Alaric travelled away from the alabaster shrine and towards the lands in the east. It wasn't a very far trip, he could return to the shrine when he pleased. He entered a land scattered with weeping willow trees and creeks that lay beneath their branches. It was a beautiful sight. Snug between two large weeping willow trees was a small clearing. Alaric gestured to his cane corsos to follow him to said clearing, where he tested its soil for dryness and stability. It was stable enough and not very moist. A perfect place for a training session. Alaric lifted his head towards the sky and let out a call specifically for Atreyu. Once the call was finished, Alaric would wait with some patience for her arrival.

Atreyu had been ensuring no other wolves or predators could sneak up on her or her family again, the jaguar at the shrine had been enough for her. She wouldn't be caught off guard again. Alaric's song reached her ears, though he sounded farther away than she would have expected. Warming up her muscles at a fast trot, Atreyu made her way to the willow forest that neighbored the shrine, following the direction Alaric's call had come from. Upon arriving Atreyu gave her teacher a big smile, Bigs following along behind her with faithful pride in his step. She had finally done it, and while looking for more Judilian wolves, Atreyu hoped that others like Alaric would find their way to her as well. Dipping her head respectfully to her teacher, Atreyu kept the smile painted on her face. "What are we doing today, Alaric?" She asked him, hoping it wasn't anything too strenuous. "Talking."

code by Bird & art by Resin!

It wasn't long before Atreyu's pink pelt livened up the gloomy area. A splash of pink in the monoton setting. Alaric watched as the larger woman strolled into the area, he nodded his head towards her. "Watch your step. The soil is loose here." He warned slightly, flicking an ear. He would wait until she was before him before he began. "I wanted to teach you an offensive move today." He explained. Maul and Cinder both wagged their tails at the sight of Bigs, the two cane corsos seemed eager to see the little dog. "I think it will just be us today." Alaric continued, waiting for Atreyu to answer.

I will not bow, I will not break;
Despite the loose soil of the Weeping Woods, Atreyu remained sure-footed and graceful in her stride. She still heeded her teacher's warning though, careful where she placed her next step. At the sight of Maul and Cinder, Bigs ran to greet his friends with excited barks and a tail wag that wiggled his entire body. Alaric told her then that they would be working on an offensive move, and Atreyu felt a rush of excitement, about time they got to the good stuff. Atreyu was more than ready to learn, she would need all of the training she could get if she was to make a permanent home for Judila.

"I am ready. Bigs can play with Maul and Cinder for a while." She said warmly, setting her defenses in place. Her legs splayed a shoulder width apart for balance, tail out behind her for stability, her head lowered to protect her throat, hackles raising as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Finally, Atreyu squinted her eyes just like he had taught her, just in case her teacher decided to play dirty. This was just a lesson, though, not a spar or fight. Alaric had taught her well, however, and Atreyu did her best to apply his teachings in every opportunity to practice.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by resin

Alaric watched as Atreyu readied her defenses and stance. A small chuckle emitted from the older brute. "Good, but not just yet." He commented, taking in her form. He went quiet for a moment, deep in thought. "How is your knowledge on the muscle groups and their function?" He asked, gaging her knowledge. He would wait for her answer before continuing. "We'll brief the muscle groups and how you can attack them to have the advantage in a fight." He told her briefly, nodding his head. His gaze shifted over to Maul and Cinder, who were with Bigs. Cinder was in a play bow, wagging his thin tail excitedly. Maul sat, watching the two with an observant gaze. Alaric refocused back on Atreyu. "Lets start with the lateral abdomen muscle. Can you tell me why you would attack such an area and how it would affect your opponent?" He asked, waiting for an answer.

I will not bow, I will not break;
Her ears moved from their pressed position on her skull to the attentive peaks of a pupil listening, and then her head tilted to the side. They wouldn't be paws-on today? Oh well, it would have been fun. Instead, he asked her about muscle groups. She had no knowledge of anatomy, other than where some of the pressure points were. "I admittedly don't know a lot about anatomy, I probably should have studied more when I had the chance." Back home she had been taking such lessons as part of her training, but all that had been tragically cut short.

She could only guess at his next question, but she could assume it would disrupt the intestines. "I can only guess that muscle is a tender area, from the sounds of it, as such attacking the area would hinder motion and probably disrupt the gut." He had her full attention, her mind ticking away at the possibilities. What could that muscle do, and how would attacking it help her in a fight? Eager to learn as always, Atreyu kept her ears perked as she reclined on her haunches and waited for him to tell her its purpose and the use of it in a fight.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by resin

Alaric's ears perked and listened for Atreyu's response. He let out a low grumble, a smile forming on his maws. "Yes, good. But there's more to the muscle too." He told the spotted she wolf. "If you manage to lay a wolf on their side in combat, attacking the muscle and holding it can prevent them from moving or getting up." He paused, letting it sink in. Then, he continued. "On a darker note, the muscle is also a gate way to many vital organs and intestines. You could disembowel someone from attack the muscle as well." He stated lastly, letting it sink in. He wanted her to know every option available about the muscle. Where it was located, what it did, it's weakness, and how to use it to gain advantage on her opponents. The world was a cruel place in Alaric's eyes, unforgiving and cruel. Ruthlessness was mercy upon ourselves. To be ruthless to ones opponents meant mercy for yourself, or that's how he saw it. Yet Alaric wasn't what one would consider an honorable man. He never saw the point in honor. He only saw survival. He only saw victory.

She made sure to pay close attention as Alaric spelled out what a hold on this particular muscle could do. While the information that she could disembowel someone with a well-placed attack, Atreyu highly doubted she would ever actually need to do something like this. Now to pin her opponent and prevent them from rising, that was more her style. Atreyu was both horrified and mystified by the knowledge, and she let both show on her delicate seeming features. She understood that the world was a cold place, learning that lesson upon turning a year old. "That would ensure a swift victory, but I doubt I will be disemboweling anyone unless absolutely " Giving her teacher a grin, she waved her spotted tail. "How would I go about pinning someone with it?" Sitting herself before her teacher, Atreyu perked her black ears toward him and paid close attention to his reply.

OOC: Sorry this one sucks, pushing through writer's block XD
"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by alo