Becoming a father, Aresenn had no idea how great of a challenge it would become. And something deep inside told him that it was likely only going to get worse from here on out. So together, he and Absinth had mad the decision to get as much of a head start on acclimating their spawn to life as they could. The constant vigilance and training that these kids were going to require, well, it was no wonder his Dad took off. But the difference between himself and Ignis was his own personal dedication. His dedication to Absinth. His dedication to his pups. Aresenn was going to be better than his own father- and he’d be damned if he didn’t prove it. They were all still too young to be straying all that far from the den, so when he found a good flat spot not all that far away, he called them to join him.

Once enough of them had gathered, he would begin- making special note of who answered him, and who did not. “Before we start,” he began, his tone lower than the ambient sounds of nature that filled the air around them. The authoritative, demanding aura about him made the puppies fall silent, their attention undivided. “Let's get one thing straight. This isn't a game. When it comes to a real fight, you either survive or you don’t.” There was no sugarcoating there, only the unfiltered truth. For a moment, he observed their reactions, gauging their understanding through their young eyes. “So as we go forward- as we practice, we aren’t playing. You can play later. We are training. And training is something to be taken seriously.”

As Aresenn spoke, his eyes swept over the motley gathering of pups. Some stared back at him intently, their young faces hardened in determination. Others looked down at the ground, uncomfortably shifting under his piercing gaze. He didn’t expect them all to understand, not yet. They were children, after all. "But in time, you will understand. You will see the importance of what I am teaching you," Aresenn continued, his voice carrying a note of underlying resolve. "And when that time comes, you'll be grateful for the harsh lessons. You'll realize they have saved your lives."

He held their gazes, his stone-cold stare unwavering, challenging each of them in turn. “The first step to winning any sort of fight is strategy. It’s not about being the strongest or the fastest. It’s about outsmarting whoever it is you're fighting, using your surroundings, using your strengths.” His words echoed through the quiet forest, each syllable resonating with an inherent truth that even the youngest among them couldn't deny. “You have to be smarter than your enemy, and never, ever underestimate them." Aresenn paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before he continued. His stern gaze swept over them, driving home his point. “Going in headfirst without thinking, will get you killed."

"Aresenn Praetor"

Sericea watched her father, her expressive acidic eyes wide and attentive. Her brows furrowed, drinking in his words with a seriousness that was being asked of her. A small shiver ran through her soft red fur as the weight of his words settled in. Although she lacked the physical strength and experience of her father, her mind was sharp, ready to absorb the lessons he imparted.

“Strategy,” she repeated, testing the word in her mouth. The phrase felt heavy, invested with a solemnity that was new to her. "There is a strategy in playing though, isn’t there Daddy?" she asked, tilting her head to one side as she tried to draw a conclusion on her own. Even if he was saying that now was not the time to play. It did make sense for their lesson right?

"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"

Dracun was in the midst of a hunt, although his prey was nothing to write home about if he weren't a pup. As a small winter bird sat perched on a rock, the boy peered over the rock he hid behind. He was careful, moving quietly into the position to pounce and unnoticed by the bird. He was lucky, either he was damn good at this or the bird was about to win its very own Darwin Award.

Muscled coiled before he launched, though the sound of his fathers call startled the bird as well as Dracun. His pounce was a failure in his eyes, although he had managed to pluck a few tail feathers from the bird before it got away. He supposed it wasn't a total loss, but still not as good as a whole bird to show his father and siblings.

Picking them up anyway, he carried them off and towards the sound of the call. As he arrived, he noticed a sister had beaten him here. Annoyed that he wasn't first (definitely fueled by his already annoyed mood), Dracun plopped his rump down and waited until it was time to start, then intently listened. He had been looking forward to these promised lessons, and considering this lesson was clearly going to be about fighting it did manage to perk up his mood if only just a little. Maybe he could learn to outsmart that stupid bird.

"Speech!"


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His fathers call rang out with power, easily garnering Ludovic’s attention as the boy bounded towards the source of the summons. Once perfectly present for the lesson, this time deciding not to bare his teeth at Sericea or Dracun; but instead the boy tried to bump past both like he was too big not too (a lie), he sat, his eyes fixed on his father with a smug smirk. The gravity in Aresenn's voice was unmistakable, a clear indication of the seriousness of the lesson ahead. Ludovic's mismatched gaze gleamed with a mix of curiosity and determination, ready to absorb every word.

As Aresenn began, Ludovic noted the authority in his tone, the way it commanded respect and attention. Maybe it was because he was the Emir, and not just because it was his dad voice? The stark reality of his words about survival struck Ludovic. He understood, even at his young age, that life was not a game. It was a constant battle, or at least that was the impression his parents had given. Fun mixed in and all.

When his father emphasized the importance of strategy, Ludovic felt a flicker of excitement, charcoal tail flicking behind him as he fought off the anxious energy within his body. This was something he inherently understood. He had always been observant, always weighing options and considering the best course of action. But how to balance the two? How to ensure he was both strong and smart in his actions?

He wanted to show his father that he was serious about these lessons, that he was ready to take on the challenges ahead. Ludovic's gaze never wavered, meeting Aresenn's stone-cold stare with his own determined one.


ludoviciana

No. Absolutely not. Her father had called them. Xina was not attending. She just happened to be close by, following her brother Ludo. When he bounded to answer the summons she just happened to be following HIM. But no, she was not attending some stupid lesson, she was...

Why wasn't it a game? She held her tongue but was half glaring at her father, he needed to prove to her this wasn't a game. He said training wouldn't be playing, so she stuck her nose up proudly and decided she was going to prove HIM wrong. She'll have fun with his training anyway! She can save her own life without his stinky lessons!

The white tip of Dracun's tail caught her attention and she pinned it down hard with a grin. Her strategy was going to be pissing off her siblings so she could win this game!

Another day, another lesson. Only this time, it was their father who was summoning them, having found a small clearing near their den to serve as his pedestal. Abyss was already nearby, rummaging through the underbrush. So it didn’t take long for them to arrive, and yet, they were dead last. Hmpf. A look of indifference is on their face, but inside, they are irritated with their tardiness. Straightening up, taking a seat, and turning their attention to Aresenn, they feel the palpable shift in the atmosphere occur. Aresenn was being authoritative, commanding their attention and Abyss’ gaze didn’t waiver from their father.

Fighting wasn’t a game- common sense to most, but to young pups, games were all they knew. Play fighting, wrestling, pretend stalking; all games Abyss played with their siblings. But today would not be a game. Father wanted them to understand the importance of understanding that their survival would depend on how well they fought. And it needed to be taken seriously.

Nodding, Abyss absorbs every word their father says. Strategy is the first step, and outsmarting an opponent while utilizing personal strengths is the key to winning fights. Sericea speaks up, and Abyss shifts their gaze to her, waiting to see how their father would respond.

"Speech"

Xairo had been skulking in the background, his eyes honed on the imposing figure of their father. Unlike his siblings, he did not rush to answer the summons. There was something about Aresenn's authority that made him pause, a quiet rebellion simmering within his young heart. His mismatched eyes glinted with a spark of defiance as he padded silently towards the clearing, his tail flicking low. Leaning against a lichen-covered boulder near the back, Xairo remained silent, observing the scene unfolding before him. His gaze slid from one sibling to another, his interest piqued by the way each one was reacting to their father's words.

But as Aresenn continued to speak, Xairo remained silent, studying the Emir with a quiet intensity. He listened with rapt attention as their father spoke of strategy and strength, the importance of wit over power. It was a lesson he took to heart.

"Xairo Saxe"

Ravana’s dark fur shimmered under the dappled sunlight of the sound and its forest as she stepped closer to Aresenn, her wide, curious eyes filled with a mix of defiance and respect. She absorbed his every word, her sharp mind already turning over the implications of his teachings.

Her attention shifted to her siblings, noting their varied reactions. Ravana’s mind was a whirlwind of strategies and plans. She internalized the importance of outsmarting opponents, understanding the crucial balance between strength and cunning. Though she hardly had experience to compare his lesson to.

With a quiet resolve, she squared her shoulders, her posture already mimicking the confidence and authority she saw in Aresenn, her father. Her gaze met his unwaveringly, the spark of future malice and ambition clear in her young eyes. She was ready to take on the harsh lessons, eager to prove herself and to dominate in the way she had been born to.


ravana

Another summons, only this time, it was Aresenn calling for the group of little heathens. Zagan was near the ocean inlet, studying a group of belugas swimming in the shallows. Even if Aresenn was considered a parental figure to the boy, he hesitated to heed his call- a stroke of defiance rushing through him. Aresenn is not the Sultan. But again, Zagan is a curious creature, and a boy who resented the thought of being left behind.

With his wool coat strapped on tight, he made his way to the gathering, walking at a leisurely pace. When he arrived, most of his siblings and littermates had arrived, and in his usual fashion, Zagan pushed his way to the front and sat down before Aresenn. He was teaching about fighting strategies, emphasizing the importance of being smarter than your enemy. Zagan absorbed the information, a single, elongated ear flicking on top of his head.

"Speech"

Aresenn blinked, his stern expression softening momentarily at Sericea's question. A small smile briefly tugged at the corner of his lips before it disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Yes, Sericea, that is correct," he conceded, his tone flat. “But we aren’t playing right now. We are training.” He stated a little more forcefully as his attention settled on Xi trying to antagonize her brother. “And if it’s too hard to pay attention, then you may return to the den for the rest of the afternoon, Araxina.” Aresenn was serious, and he was fully prepared to follow up on consequences in the event she chose to try and call a bluff.

“Every situation is different, every fight unique. You need to learn to adapt, to respond to changing circumstances.” Aresenn’s voice was firm, his words a command rather than a mere suggestion. He paced around the small gathering of pups, his powerful figure dominating their collective attention. “You need to learn your enemy.” He glanced to the terrain around them, the mossy forest floor and towering old growth trees. "Learn their habits, their strengths, their weaknesses. Every bit of information is valuable." Aresenn's gaze was as hard and cold as the winter landscape that surrounded them. "You need to learn how to turn their strengths into your advantage, and their weaknesses into their downfall. You see, strategy isn't about the fight itself - it's about everything leading up to it."

With that, he extended a nail, tracing patterns in the moss beneath them. "You need to know when to strike and when to hold back. When to pursue and when to retreat. Timing is everything in a fight, and you often get only one chance. One moment of hesitation, one wrong move, and it’s over." His distant amber eyes reflected the winter sun as they swept over his audience, gauging their reactions to his harsh teaching. “So once you have taken as much information you can regarding a fight into consideration, then you can begin to form a strategy.” Aresenn’s voice cut through the crisp winter air, the rawness of his lessons striking hard in their tender hearts. He looked at the pups before him, their innocent features bathed in the light of the sun. The world was a cruel place, and if he could do nothing else but prepare his kids for it, he would consider this all to be a success.

"Aresenn Praetor"

What?? She gaped her mouth open at her father and clapped it shut. Ohh he was serious. Why'd he single HER out?? She glanced around and saw her other siblings paying careful attention to the lesson.

She scrunched her nose and laid off her brother's tail. She sat up with her nose in the air. She wasn't going to miss this! Not when everyone else was being a part of it!

It looked like she was glaring at her father but really she was trying to focus on his words for once. Adapt, respond. Learn the enemy. One wrong move and it could all be over? Really? She noticed her siblings were all stoic, as if listening to these lessons where easy for them. She couldn't keep her paws from moving, subtly kneading the ground with her claws. Learn when to pursue and when to retreat...

Zagan’s bi-colored gaze shifted to Araxina, eyes narrowing as he shot daggers in her direction. A streak of anger rushed through him- a visceral reaction to her outward disrespect. If she was going to act like an imbecile, she could leave. Even Aresenn was quick to dismiss her, but she quickly straightened up and shut her mouth. Good.

His gaze shifted back to Aresenn, focusing on his teachings to absorb every word, to understand the meaning. Every fighting situation was different, which was a given- adapting to changing circumstances was a necessity. Leaning their enemy was an important tool in the art of war and battle- knowing their strengths, weaknesses, and habits. Whatever they could exploit to gain power over their enemy. Zagan liked the sound of that.

When to strike, and when to hold back. Truly, Zagan couldn’t see himself holding back against an enemy. There would be no hesitation, no remorse in the young boy's soul. He would be a relentless foe.


"Speech"

Ravana stifled a smirk as Aresenn verbally shot Xi in the foot, her tail thumping once against the ground as she refocused her attention on the lesson. It was about adapting to change given each and every situation. She leaned in, her eyes a disturbing display of wide and intense. She was locking the information away for later use.

Her father continued, pacing around the small gathering, his powerful figure dominating their collective attention. Ravana followed his movements closely, her mind a whirlwind of strategies and plans. Or at least the words themselves. The notion of turning another wolf's weakness into their downfall sounded sweet to her ears, if ears could taste.

The caramel girl took a deep breath as she absorbed Aresenn's words. The idea of knowing when to strike and when to hold back did not quite settle within her mind, but the moment of hesitation before doom did. She could almost feel the tension of that crucial instant, the weight of a single wrong move. Her heart skipped a beat in her little chest.


ravana

Ludovic's ears perked attentively at his father's words, his entire being focused on absorbing the wisdom imparted with a diligent intensity. Ignoring Araxina's antics and Aresenn’s stern correction, he kneaded the ground with his claws, his coat puffing up to ward off the chill.

His father's teachings about strategy and timing etched themselves deeply into his mind. The knowledge that one wrong move could end everything fueled his resolve, his muscles tensing with determination. He was eager to master every lesson his parents could give him, wholeheartedly believing they were preparing him for life.

As Aresenn's gaze swept over the group, Ludovic straightened, his mismatched eyes meeting his father's with unwavering confidence. His posture conveyed a silent promise: he would rise to the occasion and become a warrior worthy of his father's teachings.

ludoviciana

Abyss shot a stoic glance at their sister Xina, choosing not to dwell on her defiance for very long. Father was quick to correct her, as he should- he was their parent, after all. It wasn’t Abyss’ place to punish their sister for acting out.

Shifting gears, Aresenn is back to his lesson, explaining that every situation is different. Fights are unique, even against a previous foe- they might even need to relearn their enemy, given the circumstances. Abyss nods, absorbing the information like a sponge, storing it in their memory. Habits, strengths, weaknesses. They needed to know their enemies- but wasn’t it just as important to know their own strengths and weaknesses too? To inhibit their enemy from exploiting them? Food for thought in Abyss’ young mind.

"Speech"

Xairo's gaze, with its intense and toxic green hue, remained fixed on his father as he hung onto every word. His initial defiance had given way to a serious and focused attention, his body coiled with tension as he absorbed the information being imparted to him. Slowly, he nodded in agreement with Aresenn's instructions, committing each one to memory. Though the words were harsh, they carried an undeniable weight of truth. The world was unforgiving and brutal, and Xairo would need strength, cunning, and resilience to survive in it. As he listened, a renewed fire ignited within him—a fierce determination to not just prove himself capable, but exceptional in all that he would do.

"Xairo Saxe"

Sericea's vibrant, acidic green eyes widened in response to her father's words, a potent mixture of fear and excitement coursing through her veins. Her heart thumped heavily against her ribcage, mirroring the intensity with which her father imparted his teachings. The gravity in his piercing gaze demanded unwavering attention and comprehension. "How do we know when it is time to retreat?" she spoke up, her voice betraying both timidity and determination as she stood before the imposing figure of her father. Her tail twitched nervously, a physical manifestation of her restless curiosity. She gulped, staring into his stern amber eyes as he pondered her question, his expression unreadable but hinting at the weightiness of her inquiry.

"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"

While he sat, intently listening to their fathers lesson, he squeaked out an alarmed yelp as a sibling pounced and pinned his tail. His reaction was quick, a warning snarl through curled lips shot her way though before he could act or tell her to fuck off say anything, father was already on it and warning her. His snarl switched to a smirk and he stuck his tongue out at her briefly before turning his focus back to the lesson. This was important! How dare his bratty sister try to distract him! She would pay later most certainly, and he would use whatever lesson from this he could to pay her back and then some.

As Aresenn went on about knowing your enemy, learning their habits and tricks, he considered anything he knew about his sister. He probably knew more than he allowed himself, but as he took in their fathers words he couldn't help but let his eyes wander to Araxina's twitchy paws. He didn't know what it meant, but certainly it was a weakness. He was steady, certain, precise... She seemed... messy, perhaps even sloppy, in comparison; even to the rest of his siblings who all sat quietly, intently listening to this important, harsh lesson.

Dracun was only focused on her paws for a brief moment, but it felt much longer to him. Father was talking about timing and pursuit now. Hesitation was a fatal mistake, but going in without strategy would result in the same outcome.

"Are we going to practice today?" he asked with bright, eager eyes as he sat up straighter and puffed his chest out just slightly, tail tip thumping the ground softly behind him; hoping to pounce on his sisters head like she had his tail.

"Speech!"


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Aresenn's eyes locked with Sericea's as she asked her question. He noted the fear in her voice, but also the hint of determination that was beginning to take root. He sighed, a brief moment of vulnerability showing through his stern exterior. "That," he finally answered, "is the trickiest part of all.” He flicked an ear, contemplating the complexity of his next words. "You must be able to recognize when a situation is turning sour, when your opponent has the upper hand. This is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom." His gaze hardened as he continued, “But that is a lesson for a different day.” He declared, continuing on.

Only to be questioned by Dracun shortly after. Aresenn paused, his amber gaze falling on Dracun. The pup's anticipation was palpable, radiating from him in enthusiastic waves. All eagerness and restless energy, lips already curling into a smirk of pre-victory. "Yes," he replied simply, the single syllable dripping with importance. “So let’s come up with our first strategy.” He continued, offering them a half-smirk, as he transitioned into something a bit lighter. Just because they were training, didn’t mean they couldn’t have fun while training. “Now, consider your enemy is the biggest, baddest predator in this forest- a huge bear- How would you approach it?” His question hung in the cold air.

As they began to discuss among themselves, Aresenn casually turned his back on them, taking a few strides away- tuning in to each of their points. And after having a few moments to come to an understanding between each other, Aresenn turned on them then. Lowering his head to be even with his shoulders, widening his stance, and lumbering forward as if he were the grizzly bear. “Well, go on then. Let’s see your strategy.” He growled, his voice echoing off the tall trees towering above them. A playful menace glinted in his eyes as he fully prepared to be mauled all at once by a bunch of little ankle biters.

"Aresenn Praetor"

Strategy was his favorite topic, and he leaned in, eager to absorb every bit of knowledge. The idea of facing a bear, the ultimate forest predator, sparked a mixture of fear and thrill in his heart. He knew this exercise was as much about thinking on their feet as it was about bravery.

As the group began to strategize, Ludovic's mind raced with possibilities. “We should be fast. Attack from everywhere at once!” Ludovic suggested, grinning as his charcoal tail flicked behind him.

When Aresenn turned back to them, embodying the grizzly bear in both posture and growl, Ludovic's heart pounded in his chest. This was the moment to put theory into practice. He dropped into a crouch, his mismatched eyes locked onto his father with intense focus. His muscles coiled, ready to spring into action.

The boy darted to the side, aiming to draw their father’s attention for his siblings to join in on the fun.


ludoviciana