King Elk Forest Legacy

The pups are 26 days old and the socialization period has begun! All welcome! @Vidaar

Her children were now old enough to leave the den. Vex left the den, then called out to her children. "Come along, now... It's getting too cramped in there." Venere left first, and Vex eyed her daughter as she scented the air. Their ears were finally perking up; soon, she knew they would begin fighting for dominance, though they'd already done so once. Looking down to her daughter, and then back into the den, she told her children, "I'm going to teach you how to fight, and how to win." Their training began today.

At her mother's beckoning, Venere left the den, blinking in the bright light. Her tail wagged as her mother spoke of teaching them how to fight. She already had some experience with her brother, but she longed for more. It was fun! Venere gave a quiet growl, peering into the den; two of her siblings were asleep, but Vidaar was up. She dipped into a play bow, tail wagging. She was in high spirits today.

Vidaar had been talked to days before by the large man. He was told not to kill his sister. Why would he want to kill his sister anyway? He was confused. It had been what occupied him lately. They were finally going outside though, that's what mattered. He waited impatiently for his sister to leave and ran out after. He was still annoyed, frustrated, and angry from all that had happened in the den, and confused on top of it all. When their mother mentioned she would be teaching them how to fight, he was ready. He fixed his angry eyes on Venere and growled.

Vex had been filled in by Kevalin about her children's roughhousing The boy, Vidaar, had a small scar on his muzzle from Venere. The Queen eyed this scar now, humming softly. "You'll need better outlets." A soft chuckle, and she gave her daughter a small smirk. At least they seemed to enjoy the fight. Her son growled as he locked eyes with his sister, and Vex told them sternly, "No blood, do you understand? You are learning... you are not enemies." Not yet, anyway.

She took up an offensive posture, head ducked slightly, ears pinned to protect them. Her maw opened in a wide snarl, and she showed them how to strike while protecting herself — two quick hits, then backing off. She relaxed slightly, then beckoned to her children. "Both of you, try this on me, now."

Venere was usually easily agitated, but today was different. She was outside, and her mom was with her — she had no cause to be angry. Her brother, however, was a different story. He eyed Venere, growling, and she bared her teeth at him, whining sharply. Then, came her mother's stern voice.

No blood. She gave a small growl, then ducked her head; ever since she had tasted Vidaar's blood, she had wanted more. But it seemed they were to train on their mother. At Vex's beckoning, Venere scrambled forward, nipping at her mother once before trying to dart back. She ended up tripping herself, and got a face full of dirt. She coughed, then shook out her pelt, and sat to watch her brother try.

The subject of Vidaar's anger turned quickly to his mother. Where had she been? And now she wanted to tell him what to do? She growled at her now. He ran towards her as fast as he could nipping as hard as he could at her legs before running away from her, but continuing to stare at her. She confused him, he did not know what to think of her.

Her daughter struck first, but it was sloppy. She gave a quick nip to Vex's flank, and the promptly tripped over her own paws. Vex laughed quietly, then looked to her son. He was filled with rage, she could see — not unlike herself. Vex smiled gently at him. "Your turn, Vidaar."

And he struck, aiming a bite to her foreleg before running back. Vex moved to her whelps, then she nosed them to a standing position, using her muzzle to position them better for an attack.

"You always want to guard your sensitive points," she continued. She would brush Venere's neck with her muzzle, causing the girl to giggle, and then she would aim a closed-mouth strike to Vidaar's ears, to show them.

Venere trusted her mother implicitly — how could she not? She giggled as her mother brushed against her neck, but she nodded all the same. She ducked her head below her shoulders, then spread her weight more evenly. She shot a glance at Vidaar as their mother struck his ears, and she pinned her own with another giggle. Then, sneaking forward, she tried to surprise attack her mother, leaping at her back and nipping.

The fire in Vidaar still burned, but he was able to calm it long enough to still himself as his mother approached. He wanted to move, to do... something... He felt his body tense. He recoiled as his mother moved towards him, ducking away from her. Without any additional preamble he quickly turned back around, and nipped lunging at her leg again. Other than the food that sustained him he knew nothing of this wolf, mother or not. And he certainly didn't much appreciate this business of larger wolves towering over him.

It was not his mother's voice that eventually roused him, but the sound of roughhousing. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he noticed only his sister beside him, still deep in sleep. Venere and Vidar were gone - presumably, the ones he heard fighting. And mother's voice accompanied theirs.

Vaska thought of staying underground, and he wavered in indecision, before he followed the bulk of his siblings to the world above. Blinking, he squinted until his eyes adjusted to the sun, and he inched his way forward, crawling closer to the scrap but stopping shy of their battlefield, not yet willing to commit himself as more than a spectator, but curious to see their progress.

Maybe soon he would even join in, if they didn't look too rough...

Venere went for Vex's back, but the Cruor Queen was able to easily swat her off with a large paw. Still, she laughed and praised, "Good! If you have an opening, take it!" But Vidaar was a different matter. He held the Cruor fire in his soul, and Vex gazed down at him, wondering if his eyes would show Cruor colors as well. For now, it was too early to tell.

He held anger for her. Vex knew she was not the best mother, and had shown them little care or affection before now. She smiled gently at him, even as he went for her leg. His little teeth pierced through, but Vex didn't mind. She buffeted him away with her muzzle, then beckoned for her daughter. "Both of you, strike me."

Then, her albino showed, blinking in the bright sun. Vex clenched her jaw, then told him roughly, "Observe. These skills will save your hide one day."

Her mother told her to strike. Venere glanced to Vidaar, then to Vaska as he appeared, then looked back to her mother. She rushed forward, nipping at her mother's side. She hoped with Vidaar's help, they could beat her.

Vidaar winked at his sister as he charged his mother, he struck her under her hind leg twice then returned to his original position. His sister thought this was all fun it seemed. Their brother had appeared but wasn't joining them, of course. He returned his attention to their mother, cold, angry eyes staring into her, waiting patiently for direction.

Wrapping this up for us as it's older!

Vex would spar with her pups for some time, but eventually, all things must end. She was panting somewhat as she said, Alright, enough. Vidaar, Venere, you did beautifully. She looked to Vaska then. You and I shall talk later.

Vex would give affection to the two aspiring warriors, should they let her, and then she would usher then back into the den, before leaving herself.