

"You're not at all, Karina. We all face defeat some of us more than others but that does not make us weak. To live through a great ordeal makes us stronger. Your past may have been filled with great tragedies, but you have become stronger through them. Look at your achievements past them. I doubt many wolves here could have done what you have." Said the Captain giving her a proud look. "Heed my words, Karina. You are a strong and capable young woman. Your engaged to the youngest of the royal family. That's a rare and high honor. No one gets that simply out of being chosen. You are among a rare few. Especially one who was not born into our kingdom. Be proud of yourself."

Though the words of the captain were true the tragedies of the past still enveloped her. All the faces of those that ruined her old life and nearly ended her in her weakest of moments no amount of words could feel the disdain she felt in her heart. "But am I worthy of that honor?" She asked looking at Lance. "I feel that I am not. When times mattered the most I failed. I could not stop the bandits from killing my people and enslaving the rest. I escaped but many were left to their fates. When I was out with, Prince Mowgli I could not stop the primates from taking us both. I could not defend myself when we finally escaped the walls of the ruins. If the Princes and the King had not come in time I would have drowned. Defeated once again by those that overwhelmed me. How can I be worthy of anything. Six seasons have past, and it still feels like it was yesterday." Sniffed Karina feeling great shame. What right did she have to claim on anything after her many failures. She trained hard but that did little to help her.

Lance looked away for a moment to think. This Poor girl had become a great trainee. Her skills were becoming unparalleled even in their own sparing matches he would come out the victor but at great effort. But she is allowing the past to remain in blocking her from greater succession.

"Karina you act as if you are the only one who failed at anything. I too have been defeated and left with shame. I may not have been enslaved in my life, but I too have lost a lot in my time. I am the Captain of the Guard. Many look to me to uphold authority and safeguard this kingdom and its people. I am close with King Rama. We grew up as cubs and some claimed he only made me, Captain out of our friendship but it was not true as I earned the title through my actions. But my mistakes and I dare say cowardice always remain in my soul."

"Cowardice?" Asked Karina in surprise. "But you're the most courageous wolf of the kingdom. You have trained dozens if not hundreds of loyal guards for many decades."

Captain Lance nodded in confirmation. "That is true but recall the guard that made an attempt on, Prince Mowgli's life? He was under my watch and care and when I left him alone for a moment that rogue would have killed him had it not been, King Rama's teaching of his son a defense technique that saved his life. One of my own men tried to kill a member of the royal family. But that was not my only failure." Sighing the tale, he was about to tell was very grim.

"When I was young I was often an outcast. Afraid to stand up for myself and even hunting was difficult. Prince Rama at the time always attempted to assist me in building up my confidence to no avail. One day my father took me out hunting. He wanted to find the most vicious of all the predators of the jungle in hopes that it would finally have me rise to the challenge. I went along with him only out of fear of his discipline. Claiming I spent too often playing foolish games and rummaging in the dirt. He even called my friendship with the, Prince a disgrace." Explained Captain Lance.

"I would think being a friend of any royal would be an honor!" Exclaimed Karina. "How could your own father think that?"

"As a wolf we all had a duty to our kingdom and to the current royals that rule over it. We have to be hard, ruthless and sometimes remorseless. The Jungle is a dangerous place, and we have to counter it as such which is true. But in my youth I cared only for the beauty of the jungle and refused to see the dangers it possessed. And I never wished to raise my hand against anyone. Hardly any other cub wanted to befriend me for my supposed too kind of a nature but, Prince Rama was different and accepted me for who I was but I'm getting off topic with my story." Captain Lance continued after taking a quick drink of water from the table next to him offering, Karina a cup of her own. "My Father took me very deep in the jungle that day. The Weather was starting to change, and a storm appeared to be brewing but my, Father would not allow us to return home not until I came back carrying one of the mightiest of the predators of the jungle over my back though my dim strength at my age hardly could hold such weight. Treading deep in the jungle far past the usual hunting grounds we soon found ourselves face to face with a leopard."

"By the Spirits I have yet to encounter one of them in the jungle! I know they are fiercely territorial, and our people usually stay clear of their grounds." Recalled Karina.

"Exactly! But my father believed that should I be the one who kills and brings a beast of such stature home it would solidify our family name and earn redemption in his eyes and allow me to finally understand what being a wolf is. And when that beast charged at us my father left me to its mercy. I manage to elude it, but I could not bring myself to kill it though I had plenty of opportunity. When my Father could not take it anymore he killed the beast himself when its hungry eyes were upon me. He called me an absolute disgrace to the family and the Kingdom. I was undeserving of anything. To return home and not have that beast fallen under my sword? I dare say my father was right about me at the time. More to that fact when a fierce storm came through the jungle that day." Explained Captain Lance his voice sounding full of shame and regret. Karina had never seen the Captain like this. Or even heard of this story before. Her heart was full of pity for him.

"What happened?" She asked next.

"The Rains were heavy and the winds severe. My Father and I desperately attempted to make it back to the safety of the kingdom, but floods washed all over the jungle and the rivers expanded so quickly rapid floods were everywhere. I tried to keep up with my father who discarded the leopard and barely took a moment to see if I was keeping up with him. I dishonored him so much I feel that any love he had for me was gone. Even more so when a streak of lightning struck a tree in front of us as we ran. The Tree collapsed upon my father. His legs were pinned, and his knife was out of reach. I climbed over the tree and tried to pry him out, but he was trapped and the only hope for him was to get his knife and cut his legs. He would rather spend his life as a cripple than lose it. But the floods were coming in quickly. By then he and I were nearly submerged, but he pleaded for my help. On his stomach he could not cut himself free if his knife was in hand." Captain Lance carried with the story and by then, Karina knew where this was going now.

"Don't tell me did you?" Asked Karina and sadly the Captain looked away with shame. Karina thought she could see a tear come into the corner of his eye.

"Yes. In my act of cowardice. My desperation to still live I fled. I couldn't bring myself to harm my father and cut him loose as he demanded. He cried out for me apologizing for what he had said. He pleaded for his life as I ran for higher and ground hurried back to the Kingdom with my, Father's curses filling my eyes until I could no longer hear them." Sighing sadly Lance turned back to Karina. "I made it home. But my father did not. He was right about me at that time. I was a coward and a weakling. I failed to understand what it meant to be a true wolf. I mourned for his loss and for so long I allowed myself to fall into shame as I rightfully deserved. If I acted my father could still be alive. After awhile I finally came out of my state when, Prince Rama explained to me that we all fail at some points in our lives, but our failures don't define who we are. Life is meant to challenge us in ways we cannot imagine. I vowed on my fathers grave that I would never again let another wolf down. I trained and hardened myself. I would face any threat to these walls and within and out of them. I would carry on the will of the royals and safeguard my people. I have done so ever since but I never forgot the day I let my father down. I do not deserve redemption for what I did but I would make it right by being the wolf I am now."

"Oh my!" Gasped Karina putting her hands over her mouth in shock. She never realized how much of a burden, Captain Lance carried.

"Your reaction is expected, Karina. I tell you this for I failed too when it really mattered at times. My Fathers death is on my hands for my lack of action. And the assassination attempt on, Prince Mowgli's life was due to my lack of insight. Our King carries his own burdens too. It was his eldest that caused both yours and the, Prince's enslavement. The Thievery that plagued our kingdom and the return of those that were banished. Our King carried all these burdens as do we all have demons but we if we allow our mistakes to keep us at bay then we will never carry on. Be it we earn forgiveness, redemption or even acceptance that does not matter. What truly does is what we do when the time comes then. Trust in your instincts and follow your heart. It won't fail you and neither will any of us. I am here, Karina as are those that trust and believe in you. Your destined for greatness through every struggle you had. Don't ever doubt yourself and don't allow your past to take you over. Believe in who you are and what you can do, my dear." Explained the Captain giving the wolf girl a confident smile. He had complete faith in her with no doubt in his eyes.

Karina was unbearable touched by the Captains story and his words of confidence. She couldn't help but throw her arms over him hugging him closely. "Thank you, Captain. I never realized just how much I needed to hear that."

The Captain chuckled putting an arm over her. "Of course, Karina. As your Captain and your friend, it is my duty to make sure everyone in this kingdom understands their value and their contribution to our home. Only together can we see towards a brighter future."

Looking up to the sun through the opening in the training grounds he could see it was late in the afternoon. "Why don't we end your session today." He said standing up. "The King and Queen will be expecting you to return to the palace soon and I think a certain prince would desire to have his future mate close in hand." The Captain playfully winked at Karina which made her blush.

"Right. Thank you again, Captain Lance I will come back tomorrow at our usual time." Karina stood up and bowed to the large grey wolf and returned the gesture respectively.

"Of course. See you then. Your dismissed." He said. Karina quickly exited the training grounds to make her way home to the Palace. It was a long day for her, and she was eager for a bath, but she was more eager to see, Mowgli as seeing him cheered her up when she was sad but now it seemed someone else could do that now. With a new understanding of the courageous and mighty Captain of the Guard she now could feel a great weight off her shoulders.

Once she was gone Captain Lance unsheathed his knife and looked upon the serrated steel of it. He had that knife since the very day he failed his father. It was his and since that day he carried it with him. It protected him when it was a matter of life and death. It helped him dress and seal wounds. To carve out the meat of a catch. He never went anywhere anymore without it. He felt the spirit of his father within it. "I never will ask for your forgiveness. I do not deserve it, but I will continue to do what I can for the King and this kingdom, Father. I wish I understood before but now after letting someone understand my own burden I feel I can make it right. I hope I can make you proud."

Once he finished saying what he had to he put the knife away and left the training grounds. He had to make the last of his rounds and see to the reports of the patrols. Six seasons had passed since the Primates were once again exiled from the jungle, but little did he know, or anyone understand someone had once again returned to what they claimed was sacred to them and unlike the Primates they knew how to exist in the shadow of the jungle. The Plan was being made and eventually the jungle could once again be theirs.