Korona’s paws moved carefully over the mossy forest floor, every step cushioned by the thick, damp vegetation. The eerie silence of the forest is broken only by the faint drip of moisture slipping from the tangled canopy high above. She took a deep breath, tasting the cool, damp air—it was stuffy in a weird, refreshing way.

Somewhere nearby, Calliope was exploring as well, which was a mildly comforting idea in this dense, uncharted expanse. Though she did think her sister would test her mettle if it came down to it, instead of helping or protecting her. She liked it that way.

A sudden shift in the air brought forth the arrival of a thick, creeping fog. It rolled in with silence, shrouding the ground and swallowing the rays of light from above. The forest grew dim, shadows blending until there was only a curtain of gray, blotting out familiar landmarks. Korona’s ears flicked back suspiciously, her sense of direction already destroyed as the fog wound its way around her legs like a ghostly serpent.

“Shit.” she cursed, her voice muffled and distant, as though the fog devoured the sound before it could reach any further. It was disturbing. The sudden isolation gripped her, and a ripple of unease coursed down her spine. She hated being alone. She took a tentative step forward, then another, paws sinking into the spongy moss as her eyes strained against the smothering gray. The silence had grown oppressive, no longer peaceful, no longer wanted.

Korona’s patience snapped as she moved blindly, frustration rising. The fog distorted everything—depth, distance, even the way the forest felt beneath her paws. Like she was heavy, like everything was sticky. She stumbled and caught herself, growling softly as the sense of disorientation increased. Suddenly, the unexpected happened: she collided hard into another form, fur meshing against fur with an impact that sent her sprawling back onto the forest floor. Her breath rushed out in a sharp gasp, ears flattening as irritation flared up.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Korona spat without reserve, eyes narrowing as she shook off the dampness and moss clinging to her fur. The words were edged with a surprising amount of venom for one so young, her tail bristling in irritation. She blinked rapidly, trying to pierce the fog, heart thundering with a surge of adrenaline.

WC: 393
"Korona Vanity Fallen"

As she grew older, Astaroth was determined to spread her wings and fly. Each day she grew a little more confident of stepping out of her comfort zone and into the unknown, knowing that was exactly what she needed to do to grow stronger. She needed to meet more wolves, to explore the vastness of the world, to learn, to fight...

Nothing was able to prepare her for how different the world outside her home was. She'd never seen anything quite like this forest before. Fog wasn't unfamiliar to her, especially these days, but here.. it clung to the forest floor like it was a permanent part of this land. It seemed to dampen any noises that might be coming from her surroundings, something that was equal parts comforting and scary.

She moved slowly over the mossy ground, occasionally flinching as she slipped past a low-hanging vine, or snagged her paw on a hidden bit of tree root clustered under the moss. It was hard enough to tell what was going on around her, but as she ventured deeper into the forest it seemed the fog grew thicker. Stifling, almost. Astaroth inhaled sharply, feeling the cool moist air fill her lungs. She only paused for a moment before pushing on, though she swore she heard something moving nearby. Surely she'd just heard normal woodland noises, maybe prey animals climbing in the trees above, or maybe burrowing down into the damp vegetation for shelter...

Surely.

Her nostrils flared as she moved deeper into the forest, testing the scents here. All she could really smell was the heady smell of wet soil and vegetation, veiled in mist.

Which grew thicker and more oppressive with each step she took. Maybe she'd made a mistake coming here without a sibling to accompany her. She considered it for a moment, trying to draw strength from anything she could. Abraxas. He'd protect her, just as mother always said. With Abraxas, she was strong, she could do any---

All at once someone was colliding with her, sending her tumbling backwards right into the muck. It coated her pale fur, and she made even more of a mess of herself by frantically trying to pull herself upright and regain her sense of balance. Before she was even able to register what had happened, the other wolf was snarling something at her, and Astaroth reacted slowly at first- then all at once. She hadn't even done anything wrong! It was the stranger who had run into her! "I ought to be asking YOU that," she spat back indignantly.

The swirling fog made it hard to see much more than a figure in front of her. She found an instinctive growl beginning to bubble up from within her chest, happening before she was even aware of it. "YOU ran into ME," she clarified the situation, feeling blind, childlike rage beginning to consume her. She didn't appreciate being talked to that way, especially when she hadn't done anything to warrant it.

Only hesitating for a moment, she aimed to pounce on the other wolf, recognizing they were young and thus the fight had low enough stakes. She aimed to throw her weight forward, lifting her paws off the damp ground and hoping to bring them down on the other girl's shoulders. Not that she was sure the attack would land, given how little she could see through the fog, but it swirled around her body as it moved- hopefully enough so she could adjust accordingly.

Astaroth vs Korona for Spar
Round 1 / ?
Age: Under 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

Words: 584
Total: 977

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Korona felt a wicked grin twist across her lips as the indignant voice rang out, sharp and defensive. The fog still curled around them, thick and suffocating and in the way. But the audacity cut through and stung her ears. "I ought to be asking YOU that?" Fucking!— The words made something primal flare inside her, something damn impulsive. Normal for Korona.

“Oh, yeah?” Korona mocked, her voice cutting through the fog with a biting edge. “You must be more lost than I thought, thinking you can talk to me like that.” Her growl vibrated in her chest, each word dripping with a challenge. Korona was a Raider, and Raiders didn’t take kindly to spittle being thrown their way, regardless of fault.

The shadow lunged, but Korona was no stranger to impulsive, reckless fights. The second she felt the girl move, Korona surged forward to meet her, paws tearing at the loose earth.

Korona shoved back with every ounce of force she had. The indignation of the challenge burned hot in her veins, fueling her wild grin and defiant heart. Let’s see if the bark is as big as the bite. She grappled, aiming to bear hug the other girl. As her opponent hadn’t gone for a bite, neither would she.

Korona vs Astaroth for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Under 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Quills (Defensive)
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Intellectual


WC: 211
Total: 1188



"Korona Vanity Fallen"

Everything happened so quickly that she barely had time to register what was happening. One moment someone was colliding with her, sending her sprawling into the mud, and the next she was spitting caustic words at them. She was mad. It was the first time she'd really felt slighted. The Fallen God's rage coursed through her, passed down from so many generations before her, igniting a spark in her chest.

She hoped she might be able to charge the other girl and pin her down easily, but she didn't expect it'd be so easy, and it wasn't. The stranger met her with force, and her own back paws scrambled frantically at the ground to try to maintain traction as the two collided. A snarl began to bubble up in Astaroth's chest as they tussled, her frustration only amplified by the fact that she could hardly even see what was happening.

Every movement and every breath sent fog swirling around the heads of the two girls. Though the air was cool, the moisture made it feel stifling; already Asta found herself panting as she tried to keep upright.

One wrong move and she felt herself slipping, pushed backwards by her opponent's weight. The ground is slick beneath her, only worsened thanks to the humidity here. Her back paws give way and she goes tumbling down, sending up a spray of mud in the process. It's only a moment before she quickly tries to climb back up. She's really mad now, though- and she aims to lunge forward with as much fury as a child can, aiming parted jaws for one of Korona's front limbs.

Astaroth vs Korona for Spar
Round 2 / 2
Age: Under 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

Words: 274
Total: 1,462

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION