There was no denying it. Yami was getting too big! Already the boy seemed to tower over his father and he was still growing. He had certainly taken after Aster in that regard, Halcyon thought with mild amusement. Dodging to the left, he narrowly avoided a direct hit as Yami charged at him full force. Thinking quickly, he dug his claws into the soil and drifted to the right, allowing him to slide into position behind the black wolf. Without losing momentum, he torn at the ground as fast as he could and aimed a bite on the exposed hocks.

However, his son knew this was coming. After all, Halcyon was too small to try and go for a straightforward attack. Yami allowed the older male to get behind him and when he was only a breath away, he pushed himself off the ground. The sudden tensing in the lad's haunches were the only warning Halcyon got as he watched in shocked awe as his large frame jumped into the air. Time seemed to slow as the drive of his attack forced him to sail right under his son. Looking up, he could see Yami's exposed teeth as his smiled triumphantly at his old man. What goes up, must come down. The larger wolf landed on top of the smaller, his teeth gripping onto the back Halcyon's neck and sending him crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"You're dead," Yami said, his voice mimicking his father's. Panting, Halcyon shook the boy off and stood up. He felt a surge of pride, mixed with a hint of anger, at having been defeated by his own son. Facing the boy, he smiled and shook his head. "Well done, Son. I think it might be time we find you a better teacher. Someone a bit bigger than myself. I don't think there's more for you to learn from me." Suddenly, a bark echoed from the trees and a moment later, a black wolf emerged from the shadows, his red eyes all too familiar to Halcyon.

Without thinking, Yami stood before his father, a subtle sign of protecting him from the unknown threat. "What do you want?" he said with a growl. However, Halcyon simply smiled and lightly walked past his son, flicking his tail to silently tell him it was alright. Not too long ago, he would have greeted the other with a show of teeth and a snarl. But much had changed since then and Halcyon was tired, so very tired, of fighting unnecessary battles. It may have also been the distance that was growing between himself and Aster that helped him greet Elohim on a new level. It was hard to forget how she had abandoned him during his lowest point, cutting his heart deeper than Blackthorne and Aspis had ever cut his flesh.

Standing before the darker wolf, he bowed his head in a friendly greeting as Yami took his place by his father's side. "Well met, Elohim. Forgive my son, he takes after his mother," he said, knowing he would understand what he meant. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company today?"