All Outta Bubblegum (pup training)

Cai listened as his mother began to speak, taking it all in with earnest eyes and perked ears. Defense, then? Even though they weren’t going to be learning how to attack yet, or spar, he was still interested in the lesson. And as her question touched his ears, he pondered, thinking back to the countless wrestling matches between himself and his siblings, even when sick. Try as anyone might, siblings had a tendency to tussle even if you had a cold. Especially when they wanted to test medicine on you… He was certain the sludge they'd tried hadn't helped.

He let his siblings give their suggestions first, nodding in silent agreement. Ears were awful, but while it felt like he was gonna die when his brothers’ and sisters’ needle-sharp teeth were gnawing on them, he doubted they were vital to anything but good looks…

He was a little surprised Artur hadn’t piped up with his own opinion—and he had opinions about everything, it seemed, especially about the greatness of the family—blood was better, blahblahblah. But he finally roused from his deliberations and said, The feet and legs? My hind legs get chewed on a lot…”

He cast an apologetic glance to his littermates, though the tip of his bi-colored tail tapped the ground in hopeful query as he looked back to their mother.