Animal Kingdom - War of The Woods

Chapter 5: Training With The Best

The afternoon had long so began by the time Azur rose from his sleep. This was the normal time for a wolf to awake, but not for Azur. You see, Azur loved the mornings as they bring vibrant sunlight, crystal clear ice and of course the fresh smell of morning air. The afternoons where almost completely depressing to him, the sun was biding farewell, darkness always cloaked the land and the afternoon was when his siblings parted from their bodies. However he made sure not to get into that state of mind, especially not today.

He and Lutani had forgotten about the war in the past week and spent most of their time training for Azur's big day. The first time he would ever hunt with the pack. Azur felt joyous that he was getting such a privilege, but he also felt kind of nervous. He would be alongside the best of his pack, which made him feel even more nervous. 

"IT'S TIME, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON, why am I more excited than you?"said Lutani

"I'm feeling quite sick Lutani, how about I tell them I am unable to attend?"

"UNABLE TO ATTEND? THIS IS YOUR DAY!! PROVE YOURSELF YOU DOLT!"

"well that's not very nice" mumbled Azur

Lutani continued to mock him until he rose from his rest. The evening sun was soon to be gone  and most of the pack was readying to attack. Herbivorous armies never did well, they always have to make alliances and even still they get hunted far to often. The wolves where planning an attack upon the deer, it would be a long trip to their area of residents, however wolves traveled long distances often so this was no stretch. From behind the moldy house walls Delreaga bounded in.

"State your purpose Delreaga" said Subor who had been watching Azur and Lutani's argument from the corner of the room.

"I come to remind Azur of his first hunt. Azur you have until light bids farewell understood?"

"yes" Answered Azur.

"Also, I must inform you that due to your fathers status, you will be taught by Alpha Lyracus." Replied Delreaga.

Azur felt sick, he would be crushed by pressure for sure. The alpha of his pack watching his every step, what would happen if he fails? Azur's fear radiated off of his face, Delreaga gave a small laugh as she turned and leaped beyond the wall. Lutani also noticed Azur's worry.

"Don't worry about it. Old Lyracus is super chill"

"Super chill? This is not super chill! This is horrible, absolutely terrible" said Azur. He could feel something heavy in his chest. The light in the room was filtering out fast, and they still had to do their quick training lesson.

"You two should probably get goin', it's gettin' dark out" said Subor. With Lutani pushing Azur to go faster, they left the room to practice for the last time. 

The moon had began it's climb by the time they reached Lutani's pack. 

"I suppose we'll finish soon?" asked Azur

"of course we will, you'll be starting with them any minute now. So let's go over the basics-"

"Got it" said Azur

"- First things first. When out hunting observe the elders. You will have to get on the field sometimes but when your not you need to focus completely on what they are doing. You also need to remember all your stances." The two spent the remaining time revising everything he had learnt. Soon enough another delta wolf arrived to take Azur. 

"I am aware you don't really know me" said the wolf calmly to Azur

"I have seen you every now and then" said Azur with obvious nerves.

"My name is Virious.  You feeling ok about today?" Said Virious with much curiosity.

"Yes" Said Azur bluntly. Azur's stomach lurched, putting more wait onto his already jelly like legs. His paws felt unusually cold. Virious and Azur didn't speak on their way tot he hunting group .His heart slowly pounded faster and faster upon his stomach. All his feelings of nerve and sickness amplified when he saw Lyracus standing there in his gleaming steel armour. Azur felt as though it took a whole fifteen years to get to Lyracus.

"Your here. let us begin." And as quickly as that they were off. It took them almost five hours worth of walking, Azur learning a lot on the way, to reach the deer. The deer army was among the weakest of the herbivorous armies, always having to make deals with better armies. The wolves stopped in a nearby overgrowth of both dark green grass and dull white trees. Azur was puzzled as to why they had stopped, but wasn't really in the mood to ask why.

"Azur, what  do you see?"asked Lyracus. Azur was puzzled by the question, wasn't it obvious that they were just deer?

"I see a large group of deer" replied Azur

"No child, do you see any weak points? it is important that we identify our opponents weak points." Azur thought about this for a second, then he thought about what that means in relation to the deer.

"Well, they don't currently have an alliance, and the younger deer are easiest to catch, Subor told me that." Said Azur

"Very good,  so we shall target the young." . Azur and Lyracus continued talking about all different ways they could approach the deer and the different formations the pack needed to make. Soon enough other wolves got involved with the chat, within half an hour Azur sat and listened intently as the other wolves discussed complex strategies. Azur also though about how Subor was once him, in this exact situation. Another hour passed before the wolves decided on their battle strategy.

"Azur, you are to sit and observe with the other pups, note the way we move and the way we pin down the prey, ok?" asked Lyracus.

"OK" Said Azur. And with that they began the hunt.