The fire demon in the depths of her glory stalked in the brush just outside the den. She had cooked up a plan. These kids were getting all of her parent's attention. They weren't even her parent's kids! She saw the blue of her not-brother, she wondered if she could lure him to the sound, push him in the water for a not-swim.

She leaped out of the underbrush and made to tag him, "Tag! C'mon Bluey! Beat me to the water!" She called out over her shoulder. Her paws glided half clumsily over the rocky ground, down the slopes, and between the trees toward the chill of the polar sound.


Araxina vs Xairo for Race
Round 1/3
Age: under 6 months
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator
Specialty: None

Xairo had a late start to his morning, he struggled to rise from his slumber, blinking against the dim sunlight filtering into the den. So when he eventually made it outside, he did not anticipate the ambush Xina had prepared. Seeing her fire-red blur blurting a challenge, he blinked at first, taken aback by her sudden assertiveness. The words 'beat me to the water' echoed in his ears, sparking his competitive spirit. Forgetting his cautious instincts for a moment, he dashed after her.

With all thoughts of a peaceful morning forgotten, Xairo pursued Xina down the slope towards Polar Sound. He knew it was a race now, and his muscular frame flew over the rocky terrain. His dark blue coat blended with the shadows as he zigzagged between the trees, his green eyes narrowed in concentration.


Xairo vs Araxina for Race
Round: 1/3
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Balanced
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Xairo Saxe"

The smell of pine, resin, and snow spurned her on down the rocky slope. She turned back to make sure he was chasing her.
"Can't catch me!" She called behind her and threw her tongue out behind her at him. She wove between two trees, skittered over a bulbous rock, and let the melting snow fly behind her as she neared the water. Several rocks kept up with her pace as she flew down the slope, her white socks a blur. She almost let like she was going too fast.

She glanced back again and saw his blazing blue coat gaining on her! She pushed her paws faster, she was going to beat him! She had to!

Araxina vs Xairo for Race
Round 2/3
Age: under 6 months
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator
Specialty: None

Xairo growled in response, a playful sound muffled by the wind rushing past his ears. “You’re slower than you think, Xi!” He shot back, a challenging glint in his eyes. His heart was pounding against his chest like some wild thing, and he could feel the pulsing energy vibrating through his body.

The adrenaline coiled within him like a spring, pushing him to go faster. His paws, wide and clumsy, hammered against the uneven terrain. He felt like he was gaining on her, but in the end he took a different path. Maybe he could cut her off- jump out and front of her!


Xairo vs Araxina for Race
Round: 2/3
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Balanced
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Xairo Saxe"

The skin under Araxina's fur felt alive and electric, prickling and shivering as she ran, pins and needles in her paws made her want to go ever faster! Her breath was coming in ragged and harsh, quick and shallow as she flew over the terrain. Her vision darkened around the edges as she focused on the glistening lake while her heart thrashed in her ears. Her dark claws dug hard into the soil and her charcoal tail sailed behind her like a rudder as she ran flat out to the water's edge.

It was almost within reach! Hah! Where had Xairo gone?

Araxina vs Xairo for Race
Round 3/3
Age: under 6 months
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator
Specialty: None

Xairo’s heart hammered in his chest as he veered away, bounding across the uneven terrain. He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, his blue fur standing on end as he navigated around clusters of towering pine trees. His green eyes locked onto the shimmering surface of the inlet, the vision tunneling his world into a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. His claws scraped against the frozen earth as he hurtled towards his goal. There, he thought as he spotted a narrow shortcut between two massive boulders. He leapt over a fallen log, landing effortlessly like a predator closing in on its prey.


Xairo vs Araxina for Race
Round: 3/3
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Balanced
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Xairo Saxe"

And the winner is...

Xairo

Araxina was slow af and lost the race. Totals: Araxina: Speed Roll: 82 Stamina Roll: 14 Balance Roll: 41 Total: 137 Speed[82] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 82.00 Stamina[14] + 5% Bonus[0.70]: 14.70 Balance[41] + 5% Bonus[2.05]: 43.05 Total[139.75] + -20% Bonus[-27.95]: 111.80 Xairo : Speed Roll: 45 Stamina Roll: 86 Balance Roll: 91 Total: 222 Speed[45] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 45.00 Stamina[86] + 10% Bonus[8.60]: 94.60 Balance[91] + 5% Bonus[4.55]: 95.55 Total[235.15] + -30% Bonus[-70.54]: 164.60

Her paws pressed into the earth, gathered tight then flung flying over the terrain. She looked over her shoulder for one moment and didn't see the lightning blue of her brother behind her! HAH she left him in the dust! She was so much fas-

She was brought up short as she turned back to the lake and THERE her Not-Brother had made it there FIRST! HOW was that possible! She was faster! She was better! NO!

"NnnnoooO!" She roared at him, her golden eyes narrowed to slits and drove toward his side to body slam him right into the drink!

Xairo felt a rush of triumph as he saw the outraged expression on Araxina's face. He barely had time to react, the sight of her fiery fur a blurred streak against his peripheral vision. With a sharp intake of breath, he quickly sidestepped her wild charge, his tail whipping around for balance. His heart paced in his chest as he watched her skid to a halt at the water's edge, a fine mist of droplets spraying up from her sudden stop. "You're going to have to do better than that, Sis," he taunted with a victorious grin, his green eyes sparking with mischief as he tried to shove her with her own momentum, so it was her who ended up in the water. Ha!

"Xairo Saxe"

She skids along the water's edge, a spray of fine water droplets displaying around her as she rounds on him, her head low. Sidestep her will he? She roared a growl after he taunted her and suddenly his weight was thrown into her before she could switch gears and charge him again! With a yelp, her body is pushed over her legs and she lands on her side in the shallows of the water. Splashing all around her, she flails against the water in a feigned panic. As her legs are flailing they reach out grab his ankles and pull him in with her. She attempted to scramble her grip up his leg to his neck and hold his face close to the water for a moment.

A sudden yank on his ankles had Xairo tumbling headlong after Xina. The cold bite of the water shocked him into a gasp, his fur instantly drenched and clinging to his lanky frame. Struggling against the icy grip of the water, he felt Xina's claws clambering up his side. There was a hint of panic in his green eyes as her paw found purchase at his neck, pushing his snout dangerously close to the rippling surface. Gathering his wits, he planted his paws firm on the rocky bottom and jerked his head back, attempting to dislodge her grip. His eyes locked on hers, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.

With a quick, sharp twist, he managed to dislodge Xina's grip on his neck. Shaking off the cold water from his dark blue fur, he pounced onto her with newfound fervor. His competitive spirit flared as he tried to pin her into the shallows. "I won't go easy on you just because you're my sister!" he snarled, his green eyes blazing with competitive fire.

"Xairo Saxe"

Hah! Score! She grabbed him well and pulled his face close to the water! He then twisted out of his grasp and she scrambled to get up. She snarled and pushed back against him as he came at her again to pin her down. She sputtered into the liquid, kicking with her feet up at him. She was not having a great time with water lately. She pulled her head up sharply to clear it of the water and headbutt him. Instead of knocking him off her headbutt made her see stars as she knocked against his toughened skull!

Slightly dazed she pulled her back feet from under her and raked her claws down his belly hoping to push him off and let her up.