The air was thick here. So thick he almost thought if he opened his mouth and lunged forward - chomp! - he might be able to get a whole bite of the atmosphere. Atoll busied himself doing just that, hopping around the mists and snapping his jaws together with a click. He was determined to explore all of the lands they laid claim to, and he was pretty that there at least two dozen of those. The ravine, these misty muggy moors... An es-toot-wary? There were a lot.

He peered between the grasses as he went, inspecting the loamy soil for new and interesting bits of growth. It seemed that a great many unique plants grew here, plenty he'd never seen before. He didn't have a clue what to call them, so each time he saw one he didn't recognize, he just counted it. Along he went, muttering under his breath, "seven... nine... ten... thirteen..." So many! He was going to run out of numbers. What about when he had to actually learn what they were called? Aw, nuts.

"speech"

pixel by sqdpxl on DA - coding by xarae

The click click clicking of Bog's brother's jaws guided him more than the scent that hung in the damp air like dirty laundry - what was laundry. Boggy squelched through the moor less thrilled about counting the plants than his brother was. But he WAS interested in whatever his siblings were doing. Mostly in how he could mess it up. Just a little. For some fun. As a treat.

The still air cloaked him, Atoll's scent only clinging where he had been, not drifting any, so Boggy assumed the same for his scent. He tried to circle around, creeping, tip toeing.

Then bounding forward, aiming to slam into his brother's left side, "Nerd!"

"Fourteen... OOPHJH!" Without warning, a monster barreled straight into his side and knocked him right to the ground. Unbidden tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He was more than a bit of a baby when it came to scrapes and bruises, and this was no exception. "Bog, that HURT!" He said, his voice a petulant whine. "Plus I'm dirty now..." Atoll continued to grouse, shaking off some of the loose moor dirt that clung to his pale fur. Hmph. This would require some kind of payback, but he wasn't quite sure what.

"I can barely see anything out here anyway, so it wasn't a fair move," he continued on, his tone wheedling. Atoll was all about "fair" when it had to do with him, not so much everyone else. The mist wreathed around the two and he glanced every which way, trying to figure out how he could backtrack from here back towards the den, but he had gotten more than a little turned around. "I bet you half my dinner you can't catch me, though!" He sneered, leaning forward to try and nip at the tip of Bog's nose before turning and scampering off into the mist.

Atoll vs Bog for Race
Round 1/?
Age: Under 6 months as applicable
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Intermediate Navigator & Intermediate Intellectual

"speech"

pixel by sqdpxl on DA - coding by xarae

Bog's brother immediately yelled out that he was hurt and dirty and blah blah blah. Boggy rolled his eyes, :Better you than me." Good comeback, Bog. Got em. Atoll shook himself off and continued to gripe, which Bog suffered with another huff and wilting glance. It's less fun picking on your siblings when their only retaliation is to bitch about it.

Then Atoll bet half his dinner on catching him. Well, that was a good deal more fun! His brother nipped at his nose and Boggy returned the favor with a loud bark before kicking off. He was fast, he knew he was, but Atoll was smaller and so he didn't have as much stuff to duck under, he could just run straight. He was almost cheating, except for that it made him that much easier to knock down, so Boggy couldn't complain.

Boggy vs Atoll for Race
Round 1/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Fighter

Atoll wooped as Boggy took chase behind him, stretching out his toes as far as he could in front of himself. The spring weather had rendered the Moor a bit wet and muddy - here and there, Atoll lost control and skidded a few feet in the mud before picking up speed and kicking out dirt wherever he could. He knew he'd be awfully gross by the time they were done, but if it meant winning then it was definitely worth it! Breathing hard, he bumped Boggy with his shoulder as he ran. "Better catch up, stink boy!!!" he panted, pink tongue lolling wildly as he careened through the Moor. Tall grasses whipped past his ears, making him feel like he was moving at supersonic speed even as he messily scrambled along on his baby legs. This place was turning out to be pretty fun. There! Coming up a ways were some towering stones and that would be as good of a finish line as any. He set his eyes on the prize and aimed himself for a stunning victory through the narrow pass between two stones.

Atoll vs Bog for Race
Round 2/2
Age: Under 6 months as applicable
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Intermediate Navigator & Intermediate Intellectual

"speech"

pixel by sqdpxl on DA - coding by xarae

The two took off and Boggy tried to use his slightly longer legs to his advantage, pumping against their aches at the sudden movement. As the adrenalin kicked in, he minded it less. Oh, to be young... His brother tried to kick dirt out, but joke was on him cause Boggy wasn't even bothered by dirt!

"At least I'm not a nerd who counts things out loud by himself!" Boggy shouted back in retaliation, regretting it a little as he sucked in a breath at the end.

The boy was pretty sure he had caught up, maybe even was pulling ahead, but he couldn't risk glancing at his brother to double check. If he had been nastier, he would have just shouldered his brother out of the way, but he didn't want his brother crying about him cheating or something.

He was totally sure he was gonna win this.

Boggy vs Atoll for Race
Round 2/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Fighter