Cerberus had started to come back up from the quiet pain of Viper's loss. He had been coming outside of Siren's room more often, spending time with his siblings again, and following after patrollers in his own practice. But since the raid, he had found some sort of new frustration after just that little bit of feeling lifted up. He had went into the practice raid expecting to make Chimera proud of him, and instead couldn't follow through. At least that's how he felt. He was still young and he hadn't actually worked on real spars, just training stances with Moccasin. He hadn't had any in fact since the ooze and since Viper was alive because she used to train him too though the majority of the time he was with Moc.

Heading to the dam he had expected more privacy rather than in the middle of the resort. But he had been coming out here for the past few days to do just the same thing. Setting up with Moc, they would clash and wrestle as he tried to tone his own skills without asking anyone else for help. There were few times that he bested Moccasin, but more often had he been stalemated by the smaller dog, or spun around until he couldn't stand anymore. "Again." He spoke out as he took steps back to face the dog again. Moc whined in response, though not out of disobeying him. Cerberus was working himself too hard, and maybe he wasn't fully recovered mentally from losing his mother. "Again!" He gritted through his teeth back at the dog in frustration. Honestly a break would have done him some good, but he needed more than that. Moccasin took stance again.

"Cerberus"

Chimera had been there for the raid, of course. He'd chosen to sit on the sidelines and observe his wolves as they pummeled the opposition. They had all done remarkably well, even those who were bested. The king didn't look down on those that had lost their spars. Everyone lost fights. It was what you did afterwards that made you a winner or a loser. If you just rolled over and took it, well... you hadn't learned a damn thing. If you fought to heighten your skill level and trained to become better, then your loss was worth it and it wasn't really a loss at all.

As Chimera made his way through the aspens, his black and white ears picked up grunting and growling. It sounded as though someone was fighting. With the recent attack on Erystotle, the beat was instantly on high alert. He moved quickly towards the sound, breaking through the foliage, Chimera came upon Cerberus training with his dog. The brutes hackles lowered and the tension within him drifted away. He watched.

The boy's frustration was evident as he worked with the mastiff. Chimera heard him say 'again' and could hear the sound that the dog made, its ears drooping. As Cerberus repeated himself, the dire brute moved forward, dismissing the poor dog with a nod of his head. He wanted a moment alone with his son. "Glad to see you're training, but why the frustration?" The brow above his blind eye lifted as he waited for a response.

"Chimera Klein"

Cerberus quickly glanced at Chimera as he approached them and motioned for Moccasin the break. He felt embarrassed to be 'caught' out here in the dam when he had wanted the solitude, though he supposed he was still in the pack lands so there was only so far he could go. His expression did not read embarrassment though, still that frustrated and almost angry look as his father questioned him.

He gritted his teeth at first, really not having an answer to what Chimera asked. But really it was just hidden right under the surface, he just didn't want to admit it. "Moccasin thinks I'm training too hard." The dog silently lowered his head in response, he wouldn't have denied either Cerberus or Chimera, but he did truly care for Cerberus' well being both physically and mentally. "I just..." He took a deep breath, still not looking towards his father, "Don't want to disappoint you next time." Chimera had never expressed such things, but it was in his mind that not only as the oldest, but just being Chimera's son he had such high standards for himself. Losing in the raid hurt his ego hard.

"Cerberus"
F2U base by Starwuff

The dog slunk away, but didn't leave completely. Gem and Meg came up and led the brute away some distance so that the two wolves could talk alone. Chimera turned his attention fully to the boy, noting the grimace of frustration. The man waited patiently for an explanation. Apparently Moccasin thought he was pushing himself too hard. Having been Viper's companion first, Chimera trusted that the mastiff knew what he was talking about. Still, he remained quiet, allowing Cerberus to finish his explanation.

The truth came to light and the massive man arched one brow, his two-toned gaze fixated on his son. "When have you ever disappointed me?" No doubt the boy was talking about the raid. What else could he be talking about? Haunches folded and the big man seated himself. "No one wins all the time. Losing give you the opportunity to learn both about yourself and your opponent." He shook his head, a slightly amused look in his eye. "Do you think I've never lost a fight?"

Chimera gave the boy a friendly knock on the shoulder with one big paw, deciding to not give him a hug instead. "I'm very proud of you. Take the lesson for what it is and you'll be better next time. Or, if you lose next time, take that lesson and continue. The best fighters know loss as well as success."

"Chimera Klein"

When Chimera had asked if he ever said Cerberus disappointed him, the boy's eyes flickered around the ground in front of him instead of looking back at his father. He couldn't help the way he felt even with his father's gentle lesson. In a held breath he spoke, but still couldn't find it in himself to look at him. "I understand." And he did, what Chimera said made full sense. Would he learn if he won all the time? Or didn't experience different types of fighting and learn from them?

He tried to smile as Chimera gave him a playful nudge, but he couldn't shake his emotions. Maybe it was just the different things he was going through. Aging, losing Viper, it was a changing time for him. He'd be a year old soon and it wouldn't stop there. "I want to... learn more." he spoke, though it didn't end with his skills in fighting. Cerberus wanted to see more of the world, meet new wolves. It wasn't necessarily that Chimera wouldn't allow him to, he was just simply too young to leave the island on his own. He didn't expect to on his own at least. "But I don't know how." He had loved everyone in their family, but he wondered how different the world was. He only had a glimpse from those that weren't tied to Fenmyre through their bloodlines.

"Cerberus"
F2U base by Starwuff

The frustration was still there even though Cerberus cracked a small smile for the briefest moment. The boy continued, stating that he wanted to learn. And not just learn; learn more. "Anything that you wish to learn, you've but to ask." Chimera's brows furrowed for a moment. Did Cerberus think that he couldn't ask for things? For lessons? If the boy wanted to expand his knowledge, Chimera would provide whatever he needed.

Perhaps learning wasn't the only thing that Cerberus wanted. Perhaps he was going stir crazy on the island. Little Ruse had expressed interest in the outside world recently, so he imagine that the thought had crossed the mind of Cerberus as well. The two-toned brute seated himself, looking down at the boy, then out across the grassy landscape. "I'll be making a trek north soon to see the territory of some prospective allies. Would you like to come as well?" If the boy had a look at diplomacy, perhaps he could make a more educated decision on what he wanted. Aside from that, he would get to taste a bit of the world. His children were much more contained than he had been at their age and sometimes Chimera forgot that.

"Chimera Klein"

It wasn't like Cerberus had really ever asked Chimera for help or training, but maybe that was more because Viper had left the task up to Moccasin. But it wasn't only fighting that he wanted to learn. Cerberus was happy where he was and would never ask for anything more, but he did have some kind of yearning to see and know more.

His tail wagged gently as Chimera offered taking him up north on his next trip, his mood seemed to lighten from that statement alone. He looked up to his father with a shine in his eye, "I'd like that." But he found himself somewhat hesitant again, pulling his gaze from Chimera and nearly biting his lip. "But honestly I... I'm kind of scared too." He wasn't quite sure of what. If it was what was out there, letting down his family or his pack. There were so many unknowns to him but he was also resilient to change as was shown in the past couple seasons with Viper's loss. Cerberus was growing up and soon would be a man after running through these emotions and adolescence that was upon him. Chimera would likely be there every step of the way.

"Cerberus"
F2U base by Starwuff