optimal foraging theory: foraging behavior is a compromise between feeding costs and feeding benefits (i.e. how much energy or effort used to get the food compared to how much energy the food will give you)

"Wolf, you have a fork and a knife. Use them."

Wolf glanced at Logan in acknowledgment, then stared at his utensils. He never understood the need for silverware. Forks, knives, and spoons seem pointless. They just waste energy and effort. Hands and teeth work just fine. He shrugged and did what he had been doing: he completely ignored Logan's order. Wolf searched for one of the bigger pieces of chicken on his plate, picked it up, and took a big bite.

"Wolf! No one wants to watch you eat like that!"

Wolf sighed and rolled his eyes. He knew Pyro didn't care. It amused Kurt to watch him eat; besides, Kurt uses his tail to lift his fork or cup or whatever so he really has no right to complain. He suspected that Colossus didn't even notice, and he knew that Kitty didn't because her eyes are on Colossus at all times. Besides, this is a school for mutants. Every one is used to seeing weird habits here. Some of the kids eat rocks, for cryin' out loud.

"No one cares, Logan. Forks are useless."

"They may be useless, but I want you to use them. I don't have the best manners, but even I don't like seeing you eat. If I don't, others don't. This is the last time I'm telling you: use your utensils."

Wolf snarled. "Or what?! You gonna spank me?"

Logan raised his eyebrow. "Do you want me to?"

Wolf looked away. "Of course not! I'm no masochist."

"Sometimes I wonder, with all the trouble you get yourself into. Now, if that fork is not in your hand for the rest of dinner, you'll find out exactly what I'm gonna do."

Wolf huffed, then picked up the fork. It felt awkward in his paw. He stared at it warily. Since when is sticking a piece of metal in your mouth a good idea? He looked down at his food, then back at his fork. He felt Logan watching him, so he gripped the fork and stabbed a piece of chicken. He held it up and looked at it. Then he took the chicken in his mouth and tried to tear a piece off, but only pulled the chicken off of the fork, dropping it back onto the plate. Wolf growled in frustration, then glared at Logan accusingly.

"That's what the knife is for, Wolf. Cut it up first."

Wolf glanced at the knife with distaste. "No! It's stupid to use so much effort to eat! I'm not using these!" He threw his fork down.

Logan took a deep breath. "Wolf, you will use them or you won't sit at this table."

"Just use 'em, man," Pyro said quietly, "Remember what happened last time you refused to do something?"

Wolf glanced at Pyro. "You worry too much," he growled back. Then he looked back at Logan. "I will not use them!" He accentuated this by grabbing some chicken with his hand and biting down into it, defiance plainly written on his face.

Logan shrugged. "All right then, it's your choice," he said as he picked up a paper bag from the floor next to him and put it on the table.

Wolf studied it, slightly alarmed. He had noticed Logan carrying it at the beginning of dinner, but he didn't give it much attention then. He tested the air, trying to catch scent of what was inside the bag. It smelled like… metal?

Logan stood up. "Transform," he commanded. In class he had been working with Wolf to change form on command. Wolf usually protested. However, since he was apprehensive about the bag, Wolf changed to wolf form immediately.

He was shocked at what Logan pulled out of the bag; much too shocked to do anything.

"This is a special collar, Wolf," Logan said, putting it around his neck. "Forge designed it to stop you from being able to change shape. It also needs a teacher's fingerprints to open, so your friends won't be able to take it off for you once you have it on."

If Wolf could make noise there would be all kinds of protest; instead he could only silently glare.

Next out of the bag came a chain leash. Logan attached this to the dog collar and pulled Wolf over to a wall that had a metal ring in it (Wolf had never noticed that before, so it may have been installed just for this. Or maybe he just didn't have very good observation skills). Logan hooked Wolf to the wall. "If you act like a dog, I will treat you like one," Logan said, "When you eat like that, you can't sit at the table."

Then Logan went back to the bag and pulled out some dog bowls. Into one he poured Wolf's drink, and in the other he scraped Wolf's food. Then, after seeing the contents of Wolf's plate, Logan added some vegetables. He placed them in front of Wolf, put a hand on his head by way of fondness, then went back to his chair without a word. Wolf looked at his bowls in contempt, then lay down to sulk. Slowly conversation started in the room again. Eventually Wolf's stomach got the best of him and he finished his food.

Logan waited until the other students left the room, then approached Wolf, who was still sulking. "You gonna listen to me now?" he asked.

Wolf turned to look at Logan, then nudged his muzzle against Logan's foot.

Logan took that as a yes, so he unhooked the chain from the wall. Then he knelt down and placed a finger on the scanner on the back of the collar and used another finger to press the release button. The collar popped open.

Wolf immediately went to human form and rolled onto his side, back facing Logan.

Logan sighed and sat down. "So you're mad at me this time?"

Wolf was silent for a second, then answered, "A little. That was unfair. I don't even know your stupid manners!"

Logan couldn't help but smile at how pitiful he sounded. He rubbed Wolf's back. "You're a smart kid, you could've figured it out by watching how everyone else eats. Besides, I never wanted you to be perfect, you just had to do what I asked you to do. Instead, you ignored me, then outright refused and threw a little tantrum."

Wolf thought for a few seconds, then sighed and rolled over. " 'm sorry," he mumbled.

"It's alright. But you know, you aren't just a wolf; you are a human being, and you need to start acting like one. If you keep acting like a wild animal you will push others away. That's why I'm doing this for you. That means that if you are acting like a dog, I will treat you like one. That collar won't only be for your table manners. If I think I should use it for something else, I will."

Wolf looked up at him. "But what if I don't know that I'm acting like a wolf?"

Logan gave him a very serious look. "I will always let you know and give you a chance to fix your behavior before I use that collar on you, do you understand?"

Wolf nodded.

"Good," Logan said, then he stood up. "You can leave now if you want. And tomorrow morning at breakfast, just do what I ask, okay? Use your fork and knife, at least. Is that so hard?"

"They feel awkward."

"So did looking me in the eye, and we've gotten better at that, haven't we?"

Wolf had to admit, it was more comfortable to do that now.

"So, if you can use manners tomorrow, then you can eat at the table with us. If you throw another tantrum, then I'll have to use the collar again."

"Okay," Wolf said, averting his eyes. Then he stood up. "I'm going back to my dorm now."

"Are you sure you had enough to eat?" Logan asked.

Wolf nodded.

"Alright, see you later then."

"Later."