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As I think back to my youth, I recall those times with the fondest of memories. So let me begin my new tail. A Tail of Youthful Pleasures... The sun was shiny merrily upon the new morning dew as I jumped out of bed. I flew to window and my sparkling eyes absorbed the perfect stillness of the courtyard, as it was still early enough to be quiet there. The sole figure in the courtyard was, as always, Flash. He was jogging around-and-around the courtyard like he had done every morning since he moved into Castle Rover to benefit from my tutor Scottie when were only pups. Now we were strapping young lads ready for adventure. Our eighteenth birthdays had just gone by and we were soon to be off on our first journey without our parents. Of course Scottie would be coming along to supervise, but he was more like one of us then a real authority now. Granted, he was still my Sire's most trusted advisor, but still, he never tried to give us curfews and the like when my parents were away on business. He knew we could take care of ourselves. In fact, it was because the idea of the journey had come from Scottie that my Dame would let me go on it without her. Finally, a chance to prove my worth as the future leader of our proud breed to my Sire. I could hardly wait! The best thing about this trip was that not only would Flash be coming along, but we were going to stop by Borwane and collect my other best friend, Butch, as well. He was the son of the Bulldog's Breed Leader, so we both would be touring the land of Doggainia as representatives of our breeds. Flash was kind of lucky that as a peasant, nobody expected him behave correctly all the time when we visited the courts. Thus, he could gawk at the fantastic palaces that we would visit. The only real drawback to this journey was that my brother, El Perro, had to come along as well. Not too bad of a chap really, but he was supposed to be a mage. *rolls his eyes* He tried to summon a watermelon just yesterday, and just about killed us when a wet felon showed up instead. Luckily Flash was around to dispatch the creep with his broadsword. I like my brother a lot, but I kind of worried about the impression that he might give the other breeds since his magic rarely ever worked. It might make us look foolish to the other breeds. Oh, well...I guess that can't be helped. Rather than waste time running down twelve flights of stairs from my tower, I reached out and grabbed my favorite swinging vine. Taking careful aim I leaped out of window and went sailing through air. >Oof< Direct hit. I knocked Flash clear onto his back. I rose to my feet and helped him up. Let's see that makes the score 736 hits for me and 4009 evades for Flash. We jogged a few laps around the courtyard together before Flash decided to turn on the steam and do some real running. I kept pace for a few furlongs before giving up and falling to the ground. I watched him race faster and faster around the courtyard. Unbelievable how well he can run. Then he just stopped after three laps and trotted over to me. Cripes! He wasn't even sweating! I stood and slapped him on the back before we headed over to the armory to get ready for our daily weapons training. Sir K was already inside selecting today's weapon. Sir K is perhaps one of the few people in the land who has mastered every weapon and style of fighting. Yet, despite his proficiency, he hates weapons and armor. He views them as useless junk that a real warrior should never need, however, he teaches their uses to my Sire's guards and to Flash and myself regardless of his anti-weapon beliefs. He does so, because to him weapons are not for combat, but for art. Each movement and position is different expression of art, and thus the victor is not the best fighter, but the best artist. Sir K is also an unusual person, for he is not a Dogg. No, he as a Human. The first Human that any Dogg had ever encountered. He is still not entirely sure how he got here, but he is content to stay until we can figure out how to get him back to his far off land of...of...Camelot I believe he calls it. He claims to be a Knight of a Breed Leader named Arthur. Perhaps one day we will find this land and Sir K will be able to go home. I, for one, would like to meet this Arthur person, he sounds like an honorable fellow. It turned out that today Sir K had chosen to let us choose our own weapons. As always, Flash picked up a two-handed broadsword. In his hands it is both graceful and strong. Knowing this, I made sure not choose another sword variation as in sword to sword combat Flash has few equals. Even Sir K can no longer match him. Perhaps a mace? Unwieldy yes, but if I manage to smash his sword...Yeah, why not? I hefted the large two-handed mace and Sir K smiled to himself. We both knew that it really didn't matter which weapon I chose since I had yet to beat Flash we he carried a sword. I faced Flash and waited for Sir K to give the command to commence. Then I swung my mace low in long arch to force Flash backwards. This left me vulnerable to return strike towards my right side, so threw my weight in behind the mace and dodged the thrust that I knew Flash would present. As I slid across the floor and jumped to my feet, I was able to see Flash pulling his sword back, proving the he had indeed tried a quick thrust. We faced off again, only now we bother were outside of the other's attack range. This was much more to my liking as Flash could no longer use his expertise to win. He now had to figure out how to get close enough to me to strike without getting knocked to the floor. The only problem with this strategy of mine was that now I couldn't strike at Flash without his sword intervening and netting himself a win. Then I thought of something I had not tried before. I smiled at Flash, and he immediately realized I was going to do something that was either foolish or perfect. Not wanting to find out which, Flash charged me following his sword. At the last second Flash swung his sword to side to fend off the blow that he thought would come while I sidestepped him. The blow never came. I had just dropped to the floor instead of dodging. Now with his blade out of position and running full tilt, Flash had no alternative but to trip over me and try to land softly on the ground. Which he then proceeded to do. Sir K laughed at my technique and pronounced me the victor by knockdown. Flash got up shaking his head and vowing never to fall for that ruse again. And he probably would not either. Oh, well. At least it worked this once. Sir K then had us face off again so that he could show us various techniques for "correct" attacking and defense when this two weapons are being used. About noon Flash and I had to head to our quarters and chance for the big farewell ball that my Dame had decided to throw. Flash, an natural ladies' man, was thrilled at the prospect of dancing with all the beautiful maids in Rover. I, however, was somewhat less then thrilled at the idea. My heart had eyes only for one lass. And she was in Yapap practicing her magic under the tutelage of the finest magi in the whole of Doggainia. *Sigh* Some how though, my Dame just could not seem to understand this and kept saying that she was sure I would find a nice little lass at the ball who would perfect for me. Meddling Dames! A person would think that since my Dame valued Scottie so highly, that she would be overjoyed to learn that his daughter, Alexis, was favored in mine eyes. In fact, until now my Dame had seemed to approve of my favoring Alexis. Before I could get to thinking about it too much, one of my servants came in with my traditional orange drapings to wear and, like always, I had to practically throw him out to keep him from trying to dress me. My servants still could not figure out why I preferred dressing myself when they could do so much quicker and probably better. In fact, sometimes I failed to reason this out as well. As I finished smoothing down my cloak, I looked at myself in the mirror. Hmmm...My appearance seemed to lack something...Ah yes! I had forgotten to put on some jewels. I hated wearing them for the most part, but it was called for on a formal event such as this. As I am hopeless in trying to match jewels with my garments, I called in a servant to help me with my selection. As always, he went straight to the rings first. I shook my head and put on a pair of black gloves. My servant gave me that your-dame-hates-those-gloves look, but said nothing. He then rummaged through my necklace drawer and produced three items that matched my clothes. One was an amethyst amulet that was dark enough to avoid clashing and it would enhance the brightness of my other coverings. The second was a piece of blue diamond that attached to the wearer's throat by magic and glowed when exposed to light. It was one of my favorites. The third, however, I decided almost immediately to wear. It was a simple, plain cord of sheep's wool with a rune of wind carved onto a small piece of wood that was hanging from it. It really did not say much for my status as son of a breed leader, but it was made by my dear Alexis, and the made all the difference. And with that selection, my servant whisked me away to Castle Ballroom where I was introduced by a over exuberant herald along with the rest of those who would be going with me. Here is a fine ending point for the time being. Not too interesting yet, but then this one is about happiness, not death and destruction. Ace Dogg of Doggainia |
