His parents were being incredibly boring and had even been given their own room in the castle. He knew he was supposed to be heading to bed, but he found himself heading towards the castle exit instead. If he slipped out now, maybe no one would notice him gone.. He wanted to make his way back to the little den he and Selene had cleaned out in the Grove.

But he wasn’t familiar with the territory, and after wandering a little while, realised he hadn’t gone the right way at all. This overgrown place smelled of herbs, like Oleanders den. Not of flowers like the grove. What was this place? He found himself wandering around in circles. Had he come from that direction? No, surely it was that way… unaware all the while of something orange and large stalking him quietly from darkening treeline.


"Citadel Fatalis"

Atreyu moved easily through the familiar terrain of the garden, hunting out more herbs for her stores. This time though, she was looking for seasoning herbs for her cooking. Even though it was absolutely freezing out, Atreyu knew the herb grew year-round. Suddenly, a flash of orange through the trees and bushes caught her attention. She could smell the pack pup on the wind, and instantly her guardian nature kicked in and she had to go see what the pup was doing out here, especially with something stalking them. Atreyu ran in the direction of the pup's trail, desperate to reach them before the predator lurking in the garden found him. With any luck she wouldn't be too late. Bigs did his best to keep up, only a few paces behind his companion, her stride making nearly ten of his. Mohawk billowing in the wind, the chihuahua and Chinese crested mix caught up soon enough though, as Atreyu finally caught sight of the pup.

OOC: These will get better, I promise <3
"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by alo

The pup had found a little hollow carved out of a tree, and was investigating the space. There was the scent of some odd animals around it, and signs that something had used it as a nest. He stuck his head inside, and spoke ‘Hello!” and listened to the odd way his voice echoed back. Unaware all the while of the drama unfolding in his name behind him.

As the tiger stepped out of hiding, and began to take obvious steps towards the pup. Stalking and approaching the boy while Citadels head was buried in the tree. Where his vision was obscured, and his attention clearly elsewhere.


"Citadel Fatalis"

It wasn't far that she had to go, coming upon the young wolf at the same time the tiger began to pace toward him. Not on her watch. While the pup had his head in the tree still, Atreyu came in and with her whole body she sought to slam into the tiger and knock it away from the boy. While he was nearly her size, she could tell the wolf was still a pup by the body structure, but her attention remained on the big cat that threatened them both now.

With her claws out, Atreyu swipes at the face of the cat, aiming to blind it and then she rushes forward hoping to push the cat into the dirt and send it sprawling. There would be no mercy for the hunting feline, and there would be no meal here today. Atreyu would make sure of that even as the tiger began to pick itself back up. With any luck, Atreyu would be leaving with a new tiger pelt for her bed. The herbs she had originally came here to gather were temporarily forgotten about as she battled it out with the predator.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by alo

At barely one season of age, Citadel was still a tiny creature with oversized paws, and an inflated sense of invincibility. At the sudden sound of things colliding behind him, he yanked his head out of the hole and turned, wide eyed with surprise. It took him a moment to realise what he was seeing - a brightly coloured wolf, tangled with a tiger.

Why they had decided to start their fight by his hollow tree, he couldn’t fathom. But he wasn’t going to miss out on any of the fun! With a whoop of delight, Citadel abandoned his investigation of the hollowed out tree. Instead, he moved with speed as he sprinted suddenly towards them, attempting to grab one of the tigers paws in his maw so he could yank on it.

"Speech"

I will not bow, I will not break;
The tiger roared out in pain as Atreyu's claws met their mark, though he would only be blinded by blood. Her claws had barely missed the cat's eyes, but that was no matter, she knocked the five hundred pound beast off it's feet and went in for the throat. The pup surprised her, rushing in to grasp one of the tiger's paws. An odd pride flooded her alongside adrenaline to make her zero in on the tiger's throat. Opening her jaws wide, she gripped the tiger in a suffocating hold, not letting go even as it thrashed and swiped at her with its free paws. She wouldn't let a pup killer live, and if this tiger was doing it this time, it was used to stalking the young wolves of the area. It had to go.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by resin

With a ferocious growl, the young wolf dug in deep to the tigers paw. He was utterly unaware that the only reason he was able to do so at all was because Atreyu kept it busy at its front. With the other wolf going for its throat, and pinning it down, it wouldn’t even notice the claws and teeth of the pup.

Feeling as if he was vital to this attack, Citadel snarled again, and started to climb the back of the cat. Digging in with his retractable claws as the tiger suffocated and died beneath the attack of the pink warrior. By the time the tiger gurgled its last gurgle, he was proudly on top of its back, and he let out a little proud howl. “I killed it!” He cried out in delight, scenting the beginning touches of death on the air.

"Speech"

I will not bow, I will not break;
Atreyu only released the tiger once she was sure the cat was dead, unaware that the pup had climbed atop the feline until he howled. Looking up at him with those holographic eyes shining in contrast to the black sclera around them, Atreyu smiled despite the blood that coated her teeth. Her tail waved at his exclamation, giving a little laugh, "You killed it, alright." The words were warm, despite the dropping adrenaline in her bloodstream. "You were great!" Atreyu smiled at the pup with pride shining in those unique eyes. "You should be careful though, if you're ever alone with one of these, you run for help." There was a motherly concern in her voice, but she could hardly help it. She was protective over pups, more now than she used to be.

"Talk." || Think || 'Hear.'

code by bird, art by resin