She seemed to consider for a moment and really I found that refreshing. Malina and Eris would have started talking without thinking, their ideas, while nothing short of brilliant would however, be lost in a jumble of other words and pride, that while amusing, was rarely helpful. Azrael though not trained by myself personally I am told, would have been inclined to tell this target exactly who he was and why he should allow himself to be killed in a calm manner less my boy run his hair. Typical. Lucid I have not yet discussed with Malina to know well enough, Aaliyah would have probably confused him to death with her questioning. Honestly, I loved my daughter yet she had a desire to understand every aspect and would surely have grilled me on the exact angle of the sun before she would answer and Ava, well, my darkling would no doubt have chosen instant attack- useful, but not entirely foolproof either, even at her monster size there were areas of vulnerability. Of course, all these wolves had been trained out of these habits, or simply lost them as they matured to become the exquisite creatures of destruction that they are now- it is merely refreshing however to have a girl inclined to think before she speaks. Standing however- was unusual.

I felt my own violet gaze narrow as she seemed to decide to appraise my form. If she was considering lunging at me I would be rather inclined to knock her flat. When I said a large male wolf I had not been referring to myself and I had little intention of spending the day swatting away a two-year old girl who was trying to assassinate me. I flicked my tail a moment in warning that insubordination would not be tolerated before the girl seemed to think better of it, if that had been her goal, and returned herself to a seated position, the fading light of the day setting her pelt aglow to a soft white gold that truly did make her appear rather feminine. Hmm, perhaps in time she would have the looks to truly be a siren of sorts, very useful really if she can learn to manipulate males. We would have to see. I waited another moment for her to speak, nodding as she did, choosing to attack something vital and yet smart enough not to attempt to grab his throat. Hmm, maybe she is worth something, this little girl who the others had been so quick to dismiss (but they always are, honestly no matter who became an apprentice they had a problem) assassins love to hate each other and yet- for whatever reason, we work marvellously together, even if we are, in appearance, a dysfunctional family.

“You are right to do so, after all, most wolves will instantly guard their throat and it is almost not worth the effort to try and get to it, at least not until you are highly experienced- and even then, to kill instantly like that, you will take damage, you leave yourself open- you have to and you have to hope it pays off, that your fast and agile enough to do it, even those of us who have the experience can get injured. A dying wolf only feels pain at first, in those last moments they feel nothing and that last kick of life can be your undoing. They lose self-preservation, because they are already to far gone, they know they are dying but hell, they will try to take you with them and a wolf who feels....nothing, is capable of one great final act.”

I stood, turning side on to allow her to see my right shoulder, truly see it, angling myself in the best way to allow the hair there to part and fall and reveal the scar that ran almost the length of it, one I kept well hidden in my fur and yet a permanent mark on my form as I sat once more.

“ A very long time ago I was hired to assassinate the Queen of the pack Judila. I did so, but with my fangs in her throat and her blood quite literally pouring onto my muzzle as I held her, the wound I gave her truly that severe- she still managed to do that with her final bit of life. Actually she also managed to tell me what I do believe was ‘go to hell’ but she was kinda gurgling and dying and they are hard to hear when there throats have been ripped out.”

I shrugged almost nonchalantly, the point of the matter simple. It’s better to weaken an opponent before attempting an instant kill until you know you can do it and even then, to kill as I had her- I had still taken damage.

“Debilitate your opponent, a wolf who can’t fight- won’t. They are easy to kill then. Legs and tendons are a good choice, I like your enthusiasm for the face, but wolves often guard that well too and if your aim is off, you will do almost no damage and you expose your neck by reaching towards him. Attack eyes only if your certain. Remember also to focus your damage- do not attack their left side, then their right side, then a leg, then the face. Waste of energy. Choose a spot and rip it apart, hit it again and again. An excellent spot is the chest, rip the chest apart and that debilitates the entire front end- do you see?”

Her answers weren’t wrong, I was merely improving on them. I grinned once more.

“As for defence, offer them only what you are willing to lose, every action has a reaction, never forget that. The ruff on your neck is very thick and padded, it’s the area we grasp when carrying pups and even as adults we still have it. The fur is thick there and a very good shield- let them hit that, offer them that if you need to duck you head. I also offer my shoulders because quite simply the chances of them injuring it badly are very slim, they cannot bite it straight on and there is little if anything to grab, the point of hip is also not to bad o be hit on. Protect your legs and face, protect your chest and flanks. Flank injuries are horrific and surprisingly- so is the tail. Your tail is connected to your spine, they get hold of that and you may never recover from that damage to your nervous system- also keep their teeth away from your eyes, hard to hit, small targets, but if you lose them mid-battle you will die or be forced to run.”

I paused, yes it was a lot, but it was important that she understood these things, that she at least considered them or tested them out or hell, she can even disagree with them as long as she gives them some thought- though I am not wrong and I do not appreciate disagreement unless it is valid.

“Final question before we go out for a bit of- fun. To kill a child Khaleesi- is forbidden. Anything under the age of one, we are taught to believe, is innocent, they do not know, not truly, what they are doing and until they reach a year in age we cannot bring them harm. It is a sin. Yet, you have been hired to assassinate a wolfess, upon locating your target you realise she is pregnant. What do you do? Speak honestly now, where do your morals stand Paulo Draco? To kill her, you must kill her unborn children.”

There was no right or wrong answer to this question, not truly, but I wanted to see her little mind work on that one.





h e y e l
The King