The snows had come and gone and the pain of losing her father never left Pestilence's heart. Everyone had said it would fade with time, though so far the pup had noticed no difference in the sheer amount of hurt she felt every time she heard his name. Her pain slowly turned to resentment, and each time a member of the family mentioned the name Abraxas she wanted to hit them. She didn't blame her siblings for trying to drown their sorrows in belief and religion and fairy tales, though she did hate how pushy some of them were for Pesto to accept their lies for truths. The only truth she knew now was that the volcano's wrath was the strongest force on earth and it had taken her father from her forever.  Under Sirius and her mother's guidance the young princess was doing her best to emulate the powerful force of nature. She wanted to be strong like the volcano and like her tutors. One day she'd return to the birthplace of her Abraxas blood and wipe their stain from the earth. For now, she spent her time training for that moment. She'd found a secluded place among the rocks with a shallow pool of water perfect size for a pup to swim and not endanger itself. Pestilence claimed the spot as her own, returning daily to run laps against the water's resistance to strengthen her legs and hone her muscles. Occasionally a squirrel or rabbit could be found at the water source, and on those days she'd do her best to hunt and kill it although so far she'd failed in every attempt. Continuing her training, Pestilence approached her secret place once more and stepped into the cool water to begin her sprints. While she was growing fast and would soon be too tall to effectively utilize the water's resistance, she'd do her best to use it until the day came that she needed to train elsewhere.  "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Venom didn’t miss how her sister reacted towards the mention of their father’s god and surname. The white gloved girl hadn’t made an attempt to exploit her sister with the fact, but she noticed how Pestilence kept herself away from the rest of them and seemed to have a routine. Venom was curious about where her sister went everyday and this would be the time she followed her.

They all processed their father’s death differently. Venom felt better about his ascension into the afterlife after having set eyes on him in the vivid dream. Not that Pestilence had believed them when she had been told about the events. Archon sought for them to bring their other siblings the next time, but were they already too far gone? Would Pesto ever believe? Was it her responsibility to see to it? She had her doubts these days. Her sister would make her own path, what mattered was strength and loyalty to their mother and the Empire.

Vivid amethyst eyes watched from a distance as Pestilence slowed and lowered her head, indicating she’d come to her destination. As Pesto slipped under the water’s surface Venom surged forward. No real ill intent meant she stopped at the edge of the water with her brows perked as she finally confronted her sibling. ”Are you training, Pestilence?” She asked curiously. She’d trained with Calla recently, she felt the need to face of with her sister as well.

wc:243

He still didn't know what to feel or how to feel about his father's death. He kept to himself, keeping away from siblings full blooded and otherwise. He didn't know the half bloods. Didn't really care to get to know them...but he was jealous that he heard word that some of them had seen his father in a dream. And yet, he had been kept in the dark. What did he have to do to see his father again? Frustrated, he left his den a ransacked mess and headed out to potentially find something else to take his frustration out on. Maybe a tree...or...no...that wouldn't do any good. He needed something that would feel him. Something that would understand the pain and hurt and sorrow and anger that he felt. Or at least, someone to take the blunt end of his anger, anyway. 

The volcano had taken his father. 

His mother was distant, too.

He felt like he didn't really have a place here.

While the alphess' kids has titles like princess. But he figured that because they were her kids they got all sorts of special treatment. Shouldn't they all get those titles if they were born from Archon? He remembered when Deathbelle made a big deal about his dad dying...how she loved him and all that crap.

But he supposed that love didn't extend to his other kids. Just hers.

It was definitely an understatement to say he was mad and jealous of those other brats. They got all the attention and special treatment while he sat in the background practically forgotten. He knew that if his dad were still alive, it would be different. But he wasn't. 

So when he heard voices and the distinct stench of the alpha kids, he sought them out and watched from his perch on a rock nearby. His gaze was stone cold, no warm features or anything on him as he watched the one swimming around and the other standing on the edge of the water. Her back was to him...which gave him a mischievous thought.

Would the spoiled little princess hate getting wet? 

Whatever her reaction, he quietly got down from his perch and stalked over, not really caring if they saw him or not. He feigned moving towards the waters edge until he was closer to her (Venom) before he rushed forward and pretty much aimed to shove her into the water. 

He didn't particularly care if he got into trouble for this later. At least he'd be getting some attention.

OOC: POWERPLAY OF VENOM APPROVED BY KAT.

A small voice broke through the pup's concentration and she nearly tumbled into the water in surprise. Her head spun to confront the intruder with a growl, seeing her gifted sister standing before her. She'd felt such close connection with her littermates when she was little, but as Venom grew and her blessings became known she'd gotten a lot of attention from mother and father. They were supposedly gifts from Abraxas, and looking upon them now filled the pup with rage. "Yes, now get lost." She snapped, turning away from Venom with a huff.  She'd not expected an assault from behind, never thinking her sister would attack her without cause. From the pup's perspective, Venom must have been the perpetrator. Her body flew into the water, knocking into Pesto hard and tumbling her into the pool with a splash. Once she found her footing and came back above water, she spun on her sister. "What the hell, Venom!?" She demanded, lifting a paw to brush the water from her eyes and face. Though a third was present now, she hadn't realized that it was him who pushed Venom and not Venom who'd pushed her. The little pup was filled with rage at the betrayal, her stare icy as she glared up at the pup. "I hate you, go away!" She lashed out, leaping forward towards Venom. Her lips parted and she aimed to land a bite upon the girl's muzzle near her nose. Pesto was tired of her siblings, tired of Abraxas, and ready to show her littermate that it was strength that mattered most of all. TOTAL WORD COUNT: 932 Pestilence Klein - Abraxas vs Gadreel vs Venom for Dominance Round 1/? Age: Under 1 year Size: Extra large Build: Light Skills: Intermediate Fighter "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

She liked to think that had she asked the question to any of her other siblings they would have invited her along. She honestly wasn’t expecting her sister’s rebuttal and dismissal. ”You can’t tell me what…” Before she could even finish the girl was being sent forward unexpectedly into her sister’s hind end. The transfer of momentum into Pesto kept Venom from stumbling completely into the water.

Pesto nearly forgotten her quills rose as she pulled back to her lips to snarl at the intruder who had so rudely shoved into her. ”Coward,” the word came out as Pestilence tried to blame her for pushing her into the water. The girl was paying too much attention to the hermit child Gadreel to realize that Pesto had been building rage up inside of her. Already hurt by Pesto’s dismissal and now their half-sibling’s sneaking actions Venom didn’t know where to look. However with her pink gaze settled on her brother she didn’t realize her sister was going to come after her.

Feeling thoroughly betrayed by her littermate she leapt away from the attack and aimed to swipe her extended claws at her sister’s face while she tried to keep her eyes on the other boy. She kept her quills up with her hackles and pointed in his general direction in case he tried to attack her from behind again.

Venom Klein Abraxas vs Pestilence vs Gadreel for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: under 1 yr
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Defensive:Quills
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Novice Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

A satisfied sneer showed on his features when his sneak attack was successful. Or at least, sort of. He hadn't meant to shove Pestilence into the water but there wasn't anything he could - or would - do about it right now. It seemed the girl that had fallen into the water was really, really pissed with Venom for one reason or another, and he briefly wondered if that extended to him. He had very little interaction with any of them, and as far as he could tell the little princess that he had initially tried to push in was the type that got up into everyone's business. Maybe that was another reason Pesto was so angry? He wasn't quite sure. But as things unfolded, he was pleased to see he had instigated something between them.

Served the little princess right. Who did she think she was? She wasn't better than them other than being a freak with her quills and gross snake tongue. Yeah...that's what he thought of her. A freak. So when Venom called him a coward, he sneered and let it roll off his back. "I was just having a bit of fun, you nosy little freak." He drawled as he lunged forward in an effort to grab one of her hind paws. He kept himself low to avoid the quills on her back. He didn't only just try to grab a leg with his teeth, but he sought to pull the other one out from under her with his paws. If he was successful, he wanted to drag her legs out from under her and hoped she would fall in the water

Gadreel Abraxas vs Venom vs Pestilence for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Under 1yr
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter

Venom's claws swiped across Pesto's nose and she yelped. Reacting without thought she snapped her jaws at the air infront of her to try and retaliate against the paw as it moved away. She splashed back onto land to get some solid footing, seeing the boy going for her sister. Pestilence froze for a moment while she looked back and forth between them. "Hey!" She shouted finally, ducking down into a stance ready to pounce. Kleins stick together. Who was it who told her that? Pesto couldn't remember, but she also knew she wouldn't let this Abraxas scum attack her littermate, even if the girls were fighting too. "Let her go!" She moved forward in an attempt to grab Gadreel's own hind leg as he went for Venom's.   Total Word Count: 1763. Pestilence Klein - Abraxas vs Gadreel vs Venom for Dominance Round 2/2 Age: Under 1 year Size: Extra large Build: Light Skills: Intermediate Fighter "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Venom wasn’t paying half as much attention to Pestilence as she should have, but she returned her paw to herself quick enough that her sister’s teeth didn’t grasp hold of her paws. Gadreel offered a verbal attack of his own, had she realized it the girl would be thankful for Pesto’s sudden freeze. Her half brother certainly didn’t change her opinion of him as he called her names, not that she cared what he thought of her to begin with. What she did care about was his teeth.

The young Princess shifted her weight to her front paws as he went in low and attacked her hind limbs. Venom kicked out with her hind paws in a counter attack. Hopefully she’d kick his teeth in. Her sister made a return to the battle as well when she realized Gadreel was also on Venom’s case. She had been feeling a bit outnumbered, but since Pesto was so obviously going for the boy she refrained from biting at her on her way by.

Venom Klein Abraxas vs Pestilence vs Gadreel for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: under 1 yr
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Defensive:Quills
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Novice Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

Well, things escalated in a way he both expected but also didn't expect. The girl who had initially been mad at the freak had turned on him, and the girl he was initially attacking had also turned her full attention on him, too. Growling with determination, he carefully (and quickly) weighed his options. He could continue to go after the one and risk the other biting him, or...yeah, screw it. If he had to defend himself against both of them, then he would have to do just that.

The boy shifted his weight to his other paws and lifted his hind paw to avoid Pesto's bite, though he quickly struck out with that same paw with the intention of kicking her hard and fast square in her face and hopefully knocking her away from him. His eyes never left Venom, however, and as soon as he saw that she shifted her weight to her front paws and lifted her hind paws to kick him, he lunged forward in an effort to try and slide beneath her and thrust her up and into the water. Her hind paws grazed the fur on his shoulders, but as he tried to slide beneath her, he sought to bite one of her front legs to try and help throw her further off balance and into the pool of water.

Gadreel Abraxas vs Venom vs Pestilence for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Under 1yr
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter

And the winner is...

Gadreel

Pestilence and Venom must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Pestilence: 235.74 (28 65.1 85.05 70) Venom: 200.69 (45.1 47.15 84 35) Gadreel: 245.23 (18 104.5 82 84)

Pestilence's target leg was drawn away from her bite just in time, and before she had time to readjust the boy's paw was flying back at her and landing a kick square upon her head, just above her eye. The impact sent her reeling as she abandoned the fight, throwing herself to the ground away from Gadreel and covering the sore eye with one paw. "You're a jerk, and you'll never be my brother!" She yelled out at him bitterly, hating the fact that he'd won. Her head was throbbing, and she pulled back her lips to growl at the boy as he continued to fight and eventually beat her sister too. A strong part of her wanted to run and tattle to her mother, that this boy had the audacity to harm two of the Ashen princesses. The other part of her didn't want to feel weakened by the experience, and instead promised to train harder so that one day she could make the boy eat dirt. "You may be stronger now, but wait until we all grow up. You're practically an orphan, at least we'll have family to teach us how to get better!" It was harsh, and Pestilence immediately felt badly for the comment. In reality Gadreel's lost father was the same man Venom and Pesto had lost, but the girls were lucky to still have a present mother. While Dea might not be dead, she was still considered missing and that to the girl was no different then dead and gone. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

In honesty Venom was used to loosing, she hadn’t won a fight yet against her mentor. Her first lessons were to loose gracefully. That wasn’t exactly an option as her half brother toppled her into the water. The whole situation was frustrating to the young princess. At the beginning she had sought out a simple time to train with her almost twin. She wasn’t as close to her sibling as she had been before the volcano’s eruption. The loss of their father had changed all of them. Kleins were supposed to stick together though, and she felt betrayed by her sister.

Venom expected the animosity from her brooding half sibling, he had always been a jerk and didn’t hide his disdain for his superior siblings. When she resurfaced from the water she was done with the both of them. She coudn’t deny that Pesto’s words were more than harsh though.

The young princess shook the water from her fur and before turning to leave the whole interaction behind her she looked to Pesto. ”Don’t stoop to his level.” She told her simply as she set her eyes on her escape route. She was frustrated and angry but she wouldn’t let it show as she left the two traitors be.

-exit venom?-

Pesto's words did little to rankle him. They slid off his back like water off a ducks feathers. He had won. And that's all that mattered. "You think I really give a shit? You lost. And I bet it's because you're such a disappointment to dad that you lost. So go on and cry to your mom." He rolled his shoulders and expected to have to say something to Venom too, but she said nothing to him and instead, walked off without a word. Good. Those two spoiled little brats didn't know a damn thing on his side of the fence. They liked to act like they knew everything, but they didn't have a god damn clue. He sneered at Pesto before turning and walking off to look for Tox. Why he wanted to seek her out, he wasn't sure. Maybe he just wanted to gloat and brag about winning the two most spoiled little girls in the pack.

-exit-