To my one sweet life squeezed tight in a vice grip

Absinth stood at the center of the clearing she usually made use of for lessons, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings with a shake of her monochromatic coat. The morning sun filtered through the pine canopy above, the air was crisp too, carrying the scent of the wilds and earth. Even the decay of the border was filtered out here.

She would call her brood, and any others who wished to hear her pretty little words. And once they came, she would begin her lesson with a snout pointed to the sky. Watching her ravens as they circled and called to each other. Perhaps she’d be able to incorporate the poor things into today's lesson; they did seem to have a vested interest in the complexities of wolves combat.

Her chin tilted back down to face her students, a smirk plastered on her inky lips. "I’d like to believe I’m getting the hang of these lessons, so listen up or you’ll hurt my feelings." Absinth began, her voice commanding, her teeth poking out from her lips as a warning to any unruly participants. "Today, we delve into the principles of combat. The basics. With a couple of pointers thrown in, if you will. Consider this a reminder, or maybe new ideas to incorporate into your fighting style, hm?" Either which way, this was what she would give them.

She smiled slowly, her emerald orbs shimmering in the shifting light of the sunlight. "First, stance and balance. Your stance is your foundation. A wide and stable stance allows you to react quickly, to shift your weight seamlessly. Keep your center of gravity low, your muscles taut but not stiff.” At this point she was demonstrating, her feet spread, her disciplined bodice low while she swayed to and fro while remaining in the same spot. “Joints must never lock, always keep them loose. Wiggle your toes. That is loose.” Absinth herself wiggles her toes in the ground, all the while she flexes her muscles and sways to show her flexibility in subtle ways to serve as an example. “Balance is key; without it, you are vulnerable, easily toppled." True, this lesson was more suited to younger wolves, but her lessons wouldnt always be so.

"Absinth Artemisia Inferos"