Whereas with Kunto it has to be maybe ten percent in it. If that. Maybe that's why he often finds himself in trouble being nipped at or told to beat it. But if he was being honest, he didn't mind it so much. Sure getting scolded wasn't fun but it did lead to him being stuck in camp from time to time which meant he was free to laze about or just sleep. For Kunto, punishment is always far more fun than having to deal with the responsibilities of the pack and the toil of day to day life. He enjoys the lack of busying his paws in a way he finds tedious. If he is put in front of a task he will think of a hundred other things he would rather be doing at that moment.

He's been called a slacker. Lazy. Even compared to a pampered pet dog at times.

But none of it bothered Kunto. To him it was just words, he honestly felt that the others were just jealous of his ability to worm his way out of work and his duties. He also believed that his efforts didn't matter either way simply because he was often told that he was in the way or underfoot. Kunto wasn't sure if they meant it as him being small or literally. Either way it just fueled his reasons for doing less and less. 

Sifuri continues to lead the way down the narrow stoney path, his paws weaving carefully around one another before coming to a stop. Signaling for Kunto to halt with a growl. The much smaller wolf immediately pauses and teeters slightly, his gold eyes glancing to the side of the cliff that is a sure plunge to his death if he missteps.

"Sifuri?"

"Hold on…"

"Doing my best. But uh what are you looking for? Can't you search for it somewhere less…windy?"

Sifuri says nothing. His gaze narrows as his pale green eyes scans the landscape before him. The jagged ledge of the cliff they currently are standing ends abruptly a few inches in front of Sifuri's paws. 

"Looks like the only way forward."

"What's the only way forward?"

"The cliff stops here but there is another standing a good leap apart. We'll need to jump if we want to reach the other side." Sifuri explains as he crouches and bunches his muscles "I'll cross first so I can catch you." He states. Not giving Kunto a chance to comment or argue, the much larger wolf kicks at the ground beneath his back paw causing him to spring forward and up. The waning sun bathes Sifuri's honey colored coat causing it to shimmer as he soars briefly. Landing neatly on the other end Sifuri turns around and nods "All right, I'll catch you." 

Kunto steps back, his tail tucked between his legs. 

Do I really have to jump that!? No way!

It wasn't that he didn't trust his brother. No. In fact he trusted him with his whole being it was just that he didn't trust himself to not make the jump. From where he stood the 'good leap' as Sifuri calls it is more like a leap of faith or death to Kunto. The gap was at least four or five oak tree logs wide. There was no way that Kunto could see himself jumping such a distance. What he did see however was himself plunging into the forest below and with his luck it would be to his death.

"Yeah, no way!" whines Kunto as he shakes his head backing up "There's no way I'll make that leap." 

Sifuri steps forward, his eyes shining with reassurance. He knew his brother wasn't feeling entirely confident and he understood fully. He knows that anxious feeling is one that cannot be easily forgotten. The way that it makes every bit of fur stand on end on his pelt. The skin prickle and itch making him want to scratch and shake out his coat as if by doing so he'd loosen and knock free the anxiety. In fact Sifuri clearly remembers the day his father had brought him to this very cliff. And said to him to make this same jump that he is asking Kunto to make. However, where his father had spoken to him with pure expectation and determination. 

Sifuri approached this with patience and love, the way he had hoped their father would have done. "I know it's scary but you can trust me. I won't let you fall." Sifuri reassures as he lifts his muzzle. He blinks as his gaze fills with that loving gaze that only can be held by a sibling. He meant every word. He was not going to let anything happen to his littermate. 

"I promise I'm right here." 

Kunto shudders again and gives his coat another shake. Honestly he couldn't tell if it was the chilled winds whipping through his thick fur or the anxiety that's making him shiver. Either way Kunto still couldn't bring nor see himself making that jump even with Sifuri piling on reassurances. Maybe it was because he was so much smaller and so much lighter. That the mere thought of him taking that leap of faith would either send him being blown away with a strong gust of wind…or plummeting straight into the abyss of shadows and trees below. He looks back at Sifuri quaking gold eyes locked with honey colored ones.

A whine escapes Kunto's throat. Followed by another and another as he backs away slowly. The thought of not making the leap had outweighed the positive one. All he could picture was flailing black paws as his body twisted and turned, unable to tell up from down as he crashed into every heavy branch on his way down. Feeling every pang every snap of bone.

Kunto squeezed his eyes shut as if that might push the thoughts away.

“Kunto.”

Sifuri’s voice cut through the spiralling thoughts. Not loud. Not sharp. Just there. Kunto cracked one gold eye open. Sifuri hadn’t moved closer to the edge. He hadn’t barked an order or shown his teeth in frustration like the others in their pack. He simply stood there, paws planted, and his body steady against the wind which ruffled his honey fur.  

“You don’t have to be brave,” Sifuri said quietly. “You just have to jump.”

That almost made him laugh. Almost. “I am being brave,” Kunto muttered, though his voice wavered. “I’m bravely not dying.” Sifuri huffed, a soft sound that might’ve been a laugh. Or was it one? Kunto wasn't sure but his brother's voice continued.  So full of reassurance and confidence Kunto could feel a bit of envy prickling at his paws. 

“You’re not going to die.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Sifuri replied. And there was no hesitation in it. No doubt. “Because I won’t let you. I know that you know that part for a fact too.”

The words settled heavier than any command ever had. Kunto swallowed. His paws crept forward despite himself, claws scraping against stone as he edged back toward the cliff's edge. The wind tugged at his fur, almost as if testing him, and daring him to step wrong. He stopped at the edge and looked down again just once.

Yep. Nope. Still terrifying. And still oh so impossible.

But when he looked back up, Sifuri, his brother, was still there. Closer now. Leaning forward, muscles tense, eyes locked on him like the rest of the world had fallen away.

Kunto exhaled, slow and shaky as he swallowed, his thoughts racing. This is stupid, he thought. I’m stupid. I’m small. I’m—

“Jump,” Sifuri barks.

And before he could even think about it Kunto launched himself.

He didn’t even try to think it through. Didn’t bother to measure the distance or judge the wind like he had been taught by their father or other seasoned wolves. He just pushed off with everything he had, back legs burning and forepaws churning as the ground vanished beneath him. For a heartbeat, there was nothing.

Then—pain exploded forth.

But not the kind he’d imagined. Not bone breaking or breath stealing kind. But pain still nonetheless. Just this one was a sharp jolt as his front paw suddenly caught stone instead of smooth rock. His weight yanked him downward, and his claws gripped uselessly as he slammed into the cliffside.

He yips fearfully. His claws slipped and slid, failing to find purchase against the earth. The jagged rocks at the side felt like it was digging and tearing at his fur. His body swung hard, the world spinning wildly—

And then teeth closed gently but firmly around his scruff. And all of the teetering motion stopped.

Kunto dangled there blinking in confusion, heart hammering so hard he thought it might burst. His paws flailed until they found solid against the rock as he's hoisted over the lip of the cliff. Sifuri’s grip was iron clad. Unyielding. Full of determination to get his littermate to safety.

“I’ve got you,” Sifuri growled through clenched teeth. He honestly was thankful that his sibling was nowhere near his height. Trying to drag a bulky horse sized wolf over the edge would've felt impossible to do. But with him being no bigger, if not just below the average wolf. It was like lugging around a rabbit.

Kunto suddenly felt his heart tighten. His face and body felt hot and itchy beneath his pelt making his limbs feel weak. His eyes stung and throat burned as a feeling of humiliation washed over him.

The moment Kunto was safe, he collapsed.

Sifuri was beside him instantly, pressing his forehead to Kunto’s, breathing just as hard. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The wind howled past them, sharp and uncaring.

And despite the closeness, the security of his kin, he didn’t look at his brother. 

Didn’t look at the gap.

Didn’t look at anything.

Because the failed jump had forced something ugly to the surface that Kunto fought hard to push down. Fought hard to ignore and bury away.

It wasn’t the height.

It wasn’t the wind. 

It was him.

If he had been larger—like Sifuri—he would have cleared it easily. If he had been stronger, heavier, more like what the bloodline demanded, his paws wouldn’t have slipped. He wouldn’t have dangled like prey in his brother’s jaws.

He wouldn’t have needed saving. He could've cleared the leap easily. Like his brother. Like his father. Like everyone else in his pack.

A weak sound left his throat before he could stop it.

Typical, he thought bitterly.

The runt falls short. Again.

The elders called him lazy. The pack called him underfoot. And his father—

Kunto squeezed his eyes shut. The Alpha never said much. And that was worse in his opinion. Expectation without comfort. Silence without reassurance.

Kunto pressed his muzzle against the cold stone, wishing the earth would swallow him whole. The spirit-blooded line of giants, and this is what it produced.

A dire wolf who couldn’t even make a single leap.

Then his brother’s voice cut through the spiraling dark clouds of his thoughts. “You jumped,” Sifuri said at last, awe softening his tone. His tongue brushed gently between Kunto’s eyes.

Kunto let out a weak, shaky laugh as he slowly shakes his head. “Yeah…Never… doing that again.”

Sifuri smiled.

The wind howled past them, carrying their scent into the valley below.

Far beneath the cliffs, unseen and unheard, something old stirred.

And the blood remembered.