He woke early on the summers morning, as he often did. Already the heat from the sun was making him pant. The sudden heatwave had seen him and many of the others shed their fur excessively in order to keep cool. He licked his mates cheek affectionately. This was one of the few moments they might have to be just themselves, like they were before they started their family. They had both come so far since their first meeting at the borders. Their time as friends, hunting together, and then when he wanted more. He was pushy, cocky, and maybe that was difficult for her to stomach. But he'd proven to her that he was worthy, and every day he kept trying to prove to her. He ran the borders, though he couldn't accept new members. He made their den larger to accommodate the new additions. And every morning and every evening he would set out to feed the pack.

Now he was a Guardian, he wasn't obligated to rise early and catch the packs meals, but old habits die hard. This morning, he wasn't planning on hunting alone. No, he would be training others. His own pups, and Tyes if their father permitted. It was past time the whelps learned to pull their weight. Play time was over. He nudged his wards, trying to rouse them. "Wake up," he murmured. "Wake up, all of you. Outside, now." he commanded of them. Not waiting for any stragglers, Magnus crawled from the den, shaking out his fur which flashed copper in the early morning sunlight. He padded over to the den which he knew belonged to the Elite/Healer couple. "Tye, brother. It is time you and I trained our pups. Bring them by my den, we are waiting." He knew the dark male would hear him and bring his own young.

Back outside his own den, the pups were slowly pulling themselves sleepily from their home. He gave a low warning growl to hurry them. His young boys were doing well, growing into fine young lads. They would make him proud. His second eldest, daughter Piper, was also quite ambitious, much like her mother. His youngest, Willow, was the biggest disappointment. She hated fighting, often curling up in submission to her brothers the second they came near. How she was of Erenyx and still so meek he didn't know. She would easily be an Omega and he wouldn't challenge the ruling. He sat proud on his haunches, waiting for the others to arrive. They needed to get moving so these pups could get learning.

Morning sunlight washed over the dens, casting a warm glow over the territory. The black wolf was already awake, his head resting against the side of his mate's. It was without a doubt the best feeling in the world. To have the one you love be the first thing you see when you wake up every morning. When he had been Lead Warrior, it had been something he had grown used to. Waking up in the early hours. Patrolling the borders. Keeping the pack safe from harm. Keeping his family safe from harm. It hadn't changed since he had become an Elite except that he had been out longer than he had been when he'd been a Lead. He had seen the sun rise at the same time but seen the nights grow longer. So he treasured the time he had with his family. His wonderful, vibrant mate and the three rascals she'd given birth to. It'd been a long time since they had met but he loved her as much as the day he'd met her. He buried his face into the nape of her neck, his muzzle resting on the back so that he was breathing in her scent. Still the same earthy, homely scent he'd fallen in love with. He peered over at the sleeping figures of his pups. Cliche and his pups.

He lifted his head, ears perking as he heard the voice of his friend. It was good to hear him again. He hadn't seen him since he had been crowned Guardian. And the first thing he wanted was to train their pups. It was something Tye had wanted to do as well. To test their fighting skills. He wasn't sure if that was what Magnus had in mind, having been the lead hunter but he guessed the copper male wanted to train their hunting skills instead of their fighting skills. Tye would do the latter when the time was right. When the pups were strong enough to fight by themselves. And he would spare no mercy. He couldn't. He lowered his head, whispering into Cliche's ear, "I'll be back when you see me. Don't wait up for me." Tye nudged the other three with his muzzle firmly to wake them up, growling at them, "Get up now. We're going hunting." He padded out of the den into the sunlight, his black coat gleaming. Though, it wasn't as lustrous as it had once been. It was still just as handsome and rough but had lost some of its shine. Stretching to work out the kinks in his joints, he looked at the copper male and said wryly, "Nice wake-up call brother." He straightened, turning his head to look at the entrance of the den. They had 20 seconds to get out here once they woke up. Tye would wait, watching in his usual calm manner. If they did not come out and refused he would pick them up and haul them out.

Silently, the large pup slept. His eyes were sealed shut, and his ears spread wide on his head. His nose breathed in the sweet scents of the summer winds. Training with his siblings and father had been a bore. He completed everything which was required of him and even surpassed the others in most tasks. Being the largest of the brood, he knew he was fit for greatness. Rolling in his slumber, his back turned to face the hard ground beneath him. He kicked his legs into the air as he dreamed of chasing down the perfect kill. A fat rabbit hung from his clutches as he trotted back to the paws of his father, presenting it as a gift for his excellent tactics. The young wolf would howl in his glory, feeling the congratulatory nudge from his father. But as he was being nudged in his dream, he was also being pushed in his sleep. A wicked snarl emerged from his clenched teeth as he warily opened his eyes to see his pusher. It was his father. Rolling onto his belly, he lowered his ears and averted his eyes from him. He shouted for the pups to wake and go outside. Groggy and tired, he yawned and looked to his slumbering mother. He did not think it fair that mother did not have to wake, yet he did. Again and again he was yelled at. He stumbled to his paws and stretched his body. His paws reached far from his body as forward as possible. His toes spread out, stretching as his claws dug into the dirt. He arched his chest towards the ground and wagged his tail. When he stood straight up, he walked out of the den and waited for further instruction. As he waited, he sat down beside his father and looked to see Tye approaching. He watched the two large adults speak with one another. He sat proud, showing off his height for just a pup. His tail curled over his paws while he sat straight up, as tall as he could be.

Icarus turned, growling in annoyance as he felt something bump him in his sleep. He heard something. Incoherent, indecipherable words that made no sense in his half-awake mind. It sounded like his father. The black pup cracked open one bright gold eye, one of his paws having been over the side of his face which had gotten there at some point in his sleep. He rolled over so that his back was facing his father, knocking into his little brother who had been stirring and blearily opening his eyes. He muttered, "Training time. Get out or father will drag us out." He looked over at Striker, kicking him with his hind leg to make sure he was wide awake as well. Last time they hadn't made it out their father had made good on his word and pulled them out by the scruff of their necks. Icarus was a grown wolf. He was at least half his father's height and packed a lot of muscle. So he looked like a big brother because he was large. He didn't need to be treated like a kid anymore and he'd almost lashed out at his father for doing so. He padded out (silently as he could because for all the bravado and roughness he projected to the world, he still loved his mother and so tread quietly not to wake her up), shaking dust and grit off his onyx pelt. A snort escaped his muzzle as he remembered how smooth his fur was. Agh. Icarus came to a slow halt, noticing a couple of new faces. An adult wolf. Was this that friend his father was always talking about? Icarus stared up at him curiously, his large eyes somehow still very innocent. Then looked back down and moved so he was a little ways from his father, standing there. But his expression had brightened. He was finally going to spend some time with his father. Maybe he'd see how much he'd improved. And he could boast to his father about that fight he had with the Helidos wolf. The cut had healed but he'd felt proud of it. He'd stood up against an adult.                      

He glanced at the other pup there, immediately straightening with pride and confidence. It didn't look like he wanted to attack but Icarus was the oldest one of the litter. He could be incredibly cruel to his siblings. Perhaps too rough but in the end, he never wanted to seriously hurt them. And as rough as he was, he cared for them all the same. As much as a big brother could. Maybe he could be friends with this pup. Maybe not. But there was one thing he was sure of and that was that he would never let anyone hurt his family. It didn't matter to him if he was a pup. He'd find a way. But as he waited for the others to join, there was some resentment that bubbled in his heart. Renier had been the favourite. His parents never paid any attention to him or Striker. Well, now that'd change. He'd make his parents proud. It occurred to him too that the adult that his father was talking to could be Piper's dad, Magnus. So the male pup in front of him was probably her brother. This was going to be fun.

Willow dreamt of playing in Lavenders Grace that night. She ran through the fields of red and purple, closely followed by Renier. Her friend. He had been so good to her, so kind and caring. All around them the wind blew the coloured petals, they swirled and danced on the air. It was some of the happiest she had felt in her life, if that were possible. But it all had to end at some point. This time it was ended by her father. The brute couldn't allow her any happiness. His poke was rough and demanding. She forced her honey eyes open, taking barely a moment to stretch her little limbs. Aspen, her oldest brother, was also woken in this manner. He snarled at their father, then instantly submitting when he realised the mistake he'd made. Her brother liked to talk tough and boss her around, but he was easily broken by their father. Willow followed Aspen from the den and out into the early dawn. Already her father sat there with another big adult, likely the friend he had often told them about. There was another pup there too, one she didn't know. So surrounded by strangers, Willow was uneasy. She sat behind the others, far enough away so that she might avoid some notice, but still close enough that she could hear. Her fluffy white tail curled around her side, ears pinned to her head submissively in a preemptive fashion. Her eyes were locked solidly on the ground in front of her forepaws. The little Apprentice didn't want any trouble.

Piper had already been awake that morning. Now that she was allowed to venture out on her own she had taken to watching Beta Fel and even follow her sometimes. Since their first meeting Piper was enchanted with her. She was everything she wanted to be as and adult: large, beautiful and powerful. Now her mother was most of those things, but Fel outranked her, hence she wanted to be just like her. To the young apprentice your title was everything, perhaps she should try to be an alphess some day? Outside she heard her fathers orders, for her paws hadn't led her too far that day. Turning around sharply she bolted back, nearly colliding into her sister who was looking down as usual. Smiling Piper nuzzled Willow, trying to cheer her up. "Why not look up at the pretty sky Willow, the dirt in so....dirty." She giggled, making a joke out of everything. Perking her ears she gathered the group who comprised of her siblings and Icarus's were going to do some training or something like that. Already Aspen was here, but not Ciro. Figuring he was still sleeping Piper smiled at Icarus, her only other friend of the group. She liked the young brute and was curious if he and Aspen would get along. Her stinky older brother was too serious for her liking. Sure being the best at everything was important, but so was having fun and making friends. He spent all his free time training or scoffing at Willow. Sticking up for her baby sister was her new habit, but she loved her and didn't mind.

Renier lifted his head, letting a yawn unfurl from his muzzle. He stumbled to his paws, ignoring the heated exchange between his siblings. Secretly, he thought that Icarus would never let any of them win or get one over him and if they did, he'd say it was because he did let them. His big brother was proud to the point of insanity. Always wanting to win. But he had a point. His father had dragged them out before when Icarus and Striker had both been rebellious or been difficult about it and though it was entertaining to watch sometimes, Renier preferred sleep this morning. He paused at the entrance of the den, glaring at his brother as he spoke to him. Times like these, he hated Striker and he almost wished that the male would come to harm. Then he reminded himself that Striker was his brother, just as Icarus was and he should not want to do that. Renier would not bite back. Not now. When he stepped out into the sunlight, at his father's side near Icarus and Striker he sat down his form relaxed and calm. His expression was very much the same, handsome features cool, neutral and perhaps a little bit thoughtful as his mind ran over ideas about what was going to happen. He was excited on the inside and it showed as his tail swept the ground idly. And he noticed that the other male was the friend his father had been talking about. The one who he had made friends with over a bet and a race. It'd be so cool to finally meet him. Any friend of his father's had to be cool.

He blinked, realizing soon after that fact that they weren't alone. In his sleep-hazed mind he still hadn't realized that there were other scents in the air. One which he recognized very much. His ears perked up happily, spine immediately straightening as he saw Willow among the mass of faces at the back. He was glad to see the other pup and even happier that she appeared fine after their adventure in the neutral lands. But he wondered why her eyes were on the ground and her ears were pinned back against her head. Was she scared? But she could just fight back. No one was attacking her. And next to her, was another female. One who was smiling at Icarus and giggling and saying stuff about looking up at the sky and dirt. Icarus never said anything about meeting a female. One of Renier's ears folded downwards at the strangeness of the conversation. Of course the dirt was dirty but looking at the sky wouldn't make it less dirty. And why was that funny? So weird. Females. One of the males looked exactly like him except he had gold or amber eyes instead of Renier's blue ones. Renier waited, without a quip or remark. He was his father's son in the end when it came to absolute stillness. Icarus and Striker were the ones that had gotten the sarcasm gene.

Magnus sat there with a little smirk on his face. Tye sat down beside him not moments later. "Of course. I only live to serve my dear Elite brother." He mocked. The copper wolf pulled a cheeky grin, making it obvious he was joking. But the pups quickly started to arrive and all emotion was wiped from his face, his expression now stern and solemn. His only acknowledgement of the newcomers was a quick flicker of his eyes over each of them. His eldest, Aspen, was the first to emerge. His son was strong and proud but serious about his training. Magnus enjoyed spending time with his son. The second was clearly one of Tye's sons, dark fur but with the amber eyes of his mother. He was a large enough pup, one whom Magnus surmised would make Warrior someday. He seemed strong and eager to please. Then came his smallest and youngest, daughter Willow. She sat to the rear keeping her eyes and ears down. Pathetic. She was quickly joined by his other daughter, Piper. An energetic young fae, but one who did not mind the hard work that came with high aspirations. Another of Tye's pups showed up then. He was coffee in colour with eyes somewhat darker than his father. He seemed cocky and overconfident, Magnus wanted to set him straight. His final son showed his face then, the little apprentice who idolised his father so. He thought Ciro would enjoy this training day. The final pup to arrived must have been Renier. He'd heard Willow describe him once or twice after having met him.

Finally, everyone was present and he could get going. He cleared his throat. "Silence, all of you." He gave just a seconds pause for them to all be quiet before continuing. "You have all been playing and running about like children up until now. That's going to end. Today, we start training you to pull your weight in this pack and contribute like everyone else. This session will be a hunting session. You will all participate and by the end of the day, I will expect you all to have caught something. If not, you wont be eating today." He took a moment to study all of their faces for expressions of shock, disgust, horror, acceptance or amusement. "Alright everyone, move out." He grumbled. He set off walking, expecting the pups to follow, if they didn't he'd drag them until they begged to be walking. he turned to look slightly at Tye as they walked. "We're headed to the hunting Moore. There are a couple rabbit warrens out there the pups can practise on. Once they're a bit bigger, we can take them up Frozen Fang Pass and set them on the snowshoe hares there. There's some massive warrens up there. You're the expert on combat, any thoughts there?" They continued to walk through the forest, headed for the Moors. The pups would learn quite a bit from having to navigate the muddy marshes around the moor.

"I'll return the favour,"Tye chuckled. He glanced to the entrance of the den as Icarus appeared, his muzzle appearing followed by the rest of his body. They all piled out, though he heard some arguments in the den, mainly from Striker. He seemed unhappy about being woken up from sleep but he should be used to it now. As his son looked up at him, he looked back down with an unyielding expression giving him a stare that told him that he would not be tolerating any obstinate horseplay. Or him taking out his anger on any of the others here, especially his siblings. And if he did, then they had every right to fight back. The same went for Icarus and Renier. No one was exempt. Renier was silent, saying nothing but looking at everyone gathered and at a few in particular. Magnus and Magnus' daughters as well a the oldest son who in some uncanny circumstance, looked like Renier except for his eyes which appeared to be the same shade of amber as his father's. Icarus was ready to go and he could even sense some excitement from him when he saw Magnus, probably thinking they were going to train together. Tye thought he'd enjoy this the most. Striker too. There was one female who seemed timid and the other female of grey-white. Piper and Willow. Renier had spoken about a white female pup he'd met in the neutral grounds, Willow. The female must have been her but Renier hadn't mentioned her shyness. Perhaps it had been to spare her feelings. The other one must have been Piper. Icarus had mentioned something about a grey-white Erenyx female pup his age that he'd come across when he'd reveled in his tale about his fight in the neutral grounds. Tye watched his sons calmly while Magnus explained what they were doing. When he finished, the Elite said to his sons, "Get going or I'll force you." They knew he meant it. And if they didn't then they'd soon find out what happened if they were being stubborn about it.        

Tye walked alongside his old friend, keeping one ear in the general direction of the pups that he expected were following. He looked at Magnus, listening to his plans with one ear. "Sounds good. The Moors will prove to be a challenge because of the uneven ground and rocks as well. They'll learn how to adapt to the environment and it gives them a chance to learn about tactics and strategy. It would be a good place to start training them. My sons have never had to compete with eight others and only with each other so this is a good opportunity to learn those things. Frozen Fang can wait until they're older. And I have some plans for them to train there too." He paused, remembering the white pup and said,"There is one thing though. Your daughter Willow may need some more time than the others. From what I see, she won't be able to handle a fight by herself so I'm not sure about hunting with eight other pups around. Maybe you need to spend some one on one time with her."

The young wolf was full aware of what he was capable of, and who he was as a wolf. Yes, he was not yet a year old, but he had practiced his training more than the other of his siblings. They all loved to play and do stupid puppy things. Aspen was not about that life. He wanted to prove himself to his father, to the other males of the pack, and especially his Alpha. It was no secret that Teren hated pups. They were worthless in his eyes, yet Aspen would be the one to prove him wrong. As he sat beside his father, he watched as the other pups joined them. He did not care for the other wolves, born of the Elite and a simple-minded "Healer". Though he never spoke the words aloud to anyone, he always thought the Healers and Caretakers were worthless. If they had stronger wolves, there would be no point for them in the pack, just extra mouths to feed. Aspen knew his sisters belonged in these categories, more so little Willow. She was the baby and smallest of the litter, also the most annoying. Everything had to be explained to her in full detail. It was as if things went through one ear and slipped out the other. She was a coward most of all, and that alone pissed off Aspen above anything else. It made him feel that others would think he was weak because of his sister. He could not even think about how annoying she was without snarling silently to himself. Just as she came out of the den, he turned his eyes to glare at her. What a disgrace.. he thought to himself. More of the pups came and he did not care. He sat tall and proud by his father, looking down to any who came near. He did not think he was better than them, he knew it. Guardians and Elites were equal in rank, though he got even more strength from his mother, and he would prove this to be an advantage for him. He would surpass the others in training, catching the first rabbit and bringing it to his father as a gift. He would make the others envious of his skill and his tact, all the while, showing his siblings that they should be doing more than keeping their heads in the clouds. As his father started to speak, Aspen listened with poise and dignity. He knew there would be at least one wolf not eating tonight, though he did not look towards his small and useless sister. He did not need her to know what they all already knew. But speaking of their behavior, he had pin-pointed Aspen all wrong. Aspen did not play their reindeer games, or get caught on wild adventures. All the mattered was the training, the skills. With the command to move, Aspen followed close behind the two large adults. His ears were attentive as he listened to the Elite speak of his sister. A wide smile spread across his muzzle as he held a chuckle to himself. Even the outsider could see she was useless. As they made their ways through the forest, the known land to the Moor, Aspen paid close attention to everything. Just as his father had mentioned, there was a sweet fragrance of rabbits in these parts. Their scent clung to everything. He was ready for the command, waiting for a single chance to make his mark on this pack, and prove he was a force to be reckoned with.

Icarus' fierce gold eyes shining brightly at his father's friend's words. A challenge. He could do that. It'd be fun. Life was so boring without challenges. If there was one thing his father had taught him it was that one could not grow as a wolf without a challenge. Mentally and physically. He scoped out his competition, turning his head here and there to size up the rest of the pups. His tail lifted, swishing to and fro and it started to wag as he saw Piper. He lifted his head as she smiled at him, smirking at her. No way he was going to lose to her. He had been catching rabbits for a long time. Every single day. Not just rabbits but birds as well. This was just going to be another challenge to do. Maybe it'd be more difficult but that was okay. Bring it on was what Icarus thought. Icarus craned his neck, catching sight of a white female pup amid the litter. He snorted, rolling his eyes and turned to follow his father and his friend. She'd never survive like that. What was she even doing here? Was she the one that Renier had made friends with? The one called Willow? Made sense. His little brother always liked helping the soft ones. Icarus quickened his pace so that he was closer, hearing their words. So they were going to the Hunting Moors. His father had never taken him to the Hunting Moors before. And he said something about training in Frozen Fang. Icarus suddenly felt a lot happier though he didn't show it.

He glanced back at Striker briefly, checking to see if he was coming. He didn't regret kicking him. It hadn't been a hard kick, only a firm one to make sure he got up. But he let out a growl to him. This was their chance to test themselves, their skills. To train with the others and see how they worked. He was the biggest and oldest. But if anyone was the star child, it was their coveted little brother. He was the only one that their parents paid any attention to. Though Icarus wasn't shy about receiving attention even if it wasn't all good. His father treated the other male adult like a real brother. Maybe they could be a family. An extended family. But the first male seemed unfriendly and solemn, rigid. Hyper-obsessed. Like if someone touched him he'd topple over like a statue. Icarus wondered if he'd be able to get along with him. The other male seemed better to hang around with if he enjoyed fighting as much as Icarus did.

Piper, her ever vigilant guardian, approached, jesting her choice of view. One sister nuzzled the other, but the youngest would only sit there taking it. Willow, still staring at the ground, mumbled, "Dirt is where plants grow. It's interesting." She was being stubborn, but she didn't want to look up. She didn't need to see them to know everyone around her was judging her. She hunched her shoulders, wishing she could melt away into the ground. Other pups arrived soon enough, more eyes to judge and demean. Ciro came over to them, trying to be very casual. She could tell it was him just by looking at his paws as they came into views. Still she kept her eyes downcast, not replying. He was being awfully nice now that he was under the watch of their father and his "brother". But one pup she didn't see was Renier. The disadvantages of keeping ones eyes on the ground. If she had she might've felt more at ease. Instead she listened to her father speak, telling them of training. Hunting? But she didn't want to be a hunter. She wanted to be a Caretaker. What did hunters even do? She was painfully unaware of the use of the role, still consuming regurgitated meat, or dead off-cuts that her mother brought her. Where the food came from she couldn't say. Not wanting to anger her father she rose and padded softly to follow, trailing behind the group. It was now necessary for her to look forward so that she didn't walk into a tree. She was suddenly able to see just how many pups there were around. It made her anxious to see so many people, so many new people. But there was one she knew. Renier. Seeing him brought a smile to her face. She wanted to run over, catch up to him and walk together. But she didn't want to be a bother. So she held her place, not hearing the doubts of her fathers friend. Good thing, they would've hurt her confidence.

Piper turned her attention to Aspen who seemed to be eying her and Willow. Holding back to urge to stick her tongue out at him, her gaze went to her father and "uncle" instead. They spoke briefly about a hunting exercise and going to the hunting moor. Piper grew excited, eager to show off her recent practicing hunting small game to her father. She hadn't done much training with the pack's Beta, but what little she had seen she had done on her own to show Fel at some point. A fast runner already Piper was smart more than anything. Tricks to getting rabbits more spoken of around the pack and Piper had a niche for listening in quite well. Looking to her sister who seemed nervous she figured she could team up with her and use her timid sister as a aide to catching some food. Nudging Willow Piper rose, waiting for the group to move out. Once they did she would follow, thinking of the different ways one could hunt rabbits and which would impress the adult males the most. She so wanted to prove herself to the others, to show them she was in another league and shouldn't be counted out for just her gender.

Renier wanted to give an encouraging smile to Willow but he didn't think she'd see it. The others were already starting to go and if he waited, he'd be left behind and this sounded like it'd be a fun expedition to go on. Out of all the places his father had taken him to when he was younger the hunting grounds had been mysteriously absent so he was looking forward to going. Renier glanced at Willow again, briefly to see if she'd looked up. If she kept on staring at the ground she wouldn't be able to see where she was going so he was glad to see she was. But his father, Icarus and Striker and the others had already begun to move so he followed having no chance to give her the smile. He swiftly walked up to her so that he was at her side and nudged her, his voice low, "Hey don't worry. We're going to have fun. And if anyone tries to hurt you just fight back with everything you have." He smiled at her briefly then slipped back with his brothers. For some reason his second oldest brother had gone to the other pup. Renier joined behind his oldest brother, looking to Striker again to see what he was up to for a moment. This was just a trip. A test. He was acting weird. All it took was some patience, an open mind and some wits and skill to take a hare. It seemed his brother was already panicking, thinking that none of his brothers would at least share something with him. Icarus may have kept whatever he caught but Renier knew he would've helped Striker in some way. And Renier was not so heartless. Nevertheless, Renier didn't bother going to him. He had to concentrate on what was happening now and whatever plans or schemes that were being cooked up by the others, he would just waste time thinking about when he could be focusing on what was actually going to be in front of him and go from there.

Magnus continued to walk alongside his brother, leading the troop from the trees to the edge of the moors. There he directed them westerly, where the ground was a little drier. He knew the place contained a labyrinth of warrens. "My daughter will train just the same as the others. When she struggles she will be forced to try harder, when she fails she will not eat. She needs to learn how to survive in a pack. Chiara and Piper coddle her too much and it's got to stop." He spoke with a not of finality. He was trained just the same way. As a pup he excelled at hunting and struggled with fighting. As the heir to the Guardian title he had to learn to fight and his mother made sure of that. When he failed he was beaten, when he succeeded he killed his opponent. Blood began to pour almost constantly down his throat. He found they had different tastes. The blood of pups was sweet, those of a healers tasted earthen and had a clear hint of the plants. Old blood was weak and disgusting. Sometimes he missed the taste, but the wolves here seemed a little more reserved.

They finally reached the area he was looking for. Already a few rabbits were darting about, desperately attempting to escape the large band of wolves. He stopped and turned to the pups. "Silence." His voice boomed. They were talking too much. It was time for action. "Sit," he growled. He watched them sit unanimously. "Rabbits are your game today. Catch one and you eat. Fail and you'll go hungry. I will demonstrate this once and once only. When I am done you will each set off and attempt to catch your own. If you manage to get something other than dust, you will return here. Elite Tye and I will be watching your progress." He had used his friends formal title to set an example. The pups had to learn to show respect for their superiors. Anyone who attempted to be casual with the elite or himself would get a hiding. He glared at them, daring them to make a peep. He'd love the opportunity to set them straight.

The Guardian turned away, dropping into a low crouch. A few rabbits still lingered on the surface, but she would not go for those. The pups wouldn't learn that way. Nose to the ground, he crawled silently, following a tunnel that lay just feet beneath his paws. When he found where it breached the ground he looked over the entrance. It was shaded by long grass, creating a deadly pothole. He bared his teeth in a silent snarl. His nose told him there was a little rabbit curled just in the mouth of the entrance. He rose  up high on his hind legs, using the power and momentum of the fall to drive his muzzle deep into the soft earth and sink his canines into the rodent. He backed up, dragging the little furred male with him and returned to the pups. He sat, dropping he rabbit for them to view. "I expect you all to catch something better than this. Go."

As Magnus explained, Tye let his gaze roam over his pups. Striker was already trying to make friends with the oldest of his friend's litter. It was a good thing he supposed. But the Elite wondered what to do with the child when he seemed intent on scheming. It wasn't encouragement he needed. Perhaps it was some actual discipline though it was strange. It should have already been instilled in him with the amount of things he had to do on a constant basis. Maybe Tye needed to bring out some of the unrelenting, monstrous callousness he had when he had been younger. When he was younger Tye had schemed out of necessity. He had been ruthless in his methods to get what he wanted without sparing the feelings of others. He did not miss the blood or the scheming. He did think that deep down, no one would have enjoyed a life like that. One could get used to it and even enjoy certain aspects but that was entirely different from enjoying the life itself. In any case this was a solo venture. If any of them decided to ride off the hard work of another pup in some way or some form then he would've made them do it by themselves in front of the others and made them catch more than one within a set limit. Say, one minute. Well, if this was his session but it wasn't. He did not know if his brother-in-arms thought the same way. As Magnus demonstrated and said go, Tye started to pad in the opposite direction to him to grant him a wider view of the rabbit warrens and the pups. Catch one rabbit and return. He expected Icarus, Striker and Renier to be able to do something so basic or he would've been disappointed in all of them.

Of the young wolves, he was the most quiet. He did not speak to the others and he did not care to either. Only one male from the other litter interested him and it was because he seemed to be about the hunt more than anything else. When he was close to him, Aspen did not look to the other. Instead, he turned the closer ear to his direction and looked at him from the corner of his eye. "Aspen." It was not that he did not wish to speak to the other, but it was more of the purpose of this outing. He had to prove to them all that he was serious about his training, and that he was a force to be reckoned with. When the males came to a stop, so did he. He sat down immediately, watching as his father began to scold the others for speaking. He held the smile deep within his maw, so none would see his pleasure in the folly of others. When the speech was over, his father moved to show them exactly what they had wanted. As he hunted the rabbit down, Aspen never took his eyes off the other. He was proud of his dad and judged the other male so cruelly. Why did the Elite male not show of his talents? Was he surpassed by Magnus to where his skills could not be compared? He attacked the rabbit with such force and precision that the rabbit could not get away. He smiled to him with joy as the blood dripped from the creature. What a pleasant sight. As Magnus returned to the group, he dropped the corpse to the floor and spoke to them once more. When they were commanded to go on their own, Aspen looked to the open space around them. He stood to his four paws and stretched his body. If he was going to do this, he would be as nimble and quick as possible. Some of the other pups would be much faster than him in their attack, but he was going to use his attributes the best way he knew how. when his muscles were relaxed, he made his way to the rabbit-inhabited place. Hie eyes scanned the grounds, orbs of honey running over every mound and dip in the terrain. From the darkness of the holes, a small pair of tips stuck out from the ground. The sun forced the small points to create a small shadow behind them, allowing the pup to see it more clearly. Aspen lowered his frame close to the ground, moving slowly as he approached from the rear. He wanted his body to look as small as possible. A few moments later, a small head popped up from the hole and scanned from side to side, but did not turn to face the hunter. Continuing each single step, he held his breath as not to give away his position. He stared in silence as the rabbit moved to hide himself once more. It was a short-lived hiding though. For moments later, the rabbit hopped from his hole and headed for the tall grass to the north. Pushing off his hind legs, he dashed off after the rodent. He sprang forward, clearing the hole. As his feet landed on the ground, he could feel the adrenaline rushing through him. His tongue lolled from his mouth as his honey stare held on the rear of the rabbit. With a final push, he was plummeting forward and his teeth wrapped around the furry creature. His jaws snapped shut and held it still. The thing kicked and squealed a horrid scream. Using the strength of his larger paws, he pressed the head of the rabbit down against the dirt and moved his jaws to rip at the neck. Blood filled his mouth and his teeth sunk deep past the fur and the skin. They pierced the muscle and tendons of the rabbit. Once the animal was lifeless in his jaws, he stood on his feet and walked back to his father. He looked to him and dropped the hare between his front paws. "As you have requested, father. Is there anything else you require of me?"

Icarus listened intently, his golden-eyed gaze roaming over the rabbit warrens to see which ones he could target as the other adult spoke. His eyes fell on some of the rabbits that had already started to dart away as they ran. His neck fur quivered and rose, excitement coursing through his veins as he imagined their necks snapping under his paws, the blood splattering over his face and trickling down his throat in flowing rivers and the taste of his fangs scissoring through sweet, juicy, tender flesh. The thought of tasting it made him shudder and shake visibly as he was barely able to contain his lust. His golden eyes burned brilliant, seeming to glow with fervent passion and lunacy that had been buried deep inside. He watched the rabbits bound away, tearing his gaze away to see Magnus demonstrate by crawling on the ground with his nose planted to the earth. He rose, striking the ground with his weight and stuck his muzzle deep into the burrow. When he re-emerged, he had a rabbit and went back to them, dropping it. So it seemed to Icarus, all he had to do was stick his muzzle into the burrow to catch them. He did not need to look at his father to know what he wanted him to do. He'd make him proud. The minute the other adult said the word, Icarus bolted his paws pounding the ground. He sprinted straight for a sparse cluster of warrens that was far away from the rest of the warrens, his paws practically flying as they barely touched the ground. The cluster was hidden beneath one of the rocks which jutted upwards into the air at a slant. He could see three holes and looking side to side, another few that were spread out evenly at even but close distances. He drew to a smooth halt quieting once he was at hearing range from the warrens, lowering his head and sniffed. Yep, there was no mistaking the fresh smell of tiny, fluffy meals on four legs. There were a lot down there. At least more than three. Some adults and some babies probably. Time to get them out.

Icarus crouched down so that his belly was touching the ground, adjusting so that as much of his muzzle could reach inside as possible. He shoved his muzzle into the hole as deep as it could go until he could feel the walls of the burrow rubbing his his sides of his face, teeth gnashing and snarling and shaking his head to frighten and scare the rabbits. At the same time he dug with his fore-legs, scooping out dirt and earth to make it easier when he moved onto his next step. Very soon he heard the sound of rabbit feet coming closer and closer. Icarus upped the ante, this time rearing up on his hind legs and brought his entire weight down in a dive like the other male adult had showed him. His father had taught him something similar but he'd failed the first time he'd done it. He'd do better now. And he was glad that his muzzle went in this time, along with part of his shoulders. He could see at least five down there but two of them ran off, disappearing from sight while the remaining three shot off in another direction through another dug-out corridor that connected to another hole. Icarus pulled himself out quickly, turning just as the three appeared, shooting out of the hole on his right and pelted across the ground for another hole no doubt. Icarus bolted, keeping his eyes on them. He'd cut them off. He veered to the right, gaining speed fast and circled around in a wide U-Turn as soon as he was in front of them so that they were mere seconds away from running into his waiting jaws. He could see the mound he'd attacked, piles of dirt and earth sprinkled everywhere. His father may not have allowed them to help each other but Icarus could have helped them. He'd never let them win but he could have left an opening. It might have been too late now. Though, there was nothing to stop them from using this mound if they were fast enough. He skidded, twisting his body so that he was facing frontwards and opened his jaws wide showing two rows of fearsome teeth. Maybe it was an inch too early. He felt the floppy ear of one and felt his teeth tearing a chunk out as it shredded through tender flesh. There was an ear-piercing ripping noise and a high-pitched pained squeal. Icarus felt blood and something furry and small roll down his tongue and throat. He saw one of the rabbits fly through the air in front of him with a chunk missing out of its ear and land on its stomach, bouncing twice in two arcs on two of the massive stones. Icarus guessed the bounce must have happened because of how fast it had been running and how hard he'd pulled. He didn't have long left. His father was watching him. He couldn't let him down. He couldn't take so long. "Get back here!" Icarus snarled.

He darted away again, this time sprinting off at an adjacent direction to where the rabbits were running. Two of them had already split off in the opposite direction, the little one and the smaller of the two. The remaining one had continued on the same path. Icarus swerved, changing direction so that he was running alongside the smaller rabbits and with a terrifying snap of his jaws, closed them shut around the rabbits' bodies. He hadn't aimed properly though so he ended up severing the rabbits' heads from necks. Blood spurted everywhere, spraying the ground. The rabbits' heads spun through the air, higher and higher until they landed directly in front of the remaining pups, near Willow and Renier. He poured on speed, side-swiping the bigger one with a ruthless tackle, his jaws shutting around its body with a sickening crunch. Standing he padded back to the adult, passing his father as he did and in that moment, his tail was as high as a flag. His head was high and his shoulders were proud. As he dropped the rabbit in front of him, he glanced at Piper briefly. Blood drenched his neck and face, dripping from his muzzle and staining his teeth and fangs. His lips split open in a massive grin as if to challenge her to beat him in smoking out rabbits or catching more than one. It was a gruesome sight. His eyes caught out the white fae, Willow and he stared at her for a moment with his blood-soaked face before turning his attention back to Magnus sitting straight and gazing up at him to see if he had done well. He had caught something, three somethings instead of one. The rabbit was nice and plump, big.

Willow caught Reniers kind words, though they gave her no comfort. Fight back? How could he expect her to fight back? She was no fighter of any sort. She could barely get herself away from her torturous brothers when they decided she would be their practice dummy. There was no way she could fight this. If anyone came for her, she would have to run. She was good at that. They came to a stop on a relatively flat expanse of land. It was covered in dirt and grass with few adornments to the scenery. She sat in a synchronised manner along with the other pups, not one to anger her brutish father. They would be hunting this day. That doesn't seem so bad, she thought. We're just collecting more meat from the special place. Oh how innocent and childish she was. For she had not yet learned that the meat she ate was once alive. A product of her mothers preferential treatment no doubt. The creamy fae ate regurgitated meat long after the other pups had begun on solid foods. Her meals were brought her by her mother and sister from the "pile". They gave her very old, very dead meat with very little blood left to be squeezed from it. She had no clue of the true origin of her meals. of the once alive creatures that gave their life so that the wolves might live. So naive.

She wanted her father, just once, to say he was proud of her, that she had done something right. She thought she could be a good retrieval-person. So she turned her attention away from the bouncing bunnies that lingered on the fringes and watched her father eagerly, wanting to catch every slight detail in the way he gathered his prize. She paid so much attention that it was difficult to look away. What she saw horrified her. Her father seemed to be scenting at first, searching. When he found the right place he launched him self headfirst into a hole in the ground. There was a squeal and a great crack before he dragged a dead bunny from the hole. Her jaw dropped open slightly and before she knew it the other pups were racing off around her. They chased the bunnies and dove into the holes. Her own brother was already trotting back with a limp rabbit dangling from his jaws. She tried to look away and found something more awful. Another pup - one of Reniers brothers - dove atop two rabbits and snapped at their necks. The heads severed roughly, flying through the air spurting blood everywhere before landing, rolling face up at the little apprentices paws. Blood still leaked from the necks, pooling and staining her perfect forepaws. She screamed, terrified and tried to scramble away. The pup trotted over, his blood-soaked face leering at her cruelly. She couldn't handle all the death and pain. Squeals of dying rabbits were all around her. So she ran.

Watching her father in awe her eyes trained on him as he spoke and then demonstrated what was to be done by the pups. Sitting quietly, which was rare for her, she made mental notes of his tactics and skills as he stalked the rabbit. Her father crept close to a hole, his well defined muscles bulging through his pelt, then at the last moment he dove in. There was a struggle and a loud squeal then out came Magnus, prey in his maw. Smiling at the sight she readied herself then bolted off at his word. Looking around she saw Willow walk off by herself and the sight made her smile. Maybe her sister could do this and she wouldn't need her help after all. Deciding to let her baby sister try this alone Piper went off in the other direction, away from the boys towards some smaller holes. She figured these were the rabbit's back doors and they might come out here if the boys cept chasing them. Finding a suitable hole Piper sat down and looked at the hole, patience flooding over her.

After a few minutes she heard some scratching from the hole, but she dare not move. Pricking her ears she remained perfectly still as the sight of two ears came out of the hole. Piper was seated behind the rabbit, so as it stuck its head out cautiously it never saw her as Piper lunged forward. Having a split second to dart back in the hole Piper latched on to the large buck's ears while it let out a hideous scream. Digging in her front paws Piper yanked the rabbit out while it kicked and struggled, sending dirt everywhere. Growling Piper held back a yelp as it then turned, kicking her in the nose and scratching the skin hard. Shaking her head now Piper got a better grip and swung the rabbit down, knocking it senseless on the hard ground. After it went limp Piper released her grip ad grabbed at it's throat, quickly ending this. Blood filled her mouth and was dripping from her scratched nose, but she didn't care. Her rabbit was large and it ensured she would eat tonight. Picking it up and walking back to her father she heard Willow scream and dart off. Not wanting to anger her father she didn't chase after her sister, for perhaps she had been scratched too? Piper dropped the rabbit before Magnus and smiled at him, her tail wagging. "I got this one father, is it suitable?" She questioned, yearning for praise.

Renier wanted to reassure Willow that everything would be okay. Then Icarus snapped his jaws around the rabbits' bodies in an aim that wasn't precise, decapitating the heads where they landed near him and Willow. Blood sprayed the grass, streaking his tawny fur of his fore-paws and legs as well as his face and part of his white fur. Renier looked over at Icarus as he went to the Guardian, his muzzle wrinkling slightly. When he looked over at them, his face a macabre bloody mask, Renier stared back. He was used to his brother's antics and this was no different. But he heard Willow scream beside him and try to scramble away. Before he knew it, she'd ran away. Renier turned, looking after her for a moment with a paw raised as if he was going to chase after her before turning his attention back to the others. He would get in trouble if he ran. The others had shot off or padded off in different directions. Some of them were relatively calm while the others were not so much. Striker had caught his, snapping its neck and seeming to squash it as he fell. He had gone to their father and asked to go again. The remaining others were attacking. It was chaos. One of Willow's brothers had slammed the rabbit's head into the ground to stun it so that he could choke it and was trotting back to the two adults. Her sister had basically followed what her father had shown her in her own way. Renier peered around to find a hole or maybe a rabbit that had gone astray.

There. He could the head of one of the rocks further back. Renier shot forwards, skimming over the uneven ground and leaping across the slanted rocks. The rabbit's nose twitched and it turned, bolting away. Renier kept his attention on it, landing smoothly on surface of the rock on all fours his tail straight out like a flag. He chased after the rabbit, his gaze trained on its furry form. It was almost disappearing into the trees where the light was fading into the darkness of the woods. Renier lowered his head, then raced forwards. As he got closer, he clamped his jaws around the rabbit's body his fangs tearing into its flesh. He felt it jerk and convulse in his jaws for a few seconds then ever so slowly it stopped. Renier turned around, carrying it in his jaws before making his way back to the rest of the pack. He looked at his brother who was standing before the Guardian and his second oldest brother who was standing before their father. After a moment of contemplation he headed for the Guardian. His father would see him as he was watching them and that would be enough. Though he couldn't help but sneak a glance at his father as he set his kill down next to the pile of dead rabbits and sat, his mind turning to the thoughts of the white fae as he wondered where she had gone.

The Guardian watched each of the pups run off in search of their meal. Each of them was eager to attempt the method he had demonstrated to them. He approved, as they would need the practice when winter came. But he was rather disappointed that only one pup took the opportunity in the form of free-roaming rabbits. Both techniques were really as difficult as the other, but a rabbit in the open was easier to chase down. A rabbit in a warren had the chance to scurry further into its hole and live to breathe another day. Magnus knew that when you were hunting to feed an entire pack, the energy you used to chase down and kill five running rabbits, could be used in numerous time consuming attempts to drag maybe two or three rabbits from their dens. That was something else he wished for the pups to learn: the value of ones energy and how best to spend it.

As he watched them head out to hunt and each return one by one, he did hear a startled scream. No doubt the gutless Willow. He would not turn and give in to her whining ways. She had to learn these things whether she liked it or not. She needed to be able to take care of herself. To survive. Finally they had all assembled before him once more, most appearing to attempt to gain favour by offering to get more, but only one pup actually caught more than one. He almost smiled. Magnus rose and approached Icarus, looking down at him with approval in his eyes. "This pup, Icarus, has understood one of the many lessons you were to be taught today. If you are to pull your weight in this pack, you are to catch enough food to feed more than yourself. Well done." He approached Ciro next. "However, you can see that Icarus' - and a number of your kills - are sloppy and wasteful. See here," He bent and retrieved the rabbit by the scruff, it was a rather clean kill for a pup. He held it high, ensuring that all the pups saw it, then he dropped it at his sons paws. Then, addressing them all, he said. "Go again. And this time make it clean."