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White Does Not Mean Surrender

By: Morigana

There was a rumor that Boudika was raised by lions, but Boudika herself will be the first to tell you that isn't the truth. The truth is much simpler. She loves lions more than most love their children. From the time she was a mere cub herself she has loved them. She still remembers to this day the time when she was 4 years old and saw the legion of White Lion Warriors parade through her village on their way to war. She barely noticed the warriors, but the lions - how magnificient all decked out in their armor with spikes, horns, razor tips, golden, silver, bronze, or copper. There were several pairs pulling spectacularly adorned chariots. So proudly they marched next to the warriors they were almost hypnotic in their grace of movement.

She new then that this was her destiny and nothing she did from that moment on was anything short of ensuuring that her destiny would come true. She spent almost every evening after doing her daily chores at the library reading about the White Lions, lions, and the strategies of using lions in warfaire. By the time she was 17, if it was in print she had read it. Many stories were written by dwarves and humans about the deeds of the White Lions and although much of it was obviously the fantasy of the human mind or the drunken ramblings of a dwarf it was still all facinating and even in the boldest lie there is some truth.

This is the same philosophy that can be shared with the tale of Boudika being raised by lions. Although she really wasn't she believes she could have been. That is how well she understands them and in Zorah, her lion, how well he understands her. Zorah was captured in the wild, raised, and trained by Boudika long before she was actually accepted into the White Lions. She was told that Zorah was too small to be considered no matter how well he was trained, Boudika had to beg to give him the chance and it was only at the pleadings of her cousin who was already established and well decorated within the ranks that they gave Zorah a "shot" as they called it. Zorah preformed every task without flaw. Tracking, pouncing, fetching, throat bite to silence casters, gut rips, hamstringing - whatever was commanded he did without hesitation and to perfection.

Then to prove Zorah was not worthy they decided to duel him agaisnt a bear that was at least three times his size. Boudika protested that this had never been part of a trial before that he had done all thatwas commanded and required - better than almost any other lion. They denied her protest citing such actions could be attributed more to the trainer than the lion - which was a great compliment to her but the lion seemed physically limited by his size and if they were to send her into battle they must be assured the lion could be her equal partner in fighting not just in carrying out commands; beside precedence had been set before as he was not the first nor would he be the last to face such a trial if the lion seemed "runtish".

She gave Zorah a hug and she actually believed that this might be the last time she touched his life filled body - the fight would be to the death and no matter how much she loved Zorah she did not truly know he had the strength within his muscle and sinew to take such a montrous beast alone. She had no doubt that if she was by his side with her great axe in hand that the two of them could easily dispatch the creature. She dared not cry of show the emotion that was filling her heart, her mind, her soul as this would be an automatic expulsion from the White Lions - but then again this would save Zorah - her dear, loyal companion.

She gave Zorah his commands and whispered a last loving message into his ear and tugged on his ears which he loved so much. He knew she loved him and his eyes were slightly clouded as he sensed the fear within her and this he had never sensed before. He strolled with a commanding presence into the small areana and took his ground as he stared at the cage that held the giant brown bear. The cage door was released and the bear took a moment to realize that he had been set free - so to speak. Zorah gave a mighty growl and showing no hesitation due the the immense size of his opponent charged forth and then leaped the last 30 feet to alight on top of the bear that had just made it out of the cage. Zorah had a strategy - attack quick and keep the giant off guard. This seemed to work at least for a while. Zorah would pounce, bite, and rip then leap off and dash around the areana then commence to do it all over again. It was evident that his training and quickness seemed to be winning the battle as the beheamoth of a bear was bloody and slowing. He was actually limping as one rear paw was dangling from a few tendons and totally useless to the beast.

Then it all changed - it was only a lucky upward sweep of his giant right paw that barely glanced the side of Zorah's head - but even a glancing blow from a paw so big can daze a lion for several seconds and those few precious seconds seemed like and eternity to Boudika. An eternity that was to be the end of her dear Zorah. The bear went into a frenzy as soon as he saw the lion was down and although he had only three good legs left he began charging the the downed lion and as he ran over him did a somewhat maniacal dance on top of him. Scraping and clawing and then grabbing Zorah's still limp body and tossing him into the air to catch him and toss him into the air again - and again - and again. It was this sight that made everyone ever so more aware of the true monstous size of the great bear. Archers stood by and several White Lions were on the ready to dispatch the beast when the contest was over since killing it during a blood fenzy would be the only safe course.

The beast flung Zorah's seeminly lifeless body into the air one final time and let him fall with a sickening thud to the ground then raise himself up on one rear paw and one foward par hovering his massive left paw over his head to deal what would be the final death blow to the white lion whose body was anything but white at this time. The beast gave a final roar which seemed to last for minutes and then swung down.

There was Boudika and her great axe swinging up at the same time to meet the great paw. The left paw went flying into the air and in the manner of her training she tightened ever leg muscle and sinew and pounced immediately upon the great beasts back and swung her axe in a geat cleave though the mass of the bear's forehead. It split in two with blood and brains gushing forth and futher defiling the body of her friend. The bear fell and laid bside Zorah as lifeless as he was. She climbed off the back of the bear, her axe still imbedded in his skull, and knelt beside her beloved cat. He purred softly and his eyes closed. His breathing was labored and shallow but there was still breath.

A hand fell upon her shoulder and she looked up - it was the commander of the White Lions. He motioned and several men came running out with a huge strecher. Several others wer already attending to Zorah - checking his wounds and administering herbs and poultices to the lion. "He will be taken care of. He is strong and should survive. Go and be by his side; he will need your strength as well as his."

It was a full month before Zorah was able to walk again and another six months before he was running. It took almost a full year before he was back to fighting form and released by the White Lion physicians to go home. It was just another rumor that they stated most White Lions would have died but his constant companion - Boudika - had too much love for him to let him die - again - just a rumor.

As Boudika and Zorah were leaving to go back to the village the cammander intercepted her at the gate.

"I was told you were departing for your village and I was wondering if you would like to march with the new troops that have been assigned to Avelorn - it is on their way?"

"I'm not sure I would feel, uh, comfortable doing that." Boudika lowered her head so her eyes couldn't meet his.

"Why not?', he queried, "They are your comrades in arms. You will be stationed with them."

"But...."

"It is not enough," he interrupted, "for a white lion to give his life at the mere command of his, or her, White Lion as any well trained and loyal beast will do this. But for a white lion to face undeniable death when all insticts tell them they should flee is something - well - above and beyond. I have seen lions much larger than Zorah be intimidated by the great brown bear although they will win as long as they are well trained, but to see that runt of a cub you have not flinch or hesitate was somewhat astonishing. I lost 10 gold 50 silver on that fight within the first 30 seconds. Then as if that wasn't enough, you the risk your life for your lion. If the timing of your first swing had been a fraction ofasecond off...well... You may have a white lion, you may adorn the garb of a White Lion Warrior, but the true test of both lion and warrior is understanding that the white does not mean surrender. This, you and your lion understand all too well. This can't be taught it must be in the heart of the Lion."

When Boudika marched through her village she could not show the true pride that she felt - this was not meant for a White Lion to display. It was beneath them. Besides, Zorah was showing enough pride for the both of them. She had never witnessed his head held so high. She almost smiled.

[0.1143]