Leaving the den was something that Herne had slowly grown more comfortable as time had passed. The shy boy had slowly begun to leave more and more often, exploring the outer world in bits and pieces. When he felt overwhelmed, he would retreat back to his mother's side, and slowly Herne had come to recognize that the world was not as big and scary as he had thought at first. It was full of beauty that could not be found within the den - the greens and blues that the world was full off could not be found in the darkness of his home. Sure, it was still pretty big (and still kind of scary, if Herne was totally honest), but there was so much about it to see. Maybe he was lucky in that nothing bad had happened to him he was exploring, for that surely would have chased him back into the den for a week at least - a long time, for one as young as him. But he had so far only seen beauty and he was coming to adore the outside world. This particular summer day found Herne nosing around not too far from the den. He could make it back within five minutes of travel perhaps, even with a little break and his short legs taken into account. It was just far enough that he couldn't hear his family, but close enough that he still knew it was there if he needed it. At any rate, he was enjoying himself, playing contentedly with a small bug. He would catch it in his paws and hold it for a moment before releasing it to freedom - and then catching it again a few moments later. He had yet to comprehend that this thing had life that was different from the plants and that, in its own way, it might have free will. To Herne, for the moment, this was just a strange little move-y thing. "Speech"

The dark man would lope comfortably over the perimeter of Threar?s lands, he was in the habit of circling them daily. He knew that Novella would most likely be with their children, it wasn?t like her to leave them alone. They took turns getting their alpha duties in, and he couldn?t wait until they could start doing them together. It was about time to start teaching them to hunt, and though he was ready to get his time with his mate, he was still astounded at how quickly they were growing. He?d smile to himself as he switched paths, letting himself down the trail that would take him back to the den. Skilled paws would carry him silently back to the den, his mismatched gaze would catch sight of a dark pup and the man would slow down a bit to see what he was doing. He?d feel his teeth become exposed as he smiled amusedly, it seemed Herne was starting to find some small interest in hunting. Frith would eventually slip from the bushes, "What are you doing, Herne?" He?d ask quietly so he didn?t disturb the boy. "Speech"

His father's voice was the first that Herne noticed of the older male's approach. Stirring, the boy would lift his head, mismatched gaze meeting his father's gaze. "Look what I foun'!" There was a little touch of pride to the small boy's voice was he lifted his paws up to reveal the beetle that he had played with so eagerly mere moments before. The bug, unaware of being in any sort of danger, immediately made its best efforts to trundle away, scuttling along. Looking rather proud of himself, Herne thumped his tail happily against the earth, smiling up at his father. "Di' ya do anythin' fun today, Da?" his words were still high and clear, though Herne wasn't totally confident in his pronunciation of words. That would come with time, though his speech was developing rather slowly due to the fact that he was rather quiet and didn't speak as much as some other pups might. To Herne, there just wasn't enough to comment on for him to chatter endlessly. He liked to listen and observe rather than put his own comments into the conversation - but in the case of his father, he was well and truly curious. He understood that the 'adult world' that his parents inhabited was far different from his own, though he didn't understand how and he was curious. But he wasn't in any rush to start doing the kinds of thing his dad did - for the moment, Herne was content to play with the strange move-y things that inhabited his world. Speaking of which, where had it gone? Curiously, Herne started to nose around for the move-y thing, ears still pricked towards his father. "Speech"

The chocolate boy would come to attention right away, his own bicolored eyes looking up to greet his father. Bright words were spoken in answer as Herne would direct Frith?s attention to the prize that he had claimed. Frith would come around to lay in front of the boy, his paws coming to rest where Herne?s ended and his nose sniffing at the bug. It would do it?s best to scuttle off, and Frith would become distracted by his son?s words. A smile would show on his jaws, he wouldn?t often call his pack duties ?fun? but he was sure he ould conjure something for his son?s entertainment. "Well, this morning I sparred with a tree. I showed it who was boss." He?d proclaim proudly as Herne nosed around for the little beetle. "One day I won?t have to use trees and you?ll be able to spar with me." Hopefully. He didn?t want to make his children do anything they didn?t want, but he really hoped that they would learn with him someday. "Speech"

At his father's words, Herne found himself once more distracted from the move-y thing. He tilted his head back, gazing in awe up at the larger wolf. "Di' it do bad?" Herne queried curiously, casting an anxious glance at the trees around him. Would his Da have to spare with these trees to if they threatened the pack? Herne was impressed by the idea. To fight trees must be a truly impressive thing. He could imagine branches whipping back at his father, trying to fend off the male, and his father triumphing against all odds. Laughing a little to himself, Herne thumped his tail happily against the earth, a broad smile crossing his features. "I fink I wanna learn how ta spar." Herne said thoughtfully, ears pricking towards his father as he thought. He wasn't sure he liked the thought of fighting, but the idea of being able to was something different. He didn't want to be weak forever - and Herne was aware of the fact that he was weak at that point in time. His brother and sister didn't have to rest as much as he did, and they could run further and faster. And that seemed to be the norm, at least for pups. Maybe with time he could catch up though! He wasn't unbearably upset about the idea of being weak, but in a vague way he knew that he didn't want to be the same forever. "Speech"

His son was obvious confused, and maybe the father was going a bit too quickly for the boy. He had to sit back and remember that Herne?s knowledge of the world was minimal, and he knew he?d have to work on that. He wanted to pass down all the knowledge his mother had given him. With the chocolate boy?s words Frith could only guess at what he was thinking, his own quiet chuckle would join the boisterous noises of the pup, "No, Herne it didn?t do much of anything." His long dark tail would thump at the earth in rhythm with his son?s as beautiful words would leave his small muzzle. He?d find his lips curling back further as he grinned at Herne?s confession, more than anything he remember his mother by their daily spar, wouldn?t it be amazing to share the same thing with his own son? "Do you want to start learning now?" He?d ask softly as he nuzzled the boy encouragingly. "Speech"

ooc: this is super late so if you don't want to continue this thread it's fine <3

Again, Herne was left slightly confused, but still proud of his father. Even if the tree hadn't done much, to triumph against it must have been a truly impressive thing to see. He nodded thoughtfully at his father, falling silent for a moment as he considered vaguely the implications of fighting something that hadn't done much of anything. What had the tree done to provoke the fight then? Herne almost wanted to ask - but he found himself distracted quickly by his father's offer. Joy lit Herne's gaze and the chocolate colored pup's tail wagged enthusiastically as the pup gazed up at his father. "Yes!" Herne spoke happily, tail still wagging as he leaped to his paws, head tilting slightly as he waited for his father to take action, to explain how fighting worked. Herne was excited by the thought - he might be frail, but if he could fight, he could defend himself and anyone else who needed it! Why, he'd even be able to defend his father if he had to! "Speech"