As the boy grinned, so too did Wraith. Finally here was a youngster more like those from his homelands! He wasn't sure what it was that had the pups of Willow Ridge being so adverse to sparring. Seeing who their kin were and just how bloodthirsty they could be, it truly came as a shock to the Northerner that they weren't more willing. Patiently, Wraith waited to allow Cernan to feel comfortable enough to make the first move. The boy was nervous, and understandably so. The large male was used to others being a bit intimidated by him and while it had its perks, Wraith couldn't say he cared for it completely when it kept younglings from approaching him willingly.

As Cernan bounced forward with an open mouth, Wraith rose from his bowed state to meet him. He opened his mouth as well, a playful growl rumbling from his throat as he clacked his teeth against Cernan's own. Hoping to push the boy a bit out of his comfort zone, Wraith allowed his muzzle to continue past the boy's face before turning to nip him behind the ear. The bite was gentle despite Wraith's rising energy. Wanting to urge Cernan into action, the black wolf barked in the boy's ear, bowing down and tensing suddenly to raise the stakes of the game.

Wraith warred inwardly on what to do with @Cernan's sparring match. Building the pup's confidence was a must, but did that require using moves the boy was likely to know, or should he integrate more advanced moves to introduce them to the pup so another wolf wouldn't catch him unawares later? In play, the natural inclination would be to rear up and meet the boy in the air. As this was meant to be a lesson as well, the male opted for the unexpected.

The large brute moved with surprising swiftness. Rather than leaping away, Wraith moved in close to Cernan to the point where he was so far underneath the boy that his shoulder could meet the young wolf's stifles. So close up, the move was rendered ineffective. There were three places in which a wolf could fight. Already, he had demonstrated the first two; too far to reach and just within range for both parties to meet on equal terms. This third place was too close for effective attacks - and especially in this position, Cernan's soft belly was exposed while Wraith's own neck was out of reach.

Rather than taking advantage of the positioning, the brute arched his back in an effort to toss the younger wolf off balance where he'd be more likely to topple backward in the dirt. While the Willow Ridge wolf wasn't certain if Cernan would catch on quick enough, he hoped the boy would come to guard this newly revealed weak spot as Wraith had every intention of getting in close again in an effort to force him to react.

With satisfaction, Wraith watched how @Cernan scrambled to right himself. Good. That instinct would serve him well in the future. Being prone and on the ground in the face of a ruthless enemy was one of the worst places to be. If he were to lose a fight, it had best be on his paws where he may at least run off to live another day. Seeing the pup's shy smile pulled a reassuring one from Wraith. He nodded approvingly; Cernan was learning quickly without much direction from him. He would make a solid fighter one day.

Of course, the boy was too expressive. He practically broadcasted his intentions in his gaze. However, rather than avoiding the charge, Wraith set himself strong on all fours and let the growing boy ram him. The brute actually let out a surprised 'oof' as contact was made. Despite his chub, the pup was built more solidly than Wraith expected. While the hit hurt, the northerner hadn't allowed himself to be moved.

Unexpectedly, the older wolf twisted and cuffed a paw at the back of Cernan's head with a light-hearted laugh. "You did well," he complimented, effectively ending the sparring session. It was a good note to end on, letting the boy get in a good hit while saving face himself by not crumbling to it.

"Let's get going."