Chapter 4: Time of peace...

[Sabre]

The female chuckles with a smirk. "Well that explains why the other females haven't taken a liking of him. And something tells me that the Overlord may give you that option to kill him if you decide to challenge him. Just hang in there, alright? You should only have a few more days of suffering under him."

[Asani]

(I don't really remember what all my other characters are doing at the moment so it'll just be Nadya for right now.)

The toddler's small brown and taupe spotted body shrunk in size as her father lifter her by the scruff of the neck carrying her off for a moment, then was nudged forward once she was back on the ground once more. "'Kay!" she smiled toddling along looking for Naraka. "Naka! Where yooou?" she called out stopping to stand in a tiny patch of grass that tickled her nose while a light breeze blew causing the little princess to inhale, then exhale with a sneeze followed by a light giggle.

Her determination grew upon seeing the blades sway in the wind, and just like any lioness, her hunting instincts began to slowly kick in. Raising her right paw, Nadya attempted to swipe at the grass wanting to pin it down, though right now it was just for play it still proved to be good practice for her. Hours seemed to melt away, though in reality it was only a few minutes, but nonetheless Nadya had already forgetten why she was outside in the first place. Was it to play by herself, or something else? With a small shrug the little princess continued on her way having now been rather content with her grassy playmate. She just wished she could remember what she was supposed to do. . .

[Blaze]

Blaze's eyes focused on the Shaderian, sorrow still in his gaze. Even though Nadur was little to no threat to him, the act was still insulting and still brought back memories of his encounter with Brownie. His claws sheathed and unsheathed themselves as tension settled into his body. He still felt dread for the nights to come while he was under this wretch's proverbial paw.

"When is the earliest opportunity I would be able to challenge Nadur to the Trial of Grievance? I suspect not until I reach a considerably higher rank."

[Sabre]

The female Shaderian takes a moment to think, remembering her kind's strict codes before responding.

"You'll have to prove your worth to be accepted into the Clan, only then are you given the choice of a Trial of Grievance, until then, you'll have to stomach his tantrums. You bruised his honor in that trial, so he'll be driven to either make you suffer or get you killed, so if he gives you any missions or trials, expect them to be unfair. The Overlord is more fair with his missions, he uses what he knows to put up a tactical group for the job, no more no less."

[Blaze]

The exiled king snorts at the very idea of Nadur thinking up anything "unfair" for the "stravag." Unfair for himself, perhaps, but the slave is hardly the "master's" equal in terms of strength, speed and skill. He can't help but grin wryly.

"You're implying that Nadur can actually think and plan well. He acts on base instincts and is certainly no schemer. More like a bumbling oaf."

He chuckles softly, looking once more at the Circle. His eyes follow the movements of each combatant during the trials, from the clumsy movements of the grunts to the refined, almost dance-like motions of the elites, he pays careful attention.

"I only hope that my chance to prove myself to the Clan will come sooner rather than later. Suffering that twit for anything more than a few more days is a thought I do not like."

[Sabre]

"I hope so as well. Nadur is not the nicest one to be around, even other grunts shun him." Lisirra says as she gives a nod, her purple eyes trailing back to the circle as a marauder makes his way in for a trial, the hulk of a feline had no refinement in his combat style, but it's undeniable that you do NOT want to be in the way of one that was charging, the poor Scout that was facing it was practically steamrolled and gave up on the first hit, having been sent tumbling from the impact. "Even marauders are more pleasant than Nadur."

[Blaze]

Blaze closes his eyes, reflecting on Lisirra's words. The days soon fly by. Nadur is his master for only a few more days before he is reassigned to a new one, a scout. So the routine goes, with a switch in master of increasing rank and for greater lengths of time before he is the servant of an elite. To Lisirra, no less. Each set him a trial of difficulty to be expected of one of his current strength, save for Nadur. With almost sadistic glee he sent the exile on a task that surely would only have been able to be done by a warrior at least. For some time he struggled with that task until others in the clan assisted him on Rendarin's orders; the Overlord clearly wasn't amused that a grunt would dare to send a slave to do something he couldn't even do himself.

It has been a month and a half since Blaze joined the Shaderians. His strength and resolve have been considerably tempered due to his own sparring sessions with Lisirra. Though they end in his defeat each time, he steadily progresses each conflict they have. Now, however, is the time for him to take his final task as a slave, as a stravag.

The lion looks at the female, some of his old strength even showing in his eyes. "At last, the day is here."

[Sabre]

"Indeed it has." The female says as she sits on her haunches, looking to her servant, having refused to call him a slave unless in public, getting up and circling him one last time to inspect if he was ready for the big day before bringing her purple eyes back to his red ones. "The Overlord will be here soon to bring you to the ceremony."

[Blaze]

The exile waits patiently, sitting on his own haunches. His eyes are focused and his body still, yet relaxed. He looks ahead of himself, waiting for the Overlord. "Is there anything specific I must say when asking to start a Trial of Grievance?" he asks.

[Sabre]

"Simply that you call a Trial of Grievance, you'll have to specify who and why." She responds, looking behind Blaze for a moment before bowing her head, signalling that Rendarin had arrived.

"The time has come Blaze. Months have passed, yet you have torn your way through all the challenges you were given, even ones that you would not have returned from if it hadn't been for me being made aware." The large feline says, his red eyes turning to look in the direction of Nadur's current den, brows furrowing in disgust before looking toward Blaze once more. "Come, it's time to accept you into the Clan as one of us." He says as he turns to walk toward the area they used for their Circles, a circle already starting to form, though there was no combat.

[Blaze]

Blaze follows after Rendarin silently, looking at the various Shaderians gathering to form the circle. His body tensed just slightly in anticipation. It had been a long time coming. Just as Nadur's coming fate was a long time coming. His bright red eyes were focused on Rendarin as he took his appointed place for this ceremony.

[Sabre]

"The time has come to welcome another to the Clan, one that is not of Shaderian blood." Rendarin begins, though after stating that Blaze wasn't Shaderian, there was a resounding chant of "Freebirth" from the circle, effectively halting with a raise of the Overlord's large paw. "Be that as it may, he has more than proven himself over this past month, successfully handling tasks given to him by his Bondholders." He says, looking down the circle before continuing. "Including deceitful tasks that only those of a Warrior's skill could handle. The one who is guilty of such Powless tasks will meet his fate in the coming weeks in a Trial of Cleansing, if the Judges will even soil their claws against them. This is, of course, unless they issue Surkai to the Abtakha."

[Blaze]

Blaze looks at Rendarin intently. His ears twitch as he listens to the large feline speak, tuning out the comments of "Freebirth" from others within the Circle. He didn't come to the clan to impress them; he came to become stronger. Stronger than he was before, if possible. His bright red eyes never take themselves off of the Overlord. He can't help but admire the control that Rendarin has over the members of the clan. Truly, his word is law.

[Sabre]

"And now, without further adue, I hearby accept Blaze as Abtakha, he is a Bondsman no more." He says before resting his large paw on the top of Blaze's head before placing it down, letting out the loud shriek that the Shaderians were known for, the circle repeating the gesture, though one member moves to walk off, not wanting to be there for the rest of the ceremony.

[Blaze]

"Overlord Rendarin," Blaze begins, his voice steely and calm, "if I may, there is something I feel needs to be said. I, Blaze, call for a Trial of Grievance against my former Bondholder and the dezgra, Nadur. The prize is the forfeiture of the loser's life." His fiery eyes turn to the member slinking off, easily identifying him as Nadur. "What forces do you have to oppose me with?"