Trailing along the wall of the gorge, Rhazien was already irritated by the constant, incessant howling of the damn wind. It was still cold as hell too, even with the spring season. Why the hell did Seph like the north so much? Scowling at the thought, the Saxe brute kept pushing forward, trying to find his way out of the valley, which he didn’t know why he was in to begin with.

Coming around a bed, he was convinced he found the end of the gorge- but damn, what was waiting for him on the other side, was much more fun. A Polar Bear, massive and limbering in size, feasting on the carcass of a deer. Rhazien was courageous, hot-headed, cocky. But even he couldn’t kill the beast on his own.  

"Speech"

Delphi had gone north to visit her "grandfather" Sirius in the hopes of finding some fight training among the warriors of Armada. She had been received well, but with more energy than she could handle, she set off a bit farther north in search of something. One might believe she was growing reckless or relentless, but she thought it to be determination. Delphi had something to prove. The small would be mighty if she had anything to say about it.

Coming over a ridge, she braces against a gust of chilled wind. As she recovers, blinking her eyes against the thick crystals of ice that pelted her face, she notices a rather large being feasting on a carcass. Now, Delphi wasn't stupid enough to go messing with a bear just because, but when she saw the other wolf prowling toward it, a rather crazy idea came to mind. It wouldn't be the first time she had danced with a bear and it probably wouldn't be the last either.

Barreling forward without wasting another second, Delphi makes a beeline straight for the polar bear. As she passes the dark-colored wolf, she sends a bark in his direction with an impish smile. "Last one to take it down is a pussy!" She calls back to him, winking at him over her shoulder before turning her focus on the massive polar bear. As she nears it, it hears her and turns to defend its kill. Squaring up with the ursine, Delphi begins to circle it.

Well now, what a spunky little spitfire. Just as Rhazien was contemplating taking on the bear, a younger, tiny girl suddenly burst forward, racing past him and straight into the frey. Her attitude reminded him of another wolf he met fighting a grizzly… the young Strai coming to mind, and his reclusive nature. They looked around the same age, and hell, they even smelt similar? But Rhazien didn’t have time to dwell on it much longer. Laughter erupted from his jaws, inky lips pulling back into a dazzling, cocky sneer. Last one to take it down is a pussy, huh? Maybe he could get into hers afterward.

While she chose to encircle the polar bear, Rhazien raced forward, closing the gap between himself and the predator. “Careful girl, don’t put pussy on my mind.” His comment was accompanied by a sneer, as he leaped forward, catching the beast’s attention. It roared and swiped a paw at him, in which Rhazien sidestepped, dodging with only moments to spare. He kept moving forward, but slightly to his left, putting him at the bear’s side where he viciously bit down on a chunk of flesh around its ribcage.  

"Speech"

Compared to the stranger and the polar bear, Delphi was tiny. So easily swept away by a paw if she wasn't careful. As she circled the bear, her ears folding down and ignoring the sneering comment sent her way. She had more important things to focus on than vulgar comments. Like the massive polar bear that was aiming to send a paw full of sharp claws in her direction. When the bear winds back, the stranger comes barreling in to attack the bear's ribcage. A smirk curls her lips as she sidesteps toward the bear's paws that dig into the snow below.

If she wanted to take the bear down for herself, she would have to do something spectacular. Once she was close enough and out of the reach of the bear's swing, she leaps up onto the bear's thigh. Digging in her claws and saber teeth, she begins to puncture the bear's thick skin and coat. Blood seeps down its skin and her own as she continues to climb up the bear's leg toward its upper body.

Blood fills his maw, warm and sticky in texture, metallic in taste. The bears roar, the blood, the excitement of battle. It sent a chill of lust rolling down his spine, causing his hackles to stand on end. Whatever the girl was doing, must have pissed the beast off. Even with him ripping at its hide, it shifted it attention elsewhere. Rhazien used the opportunity to use the strength in his shoulders and neck, pulling back with his might, to rip the chunk of flesh away from the bear's body.

Stumbling backward, he spit the flesh onto the snow, staining the white with splattered crimson. Looking up at the girl, he realized she was performing a similar act to Strai- seeming to climb up the bear, to try and get its spinal cord he assumed. Well, that confirmed assumptions. Charging forward again, Rhazien lunged for the bear’s underbelly, having to lower himself closer to the ground to achieve the feat. Serrated fangs sliced into the thinner skin, creating a flesh wound that needed more penetrating. But, to avoid being trampled, he was forced to reel himself backward, dodging a paw swinging in his direction.  

"Speech"

Oh, climbing up the bear to get its spine? That neat trick is not from Strai, oh no. He wasn't as smart as she was. It had been her idea from the first time they'd encountered a bear and ever since, it had worked. The ursine was too large, too slow, too clumsy, and stupid to be able to wind backward and snatch her off. Even as she clambered over the bear's side and latched on to the fur covering the bear's spine, she continued upward.

In her quest to take the bear down, she had no idea the stranger had ripped open the bear's stomach. That enough had been able to distract the bear from its frantic swiping at her. With her opening now available, Delphi continued to climb the bear as if it were a mere mountain. Once she is near the base of the skull, she digs in and leans backward. Opening her mouth as far as it can go, she lashes forward and digs her saber fangs into the back of the bear's head. Blood fills her as she squeezes down on fur, skin, and muscle.

Having to dart back and forth, it took a lot of focus and endurance to avoid being slapped by the Polar Bear. Despite the wounds, it was still coherent enough to try and fight back. Even with the girl clawing her way up its side, trying to reach the back of its head. She must have clamped down on her target too, because the beast suddenly released a deafening, high-pitched roar. One that emanated from the belly of the beast, filled with rage and hatred. They needed to kill it while it was still in defense mode- once it morphed from flight to fight, they won't be able to outrun it.

Reenacting his previous attack, Rhazien lunged forward and tore into the existing belly wound. This time, his serrated fangs sawed deeply enough to expose the entrails. Grabbing what he could, he reeled backward again, this time, bringing a prize with him- a string of hot, sticky, blood-soaked intestines. He kept moving back, unwinding the organ from its cavity, gutting the bear while the girl attacked from above.

It was only a matter of time until it collapsed from blood loss.

"Speech"

The screeching roar of pain emanating from the bear has Delphi pulling back. With blood covering both the back and front of the predator, she knew it was time to vacate. As the bear stumbles, swiping and giving one last attempt at an attack, Delphi removes herself and falls down the backside of the bear. Her paws hit the snow as the bear crumples. A giant heap of blood, entrails, and gore lay beside her while the bear breathed its last breath.

Panting herself, her sides sucking in and out as she tried to recollect herself while the adrenaline faded, she turned to the stranger. A proud smirk across her fanged maw as she turned to look at the bear. "Looks like I won," she muses in a snarky tone as she reaches out to poke the bear and ensure it truly is dead.

Even as the Polar Bear collapsed onto the ground, overcome by blood loss and the removal of internal organs. Rhazien kept pulling out the string of intestines, creating a gory, bloodied mess of sinew and carnage. He had almost removed the entirety of the organ, when the girl’s voice called out to him. Dropping his makeshift toy, licking at the sinew on his lips and whiskers. Rhazien sauntered towards the overly confident girl, who was flashing him a sly, haughty smirk. “Sure kid.” He said, eyeing her more closely now, noting that she appeared to be the same age as Strai. So many pieces fit together. But he wasn’t going to prod for information just yet.

Schemes forming in his mind, bloodlust still simmering in his belly. Rhazien was ready to engage in another bloodbath, if this girl wanted to accompany him. “You know, if you enjoy the sport of the hunt.” Widening his smile, raising a single brow. He tried to make his impending offer seem enticing with his change of expression. “There are water beasts farther north, and they are harder to fight than a Polar Bear.” Had the girl ever encountered a leopard seal, he wondered? “Up for a challenge, girl?” The stage was set, the invitation given. If she obliged, he would lead her farther north. If not, he would go there anyway.

-exit-  

"Speech"