Page 9 of Eclipse Pack

Walking to the training area, I have arranged to meet Chief Warrior Dixon and see how the female training is coming along. I have an idea to try out, and I also have a surprise for one of the females that needs a bit of an edge, as her skills are not warrior based.

As I approach Dixon, he sees me and begins blowing on one hand, as if it was cold. “What are you doing?”

“I’m just warming my hand so I can do this…” He turns his hand palm up and then slaps himself on his forehead. “I believe I have the patience of a saint when it comes to training, but it must be on vacation every time it comes to the females. There is improvement, but by the Goddess, it’s negligible. I don’t know whether it’s me or them, but something isn’t clicking.”

“Perhaps I can be of assistance,” I say with a smug look on my face.

Dixon squints at me suspiciously. “Give it your best shot.”

“Ember,” I call out and one of the females jumps to attention as though she’s been shot. “Come here, please, Ember.”

Walking towards me, she looks terrified. Giving her my warmest smile, she stumbles as though I just snarled at her. Dixon bursts out laughing and tells me I look like I’m going to bite her head off and eat it.

“Ember, there’s nothing to worry about, I have a gift to help with your warrior training.” Still looking terrified, she flinches as I hold open a large carryall with my hands. Reaching in slowly, as though there’s a bear trap or something inside, she finds the gift, slowly takes it out and then squeals with delight.

“For me? Truly, Alpha Heir Bronze?” She looks as excited as Titan with a rabbit.

“All yours. I hope it helps.”

Looking at Dixon, she can’t hold her excitement back. “Chief Warrior Dixon! Look what I’ve got! Isn’t it fantastic? It even has my name on it! I love it. I am so gonna do better now!”

“May the Goddess help us all,” Dixon looks at me and shakes his head as Ember rushes back to the training area.

“Okay ladies, who’s first?” Standing there swirling her baseball bat like she’s about to hit a home run, all the females look at the bat, then to me and back to Ember. “Well, come on. You were keen when I couldn’t fight back. Let’s see what you’re made of now!”

Still shaking his head, Dixon punches my shoulder. “See what you’ve done now? You’ve created a monster. She’ll have someone's head off by the end of training. You mark my words.”

“I think you’ll have to do one-on-one training with Ember. I think she’ll surprise you with her confidence now, though.”

Turning towards me, Ember shouts, “Thank you, Alpha Heir Bronze. I won’t let you down if I have to use this in anger. It’s awesome.”

“Ember, your training is over for today. I’ll arrange a training program just for you, and we’ll work on your technique.” Dixon watches her skip away and as she does so, swirling her bat, she sticks her tongue out at the rest of the class.

“I have another surprise for you,” I tell Dixon and laugh as he groans out loud. “If you think that was good, wait till you see this one. I’ve excelled, even if I say so myself.”

“Please, please, please, stop helping me. I don’t think I can take much more of yourhelp,” Dixon watches me for any clues as to what I am about to inflict on him.

“Adaline! You’re up!”

Watching Adaline retrieve another of my carryalls, Dixon is positively sweating gallons. I watch as his anxiety grows while Adaline walks up to the first female who takes something from the bag, and going around the class until they are all holding a small rucksack with a fluffy toy puppy sticking out of each one.

Adaline puts her rucksack on and instructs the class to do the same. Forming them into a circle, she explains the rules of the next exercise.

“You all have a pup. Your primary objective is to protect that pup at all costs. Your secondary objective is to get your opponent's pup away from them. Attached to each pup, there are two pieces of paper, one red and one green. The red one is a penalty for losing your pup, the green one is a reward for the one who stealsit. To begin with, this will be a one-on-one exercise. Remember this. If it comes to war with the rogues, the toy pup you are carrying now could be a real pup in the future. Chief Warrior Dixon, would you call out two names, please?”

“Sofia and Eve, step forward. On my word you will commence… GO!”

Eve shoots forward and looks as though she has taken Sofia by surprise, but at the last moment, Sofia drops low and sweeps Eve’s feet from beneath her. As Eve falls to the ground, Sofia plucks the pup from Eve’s pack. Sofia stands there with a look of complete surprise on her face. Eve looks up from the ground and, seeing her pup in Sofia’s hand, she rolls onto her back and slaps the ground in anger.

Holding her hand out to Eve, Sofia helps her up. Looking at the green paper, she carefully opens it and reads the reward out loud. “One day of my choice, free from any pack duties this week.” Sofia squeals a yes, fists the air and the class cheer for her.

Eve reads hers to herself and then to the class. “Report to Lois, the housekeeper, for one day of toilet cleaning duties.” The class give a chorus of ‘Oh’s’, ‘Ah’s’ and ‘Yuk’s’.

Dixon looks at me with a frown. “Where did you come up with that idea? I’ve never seen them so animated and engaged in the class before.”

“I’ve just gone through all the personnel files and Adaline’s school reports show she is extremely competitive and also states that she has high protective instincts. I called her to my office and explained that we needed to improve the female training, and within minutes she came up with this. The pups are something the females will identify with, and having both areward and a consequence gives motivation. It took us less than an hour to get it together, and we had it perfected. It progresses into two-on-one, three-on-one, two-on-two scenarios, etc. Oh, and I created an assistant trainer’s position too. Adaline’s additional duties. You can thank me later.”

Strolling away with the biggest sense of satisfaction I’ve felt in a long time, I decide it's time for lunch. Walking into the canteen area, I’m looking forward to a nice, quiet lunch. Loading a plate with a variety of meats, a touch of salad and some crusty bread and butter, I grab a couple of bottles of water and then find a table where I can watch the room. The pack interacts well, and it’s good to sit on the sidelines sometimes and take it all in. Not quite a cafe on the roadside, but the next best thing.

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