Citadel and Odette snuck out of the Armada, heading out one of the yet to be fully mapped caves in the Gorge. He hadn’t been this way yet, so he wasn’t totally confident the cave would lead anywhere, but the scent of fresh air eventually took them out the other side. Here there was what appeared to be a wide shallow lake that took up much of the territory. There was an odd scent in the air, and a fog seemed to be rising.

He sniffed a few times, trying to identify what he could sense, but he didn’t have anything to place it to. He shrugged, and turned back to Odette with a grin. “So, first time sneaking out? What do you think?’ He asked her, tail swaying lightly behind him. He was always happy for a chance to show off. Here, he was able to show off his abilities to circumvent the guards and find his way out of the pack lands. He was a bit concerned with how the fog seemed to be getting thicker around them already, what was up with that? But he did his best not to show it.

WC: 197

"Speech"

They were approaching their first birthdays already, and that meant that all of the pups were now getting close to their adult sizes. Of course they all still sported their puppy paws and gangly looks, but it had been obvious for a long time that Citadel was going to tower over his siblings and cousins the rest of their lives. Odette wasn’t the smallest and she wasn’t near being the tallest, but she was the most unique in their group. Only her father and half brother had wings, and she was the only girl. Her wings were much more owl like than eagle like her father and brother as well.

Ode was quite content with her own body image, but it was still a little intimidating having to look so far up to see Cit’s face when he spoke to her. She loved her cousin though, and loved being out here sneaking away from the pack with him. Ode followed him out of the tunnels, she wasn’t sure if she had explored here or not. They were semi familiar but with how much she had been through the mountain it was hard to remember where she had already seen. They were seemingly endless.

As they wandered out, obviously outside of the Armada territory, she couldn’t even see where they were. The lands were filled with a thick fog that she could barely see Citadel in front of her as he turned back around. He asked her how she felt about sneaking out. Odette was a good girl, she was never one to bend or break rules because she didn’t want to worry her dads. "This is thrilling!” She told him, a little too loud and revealing her nerves.

"Odette"

wc:292
total: 489

Even as they spoke, the fog seemed to thicken. Taking away any trace of the landscape around them. Disappointing, actually. He wanted to explore, but it would be so easy to get lost in all this - and he wouldn’t get to see the sights anyway! But he didn’t want Odette’s first time out of the border to be disappointing, so he bottle down his thoughts, looking at the smaller wolf.

Citadel wasn’t fooled by her answer, he could see her nerves. He remembered the first time he had slipped the pack's borders. It had been an accident, he’d been swimming and the current had pushed him just a little too far. Out of the scent markings, and enough to get him all turned around. In the moment he had feared his fathers wrath. That fear had shrunk over time, realising that there was a hint of quiet pride mixed in with his fathers scouldings and punishments. But even if they hadn’t, the thrill and excitement, the adventure was worth the extra duties he got dumped with. He wouldn’t give up his adventuring for anything. But it was admittedly really nice to get to go out and do them with someone else. With family.

He nudged one of her winged sides lightly with an elbow and grinned. He knew what calmed his nerves, and surely it had to be the same for his cousin, right? Nothing like the challenge of competition to set him at ease. “I bet this fog would make a whacky play to spar. Did you want to spar, Odette?”


WC: 270
total: 759

"Speech"

Odette too had been eager to explore, but as they strayed further and further away from the Armada lands the fog’s grip strengthened. The silver eyes upon her features were cat like in themselves, and she could pierce the veil only just. If the two of them were not careful they could easily get separated. She wasn’t disappointed though, truly the fog made the mystique even more alluring. Still, she was nervous and certain that Citadel could see through her facade. Still, she wouldn’t outwardly show her fear in the presence of her cousin, she was just as brave as he was in the face of the unknown.

Citadel nudged her dark wing, his eyes gleaming in the subdued light of the woods and the fog. She watched as his face lit up in a huge grin, and knew instantly that he had something up his sleeve. She raised a curious brow as he spoke, mentioning how strange it would be to spar in the fog and then asking her if she wanted to enjoy a little tussle. "Oh, a spar huh?” Odette asked for clarification but it was a rhetorical question.

"You think you stand a chance against me?” She asked with a mischievous grin. If anything, the fog would give her a huge advantage. With her dark coat and cat like features he would surely lose track of her if she tried hard enough. He’d have to look out for her sneak attack from the fog. "Lets do it.” Odette’s confidence soared much higher than she would ever be able to fly as she gave him one last grin and turned to disappear in the mists.

"Odette"

290
total: 1049

Citadel's tail lashed behind him in excitement. Here was a wolf who wasn't afraid to match his energy, to dare to push the boundaries. To challenge herself to do something new! His siblings should take a page from her book. Delighted that she was proving to be a confident companion, he was even more excited to pit himself against her. He'd quickly learned a love for sparring, and wanted to push finally further and further. Why hadn't he and Odette fought before today?

She would quickly prove a foresight he hadn't expected as she took a few steps away from him and vanished into the mist. As if she had never been at all… 

He stood still and ready, eyes and ears straining to pierce the still and the fog. He wasn't completely without tricks up his sleeve, he'd been slowly developing a keen sense of hearing that seemed not to come from his ears at all. There were vibrations he could feel in the world around him, and he closed his eyes. For the first time in his life he really concentrated on them. Waiting, listening. He knew he'd be a fool to chase her in the fog. He needed her to come to him. So he coiled his body, and waited for the moment he could strike. The slightest disturbance in the air would alert him. He could feel the faint dampness of the fog against his fur, another sensation to ignore as he attempted to hone his other sensors.


Wc: 252
Total: 1301

Citadel vs Odette for spar
Round 1/1?
Age: under 1 year
Size: Paleo species
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bracers
Companion 1: Raven, female, 50" - boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Male, 25" crystal horns - boosted
*Companion 3: Black bear, Male - Battle - Boosted
Mutation 1: Bear Paws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bone spurs - Defensive
Mutation 3: Crystal crown - Perception
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter

Really, despite all of her confidence, Odette didn’t believe that she was going to beat Citadel in a fight like this. She hadn’t even sparred before in her life, just knew the basics of theory from her fathers. They had play spars before, but this felt far different. This was the real deal, little bird Odette against her monster prince of a cousin. Still, she had a slight advantage with the fog, he couldn’t see her. Of course that only went so far, he had other senses. Much like her cat eyes the crystals upon his head were good for more than just looks.

Slightly surprised Odette was quick to notice that Citadel had not followed her into the fog. In fact he had become completely still and silent. Both attributes were nowhere near characteristic of her cousin so Ode too stopped where she was. For a moment she contemplated her next move. She was just out of sight, but if she used her leopard like legs to leap, she might still get the upper hand on him. Or wing.

Odette hunkered down like the part cat she was, wiggling her little butt and short tail. She tucked her wings and coiled herself before taking a great leap at her cousin. Aiming for a sneak attack to swiftly win their little spar.


"Odette"

Odette vs Citadel for Spar
Round 1/1
Age: under 1 year
Size: Small
Build: Balanced
Mutation 1: Wings - Defensive
Mutation 2: Leopard paws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Cat eyes - Perception
Skills: Intermediate Intellectual & Beginner Fighter

wc: 222
total: 1523