Late morning, gray clouds bringing the sunlight to lilt. Posters, public criers, even solicitors heeding the recruitment office; it was clear that the supply and demand of saviors was in a bull market. Coin and glory was promised in heaps to those who'd safeguard the lands from every manner of threats, should security prevail. With that in mind, the crown sought to provide at least a modicum of support to ensure their prospective gilded champions knew which end of the sword to hold.
   
    "Meet with an officer today! Join a class to build your prowess! Get paid to learn!" goaded the paper in Baird's hand. He was unsure the honesty of those that'd take up this offer, but he knew he had the integrity. This is a great opportunity. Up until now, the towering boar would only suffer the occasional hunt-gone-wrong or misguided-hick-turned-"hero". A trained and armed opponent would be new. Still, he held confidence with his own training and physical capabilities to make up for it.

    To which all that confidence came into question once he arrive to see a crowd of humanoid beasts. Along with simply being a dozen men and women, each one had an aspect to their nature. A tiger, a hippo, a bird, a couple lizardfolk. Ahead of them all was a lone human soldier. He looked as grizzled as they come, half his head shaved to reveal a cluster of scars. He wore a raiment befitting a veteran of the military. The others' eyes of slits and bulbs were turned to each other as many simply talked amongst themselves. The time was fast approaching for the lecture to begin. Before long, all those in attendance would discover just what the kingdom expected of them. They may not demand soldiers, but they will expect adventurers!

---

Let's Get Down to Business

Amongst all these bipedal animalistic beings, the single humanoid- aside from the actual human commander- stood out. He resembled no specific animal at all first glance, as he still had the signature flat face and straight legs of human origin. Thick black hair sat just above his shoulders with the top half tied up.

After that however, the similarities ended. Eight solid colored eyes of varying sizes took in his surroundings, unblinking save for the two largest ones. Their scattered positioning allowed an extensive range of vision, though the sides conveyed only shapes and occasional color.
As he stood there, a wide mouth stretched into a grin, lip pulling away from the two fangs that already peeked out.

Anyone with a decent read on body language would see through the cheery facade. The sudden doubt made him tense. Four hands balled into fists, crumpling the very same flyer. The two eyes that did have eyelids refused to blink until they’d processed this situation he’d put himself in.
In other words, Staccato found himself doubtful of his latest plan.

It made sense as a concept. To be a proper hero, he needed to fight correctly. The flyer offered just that, and with payment to boot. He needed the funds lately…
But seeing all these beefy strangers around him already made him question his own strength… He appeared quite wiry in comparison despite matching many of their heights.
Not to mention that human’s icy stare chilled him to the bone. It’d been some time since he’d witnessed a stare like that.

Staccato tore his gaze away from that guy, and that’s when it fell onto the hulking beast that was Baird. Now that one was nothing short of impressive-

    "Alright! It's time to shape up!" the human called out. "Focus on me, if you don't want your next half-wit enemy to debate cannibalism over your dead body. I won't try and turn you into soldiers just yet, but I am not going to end up teaching a menagerie!" He seemingly wanted it clear he didn't have much respect for exotics. There was a harshness to his voice, but still, there was something about him that exuded no malice. He spoke confidently, yet without hatred, despite the words he used. This training could be quite a kick in the pants, if Baird wore any.

    The veteran continued with an even tone, "My name is Ezekiel, Sergeant of the Crown's loyal. I was tasked with doing a lightning course to give you a taste of what you could become. This isn't the first beast unit I've trained, and it won't be the last. If nothing else, you might walk away less likely to get yourselves hurt doing what you can for the people." There it is. Some bare kernel of concern. Indeed, this soldier wishes the best for the common folk.

    Ezekiel wrapped up his lesson plan with a frank demeanor, "First step is dividing into pairs. You have all likely fought animals before, but likely unintelligent ones. I'm hoping that you all are different, but that remains to be seen. Discuss your methods with your partner in how you fight. Feel free to demonstrate your techniques, if you have any." The officer darted a hand held vertically to his audience to emphasize his final point, "Do not--get carried away. Whenever you and your partner are ready, I will test your theories personally. No faster way to know your weaknesses than to have them exploited. Lecture over, get started!"

    With the last word spoken, Baird passed his gaze over the pool of possibilities. Most already linked up: a lizardman to a bear, a shark to a goat, two big cats thought to compare notes, among others. Then as he turns to one side, where eyes meet between the amalgamate boar and the lithe pseudo-arthropod. This one was different. His physiology might be hiding incredible power, who knows the sheer versatility that form must have. No time like the present to find out.

    "Baird Sickleclaw. Let's knock 'em de-, ah, bruised." he spoke in a low rasp. He held out a fleshy hand with a warming smile.

Staccato just stared at Ezekiel from a distance, a little frown furrowing his brow.
What’s with this guy’s fancy wording? Not like anyone here was a magician.
…Well, as far as he knew at least. Maybe one of these other beefy people knew a spell or two.

Normally some eloquence didn’t bother him to begin with, but the distasteful way this sergeant spoke made his fur bristle.
Indeed Staccato had stiff, coarse fur covering his limbs and back. It matched his head hair until the sun hit it just right, revealing patches of dark indigo.
At the same time, the light also revealed scattered dark plates of a keratin-like material. Seems he had a bit of natural armor to him…

Thankfully, before he could get further agitated, the attention of the arthropod abomination soon shifted to Baird, his own smile relaxing just a bit as he took the other’s hand in a firm handshake. Short, thick claws poked at the boar’s skin.



“I won’t lie, I’ve never fought someone for training before-“ a surprisingly normal voice chuckled with unease,
“I mean, things were trying to hurt me before, so this is different, but hey, I gotta prepare for the next fight somehow, yeah-?”


He caught himself before he could devolve into a ramble. Clearing his throat, he waved a dismissive hand.


“Right right right, training and strategies. Okay so, I actually got a lot of options now, like uhhh- Check this out!”



He eagerly held out a third hand. Yes, a third.
Until now, the remaining arms had moved in sync with the typical two, making them easy to glaze over.
What seemed to be two was actually four, if not six depending on what function those stubby appendages on his waist served…


That aside, that third hand suddenly shot out a series of translucent, stringy silk¹. It stuck on the ground just next to Baird, flexing and stretching with Staccato’s movements.
With one end attached to the ground and the other still tethered to his hand, it made a little tripwire between those two points.

———-

¹ (Spider silk tattoo: “A tattoo of a spider web that goes on your forearm or wrist. This tattoo can be activated to shoot out a thin string of spider web which stays attached to your wrist. The web is sticky enough to attach itself to objects, letting you pull things towards you or even swing on the web. While the web can hold an extreme amount of weight, it can easily be cut through with a weapon.” )

    Baird's face titled forward in surprise at Staccato's voice, but quickly turned to admiration as the demonstration went on. Truly a gifted creature, compared to the simple brute that is Baird. He scratched a hand across his shoulder pensively. For what could they do with their combined might? Even he could not grasp fully. "Nice stuff! I'm not big on fighting either, so I sadly hadn't got a lot of tricks up my sleeves. If I wore any." The boar spoke plainly, "But, simple ain't bad. I could wrestle a charging horse to the ground^[1] and I know how to throw proper punches. Plus, there is one thing I tend not to bring up, but this calls for it." He held out a hand to one of the falling leaves, holding it in his palm away from view of others. With a breath and some focus, ice crept up over it until it was seemingly frozen.^[2] "I don't actually freeze things, it is just a thin sheet over the surface. A simple spell for a simple man, but it equally has many uses."

    "We're good to go! Why wait?"
    "Yeah, not like you're gonna be a challenge against us!" From the cluster of beastmen, it was the two cats that spoke up, a tiger and a jaguar. They clearly had cocky attitudes, unimpressed by the sergeant's stern lecture.

    Ezekiel didn't seem to move a hair at the announcement. He eyed the pair, then motioned to a circle of bare dirt nearby. His voice thundered as he walked to one side, drawing his sword, "This sword is blunt as stone, but it'll still hurt. Treat me as a foe you intend to beat down for capture. The fight ends when one side is no longer capable of fighting or if all of one side surrenders. It counts as your surrender if you exit the ring by any means before it's over. Attack me when ready!" He lowers into a stance, one that is unorthodox for the Solarian military, and waits patiently. He stood wide, holding the blade in one hand in a high guard. His other hand was gripping the belt around his cuirass.

    The cats both rush around him, crouching into a mirrored prowl. The tiger draws close and jabs a clawed hand. Ezekiel moves like a blur from under the blow into the middle of the ring. As both of the cats cross, they split back up to flank. The jaguar now bursts for an uppercut, the tiger means to catch the dodge. Unexpectedly, the sergeant holds out a hand, grabs the jaguar by the shoulder, and pivots the two until they've swapped places as if they were at a soiree. The tiger attempts to bail on his attack, but ends up colliding awkwardly with his partner. Without missing a single opportunity, Ezekiel ducks into an explosive spin, slamming the flat of his sword into his opponents digitigrade calves. Their toe claws scrape and fling dirt meters away as both cats are sent crashing down sideways, one atop the other. The fall all but knocks the tiger out, so dazed that he can only let out pitiful groans. The jaguar clambered to the side rubbing his chest.

    The human was already back in his stance, as if he was always standing right there just as he is. "This is a textbook case of an uncoordinated attack. Just because you are felines doesn't mean you are faster than everyone else. A trained fighter isn't some whining pig you can swipe at without a plan." The jaguar glanced about, piecing together that he hadn't a chance.

    "Fine! Fine, I surrender." The lone cat walks back into the crowding audience who had a mixture of awe or indifference splashed on each face. Baird was staring with mouth agape at the sheer visceral spectacle that lasted only seconds. An aid moved to check the tiger before dragging him away.

    Relaxing his stance, the sergeant addressed the remaining pairs, "Any who did not know already, that is the difference practice makes. Continue planning, or two of you come face me." He returned to his side of the ring and drank from his waterskin.


^[1] Bull's Strength, ^[2] Ice Over