Bearclaw Valley Oh, this is the truth of a lie you better prepare for the end

Skoll found himself looking for @Ashlar who had joined not long ago. Merrick had given Skoll the silent permission to judge him. It... was strange. Skoll didn't like strange. He did, however, say that he would train the kid. And training he was, even if Ashlar didn't have any idea what he was doing, and absolutely refused to go at Skoll like his life depended on it. At first, Skoll thought it might have been how fragile he looked, skin and bones. Except it clearly wasn't, Skoll remembered how the boy acted when he presented battle as a skill to be taught. 

Maybe he should ask Evien to teach the both of them healing - the kid seemed better suited for something like that (plus Skoll wanted to know a bit himself). Still, winter was approaching fast, which meant they had to figure something out. Healing wouldn't do much with the cold months coming, so it was something to keep in mind when spring approached once again. When the plants were flourishing. Instead, he would have to just keep trying with Ashlar. Maybe developments were coming slow. Maybe Ashlar just needed time. 

Skoll didn't know how much time Ashlar could have. Maybe offering to train the kid was a bad idea. Either way, he was stuck with it now. Maybe he could teach the kid how to be swift in battle instead of a brute like the others. Quickly moving and dodging the enemies to get the upper-paw on them. Either way, it didn't matter much while the kid just didn't stick to it.

If Ashlar could have sunk more into the forest floor as he approached Skoll, he would have.  But to do so he'd likely need to be subterranean.  He was not looking forward to this lesson, and every inch of his bearing screamed it.

Ashlar hated nothing more than he hated disappointing other wolves and he knew he was nothing but a disappointment so far.  It was almost enough to make him try... but then he thought about hurting Skoll.  Actually hurting him.  And the ice in his veins refused to let his body respond.  He had never been in a true fight, never needed to defend his life or another's, and it showed plainly in his soft demeanor.

He stopped when he was only a short distance from his self-appointed mentor and ducked his head.  He had learned that trying to mentally prepare himself for this was pointless.  That he was there said something about the boy, though; he could not bear to fight, but he also could not bear to not show up.

Skoll was at least thankful the kid would show up to the lessons at all. He didn't entirely care about looking good to the other wolves in the pack, but he was the one that offered to train Ashlar in the first place. He wasn't going to dissappoint the pack over something so small, and hoped the kid could understand where he was coming from. Either way, if Skoll couldn't get him to at least try problems would be happening. Skoll wouldn't harm the boy over it, though. 

"We don't have to do fighting today." Skoll mused as Ashlar showed up and came close. 

Maybe it would put the boy in a better mood. The kid did seem to be in a perpetual state of anxious, though, and Skoll wondered if it was due to how the wolves in the pack looked. Not all of them were bad - none of them were, really, just that they seemed far too protective of some things and not protective enough for others. 

"If you'd rather do something else." The kid very obviously wanted to do something else.

Ashlar frowned a little at that, though his heart lifted with hope automatically.  He very much wanted to do something else, but he wasn't here to do what he wanted.  There were times to do what he wanted and there were times for learning what he needed to learn, and right now, he had thought this was expected.  D..don't I need to learn?  He asked somewhat hesitantly.  Ashlar did not like to question, but he truly wondered.  

He did not like the thought of even playfully hurting Skoll, which was a rather bold thought, that he'd even be capable of it.  Still, he wished he knew of a way to fight without needing to hurt.  Baba had fought before... that was how his leg was hurt.  He didn't seem bothered by it, nor did mama, but Ashlar was afraid.  Being afraid hardly seemed like a proper reason to not learn, however, and so here the boy was.

WC: 157

The silence sat for some moments. Skoll found himself wondering if it had been a good idea to say that he could train the boy. He could, at least he thought he could. It would be pointless if Ashlar wasn't willing to learn - or at least to train. He might not even have to appear in any battles, a lot of their packmates didn't. The main ones Skoll himself had seen were Merrick, his girl, their kids, and Toad along with Skoll himself. Which wasn't enough if things were to get nasty with other packs - maybe Skoll should talk to some of the other wolves to see if they wanted to train with him and the kid. 

"You clearly don't want to." Skoll replied with a scoff when Ashlar asked if he had to learn. "You're still going to have to, but winter is coming which means hunting is more important. How good are you at that?" He questioned.

Wrappin this up! we can always have another when you have time again <3

I'm okay.  Ashlar said this quietly, though, and without much confidence.  He hadn't done particularly well the few times he'd tried and he could definitely use more practice in hunting.  That did sound better than fighting right now, though he still felt that disappointment as though he were letting them all down.  Ashlar hated how hard it was to do what they wanted and that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to move past it.

He would take the easy out today.  I could always learn more, though.  He added, unable to add the quiet tinge of hope in his voice.  He latched onto the life raft that Skoll offered and, as the man led him, would avidly watch and learn all he could about the older man's hunting techniques.

WC: 133