Azure had a lot to make up for over the last season (or more) and while he’d already made nice with his newest brother-in-law, he supposed it wouldn’t hurt to at least pay some attention to the weird bird he and Briar had adopted while it was here. The thing was loud and excitable - everything Azure hated - but he supposed it was sort of a nephew. The only benefit to the whole thing was that if he was mean to it, nobody could expect otherwise - after all, he was mean to his own damn kids too.

He’d promised the avian youngling a race, which frankly sounded stupid as fuck but if it kept the creature happy and quiet then he could get through this uncle-nephew bonding experience with less pain and everyone would be happy. Leading the bird to the base of the mountain southeast of the Armada, he gestured with a paw up along the visible trail that winded up the mountain slope, leading into a patch of what must have been cloud that signalled the top. “No fucking cheating.” He insisted firmly. “You can’t just fly on up there and go ‘oh I win!’ Stay low to the ground, keep shit fair. If I see you start to fly up for a better vantage point I swear I’m just going to turn around and go home.”

Having given his non-negotiable rules, the direwolf squared up next to the colored avian and prepared. Ducking low to the ground and sighing heavily (because fuck, a race?) he waited for the bird’s announcing call, then pushed off.

Azure vs Zephyrus for Race
Round 1/4
Age: over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Zephyrus was thrilled to be invited on an outing by one of his extended family members and thankfully, oblivious to the man’s constant state of grouch and bitterness. He flapped along happily after the direwolf, swooping down occasionally to boop him playfully on the head as they walked.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Zeph gave back, clacking his beak in the air to signal his brewing annoyance. Why would he ever cheat? He was the one who had requested the race, and cheating would make it terribly unfair anyways. If he was going to win, he was going to win uncontested and in a way that nobody could say otherwise. Besides, he doubted he would have the strength to actually fly the majority of the mountain’s elevation - not without a good cliff to run and jump off of. The thing was massive, the path steep and curving. Apparently there were even traps to stumble upon. The mark the two had decided upon was the structure that supposedly stood at the mountain’s very top, at the plateau. Whoever made it there first, won.

Zephyr was in charge of calling out the starting bell and he parted his beak in preparation. Outstretching his massive wings (and nudging Azure in the process with one tip) he ducked down and readied himself. Out loud he counted down, “Three, two, one, go!” Taking off as Azure did, half-flapping and half-sprinting up alongside the behemoth onto the winding path.

Zephyrus vs Azure for Race
Round 1/4
Age: under 1 year
Size: Paleo species
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Expert Navigator

Pressing forward, Azure’s long strides found no difficulty in making the initial climb up the mountainside. He allowed himself a burst of speed, knowing that while stamina consumption was important, that from what he’d heard the mid-way mark was where the climb became treacherous and he’d be forced to slow down there anyways. Using the most of his energy now would allow him to get a head start on the bird (who hopefully wouldn’t cheat) while he wound his way up the mountain pass.

Not long into the run, the pass made a steep adjustment banking downwards - boring directly into the mountainside and plunging Azure into darkness. He grinned to himself, realizing the disadvantage this put on the bird at his heels. Zephyr could fly fast, sure, but run? On those chicken legs? He had this in the bag. Sprinting hard he rounded the corner, paying close attention to the texture of the floor and the echoes in the tunnels up ahead. As soon as something changed, he planted his paws and slowed, finding himself at a cross roads. Fuck.

Taking a path quick and without thinking too hard on it, Azure fell into a cautious lope. Hopefully he’d gotten lucky and would not need to backtrack.

Azure vs Zephyrus for Race
Round 2/4
Age: over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Zephyr pushed off the ground hard as he called for the race to start, giving heavy beats of his wings to ensure him enough propulsion to keep pace with the direwolf who had already pulled ahead. The mountain winds were becoming more familiar to him after spending a week in the Col, and while they were not as easy to fly as the ocean-side cliffs were, he managed to stay on path easily enough as they rounded the first corner up the mountainside.

Azure disappeared into a cavern just ahead and Zephyr slowed, throwing out his talons before him and hitting the ground in a run. His wings were forced to fold slightly against his side to fit, but height-wise the cavern was comfortable enough. Running as hard as he could (which wasn’t very well) he did his best to keep pace with the direwolf, but fell further and further behind.

And then he ran into a wall.

The crossroads had come suddenly (and Zephyr was sure he left a few feathers behind from his crash) but it was time to choose a path. Without the nose of a wolf he could not determine which way Azure went, and he had no idea which one might lead further up the mountain. Trusting his gut, he chose a path and continued down it. A bruise felt like it was forming beneath his face feathers, but determination won out over pain any day.

Zephyrus vs Azure for Race
Round 2/4
Age: under 1 year
Size: Paleo species
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Expert Navigator

This was the wrong damn path. Azure figured it out as the ground beneath his paws began to shift, angling steeply downwards and off to the right, toward the sound of water. He was supposed to go up not down. With an aggravated sigh he spun, lengthening his strides as he doubled back the way he came and hoped the bird wasn’t stumbling around in the dark behind him, ripe to be collided into.

He had been running at such speed that he nearly missed the crossroads, throwing his paws out to catch his momentum and veering sharply to the right to take the path not-travelled. Once more he was forced to slow, and just at the right time as the rock beneath his paws fell away. His forepaws were sinking lower and lower and in a quick movement, Azure gripped the falling edge with all four paws and pushed off, taking a leap of faith that there was something solid on the other side of the darkness.

Hitting solid ground once more he grimaced, feeling guilt suddenly for dragging the damn bird through this. He hadn’t even called out to see if the raptor was dead at the bottom of the pit. Oh well. Continuing his run (and finally beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, Azure pushed the thought aside and focused on winning first, family second.

Azure vs Zephyrus for Race
Round 3/4
Age: over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Zephyrus, it seemed, had taken the right path and thankfully did not fall victim to the same trap Azure nearly had. Not as swift as the direwolves on foot, Zephyr waddled through the cave with caution (slow and steady wins the race, after all) and caught sight of the drop before it devoured him. Getting across would be difficult, however.

Turning his body sideways, he extended one massive wing out toward where he assumed the drop would end and patted the air with a wingtip. When his feathers touched solid ground at the other side, he was able to determine the gap’s distance and shuffle his talon over to grasp it. Once both talons were on either side of the pit, it was as simple as a few squished beats of his wings to give him enough lift to bring his body across. Trap conquered. Heaving an exhausted sigh (and wondering if his uncle was trying to get him killed) he continued on, more determined then before and thankful that so far he’d come out of it with only a bruise. There was light up ahead, a blessing, as this is where Zephyr would shine.

Zephyrus vs Azure for Race
Round 3/4
Age: under 1 year
Size: Paleo species
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Expert Navigator

Azure exited the caverns at speed, nearly pitching himself off the steep mountain path as the sun threatened to blind him. Following the curves of the pass was a bit more difficult with un-adjusted eyes, and he was forced to slow once more. The steps behind him became audible again - the bird was alive, yipee - and Azure picked up the pace as much as he dared to to keep his lead.

Slowly the incline began to grow more gradual, and up ahead a flat, mountain plateau was becoming visible. It would be a long, smooth sprint - Zephyr’s specialty, when he could fly once more - and then a matter of ducking into the doorway of the large standing structure first. As soon as his paws came off the incline and hit plateau, he lengthened his stride, extended his neck, and ran full out.

Azure vs Zephyrus for Race
Round 4/4
Age: over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Zephyr gave a warrior’s cry as he broke out into the daylight, extending his wings immediately into the empty air and beating them hard to bring him back into flight. It was difficult to pick up speed with the incline remaining as steep as it was, but up ahead he could see it begin to slope back down and into a long stretch of smooth stone. Azure was not far ahead of him, he could make it.

As he reached the plateau Zephyr let his talons land briefly upon the rock, buckling his knees down to put his belly low to the ground and pushing hard to jump himself into the air - for greater height, and greater gliding capabilities. His wings were tired but his adrenaline was pumping hard. Along the smoothened plateau they raced, bright blue eyes set firm upon the looming stone structure and the doorway that marked the finish line.

Zephyrus vs Azure for Race
Round 4/4
Age: under 1 year
Size: Paleo species
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Expert Navigator

And the winner is...

ZEPHYRUS

AZURE must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Azure: Speed Roll: 1 Stamina Roll: 45 Balance Roll: 72 Total: 118 Speed[1] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 1.00 Stamina[45] + 10% Bonus[4.50]: 49.50 Balance[72] + 5% Bonus[3.60]: 75.60 Total[126.10] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 126.10 Zephyrus: Speed Roll: 99 Stamina Roll: 88 Balance Roll: 79 Total: 266 Speed[99] + 5% Bonus[4.95]: 103.95 Stamina[88] + 10% Bonus[8.80]: 96.80 Balance[79] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 79.00 Total[279.75] + 5% Bonus[13.99]: 293.74