Shell Shocked

Artorias · 11-17-2020, 12:10 AM

As he and his siblings had continued to grow and get accustomed to being outside the den, their mothers had gotten more lenient on allowing them to explore the pack lands. So long as they didn't stray beyond the borders and didn't go near the water without an adult, they were free to roam. Artorias took advantage of their newfound liberty, poking his nose in every nook and cranny of the Hallows lands that he could find. With his parents and the other members of the pack only a call away, the back and blue-furred boy felt no fear as he dipped his head in and out of alcoves and burrows around the falls. The symphony of tumbling water filled the area with a peaceful soundtrack of white noise, and although he promised to not go in the water, Artorias had always felt drawn to water. The pup meandered along the banks of the pools of cool, clear water, gazing off into it while he wandered around the forest. He loved to swim, and as tempting as it was to go diving right in, he knew the rules and was loathe to disobey his parents. Rudyard he was not.

Padding quietly along past a larger pool, the boy's amber eyes fell upon another opening right along the edge of the water, tucked into the side of the cliffs the falls ran down. He trotted up to the crevice and poked his head inside, peering about the dimly lit chamber. This one was more sizable than the others, but it appeared empty other than a large rock right in the center of the cave. The area had been strewn about with grasses though, and it looked like an animal's den on some kind. But where was the animal? Curious yet cautious, Artorias stepped further into the cave and looked to and fro, trying to find an occupant. He walked around the rock, hoping to find something hiding, but the place was empty. Huh, weird... he thought with a pout and slumped back on his haunches to recline against the rock. He'd hoped to find a small critter of some kind to maybe try to fight. How was he ever going to become a powerful warrior like his mothers if he couldn't find any enemies to fight?

As if the universe heard his wishes, the rock Artorias was leaning against suddenly began to shift and move. Artorias yelped in surprise and leapt away, spinning on his heels to watch as the rock grew legs, then rose up. Eyes wide and mouth agape, Artorias began to back away toward the exit just as a strange, scaly head emerged from the rock and glowered at the young pup. The creature lifted its legs, plodding after the boy as he backed his way out of the cramped cave and out into the bright daylight. As his eyes adjusted to the light, Artorias was able to see the creature for what it was. The larger tortoise came slowly out of the den, angered to have been disturbed, slowly lumbering after him to chase the pup away.

Shaking off the shock, Artorias bared his teeth with a low puppy growl and assumed a combat stance, body lowered and ready to pounce, tail flagged and wagging with excitement. This was it; his first real fight! Artorias charged forward, veering right around the slow-moving tortoise and leaping to snap his teeth down at the tortoise's side. Crunch! Owww! Artorias yelped and jumped back, a pain spiking in his jaws and teeth where he'd bit down on nothing but shell. So the creature was completely covered in armor? That changed things, but Artorias would not be outdone! Stretching his jaws with a few yawns, Artorias circled around the sluggish reptile and ran at it again, sneaking his way underneath the tortoise's legs and leaned up to snap at the tortoise's belly—only to find his muzzle pressing into more hard shell. What?! More armor here too?! How was he supposed to fight this thing?!

The shell got closer as the tortoise tried to crush the pup beneath it by dropping down, but Artorias reacted faster, pulling back just in time and kicking off the ground in a flying leap, landing on top of the thick shell. There was just more armor on top! It was like a big living rock! The tortoise stood up and shifted its weight side to side to shake the dark-furred wolf off of itself. "Whoooa! Heeeey!" Artorias tried to match the movements of the tortoise, but was unable to do so, slipping off and landing in front of the tortoise. The larger reptile leaned down and snapped at the pup's swishing tail, making the boy yelp and scramble to his paws in retreat as a second snap nearly clamped down on his rump. Artorias didn't stop until he had put a few feet of distance between himself and the irritated reptile, growling back at his opponent.

Now free of the pestering wolf, the tortoise began a slow turn back towards its den. Artorias took the opportunity to leap back into the fight, sprinting around behind the tortoise until he found his opening. There, the creature's tail! It wasn't covered in armor like the rest of it! A threatening (as threatening as a pup could be) growl rumbled in the boy's throat as he leapt at the tail, jaws open, small fangs bared, and clamped down with all his might. The tortoise's flesh was tough and scaly, but he found purchase this time. The tortoise released a strange sound Artorias had never heard before and took off towards the forest in a panic with the small wolf hanging from his tail. Artorias continued to growl and gnaw at the tail in his mouth, doing virtually no harm to the reptile, but in his mind, he was exploiting his opponent's weak spot. The tortoise dragged Artorias off by its tail for a few minutes before the pup finally let go of the tail, collapsing to the ground with an "oof" and watched as the tortoise continued to plod off through the trees.

"Coward! Come back and fight me!" Artorias shouted after the fleeing tortoise, chest heaving as he caught his breath and came back down from the thrill of battle. He just stood and watched the slow creature gradually put more distance between them, although it was taking an excruciatingly long time. Artorias just stood there awkwardly, watching the tortoise try to run away. "Y-Yeah, you better run! I'll... uh..." Artorias glanced back and forth around the forest, not exactly sure what to do now. "I guess I'll just go then."

Artorias was about to turn and head back to the falls when an idea popped in his head. If the creature was wearing armor at all times, it would be a great mount to ride into battle! Eyes brightening at the visualization of himself riding the tortoise into combat, clad in shining armor, ready to face all his foes, Artorias grinned and charged at the tortoise again, leaping off a nearby rock and getting just enough clearance to land on top of the retreating reptile. He grunted when he landed and quickly shifted his paws to a more stable position, practically surfing on the shell of the tortoise as it carried him off ever so slowly through the forest back towards the falls. A gleeful, young laugh left the pup as he rode on the tortoise's shell back around the pools of water, looking around for someone—anyone—to see what he had accomplished! Somebody had to see this!

Rounding one pool of water. Artorias spotted the dark form of his mother Tamsyn walking by, probably off doing whatever boring grown up things she had to do. Both of his parents were very important wolves in the pack, and he was very proud of them, but darn did they lead boring lives! "Hi Mama!" shouted Artorias from the back of his new steed, waving a paw excitedly to her as if this was the most normal thing to be occurring right now.

"Speech" — Thoughts

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