It was morning and the kids had just been set free for another day of playing and exploration.  Thorn had bounded out the door, full of life and ready for ways to expend it.  Glancing behind him he spotted Taly also coming out, “hey, Tal, wait a moment.” Thorn bounded in front of his sister to make sure there was no way for her to miss his calling for her.  “Hey, that last race was fun.  Let's do another?”

Thorn waved a paw ahead of them, “We can use the stairs like a starting line.  We run a lap all away around this floor.  Whoever gets back to the stairs first wins!”  It sure seemed a great idea to Thorn.  He knew his sister wasn’t much for fights unless she had changed her mind, but she seemed to have enjoyed their last race together.  “Uh, but if you run down the stairs you lose.” Was there any better way to learn why not to run down the stairs than to fall down them the very first day he saw them?

"Carpathius Family"

It was another day. Another morning dawned, and another opportunity to get as much out of life as she possibly could. In a sleepy haze, she brought herself to her paws, and happily trotted out the open door to their parent's room, down the hall, and around the corner. But when Thorn stepped in front of her, blocking her path, and calling for her attention- she looked at him puzzled. That is, until he went on to describe a race rematch. A grin lit her features as she nodded with enthusiasm. "Okay! That sounds really fun!" The girl exclaimed while stifling a yawn.

When he gestured to the stairs a little ways further down the hall, she followed with her pale blue eyes. Nodding at his proposal, she was inclined to agree.  "That sounds perfect." Talyssa affirmed. Though, whenever he made the point that if she ran down the stairs, she would lose- she tried very hard to keep her eye-rolling on the inside. Of course, she wouldn't be so foolish as to run down the stairs. But she felt that she couldn't point this out without being rude, so she nodded in acknowledgment instead

As they approached the staircases, she shot a sideways glance to Thorn. "You count this time." Lyssie insisted while looking for the best place to start in.

Thorn had been joking about the stairs.  Between the two of them, Thorn was the only one to fall down them which maybe counted as running?  He was interested enough in his idea of racing that with Talyssa not pointing out the seeming insult the boy was clueless to it.  She said it sounded perfect and that was the detail he latched onto.

The two neared the stairs, the starting line for a race about the floor. Taly said it was his turn to start the race and Thorn nodded eagerly.  Thorn shifted his shoulders, lowering his front end down.  Really, he wasn’t sure if it made him much faster or not but it felt like it might and it was kind of showy.

“One.  Two.  Three. GO!!!” Thorn didn’t bother with keeping his voice down.  If they were awake at this time, the idea anyone else might sleep in later had never crossed his mind.  At the word ‘go’ the boy leaped forward, running for all he was worth, a sideways glance to his sister for but a moment before his focus was solely on the path in front of him.

Thorn vs Talyssa for Race
Round 1/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Advanced Navigator

"Carpathius Family"

Talyssa was vaguely aware of her brother making his preparations at her side. On the stone floor beneath her paws, it was hard to get a solid grip. Though she would flex her nails into it all the same. As he began the countdown, her muscles tensed. She lowered her torso to the ground by flexing her arms at the elbows.

Just as he yelled 'GO!' she launched herself forward. Taking off as fast as her paws could carry her. The 90-degree turns around the corner of the hall were tricky. It was hard not to lose footing and drift around them as she hit the first one at full speed. "Whoa!!" She squealed with more volume than necessary for first thing in the morning as she fought to right herself. But she just simply couldn't help it. Once she had, she pressed on, barreling down the second straight stretch, and tucking her hind quarters as she made the second turn a little more gracefully.

Talyssa vs Thorn for Race
Round 1/2
Age: Under 6 Months
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Intermediate Navigator

Thorn charged forward, pushing all his weight into his front legs.  If possibly he pushed his neck forward and back as if he could pull his body along.  Thorn wasn’t one to bother slowing down so he tried to take the turns at full speed.  His cat-like claws tried to dig in for purchase and while that might work on grass it was useless on the stone.  Thorn swerved overly wide with his attempt at to keep up the pace.

Thorn’s legs pumped, shoving him back forward as he tried to make up time after slipping wider than necessary.  Corners were turned and soon enough they would be in the last stretch, the stairs back in sight for the finish line.  Thorn wanted to shout he’d win but he’d realized talking could slow him down.  Keeping his mouth shut, gritting his jaws the boy pressed himself for the last bit of their race.

Thorn vs Talyssa for Race
Round 2/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Advanced Navigator

"Thorn Carpathius"

On the back straight stretch she felt that she was really able to make some ground. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth as she yipped in delight. Rigorously contracting her muscles with each flex and reach of her stride. By the time she came around to the third turn, she was much more comfortable taking it- not at full speed. But fast enough that she made good time, and didn't have to recover.  The fourth stretch had them running by their parent's room once again- and she could help but tense ever so slightly as she was apprehensive about being scolded for running through the halls as they were. If anything, it pushed her faster, and as she rounded the fourth corner, the staircases came in sight, and she gave it all she had!

Talyssa vs Thorn for Race
Round 1/2
Age: Under 6 Months
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Intermediate Navigator

And the winner is...

THORN

TALYSSA has lost the race. Totals: Talyssa Speed Roll: 22 Stamina Roll: 24 Balance Roll: 85 Total: 131 Speed[22] + 5% Bonus[1.10]: 23.10 Stamina[24] + 5% Bonus[1.20]: 25.20 Balance[85] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 85.00 Total[133.30] + -20% Bonus[-26.66]: 106.64 Thorn Speed Roll: 8 Stamina Roll: 47 Balance Roll: 99 Total: 154 Speed[8] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 8.00 Stamina[47] + 10% Bonus[4.70]: 51.70 Balance[99] + 5% Bonus[4.95]: 103.95 Total[163.65] + -15% Bonus[-24.55]: 139.10