True Colors (D8, LA)

[Mandalore]

Mandalore was silent.

"H-" was all one of the others managed to get out before Mandalore silenced him with a raise of his arm.

Mandalore merely watched from behind his visor, silent and un-moving.

[Honor]

Dredgen, beside Raven, watched in awe from where he stood. He'd never.. and he knew this for if anyone else would have spoken to Mandalore in such a way, it would have been Dredgen, never witnessed something like that.

[Raven Cadera]

Raven balanced the knife's edge of rage and control as she backed off and walked away, unless stopped.

"And don't ever call me weak again. I might not be as strong as you, as any of you, but I am not weak." She said with surprising calm in her tone before she would leave the room.

[Honor]

Dredgen would follow her out, walking up behind her and joining her at her side.

[Honor]

Meanwhile..

"Mand'alor.." one of the other spoke up. About to ask a question before..

[Mandalore]

"I must not let that fire dim," he said, "We shall turn in for the night that follows. My brothers acceptance of her is true, his appraisal of her spirit was accurate. A fire that is true to any Mando'ade. With this time apart they will grow, they will learn, and perhaps one day she will soar to even greater heights with the fire that now burns in her belly."

"We are done for this day," he said, turning to his others. "I leave here proud, Brothers, Sisters. Do not mistake my intent," he explained, far from Raven's earshot.

[Raven Cadera]

As she walked away, she had a slow realization of what she had just said to Mand'alor, of all people.

"Shit..." she murmured and facepalmed herself hard enough to leave a red mark. "I just said all thats shit... to Mandalore..."

She stopped and looked up at Dredgen, unsure of why he was following her.

[Honor]

"Now.." he said, his voice still held that stunned quality. "I found respect for you in the way you fight, Raven Cadera, but I did not think another would bring me to watching in awe like you did today. That was.. beyond even me," he said, then before she could misunderstand his words beat against his chest with a solid fist. "I hate to admit being wrong, but Praxton was always right about you."

[Raven Cadera]

"What..." she wanted to say that she had just done a very stupid thing, because she had mouthed off to The Boss right to his face, and now she was more or less waiting for her eviction notice. Or beating...

"At least I gave him a piece of my mind before he kicks me out or beats me to a bloody pulp," Raven said with a sigh, placing her hands on her hips with a frustrated expression. Well, there was a brief but exasperated smile. "I blame you for being a bad influence on a kid like me." She was obviously joking.

[Honor]

"Hey," he brought up his hands, the smile evident in his tone, "only yourself to blame for choosing a bastard like me as a role-model," he laughed. Then, with a little more seriousness, "But you should not worry. If he wanted you out you'd already be out. If he wanted you beaten.. we were all already in the sparing room. A warrior must always be ready, he would have accepted no excuse. You're.. probably in the clear, and if you're lucky? He might even like you a bit more now," he said, a deep laugh.

[Raven Cadera]

"I doubt that," Raven was much more pessimistic, knowing very well that safety and comfort were fleeting things. So it probably was with belonging as well. Already she was considering if she should pack up her things completely to be ready to leave.

"I wouldn't have given any excuse though. I know I would've lost, horribly, but not without putting up a fight."

Bantha poodoo, she had wanted to show off her paint-job and now it was just... soured. "You're not as terrible as you paint yourself to be sometimes though, Brother. Anyway, I should find something sensible to do right now... maybe go beat the shit out of something or someone or go find a nexu to kill..."

[Honor]

"Perhaps not," he said, "but your situation is also far better than you think it to be. Do not forget what we are. Mando'ade stick together, Cadera. That is for later, for now.. as you say, nothing better than besting something to settle ones mind. Saw a nexu up north, if you want a new set of teeth. Other than that is up to you, Cadera."

[Raven Cadera]

She gave him a wry look. "Last time you said you saw a nexu up north to hunt, you were lying, so you better not pull my leg again."

There was a sigh, followed by a grin. It was obvious another hunt was what the doctor ordered.

"Let me get suited up, and I'll tell you about the hunt for the Sand Crab on the way..."


/fade to macho hunting?

[Honor]

"Last time it was to the south, I always speak true with north," he said, his evident grin hidden by the mask.

/fade to macho hunting!