I couldn’t help, but trot with a bit of pep in my step as he led the way. I was only a bit aware of the strain between Alcide and Swallowbane, but given I was usually in my own world I have never thought much, or seen anything of it. Even so, I had much more a problem with MoonGlow vanishing on me when it was she who promised my mother to take care of myself and Rhiannon. Now look, MoonGlow was gone as was Rhiannon and his Mother. The only one left here for him was his friend Leonidas and Alcide. Perhaps that was why I was so attached to him and happy to be going here with him. I would have been fine with Sleekwing training me too of course, but I wasn’t around him very much, though I had seen him around more than Swallowbane.

Family was important, I had most certainly thought that before everyone left me. When I was young I had told everyone how important my sister was to me and how I would do anything for her, but clearly she did not feel the same. She vanished, as did my mother and my father left before I was born. Blood didn’t seem to be important, family was not important. Here I was though, following a male I was taking on as my father once again finding out how important family could be. Now I was torn, blood wasn’t important, but family still was, it just didn’t have to be made up of blood. I was still curious about my blood relatives in Diveen, I would still go. For now though I was happy learning from Alcide.

I stood anchoring myself down as if ready to be plowed into by Leo, not sure what to expect now that I was like this. Puppy fighting was just play, I knew this, but still it had taught me some hard won and loss lessons about the art of combat. Perhaps it was not formal, but I probably had more fighting experience with Leo than any other pup of Spirane had. I watch as Alcide walks towards me, a bit nervous, his large form was really quite imposing to my gangly half-grown one. He shoves against me and I budge a little bit my left paw lifting slightly before I let myself touch back to the ground. I wasn’t sure what he was testing. He spoke telling me to brace myself, and how it is important not to be knocked to the ground. No later than he has spoke his last word I found myself hit and shoved to the ground, his sheer size difference making it quite an easy task.

I wanted to regain my paws, this was hardly a dignified position. My mahogany and golden form form sprawled out on the ground, paws flailing about as I try to throw my weight so I can stand up again. It was too late though, I felt the large paws of my foster father come down beside my head and saw him standing over me. It was quite terrifying actually, especially with his newly earned scars on his face.

Lesson learned. That was all that went through my head as he explained to me why I was in such a bad spot. My tail was effectively tucked between my legs in instinct, and my ears back. I was not happy with this spot but listened to every word he spoke. Once he was finished he posed me with a very important question. How would I escape?

I was small that was for sure, but it wasn’t going to be this way forever. I let my dark forest green eyes run up and down from Alcide’s form, thinking about the best methods of escape. I had been trapped by Leo more than once, and I had trapped Leo more than once as well, always though we never really needed to escape. I remember fondly when I was just a few weeks old how I rabbit kicked at his stomach I am sure that was not pleasant in battle, though that would not work on someone bigger than I was.

I would explain, it was the best I could do for now. ”I don’t want to have my throat torn, so the first instinct of mine tells me to shove my front legs up and tuck my chin down.” I do this motion, ”I can hope that while throwing my leg up I can catch their own windpipe hopefully making it so they can’t breathe for a moment. After that, I might try to kick at their stomach. I will not lay there and simply take any abuses. I would bite their paws by my head; even get at their own throat with my fangs if I was given the chance.” Each method of counter-attack I mentioned I realized it was not so much a method of escape as it was just trying to hurt them enough to get my assailant off of me.

There wasn’t much I could do in terms of rolling over. I looked over seeing his paw by my face sparked an idea, ”Is it possible to grab the paw and push it up or away? You know to make them fall? Or would that be bad?” I posed this question only because it was the best method for my situation. If it was possible. I was not sure how grounded my opponent may be nor the weight. I wasn’t even sure if I could budge Alcide given how large he was and my own small size. I was going to learn one way or another, even if I was not completely good with instincts.

~ Sings To No Soul ~ Serenades None ~