At a fast-paced canter the raven fae left their home territory. She used the opportunity to stretch her shoulders and haunches, bounding along in a lengthened stride. Fel knew her smaller, lighter pupil could keep up, but for how long? Today her endurance would be tested and her strength broken so that with training, Fel could mold it into something acceptable.

After what seemed like a long while, Fel slowed down to a walk. They had arrived at the foothills of the mountains that made up Frozen Fang Pass. Slowing her breathing back to normal, she strode over to a patch of scattered rocks, her long tail snaking behind her. The rocks – boulders and pebbles alike – had all once rolled down the mountainside and landed here. In silence, she analyzed the variety of large stones before finally stopping at one. It was rugged but weathered down enough to where it would roll if pushed with enough force. The boulder reached higher than her belly, but lower than her chin. Though considering Fel was about 8 inches taller than Heaven, her colorful victim would have her paws full with this challenge. Giving a huff, she bent down and slammed her shoulder into the side of the boulder before giving a powerful thrust at an upward angle to let it roll a little bit away from the rest. It wobbled as it moved, rolling in a jagged path because of its uneven sides. Fel shook the grit off of her shoulder and stepped beside the designated stone, instructing, “Your physique is amazingly pathetic. I refuse to give combat lessons to weaklings. So we will work on that first.” The Beta looked up in the direction of the mountain peaks, her gaze locking onto the snowy peaks. “You will roll this boulder up the mountainside until we have reached a decent altitude.” Then, the tall demon finally swung her head around to meet the gaze of her apprentice. It was impossible to tell what hid behind the chilling pallor of those heartless orbs. “Are you waiting for a personal invitation or something, fae?”

Fel stared at Heaven, meeting her silent question with… Well… Nothing. There was no joke in the task at paw. Nothing facetious or jesting. In fact, if she did not get a move on, the fae would realize just how serious the beta was about this. Thankfully, she moved soon. The progress was slow, but this was expected from the weak wolf. The dark monster strode beside the boulder as it rolled, taking short steps at a relaxed pace. Her maw turned slightly towards the laboring wolf, one piercing eye following her progress. The pupil seemed to have slowed for a moment, an act which was reprimanded immediately. Fel turned on her heels, rearing to throw her head around and give a warning snap at her haunches. “I gave no permission for rest. Now put some effort into it!” Her bark, laced with undertones of a growl, sounded across the mountainside. There was a chance a larger predator to come around, but this was unlikely due to the time of day. Even if one did show up, Fel always believed in learning on the job… Heaven would simply have a new task. As she listened around, however, Fel noticed no movement around them except for the one which she controlled. “One paw after another, faster. If you’re not feeling it in your haunches, you aren’t using them enough.” The beta walked beside the fae then, growling commands as they went. She waited, surprisingly calm in spite of her commanding tone, for the perfect moment to throw in a little impediment to the challenge.

Fel padded along beside her student, watching both her and the road ahead. In a low growl, she would make comments or instructions as they went. “Dig your claws into the ground; propel yourself forward. You’re a small fae… If you want to stand a chance against larger wolves, you have to know how to stand your ground against their weight.” Or, “Have a secure footing before you push. A powerful thrust forward, one step at a time. You won’t be running against a foe constantly. One push, another push.” Fel could see Heaven’s muscles beginning to tremble under the strain, but that did not discourage her from driving her forward with whatever brutality was needed. Harsh words and snaps at her legs flew at her accordingly. Heaven would experience many more days like this, whether or not she was sore. Besides, she would only become stronger if she overcame the pain and the soreness that would be a constant obstacle from this day forward. Eventually it would dissipate, and then they would be ready to move onward. Today, however, was the first step… And tomorrow, Fel was sure, Heaven would be walking with stiff limbs. The thought was almost pleasurable.

They reached a little ways past the middle point before there was a bump in the road. Ah, the moment had come. The boulder had to be moved to the side to avoid getting it stuck in a slight pit that Heaven surely wouldn’t be able to push it out of. Without any prior warning, the demon slammed her weight against the side of the rock, sending it rolling off several feet to the side before it began to roll backwards down the mountainside. Throwing a cold, unsympathetic glance to Heaven, she said in her eerily calm tone, “Catch.” She would stand watching her for the time it took for her to retrieve the rolling boulder and catch up. Whilst Fel watched her actions, a part of her thoughts flickered to the path ahead. Heaven did not know where they would stop, nor would she know until they arrived. There was no point in telling her, for then she would reserve energy for the last few lengths. No, Heaven needed to learn to push with all of her force the entire session, and when she became weakened with fatigue to push harder. Fel’s gaze trailed on the smaller fae’s movements, prepared to call out any mistakes. Well, if they were minor enough to be called out instead of received with a punishment, that is.

Fel resumed walking alongside Heaven when she caught up, her long strides easily matching the labored trot of the other. Though Heaven was finally getting the hang of this technique, there would be no praise. If anything, she only became harsher. From this point onwards, Fel no longer gave verbal direction. Every misplaced paw, every involuntary slowing of pace, every trip and every stumble was met with a snap directed at her ankles or haunches ((whether it connected with her or not is for you to decide)). In this hostile silence, they continued up the path which steadily became colder and more rigorous. Regardless of the difficulty, any error, no matter how miniscule, would be reprimanded.

After another long while of continuing on the path that seemingly led to a frozen hell, Fel finally gave the order Heaven’s body was screaming for. In a low bark, she suddenly called, “Halt!” The beta then padded over to the boulder, glancing first at it and then at the trail behind her pupil. After analyzing the steep road for a moment longer, her mirrored eyes met the dark ones of the healer. “Run. Let’s try for faster than gravity and physics.” There was something in her tone that made the last sentence not as delightful as it could be. It was not an offer by any means. It was a warning, a command. Without another word, Fel shoved the boulder away from her apprentice and down the slope with her shoulder. And then, with the grace of a wolf born in the mountains, she bounded down the trail along with the stone. Her leaps were calculated, landing a bit at a side angle each time and letting herself skid a little bit on the gravel before going again. The boulder, however, was picking up speed, though it rocked and wobbled with some of the larger pebbles and stones caught in its path.

Bump.

{So sorry >.< I had a derp moment and thought I replied when I didn't O.o)