Chapter 7

Training

Just when Kyle thought he was going to get really, really hurt here, the weight from Sharptongue's enormous body suddenly lifted.

Kyle looked up just in time to see Sam with his furry arms around Sharptongue's waist. The older werewolf flung Sharptongue away with a growl.

"Stop that! Haven't you learned not to fight packmates!" Sam shouted at Sharptongue.

"He attacked me first!" Sharptongue pointed at Kyle, who was too busy trying to pick himself off the ground.

Sam turned his glare on Kyle "Is that true?" he asked.

"It's true." Moonlight got and walked toward them "The Manborn was the one that attacked first."

Kyle's jaw dropped open "But…but…he called my mom a whore!"

Moonlight looked at Kyle with contempt in her eyes "It's still against pack law to strike another packmate."

"Now wait a minute!"

"How typical." A new voice spoke. Kyle turned and saw not only Rockclaw, but the werewolf that had challenged Sam the other night as well as three others. Kyle guessed that these were the teachers of the others.

The werewolf that had antagonized Sam last night was smirking. "I did say that Manborn would cause trouble now didn't I?"

Sam growled, but said nothing. Kyle could tell that his new teacher was embarrassed, and he was instantly sorry that he had caused this.

But he still did not like Sharptongue.

"Come, Sharptongue, we real werewolves have no business spending time with Manborn ruffians." The antagonistic werewolf said, and he and Sharptongue left, practically swaggering.

The other werewolves left as well, Moonlight shooting Kyle one last disgusted glance.

Great Kyle thought way to make an ass of yourself Broflovski…

Rockclaw and Tweek where the last to go. Before she left however, Rockclaw whispered something in Sam's ear. Sam just grunted. Kyle noticed, however, how Sam's eyes followed Rockclaw as she left. He could not help but wonder…

But wondering was cut short when Sam whirled around to snarl at him.

"What the HELL where you thinking!"

Kyle jumped back from Sam, startled. "He called my mom a-"

"I don't care what he called your momma! I don't care if he insulted every damn family member you got! You NEVER attack another packmate! NEVER!"

"Hey! You almost attacked his teacher last night!" Kyle shot back, remembering how the two werewolves had reared and snarled at each other.

"That was not a fight! That was a challenge. It's like a staring contest. You growl and snarl at the other until one of you backs down. But you don't actually fight the other werewolf!" Sam's head fell. "Damn, boy, don't you know how to keep your temper?"

"I…I…" Kyle did not know what to say.

"Look son. You are a Manborn. As a Manborn you will have to work extra hard to be accepted in the pack. You will have to surpass the others just to get the same recognition as them. Trust me…" Sam stared into Kyle's eyes "With the exception of a few most werewolves are very traditional. Step on the toes once and you'll be up Goose Creek before you can say boo. You got that?"

"Yes…" Kyle said.

"Good…"Sam said as he sighed. "Well…guess there is no help for it…I'm going to have to teach you how to fight first…" Sam grinned "Next time you break tradition you might as well do it right, huh?"

Kyle jumped up, now eager. He could not help but be excited by this prospect.

"Right…first we'll work on your dodging. Just try to avoid me first off." Sam said.

Kyle tried to dodge Sam's paw first. In the beginning the paw came very slowly, but Sam would speed up the further along they went until he rolled Kyle.

"Jump to the side, don't step." Sam advised, and Kyle adjusted strategy. He also jumped into a bush.

After disentangling Kyle, though he had to stifle his laughter to do it, Sam said "You have to use your nose, Kyle. Remember that your nose is better as a werewolf. Smell your environment around you so you don't end up doing that."

This went on for a few hours. However, by the time they were finished, Kyle thought he had pretty much had the ducking and weaving down.

"That's probably enough for tonight." Sam said "Tomorrow's Sunday, so you probably have church or something, right?"

"Naw, I'm Jewish." Kyle said.

"Really?" Sam seemed to think for a moment.

"Hey, I have some questions about the pack…"Kyle trailed off.

"How about this, since the majority of the town is going to be at church tomorrow, why don't you meet me back here tomorrow morning? We can talk a little then."

Kyle thought about this. If his mother knew that he was wandering around in the woods with a perfect stranger…but then again…

"Do I come as a werewolf?"

"No, come as a human. If someone sees us that would be a lot easier to explain." For you, anyway…Sam added to himself silently.

"Okay, but how will I recognize you?"

"Smell. Even in human form you should be able to use some of your werewolf senses."

"Okay…I'll see you then." Kyle said, and he headed for home.