child-friendly? what's that?
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Mental fortitude. It was a tough concept to understand, given the pups were still impulsive and exploratory. But with time and meticulous training, they could learn restraint and willpower. The determination to survive would be the key factor, as Absinth stated- and Zagan was certainly intent on doing more than surviving. He wanted to thrive, even in the face of opposition. And with Absinth’s teaching, he would get there.
Fight. Bleed. Endure. They would function as one, they would find strength in their numbers and they would thrive. Zagan nodded his head in agreeance, focusing on Absinth with unwavering intensity, making her his object of intense interest. He analyzed the scars on her pelt again, noting some of the fresher welts branded into her skin. She was a continual cycle of strength and endurance. A force to be reckoned with. Zagan wanted to be like that too.
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Cressida
Khalif
Novice Intellectual (20)
Beginner Hunter (0)
Pup
Female
93
SailyntSteps
Abyssinica
Khalif
Intermediate Fighter (30)
Intermediate Intellectual (40)
Pup
Other
50
Aislyn
Mother was truly a fountain of knowledge, a pillar of strength, and the embodiment of devotion and vigor. She had mental fortitude, a concept she needed her children to understand and obtain, and Abyss vowed to meet her expectations. They would make their mother proud.
They had the will to survive, given the harsh environment they were growing up in- yes, they had food, shelter, protection, and the love of a mother and father- but they were expected to become powerful, to train relentlessly, to devote themselves to The Syndicate and defend its honor without fail. Not to mention, the completion all around them was fierce.
Abyss shifted their gaze around the gathering, looking at each of their siblings, littermates, and adoptive alike. Each of them would fight, bleed, and endure. Just as mother taught them.
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Like a rising crescendo, his mother reached the apex of the lesson. She bestowed her wisdom upon them readily, but mercilessly. There were no metaphorical punches pulled (thankfully, Absinth didn't seem to be in the habit of punching her children). He nodded along as she insisted that they all utilize their own strengths in order to survive, regardless of what type of strength or what avenue they chose. To never let their primal urge to survive be stolen or weakened by any means. The dark furred boy was eager, though he wasn't certain what for. The promise to fight, and bleed, and endure the brutality of existence... he wanted that. He wanted to make sure it happened, partly for himself and partly for his mother. She wanted him to be strong, and he wanted so badly to be strong, cunning, powerful so that he could feel the radiant warmth of pride and love. The assurance that his strength was his only bulwark against the onslaught of the world around him, that it should be cultivated and harnessed. His mother was relentless in pummeling it into his young brain, that he might never forget the value of his own fortitude. He writhed with barely contained energy and emotion as his mother commanded he assert his will upon this life and turn it into a winning game. Tiny fangs peeked out from behind dark lips as a half smile, half snarl formed upon his cherubic features. Yes! Make it his bitch! (What did that mean?) Sage tinted gaze drifted from the radiant physique of his mother, to the assembled youngsters around him. Mostly siblings, littermates and the like. They were all going to become strong, and their wills would be unbreakable. |
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There was no doubt that at least most of his siblings thought the same. Of course they did- they were all related to the same great woman before them. Well, most of them were. The others, spawn of the Sultan himself, would only get in the way of their power. But they had their own, for they were blood of the Sultan. Their greatness hardly mattered to Dracun though, he would be better. He would show them all how great he would be, he would make his parents proud and maybe even the sultan too. He dreamed big and he dreamed hard. No one could take that away from him, either.
![](https://i.ibb.co/Kr16v8s/deanfbi-f2a531e2-c138-42c2-bee7-945310dfef2a.png)
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Absinth's words stirred something deep within Xairo. An eager spark, an unquenchable fire that had been waiting for a catalyst to ignite it into a wild blaze. A sharp desire to prove himself, to show her, and everyone else what he was capable of. His small heart throbbed with the rhythm of his mother’s words, driving the power of her teachings deep into his soul. Oh, he would be strong alright.