A Vampire's tale in Arca
chapter 4



	                   3094 3 weeks later: training begins.



	The pup staggered backwards, muddy and tired. He was panting lightly kneeled down on one knee. James stood in front of the pup a few yards away looking no different then useual. However, the ground between the both of them looked like a mud pit with gashes and puddles strewn all throughout it. "F...Father. this is tough. I haven't been able to even get you wet!" he whined lightly. the older fox smiled warmly and shook his head. "You shouldn't be concerned with besting me so early, son. I have had many years of experiance with manipulating water and Ice. You are just begining. I still Find it facinatining that you are able to do what you can already. Most would not be at your level for at least a few more years. You seem to have an amazingly strong spirit for one so young." James praised the folf though he still seemed a little down. He coughed and regained his breath before pulling himself up onto his feet. "Thanks, dad. Can we do one more routine before we clean up?" he asked already getting into a stance. James looked at the determined pup and bit his lip. "I don't know. You have already pushed yourself pretty far. We don't want to over do it too much for your first lesson. You have already proven that you are more then capable of learning what I have to teach. I am going to need to redo a few of our future lessons just to catch up with you." Xan lowered his ears and pleaded with his eyes in a way all canines are famous for and the fox sighed defeated. He never could get beat those eyes. "Alright. But, just one, ok? your mother would slice off my tail if you over did it." The pup smiled happily and returned to his stance. he clossed his eyes for a moment to concentrate and his paws took on a very faint blue glow.

	Their routine was a simple one. All it was was taking a small ball of water and passing it back and forth between them in an atempt to get the other wet. The speed and direction from where the water came from was up to the one controling the water. The fox had been surprised on a couple instences when Xan had angled it sharply towards the ground. thinking that his aim was off he was almost caught off guard when the water actually sliced through the ground and was headed strait for his stomach. He only barely diverted it by slicing the water stream in half with one paw. As it continued on he recollected the water in his other paw and spun around with a strait throw directly towards the pup. the sudden movement caught the untrained folf off guard and he was soaked from head to tail. as time progressed the folf began to slow as his energy reserves were begining to dry up, so to speak. 

	James returned to his position and waited as it was Xan's turn to start the routine. The pup took a deep breath and concentrated, blocking out all else but his target and the imediate surrounding area. He raised his paw and a stream of water pooled into the palm of his faintly glowing paw. The stream was thin and lacked any real amount of volume, but he managed a dish plate sized orb fairly quickly. The pup made as if to throw it towards the fox but instead tucked it into his body and smashed the orb together creating a disk. He spun around quickly and launched the disk of water towards the fox at great speeds. James watched as the disk was launced towards him and steped to the side. His own glowing paw shot out beneath the disk and directed it around him in a simple ark and just returned it at the same speed back towards the pup. He decided to take it a little easier since he was showing signs of fatigue. Xan watched as the disk came back towards him and quickly riased a thin line of water from one of the pulls strait up. the disk was imediately split in two and with another stream the 2 were split into 4. James blinked in surprise at the pup's resoursfulness but stood his ground. Xan closed his eyes and dug deep for a little extra strength. He bared his teeth and opened his eyes. To the older fox's surprise his iris' had changed color slightly. even at this distance he could see a faint blue glow around them and opened his muzzle in awe. Xan quickly moved first his left then right paws into the air driving the spikes strait up. James followed the movement of the water but in the light of the setting sun he had difficulty seeing the clear liquid. Xan then did something that the fox wasn't counting on. His foot paw kicked out and a splash of water began heading towards the fox. It was nothing special but it caused him to step back and divert the wave or else he would get wet. the pup then released the glow of energy from his paws and smiled at the fox. James looked puzzled and was about to ask the pup why he was smiling. However, a small tap on first his shoulder. then the other, caused him to look up. The moment he did a thin spatter of drizzle fell onto his muzzle. The thin darts of water Xan had sent up had fallen appart above the fox and became small droplets of water that simply rained on top of him. James looked back towards the pup with a proud smile on his muzzle, but the smile turned to a surprised yelp as the pup fell over into the mud onto his back.

	James ran quickly across the muddy ground towards the pup and kneeled down next to him, worry etched clearly on his features. "Xan! Are you alright? I told you not to over do it." He looked over the pup and watched as a smile crept to the sides of his muzzle. The pup opened his eyes and grined up at the worried fox. "I got you wet dad." That was all he said before he sighed and passed out from exhaustion. his head laid back against the fox's supporting paw and he snoozed lightly. James just shook his head and smiled inwardly. "You are one amazing creature, son. You are going to grow up to be one powerful young folf." He sighed and lifted the smaller canine into his arms dispite the mud and becan carrying him back to the house. "My only concern is that you don't let that power go to your head. I hope we can at least raise you to be wise as well as powerful. Rest up, son. You did fantastic today." James was swelling with pride for his adopted son. as he caried him inside their home and set about to getting them both clean.

	From the edge of the forest, a familier dark creature watched from the shadows. The cloaked figure grinned to himself as he went over the practice sesion in his mind. "The pup is growing strong and growing quickly. I will Definately have to keep a keen watch on him before Takeing him. You will live in peace, little one, for at least a few more years. Keep growing, Keep improving. You will be all the stronger when I finally take you as my slave and a creature of the night." The creature removed his hood and looked down at the house as the sun took it's final steps down over the edge of the horrizon casting long shadows over the area. The Jackel stood a few moments longer before turning back into the woods. He needed to feed, and there was a village not too far from here that he planned to pay a little visit to.