Watch Your Step

The young princess made her way across the boundary line, not even bothering to look back. This was the first time she had gone exploring unsupervised, but it definitely wouldn't be the last. Everest abandoned her siblings to their own petty affairs and sought out one of the darker patches of land. Shadows fell in the evening light, casting darkness over the small pup. But she wasn't afraid. The darkness gave her a thrill, the feeling of cold adrenaline slithering down her spine.

Her lashes drew their own shadow over her poisonous green eyes, and she smiled as her lanky form maneuvered easily around the thorns. Already her form was beginning to fill out, her legs taut with fresh muscle and sinew. Everest couldn't wait until she was grown and she could use that bulk for her own devious purposes. Or perhaps she wouldn't use the brawn of her body so much as the deceiving feminine curves... but that was another matter entirely, a matter that her youthful mind had not yet considered. Either way, Everest had decided that she would end up on top. She would win fights and conquer land and strike fear into the hearts of every wolf she met. But for now, the dark princess busied herself with climbing around dangerous thorns and spikes. It was a worthy pastime.

She chuckled quietly as she noticed a small bird seated atop a bramble of thorns. Her stormy pelt made it easy to melt into the shadows as she approached the creature, verdant eyes aglow in the night. She wiggled her rump in the air as she stalked it, finally pouncing forward to dig into it with her claws. Everest held it in her grasp for a split second, but before she could make the killing bite the creature took flight and left her to scramble against the spikes. She nearly bit down on the deadly bush and had to reel for a moment to regain her balance. One thorn caught the pad of her foot and sliced it, drawing blood. The young girl gasped in pain and retreated quickly to survey the damage. But now the shadows were too dark. She couldn't even see the cut in her paw. Everest whimpered once in frustration and glanced about, thinking about heading home. But she knew Loki would be angry. Should she face the wrath of her father now or deal with a little bleeding for a while longer? With a faint growl, the pup seated herself on the forest floor and held her paw up a bit, glaring into the shadows.

SPEECH