Those who do not work do not eat

Remus stood in the morning, In the pre determined location. It was like he said, a fallen log that had bridged the gap across a now dried river bed. The location would be perfect, the bed of the river was composed of sand, so any puppies who would fall, would not be to seriously hurt.

Last but not least at his feet was a slain hair. Not much of a meal for the muscled brute but for the pups he hoped it would motivate them for the coming test of courage ahead, especially if their mother had taken his advice and let them feel their first day of hunger.

@Warwick @Calhoun @Vermillion @Rohesia @Maral @Edith @Melrose @Aldritch all elkshire welcome no particular turn order

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Pangs within the pits of his stomach were his wake-up call. Mother didn’t feed any of them last night, and he wasn’t sure why. A few times his sleep was disturbed with muffled wails of discomfort from him. In turn, he’d become restless, chewing and spitting out pieces of debris used for their bedding. It was all useless.
 
Come morn, the pup was awoken with the rest of his littermates, with an angry stomach as loud as his protests to not leave until he was given a meal. But the duke was receiving zero attention to all his attempts at groaning at his dam.
 
All moved to another area, his eyes sodden from the damp morning, he scarcely saw the intimidating beast that was Remus in front of them. Warwick wanted to curl up into a tight ball, out of the rain and with his tummy full again.
 
He eyed the man before him, and soon after, the duke spotted some food at their feet.
 
Yes! Finally!
 
He moved forward quickly, hoping to get near enough to snatch at a leg.

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She did as Remus had told her to do. To refrain from their nightly feast, at the time they had no food that was desired. She could hear their stomachs, and the whining and begging for some. Starved, some would say, yet their round bellies begged to differ, as every other night, they feasted. Only once were they deprived of this luxury, and she was curious ; what had the man planned to do? Some part of her was rather reluctant to do it to such small children.. Yet, the other part was fascinated on what kind of 'training' did the gladiator propose. She remembered him doing the same with the past royal guards.. Though what did food have to do with his regime?

Only one was kept away though. She had come down with a little sickness that day, and she couldn't let @Melrose go hungry in the fear of a fever breaking out. For the moment time being, as Celnes would watch the other seven, Melrose would be with @Cynefrid. Though told her daughter, if she was up for it, she could join them by the log later. For now the doctor needed to watch, in that fear she may grow weaker.

Celnes led the rest to the log and ushered them forward. Though she stayed behind to watch.

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skippable! she just in the background watching now

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Vermillion was one of the pups not pleased. When her mother denied such food and wouldn't give a particular reason why, and kept all in the dark ; she resulted to tears. Though even that only gotten but a lick of her head and a 'shush' from the rest, before being told to go to sleep. She was hungry! Denied such a food privilidge felt awful, the teary-eyed child felt her stomach churn and call forth like a beast, like her father the boogeyman! 

Was this why some of the adults were so grumpy too? Because they were hungry?

But she couldn't help but look at her sibling running forth as their mother brought them to Remus. She was a bit scared.. But all was forgotten when saw the food, and knew at heart, Warwick would eat it all if she too didn't rush for it. Except, Vermillion hesitated, and paced back and forth from looking at her mother, and over to Remus. She didn't dash forward just yet, despite all the hunger that came too.

Fear and anxiety override that.

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[sfont=Raleway]He was hungry. Momma didn't give the greyscale boy any food and he was beginning to wonder why. Why was he being punished like this? Did she feed the others without him knowing? Secretly in some kind of meeting while he slept away from their devious tasks?

But why would they? Why would she?

Wasn't he a good boy? A good son? He kept quiet other than asking for some attention when possible, ate when it was offered, and slept for the most part of the day as opposed to testing the boundaries of what he could and could not do. So what did he do wrong for this to happen? For his belly to ache and yearn for food as it growled angrily at him like some kind of hellbeast.

Following his siblings, the still wobbly boy with his paws way too big for his body trudged along. Tired and just down right ravenous; the sight of a downed rabbit just across a little makeshift bridge perked him up just enough to bring him fourth. Past anyone who was too slow to follow and be lured by the smell - tempting his fate along the rounded log and...

He fell. His wobbly legs and paws just too big to control very well left him tumbling face down into the leaves of the dried riverbed below, leaving him crying out loud frustrated, hungry, a little hurt and shocked by the tumble.[/sfont]

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The parade of the whelps had begun.  @Célnes had strung them along, exactly as planned.  Looking confused the pups tailed their mother.  Remus sat in silence as they gathered, eyeing them over one by one;  making silent bets to which among them would be the most and least spirited.  Though he wondered if their mother had done as he had asked.

As if to answer his question, one rather motivated pup bolted forward towards the source of the group's new motivation.  Remus' expression changed very little as sternly backhanded the pup away from the meal. It wouldn't be that easy.  He looked down at @Warwick without judgement, but with a hint of high hopes for this ones courage. 

He then scanned the crowd of whelps, noting @Vermillion 's apprehension, while hiding under her mother.  This was to be expected.  Looking over his shoulder, one rather intelligent pup had taken to the challenge without instruction, which would take both initiative, courage and intelligence.  Remus's eyes emotionlessly tracked @Aldritch as he plummeted to the sandpit below with a thud. 

The old dog turned to the others "Today you will start your training... you will earn your first meal.  All it will take is just a little courage.  All you have to do is walk across this log"     He looked down at @Aldritch still in the pit of sand.  "just like your brother..." 

The act of balance would only be moderately hard, the real challenge for the pups would be holding their nerves.  The fall would be significant for a pup. Almost enough to injure them, but not quite. Remus knew this exercise well and believed it was good to purge fear from a pup at a young age, so that courage could last a lifetime.
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PP welcomed and encouraged!

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Edith was hangry and frustrated, which was very unfortunate for her siblings. Without the comfort of a full stomach, the eldest princess had grown restless. So when Célnes didn't provide them with dinner, Edith decided she needed to find something to eat. 

She scouted inside and outside, trying to find anything that she could sink her jaws into and, eventually, resorted to bark as her meal of choice. She hid away out of view and gobbled down what she could manage. When she ate what she could stomach, Edith felt all the angrier. The bark had not satisfied her hunger, and it had scratched her throat—giving her two different things that put her in such a sour mood.

"This is dumb," she mumbled to herself the following day as she toddled after Célnes and her siblings. There was a rabbit nearby, and the smell caused her to drool. It motivated her forward and drove her bonkers; Edith would do what she could to make sure she got her share of the food. 

Aldritch and Warwick were the first to make a move, and Edith followed hot on their heels. The former of the two went onto the log, and she skidded to a halt as she watched him attempt to cross. When he failed, Edith bellowed a hearty,"HAH!" Seeing him fall had been the first thing to lift her spirits since her last meal. 

Now that the log was empty, Edith decided to take a shot at getting across. She shouldered past Warwick and clumsily scratched her way on top of the fallen tree. 

"This can't be too hard," she told herself, hesitating as she examined the path ahead. It looked simple enough, but she'd soon find out how wrong her assumption had been. Edith tried to bound forward but only got a few steps ahead before she fell. 

Aldritch's cries were louder down here, and she felt her annoyance mix with some newfound feelings of shame and embarrassment. "Woudja be quiet!" she hissed at her brother as tears began to prick at her eyes. Without waiting for him to react, she picked herself up with a frustrated snarl and turned towards the incline that led to Remus and the rabbit. Feeling more driver before, Edith began to climb towards their prize.

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Like his siblings, he too hungered and the rumble of his belly had long since turned angry. His distaste would not go unnoticed, certain to make a deal of it likely annoying more than just his mother into the night before weary limbs lured him to sleep. The next day would only be worse as he awoke unrested and unfed. His irritation levels had only grown as they trod further into the forest until the scent of rabbit crossed his nose.

He was not the first to spot the rabbit and two would make their own efforts for food before they were addressed by a man. The young boy squinted at him, a frown carved in his muzzle as the other held his meal just out of reach and across the bend. Again he would not be first as Edith clambered past their brother, though as eager as his sister was he knew how annoying she could be about having something over the rest. She was no better than them despite her constant nagging to prove otherwise and he knew if she reached the end first she would only do the same with their meal. His meal.

Calhoun's muzzle wrinkled at the whimpering and cries around him from those who had failed and those too afraid to even try. He followed hot on the trail of his siblings. At first, his pace was fast, too annoyed and one-track-minded to realize there was more to this than just walking, but a stumble would soon ground him as he slipped and found himself gripping the log to the best of his ability. His chin had collided with the fallen trunk, but he paid no mind to the dull sting as his eyes locked on the goal ahead. If he could just go a little further he would make it—

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Maral hungered, just as her siblings did. She felt it ache in her belly and she didn't understand. Some of her littermates complained, others cried, but she who was tainted by pallid furs did not. She hovered close to her care-giver, hopeful, but mostly the darkling was silent.

She followed her mother quietly, not entirely happy to be trailing through the forest with an empty belly, but she gave no vice to her frustration. Maral stayed near to the sister she could best relate to, Vermillion, as the cubs were all led through the trees toward some unknown place, for some uncertain reason. With sleep interrupted by literally starving to death, she felt woozy and sleepy.

The sight of a log bridge did not interest her, though her ears pricked at the sight of Remus at the other side. What did capture her attention, however, was the scent of food that hung on the air. Maral sniffed deeply, motivated, but she had no desire to scramble forward and fight over a meal.

No, patience would be key with this task. 


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It was almost entertaining enough; watching one pup mock their siblings for trying and failing, before plummeting into the sand herself.  It actually took a bit of self control to maintain his stone like expression. His gaze then went to @Calhoun who was putting up a valiant effort with the obstacle, who collided chin first into the log. None the less the little wolf pushed on.  Remus watched with interest, as he motioned to the rabbit, to further encourage an effort as he looked at both the brave and timid pups.  His eyes passed over @Maral and some of the other stragglers, wondering if there would be enough rabbit left for the last to finish. 

Remus' scornful eye darted to @Edith who moments earlier had made her own plummet, and was now attempting to just climb up the bank.  "Turn around and try again..." he responded calmly. If she didn't, he would simply push her back into the pit
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She was hungry, as most were. When the man said what a prize could be for if they succeeded ; food! Still though, Vermillion was hesitant. She stayed behind, watching the rest do so before attempting.. Yet watched carefully, for like Maral, she knew patience was what was needed. Though the Princess also didn't want to embarrass herself, as surely her siblings would mock.

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"Turn around and try again..." Remus instructed calmy, and a fire ignited within Edith's belly. How DARE he deny her the meal—especially when she'd already worked so hard for it! The nerve! 

"NO!" she bellowed in reply, her ears pressing forward and her needle-like teeth bore. Remus wasn't her mom! He couldn't boss her around!  All of this made no sense to her. Why were they denied like this? Why wasn't Célnes doing anything about it? It was infuriating. 

Edith slid down the hill a little as she turned her head to look at her mother. "Why is this happening?" she asked, her voice rising with frustration. She was on the edge of glory a tantrum, and it wasn't going to be pretty if that happened.

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Her child trained under Remus. She watched them in interest as they required that of a balance to go across the log. A treat, to the victors of such a battle of so. Simple for children learning to walk, an early stage of that training she wondered the man would continue doing. Celnes had seen him train with other guards before, though at the moment that had stopped for those who were once royal guards, were no longer among them. He had that diligence of an army drill sergeant, it was a curiosity where such a man originally came from.

When her daughter turned in frustration, the Queen only gave a pitied smile, but made no motions to go forward, "You are training to be heirs, to be those who can defend yourselves. To be a proud member of Elkshire, and a Déorwine."

To train the future generation, a secure hold of the eventual future that their land has.

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Oblivious to the brick (or certainly felt like one) that’d reprimand the prince, he was quick to cry at this, bellowing a series of screeches in dismay, and this continued for a good few moments whilst he recomposed himself and the others took this opportunity to commandeer the rights to their own attempts at grabbing the kill.
 
He watched on, as one by one they would fail at their endeavors. And this brought joy to him, wiping away the bruise that had already ached at the side of his face.
 
With the litter being of substantial size, the duke seized this, and took to a newly acquired master-plan and went about it discreetly. As his dear litter mates overran the large mans' attention with their tries, using the brown tones of his fur to his advantage, he would cling as tight as he could to the log at its side, and rounded it to the other side of Remus, in high hopes he was completely concealed and could reach the meal that was poised so tauntingly near. His nose guided the infant, and once he was close enough, with a shark-like gape mouth, he’d stand on wobbly back legs in an attempt to grab at any tufts he could to pull it from the top of the trunk.

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No help was given as he made his tumble and clung to the log, but that much could be expected. His life was not in danger, not with the soft sands of the hollow below. He could see as Edith muscled over to the other side from the pit, a bite of anger gnawing at him for breaking the rules when she was quickly denied. Of course, she threw a fit over it as she stomped back to their mother, but he was giddier than anything that the man had told her off. Maybe he wasn't that bad...

Remus soon looked back to him, his face unchanging, though a new glint seemed to hide in his eyes. Was he doing good? He felt too hungry to think and as he shuffled he could hear the scuffling of his brother who tried to pass him. Once more the competitive flame within him stirred up as he wished to beat him. Darkened jaws tried to snap at the rabbit, though he was closing in as his brother tried to steal his prize. Calhoun muscled his way through, almost tipping at the end as he took reached out with snapping jaws to find purchase on part of the rabbit as he tried to pull his food out of his sibling's grasps. 

Rather Warwick put up a fight or not, a small rumbled would come from his throat as he sunk his teeth in further to the rabbit's hindquarters. He did the challenge just as they were told! Therefore that meant the rabbit was his and his alone. He had been the only one of his siblings to follow the rules, the rest attempting to cheat where they could or cowered at their mother's side, though maybe the big guy would tell his brother off too.

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   rohesia suffered a late start, examining her siblings crossing gingerly before her. the girl glanced at her dam once or twice when the eldest of the billy goat gruffs. tentatively, the hind sniffed and took her first step on the log
   scooting along, until she was comfortable enough about a a third of the way to get on her feet and wobble. she had made it halfway.
   it was given she whined when Calhoun made for the rabbit ( and for Warwick's neck ), screwing her brows into the sap of wriggling tapeworms and furthered her pursuit of their goal.
.

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It was going as expected, the group was on the verge of success or a tantrum, but if one could cross, then the rest would see and follow suit, even the hesitant few. @Edith  was extremely frustrated, baring her tiny teeth at the brutish guard, to which Remus looked down expressionless, then casting his gaze elsewhere.  Hearing @Celenes give a speech to her protesting spawn was a pleasant change of pace. It was rare that he would hear anything inspirational come from the tyrant woman's dripping maw.  He had to give her credit, that was good....

It was about that time when the first victor was approaching his prize. @Calhoun carried out the simple task with bravery, and thus would eat first.  Remus, looked the little orange pup over, nodding in approval.  "Good work boy..." 

Another was coming across the log now, @Rohesia was steadily completing the task, it looked like the hunger of the pups would drive them on.  "Come join your brother..." he called, adding a word of encouragement. 

 Then, out of the corner of his eye, Remus caught a glimpse of trickery. @Warwick was attempting to pull from a meal he never even tried to earn.   Though, his aptitude for out of the box thinking and stealth was impressive, this was not the time for it. Taking a step forward, the royal guard approached @Warwick and would attempt to flip him backwards, back down the sandy bank, using his muzzle.
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[sfont=Raleway]Unlike some of his other siblings, Aldritch did not try again. Too tired, hungry, and frustrated - the boy had already given up and hoped that his cries would earn him some sympathy and be given some food soon. How was he expected to do anything when his tummy was growling like some angry monster? He made no attempt to move and try again, only sat there with still some sobs leaking through as tears all but stemmed from his large watery eyes.

It was so unfair. He was always left behind. [/sfont]

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Words of praise sung with depth came from the huge wolf, whilst doing so Warwick grasped at this sly opportunity, one he misconstrued as his queue to grab hold of whatever he could of the small meal. But alas, without even a glance up to the man, he was sent flying backward, landing with an unsubtle oof.

Wiggling amongst the sand, he maneuvred himself back onto all four legs. After a whimper or two, the duke relinquished any further artful plans of his and made his way over to the tip of the plank.

He wouldn't wail to the queen of Elkshire as others had. He was adamant to gain his prize all by himself. Heaving his tiny mass on top of the trunk, he wobbled every few steps as he got nearer and nearer to the others. Stopping halfway, to judge how much his siblings had gorged out of the kill and if it meant he needed to speed himself up to take it from them.

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He claimed his prize scampering a few paces to the man's side as he dislodged his brother from his food, sending the eldest of 8 tumbling back into the pit of sand. He was starved, though only for a day, he tore into his meal with vigor as wild like eyes glanced to Remus then his sister who was slowly making her way across the log. Though it was unknown if he would actually be able to finish the meal, he still hugged it close possessively.

Words of approval were cast his way as once again he looked up to the stoic man, blood smeared on his maw as he chewed on a bite too big for his mouth. That's right, he had done good! And the praise would certainly go to his head as his tail wagged behind him. Though the others might try to follow his path, he would only eat faster as they approached, attempting to drag the rabbit away from his siblings reach and prying maws.

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Her dark ears swivelled atop her head, alert to the squabbling and complaining of siblings. Maral had always been the quiet one, the watcher, and she observed with great envy as one brother at last reached the prize that awaited the cubs on the other side of the bridge. The youngster's mouth watered and drool dangled from the corner of her mouth as she watched, her stomach writhing painfully in protest.

Finally, she braved a step forward. Uncharacteristically, the darkling rumbled a throaty growl to Aldritch as she passed him by. She could hear him cry but didn't care to turn her head to seek the tears that surely stained his cheeks. Warwick was cruelly flipped down into the dried riverbed and where once Maral might've pitied her brother, she was glad for this obstacle and strode forward with new purpose - eager to reach the fallen tree before he could hoist himself up once again.

He did beat her, but the shadow was determined and there wasn't enough room for the two of them. She scooted forward as Warwick paused to survey the sight of Calhoun feasting before them, her posture akin to that of a stalker, and she reached to dethrone him into the sand once again with a rough butt of her crown to his flank.


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She didn't want to go, yet her rumbling stomach started to urge her forward, bit by bit. Unknowingly her paws reached from the beginning of the log as she looked upon all her siblings. Though half had succeeded, the other two were of complaints and wailing, and in general, Vermillion joined Aldritch in sobbing. Ruby-eyes with waterworks, as she shivered in front of the log like a newborn puppy. When she looked at it and then below to the height, she feared.

The princess looked over at Remus in pity, in the hope like her brother, some puppy-eyes would achieve a meal. She had forgotten about begging to her mother, for she understood that he held the food for the moment.

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Célnes spoke, shedding some light on their situation. She had always been proud of their heritage and wore her surname like a badge of honor. Edith was a Déorwine; strong, capable—the royalty that ruled the woods. There was no denying her bloodline, but she'd have to prove herself in other ways—like completing this challenge. Without her mother's support, she knew that she wouldn't be able to cut corners if she wanted to eat. 

Edith sighed and turned, flashing Remus and a begrudging look before making her move to leave the pit. Climbing the opposite wall took longer than she had expected; she had expended a lot of energy and felt weaker because of her hunger. 

Once on solid ground, Edith studied the challenge carefully. Calhoun had already earned his keep, Maral had pushed Warwick off the log, Rohesia was close to making it, and the rest had given up. 

She clawed herself onto the tightrope and slowly rose. It was difficult for her to find her footing, but she began to inch forward once she did. 

"Maral," she hissed, slinking forward and leaving claw marks in her wake. "You better hurry up, or you'll end up Warwick." Edith wouldn't hesitate to yeet her sibling off the log.

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For the most part, the exercise was going exactly as planned but there where a few that hung behind or who found themselves with a broken will.  Remus' eyes immediately shot to @Aldritch who was giving up.  His stony gaze was broken and a passionate anger seemed to light behind his eyes.  "Are you giving up boy!"  Before even getting the answer, Remus leapt into the pit with the pup.  Then, not so gently, he picked him up, tossing him back onto the starting bank.  "I don't give a shit if you are some little deer prince, never give up, the world is hard, expect it!" 

His glare then, shot to those who where to scared to even try, hoping he made an example of Aldrich, "Those who do not work do no eat! Get on that log!" 

For the time being, Remus wasn't to concerned with the brave and the victors, this training wasn't really for them. He would let them tear at the corpse.
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A pathetic growl was all the duke could muster, when his weight was shifted and he tried with his might to balance himself unsuccessfully. This time he was able to brace himself for the slow fall, and landed on all fours. A frowned gaze searched the log for the victim who would receive the enfuriated needle-fangs of his temper. Maral.

Two sisters were now closing in on the prey Calhoun was enjoying. And Warwick was now growing weary, of his several attempts at getting his own fill. The bark of Remus' orders directed at the other littermates gave him the energy to spur on for his last try and one he would be sure to succeed in this time round.

Little legs bounced him to the end of the trunk and he climbed atop, whether his sisters were on there or had fallen off, he walked briskly along, more confident with his balance. Reaching to the growing crowd of hungry mouths, he lunged at any space of the prey he could attach himself to, delving into the meal, and swallowing nuggets wholly and without time to chew. Growling all the while at the unpleasant rivals also eating alongside him.

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