After Ferin had confronted Xylen he went to speak with Lorque. He had never met the stag that had won Ayanel’s heart. He was very interested in meeting him for the first time. Ferin followed the path that would lead him to Lorque. After a time he came out to the lake and looked around. He smelled blood and narrowed his eyes realizing that it was the blood of Plague. He knew that Plague was the one who beat Xylen and Ferin would have loved to meet him. Yet his scent was no longer here so Ferin continued until he saw Lorque resting near the mouth of the river.

Lorque looked up questioningly and Ferin bowed to him. “Excuse me, you….are you Lorque?”. Lorque bowed to him and nodded his head. Then Lorque asked curiously how Ferin knew his name. "This forest does not keep its secrets well. That...and Ayanel is like a daughter to me…there is not much she does not tell me." he laughs nodding to the youth.

Lorque smiled at the mention of Ayanel and he knew that she meant a lot to him. Ferin couldn’t help but smile at this. Lorque then tilted his head curiously and asked Ferin his name. "Oh, pardon my rudeness, I simply forgot.", he bows, “I am Ferin.”. He smiles then looks around smelling that Elyana had been here also. “I see you have met Elyana also. Quite a shame that her brother had to ruin the meeting.” Ferin looks down and sighs greatly.

Lorque explained then about the fight between Xylen, Plague, and himself. Ferin listened carefully to every word. Lorque mentioned how it had been two against one and he had stepped out of the fight to even it out. At this Ferin looked to Lorque with much concern in his eyes. Lorque looked back at Ferin curiously and asked what he had said wrong. Ferin shook his head, “It is not what you said, but what you did, my friend.” he looked to Lorque now more carefully and spoke with concern. "My child, what you did was honorable but foolish. Xylen is a force to be reckoned with. You should have not backed down. Xylen will now think you are a coward and he will search for you and challenge you.", he sighs thinking briskly. "I will try and have a word with him. He respects me, for he knows who I am and my background. I doubt that will help though. Hmm..."

Lorque mentioned how he thought Xylen had learned his lesson. Ferin shook his head and explained that Xylen is very headstrong. Lorque then mentioned that if he had to fight Xylen that he would. Ferin thought for a moment then looked to Lorque. "Fight me, Lorque. I have fought Xylen before and know how he moves. I will show you how you can avoid his attacks if or rather when he comes after you again". Lorque looked to Ferin with curiosity. He seemed nervous to accept the offer but Ferin quickly explained it would be a friendly spar. Lorque said that he had never fought before, yet he would accept this spar.
Ferin smiled and nodded. “Personally, I love a good sparring match, but I cannot go all out on you for that will only harm you. Only Xylen and one other have seen me angered...and Xylen only lasted seconds against my fury."

Ferin moved off to a secluded spot in the forest and looked to Lorque whom seemed very excited to be doing this. Lorque had never even sparred, and like all other young stags, was excited to learn. Ferin smiles, "Now.. the first thing you need to learn is that Xylen will always try to find an opening to get at your back. NEVER show your back to an enemy: Rule number one.", with that, he leapt over Lorque and laughed at seeing Lorque somewhat confused to what just happened. Ferin laughed as Lorque turned around. “Let’s try that again.” Ferin spoke as he leapt behind Lorque again. Ferin laughed when Lorque turned around much quicker that time.

After some time of practicing his defense, Ferin nodded and spoke again "Rule number two: he never guards himself well, so try and get at his back whenever you can." he speaks softly and wisely. His wisdom of fighting Xylen once before spilling forth, "rule number three: never EVER stand in front of his antlers when he is bowing his head. They can cause severe damage. I have seen many deer fall to his antlers. I myself had to stop him from killing one stag in particular."

Lorque nodded his head in understanding. "Rule number four: Make sure to keep your distance even when he is surrendering. He is known to give cheap shots. Very dishonorable" he says this with a bit of venom obviously stating that Xylen had done it to him. "and rule number five: No matter what, do not let your feelings overwhelm you. From the beginning, act as if you are fighting for your life. Then when he surrenders let him up, but DO NOT let your guard down. If he thinks you’re weak he will try and attack again"

Lorque listened to every word nodding and understanding fully. Ferin nodded to him as he backed a way a few paces "From now on I will be your sensei, until you have learned all that I can teach you. Be aware I will come at you with all I have to offer. I will be slow at first then build myself up, understood?" Lorque nodded his head stating that he felt honored to be learning from Ferin.

Ferin steps back readying himself, then faces the youth. "Do not take any pity on me, I am a seasoned fighter...I will bow again when I feel you have learned enough.". With those final words Ferin bows to his student and stared at him as Lorque did the same. Without a word Ferin leapt over Lorque quickly rearing about to land on Lorque who dodged out of the way.

“Lesson 1...” Ferin thought in his head. Lorque then came at him and Ferin dodged quickly out of the way. They circled each other a moment and Ferin moved in suddenly just grazing Lorque’s back with his antlers. Lorque moved out of the way getting under Ferin who quickly reared before Lorque could come up with his antlers. “Good!” Ferin laughed as they continued. Lorque was learning quickly, he saw and smiled as they continued. Lorque managed a few good hits on Ferin. Lorque’s antlers where like brass knuckled fists. If any Stag where at the receiving end they would most possibly be knocked to their knees in less then a second and Ferin knew this. He kept his distance from them encouraging Lorque to continue.

The fight continued for a while until Lorque managed to get behind Ferin tripping him. Ferin fell to one knee and laughed in amazement. He then backed away and bowed to Lorque laughing “You did much better than I thought you would”. Lorque seemed stronger already and stood up proudly to Ferin’s praise. Ferin smiled then thought a moment. This was not enough. He knew what Xylen could do to Lorque and sighed. Lorque seemed confused as Ferin stared him down.

Ferin then spoke calmly, "You have done well.. But it is not enough… I am going to have to fight you as if I were Xylen. I will have to…use something against you…but I must…If you are going to learn to truly defend yourself against him...Xylen won’t hold back, so neither will I."

Lorque nodded willing to go again. He did not know what to expect from Ferin but he seemed eager to learn more. "I will try and call everything I have to fight you…hold your own…I will only do this for a few minutes...I might lose control if it is for too long..." Ferin says this backing away carefully. Already a change with Ferin‘s body could be seen. He seemed to be getting somewhat stronger. "I will most possibly harm you...I will do what I can to keep myself in control. If I start to lose control I will surrender immediately as to not kill you…understand?" his voice at the end seemed to change. His voice seemed to become more vicious. Like a snake about to strike its prey.

A red mist covered his body converging around his face and antlers. His antlers seemed to be stretching large and larger. His face loosing skin and muscle. The mist began to settle around his head then exploded outwards. Ferin was changed his face now a skull his antlers a blood red and enormous. Red dragonic eyes stared towards Lorque.

"Now, boy…" he hisses his voice reverberating with a bloody intent his eyes red with fury "FIGHT ME AND DO NOT DIE!!" he roars his last words like an explosion of thunder, suddenly springing forwards. Lorque dodged quickly out of the way nearly being trampled in the process by Ferin who attacked with immense fury. Ferin turned and snapped at Lorque who had gotten behind him. Lorque backed out of the way and leapt around Ferin and reared slamming down on Ferin’s backside. Ferin hissed as he turned slamming his antlers into Lorque’s body then shaking furiously as chunks of fur and skin fell from Lorque who quickly got out of the way of Ferin’s deadly antlers.

Lorque understood now why it was dangerous to be in front of antlers so large. Ferin leapt at him again and Lorque went under and slammed his antlers upwards into Ferin’s stomach. Lorque quickly backed away then as Ferin tried to retaliate by stomping downwards. They kept at it for a long time and Ferin and Lorque continued the spar until Ferin nearly went to far. His antlers having ripped into Lorque much to deep. Lorque fell back in pain and Ferin quickly backed away and with much force he forced his own body down to the ground.

“Back... away boy..... stay back.... let me calm.... myself..…” he said, his voice seeming to want to come back over the raspy thundering voice. Lorque breathed heavily with exhaustion, and moved a few steps away. Ferin begins to calm his breathing and the flames behind the skull eyes vanish slowly. After they had gone completely Ferin stood up. His face and antlers still the same monstrous ones, but his voice and eyes back to normal. "Boy... you fought well... You lasted longer then I thought you could" he says this standing slowly to his feet. Lorque nods, mentioning how he should have paid more attention as he licked some fresh wounds on his body.

“Think of those wounds as a success. You lasted well against me. I am proud to have you as my student" he smiles and nods to Lorque. "come now... let us wash those wounds of yours." With that they both walk towards the lake and Ferin helps wash the wounds away. He had thought of healing them. Yet he knew that Lorque needed to feel the pain, needed to register it so he would not be so surprised next time. The wounds would toughen him. Ferin knew this as he continued to help Lorque.

Ferin looks to Lorque and speaks smiling "Xylen will have an excellent match. For the next time he decides to attack you, you will be ready for him." Lorque nodded proudly. With that Ferin stands up and bows to Lorque. "Well my dear friend our lesson is done and I am growing quite weary. I need to go and rest." He wanders off towards the ruins and falls asleep in his usual spot.

He awoke after some time and smiled noticing the scent of a doe he had met a few times and went towards her. “Ah Riza…” He said softly and smiled nuzzling the lovely doe. “I have not seen you for a time.” he smiles at her and she smiles back. He felt like he was growing close to her and found himself thinking of her often. After he had spent some time with her he bowed and left to go rest again.

He thought a moment about the doe then his mind wandered to other does he had met in the forest. He suddenly stopped laughing to himself, “Ferin, old boy that is enough. Your’re acting like one of those young stags.. You know very well they’re much too young and would rather have a young stag, than an old goat like you.”

He laughed to himself, but continued to think. Maybe he should find himself someone. He shook the idea from his head laughing again and settled in for the night. He was about to sleep when he heard Xylen and Elyana arguing in the distance. Then he sensed Elyana’s presence suddenly leave Xylen. Ferin narrows his eyes knowing exactly what Xylen had done. What would happen now that she had left him. Ferin knew something was about to happen. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day…”, he whispered to himself as he settled off to finally sleep.