Deathbelle knew that she couldn’t dwell in her sorrows forever, no matter how much she was convinced the misery would continue the rest of her life. There were too many responsibilities to be seen to, too much family in need, to stop her life altogether. The pack was settling in to the temporary shelter of the rocks. When the tremors ceased and the blue sky returned they would reclaim their home. For now they had to stay vigilant, even if their Empress didn’t wish to.

The Klein woman removed herself from the shadows where she preferred to be and made her way to the large cavernous area that would become the meeting place for Ashen’s temporary home. She took in a deep breath and steeled herself. She had to be strong for the little ones even if it pained her. With effort she summoned forth the young of the pack. Parentage had no matter, if they wished to have a fighting lesson they would appear.

OOC: Flash fighting lesson! For anyone that wants to attend but mostly babies<3 After three pups join in (including Venom) I'll be posting Belle again so we can get this through real fast

Calamity was itching for a fight! Trapped as she was at the Redwater Rocks, the young pup had nothing but boundless energy and not a single proper outlet. Her horns were beginning to show now, delicate velvet nubs appearing to crown her head. Cal showed them off proudly when she wasn't rubbing them against all manner of things.

Her mother had made herself scarce since their father's death, so Cal was doubly intrigued by her call. Maybe something fun would happen! She answered the call with a few distant yips of her own before jogging to where she had been summoned. "Hello," she said softly, butting her head very gently against Deathbelle's leg.

he was mostly hangin' around the outskirts of camp, waiting for Ma and Pops to show back up with Beryl and Gimli. when that didn't happen, he wandered aimlessly until his paws hurt. he missed his siblings and his folks. he didn't know many people in Ashen and he was bored stiff. Mister Tree Trunk Guy (aka Sirius) had been asked to keep watch. but it'd been days and Godbrand was resisting the urge to sniff. he didn't want anyone to see him cry.

so when Auntie Belle raised a call, he wandered over. he half expected another boring meeting he could sleep through, but with her was another pup. one with antlers. he stared in awe, not knowing this was his cousin before he gave a shake and walked over. "hi, Aunt Belles!" he chimed, trying to sound stronger than he knew he could be. he wondered what this was all about; this was his first training session so... anything could happen, really.

"Speech"

Admittedly Venom had been rather quiet in the time since her father’s passing. She felt his loss deeply, but had found comfort in her guardian’s advice, guidance, and presence. The young Klein Princess withdrew a bit as she processed the loss quietly. White gloved paws brought her after her mother’s call, she hadn’t been doing much but linger in her chosen cavern. She missed the ravine and their cozy warm room. It always seemed to be cold now.

She toddled up behind Calamity, her gaze distant as she sat near where her mother stood. Continuing on was difficult, but Sirius had shown her that she had to keep going. Keep learning, and do her best for Archon’s memory. The young pup sighed softly and focused on her mother’s features determinedly. She had to focus now.

Deathbelle did find herself smiling softly as the three children appeared before her. New life had a way of bringing hope and Belle felt herself relax into a teaching role. ”Hello, children.” She offered them greeting, looking to each one in turn. Calamity earned a quick kiss on the top of her head. Her budding horns making Deathbelle proud. Godbrand was the most eager and his auntie gave him a grin as Venom settled sourly at her feet. She gave her pup an encouraging smile and hoped the lesson would get her mind off her dad.

”We’re going to have a lesson today, and afterwards if you're up for it, we will pair off and spar.” She would battle against little Godbrand, the two of them without the added help of blessings. Venom and Calamity would square off as well. She knew Sirius had already begun lessons with many of Ashen’s pups. Despite her disdain she knew it was a necessity they knew what they were doing when they were older. ”First I’d like to see your battle stances. Show me your defenses, what are your best moves?”

She wasn’t blind, she knew they’d been practising already. She wanted to see how far they’d progressed. Belle had already glimpsed Venom’s first trophy in the serval pelt she acquired. The other two she wasn’t so sure of.

Best moves? Well, Cal hadn't had as much practice as the others. She thought long and hard, then slipped into what felt most natural to her. The pup lowered her head and set her horns towards an imaginary "opponent," bracing all four legs on the ground. Even if she hadn't been instructed, it felt like the most practical thing to do: turn her weapons outwards. By coincidence, her throat was protected by her lowered head.

"Uhh, like this?" She butted her horns again against Belle's leg. Cal couldn't help herself! Her head was still so itchy. Venom seemed to be in a bit of a mood, so Cal quickly turned her attentions to her sister. "Watch out!" She giggled, trotting towards her and rubbing her horns against her side. It was more of a caress than a battle move. Godbrand earned a simple look of ire - Calamity harbored an irrational distaste for her siblings who still had a living father.

Bouncing a bit at the grin his auntie gave him, Godbrand tried to sit still and listen. So this was some kind of training thing? He guessed it wasn’t so bad. Tree Trunk already gave him a lesson on defensive maneuvers, and he was eager to know if the other pups knew that stuff too. it seemed like basic stuff to him. compared to Ma’s lessons about crafting things, he was more eager to beat someone to a pulp. Within reason, that is. He wasn’t the excellent fighter he thought he was. He tilted his head before dropping into a subtle crouch, his chin tucked and his tail out of reach. He tried to balance his stubby little body.

Looking up for praise, the boy stared at Deathbelle. “I dids it!” he cried out, yapping for approval before plastering a shit-eating grin on his face. Anything to take away from the fact Beryl and Gimli were missing. He needed a welcomed distraction. But Godbrand didn’t have any moves. Fighting moves or defensive moves? He appeared quite puzzled before he stuck out a tongue, thinking more on it and making a stupid face. “um...” he said uselessly, though he spotted the look that one of the girls gave him. He ruffled his shoulder fur, looking away and not getting why she was being a rude meanie.

he looked at the ground next, frustrated Gimli and Beryl weren't here to play with. who was going to spar with him?

"Speech"

Venom focused on herself as she was instructed to show her mother the defenses she knew. Sirius’s rough take on training helped mold Venom in ways she didn’t realize. The girl shifted, her weight balancing over all four of her paws as her tail lashed out behind her and she lowered her head. The quills along her back stood tall with her hackles and she pulled back her lips into a snarl. Just as Calamity dashed her way.

The blow was more affectionate than harmful, and Venom took the action well. She wasn't in a mood for play but she aimed to swat back at her sister’s rump with her sheathed claws. She found a smile creep onto her face as she looked towards her sibling, but her attention was drawn to her cousin as he spoke. He didn’t have a very good attack. ”Like this, Brand.” Venom spoke up as she lashed out at the invisible enemy with her tiny teeth and then swiped out with her unsheathed claws.

All three pups did their best in their defensive stance, all of them looking like someone had probably started that part of their training at least. Though Calamity seemed like it was more instinct with her horns. ”Very good, all three of you.” She was forced to give more attention to Calamity as she butted her head against her leg. ”Yes, my love that’s perfect.” Learning to fight with her horns would do her well in the years to come.

Her attention was drawn to Godbrand as Calla and Venom had a small spat. Her young snake tongued daughter seemed to also realize her cousin’s trouble in thinking about an attack. Belle smiled softly at the boy as he gave her a rather amusing face. ”Venom tried to bite at her opponent, probably somewhere vulnerable like places with short fur or the throat, and since her claws are sharper she swiped like a cat.” She didn’t know how big he might be when he was older, but for now they would do bet with being quick on their feet. They didn’t have weight to back up their force. ”Do you have any questions before we spar?” She asked curiously, looking to each puppy.

Calamity soaked up the affection greedily. It seemed like it had been painfully long since her mother had welcomed them with a warm, loving voice. The soft touch and words of encouragement were the balm that she hadn't known she'd needed. She looked adoringly up at her mother as Venom swatted at her rear. Her sister's paw met its target and Cal let out an exaggerated yelp, sticking her tongue out gleefully.

"Uh, yeah, my question is why don't we all have cat claws? I want to be a kitty too," Cal said, trying to arch her back and hiss. She mostly wound up spitting. Venom got all of the coolest blessings! The full beauty and strength of her horns wouldn't show for many seasons yet. It definitely seemed like Venom got the best of the lot. "And how come some of us don't have anything at all?" Cal added, shooting a snooty look at Godbrand.

one of the girls knew his name, addressing him as he paused. he'd look over at her, seeing her claws extend as she swiped like the feline he and Gimli had chased away. Godbrand was too young to understand differences; in that example, he was more accepting than some others. he shot the other girl a scowl, not understanding what she meant or why she was looking at him. he had his looks going for him, and maybe even a personality - unlike her and her weird stubby head.

he didn't want sticks growing out of his skull. maybe it damaged her brain a bit, who knows.

"why do ya wanna be a cat? cats are weird. she's a wolf with cat claws" Godbrand shot the snake tongued girl a grateful look for her help earlier. she'd look really weird as a cat. they all would. besides, felines were weak and stupid. wolves were much, much better in his opinion. Auntie Belles asked if they had any questions though, and his gaze turned away from the one called Venom to the empress. he bit his lip but said nothing at first. "who am I gonna spar with, Aunt Belles?"

he was smart enough to see there was an uneven amount of pups here. Godbrand flattened his ears against his skull, wondering if he should just go back to the den. he wasn't wanted here for some reason by the stubby-headed girl; his Ma had kept them a bit apart from the other kids so far. he didn't understand lots of things, like the pups' father dying because he didn't really pay attention.

"Speech"

Her mom explained what she did pretty much how she had intended, indeed Venom had reached out to tear out her opponents throat, and if that failed her sharp claws would trip up their fleeing legs. She offered a wicked grin to Calla, Venom was more than proud of her blessings. Her quills and claws were useful, and mom said her tongue made her look intimidating.. yeah that was the word. The girl climbed from her saddened shell as the lesson went on.

Venom didn’t really have any questions but she looked to her mom as Godbrand asked who he was going to be sparing with. She hoped that she would be able to tussle with her sister, but she wouldn’t have minded going up against her cousin. ”I’ll fight with him if you want, mom.” She volunteered with a flick of her forked tongue.

”Our blessings manifest in different ways,” she told her daughter patiently. She’d been over Pesto’s lack of them with the girl before, she hadn’t talked to her gifted children about them as much. As she soothed the child it seemed Godbrand didn’t hold the almost insult against her and Venom even volunteered to spar with the boy. ”You may either spar with your cousin, Venom, or with me.” She offered him the choice to himself. He could be the one to decide who sparred with who in this lesson. If she took on Calamity or Godbrand she had no preference. She looked to the boy expectantly, ready to start the spars whatever he chose.

it was his decision.

Godbrand looked momentarily startled that the leader of the pack was asking for his choice. he shot a look at Venom. now he had a name for her; cousin. which only meant that Calla girl was his cousin too. if so, why was she so hostile to him? shouldn't family stick together? that's what Ma always told him when he was mad at Beryl and Gimli for some reason. but he was remembered now of the snake-tongued girl's encouragement, and felt if he had to spar with someone it would be her over the much larger empress.

"Venom, please, Auntie Belles!" Godbrand replied after some thought. he couldn't deal with the loss against Deathbelle; he knew he'd lose but he didn't want to be ammunition against him. what if the other pups teased him? he'd much rather lose to someone who helped him out. the boy unbalanced himself from his defensive stance to go stand by Venom. he looked uncertainly at his cousins before focusing another grateful look to the snake tongue.

Deathbelle looked down at her nephew expectantly as he thought about his choice. There wasn’t much hesitation when he asked to be paired with his cousin Venom instead of the Empress herself. She nodded softly and looked to Calamity. ”Godbrand and Venom, Calamity You’ll be sparring with your mother.” She said with amusement in her voice. This was helping to get her mind off the loss of her husband and their father. Having fun with a few of the pups while she taught them to be better for their name and pack. ”Alright, step back. Give everyone enough room to work and lets get to the second part of the lesson.” She told them as she demonstrated by backing away from the gathering.