Ethan
Hours later and at the edge of sunset, Ethan returned to the kennel where he'd left Cynical. He carried a small metal bowl in one hand, filled with cubed rabbit meat and a sprinkling of chopped vegetables. It was standard fare for his hounds, and after leaving Cynical with no food all day besides the strip of elk jerky from earlier, he figured her stomach must be growling.
Without a word spoken, he set the bowl down and unlocked the kennel. Moving quickly, the man slipped into the pen and closed it behind him, once more daring to enter Cynical's space.
"Come." The single word was spoken evenly, and given as he dropped into a crouch and held the bowl just in front of it, at ground level so that the young wolf could smell it.
Six of Ethan's King Hounds patrolled the immediate area, having been given the command to search for danger. While Carbon and Maisy stayed within eyesight of their master, the other four scoured the edge of the timberline, dipping in and out of the trees in tight patrols to ensure Ethan was not ambushed. After so many defeats at the fangs of the wild mongrels, they were determined not to be bested again.
Cynical
Cynical was hungry but she refused to eat anything that wasn't fresh raw meat. Even the smell of that rabbit meat smelled fishy. His word only got her ears forward. But she refused to submit to him. Her tail went above her back as she stared at him but she did not growl.
Ethan & Others
Ethan met her gaze and held it unyeildingly in a silent challenge to her raised tail and a reminder that he was in charge in this land. He didn't have any harsh words for her though, and remained crouched just in front of her kennel with the bowl of fresh meat.
"Come." The single command was spoken again, and the bowl shaken slightly from side to side. He moved it a few inches closer, but still far enough away that she'd have to leave the kennel if she wanted a bite.
Cynical
Cynical kept the stare her tail stiff and up in dominance. Her ears back as well. She flinched at the word and did not move. Even though her stomach growled.
Ethan & Others
He waited a few more minutes, and when Cynical still refused to come forth to eat in his presence, Ethan stood up, lifting the bowl with him. There was no further words for the canine, only an empty stomach and the lingering scent of fresh meat that was now out of her reach. Ethan slipped through the fence and locked it securely behind him.
"Carbon, come!" His shout soon had the big hound galloping across the yard and standing obediently before his master. "Good boy, Carbon." A single, rough hand patted the canine's head, and he set the bowl of meat in front of him.
It didn't take much for Carbon to connect the dots. He didn't just get random praise like this for no reason. He glanced at Cynical and a sly grin crossed his muzzle, "Looks like someone is learning their lesson the hard way." The King Hound paused a moment to take a few bites, savoring the delicate morsels of rabbis. "Your stubbornness will see you starved, and before long, you'll be too weak to fight him off. Or us."
Cynical
She snorted at him. ** My father will come** she then smirked as a rat wiggle it's way into the pen. She lunged grabbing it and killing it swiftly. She went back to the crate
Ethan & Others
Once the bowl was empty, Ethan picked it up and moved on to the barn, leaving Carbon to lick his chops and savor the bit of positive attention he'd just gotten.
The big hound then sat back on his haunches and looked to Cynical, watching as she retreated into the crate with a rodent. "That snack might tide you for a few hours, but if you don't start listening to Ethan you'll starve to death before the months' up." Carbon scoffed, "You should count yourself lucky as it, he training you softly. Normally he just uses a nice solid metal stick to whack sense into you mongrels."
Cynical
She snorted. ** My father will be here by the end of the week** she said. ** MB
Carbon
"Be prepared to say your goodbyes then, because Ethan does not take back betrayers. Your father will be killed, and you'll be a bag of broken bones by the end of it, if you're anything like him." Unlike Blue, Carbon had little sympathy for those with wild blood, and made no attempts at bridging any gaps.
Cynical
She laughed** it will be you and him that will be saying your goodbyes**