[Training] Hunter's Return to His Glory Days (Day 1)

Light was barely dusting over the horizon when Hunter exited his home. Stretching out his lanky limbs and shaking out his mane to make himself just that tad bit more presentable. Knowing fully well that the “just woken up look” did not suit him at all. Yawning slightly while rubbing the crust out of his eyes. He started debating to himself on going back to sleep in his oh so very warm and delightful bed. When he thought back on the conversation he had with his kids just last evening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night before, he was out sitting on his so-called “lawn” with his kids. Chatting about random tidbits of their day, putting together the necessary ingredients for what was going to be their dinner. When he felt his back sting with intense pain. Placing one of his large paws against the area and applying slight pressure to try and slightly appease the pain, when he heard someone speak up behind him. Both of his kiddos looked over at him worriedly, he tried to shake off the pain. Still not having fully recovered as another jolt surged through him, yelling in shock. Nonetheless he waved his kids out to go play, assuring them that he was fine. Just that he had been a bit bad about stretching is all.

The glare that was sent back his way sent a cold shiver down his spine as it appeared on their faces clear as day just what the two of them were thinking. Standing there in the doorway, refusing to move a muscle more until he made direct eye contact with them. Both of them were absolutely upset that he hadn’t been taking care of himself like he should be.

They wouldn’t let him continue on with making their food without solemnly promising. That tomorrow morning he would go out and make sure that he at least did some kind of exercise. Whatever it was could be up to him, but at least needed to be something where he was moving his body and making sure he wasn’t staying cooped up all day. He promised hesitantly, knowing he’d have to be up very early the next morning if he now had to add training back to his regular regiment. The kids looked back at him unimpressed, so he straightened himself up. Raising one paw upward for good measure, that he would go out and do some kind of training the next day.

But it wasn’t exactly his fault, he thought to himself. As it dawned on him just how long it had been since he last did some training. It took him a moment to pinpoint when exactly it was that he had stopped his training. Trying his best to chop the vegetables into somewhat similar sizes, when he stopped he chuckled slightly to himself when he realized it was when he had his kids! The little goofballs were a full time job on their own he noted to himself, silently sighing over the soup he was making while adding in the chopped up ingredients. Knowing that as much as they weren’t that pretty to look at, the soup should still taste good all the same. Tasting it here and there as he slowly added in a few spices to the mixture. Giving it a little stir, when he started getting just a little more than lost in his thoughts.

Did it really matter if he was doing his training sessions? He felt like he had more than enough on his plate right now as it was without adding yet another task to his seemingly never ending list. Rattling off in his head just what else he would need to get done tomorrow. Considering how much there was, he needed to know what exactly needed to be swapped around so he wouldn’t be bailing out on anyone last minute.

But when he looked back at his children. Playing with each other in the sand, kicking around random debris and playing what seemed to be an impromptu sword fight with a few sticks. He stopped and started admiring their young blooded joy. Chuckling lightly to himself, nodding that yes, he did need to continue training again. If not for his own sake, then at the very least for theirs. Noticing especially that his kids seem to have gotten quite a bit faster than he was. When exactly did that happen anyways??

He stopped, turned away from the fire, and started filling bowls with that night's dinner. Knowing that if he at the very least wanted to be able to keep up with his kids as they got older, that he needed to put in some serious amount of work. Nevertheless, it was worth it if he got to continue enjoying his time with them. Smiling happily over their bowls of soup and licking their jowls in delight as his oh so delicious meal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Hunter looked back out towards the sky, finally having rubbed the last of the sleep out of his eyes. The sun had almost fully risen and he knew he needed to get started. With a bit more pep in his step than he thought he’d have for the day, he took off and out towards the trees. Having already set up the perfect practice dummy for his first day back to training.

There was nothing like getting the blood pumping like hitting around the old dummy for a… well. A moderate amount of time if he can keep himself going at least. He knew he didn’t want to go all out and tear this thing ragged by any means, but he also understood that if he was meant to be exercising. That he’d need to be more than just “feather” punching at this thing.

As he approached the target though, he noticed just how roughed up it looked in the daytime. Having pulled this thing out from his side yard, long since tucked away and forgotten. Hopelessly abandoned and never to be seen again until the light shone down upon it once more when he had separated it from the other forgotten pieces of equipment he’d long since used. There were torn seams and rips here and there, it also looked like it had once been stabbed? More than likely by a bamboo pole… he made a mental note to not only get the seams fixed later but to also talk to his kids about playing with actual weapons again.

Nevertheless he knew he was beating around the push at this point and time was literally of the essence after all! He stepped a bit back, positioned himself squarely with the punching dummy. Turned back to strike and with utter failure missed the dummy and hit a tree instead. He winced back in pain, realizing how dumb of a mistake that was while using his other paw to massage the sore area. He realized after a short moment though that it hadn’t hurt nearly as much as he thought it was going to though.

He looked back at the tree as well and noticed he took a sizable chunk out of the bark at that! Feeling a little more confident in himself this time around, he wound his fist back once more and squarely hit the dummy right in its so-called face. Knocking it back about a foot or so with a loud ‘thump’ noise. Hunter jumped up joyously, hooting and hollering all alike as he realized he still had what he thought he had lost. Bring a lot stronger than he assumed he could be having not been in the game for so long.

He set up the dummy once more and took several more cracks at it. Sweat started to drip down his face as he took a step back to admire his handiwork. He’d gotten a little too carried away with the thing and punched several holes in new areas across it. He breathed in deeply with a feeling of pride in his chest. Swiping the sweat from his forehead off and shaking out his fluffy mane. Finally having finished what felt like a long training session, but realistically was probably around 10-15 minutes given the position of the sun.

He was satisfied with what he had accomplished that day though and began to drag the dummy back to the side of the house, this time in an easier to get to spot that was more out in the open as well. A gentle but harsh reminder that it not only needed to be fixed, but that he needed to continue what he was doing if he was going to get any better than where he was at. With a small huff, he turned and was on his way out towards his next task.