Hazel was learning the woods. It sounded almost silly... but she was learning how to navigate them better and better these days. Between the woods and the hot springs, she'd get her feet under herself. That was okay, right? She was doing okay. Learning how to be out here on her own. She could do this... or at least that was what she'd keep telling herself. Hazel was alright, and she was continually convincing herself that was alright. If she kept thinking it, if she kept saying it to herself over and over, she'd be alright. There was a certain fierceness to the girl, and that was what kept her alive while she was on her own.

The noon sun filtered down through the trees, creating dappling on the ground before her. Hazel was starting to feel comfortable here. Right. Comfortable, but not complacent. With each step, the girl was doing her best to take in the world around her. On guard, always on guard. Hazel had to be on guard, because if there was danger out here, she'd need to be prepared to fight or to run. Either would do, depending on the size of the creature. Either would be fine.

From somewhere off to the east, the pale and red girl heard a stick snap. "Who's out there?" Her head quirked to the side, trying to find a scent to go with the sound. A predator? Another wolf? Hazel didn't know yet.

"Speech"

There were just too many coyotes in these parts and Levi couldn't stand it. Every time he chased one off, three more took its place till he was hurrying along, hot on the heels of a gaggle of coyotes lingering nearby. If they weren't smart enough to leave on their own then he'd make them, rip and tear till they had no choice but to fight or die. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew this wasn't a job he should take up alone, but who cared? He could look out for himself just fine, nothing bad had happened yet and he was convinced nothing ever would.

The coyotes kept on running, keeping out of the Fatalis' reach till they skidded to a stop, sandwiched between two wolves on either side. And then it was on. Levi noticed the lone pup, she could help if she wanted. He wouldn't ask or complain.

With a snarl rumbling in the pit of his throat he leapt forward and made a grab for the closest coyote, sabres slashing as they chomped down on the loose skin at the side of one's throat. It struggled in his hold, complaining and chittering to its fellow coyotes. They had the numbers but Levi had skill and stubbornness, whatever the girl had would probably help, a little.

"speech."

More coyotes? Hell yeah. From somewhere not so far off, Hazel could hear a yip too-- yeah, definitely coyotes. The girl's heartrate started to climb. How strange... how incredibly strange. That was okay, she could do this. She could do this but maybe not alone. Well, whether she could or not, Hazel would need to. Fight or flight baby, and she'd stand and fight. There was the scent of another wolf not far away, and they could be the confidence boost she needed. That certainly would be helpful. The coyotes were trapped between her and a boy that was around her age. Fantastic. Oh it was on.

His snarl was matched by Hazel's, and her head dropped. The coyotes were no match for her. If the boy had skill and stubbornness, Hazel had ferocity and zeal. Her green eyes flashed. With a brilliance, Hazel sprung onto the nearest coyote. The red and pale girl didn't hold back-- take no prisoners. No holds barred, she went for the creature's throat. A snarl ripped through her body, and she was noisy as she did. A shriek from the predator, but she wasn't letting go. She couldn't let go, not until the thing dropped. Hazel was ferocious, doing her best to hold to the coyote's throat, pulling and ripping as she could. Dangerous? Probably. But damn this was fun.

"Speech"

Trashing his head, Levi felt the warmth of blood coat his muzzle. Releasing his grip on an outwards swing, he watched the coyote tumble to the ground, kicking and pawing as it attempted to clamber back up onto its paws. But it was losing blood fast, getting dizzy and unfocused as its ears pinned against its skull. Onto the next, as though he was enjoying this a little too much, Levi danced behind a coyote and grabbed at its tail, yanking hard. It span to chase him away but he simply rotated the other way, always out of reach as his teeth crunched and ripped, turning the once smooth line of a tail to a crumbled, mangled mess.


See they were doing just find on their own, they didn't need any adults to help.

"speech."

Who needed adults anyway? Nah, they had this in the bag. Hazel was ferocious as she tore into the creature, panting so hard that her sides heaved. They may have been bigger, but she was faster and she wasn't afraid. No fear. Absolutely no fear. The red and pale girl could taste blood on her tongue, and it wasn't long before the first coyote went slack in her jaws. Right, quick work of the creature. Her gaze flickered to the dark and gold boy, where he'd moved onto the third.

Hazel was quick to join him, throwing herself back into the fight. With savage grace and a snarl in her throat, she sprang upon the coyote with the shattered tail. Shoulder to shoulder, she would cling to the beast. Her teeth sunk easily into the tender flesh, and already the creature was starting to waver. Hazel wasn't necessarily small, despite being a child. No, she was powerful and borderline feral, probably two of the best things about her. These weren't the first coyotes she'd had to deal with lately, and they weren't likely to be her last. Unrefined but effective, she could feel the creature starting to wobble and waver beneath her.

"Speech"

Releasing the coyote's tail, Levi was quick to leap at another, fresh target. Their joint assault was messy, unfocused and over zealous but it was undeniable working wonder as the coyotes scattered, tails tucked between their legs. Finding one stubborn coyote who didn't seem to want to back down yet, Levi made a grab for the scruff of its neck only for his teeth to clamp down on empty air. This was one was faster than the rest, quick to react and respond in turn. Spiking up the spines that lined the scruff of his neck, he grinned with grim satisfaction as it made to bit that spot, only to reel away with a pained yelp.

Served it right.

"speech."

No mercy from either pup. Who needed mercy when you're as ferocious as they come? Well... at least Hazel did her best to be ferocious. Uncoordinated as the pair were, they got the job done. Sure, it wasn't the most efficient assault, but who needed efficiency. It was effective and that's what mattered. One of the coyotes managed to throw Hazel as it made off, and the red pup grumbled as she dragged herself back to her feet. She righted herself in time to see the stranger stick up-- were those spines? As the last of the coyotes scattered and the girl shook the dust from her coat, she took a moment to look at the boy. He was smaller, and he had weird teeth. Still, the thing that weighed the most on her mind was what he'd done to that last coyote. "What the hell is on your back?" Hazel couldn't help herself. The edge in her tone wasn't rude, no. Instead it was extreme curiosity. Was he part porcupine or something? Sounded whack to her.

"Speech"