If only his father could have seen him now, Arkay was growing into quite the little hunter. He now excelled at catching bugs, not that he could really boast about that during the winter time. He was graduating though, and by now he was getting half decent at catching mice and voles. The litter white toed pup was slowly growing into his form, with his thick puppy legs and his rolly puppy body. Many creatures might not have thought of him like the talented hunter he was. The young Destruction still had a long way to go, he was barely half way to a year yet and there was much left to learn. Some days he wished for his parents to come back and to teach him everything they knew. But he knew he still had to be strong with out them. He couldn't be selfish, momma needed help that she couldn't get here. He still felt sad about not having them around, so to keep himself distracted he'd throw himself into studies and play. There was a lot of stuff in Abaven to play with. He was hunting now, kind of. The thicket was a good place to find mice, not that he was having any kind of luck. He was having a good time trailing his nose in the ground and becoming a wolf-bulldozer. Ah such fun times. "Talk" "You" Think

He hadn't yet explored the thicket - the extra territory Abaven had gained as a successful result of the siege. The walk through the long grass reminded him of his recent encounter with his friend as her words of encouragement echoed within the walls of mind. The positive thoughts boosted his energy as a small smile crept to his chestnut features. It was indeed a peaceful walk, especially on this frigid winter's day. But ah! What was this? Was that a pup over there? From afar, he didn't appear to be one of the Azat's children; his fur was too dark. Though he wouldn't be surprised if the child happened to be another Destruction. Approaching the boy, he observed curiously as the pup's nose trailed across the ground. What was he doing? Was he...hunting? Well, that was quite interesting. "Are you hunting, little one?" he inquired softly, lowering his head so they both could be at the same eye level. "SPEAK"

Arkay would continue his antics, making amusing little paths in the snow where he had pushed away the snow. Her was very much having a wonderful time on his own, however unsuccessful his hunting seemed to be. He wouldn't be at in an incredibly long time before the sound of another would make him look up. Ivory tipped ears and curious tangerine eyes would greet the other wolf as he spoke to him. "Are you hunting..? The young Destruction would smile widely and wag his dual toned tail eagerly, "I am!" He'd step a bit closer to this new wolf. "I'm not very good though," he'd tack on, proving his point as he looked to their surroundings. He had no mice to show for his efforts. "Who're you?" Arkay would then ask, quite curious about this wolf. Would they want to play? Or better yet would he show him how to really hunt? "Talk" "You" Think

The child replied in a cheery manner, remarking that he wasn't so good at the craft of hunting. Well, no wonder, all the prey would hear his nose trailing through the snow and paw-steps all the way from the other side of the thicket. "Don't give up. You'll get there." He offered an encouraging smile, gently nudging the mocha pup's shoulder. "I'm Tinaro. What's your name?" he eloquently asked, lifting his chin curiously. This boy obviously took an interest in hunting, which was different to the last two children he had met. No, this simply wouldn't do - he couldn't just leave this pup here hunting poorly. His own hunting knowledge was a bit rusty, though he was more than willing to share it. "Say...how about I teach you a bit about hunting? I'm sure you'll be able to catch something then." "SPEAK"

Arkay would smile happily at his pack mate, taking in the encouragement eagerly. He would get there someday he was sure of it, with practice he could do anything! At least that's what dad had told him, before... No, he couldn't focus on that, this wolf Tinaro was here in front of her and being very much friendly. "Hi, Tinaro! I'm Arkay." He'd tell him with a wide grin. He'd try to imitate the other wolf's posture, eager to imitate the regal way he stood. Of course he would be completely distracted by the other wolf's words soon after as he offered to show him some hunting tips. Lowering his head and wagging his tail so fast his back legs couldn't even sit still he'd ask for clarification. "Really? I wanna catch something!" He'd bounce eagerly, hoping he wasn't just faking. "Talk" "You" Think

The man couldn't help but to beam at the child's display, who introduced himself as Arkay. Ah, now he had a name to match a face. Quiet giggles slipped from his lips as he watched the pup bounce with excitement, eager to catch something. "Really," he assured with a warm smile, staring down into the boy's orange gaze. "You'll be way ahead of the other pups by the time you start your proper training." Sometimes he wished he had gotten a head-start to learning as a pup, then again, he had spent the majority of his childhood grieving...nope, he wasn't going to go there. Not now. Not when he was having so much fun sharing his knowledge. "Ready?" he asked, hoping the boy would set himself into in the right mindset. "SPEAK"

Arkay was more than excited about learning, he loved being able to prove himself. He wanted to show up Thally, and he'd show up Faro too if she weren't so sick right now. He wanted Feli and Bass to see how good he was, and he wanted to show his parents how much he learned when they came back. What he remembered of his parent's pack was a focus on learning, and he had no intention of letting that spirit die. As was obvious in the excitement Tinaro brought with just offering to give a few pointers. He hadn't been joking and he was really going to take him out. Arkay was practically jumping out of his skin at this point. "Ready ready ready ready." His voice would chirp quickly from his grinning maw. They'd have to go all the way to the very most simple basics. You had to be quiet and you had to be patient two qualities the young Destruction did not have. "Talk" "You" Think

Alright, he better not leave the boy waiting any longer, who remained eager to learn. "In hunting, this is your most important tool," he explained, raising an ebony paw to dab his nose. Sure, legs and teeth were important too, though nobody would be able to bite down on their prey without scenting it in the first place. "It tells you where food is, how close it is and what kind of animal it is." Filling his own lungs with the cold breezes buffeting his fur, he instructed, "Taste the air." Hopefully they'd be able to pick up something, though if not they'd have to move to another position. Please be something, he pleaded. I know this is winter but please. It was his first time teaching; there had to be a scent, any scent. Ah hah! There is was - the faint scent of a vole amongst the other smells. However, he wouldn't tell the pup just yet - where was the learning in that? "Can you smell anything?" The older male was looking for any form of identification, whether the child could scent the creature or name it as well. "SPEAK"

Arkay would listen intently as Tinaro started to speak, but he was nowhere near still. His bottom would move excitedly from side to side as his tail showed his joy. With bright tangerine eyes the young Destruction would look on in awe as he was told the most important part of hunting... was his nose. The boy would go cross eyed as he tried to look down at his own muzzle. Still intent on listening as the older wolf started the first lesson. Take a deep breath and taste the air. He'd blink in confusion for a moment before he tried the exercise. The air would fill his lungs through his nose as he tried to discern anything that might not be usual smells. There was himself, Tinaro, the faint scent of most of his pack members. Then there, mixed in the smell of ice and snow the warm savory smell of prey. It was hard to pick up, but Arkay would not be fooled when it came to food. "Oooh oooh! There's a something! It's not a rabbit.. or a mouse.." Confusedly he'd look up at his teacher, what had he smelled? "Talk" "You" Think

He almost melted at the sight of the boy's crosseyed look, although his features soon moulded into a look of confusion after he had instructed him to taste the air. Well, he hadn't meant that literally, though knowing children it would have been best if he didn't speak with idioms. However, the pup soon caught his drift just as he was about to open his mouth to elaborate. He watched the pup decipher the scents with an almost frantic green gaze. Did he know how to pick up smells? Was this too difficult to him? His worried thoughts were interrupted by the child's exclaims, who had found a something. Well, that was close enough, especially since he compared the scent to that of a rabbit's or mouse's. "Very good!" he praised with a wag of his chestnut tail. "That's the scent of a vole. It's like a mouse, so you were very close. Remember the smell; they're common in this region." Now they had to do something with this vole, and it wasn't like prey was everywhere. "Let's track it. Use your nose to find its location, but don't worry, I'll help." Lifting his head, he gestured to the north-east, where the scent seemed to be coming from. He began to walk, taking long though silent strides, hoping the boy would follow. "And remember to step quietly, or else you'll scare off our vole." "SPEAK"