Show Me Your Grrrr Face

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"