Come, little bird [Zero]

There it was: the flash of white she was looking for. She spotted him from a distance, a crooked smile forming on her maw. It was time. Time to feed the sprout.

As he noticed her and came bounding forward, she did not move from where she laid, adjusting her smile to be more welcoming. It was rather strange, finding herself eye-to-eye with the pup. Granted, even laying down she was a little bit bigger than him, but it was still strange. More often than not she had to look down at those around her, especially pups. Perhaps being lower would make herself more approachable. For now, at least.

“Indeed you have. Very good.” She offered a small nod to the little male. “This shows that you are responsible, a very worthy quality in a student.” Her words were intentional, though, that applied to all of what she said. Give him the idea, show him what could be, what he could be to her. He already very clearly looked up to her, if not found himself longing for the tales she told him. If she fed those desires, he would cling to her. But perhaps he already had. Such was the satisfaction of success.

“I don’t suppose you checked to ensure you were not followed? It would be rather unfortunate if someone came and whisked you away.” She let a sigh leave her maw, making herself almost look sad, maybe even worried. Had to be convincing. “Such a shame, the Vertok being so unfair towards their young.”

Golden orbs stared down the white pup, head tilting just slightly to the side. “Surely they value your wants just as much as their own?”

Of course they didn’t. They didn’t want their pups to wander off and end up killed. They saw pups as fragile little balls of fur. They didn’t have the same methods and ideologies as herself. Work with the little balls of clay, mold them, feed into their desires, make them what you want them to be. Give them what they want along the way, or even leave them eager for more, and they will always come back to you. It worked the first time she and Zero had met. And she knew it would work this time too. The Vertok…so blind.

"Speaking." Thinking.

A large snowy ear flicked, a mixture of acknowledgement and irritation. ‘Something called a drought’? Did those fools not even teach their young what was happening? No one could deny that the Sanzin’s more brutal way of life wasn’t what most others considered “ideal” for pups, but at least they were realistic and taught them about the world. Judging by the way her little owl was so blind to his surroundings and the current state of his home, the Vertok really did see them as just useless little balls of fur, unworthy to be properly taught until a certain age. And she thought her pack was bad.

“Your family, they have not taught you what a drought is?” She shook her head, sighing in the process. “My my, they really do see their young as lambs…”

With his words, her eyes narrowed for only a moment at the word ‘friends’, though she tried not to think too much into it. Artemis was never one to grow so sentimental as to call anyone a ‘friend’ rather than a packmate. Having friends was pointless, for the chances of them betraying you when you inevitably have it better than them was greater. Not that any “friends” she may have once had would have compared to her anyway, but from what she knew of having friends, wasn’t a key trait that they made time for each other? Just how badly did this pup before her actually have it that neither his family or his friends paid any mind to him? A strange occurrence, she almost pitied Zero. But, this pity was quickly replaced with malignance. Don’t worry, little bird. I will be your friend. I will be your hero.

The way those little brown eyes looked to her, it was rather cute. The desperation for acceptance and adventure, such things she could give that his pack could not. It was a satisfying feeling to know that she held such power over another pack’s young; history did have a way of repeating itself, afterall.

“If I may, how old are you, little owl? You don’t appear as young as they seem to be treating you.”

He made mention of a name, a name she did not recognize of course. Shep? Perhaps a friend of his. Or, perhaps a peer would be a better word, seeing as his so-called friends didn’t bother to notice when the little white wolf disappeared from their home. Still, mentioning another by name, surely that meant this Shep held more importance than the others he made reference to. She took dull note of this name in her mind. She would come back to it. A small voice in her head spoke, wondering if many of the Vertok’s young were as curious and eager to wander as her little owl…

"Speaking." Thinking.

For a brief moment, her golden gaze narrowed at the pup, taking notice of the fact that he found himself distracted. Even so, he still answered her question, at least. He spoke of his apparent guardian with an air of distaste. The way he mentioned her attentiveness to the other pups was a curiosity. Did the Vertok dump off all of their children on a singular she-wolf, expecting her to look after and care for all of them on her own? On one paw this was almost amusing. Obviously this other she-wolf wasn’t great at her job if she failed to notice that any of them were missing. But, in a similar manner that caused her eyes to look sideways in annoyance, this was one topic it seemed she couldn’t quite top with the Vertok. Sanzin pups were typically cared for by their mothers until they could hold themselves up and just begin to eat softer food. Though there weren’t many, there were some mothers who chose to continue caring for their young until they were a little bit older. This was not something that was often looked down on, for it made sense to do so. But, after a certain point, most pups were left to their own devices. The period in between reaching the weaned phase and 1 year old was a difficult one, admittedly. They were still Zeroes, and were under her personal care as the Suit. But, something she could share with this ‘Ara’: she was only one wolf.

She ignored the pup’s growls of complaint, though she had her own in her mind. He hadn’t exactly answered her question. Instead, he pushed on to her next one, addressing his age. It made sense, he didn’t appear so young to be completely weak or helpless, but he also definitely was not nearing a year yet.

She nodded briefly to his answer, a tiny smirk crossing her maw at his comment. She could ask so many questions with their own intentions. Were many Vertok pups weak and small? Are they all around your age? How many are there? But she did not. Her little owl was quite the talker on his own with a little motivation. She could get lots of information from him in due time. For now, it was she who needed to teach him.

“Tell me, do you know what is happening around you? Why your pack’s adults are rather tense?” She glanced to the side, lifting her tail behind her and brushing it gently through the yellowed tall grass around them. “Why color and life have begun to leave the valley?”

She waited for a moment, checking for the pup to answer, before she continued her inquiry.

“If you should wish to learn about the world outside of the safety of your home, and the matters you are told you are too young for, I can teach you. It is only right that you are informed when it comes to your own wellbeing, afterall?” The question was innocent enough. But even she couldn’t deny that these words were not exaggerated.

The drought affected them all in one way or another, and it was not forgiving, even for young wolves. Adults could only prolong the effects for so long before it inevitably reached for the pups, those who were far more vulnerable to dying in said conditions. They could give their pups all the water they had. This would not save them.

"Speaking." Thinking.

A part of her almost grew annoyed as the pup’s voice grew quieter and less enthusiastic. This was what he wanted, right? To learn about what his own would not teach him, what they hid from him? No, adult matters were not always fun, and she had a feeling that was what he sought after. But if he really did want to be an adult, he had to deal with the same realistic and unfun burdens that the rest of them did. Better he got used to it now before his hopes and dreams of what adulthood is like get crushed.

She took a deep breath, calming herself quietly as the pups naivety got the better of him. She put the smile back on her face, eyes remaining calm as the pup spoke of water and vague whispers he had heard from his adults. She waited to speak as he addressed her primary offer in the conversation. And, just as she had expected, the little brute wanted what she had to offer. She would be his teacher. And teach him she would.

A small chuckle fell from her maw at his final words. “I am flattered, little owl.”

Though just as quickly as the smile and the chuckle had appeared from her maw, they disappeared. “There is much for you to learn, and not all of it will be enjoyable. Adulthood isn’t all fun and games. But, ” she side-eyed the pup, a somewhat mischievous flash crossing her face. “One perk of it is the freedom. The ability to make choices without the influence of others to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. What you should or shouldn’t ask about, or learn about. So, little owl, I will give you your first choice, one you make completely on your own.”

She was silent for just a moment, her gaze turning to him.

“Would you like me to teach you about the drought happening to the valley around you, or…would you rather learn about something else of your own choice? The prey we wolves hunt, the history of the packs, our main sources of competition with other animals, our natural predators. It is all yours to ask about.”

"Speaking." Thinking.

A smile crossed the large ghost’s maw and those ever calculating golden eyes narrowed. She had lost his true attention for a moment, but it was rather easy to reel it back in, as she had already figured out quickly what this pup valued most. He desired freedom. He desired acknowledgement. He desired power. It was almost amusing how much he reminded her of herself. Or, rather, her past self, for she had already obtained those things for herself through sheer effort and strength. And, in the end, with her assistance of course, she knew that this young pup could do the same.

The very first words he spoke were all that she required. The little wolf was officially caught in her web, and she had no intentions of letting the opportunity pass by. No, in truth he was not the perfect specimen, for he was rather small, and her plan was beginning at a disadvantage, for it seemed as though his only true experience was gained by mere play-fights and eavesdropping. But the only way for him to go from here was up. And she would help him do that.

He was rather quick in his answer to her, though he did not exactly give a true answer. She understood that as much even without him speaking it so. He was a pup; of course he wanted to learn everything he possibly could. But there was only so much that she could teach in a small amount of time. The sun had already begun to set when she first arrived to their planned meeting spot, and now it had gone even lower than before. Perhaps a pup being missing could be explained by curiosity and adventuring during the day. But as night set in and the dangers that lurked in darkness came out to play, a young one being missing was far more noticeable. At least, she would have assumed things would be that way. She could, for once, be wrong and assuming too much of the Vertok. But this was one of the few scenarios where being safe really was better than being sorry.

“You wish to be strong, hm?” Artemis lifted a paw, placing it against her chin in thought. While she did feel that him at least learning what a drought was would be a little bit more beneficial for him as he was currently, she didn’t wish to immediately drive him away with what would likely be considered a boring lesson. He expressed his wishes of what he wanted to start with; she would be letting down the reputation she had already gained with him if she ignored what he wanted. Especially as their mentorship was just beginning.

“As you wish, little owl. But, first-” Before she continued, her large paws pushed forward, lifting herself from where she laid across the ground into a sitting position. Though she towered over the young pup, she did lower her head just a smidge so that he did not have to peer up so high and she did not have to look down so low. “-I still owe you a part of our deal.” She offered a smile to the pup, lifting her head and locking her own gaze with his. “My name is Artemis.”

She lightly nodded her head; not quite a bow, but more a nod of greeting, as though they had just officially met for the first time. During their first meeting, she had parted from the pup with her name left a mystery and the promise that if he came to see her once more today, she would allow him to know her name. And, as she had hoped, he held up his end of the deal.

“Now. There are many ways that I could teach you strength. Physical strength, mental strength, endurance. There are many possibilities. But, I cannot truly begin training you until I know where we are starting from. I must see what you are already capable of in order to teach you what comes next. So, little owl, show me your best battle stance.”

"Speaking." Thinking.

It always did bring a flicker of pride when all signs pointed to her plans following through flawlessly. When there was no shadow of a doubt that she had done what she intended to. And, just from this young brute’s enthusiasm and readiness for the next step, it was clear that her efforts had never been in vain.

The little white wolf was quite eager to follow the instructions given to him, his body leaping into action at her command, bringing a small smile to her maw. Obedience was always a perk. She watched his movements closely, taking note of his speed, his posture, his footing, any sound he made. There were many aspects of a battle stance alone that could make all the difference when in a real situation of danger. And this young one would have to learn those things if he wanted to go anywhere.

She slowly stood, lifting herself from where she sat and padding closer to the pup. Though her size would likely make it difficult for him to look up at her, that was not something that was needed, for he needed to be looking forward, to his invisible enemy. Large paws took her in a slow half circle around the little wolf, examining him. As she rounded him and came to his other side, she lifted a large paw and placed it on his rear which was lifted in the air and tail held high, gently pushing down just slightly.

“Keep your back legs bent, but steady, and your rear low. You must be ready to leap at any moment.” Her eyes peered down towards his paws, taking note of their position and spacing. “Your paws should be spread apart, but not wide enough to stop you from moving quickly. You should be able to lean in any direction at will, should you need to.” She slowly came around the front of him, stopping just ahead with her side facing him.

Her eyes watched him carefully, taking in the face that he put on and the aura that he gave off. He was young, and naive, and had no worldly experience. Just as most pups, he required molding and teaching. He did not know the true feeling of battle, the rush of adrenaline when life was at stake, whether it be your own or someone else’s. Unfortunately she had no way of truly giving him a taste of this experience without…well…attacking him. Which wasn’t exactly the route she was intending to take. Instead, it would be best to lead by example.

She walked forward again, standing alongside the pup facing the same direction. She adjusted her stance, lowering her body towards the ground but keeping her head and eyes forward. Her tail pointed straight back away from her rear and her back legs were, as she had instructed of him, bent, but steady in their stance and balance. Her front legs too were bent, but were spread just enough that it gave her solidity on uneven ground. Her head was lowered to match the level of her shoulders, eyes narrowed, sharp, and trained ahead to an unseen combatant.

“Remember, in the event of battle, confidence is important, but confidence alone will not gain you a win on its own. You must be balanced, stable, prepared. Ready for anything your enemy may attempt to gain advantage over you.” Her eyes narrowed, honing in on a particular patch of yellow grass just ahead, swaying gently against the light wind of dusk. “Your eyes must never waver. Even a second without sight on those who wish to do you harm could cost you your life. You must see them, watch them, know what they will do before they know themselves.” There was a chance that he would not understand, and she could not expect him to. But he would, in time.

“Strength in battle is not just physical strength. It is stability, it is durability, it is an observant eye.”

"Speaking." Thinking.