As he did at the start of every day, Artorias sat atop the high castle walls, facing out towards the western sea. Behind him, the morning sun had begun to break over the dawn sky, casting away the blacks and navies of night for muted purples and pastel pinks across a cloudless sky. A cool autumnal breeze rippled through the alpha's coat, stinging in his nares with every deep breath he drew in, held, and then released. These deep breathing meditations had been a part of his morning ritual since the day he'd nearly killed Sirius in his rage. Since then, Artorias had grown tremendously as a wolf—he understood himself better, understood how to manage his flaws and bolster his strengths. It took effort, but it was effort the young brute was willing to put in.

With fiery amber eyes hidden behind black eyelids, Artorias focused on his breathing. Inhaling in, holding, holding, and exhaling. His mind was calm, blank, focused on the distant sounds of the waves. He was acutely aware of the feeling of the cold stone beneath his paws and rump, the wind in his fur, the beat of his heart. Amber eyes slowly opened; he was ready for his day. Next on the agenda: physical exercise. And that translated into running laps around the castle walls for Artorias. Rising to his paws, the dark-furred wolf began his series of stretches, making sure every joint was limber, every muscle loose and ready. This early in the morning, he wasn't expecting anyone else to be up and about besides the morning patrols, so he was preparing for another solo run.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
____________________

Kione enjoyed having the sun back in his life again.  He was the sort that preferred doing everything under the warm ray of sun so the darkness had been his enemy in that regard as well.  The castle was a lovely place to explore and the wild dog was in no way shy about checking the place out.  A new area, big walls, and a sun rising in the morning; it seemed pretty obvious where he should be.  Kione jogged easily up to the topmost part of the castle, a natural bounce in his stride.  Where he lacked the brute strength of many of these wolves he made up for it in natural grace and speed.

Arriving at the top of the tower the painted dog realized he wasn’t alone, apparently, some of the wolves had similar ideas?  “Morning friend,” he cheerily called out, not only up and about at this hour but sounding perfectly alert, “you got a great spot to watch the sunrise up here.  Come up here every morning to see it?”  There was a time when he would have ignored wolves completely, creatures that weren’t like him.  Now that it was wolves or being alone lately he was starting to feel that weren’t all really that bad.  Some even seemed to be pretty good in their own ways.  

The wolf had been doing stretches Kione realized after a second, which meant likely planning something.  Some of these wolves got stuck on work so was this morning prep time then?  “Just some exercising for fun or this about work?”


"Kione"

The sound of claws clicking on the stone caught Artorias' attention, the yearling alpha turning his head to regard Kione's greeting with a small smile and a nod. "Good morning, Kione," he greeted the painted dog from his half-stretched position, feeling his back pop in the most wonderful of ways. "I do. I start every morning with meditation and a run around the castle walls. Keeps the mind sharp and the body limber." Giving his dense coat a tussle to smooth out his fur, Artorias glanced back to Kione. He didn't know much about the wild dog, but he had proven to be a decent fellow, and Art found it nice to have a bit of company with him this morning.

Kione questioned him about his exercise and Artorias gave a thoughtful hum in the back of his throat. "Well, I'm usually the only one up here this early, so I do it for the fitness element. Buuuuut..." He turned a challenging glance over to his guest. "I wouldn't be object to having some fun with it too. Certainly makes normal routines more exciting." Stepping over to the inner edge of the walls, Artorias pointed to the walls that surrounded the castle, a near perfect ring of stone like a racetrack. Some of the segments of wall were more weathered than others, making for a potentially treacherous course to run.

"I don't suppose you'd be up for a little race around the walls? Get the blood flowing and the muscles moving. Great way to start the day." He shot the painted dog a curious look, raising his brow while he waited to see if his would-be opponent would be feeling like a lively jaunt around the walls. "Unless you'd rather do it on the plains where it's easier, if you're not feeling up to a challenge." Was he goading Kione on? Yeah, just a bit, but it was all in good fun, and the smirk on his lips said as much.

Artorias vs Kione for Race
Round 0/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Weaponsmaster or Scout

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
____________________

Meditation?  Kione had never put too much stock into it but if you were going to meditate the view here would be hard to beat for it, and there was something soothing of the sun’s warmth against your back while remaining still.   Kione’s grin slowly broadened at the wolf’s explanation turned to challenge and then even tried to goad him into it.

Kione looked at the entirety of the wall, the length, width, and even the crumbly questionable areas and chuckled, “ah Artorias my friend, I hope you don’t mind losing too much on your own home turf.” Kione said that pausing to stretch himself.  Each paw getting its own turn with bright mirth in his eyes.

“At least if you fall I imagine it's more likely the ground that would break instead of your back,” teasing on the giant's size, “Is that how some of the cracks down there were made?” The wolf wouldn’t be the only one throwing the challenge about. “Now me? I’d hate to damage anything in your home so I plan to stay on the walls.” Kione moved to stand next to Artorias.

“Alright Artorias,” Kione said the last shift of his shoulders as he got into that well-set position, “Ready,” dramatics, he waited for a second, “Setttt,” another pause, “Go!”

Kione was never one to be overly cautious.  He’d run this dangerous course with the same concern for falling as if he were on flat ground.  There was a competition to win!  A bit of foundation jutting in his way was easily hopped over in stride.  The question went down to could a large giant of a wolf really run fast?

Kione vs Artorias for Race
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Navigator

"Kione"

Artorias rolled his eyes as Kione threw his own verbal jabs at him, mostly focusing on the dire wolf's size. He simply said nothing in retort; he'd let his paws do all the talking for him. The cocky wild dog took his position at his side after a few stretches of his own, then began the countdown. Artorias rolled his shoulders and took a tensed crouching position, waiting for the mark. As soon as Kione said the word "go", Artorias was launching like a tightly coiled spring being set loose. Though his size was significantly larger than his opponent's, Artorias had spent his entire life training his agility, running, sprinting, and all the fancy footwork that came with his style of combat. Suffice to say, no one in the Hallows knew their own paws better than Artorias did.

Blue and ashen paws thundering across the walls, Artorias raced along the circuit of the wall. Kione might have had a size advantage on him, but just as the painted dog had said, this was his home turf. Artorias knew these walls like the back of his paw. He deftly dodged the broken stone jutting out in places, leaping over the cracks and gaps where stones had weathered away. At one point, just to show off a bit, Artorias veered to the side and leapt up onto the parapets on the side of the wall, running along the segments of barrier while stepping smoothly over the gaps between each segment. He focused on his breathing, his eyes laser focused on the course ahead. The dire wolf had done this numerous times over the course of his life. This would be no different—except he'd get the sweet taste of victory at the end.

Artorias vs Kione for Race
Round 1/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Weaponsmaster or Scout

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
____________________

Kione was learning the path as he went but like a true daredevil, he wasn’t worried about the unknown. He was certainly fast and nimble but also reckless. There were points where it was only nimbleness that kept him on the course. The unknown cracks or hardly noticed crags that peeked out made him jump and swerve with no time to really think on the best path. He grinned at the wolf showing off taking the diverted path.

Perhaps it would put things a bit more on an even level. The one knowing the path by heart taking a route that on appearances at least seemed less accommodating. The wolf certainly was proving his own skill and abilities and Kione would accept it was going to be a close race but even if he lost the dog wouldn’t mind. The dangers that came from wild abandon running over the walls were thrilling and he was loving it. All the better though if he won! It’d be fun to show off that even on the wolf's home turf it couldn’t beat Kione.

Kione vs Artorias for Race
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 years
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Navigator

"Kione"

With a grin to the fellow canine racing beside him, Artorias ran the curve of the walls. Sure, using the parapets as his track was more risky and dangerous, but it also gave him a consistent pace without worry of interruptions from crumbling sections of wall or upturned stones. This wasn't his first time running the parapets either; he'd done this daredevil move a number of times during his training, much to his poor mother's chagrin. With the two racers pushing themselves as fast as their legs could carry them, they were both nearing the end of the course. Up ahead, Artorias saw where the parapets fell off, damaged over time, and sprung from the last one to land smoothly on the wall once more, sprinting down the course as fast as his legs could carry him. They were nearing the finish where they'd begun. If he'd managed his stamina and pace right, then he should be claiming victory in a moment. Kione was giving him a run for his money though, the athletic foreign dog far more spry and quick than he'd expected. No matter who won, Artorias had had a good time running with someone.

Artorias vs Kione for Race
Round 2/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Weaponsmaster or Scout

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"

One big happy family

Artorias has two ravens named Corbin and Eira and a fox named Argent. Assume they are within calling distance at all times.
As his mate, Briar may enter Artorias' threads unless marked Private.
____________________

And the winner is...

Kione

Artorias was left in the dust!! Totals: Artorias : Speed Roll: 5 Stamina Roll: 60 Balance Roll: 24 Total: 89 Speed[5] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 5.00 Stamina[60] + 10% Bonus[6.00]: 66.00 Balance[24] + 5% Bonus[1.20]: 25.20 Total[96.20] + 25% Bonus[24.05]: 120.25 Kione: Speed Roll: 23 Stamina Roll: 100 Balance Roll: 23 Total: 146 Speed[23] + 5% Bonus[1.15]: 24.15 Stamina[100] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 100.00 Balance[23] + 5% Bonus[1.15]: 24.15 Total[148.30] + 5% Bonus[7.42]: 155.72