Blacktail Deer Plateau What are you made of?

Pema explained quickly what the meeting was for, and he smiled, thinking her quite bright indeed for putting together the event. He didn't know of the troubles brewing to the south, but he did know that it was important to stay physically--and mentally--sharp, prepared for any scenario.

Shale just barely held back an amused laugh out loud as Pema paired him up with Sunny, the gray-furred boy who clearly was Grayday's son--which made the kid his nephew. Sunny hadn't been around when Shale had first arrived, and there was no spark of recognition in the younger wolf's eyes. He didn't know.

"You sure?" he said, voice brimming with humor. "Well, if you say so."

The boy was still growing a little, and he was already bigger than Shale, who was more on the trim side. Despite their difference in stature, Shale did have several years on his opponent, wisdom gained from experience. He was quick on his feet.

Snakelike, Shale darted just out of the corner of Sunny's vision, then struck his opposite side, darting nearly underneath the boy to sweep his hind legs and knock the kid on his ass. Much to his pleasant surprise, it actually worked.