"Good boy!" Dante praised, rushing up to the rehearsal stage to reward Azure with a snack and some preening before the domestic Sphinx got bored and decided to test the definition of "domestic." Azure crunched on the handful of freeze-dried fruits, backing up slowly as Dante followed the trainer's order to put him back on his stage marker. "You're doing awesome, Azure. You're a natural."

Azure fluffed at the over-the-top gushing, smiling smugly. "Of course I am! I am the best. This? This is easy."

Dante glanced over his shoulder at the trainer, who cocked a brow skeptically. Yeah, Dante thought that was the look she was going to give. Azure had an ego. He was a big, spoiled brat who was used to effortlessly dominating a show ring with sheer beauty, not following complex sets of commands that amounted to some very complicated play pretend.

"I'm sure it is, buddy, but how about we try one more time, okay?" Dante tried, setting Azure up for another round. A Sappha de Fleur didn't have the natural patience of the wild Sphinx that they were bred from. Dante knew time was wearing thin, and that Azure probably wanted to go back home and unwind in his stall with fresh bedding, a fresh meal, and the endless questions of his stable neighbors about what an interesting day he had.

Azure stomped at him, dense paws hitting the stage floor with heavy thuds. "No more," he demanded. "You bore me. I want to... watch television."

Before Dante could speak, the trainer cleared her throat. "It's alright, Dante. He did good today," she said, packing up her things. "Next time we'll focus on something else. He's learning a lot faster than I thought he would- with any more luck, he'll be the first non-CGI Sphinx to feature outside of a nature documentary."

Dante's heart swelled with pride (and his head with ego.) "Yeah. Thanks, Angie. We'll see you at the next session." He patted Azure on the neck. "Alright, boy. How about we get you home and feed you dinner?"

"Television," the beast hissed.

"You can watch television at home. C'mon, let's get going."