Citadel was a wolf with astronomically big paws. Not only were they giant in comparison to the rest of his body but they were heavy and thick set as well. An unwieldy and complicated maze to navigate every time he wished to walk. They were rounded and set more like that of a bear than a wolf. He knew, because he had compared it to the Black Bear that followed him around. The size of them set him back from his siblings, a crouch that left him slower and clumsier, and started a growing frustration inside of him. He did not like to be less.

He felt it brewing in his heart, the need to prove himself. To build up his confidence, and show them what he could do. He could see the worried frown his father often threw his way, and it left his insides twisting. He wanted Basilisk to feel nothing but pride in him. He was part of a lineage that went back three generations of strong, defiant wolves. The oldest of his litter. If he couldn’t prove himself, then what was the point of him?

So he made his way to a quiet end of the Col, and attempted to use his nose. The bear that followed him around was beside him, a little older and a little more worldly than he was. He gave some subtle hints for the oldest boy to follow. Leading him to an empty den in the Warren. It was dark here, and he found himself squinting at the shadows as he crouched and waited. He knew there must be a reason the bear had led him here, but the creature had stepped back now. His intention was obvious - this was Citadel’s hunt, and if the young Fatalis wanted to catch something, he had to do it alone. A chance to prove himself. He nodded at the bear, understanding and agreeing. He could do this. He took in a deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it. He’d practised this, he knew what to do.

He took a couple steps forward and sampled the air. He knew there had to be something here. When he didn’t find the scent immediately, he moved further forward. Searching, seeking. Sniffing. Until at last something caught his sensors. A scent that didn’t mix with the subtle scents of stone and old smoke that frequented the warrens. No, this was something else. Something of flesh and blood.

He crept forward, his claws sheathed so his paws were moderately quiet on the stone. As much as a young pup could manage, at least. The slow pace was easier on his unbalanced body, and he felt his confidence growing as he stalked slowly further in. Hunting the scent. Following it to its source. He tried not to get lost in the squirrely warrens, but wasn’t sure he was succeeding. He glanced back, but couldn’t see the bear. Hopefully he could still follow his companions scent out of here once the hunt was over.

He turned back to his work, refusing to get distracted. He would worry about the maze later. First, the hunt. He stalked forward again, chasing that scent. He still didn’t recognise it, and didn’t know what he was hunting. Which is why he was looking in the wrong places when he suddenly took a step forward, expecting solid footing beneath him. Instead, his paw splashed into the water, and he stood there for a moment. Shocked, and surprised. There was water in the warrens? He narrowed his eyes, trying to pair into the dark depths. Was there giant fish in that water? He wasn’t sure if it was exactly the prey the bear had intended, but he grinned at the thought of emerging from the cave with something so unexpected. The fish in the water had diverted from the sound of his splash, so he withdrew his paw and watched the cavefish. Trying to see them in the dim light, and wait for the moment where they relaxed their guard and swam closer again.

As they got braver, so too did he. Leaning over the pool of water and watching them swim. Some of them were giant! Bigger than the pup was. His eyes were on one of them, and when one approached close enough he pounced. Falling fully into the water as he landed over the fish. Collapsing it onto the surface beneath the water as he landed. But his head was underneath the surface now, and he couldn’t breath. He felt a moment of panic, but he didn’t want to release his prey. He struggled with the slippery creature for a moment, letting out oxygen as he squirmed, trying not to let it slip free. Finally, he remembered his extendable claws and drew them out. Stabbing into the fish. Gaining purchase that allowed him to bring it up to his face, where he bit its neck and at last its thrashing stopped. He pulled his head free of the water and took in a few sharp breaths, before going under again, grabbing the fish and towing it to the edge of the water. Getting it out proved tricky, and when he was holding it free of the water at last, he was exhausted. How was he supposed to lug it all the way out of the cave?

Wc: 900

"Citadel"

Selene dashed her paws along the sides of the tunnels, leaping and twisting and using every angle to her advantage against invisible foes. Her brilliant white fur caught every flicker of light and bounced against the walls, softly making the world easier to peer through.

Suddenly the scent of Rook, her brother's brother bear drifted close to her nose and she stilled, her white pink nose softly grasping at the scent. Where was he? She followed along the corridor unto Rook came into view.

"Rook! Where's Cit?" The bear pointed with his chin where Cit had gone. Ooo! A tunnel she hadn't gone down yet! Let's go!! She let her tongue loll out with joy at the challenge to find her brother!

Letting her nose be her guide she practiced sneaking through the darkened corridors. Her pinprick kitten claws sheathed to soften any sounds coming close to him. She carefully picked up and set down her pale paws. A splash up ahead made her stop short. She swiveled her pale white ears to catch each of the bouncing echoes off the walls. Water?? In the tunnels? How? Her curiosity overruled her sneaking fun and softly whuffed in her high sweet voice to let him know she was coming.

He had somehow dragged a massive fish out of the water!
"Woah!!! Citadel! That's crazy!" She exclaimed when she found him. "What're you going to do with it?" She asked with her tail swishing back and forth. She didn't know fish could be found here!



"Citadel"||"Selene"

At the sound of his sister, Citadel's tail gave an excited wag behind him. Pleased to have an audience to his success. Especially his speedy, talented sister. He opened his maw to speak, forgetting thay was supporting the fish.


It flopped to the floor in front of him. But lucky, it was very dead. “I'm gonna… eat it, I guess?” He suggested in response to her question. Maybe they could all eat it, have a big fishy feast! “...or I would, if I could get it out of this cave.” He said with a huff. The damn thing was heavy. He heard something that sounded like laughter behind Selene. Was that Rook?

Selene erupted in giggles as he accidentally dropped the fish to tell her about it. She sidestepped in glee and covered her mouth to stop the echoes of her giggles from overwhelming them both.

When her giggles subsided she heard him say he would eat it but wanted to get it out of the cave first.

"I'll help!" Exclaimed the littlest Fatalis. She immediately jumped forward and took a mouth full of the massive tail and tugged with all her might against the weight. It barely budged. She flopped her rump down from losing her grip and turned her ears back to hear what Cit was listening to.

"No no! I can do it!" She exclaimed and started tugging at a fin. She was just as strong as everyone else! Rook could help if he wanted to but she was gonna get this out all by herself if she had to! Blind to her ineffectual tug of war to shift the gravity even a millimeter.


"Citadel"||"Selene"

“Hey, that’s my fish!” he exclaimed, feeling as if she was trying to sneak away with his achievement when she grabbed it in her maw. Trying, and failing, to heave it. Huh. He’d done a better job of lifting it than that. Sure, not enough to carry it out of the cave. But did that mean he was stronger than her? He was bigger than Selene. Just a little bit so far, though neither knew how pronounced that difference would become.

He grabbed for the other side of the fish and gave it a tug, trying to pull it free from his sister's grasp. His prize! His achievement!



"Citadel"||"Selene"

As soon as he exclaimed his ownership of the fish Selene knew they were about to have a tugging match. Yeah, it was his but she just wanted to help! Only now that he got all bully about it she didn't see why she couldn't lean into it a little! A mischievous glint in her eye and an upturned smirk appeared on her features as he tugged at his end. She playfully growled and tugged back. Having him lift it had given her the angle to hold it better. The silver scales held the fish together tightly and she twisted her head to thrash it against him.
He's the one who wanted to get it out of this cave! But if he wanted to assert himself she was always more than ready to take him up on the challenge.

"Selene"

Citadel growled back at his smaller sister as she dug in, keeping hold of the fish and trying to pull it back towards her. She was really going to try and steal his hard one prize? His growl became louder, more threatening as he gave the fish another hard tug. Mine! The growl said. The more she held onto it, the more possessive he felt over the impressive catch.

He gave another valiant tug, and the fish tore. Breaking apart until each wolf carried a piece of it. The force of his pull sent him tumbling backwards, half into the water. He sat where he had fallen, looking at his torn fish in bewilderment.



"Citadel"||"Selene"

She couldn't help her giggling chuckle as she pulled it back. He then suddenly tugged hard and she was flying backward into a wall with the tail in her mouth! She landed with a hard OOF and the wind rushed out of her lungs as she was winded.

She dropped the fishtail as she tried to catch her breath back and coughed when her lungs started working again. Panting heavily she swayed her tail back and forth regardless with a triumphant grin!

"There! Now we... can carry it out! We gotta show... Mama what you caught! She'll be so proud of you!" She was completely unphased by his possessive nature. They'd been playing this game with scraps when they could barely open their eyes.

She picked up the tail piece, now a lot easier for her to handle, and started to bounce her way out of the cave with her head and tail high.


"Citadel"||"Selene"

He sat half drenched in the water, the broken fish in his maw. He remembered that moment of triumph, that feeling like he had finally accomplished something with the impressive size of the fish. He had done that, he had caught and killed it! He had envisioned turning up at the den, the ridiculously big fish in his maw. Now the fish was broken, and Selene was taking off with the other half of it.

“You ruined it! You ruin everything! With your stupid little paws!” He snarled at her, suddenly furious. Because the other option was to cry, and he was not going to cry in front of her. So he buried it in anger. He leaped at his sister, trying to pin her to the ground.

Citadel vs Selene for Dominance
Round 1/?
Age: under 6 months
Size: Paleo species
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bracers
Companion 1: Raven, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Male - Battle
*Companion 3: Black bear, Male - Battle - Boosted
Mutation 1: Bear Paws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bone spurs - Defensive
Mutation 3: Crystal crown - Perception
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Hunter

"Speech"

So turning your back on your most volatile of brothers was probably not the best move. Little Selene was as slippery as they come though and she knew that his snarl would be her only warning before he would attempt to grab her. Made him mad again! Oops! She didn't mean to make him mad this time! Honest!

She leaped out of the way and launched herself against the side of the cavern wall with a giggle. She took her pedal to the metal and bolted across the tunnel floor, her agile wrists finding the grooves to give her a boost along the way.



Selene - Flee Attempt
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Fighter
Specialty: --

"Selene"

The Flee Attempt Is...

SUCCESSFUL

SELENE has successfully fled and exited the thread. ROLL RESULTS: Speed Roll: 40 Stamina Roll: 31 Balance Roll: 87 Total: 158 Speed[40] + 15% Bonus[6.00]: 46.00 Stamina[31] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 31.00 Balance[87] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 87.00 Total[164.00] + -30% Bonus[-49.20]: 114.80 The flee attempt is successful!

His attempt to launch himself at his sister only led to the other wolf picking up her paws and dashing. He was big and clumsy, and she was good at running. His paws fell short and she escaped his grasp, dashing out of the cave with half his prize. He gave up, knowing he'd never catch her. He stomped back to the other half of the fish. Picking it up, he angrily threw it back into the water. It splashed a short distance away, and his face fell. Crumbling up, so he hid it behind a paw.

He cried, he cried for the joy his sister had broken. Cried because he was big and clumsy, while the rest of them already seemed comfortable in their bodies. Here, where no one could see him being weak.