[Proprioception] : (Untrained) - Level 5
You have begun to gain a slight awareness and control over your body’s movement and positioning.
At the sound of a long yawn, Nameless allowed the Skill in front of his eyes to fade away.
[Proprioception] had been the new addition he had gained just prior to engaging the Matriarch, its effects allowing for him to have an oddly fine sense of – and power over – his body, “While not as… intense now, as it had been after it first appeared, I can tell that this Skill may yet be one of the most useful I have gained.” From walking to breathing, he had begun to feel more… concordant with his body, his every action having a solidity and awareness to it that was previously lacking, “And I can only salivate at the idea of how [Proprioception] will grow as I come to understand it, as well as begin to use it beside my other Skills.”
At the sound of claws scraping against stone, Nameless shifted his attention away from his idle musings to the first of his waking siblings. He watched as Shade looked around the den – his brother’s eyes cloudy with the last vestiges of sleep – his face scrunched with a slight edge of confusion.
[Mother. Gone already.] Sending out a string of [Telepathy] between the two, Nameless answered Shade’s unspoken question, causing his brother’s head to snap around towards him.
[Seems. So.] Shade got up and began walking his way, avoiding their still resting siblings between them, his every step nearly inaudible, [Proving. Begins. Then. Why. Still. Here?]
[Den. Safe. Think. First. Leave. Later.] Nameless replied, turning away from Shade to drink from the pond once more.
[Smart.] Shade asserted in his usually curt tone, coming to his side to also lap at the pond, [Go. With. Others. Or. Alone.?]
Nameless paused for a heartbeat, tongue half outstretched, before answering, [Alone. Learn. More.]
[Smart.] His brother brusquely reiterated, causing Nameless to snort into the water, splashing himself in the face, [Alone. Too.]
He was tempted to answer in the same manner his brother had, when another voice entered their conversation, [Awake already you two?]
Nameless shifted to look behind him, finding Quiet still lounging in the same place she had been resting prior, but now staring at he and Shade with eyes bright and clear, [Yes. Join us.]
[I think I will stay where I am for a time, the Siblings only know how long it will be before any of us can rest safely like this again.] She looked away, eyes passing over the rest of their siblings, [I also do not believe I could reach the two of you without waking the rest of our siblings, if I wanted to join anyway.]
[Good. Would. Become. Loud. If. You. Try. Enjoy. Quiet. Peace.] Shade interjected, clearly satisfied over their retention of – relative – silence for the time being, his black tail with deep brown splotches swishing against the stone floor.
[I agree brother, we should enjoy this peace and quiet while we can.] Quiet nodded, laying her head down on her paws, her eyes skipping between Nameless and Shade, [But, while I have you two, when do you both plan on leaving?]
[Soon.] Shade gruffly answered first, batting at the water with one of his paws, [Others. Begin. Wake. Leave. Then.]
Nameless thought for a moment before answering, following after his brother, [Similar. Leave. When some. Others. Wake.]
Quiet’s ears twitched at his and Shade’s replies, head tilting, and her tail going completely still, [So the both of you have no plans to group together for the Proving?]
While their mother had described the Proving as a personal challenge, from their Imprints survival and growth were made to be the most important aspects, “This first Proving is just to reach the Second Stage and survive without her protection. So, while she might have preferred of us to fight and last alone, going off in a group is just as possible a path to take.”
[No. Go alone. Learn. Grow. More.] Nameless answered, eyes flicking over to Greye as he grumbled and shifted against the floor, their brother’s eyes moving under their lids as he begun to wake, [Shade. Will do. The. Same. What about. You?]
Shade radiated gratitude for Nameless’s speaking on his behalf, their taciturn sibling obviously having reached the limit of his desires to converse, his hazy eyes and swaying tail indicating his attentions were mostly elsewhere.
[I was hoping to have had you, and a couple claws of our other siblings join me for the Proving…] Quiet’s thread flashed with frustration and disappointment, a loud huff passing her lips, [But I guess I will have to make do a sibling short. Unless I can persuade you otherwise?]
Nameless snorted, watching as Greye dazedly rose to his paws, eyes still closed, [No. Love. To help. But. Need. To. Go alone.]
In Greye’s waking stumbles one of his paws landed on Shiver’s tail, ripping a painful yowl from between their sister’s fangs. She leapt to her paws, snarling and swiping wildly while still in a daze of slumber, the sound beginning to rouse the rest of their siblings.
Nameless and Shade shared a silent string of thought, their waking siblings being the signal necessary to begin preparing themselves fully for the challenges ahead. Quiet seemed to catch his and Shade’s change in demeanor through [Telepathy], her eyes shifting over the rest of them, [I wish you both strong winds to fill your wings, and that the Siblings’ light may guide you upon them to victory in all things.]
Quiet looked back to Shade and himself, catching both of their eyes with her own, their bond – and her gaze – alight with an absolute demand, [We will see each other again. Survive and thrive brothers, return to us all victorious.]
[Wish. The. Same. Sister] Shade got to his paws and began making his way to the den’s entrance, effortlessly avoiding his rowdy siblings’ notice, [Watch. Self. Brother. Shame. If. End. Up. Only. Smart. Sibling. Left.]
Nameless huffed, surprised and amused by his brother’s sudden verbosity, [Same. To you. Brother. Good. Hunting. Strong. Winds.] He watched as Shade nodded, the string between them sending back acceptance and appreciation before it was unspun on Shade’s end, the tattered threads of their shared [Telepathy] scattering into nothingness.
“I will hope to see you again Shade and that your Proving will see you return all the stronger.” As Shade disappeared from his [Telepathy], he felt Quiet recede from their connection as well, her attentions landing on Shiver and Greye.
Following her new telepathic string, Nameless could tell that Quiet had sent out her own connection to their siblings – by the immediate hitch in their movements – halting their further snapping and grappling with one another.
[Our Proving is today if you two have not forgotten in your… distraction.] He could sense Quiet’s words carrying a subtle hum of chastisement as well as her exasperation, [So if you would not mind, will you both stop, so we may avoid any of you getting injured and allow the rest of our siblings to somehow continue to rest?]
Shiver felt completely unrepentant to Nameless’s senses, glaring at Greye, [Stepped. On. Tail. Let. Bite. Him. At. Least!]
[No, you cannot… bite your brother.] Quiet sighed, walking over to their two siblings.
[Not. Even. Little?] That got a small chuckle from Nameless, causing Quiet to send a glare his way.
[No. Would you take an apology from him instead?] Quiet offered, sitting down in between Greye and Shiver.
Shiver grumbled, [Fine. Only. If. Groom. For. Tw-. No. Three. Moons!]
Mischievous excitement replaced Shiver’s irritation, the quick change in their sister’s emotions making Quiet roll her eyes, [Is that something you are willing to do, brother?]
With her attention now landing fully on his shoulders, Greye seemed to shrink into himself – an otherwise humorous action considering their brother’s bulky form, [Yes. Sorry. My. Fault. But. Groom. Only. Two.]
[Is that alright wit-]
[Yes!] Shiver cut Quiet off, her tail wildly swaying behind her, with her red ears twitching in contentment, [Yes! Yes! Accept!]
Preceded by a huff, Quiet dove back into conversing with their two siblings, while Nameless quietly listened on, “It always confused me how Quiet was capable of using [Telepathy] with such intent, especially if she is as limited by her lack of magic as all of us should be… but maybe she is more similar to myself than I first believed.”
Nameless walked over to his three siblings – his paw pads sticking against the floor with each step – mind stretching out to shoulder its way into their telepathic discourse, [Apologies. Need to. Speak.]
The strands of [Telepathy] for each of his siblings lit up to his mind, their attention narrowing down to him, [Leaving. Now.] Their eyes were on him, Greye and Shiver’s strings colouring with surprise, while Quiet’s seemed to emanate curiosity and a slight resignation, [Ask. That you. Protect. Watch. Each. Other. Wish. Strong winds. Siblings’. Guide. To. You all.]
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[Grow. And find. Victory. See. You all. Again.] He looked into each of his siblings' eyes, entwining his intent with confidence and sincerity, as well as with his desire to see them all once their Proving reached its conclusion.
Quiet spoke up first, a subtle hint of appreciation being sent towards Nameless telling him she had noticed his pushing their siblings to stick beside her, [We will look after each other, brother. Be safe.]
[Leaving. Already? Not. With. Us?] Greye questioned, his [Telepathy] tinged in an unhidden fear and anxiety.
[No. Take. Proving. Alone. Will. Be. Safe. Smart. Survive.] Nameless made sure to answer his brother with as much conviction as he could, trying to soothe his brother’s worries.
[I-] Greye started, still obviously uncomfortable with Nameless’s choice, when Shiver mentally shoved herself into the center of their telepathic communication.
[Why. You. Get. Go. Alone?! I. Want. Go. Alone!] Shiver whined with a pout, though Nameless was surprised to sense that her words almost tasted… fake to his [Telepathy], “She is just as worried as Greye – for me and about the Proving ahead it would seem – but is just too prideful to admit it…”
He held back a chuckle at his sister’s dishonesty, [These two. Need. Sibling. To. Protect them.] He looked Shiver in the eyes and smiled, bowing his head slightly, [Only. You. Strong. Enough.]
Shiver stared back at him, her eyes wide and lips slightly parted in shock, [Telepathy] buzzing with embarrassment, [W-Will. Protect. Siblings. Brother. Wish. St-Strong. Winds. Siblings’. Guide.]
[Will. Protect. Siblings. Too!] Greye leapt in, possibly noticing Shiver’s awkwardness, [Show. I. Strong. Too!]
“Or maybe it is more jealousy than protectiveness.” Nameless mused, chuckling at Greye’s complicated twine of jealousness and protective fondness, no longer capable of containing the humor he found in his siblings’ antics, [Of course. Brother. Trust. You. Watch. Protect. Sisters. Too.]
Greye hummed in satisfaction, [Yes. Will. Protect. Sisters! Strong. Winds. Siblings’. Guide. Brother! Come. Back. Safe. Strong.] His rich blue eyes stared back at Nameless with determination, Greye’s telepathic thread going ridged and dull to the senses as it was infused with his resolve.
“Ever the trustworthy brother… I just hope that trust and honor is not abused or betrayed by that wretched mother of ours.” Nameless harshly crushed the dark thought, unwilling to allow it to taint his mind and ruin their farewells, “Worries for another moon Nameless. Right now, your focus is your siblings and your Proving, not dire possibilities.”
[Come back. Safe. Strong. As well. Brother. Strong. Winds. Siblings’. Guide.] Feeling [Deception] well up to the fore of his mind, he kept his [Telepathy] clear of his doubts and concerns, assisting him in his desire to obfuscate his emotions – mentally and physically.
Nameless’s telepathic strings only wavered slightly as he readjusted his thoughts, burying the negativity that threatened to burble to the surface. [Deception] helped to keep his exterior thoughts placid, calm, and confident – as he wished – while it also worked in tandem with [Proprioception] to assist in presenting his posture and face devoid of discomfort or concern.
The Skills added a fine edge to his efforts, honing his desires and actions to something closer to what he intended, something slightly better than what he would have managed alone, “Calm and unbothered. Confident and poised. Keep yourself together for them, so they may have no other focus than their Proving ahead.”
Nameless turned his attentions to Quiet as she began to speak, still keeping a portion of his focus on controlling himself and his Skills, [No final words of encouragement for me as you leave, brother?] She smirked at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
[No. Smart. Skilled. Enough. Do not. Need. Me. Tell you. What. Already. Know.] He huffed, moving past her towards the mouth of their den, his thread shining with his trust and confidence in her, [Strong. Winds. Siblings’. Guide. Dear sister.]
As he continued to walk away from his siblings – leaving them behind so he may begin his Proving in truth – he began to unspin the strings of [Telepathy] between them, when Quiet’s voice rose out to flow over his mind in a whisper, [Do not dare die, dear brother…]
[I. Will not. Dear. Sister. I. Will. Not.]
―――――――――
With Quiet’s words still lingering in mind, Nameless looked out over the canopy below and into the sky. Through a mild rain was an expanse of light grey, the Brothers’ shine hidden behind much of the clouds above, the horizon covered by a dark bank lit by the occasional flash of lightning, “Another large storm is on its way…”
He removed his eyes from the horizon, looking down the rocky slope leading into the jungle below, his sight alighting on the barely visible tracks of Shade’s descent. Leading off to his right, the few muddy paw prints – Nameless could spot – were already beginning to lose their form under the consistent wash of rain, “As enjoyable as it might be to follow Shade and witness his reaction to my intrusion, the Proving is far too important… and dangerous to allow myself to follow such a foolish distraction…”
“Even if I would find a certain comfort not having to undergo the Proving alone.” Skin and hide slick with damp from rain and the moisture in the air, he carefully made a path down the slope – in the opposite direction from Shade – his mind partially distracted by worries over the future… his future.
Knowing that he would be undertaking the Proving on his own had filled Nameless with a measure of anxiety, a slowly growing rumble of unease that had only increased in its intensity the closer the Proving came.
It had been temporarily forgotten under the fresh and daunting fear his mother had enflamed within him, lost under the formidable threat Mother posed to himself and his siblings. However, as he put the den behind him to enter into the valley – alone and devoid of the safety of numbers he had become all too comfortable with – the anxiety and doubts roared to the fore once more.
There was as much risk as there were reward in his choosing of a path of solitude; however, the freedom to develop by his own desires, to no longer have to hide his intelligence and insight from the omnipresent watch of his mother – or siblings – at the cost of safety and comfort were too enticing for Nameless to dismiss.
It was the choice that granted him everything he wanted, providing him the grounds necessary to grow and thrive, “However, the correct choice is not always the one most comfortable.” Nameless thought as he was forced to halt, his paws shaking with a quickly mounting apprehension that made it difficult for him to progress.
The uncertainty of the future and what it might contain for him soaked his thoughts in doubt and fear, discomfort and apprehension. His breaths grew quick and labored, his confidence wavering under the deluge of dread as heavy as the rains of the night before, “There is so much that could go wrong, so many things that I might not have accounted for…”
Nameless’s mind whirled in a wild tempest of dreadful possibilities, his panic mounting as hesitation threatened to undercut his plans, “What if… What if… What if…” echoed within his head, scene after horrid scene flashing behind his eyes, his mind becoming lost in visions of innumerable deaths and countless failures…. When a voice split through his panic, like lightning did the sky.
“We will see each other again. Survive and thrive…” Quiet’s voice provided an instant of clarity; the worry for him, her unyielding demand, and the implicit trust that all had been entwined within her words granting reprieve from the wretched doubts that plagued him.
“Will you fail her… fail all of them so soon? Or will you push through?!” With a snarl Nameless raised a foreleg to his mouth and bit down, his fangs splitting his hide and burying into the meat below. The pain grounded his mind, giving him a focus beyond the dreary storm that had come to occupy his thoughts, “This too is but a challenge of the Proving, is it not? A chance to face the unknown and learn to survive no matter what may come from it…”
Nameless released the grip he had on his leg, his teeth and tongue coated in his own blood, “So too does it grant me witness to the fears and doubts of mine that would just as assuredly lead to my demise as any creature could, to learn to control and understand them… and hopefully – in time – grow beyond their dismal grasp.”
He felt the hot sting of his wound flare as he returned his leg to the ground, his weight aggravating the many teeth marks that now covered it, blood seeping from the punctures to mix with the water that dripped down his fur.
Nameless looked up to the sky, focusing on his breathing and the feeling of the rain pattering against the skin of his face, “This is why I must take the Proving alone, not only to grow through overcoming strife and danger… but to have a chance to understand who I am beyond the safety, comfort, and scrutiny of my family….”
The fear and panic that had nearly overwhelmed him receded from the forefront of his mind, slowly – and almost reluctantly – returning to that underlying susurrus in the back of his mind, much like the way insects, birds, and other creatures sounded about within the cover of nature.
“Survive and thrive…” Nameless reaffirmed to himself, a slight amount of his earlier composure returning to him in place of the self-doubt. His mind and body were still unbalanced, no amount of reassurance or conviction capable of removing that which had been drained away during his bout of hysteria.
He was tired and fatigued… but Nameless was nothing if not determined to make some form of progress in the wake of his Proving’s rough start.
With tremulous steps, Nameless finally moved on, navigating a careful path down to the outskirts of the jungle that laid below the den. Mud clung to his paws, the wet soil sticking and pulling against him with every step, some looser rocks shifting in the dampened ground as his passing weight made movement of the surrounding dirt.
The undergrowth choked forest, once browned and withered from drought, had already begun to regain its once verdant luster under the rains. The canopy’s formerly muted and sallow green becoming a slightly more vital shade, the many bushes and plants at their roots beginning to swell with greenery and the myriad colours of budding flowers.
Nameless angled himself towards a break in the thick copse, a large moss and lichen covered stone creating a dark hole into the jungle’s undergrowth, his mind in a weary haze, “The forest’s depths yet remain the best place for me to go, even in my less than… settled state.”
He had chosen to delve into the valley’s wide forests for the Proving long before its start, the deep jungles of the valley providing him a great many benefits that would compensate for the lack of numbers at his flank.
The darkness and concealment of its undergrowth, the cover of the wide canopies, the height provided by its countless trees, and the enclosed confines of its floral body, granted his choice of solitude a possibility of success… even if those beneficial qualities cut both ways.
As he passed through the hole into the forest proper, the rain was replaced by a drizzle of errant drops from the water-soaked leaves overhead, his ears twitching. Beyond the muted patter of rain against the canopy and the crunching of leaves beneath his paws, the surrounding jungle was silent and still, completely devoid of the liveliness common in such an environment.
The lifelessness was familiar though disquieting; however, despite his distaste, it provided Nameless a welcome reprieve, “Even if I have no respect or love for Her, I can at least appreciate the sanctuary her presence has provided.”
His mother’s proximity had drenched the terrain surrounding their den in her presence, creating a territory that Monsters and Beasts alike avoided completely… an undeniable sign of the totality of her power and dominion over the creatures of the valley.
Himself included.
Nameless picked a way through the undergrowth, twigs and branches catching in his fur, plants and detritus crunching underpaw, “I will take my time leaving Mother’s territory,” He kept his head up, eyes surveying his surroundings and the ground ahead, “Use it to settle myself as much as I can, before continuing on deeper into the forest.”
While shaken, his conviction still remained; that desire to challenge himself and witness all he could become capable of under the rigors of his Proving, “I had no belief that my path would be an easy or simple one. But once I am finished – once I succeed – I will be all the stronger, all the smarter, all the more wise.”
His steps and posture growing more assured, he felt the lingering remains of his anxieties recede just the slightest more, not completely disappearing but becoming more… manageable, “I do not know what my Proving may bring, what challenges or battles may be ahead. But I have but one focus greater than any fear or uncertainty I may have – ”
A crack of lightning followed by the roar of thunder broke the silence of the forest, causing Nameless to look toward the shaking branches above, “To survive – and thrive during – the Proving, to live and see my siblings again... and to spite the mother that would revel in my failure.”
Nameless smiled as yet another peal of thunder bloomed, his mind beginning to feel more as it had been before doubt and fear had brought it low, “I need trust myself to no other ambition.”