I like that boulder, that's a nice boulder

The air bit into Oath's skin, the harsh chill cutting through his thick scarlet fur despite his efforts to ignore it. His rainbow-spotted frame moved through the barren landscape in sync with Atreyu and Azriel, his mind drifting between silent thoughts and his usual nonchalance. He'd been trying to avoid the weight of the cold, but his stomach had other ideas. Every step seemed to sink a little more, the cold sapping his energy, and he silently cursed the frigid weather for dulling his normally sharp demeanor.

When Atreyu found the den, Oath moved forward, his cyan eyes gleaming under his bright crimson horns as they scanned the terrain around them. He noted how Azriel positioned himself at the entrance, always on guard. Oath admired that about him, though he wouldn't say it out loud. He was loyal, capable - a good friend despite the secrets that seemed to linger between them.

As Atreyu set about building the fire, Oath positioned himself inside the den, trying to shake the stiffness from his limbs. It was then that he heard the commotion outside: three badgers, hostile and snarling. Oath didn't need a second to react. His body instinctively followed the sound of Azriel's snarl, ears pricked and eyes narrowing.

He moved quickly, his magenta fur a blur as he rushed out of the den. His jaw clenched as he took in the sight of the badgers, their smaller forms bristling with aggression. He could see Azriel was already on one of them, aiming to snap its neck, and without hesitation, Oath lunged toward another. His voice was calm, measured, even as adrenaline coursed through him.

"Let's make this quick," he muttered, mostly to himself.

One badger turned its attention to Oath, growling as it charged him, but he was faster. His claws raked through the air, colliding with the badger's side as he forced it to the ground with the weight of his body. The creature squirmed, gnashing its teeth, but Oath's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. He lowered his head, his sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight as he bit into the badger's neck, his jaws tightening until he felt the satisfying crunch of bone.

He stepped back, blood staining his muzzle as he turned his attention to the last badger, already cornered between Azriel and Atreyu. It wouldn't last long. Oath wiped his mouth on the back of his paw, nodding to Azriel. His red horns cast an ominous shadow in the flickering light of the fire, and he smirked, adrenaline still coursing through him.

"Need a hand with that one?" he asked, his voice low but playful, as if the fight had barely rattled him.

Without waiting for a response, Oath surged forward, his body a blur of crimson and black as he charged that the last badger. The creature snarled, trying to defend itself, but Oath's speed and strength were overwhelming. He slammed into the badger, knocking it off balance before delivering a swift bite to its throat. His teeth sank in deep, cutting off its air as he pinned it beneath him. The badger thrashed once before going limp. Oath released it, stepping back to assess the scene with a satisfied flick of his tail.