Humphrey's POV
There has been a change in the air during these past few days, for once in months it hasn't been hot. This could only mean one thing, fall was fast approaching. Some of the non-evergreen trees leaves were changing into various vivid colors before falling onto the ground. It was only a matter of weeks before most trees were striped entirely of their leaves and became only skeletons. I was enjoying the relief of a cool breeze on my fur which was helping to remove the suns effect on the temperature all around. It was a bright and cheery morning down in the valley, a few clouds soared overhead being pushed by a mild cold breeze. Why was I in the valley? To do some alpha training of course and I had one of the best teachers around. Why the best? She was well aware about the concepts of being an alpha, and she also happened to be my wife. Today's session was about fighting, a subject that I didn't have great interest in but the benefits of learning it were very great. Knowing how to protect not only yourself but others as well was something I found to be very important, especially when that other was Kate. It had been a smooth going session so far since I already possessed the verbal know how about fighting, it just had to be out into physical practice.
"Let's set up an example, you're out in the forest by yourself when your confronted by a wolf of is being hostile toward you. Now what do you do?" Kate asked while sitting atop a rock with me sat below in the tall grass.
I thought for a moment to recall what she had told me back when we were in her parents den during a mid-point in my recovery, that was over three weeks ago.
"I should act defensively and try to stop any fighting from happening" I answered recalling a few things
She paused for a moment "You're close, but you should also judge your opponents strength, muscle tone can help give you an idea what you're up against." She said
I nodded my head in understanding "So be defensive but also know your enemy's strength, got it" I said
"Good, now let's say this wolf decides to attack you and you judge them to be an equal match to you in combat. What do you do?" She said continuing the little imaginative fight
"Dodge the attacks by countering and sidestepping" I said
"That's only half of what you need to do, defending is good but if you want a conflict to be over fast you need to fight too in hopes of a victory. Make attacks of your own, and better yet use the momentum of their attacks to counter right back at them. It might not make sense but trust me it's not hard to do." She said before jumping down to stand in front of me.
"I think I understand" I replied
"Alright then let's put it into real practice, I want you to try and slash me across the face to the best of your ability" She said
I thought she was crazy but then I remembered that it was all a part of training and that she always reminded me that I wouldn't hurt her. "Okay" I said slowly
I waited a moment while we stared at each other before I went for the swing, I aimed to hit along the side of her muzzle but my paw never got there. I was only half was into my swing by the time she had her own paw up to block my swing. This all happened so fast that the next thing I knew she had her paw rested on the side of my own muzzle. I looked at her surprised since I didn't even see her take her own swing.
"Did you see how I did that?" She asked putting her fore paw back down
"That all happened too fast for me to tell" I replied
"Okay, attack me again but this time do it very slow and I will talk you through what I did" She said
I repeated the same attack motion but this time it played out like slow motion, she brought her paw back up to block my swing. We paused when our paws touched.
"This is where I block your attack, normally you could keep this at only a block but if your fast you can get an attack you your own in before you're enemy knows it." She said
In a full speed attack my fore leg would come back down after being blocked so I mimicked this in slow motion and this was where I saw Kate's attack begin. With a quick switch of her two for legs her opposite paw came up to mirror the attack I did only moments prior. Her paw came to rest back on my cheek ending the attack, now I understood what had happened during that quick second long attack.
"Huh, you do have to be pretty fast to do that" I said
"You only get better with practice just like with everything else we've learned so far. So as you can see most of these attack counters are just turning the opponents attack and putting right onto them." She said
"Kind of like a 'what goes around comes around' kind of thing" I said
"Exactly" She agreed
"So what's next, blocking maybe?" I asked
"You are right, this shouldn't be anything hard to learn" She replied
"Good" I said
The next hour or so consisted of Kate showing me how to block attacks whether it be from a paw swing or a full pounce. After showing me these moves she began to attack me with varying ways so that I could get better at these moves. I did pretty well and of course she wasn't doing anything crazy like fast swings and stuff like that. However I wasn't perfect and I actually missed the block of an attack and ended getting my muzzle on the receiving end of her claws. It stung for a quick moment and left a cut which bled slightly but nothing major. It scared her into thinking that she actually hurt me but I reassured her telling her that yes it did hurt but it was all a part of training and that it was nothing major.
"I'm sorry honey" She said
"I told you it's alright, besides now I know to never make you truly mad because you have some pretty sharp claws." I joked
She laughed "Very funny" She said
Training resumed like nothing happened and we continued practicing with blocking for another half hour or so until she said that was enough for now. I felt like I could keep going with doing attack work however she had other plans.
"That will be all the training for today however I want you to run two laps around the edge of the valley's floor." She said sitting next to me
"What? but that's like a mile or two in total distance" I said. This wasn't the first time I had to run to build stamina and muscle but most had been short runs compared to the task that was just addressed.
"I know, we need to work on building you're muscle and running is one of the best things for it." She said
I sighed "Don't you think it's a little too much?" I asked
"Hey you're lucky it's only two laps, alpha school had regular two mile runs every other day during the first two weeks." She said
"Alright, you're the teacher" I finally agreed
"Good, now get too it and I will be right here on the rock once you're done" She said before getting up to climb up the rock that sat before us.
I got up and began my long run, I really had no problem with it being long since I had to do it anyway if I was to get the stamina and strength required to be an alpha. I was a lot more better than I was two months ago when it came to running endurance, I could run much further now without having to take a break. I knew I could take a breathing break during this run around the valley but I decided to push myself all the way through and not stop. It would wear me out a lot but if I kept doing this every other day like Kate said she did back in alpha school then I would get better at it in no time. It took a little under an hour to do the two laps my wife required and I was exhausted, panting like crazy as I walked up to the rock where she was resting in the sun.
She raised her head up to look at me as I approached "Wow that was quick" She said
I had to sit down and catch my breath some more before I could speak
"I decided to... keep running the... whole way" I said in between pants
"Great job I'm proud of you" She said getting up and coming down to where I stood in the grass below
"Thank... you" I said
"Come on, let's get you some water so you don't pass out on me" She said leading the way towards the river that wasn't too far away.
I followed her to the best I could but I could only keep a slow walking pace which she matched after realizing I couldn't go any faster. Oddly enough I felt satisfied after doing that long run even though I was panting the hardest I could remember. Upon arrival to the small familiar stream I lapped in a couple of sips of the ice cold water. After quenching the thirst I dunked my head underwater then immediately brought it back up again. I felt my body cool down as I walked over to Kate who was sitting under a birch tree, but still in the sun.
"Feeling better?" She asked with a smile as the sunlight glowed off of her
"Much better" I said sitting next to her then proceeding to shake any extra water I had clung to my mane, this of coursed sprayed a little on her.
"Couldn't you had done that back over there" She said looking at me
"A little water never hurt" I replied looking back at her
The wind had picked up its pace since we left the valley, dead leaves were flying through the air as they slowly fluttered down to the ground. The sound of crunching leaves was common to hear when anyone was walking around. The cold wind quickly dried up the wet hairs on my head while also cooling my whole body further. There was no doubt it was now fall meaning that summer was now a thing of the past.
"I am taking a liking to this colder weather" I said
"So am I, soon it will be winter and that's when the real fun begins" She agreed
"Real fun?" I asked
"Yeah, with the snow comes a whole host of new games to play" She said
"Of course, snowball fights and not to mention better log sledding conditions" I said
"Oh yeah" She replied
The sudden sound of something hitting the ground in front of us caught my attention, and first I thought it to only be a leaf like the countless others around. However this was no leaf it was a perfectly rounded small rock, and for some reason it seemed vaguely familiar.
"Did you see that rock fall?" I asked her seeing if I wasn't the only one who did
"Yeah it just came out of nowhere" She replied
"Doesn't it look familiar to you?" I asked
She leaned over it to get a closer look "You know it actually does, did Marcel hit rocks like that while playing that game." She said
As if on command two birds suddenly landed in front of us, one bright yellow and the other white with a green neck. Kate and I knew these birds well and it's been a long time since the last time we saw them.
"Marcel! Paddy!" Kate exclaimed surprised and happy to see them
"Why hello Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, long time no see eh?" Marcel said with a smile
"Yes, almost too long" Paddy agreed
"It's good to see you both again" I said
"Where have you guys been?" Kate asked
"We've just been traveling around, playing some golf of course, but we did to back to Sawtooth for a month or so." Paddy said
"Actually Paddy it was two months" Marcel interjected
I laughed, looks like they haven't changed much since the last time Kate and I saw them, Marcel always taking the lead over Paddy. "Looks like he still interrupts you Paddy" I said looking at him
"Tell me about it" He replied with a sigh "but it doesn't bother me"
"That's good" I said
"Anyway, how have you two been doing here back in Jasper?" Marcel asked
"Wonderful, we got the two packs to merge as one through the marriage of my sister which also allowed Humphrey and I to get married as well." Kate said
"Very nice, I'm happy for you two" Paddy said
"Thank you" She said
"Have you started a family yet?" Marcel asked
"Not yet, Kate's training me to become and alpha like her and then maybe we will settle down and start a family." I replied with Kate smiling at me
"Taking it slow, that's good" He said
"Anything me with you two?" Kate asked turning the question on them
"Nothing new if you ask me, just two birds flying around and playing golf" He said
"Very nice" She said while I nodded my head agreeing
"And speaking of golf, I think we need to get going or we will miss our tee time on the course" Paddy said
"Your right, sorry for the short visit you two but we figured we would come by and say 'hi' before we continued on." Marcel said
"Well I'm glad you did, and you're welcome to come by and visit anytime" Kate said
"Yes and thank you for doing so" I added
"Goodbye" They said
"Goodbye" Kate and I replied before watching them flap their wings and take off
"That was a nice little visit" Kate finally said after we watched them slowly disappear behind the distant trees.
"Yeah their good fun" I agreed
She let out a long yawn "Well I'm getting tired, want to go take a nap with me or do have something planned" She asked looking at me
We awoke pretty early today to eat breakfast before going down to the valley to train, a typical routine that happened every day. Normally I was fine without a nap in the middle of the day to keep me going however today was different.
"I'm kind of tired myself so I'll join you" I replied
"Great, let's go!" She said with a smile before turning and leading the way towards our den.
A/N: As you can tell the pace of the story has sped up a lot and will continue on this sort of "filler" style for a few more chapters. I thank you guys for having patience, I get these out as quick as I can for you to read and enjoy.
No random fact today however I have some pretty cool news! The same makers of this film are currently working on a new film called "Norm of the North". This film has been rumored since way back in 2010 but now it has an official release date 1/16/15. Just Google the movies name if you want to know what it's about, I don't know about you but I'm excited to see it. Of course we all want them to make an Alpha and Omega 2 which is still a possibility but we wouldn't see anything of it until after Norm of the North comes out.
