Misery was taking Mac back out of the pack land once again!  It was for the best in so many ways.  It was bound to make Mac enjoy being with Misery all the more for one perk and as another, he wanted to keep Mac’s training individual.  If the other kids wanted Misery’s help then they’d have to learn to give him respect and work for him as well.  Misery wasn’t able to throw away those he disliked but he could choose which grew strongest by his aid.

This time he didn’t even make the boy carry anything so he could have more energy when they reached their location!  Soon enough Misery would be off spying and playing a good pack member elsewhere so he needed to work the boy hard now while he could.  He needed to teach the kid to have full faith in him, how to be extremely observant, and how to train himself while Misery was gone.

He'd stop once they reached the base of the falls, similar to where they’d seen the ghost last time.  Once the main lesson was over they could perhaps do some more roaming farther out.  “Alright Mac, today we are doing something a bit more basic.  Something I think you’ll enjoy.”   Misery smirked already knowing the kid would love it.  “We get to spar, see how good you are.”   Truth was Misery hadn’t focused too much on fighting, preferring to work his mind but this would be good for the boy.  “I’m not the best in the pack, at least in terms of fighting.  However the more wolves you spar with the better for learning to adjust to different styles.”

Misery gave a thin smile, “I want you to be the best Macabre.  Don’t let me down.”  He was letting the boy know he was counting in him, hopefully, that idea would sink in.  “Think you can?”


"Misery"

Mac always looked forward to training with his older brother. The peckled child was beginning to look up to him more by the day, even moreso than the rest of his siblings. As they headed towards the familiar figure of the falls, the child smirked to himself, feeling quite superior to the rest of his littermates. Yeah, sure, they could think all they wanted - they all believed he was just being used. And somewhere, deep inside, he knew that but simply didn’t care. It was a mutual relationship. He didn things for Misery, and in return for his work, Misery would teach him things as well. That’s how life worked, as far as the young boy had seen in his short life; in order to receive what you wanted, you needed to provide something in return. So yeah, even if it meant he had to do chores and whatnot for his older brother, he knew it was because it would all pay off in time. And his siblings would see how strong he’d become, and he didn’t need any tiger claws or a large body for that. He’d be strong from raw strength and practice.

As they approached the base of the falls, the boy listened as Misery explain what they’d be doing. His tail wagged in the imoending excitement, his wide grin curling his lips. The word ‘spar’ was like the word ‘food’ to a dog - he fought to keep himself from wiggling enthusiastically. He’d be sparring with his older brother, the coolest brother ever! And a private lesson at that, all to himself - how lucky was he? Though Mis mentioned he wasn’t the best fighter, but it was good practice to fight wolves with differing combat styles, Mac nodded aggreably. And his siblings thought he was the fool? No, they were, for thinking he was just being led around. He’d get better and stronger under his older brother’s guidance, and he’d have the last laugh.

"I want you to be the best, Macabre..don’t let me down. Think you can?" Mis asked him. Mac dipped into a play bow, tail wagging and face bright and energetic. "Yeah! Let’s do this!" He chirped, ready to go. Whether Misery needed him to start the first move or quickly assess the opponent at hand first, he didn’t know. But he was ready for anything, and it was fun all the while.

Misery smirked but offered a pleasing look of silent praise on Mac.  For a second he kept the smile up and then he quickly used his paw to fling dirt in his younger brother’s face.  With that same motion, Misery stepped, aiming to shove his body into Mac’s shoulder.  If it connected he’d expect it to send the pup sprawling.  Eventually, he expected Mac would grow larger than him but for today misery had the height and he’d make use of it.

Was he playing dirty? Quite literally.  Assuming wolves would play nicely in a real battle was naïve and so it shouldn’t be expected in a spar.  Anyway, hopefully, Mac would also learn how to play dirty and be inventive.

Misery vs Macabre for spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Small
Build: Light
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Expert Intellectual

"Misery"

Mac saw the pride in Misery’s eyes, but not before he began the spar. Before the boy could leap towards him, a clod of dirt flew into his eyes and mouth. He coughed as he felt his brither’s shoulder collide with his body, sending him flying. He caught himself, albeit awkwardly, scrambling to his little legs to asses his next move.

With a smirk, the boy realized he did have one advantage - surprisingly he found it within his size. Being smaller, he could get into the weak spots of a larger opponent that otherwise couldn’t be easily accessed by a wolf of the same size. In general, he’d only grow to be a bit larger than Misery as an adult, so this could still work in other spars in the end. Only time would tell.

The speckled child, during his impact, skimmed the earth, creating a rift of dust that surrounded them. He then skidded into a roll to get beneath Misery as quick as a flash, aiming to thrust his hind legs into the older wolf’s abdomen. Certainly not enough to cause damage, but enough to be an annoying, albeit surprising little kick.


Macabre vs Misery for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Under six months
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual

Sure enough, the kid went sprawling and kicked up a dust cloud at that.  Misery was fighting a child, like a really young child so he couldn’t exactly go all out.   Mac was a pup he didn’t want to accidentally kill after all.  The black and silver wolf got a surprise when Mac quickly recovered so that he rolled under Misery then kicked upwards. Misery’s brow shot up in surprise and he bounced back a few paces.  Surprise turned to irritation and amusement.

Misery strode forwarded right at Mac and attempted to bite to the side of Mac’s next, if the bite connected he’d try to use his weight and teeth to force Mac to the ground.  So, how much was Mac training to fight without Misery’s help?

Misery vs Macabre for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Small
Build: Light
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Expert Intellectual

"Misery"

Mac smirked with satisfaction as his kick impacted Misery’s abdomen, making him jump back in response. Quickly, he rolled to his feet and saw the look of irritation and amusement in his older brother’s face, only fueling his ego. He really didn’t mind when others were a bit annoyed with him - he simply didn’t have any shame or self-consciousness to speak of that would make him feel such a thing. Mac was Mac, he didn’t need to change who he was for anybody. Quickly, though, his eyes widened as the larger wolf aimed to make purchase with his teeth on the boy’s neck, and although he did try to force his way out with a quick jerk of his head, he was forced onto the ground. In this instance, being bigger had its perks.

Even there, on the earth, the speckled child refused to submit. Even with the male’s weight pressing in him, and his attempts would possibly be fruitless knowing Misery’s superior size and strength, he still aimed to forcefully twist his way out. He was reckless, alright, but not weak. He wouldn’t quit if he saw an option to win still dangling in front of him. If the rolling didn’t work, he’d aim to swerve his neck to and fro, not frantically, but in an almost calculated manner, in hopes of making it harder for the male’s jaw to cling on, knowing his brother wouldn’t press down enough to harm him, and wriggle out that way, like some worm. And a slimey little worm he was. Because he was a little turd of a kid - and who wasn’t as a pup?

Macabre vs Misery for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual

And the winner is...

Misery

Macabre must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Misery: Attack Roll: 98 Defense Roll: 94 Agility Roll: 5 Perception Roll: 77 Total: 274 Attack[98] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 98.00 Defense[94] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 94.00 Agility[5] + 10% Bonus[0.50]: 5.50 Perception[77] + 20% Bonus[15.40]: 92.40 Total[289.90] + 10% Bonus[28.99]: 318.89 Macabre: Attack Roll: 11 Defense Roll: 9 Agility Roll: 93 Perception Roll: 85 Total: 198 Attack[11] + 10% Bonus[1.10]: 12.10 Defense[9] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 9.00 Agility[93] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 93.00 Perception[85] + 10% Bonus[8.50]: 93.50 Total[207.60] + -30% Bonus[-62.28]: 145.32