Returning to the Hot Springs was weird. This was where Bas had found her, and set in motion all the things that happened. Seer (sir) had treated her well, and Zee too-- better than they had any obligation to. As she got older and realized the gravity of just what they'd done, she'd be even more grateful. The weight of it all was a hard thing to understand when you were just a kid. Still, she knew that they'd saved her. They'd made her life into something even better than she could have imagined or asked for. The Warlord had said it wouldn't be easy, and it hadn't been, but it was worth it.

Hazel could handle anything after all.

She wanted to fight. She wanted to make sure that she could beat Lis (or have a better chance of beating him) the next time they sparred. How could she find things to fight? Well, there had been so many predators around the Hot Springs last season... maybe there were more now? Hazel had a pretty good lay of the land, it wasn't like she'd get lost. The red and pale girl would go under Bear's watchful eye as well, and if things went really bad fighting a predator then what was scarier than a bear?

The morning was still young when Hazel crossed into the hot springs, carefully weaving around the trees and looking for coyotes. It would also be a great chance to finally get to use her new cape!

"Speech"

There was something off about his mood today. Something on his mind that he couldn't quite squash. Maybe it was the idea that his mother didn't want him or his siblings anymore. Or that, without his family, he wouldn't know where he belonged. It was all a bunch of confusing and twisted emotions that made his gut wrench. Puppies weren't supposed to be able to feel so harshly. At least, that's what he wanted to believe. Not even a year old yet and already, his mind sought out adult tendencies that might lead him astray.

Tormented by his thoughts, Ghoul wandered across the border of his pack lands into territory new to him. Where he went wasn't terribly far as the path he followed would clearly show him the way back home when he wanted. Would it warrant Recluse to chastise him upon his return? Sure. Would she? He would have to wait and find out. Maybe he wanted that. Maybe disobeying the rules would bring the attention he so desperately craved for. Lost in thought as his burly paws scuffed through the dirt, he almost didn't notice the girl nearby.

Bubbling and hissing with steam, the springs curled inviting plumes of fog. Morning was rising over the treetops, slowly basking the surroundings in a warm array. Not that he wanted to take a dip. Getting his fur wet sounded terrible, so instead with perked ears, he turned ruby eyes over to the russet pup with emerald eyes. Her frame was smaller and slimmer than his muscular form, but from what he had noticed, he was generally thicker all around than most pups he had met. After he had sufficiently observed the stranger, Ghoul approaches slowly with his shoulders tense and head slightly lifted.

As he made his approach, a familiar scent washed over him. It wasn't stronger than her own feminine scent, but strong enough for him to notice who it was. Basilisk. The name pronounced a reproachful expression upon his face as he paused in his step and peered at her now with squinted eyes. "You smell," Ghoul murmured as his teeth gritted slightly and ears flicked back in distaste.

"Ghoul"

Here's the thing about harsh thoughts-- they'll find you. They'll always find you eventually. Hazel had them sometimes. They woke her up at night, or gnawed at her insides when she was alone. It was the bad thoughts about her parents, the father she'd known especially. Wait here... it here just around the corner from where she stood now. Wait here, don't go anywhere. But she had gone somewhere, and that's probably what had saved her life in the end. You grow tougher, stronger, and smarter being on your own. Hell if anyone knew how long Hazel had been on her own, but it had changed her forever. It would have been easier if the ooze had made her an orphan. That would have been an excuse.

But Hazel wasn't a Disney princess. There was no dead parents excuse. They'd left her behind intentionally. A bastard by birth, despite her littermates looking like their mother's mate. Hazel was a symbol, a symbol of something else. Distinctively other, so (just as distinctively), she'd been left to die. It's fine. It makes you tougher. Hazel had something that wasn't easy to come by, something you didn't unless you'd been abandoned too. She'd been cursed with more of a will to thrive than anyone really needed. A bastard by birth, and by choice.

A voice pulled her from her thoughts. It came before Hazel even laid her green eyes on him, and it wasn't a coyote. Unlucky. Still, with the mood that the red and pale girl was in, it didn't even matter. She turned to face him with confident steps, lifting a lip to flash her teeth. "Oh frick off," but the posture she'd taken was defensive. Hazel's hackles were up, and she wasn't in the mood to screw around. He could do something about it, or not do something about it-- it was his choice. The girl was indignant from the insult, and she wasn't about to take shit from anyone.

"Speech"

Hazel vs Ghoul for spar
Round 0/?
Age: under 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Porcupine quill cape
Companion 1: Red Panda, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Crystal fangs - Offensive
Skills: Expert Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

He wasn't expecting her to reciprocate in a peaceful manner. That's not what he wanted. Not today at least. As he watched her move into a defensive stance and tell him to frick off, the pup couldn't help but chuckle. "You afraid to say the word fuck?" Ghoul responds in a sneering tone with his own lips raised to show his teeth. Lowering his own head a few inches as his ears crease tightly against his pale head, he steps closer to her. Feeling his muscles coil inside of him, ready to pounce, he waits for the right moment.

Shifting his weight back and forth to steady himself, the burly pup makes his move. Darting forward to close the gap between him and the fiery pelted girl, he lets his face twist slightly to the side. Opening his jaws as his eyes take aim for her left shoulder, he leans in with his right leg to stabilize himself. Not wanting to get too close, he waits to see if his strike hits before pulling away.

"Ghoul"

Ghoul vs Hazel for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Claw gloves
Defensive Battle Accessory: Wolf skull mask
Companion 1: Dwarf caiman, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Dwarf caiman, Male - Battle
Skills: Advanced Hunter & Advanced Fighter

Hazel's green eyes burned with a brilliance that couldn't be tamed, couldn't be controlled. There was no use in trying to look bigger than the pale pup, no. Hazel was confident on her feet, and in her smaller stature. This was no delicate flower, no. She showed her teeth. "Didn't your daddy teach you that fuck is a rude word," she spat. For her slighter stature, there was something else taking hold now. Reckless. Menacing. Hazel had found a way to channel all the hurt, all the bad things in her head, and allow it to take her over. "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Teeth. So many teeth, all glimmering in the sunlight.

He was faster than the girl expected, but his larger size made him an easy target. Sure, he wanted to bite her. She didn't care anymore. Hazel was reckless, nearly unhinged as he came close enough to strike. In the same instant as his teeth make contact with her, she strikes out in an attempt to catch the tender leather of his ear in her mouth and bite. A hiss curses her chest, her throat, as she feels him break the skin. This wasn't like sparring with Bas, no. The gloves had come off, and if she hurt him then it was his own fault. Harrying, in and out. Hazel was smaller, faster. With her mouth still closed, she jerks her head away (the boy's flesh inside or not) as she kites back.

"Speech"

Hazel vs Ghoul for spar
Round 1/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Porcupine quill cape
Companion 1: Red Panda, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Crystal fangs - Offensive
Skills: Expert Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

His head tilts slightly as she seethes back at him. Ah, so swearing was the right way to go to rile the little girl up. Smirking in his own twisted way, he focuses back on the spar at hand. Who did he think he was? Ghoul, the pup who would soon be a part of her nightmares. Feeling the pinch of her skin between his teeth, the burly pup rips away as her own jaws reach up toward his ear. Thankfully, he had flattened them before engaging and she ends up grabbing ahold of the side of his cheek.

As their bodies pounce away from each other, blood tinging his pale fur, he doesn't miss a beat. Lunging back in as quickly as he had before, Ghoul aims this time for her shoulder. Side-stepping slightly so that he can reach around, he opens his mouth once more in hopes of tasting her blood again.

"Ghoul"

Ghoul vs Hazel for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Claw gloves
Defensive Battle Accessory: Wolf skull mask
Companion 1: Dwarf caiman, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Dwarf caiman, Male - Battle
Skills: Advanced Hunter & Advanced Fighter

There were really plenty of ways to get under her skin. Too sensitive, really. Hazel was maybe a little unhinged as she reacted to the boy, her gaze flashing, her posture too tense. Much too tense for her own good. But that was okay. That would be okay. She would simply beat the snot out of him and all would be well again... she hoped. Hazel could taste blood, but she couldn't tell if it was the pale boy's or her own. Did it even matter? It scented the air too. Her heart throbbed in her chest. She needed to fuck him up, mostly for the sake of her own pride.

"I asked you a fucking question." Hazel snarls as she reengages the pale pup. He wants her shoulder, and he can have it. Hazel flexes her shoulders as he makes contact, hoping that her cape will do its job. The quills would hopefully be an unsavory experience for him, and it served him right. The boy was bigger than she was, but she wouldn't be pushed around-- hopefully this was enough to make her mark. Hazel reared back and did her best to sink her teeth into whatever she could reach as he came in for her shoulder. Neck, ears, face-- gods, she could hope for the face. That would wipe the smug look off of it for sure. Bastard.

And just as before, the girl would kite back out. Head spinning, heart pounding, but proud of herself regardless. Hazel would stand up for herself. She'd stand up for herself again, and again, and again. For as long as it took.
"Speech"

Hazel vs Ghoul for spar
Round 2/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Porcupine quill cape
Companion 1: Red Panda, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Crystal fangs - Offensive
Skills: Expert Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

And the winner is...

GHOUL

HAZEL has must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: GHOUL Attack Roll: 95 Defense Roll: 13 Agility Roll: 81 Perception Roll: 61 Total: 250 Attack[95] + 45% Bonus[42.75]: 137.75 Defense[13] + 20% Bonus[2.60]: 15.60 Agility[81] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 81.00 Perception[61] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 61.00 Total[295.35] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 295.35 HAZEL Attack Roll: 100 Critical attack! Defense Roll: 93 Agility Roll: 25 Perception Roll: 27 Total: 245 Attack[100] + 35% Bonus[35.00]: 135.00 Defense[93] + 5% Bonus[4.65]: 97.65 Agility[25] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 25.00 Perception[27] + 20% Bonus[5.40]: 32.40 Total[290.05] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 290.05