Continuing across the west, Artisan stopped at a large depression in the earth that was coated in snow. He assumed that in the summer the place was beautiful, but as it stood now it was relatively boring as far as territories went. There were really no trees deposited in the basin, and Artisan couldn't determined whether or not there was even water hidden beneath the snow or not. Well, with so very little to see exploring-wise, perhaps at least Artisan could find the trip not an entire waste if a willing wolf was nearby to give him a good time. The colorful male positioned himself atop the ridge looking down into the depression and threw his head back to call for a racing opponent. He figured it'd be an interesting one, with a downhill slope to pick up speed in the beginning, finishing with the uphill-through-snow portion that would probably make his lungs hate him even more then they already did. "Talk" "Listen" Think

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn lay on her belly, gazing down into a depression filled with light green grass and forest green shrubs. The shrubs thickened up to the base of rocky mountains on the other side of the basin. The tops of the mountains were covered in green, each set growing more and more tinted with blue off into the horizon. The sky itself was a dull blue, spotted with wispy white clouds.

———————

Jynn startled away and found herself laying on her belly on a bare patch of earth underneath the skeletons of shrubs that still had enough structure to ward off most of the snow. She sighed, wishing summer would hurry up and return. Jynn tucked her feet under her belly to warm them up. Her ears perked up at the sound of someone calling for a racing opponent. That was what she needed to get her blood pumping and her body warm. Jynn headed toward the call to see a handsome, and unusually colored, male. "Hey there, you called for a racing opponent?"

It wasn't too long before an opponent answered his call, and Artisan's head tipped curiously to the side as he watched her approach. "You're quite large for a fox." He commented, giving the stranger a grin to show he meant no offense. It was a fox, right? Whatever. "I did indeed, call for a race! My name is Artisan. I'd intended we race down the depression and up along the other side, nothing quite too long and drawn out. That good for you?" Artisan generally liked to include a bit more of the territory's unique features into his race tracks, but frankly the basin was a little bare in the winter. At least the mountain range gave a decent sort of view, though Artisan would have preferred to see the mountain tops coated in lush green foliage rather then harsh icy snowcaps. The colorful man positioned himself at the top of the basin, studied the 'grasses' below for a moment, then turned his head back toward the interesting fox-wolf creature. With one paw he hastily drew a line across the snow before him and then patted the ground to his right to beckon Jynn in should she choose to compete. On her signal, he'd be prepared to run.   "Talk" "Listen" Think

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn smirked at the man's comment on her height and resemblance to a fox. "What can I say, some of us are just special." She'd heard the fox comment so much now that she barely batted an eye. The man introduced himself as Artisan and explained the course he envisioned for the race. Jynn gazed out across the basin, watching as the breeze kicked up some of the looser snow and sent it spiraling away in the wind. There were a few brown tufts of tall grass poking out through the snow here.

"Ok, sounds good to me. What's the start signal?" She lined up with the man and tested her limbs, crouching as she awaited the cue for the start of the race.

I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis wasn't quite sure what to do with herself so she wandered after Artisan. She'd picked up her sent and like any good nosey old woman decided to go and get into business and hope that it was something interesting. The trail led her to a basin full of golden grasses and snow. In that dull and fairly limited color palette it was easy enough to pick out Artisan as well as the fox wolf he was with. She'd seen the woman at the party and talked to her a little bit. If her memory served the name was Jynn. Pyralis wandered up to them in time to hear that they were getting a little race going. She grinned. "Allow me. Ready… Set…. Set some more….. GO!"

Come down, come down sweet reverence

As if on cue one of the other pirates showed up, the older one she'd seen at Sparrow's party, Pyralis. They'd spoken briefly and even wandered a little together. In all honest the old woman unnerved her a little and she didn't care to spend more time with that individual than was necessary but she offered to start the race and Jynn quickly got herself ready. When Pyralis finally called go Jynn sprang forward. She raced through the basin, kicking up snow and nearly tripping on the grass as she searched for her footing. It wasn't easy as some of the bumps were of solid earth and others were just bent grasses covered in snow.

Jynn vs Artisan for Race
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Master Navigator & Master Fighter
Specialty: Scout

Artisan moved up alongside the very large fox, finding he hated the way the snow clumped between his toes and pawpads. The Sweetgrass Basin was bare, bland, cold, and wet, perhaps it would be worth returning in the summer when the territory actually had something to look at. He squinted up at the sun to determine how long he had left of daytime, spooking slightly as the voice of Pyralis (Aka: Scary) broke through the silence. "Stalker." He accused playfully. The older woman was serving a purpose however, that of their starting gun. She gave the count down, and both racers readied themselves to lunge. At her clal he broke off, sprinting down the hill and through the barren basin with the 'fox' at his side. His strides were shortened by the unevenly packed snow, but he still gave the race his all. His neck extended far forward, his ears pulling back as the wind rushed across the top of his head. They were nearing the end, and he had a feeling he might actually win this one! Artisan vs Jynn for Race Round 1/2 Age: over 1 year Size: Extra large Build: Light Skills: Expert Intellectual & Expert Navigator "Talk" "Listen" Think

And the winner is...

ARTISAN

JYNN must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Jynn: Speed Roll: 66 Stamina Roll: 1 Balance Roll: 9 Total: 76 Speed[66] + 5% Bonus[3.30]: 69.30 Stamina[1] + 5% Bonus[0.05]: 1.05 Balance[9] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 9.00 Total[79.35] + 25% Bonus[19.84]: 99.19 Artisan: Speed Roll: 46 Stamina Roll: 99 Balance Roll: 48 Total: 193 Speed[46] + 5% Bonus[2.30]: 48.30 Stamina[99] + 5% Bonus[4.95]: 103.95 Balance[48] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 48.00 Total[200.25] + 20% Bonus[40.05]: 240.30