Ravana’s muscles coiled, her eyes glinting with sharp, hungry anticipation as Aresenn’s signal sliced through the tense air. The command was clear, but her mind twisted it into something sharper, something darker—a challenge wrapped in the pretense of unity. So she would test them, push and pull until any weakness buckled. Her father wanted chaos, and she was happy to deliver. Overwhelm them.

She lunged forward, a low, sleek shadow against the open field, her gaze briefly flicking over Xina, Ludovic, and Zagan. They looked poised, ready, but she knew even the strongest resolve could fracture with enough pressure. She smirked, a wicked thrill rising as she veered toward a gap in their formation, feinting one way only to switch, testing their reaction time and communication. All for the sake of gathering information, she laughed as she circled them like a predator would prey.

Her thoughts whirled, seeking the potential fractures in their defenses. Show me where you break, she thought, her pulse racing in time with her stride.


"Ravana Seraphim Saxe"

Tail flickering rapidly behind her as she heard, no felt, her father's words, Xina absorbed every direction. She looked back to Ludo over one shoulder, then Zagan over the other as they prepared. She was the spearhead. She would direct their charge, and penetrate behind the enemy's lines. Attack, decide, think quickly.

Ludo would be the eyes. As soon as Aresenn took the independent fighters back a ways she turned back to her red brother Ludo.

"Eyes, need you on higher ground. Tell us Front, left, right, or flank for unseen enemies. Ludo, you will always be flank." She said to him making a compass on the ground so all three of them could be oriented the same way. That way no matter where Ludo was they could orient on him and his directions, even if they got turned around.

"Zagan you're the anchor, you take out whoever gets past me. Both call out Flank if you get overwhelmed! Then we go back to back to back!" She said quickly scratching out three circles touching at the same point. Her voice was rapid-fire and quick. That's when they heard their father call out "Begin!"

Xina whipped around and watched her brothers take positions over her shoulder as she lowered her head. Ready for the first one to reach her and tackle them! The game was on!

Speech // thought

Xairo fought to quell the bitter resentment churning within him as Aresenn's words washed over the group. His father's voice was a distant rumble, the meaning lost in the tempest of Xairo's own dark thoughts. They will be the attackers, the ones to test Xina, Ludo and Zagan's unity? It felt like a consolation prize, a scrap tossed to those not swift enough to claim a leading role.

Xairo's claws flexed, digging into the sun-baked earth as he imagined lunging at his siblings, catching them off guard with the ferocity of his assault. He would show them all that he was not one to be overlooked, that his strength and cunning were forces to be reckoned with.

His heart pounded as he watched the others leap into action at Aresenn's command. For a brief moment longer, he hesitated, his paws almost rooted to the ground. The envy and frustration still simmered within him, but they were quickly overtaken by a rising tide of determination.

He may not have a designated leadership role, but he would prove himself all the same. With a fierce growl, Xairo sprang forward, his blue coat a blur as he charged across the field. His eyes locked onto Xina's fiery form at the point of the triangle formation. The spearhead. Xairo veered to the side at the last second, trying to throw off her timing as he made a pass at her flank.

"Xairo Saxe"

Sericea steeled herself as Aresenn's piercing gaze locked with her own, his words igniting a spark of determination deep within her core. His instructions echoed in her mind, each one a challenge she yearned to meet head-on. The prospect of testing her siblings' unity, of pushing them to their limits, sent a thrill racing through her veins.

She flexed her claws, feeling the dry earth crumble beneath them as she shifted her weight, poised to strike at a moment's notice. The russet fur along her spine bristled with anticipation, her muscles coiled tight like springs ready to unleash their potential energy. Her eyes narrowed, focus sharpening to a razor's edge as she studied the formation before her.

Sericea's heart raced as Aresenn's command rang out across the clearing. Begin! In a flash she was off, russet fur rippling over lean developing muscles as she charged forward. Her sharp eyes flicked between her targets, analyzing their formation even as her paws pounded the earth.

Xina stood proud at the point, the spearhead - but Sericea knew her sister's impulsive nature could leave gaps. She feinted right, then cut sharply left, testing Xina's reaction time- a distraction. No. Her target was Zagan. With a playful smirk, she bore down on the anchor of their formation, intent on seeing just how steadfast his defense would prove.

"Sericea Praetor-Inferos"

Zagan was quick to claim the last leadership role, and Abyss wasn’t surprised. He’d always been a hot-headed male, intent on proving himself to his peers to establish himself as the next leader of their group. Still, Abyss found themselves leaning in the edge of their seat, wondering how the trio would perform against the unknown attackers. Oh wait. Father was speaking again, making the point of this lesson more clear. They were going to be the attackers. Abyss’ lips curled into a sly smile.

Surge forward. Strike hard and fast. Don’t hold back. Abyss nodded their head and followed their Father as he led them away from their opponents, giving the trio a few moments of reprieve before the chaos began.

Begin. The offense was quick to surge forward, but Abyss held back and surveyed the trio’s formation, searching for gaps in their formation. Xairo and Sericea chose their targets, and Abyss did the same. Ludo. But Abyss wasn’t the type to initiate a forward charge- they preferred to blend into the background, to use chaos to their advantage to slip into position without being noticed.

Abyss waits until the chaos is reaching its climax- bodies are clashing, teeth are snapping, and fights are breaking out. They stalk forward with a sense of purpose, their movements predatory and precise- a quiet pulse beneath the noise, a steady force that no one sees. If they can get close enough, they will lunge for Ludo when his attention is elsewhere, seeking to grab his right back hock to pull his leg out from under him.

"Speech"

Aresenn continued his instructions, and Zagan absorbed his words, dissecting them until he felt confident in his role as the anchor. Triangle formation. Hold fast. Communicate, adapt, and protect each other. Show their enemies what true unity looks like. Nodding, the young Saxe shifted his gaze to Ludo and Xina, and gravitated toward them to stand as a single, unified force. Their opponents had left with Aresenn, and stood on the other side of the clearing now- waiting for his command to begin, which came in the bellowing form of a commanding growl.

Their enemy is coming now- a wave of pounding paws against the earth- a force that seemed to promise their downfall. But Zagan’s focus did not falter. He fell into his role effortlessly, his eyes narrowing at each individual rushing at them, scanning their movement as they pushed forward. Zagan was the line they would not cross- the line that must not be crossed. His breaths became slow and steady, a sharp contrast to the frenzied movements around him. There was no apprehension, no fear- only unwavering focus.

Xairo lunged at Xina, and for a moment, it seemed Sericea was targeting her too- but she suddenly veered past her sister, barreling straight toward him. The first enemy soldier had reached him. Zagan takes a step forward, but does not completely break their formation, grinding his paws into the dirt, as he morphs himself into an impenetrable wall of fur and muscle. He’s anticipating a clash of their bodies- the primal contest of dominance that would be cataclysmic. The feeling of her warm body squirming against his. He didn't show it on his face, but he was pleased that Sericea had decided to target him.

"Zagan Saxe"