In the distance the blackbuck trotted toward the stones. He was told to come here, though he wasn't entirely sure what Queze had in store for him. His broken antlers were more rounded now, from the training he received the other day from Sianna, Leviathann, and Darkweaver, and though not very noticeable underneath the thick fur on his body, he was starting to replace excess fat with stronger muscle. The amount of running he was made to do did help him with breathing better, but he still was nowhere near ready to fight in the Rut.

He then saw Queze resting in the shade. Upon approach, Quad immediately bowed (though taking a moment to catch his breath from the walk), and then greeted him, "Hello Queze. I'm ready to begin your training." He swayed a little here, shifting his weight on his legs.

The blackbuck was intrigued here. He's trained in physical activity, but having a knowledge base on where to attack his opponent would be extremely helpful. He knew he was in the presence of a well-trained teacher.

He nodded his head here, "This is certainly going to be useful, I am very happy to learn what you have in mind. I hope, though...", he gulps here, "...that you don't use me as an example of where to attack."

It was a foolish thing to say, but he was truly afraid that Queze would show him these weak points by actually attacking Quad in those places. He was ignorant in how these kinds of teachings work (he thought a spar was a fight to the death, for example).

But he was there to learn. "I suppose...if that is the way I am to learn, then I'm here fully. I apologize, I didn't mean to be rude.", he speaks, hoping he wouldn't later dread his words.

Quad shuddered here, but trusted Queze to his word. He nodded and did what his teacher asked, taking a stance as he remembers from the training he had before. He digs his hooves into the dirt as to keep his opponent from pushing him back, and he lowers what is left of his antlers in preparation, ready to clash with those of his opponents. He remembers something Darkweaver mentioned about being ready to lash out at his sides in case the other deer tried to get around him.

"I'm ready.", he said, his voice cracking just a little. Even with everything he is trying to remember, he is extremely nervous.

Quad's body shivers a little here. Just imagining his organs punctured through the ribs was terrifying to him. He can only imagine how painful it could be. He especially considers if his lungs were stabbed, and being unable to breathe. "I'll remember not to let my ribs get stabbed. I've been told my chest is pretty strong so I can fend off attacks if i get hit there, but I remember being told not to let my throat become exposed either.", he speaks here.

Then he listens to the other tactic, sweeping the opponent off their feet. He nods here, and remembers another tactic he was told - jabbing outward if his opponent tries to run past his sides. He can definitely combine this idea with Queze's tip of swiping at the legs. "I can certainly use this to my advantage, I did not even consider attacking their legs. I'm glad there is an advantage I can use there." He smiles here, actually quite pleased that there's a tactic that fits him well. He nods in approval here.

He does consider this, and does have something to ask. "You said, 'it is dangerous to expect your opponent to play by your rules.' Does this mean that it is acceptable to fight dirty? Or should I still retain the honor code I would expect from my opponent?"

He steps back here, "I ask this...because I have some gifts from the Twin Gods, and I don't know if using them would be fair to my opponent." As he finishes his sentence, his back morphs, and four great wings spread out. "I assure you, I plan to fight fair myself, but if my Grand Talux powers are needed...if I'm in danger...I will use them. Please, allow me to demonstrate, but shield your eyes."

As he says this, his body illuminates brightly, his fur turning pure white and radiating light outward. The ability is powerful against Iugulare and her infection, but is harmless toward anyone else. It is, however, near-blinding and could be used as a distraction when needed.

The light subsides, and Quad's wings retract and vanish into his back. "I just want to know how fair or unfair it would be to use these powers. Would they be better left in an emergency? Or should I use them as often as I need to?"

"Oddly enough, I can see just fine when I release these light bursts. I'm often in the air when I'm using the power so I need to keep my eyes open so I can see where I am going. I understand your concern with those who do not use their eyes...I will keep that in mind when...if I ever use this in a fight. And as for flight..."

He takes a step back, without speaking, the wings flourishing out once again. A few flaps and he lifts off, hovering above the ground for a brief moment before he takes to the sky. Quad may not have all the skills necessary for fighting with his antlers, but in the air he is impressive. He has had plenty of experience flying, though he still can be sluggish due to his weight. His small size compensates this, however.

With a graceful landing he seems to gallop toward Queze, slowing to a halt, leaving the wings out now.

"I will consider this about honor...I want to be fair in a fight, but if a deer clearly outmatches me, I will use these powers to even the odds against me. I swear to that.", he speaks.

Quad's head lowers here. He has been asked this before, and he has a two-fold answer. "Well...I had a doe once, one who chose me for who I am, and I never had any conflicts with her. I never had to defend her. She left the Endless Forest, and since then, I've felt nothing but emptiness in my life.

I have never participated in the Rut, but I've seen these strong, brave stags fighting one another over does, winning them over. And I thought this may be my chance to really impress someone...to be loved again like Mazey loved me. But It's not only this, I want to be able to defend her if she were ever in danger.

The other side of this is that I'm a coward. I will admit I am. When I see fights unfolding, I run away. I fear physical pain, and fear aggression. But this is why I want to learn, to gain more confidence, to be able to stand close by while a fight is going on and watch rather than run away like I do. But most importantly, to prove that I truly am someone of use, and that my antlers are not going to waste."

He pauses here. He spoke a mouthful, and has to catch his breath. It was apparent that, foolish or not, he was passionate about this quest for learning.

He nods in return. "I know that now. I wasn't thinking when I broke them off, I told myself that I was undeserving of them, but now I know I had every right to wear them, because I am learning how to use them.", he says, sighing here, "They'll grow back, I am hoping, by the time the Rut comes. If they don't, then all this preparation has gone to waste..."

It was natural for Quad to easily become discouraged and see things as failure rather than progress.

"I've never used them against another deer, only against the darkness and infection that plagues our Forest. Others should know I have these powers, and I doubt they would be afraid of me. The light is harmless to uninfected creatures, but I'm sure it can be more of an annoyance if they have to protect their eyes from the light. And as far as my wings...", he lets them unfold again so Queze can see them properly, "I don't see how they could instill any kind of fear. I really only see flying away as an escape route when in danger, otherwise I don't know what use they would be in fighting..."

He folds the wings down to his sides, and looks at them curiously, "Although they could shield my body from any side attacks...I'd rather one of my wings get damaged than an organ inside." He sighs again, "Of course, I'd much rather neither happen."

((Sorry for the late reply))

The blackbuck nods here. He will remember these words and the lessons Queze taught well. He bows and says, "That's all I have to ask. Thank you for these lessons and words of advice. I will not forget them." The blackbuck smiles here, a little more knowledge in mind to aid in perfecting his fighting technique.