Sunder stopped at the border of the prairie and looked in with keen eyes. Now there was a place made for running! It was nothing but straight lines and snow cowed grasses as far as the eye could see. He would be remiss if he didn’t try to capitalize on such a perfect track.

Pleased as punch over such an opportunity, Sunder threw back his head and issued a racing challenge to any critter interested. He then plopped his little leather clad behind down in the snow to wait. All the while his expression was keen and ready. No matter how long he had to wait he would remain the picture of enthusiasm; as bright eyed and bushy tailed as a hairless critter could be.

Kali had been wandering, bored within the confines of her packland. She’d explored every nook and cranny of the area, she was sure, and she needed a new change in scenery. There was more out in the world they lived in to explore and she wanted to get as much of it done as she could before she inevitably took over her mother’s seat as Seraphim of Habari. After all, it was only natural she be the one to overtake it.

The Malakim had seen many interesting things in her travels, but none so interesting as the hairless mutt that sat in front of her in that moment. Her brows rose above her bicolored gaze. How was he sitting there in the snow when he lacked anything to keep him warm? Well, he was wrapped up like a mummy in some cloth, she supposed, but wasn’t he freezing? Even she was a little chilly and she had a full, plush pelt to keep out the cold. His howl echoed over the prairie and she pranced forward, Abbadon curled around his normal perch on her neck. His tongue flickered out curiously at the dog before them. “You called for a race?” she asked, a grin on her lips.

Talking

He was sitting there all toasty warm in his little scarecrow jammies when a yearling wolf came onto the scene. Sunder eyed her keenly, hoping she was here to take him up on the offer and not just to gawk. When she confirmed his hope he broke into a toothy grin and bounced to his paws. “I did, yes! I’m tinking we’ll run to dat little tree waaaay down dere. You see it?” He pointed to a small, distant shape. In that direction it was the only tree. “Winna reaches it first. If dat works fo you, count it down from tree; we’ll run at ‘go’.” Sunder then fell into a ready stance without waiting for her to agree. Heck, he might even run without her. He just wanted to run.

Well, he just kept getting more and more interesting, didn’t he! The dog spoke with a thick accent overlaying his english, clearly not a native speaker. She wondered where he was from and how far it was from her homeland. She was sure she didn’t want to visit, too many mongrels, surely, but it was interesting nonetheless. He gave her instructions on where they should race to and she squinted her bi-colored gaze off into the distance to see the only tree there was to be spotted. He quickly got ready, his butt nearly wiggling with excitement and she felt the grin on her face grow wider. How silly.

The girl prepared herself as well, turning and moving into a starting position. “Okay. Three, two, one...GO!” she started, shooting off like a rocket toward the tree in the distance. It wasn’t terribly far away, but she paced herself until at least the halfway point anyhow. She didn’t want to tire out too quickly, that would be incredibly embarrassing.

Kali vs Sunder for Race
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Navigator

Talking

At the word go Sunder was off like a shot. He ran flat out; all four legs in the air at once and then all four on the ground as he cooled and uncoiled like a spring. This was where he was at home; where he felt the most peace. It just felt so great to focus on the path ahead, the wind in his face and the ground underfoot.

Speaking of, his eyes locked on a quickly approaching hurdle. There was a barely noticeable dip in the tall grasses ahead but having fallen into many a hidden hole Sunder knew to approach it warily. He slowed down just long enough to feel the ground for a transition and it was a good thing too as the ground dipped away sharply. It was a long dried up creek bed. If he’d hit the first edge without slowing down he’d have tripped and ploughed straight into the opposite bank.

Once in the other side he took off running again, his keen eyes peeled for more neck breaking pitfalls.

Sunder vs Kali for Race
Round 1/2
Age: 1+
Size: Small
Build: Medium
Skills: Expert Hunter & Beginner Navigator

It certainly seemed like the dog loved to race, his tongue lolling from his mouth and a happy glint in his olive colored eyes. She wondered what it was like, to be so passionate and carefree about something as simple as a race. It was like he didn’t have a care in the world besides what they were doing right at that moment, but she didn’t think she’d ever want to be like that. It was no fun to have an empty head.

As they ran, she noticed that the dog was slowing ever so slightly. She glanced over at him curiously before looking forward, bi-colored gaze widening as she realized why. There was a dried up creek bed that they were quickly approaching. It was evident that he had raced in this area quite a few times to know the terrain so well, which was an advantage, but she evened it out with superior height. While he needed to slow down to make it, the girl simply tucked her head and actually sped up, forelegs landing on one side of the bank before launching herself over with hardly a hitch in her step. She hoped they were homefree.

Kali vs Sunder for Race
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Navigator

Talking

An ache began to build in his lungs. The rising burn was a familiar feeling. Sunder knew the end was near and that only spurred him on faster. He could see the finish line and while he knew the burn was his body's way of telling him to wind it down, he also knew he could make it. The race so far was neck and neck. Barring anymore sudden obstacles - and the prairie did seem to be full of surprises - this was going to come down to sheer grit. Sunder, for one, was loving every second of it. Sunder vs Kali for Race Round 2/2 Age: 1+ Size: Small Build: Medium Skills: Expert Hunter & Beginner Navigator ""

And the winner is...

Kali

Sunder was left in the dust! Totals: Kali: Speed Roll: 63 Stamina Roll: 50 Balance Roll: 41 Total: 154 Speed[63] + 5% Bonus[3.15]: 66.15 Stamina[50] + 5% Bonus[2.50]: 52.50 Balance[41] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 41.00 Total[159.65] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 159.65 Sunder Speed Roll: 8 Stamina Roll: 66 Balance Roll: 64 Total: 138 Speed[8] + 10% Bonus[0.80]: 8.80 Stamina[66] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 66.00 Balance[64] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 64.00 Total[138.80] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 138.80