Oust was knee deep as he went through his steps all over again, his turmoil only growing more imposing all the while. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be fast enough anyway. He wasn't as strong as his father or his sister. He probably never would be...

They were always going to be there, waiting for him to find some shred of happiness so they could tear it away all over again. He had been fooling himself to believe otherwise lately, but reliving his past had reminded him of what he was. He was a spoiled pelt. He was a cursed cub that could never be more than a looming burden on his line.

Oust was destined to either be subjugated, or to be their victim. His father had broken any resistance the tiger ever tried to cling to long ago, and the tiger knew that he could not face him, that he could never actually stand up to him.

Oust was ashamed of himself for being such a coward, but he didn't have the strength to even look his father in the eye. When he dared to even think of it, the worst of his memories came rushing back, making him feel all the more ready to curl into a ball and admit he was only a weak, helpless cub. Anything so his father wouldn't hurt him like that again.

Something seized at his throat, a tingle that made his breathing feel shorter. His chest felt tighter, and a malleable panic shot daggers into his heart as the memory finally forced itself to the surface. Before the tiger could stop himself, the image flashed before him.

The shame, the humiliation, the searing pain, and betrayal of trust between parent and offspring. More tangible than anything else, however, was the ever-present fear, driven into him with the recollection of every jarring and wicked shove his father had made that unspeakable night.

The tiger clutched at his chest, finding it harder to breathe by the second. His fingertips felt numb, like they were vibrating even. His footing threatened to fail him as the water suddenly felt so heavy against his paws.

Oust fell to his knees with eyes wide as more of that night came flowing back to him. It took nearly all the control he was holding on to in that moment, but he finally managed to pull his tunic over his chest, freeing himself from what felt like the heaviest of bindings as he gasped for air that would not come.

The humid, weak breeze against his back fur offered little comfort as the beast simply locked up in the running river, desperately trying to fight whatever horrid thoughts were overtaking him.

Trying to fight off the manifestation of suppressing so many emotions, memories, and fears for such a long time. Oust was losing his battle, and the panic was consuming him. Even there, all those miles away, his father was still beating him, and Oust was too afraid to stand up to it.

"Oust?"

The tiger nearly jumped out of his hide, adding another layer of panic as he turned to see the human runt mere feet behind him. Had he been so caught up in his own thoughts he hadn't noticed him?

The human had spoken the beast's name cautiously and continued now that he got a good look at the crouching cat.

"Are you alright?"

The tiger still couldn't find the ability to speak, his worry only growing to new heights as his vulnerability was exposed to the boy of all people. Oust could only stare into Aster's eyes, pleading to just leave him be.

Aster took a single look into those scared, uncertain eyes and made his decision, taking another two steps forward. Oust glared at the human even more as a low growl escaped his throat, making the boy pause for just a moment.

He knew Oust wanted to be alone... But Oust didn't look like he should be alone in that moment. Aster took a steadying breath in and took another step forward, aiming to place his hand on the beast's exposed shoulder.

Oust turned, finding his mobility returning at the distraction, catching the boy's arm by the wrist with his staggering speed. The tiger squeezed the arm a little roughly to emphasize his point as his scowl grew, the tips of his claws digging into the skin there threateningly.

The beast narrowed his crimson eyes as he bared his fangs at the runt, giving his final warning. Aster spoke in a tone laced with sympathy. Oust hated it, or at least he wanted to.

"What do you need then?" Oust felt the panic loosen its grip the slightest bit as he stared into the boy's soft, understanding eyes. Still, there was just too much going on inside his head... He couldn't focus on what he needed, not like he was.

The tiger's eyes took on a look that Aster likened to begging, pleading for an outlet. Aster steeled himself, understanding what the tiger wanted. It was time to return a favor.

Aster pulled his arm free without resistance and turned to take a few steps back, coming to stand a few feet before the wounded beast. Aster gazed at the tiger's ivory fur gleaming beneath the moonlight.

The boy marveled at the rare sight of seeing the beast's torso exposed like it was. Oust ALWAYS kept as much of his orange tinted fur covered as possible, but Aster understood. He was ashamed of his body, too, although he couldn't personally see any faults in the tiger's coat.

It was beautifully captivating to the human. Aster could feel the vulnerability, though, so he paused to remove his own shirt, meeting the tiger on equal ground in that way. Aster raised both of his fists, a shield appearing on each. He nodded towards the beast and widened his stance just a bit.

Oust finally found something he could focus on and drew a steadying breath at last, raising his own trembling fists as he crouched slightly. The tiger exhaled slowly, his gaze locked onto the boy's own, the anticipation thicker than the humid air between them. The beast lunged as he finished releasing the breath.

Strike after strike, Oust came down upon the boy. Aster struggled to hold pace, going completely on the defensive as the beast launched his jarring assault. Aster had to abandon matching fist for fist pretty early on and switched to rotating between his two larger shields to cover more strike area. Even still, the tiger was always one blow from victory, and they were both quickly realizing it.

Oust was shifting. The fear was fading, the weight was lighter, and he wasn't thinking about his father anymore. He was far too busy looking at the runt. What began as striking by lashing out soon faded away, the motivation veering to something more.

Oust felt his chest loosen just a bit, feeling his breathing become more steady by the second despite his ongoing assault. He could feel his limbs relaxing along with his mind, his muscles reacting quicker than ever. Oust leaned in a bit and struck with his right hand, moving towards the boy's midsection with a new level of speed for him.

Aster scrambled to raise the shield and barely managed in time, taking a stumbling back step as he processed the startling swiftness of the last attack. Oust leapt back in, his thoughts giving way to clarity at last.

'It's him... The only time I ever make any progress, it's because I talk to him... The strength always comes from him.'

Oust struck hard, jabbing with his left fist as he twisted his body into the impact, Aster used both arms to brace the shield on his right side, and still felt his feet slide just a bit when it collided.

The human was quickly realizing the unsettling truth. If Oust actually landed that blow, it would have killed him. Without missing a single beat, the tiger took another step forward, driving an open palm toward the human's face.

Aster strained while catching this one as well, not certain how long he could keep this up. Oust struck again.

The beast was staring into the runt's eyes the entire time. That is what was fueling his fluid movements. That is what was driving him to move even faster, to be fast enough to lay a hand on the boy, for Oust saw it as a right he must earn.

Anything less was mere charity. Oust looked into those eyes as his fists collided against the legendary weapon, and the tiger saw many things. Aster's respect for Oust's strength. His admiration for the tiger's speed. His fear of the beast's capability.

The beast loved each and every one of these glimmers of truth reflecting back from the human king's gold-littered gaze. Oust had acknowledged the boy's strength.

The runt had practically demanded as much... If someone with power like that saw him as a worthy opponent, perhaps there was some hope for the tiger after all? Oust struck again.

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