She pushed herself as close against the border between the rapids and the thicket that her body could get. Already Poem was debating the best time to sneak over the border without her mother noticing and bring Motif along. Currently the girls had been playing there for most of the morning with.. what Poem really didn’t know. The cub kind of reminded her almost of a squirrel, but it didn’t want much to do with trees and it was much more stout. And kind of stinky, but that made things fun.

The girls didn’t know they were having a good ol’ time with a honey badger cub. Its own mother was out gathering food, and it was supposed to be holed away safely in the den. Much like Poem though, the little ball of spitfire had to push the boundaries and go out on its own. That was when it ran into Motif and Poem. Of course the girls had no intentions of harming the creature, it was a fun playmate. Despite how much smaller it was than she, it made a good little sparring partner. The lessons Poem learned in play with this little creature would go on to help the child when she as an adult and had to face quick little opponents.

Now even though the three of them were having the times of their lives that didn’t mean that the mother would believe that. The she badger noticed immediately her cub was no longer in safety and rushed to see it with two large wolf pups. Despite the innocent play and laughter all around the honey badger wasn’t having any of it. With one of the oddest battle roars Poem had ever heard the badger charged the girls.

Poem panicked, finding her feet and scuttling out of the way, running from the cub like it had just ignited. Her gaze grew wide, blue and lavender flashing as her claws dug into the earth. Her hackles bristled as she tried to keep her eyes on the most dangerous part, the angry honey badger mother. Who, blessedly, went first to check her cub. Who of course was fine, but that didn’t mean she was going to let Poem or Motif off easily. She turned around just as quickly as she had rushed to the cub’s side.

Poem felt the adrenaline start pumping through her veins as she searched for Motif. She couldn’t decide if it was better to stick together or to go alone to help confused the angry mom.


word count: 422

Motif couldn’t believe their luck, with the cute little creature that Poem had found, and how they had sneakily played with it all morning without getting caught. Motif could pretend that she had a companion, just like both her mother and father had their birds. Poem was rougher, wanting to rough and tumble with the creature in mock battle. The little furry thing didn’t seem to mind, it was enjoying its playtime. For something that wasn’t a wolf, it sure acted like it wasn’t scared of anything!

Motif was on the sidelines, her little tail wagging as Poem tumbled with the creature. She was learning by watching, and laughing happily, all three of them where having the time of their lives - right up until a weird roarish noise disturbed them. Motif’s fur went on end in surprise as she looked up at the adult-version of their friend. She managed only a ‘meep’ sort of noise before Poem was scrambling away from the baby.

Motif ran to her sister’s side, she generally deferred to Poem in important matters, knowing her sister was quick on her feet, and a little bossy. “What should we do!” she huffed, eyeing the mother honey badger which had finished sniffing her baby and spun around to face the pups. She had a bad feeling about this...

If Poem had time to think about the loss of their playmate she would have regretted the end that had come. Though she didn’t realize that the ending could become even worse. These were honey badgers. These things didn’t fear anything and they were more tenacious than any other creature in Boreas. This she badger had the ability to really mess the two young pups up. Poem hadn’t expected to go from having a great time to fighting for her life.

Her father had already started their training, with Shaye doing her part as well. The girls knew the basics of how to defend themselves their parents had seen to that. Poem felt herself fall into a defensive stance instinctively as she faced the enraged mother. Her ears fell back and she narrowed her gaze as her shoulders rolled forward and she tucked her chin. She dug her claws into the earth as her long white tail straightened out behind her. Her joints bent and she growled as Motif rushed to her side.

Her sister sounded as disappointed as Poem felt about losing their fun friend, neither girl held fear in their heart. Though if it was because of increased bravery or just foolishness was up for debate. What they should have done was call for an adult the moment they saw the mother badger, but Poem was determined to take on challenges with out the help of grown ups. Noir had survived an attack from a mountain lion, what could she do?

”Probably run,” she answered. Motif often deferred to her for the decision making, something Poem didn’t mind. Likely Shaye had noticed as well. But I kinda wanna fight.” She answered, amusement obvious an her features as she evenly distributed her weight over her four paws. ”What do you think, Mo?” She asked, raising her eyebrows towards her sister.

word count: 315

Motif glanced at Poem, and then did a double take as she realised her sister was falling into a battle stance. She made it look natural and easy, and admittedly she felt a little bit jealous. Poem looked like a fighter, poised and proud in that moment. She had no doubt what path her sister would chose in the future, and it wouldn’t be an easy one. She considered her sister, and after a moment of fumbling, the darker pup would mimic her stance. She tucked her ears like Poem had, narrowed her gaze, through she disliked the way it limited her vision. She rolled her shoulders and tucked her chin, and in truth, felt a little silly doing it. She doubted she looked anywhere near as calm and serious as her sister did.

She tensed when Poem suggested running, but just as quickly realised this wasn’t her sisters favoured option. “If you wanna fight, we fight.” Motif growled, puffing herself up so she might actually looked like she fit the big words. She would stay by Poem’s side, that was what she had always vowed, to stay by her sister. She evened her weight as she saw Poem rock slightly with the motion of doing so. She had every intention of mimicking Poem’s fighting style. Her sister was the one who learned fighting the fastest, so she would have the best idea what to do. “So, uh, now what?” she whispered to Poem, feeling like she had set up her stance as best as she could.

Word count: 261
total words: 1,218

Poem couldn't help but notice her sister shifting herself to mimic her own defensive pose. Their father had been working hard with them to perfect the practice. Poem’s eventual downfall wouldn’t be her lack of ability to defend herself, but her inexperience in battle. Motif was quick to follow her lead, and wouldn’t back down either. She wouldn’t even entertain the thought, which made Poem grin. Motif was her right hand, her back-up, her wingman. They were two peas in the same pod and Poem would cherish that relationship even more the older and more experienced they got.

Motif was barely able to get her last whisper out when the mother badger lost her patience and charged. Poem didn’t hesitate to react, and really should have waited. She leaped away from Motif and the enraged badger with enough time that the honey badger would focus on her. Poem became the pursued. For the first time since the mother appeared she’d feel nervousness in her gut. The sound of snapping teeth made Poem put a boost on as she raced out of reach of its jaws.

She had to steel herself then, she had meant to fight and that was what she was going to do. Poem stopped short and whipped around to face the badger as she leapt towards Poem’s face. Poem coiled and sprung on her legs, and the two creatures collided. Poem tried to sink her teeth into the creatures scruff, she was only barely taller than the badger and nowhere near as heavy. There was no grip though, all she got was loose skin as the honey badger put her head down and bowled Poem down. She knocked her legs right out from underneath the pup and caused Poem to go sprawling.

wc: 295

Poem jumped to battle, steering the creature away from Motif with her action, and the young girl was left watch with wide eyes as Poem and the honey badger collided. The next thing she knew Poem was knocked over, and Motif yowled in surprise and jumped forward, spitting and hissing at the creature in anger.

At first, she thought her leap had intimidated the creature, because it paused, and Motif was instantly over her sister in a protective stance. She might not know much fighting, but she was there for Poem, always.

In the next moment, she realised their playmate, and the creatures offspring had intervened, it had approached its mother, and bit her scruff and growled at her. They seemed to talk for a moment, before the mother puffed himself up, scowled warningly at the two kids, and padded off with her babe.

The young Destruction felt her body slam into the ground and the breath was knocked completely out of her. She didn’t realize how much danger she was in, but as her sister yowled a surge of protectiveness rushed through her. She couldn’t get up though, and Poem sputtered on the ground as Motif stood over her protectively. Thank goodness for having such a great sister to back her up.

Poem couldn’t see what was going on, but the next attack she had expected never came. She tried to turn her features as she slowly regained her breath. She tried to breath in deeply as her unfocused gaze looked upwards at her sister’s pale belly.

”Mo?” She asked worriedly as the world refused to focus.