Devit was young, but it was important to begin training for such an art as that of a warrior in one’s youth. The younger one began, the more easily their muscles would form in a way beneficial to fighting and protecting others. Sleekwing could feel the way the younger lad’s eyes locked upon him, so intent on the spar to come. The mountain’s Castellan was relaxed, standing upon limbs that would easily allow him to counter whatever came his way. The boy stood a full ten inches shorter than him, but that made little difference. Smaller wolves could be far swifter of foot than their larger opponents. It was something that Devit would need to learn how to use. The comment Devit made held a tone of amusement, and it hardened Sleekwing’s resolve to remind him that he was a beginner. In his own youth Alcide had quite literally beat Sleekwing’s cockiness out of him, reminding him that even though he thought he was born a capable and invincible warrior, he was far from it. It took many years of training for Sleekwing to reach his ultimate fitness, and he would make it no easier on Devit.

Still, Sleekwing did not move as Devit sprang forward, closing the distance between them. His right eye was focused on each flex of muscle and the pressure of every step. So when he put a greater amont of weight upon his left foreleg as he feigned in that direction, Sleekwing had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen. Only then did his body move, recoiling slightly and swinging to his right – Devit’s left, where he’d just come from – and then burst forward. As Devit’s jaws clicked shut on empty air, Sleekwing’s chest made to ram into his left shoulder, a move merely made to knock him off balance and do nothing more. He then relaxed and stepped back, his body language clearly signaling the end of any attacks. Circling around and standing in front of his student, Sleekwing’s tail thrashed a single time.

“You are a lightweight wolf, Devit; and there is nothing wrong with that. But you must learn to use it. Feigning is something that will help you in fights, but you must be light on the side that you are feigning to so that it does not take as much time to shift to the direction you truly intend to attack. I could tell you were going to lunge to the right because of the amount of weight you put into your left paw.” He gave Devit a moment to regain his balance and truly absorb what had been said before Sleekwing’s legs went suddenly rigid. It was purposeful, and somewhat exaggerated, so that the boy would learn the signs of a coming attack. He then lunged straight forward head to head with Devit. Jaws swooped downward towards his foreleg, snapping at the limb in a way that would sting if it hit home, but draw no blood. He would his student react?