White River Canyon

Aresenn stood at the center of the grassy field, his russet fur ruffling in the warm summer breeze that wafted down into the sheltered valley of Polar Sound. The sun glared down from a cloudless sky, its rays glinting off the sheer rock walls that that encircled them. He drew in a deep breath, nostrils flaring as he caught the mingled scents of grass, lichen, and distant sea salt- and of course, a few of his lingering kids.

Whenever there was downtime, he often found himself calling them to train- as he would do now. Over compensating for his lack of structure growing up. He paced impatiently, ears twitching at every rustle in the grass. His analytical mind was already racing, mapping out the day's training regimen. What if he focused on defensive maneuvers today? Or perhaps ambush tactics?

"Alright! Fall in!" Aresenn's gruff bark echoed off the towering cliffs. He scanned the surrounding grass, keen eyes picking out the telltale rustles of approaching pups. He noted who was quick to respond, who lagged behind, filing away each observation for future use. "Today," Aresenn growled, his voice low and intense, "we're going to focus on situational awareness. In a real fight, you need to be ready for anything."

He began to pace, his muscular form casting a long shadow across the grass. "I want you to pair up," Aresenn continued, his orange eyes narrowing as he surveyed the assembled pups. "One of you will be the attacker, the other the defender. The attacker's job is to catch the defender off guard. The defender must anticipate and counter."

He paused, letting the tension build. A few of the younger pups shuffled, their eyes darting from side to side. Aresenn felt a twinge of satisfaction; a healthy dose of fear would keep them sharp. "There's a catch," he growled, baring his teeth in what might have been a grin. "The attacker can strike at any time, from any direction. You'll need to keep your wits about you, because your eyes will be closed." Aresenn's gaze swept over the assembled pups, noting their reactions. Some stood tall, eager for the challenge, while others shifted nervously, already glancing around as if expecting an attack. Good. They were learning.

"Pair up," he barked once again, watching as they scrambled to obey. "Attackers, step back. Defenders, close your eyes. When I give the signal, the exercise begins." As the pups settled into position Aresenn circled the group, his keen eyes scrutinizing every twitch and tremor. He noted which defenders held themselves with confidence, and which betrayed their nervousness with flicking tails or twitching ears. A few of the more experienced pups had already adopted a wider stance, their muscles coiled and ready to spring into action.

"Begin!" he barked suddenly, his voice cracking like a whip across the field.

"Aresenn Praetor"