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Wemmbu slams the mace down once again, the wooden dummy splintering into pieces while he lands back on his feet. Hey he didn't stumble this time, improvement!
He hopes Mane would be happy with the progress he's making.
The lion doesn't show affections that well, and Wemmbu is used to that, he learnt how to read Mane’s subtle reactions to know what he’s feeling and he got pretty good at it if he does say so himself.
Mane is also really strict with his training, never letting him do extra training outside of the scheduled times in the morning and afternoon, never letting him train when it's in the evening or midnight.
Wemmbu thinks that's stupid, why can't he train during those times? Won't it be beneficial for him to train more and get stronger faster so they can kill diamond players together? He huffs, grabbing his mace over his head again and dropping a wind charge underneath his feet, slamming his mace down at the broken wooden dummy.
And because he thinks it's stupid, the demon is now training a few hundred blocks away from the treehouse at midnight when he's supposed to be sleeping.
He needs to get stronger, that way he can protect Egg and himself.
"What are you doing." Wemmbu lets out a yelp, instinctively jumping up to slam his mace but a shield was held up to stop his slam. Mane raises an eyebrow, easily pushing the demon off, dusting the nonexistent dust off his outfit.
Wemmbu winces at the look Mane gives him through the blindfold, his tail flicking nervously behind him as the lion frowns. "This is the fifth time this week you went behind my back to train in the middle of the night."
Mane walks closer to Wemmbu, making the demon having to crack his neck to look at the lion. Mane flicks his forehead, ignoring the pained protest Wemmbu lets out and just starts dragging the demon by the arm, his hold tight but not painful.
"Okay- bro, Mane slow down!" Wemmbu grumbles, almost stumbling into Mane from how fast he's dragging him back to the treehouse. "No, maybe if you listened to the rules I've set for your training I would be nicer right now."
Wemmbu grumbles, but doesn't protest further and just tries to keep up with Mane speed is my speciality Pear. "Why can't I do extra training by myself, I can get stronger if I train more!" And make you proud of me.
Mane doesn't answer his question. Typical, Wemmbu huffs in annoyance, his tail whips in annoyance. "You need rest," the lion finally says, not turning around to look at Wemmbu, "how do you expect yourself to get stronger if you don't get the necessary sleep, and energy you need?"
Wemmbu just stays quiet, letting Mane continue to drag him back to the treehouse. He hates to admit it, but Mane's right. He can't expect himself to get stronger if his body isn't in its top condition to fight.
But he wants to get stronger on his own. To show Mane that he's improving more than he expected. He wants Mane to be impressed, proud of him.
He snaps out of his thought by the warm hand on the top of his head, instinctively relaxing into the warm with a purr. Mane just continues to keep his hand on Wemmbu's head while he sits him down on the couch.
Wemmbu sulks slightly when Mane pulls his hand away to grab something, missing the warmth of his mentor brother already. Mane comes back soon with a bowl of soup and a golden apple, he shoved the food onto Wemmbu's lap. "Eat." And that was an order, which Wemmbu follows with a grumble, reluctantly eating the food while the lion watches by the side, shoving golden apples into his mouth.
He can feel Mane's eyes on him, making sure he is eating everything up which isn't needed since he always finishes any food Mane makes for him.
When he finishes up, eating the golden apple, "You know I do care about you right?" Mane's voice says, oddly gentle for someone who doesn't show care much.
"Of course I know!" Wemmbu says, but he can't help his mind wandering to the times where he doesn't feel like Mane genuinely care. Like he's nothing but some annoyance that came into the lion's life.
Like he's an annoying bug that needs to be crushed.
"Wemmbu." Mane's firm voice snaps him out of that trian of thought, looking at the lion's frown. Crap, did he say something wrong? "You're a good kid Wemmbu. When you came to me for training, that means you're under my protection." The lions places his hand right between his horns, making Wemmbu melt. "You're in my care now, I'm responsible for your wellbeing okay?"
"Okay..." Wemmbu murmurs quietly, watching Mane grabbing the empty bowl and apple core to throw away before standing up from the couch to go to his room. But Mane surprises him by grabbing him by the back of his neck (like a cat) and drags him yet again.
"You're not sleeping there tonight." Mane says, like this isn't the first time he's being this affectionate with Wemmbu, unlike how he treats that old picture of him and Flame together when younger. He drags Wemmbu into his room, where his large den is in, a lion's safe space. Wemmbu looks around, the den was filled to the brim with pillows and blankets inside and the space is large enough to fit at least three people all at once.
"Uh Mane bro, are you sure that I'm welcomed here?" He asks, his tone somewhat nervous as his tail curls onto his ankle. But Mane surprises him yet again by nodding, "Bro would I let you in here if I didn't want you here? Now get in cub."
Wemmbu listens without complaining and gets into the den, closing his eyes to go to sleep. But before he falls asleep, two arms wraps around him into a warm and safe embrace, making him relax muscles he didn't even know were tense, the demon purrs softly, enjoying the warmth surrounding him like a cocoon.
He could get used to this.
Wemmbu wakes up to coldness and a loud goat horn being blown into his ear, instinctively grabbing his mace to slam whoever just woke him up so suddenly. The obnoxious laughter evaporates the rest of the drowsiness he's feeling. "Rise and shine Wemmbu!" Yungy exclaims, looking down at the demon smugly. "Get ready now, Arachnid's orders bro."
Oh how wish Wemmbu could slam his mace down onto Yungy's face until it becomes just bloodied flesh. He slowly sits up, his body sore from sleeping in a bed that isn't his size. "What are we even doing today bro..." He grumbles numbly, already reaching for the veil with web markings to put on his face.
"Well we're having a meeting with General Saparatra of course! Didn't you listen to what Arachnid told us yesterday bro?" Yungy exclaims, wrapping an arm around Wemmbu's shoulders like they're best buddies. The demon wished he could push him off, but unfortunately this chungie is his superior and he's forced to listen to him. "Sorry." Wemmbu just says, he is in fact, not sorry. He doesn't care about what Arachnid was talking about when Egg was right there, alive but looking horrible, with wings matted with grim and dirt.
Yungy continue to yap nonstop, but at least let Wemmbu go to put on his uniform and armour and he tunes out Yungy's horrible voice. A meeting with General Saparatra, leader of Cindercrest, a bitter feeling clogs his throat. Flame's working for Cindercrest.
Great, just wonderful. He has to see his stupid rival friend.
"Bro hurry up." Yungy snaps out, cutting Wemmbu's thought process. He nods, looking at its inventory to check if both maces are present before following Yungy to see Arachnid.
It is dreading what it needs to do in the future, it is alone, trapped in a cage it can't escape from. But this time, there's no one it can find comfort in. No one but itself to keep everything together.
And no mentor to save it from this mess.
With no one but itself to blame.
The worn wooden sign flashes in its mind but it pushes it away.
It has a job to do, no time for reminiscing the past.