The Blessed Wolf's Rejection {reverse rejection story}

17

Still Monday
Angel

We just finished with the youths defense lesson and they're switching out with the normal group. This week we get to start shifted training. Oh joy. Trainees started warmups almost as soon as they got here, a few noticeably advancing amongst the group. Over the course of a week some members showed more respect towards my friends and I, even going as far as asking for training advice after our sessions. I hope those same people will be examples for the others to follow; makes our job easier.

After twenty minutes we stop the warmup so they skip the running part. Most look confused but otherwise start to gather into their groups and await instruction, mildly whispering amongst each other. Aiden clears his throat dramatically to address our group.

"Alright ladies. This week we're shifting gears, pun intended."

I roll my eyes and tuck my hands to stop from hitting him upside the head but stay silent.

"Between teams alpha and beta, we'll be alternating shifted activities. Today we'll be hunting, tracking and both teams will finish with a group run. Then tomorrow we'll switch to sparring. Any questions?"

A younger guy with short sandy hair and freckles raised a hand and Aiden nodded to him.

"What about team gamma? Are they doing anything different?"

"Why would they when they can't shift? Right now they're going to do their warm-up run and continue as normal. Anyways let's get to the tree line and Angel will explain the rest. Team Alpha will need some of our space."

We started to move our group away and at the same tome Blakes group started to spread out into pairs and stripping. They really would need the extra space as wolves but luckily they're not a huge group. We stopped at the entrance to the forest and everyone turned their attention to me.

"Alright so we're gonna send you guys in groups of 6 at a time for a game of hunting tag. We modified the game to tackle two birds with one stone for tracking and hunting. Each group will have one hunter and five prey. The hunter must track and tag as many wolves as they can before the whistle blows. The prey have their own tasks to cover their tracks and avoid 'capture' while hunting a ghost bunny."

"What's a ghost bunny?", one older man asked

"Just getting to that. There a clearly marked points in the forest that line the boundaries for the game as we're not using the whole forest. Within the boundaries you will find 'ghost bunnies' which are stuffed white bunnies that we've managed to make smell like actual bunnies. The hunter doesn't need to hunt the bunnies but the prey need to bring back just one. Later on we'll increase the number needed."

The same older man from earlier raised his hand this time and I gave him a nod to speak.

"So if I have this right, if we are prey, we need to hunt and track a hidden 'ghost bunny' while we're being hunted and while covering our own tracks. That correct?"

"Yep. Each game will last 10 minutes and a 'tag' is a simple nip on the heel. Do not attack your prey or bite them anywhere except the heel. If you've been nipped, howl once and make your way back while the game continues. If the whistle blows and the hunter hasn't tagged everyone or anyone at all, the hunter must stop hunting. No one needs to get upset over not catching anyone. You either suck at tracking or the prey is amazing at covering their tracks. Take the loss and strive to get better. Lastly, there are five points available to the hunter, one point for each tag. And there are two points for the prey, one for finding a bunny and the other for not getting tagged. Any questions or can we get started?"