She was following orders. No leaving designated pack areas without an escort. Bramble could easily listen to her parents without getting into trouble. There was no way in any shape or form that the young pup was looking for trouble at all that day. Nope, not one bit. All she was doing was wandering along the Starlit Plains on a little patrol. The weather was beautiful. A calm albeit chilly breezy rolled in off the shore and had the grass around her waving as if it were a flag. Off in the distance, she could see the castle where shadows of wolves moved about. On the far side, she could just barely see the tops of the trees among the grove. Closest to her, just over the boundary edge of the plains, her bright teal eyes could see the crumbling ruins. God's Garden is what it had been called. Her father had explicitly explained that that area was the cutoff to her safe boundaries. Not a single step closer or if she were to be caught, she would be in even deeper trouble. Not particularly wanting to find out what her father would have in store for her, Bramble minded her business. Strolling with that carefree puppy smile, she chattered to Bristle and Berry. See, Berry was her fisher who enjoyed sitting on her shoulder and Bristle was her raven who liked to flutter in the wind above them. Both companions and guardians for the pup, Bramble felt safe with them around. Content and distracted by her afternoon patrol, Bramble was soon torn away when a high-pitched sound carried to her. Both of her ears pressed forward as her muzzle turned in the direction of the noise. Her whole body froze in motion with one paw raised as she hesitated. Unsure if that was a scream for help, the pup didn't want to disobey orders again. A few seconds later, another scream lit the air causing a flock of birds to scatter. Bristle came fluttering down as Berry snuggled into the scruff of her shoulders. Both of them were giving her the mind your business looks, but how could she? Wouldn't her parents want her to do the right thing? She should at least call for help... A third scream followed by a nasty snarling noise made the pace of her heart quicken. "Sorry dad," she whispered as she took off toward the sound. "Go get him or someone to come help," Bramble called up to Bristle who quickly swooped around and headed straight back for the castle. The distance wasn't far as she jumped over the deteriorating stone and avoided bushes with thorns on them. Arriving on the scene, Bramble assessed from a distance. What looked to be a pink girl smaller than herself was being cornered by a very large and angry-looking badger. While the girl didn't look too scared, Bramble could tell she needed help. "Oh someone please get here soon," the girl muttered to herself as she picked up a rock and threw it at the badger. 511/1500

Fuji couldn't believe her luck. First, she'd been set upon by a pack of feral, angry coyotes and only found herself escaping by the skin of her teeth thanks to the intervention of a stranger, and now here she was, backing up, sword bared, lips pulled back in a snarl and ears lying flat against her skull and for what? A fucking badger? Was the whole world out to get her? Really?

Her mind scanned back to see if she could detect even the slightest hint of what might have upset the crochety old onionstacker. She hadn't upset his set, she'd just stopped to gather some fucking berries to add to a tea blend when she got back home when snuffling and snarling the thing had burst out of the underbrush. How damn rude could you get? And now thanks to her demure size, another fucking giant was coming to her rescue. no offence to the kid, she was sure she was lovely, but damn why was it always someone bigger than her?

When the other wolf started to throw rocks, the beady eyed git seemed to lose his focus on her for just a moment and she took the opportunity to drop her head and dig her heels in. Making the most of the horns that curled either side of her head, she rammed the badger in the shoulder and gave herself enough of an opening to get out of the tight corner she had been backed into, and now she could turn the tables.

Smoothly she pivoted, and lifted her sword between her teeth once again, allowing the sunlight to glint of the blade threateningly. She couldn't speak to the stranger thanks to the hilt between her jaws but she hoped the flick of her tail would be enough encouragement to call the other girl to her side. Between the two of them, surely they'd be able to take care of one badger.

“Speech”

Just move those left feet, go ahead, get crazy

836/1500

One more rock kicked in the badger's direction sent it hurdling right at its temple. When it flinched from the pain, Bramble watched as the bubblegum pink girl rammed her horns into the nasty animal. A whooping cheer left bramble as her tail went wagging excitedly behind her. With enough room now between badger and stranger, she was glad she was able to help. They still had to run the badger off though because the guy was not going to give up. Spittle flying and disgruntled snarls went back in the direction of the other girl. Bramble's gaze shifted from badger to girl who wielded a sword between her teeth. Were those more common than she thought? Maybe she should take her father's sword lessons more seriously... That flick of the girl's tail though was an obvious sign that she wanted assistance fighting the badger. Excited and nervous about still breaking the rules, Bramble hesitated for a second. She couldn't honestly leave the girl alone until the badger was run off. Inhaling a deep breath and setting her shoulders, she bounded over to the girl and slid to a scrambling stop beside her. Baring her sharp claws, Bramble then turned her eyes on the badger that looked at them both questioningly. It was one thing to take on one small wolf, but two? That added a bit of extra danger. Without waiting for the badger to make its next move, Bramble dove in. With her claws extended and forelimbs reaching out, she aimed to swipe at the badger's eyes. If she could blind the pissed-off badger, they would be able to chase it away faster or even kill it. 1115/1500

Even at what? 2 seasons old? The kid stood taller than she was and didn't that just rankle Fuji... But she wouldn't take it out on the young girl that was just trying to help her. She would wallow in her self-pity later. The brown and... what would you call that colour? Green? Blue? pup charged in aiming right for the eyes and Fuji had to give her credit. It was an effective strategy, even if she was opening herself up to get her paw broken.

With the badger distracted, she set her sword between steady jaws, her saber fangs providing extra stability as she rounded on the back end of the mustelid (for all the awful smell rolling off it). She aimed a slash towards the delicate tendons of their adversary, red blood falling like rain with the force of her blow (she could have sworn it took more than that to bring down the coyotes).

The badgers back end crumpled and she was quick to drop her sword and latch onto a thigh, attempting to hold the creature back from retaliation to the younger wolf's attack on its front. Sabre fangs sunk deeply into flesh as the small girl chewed back and forth like a viper injecting venom. There was a big artery in the back legs of most animals, and if she were able to find it, it would be curtains for their adversary.

Her muscles were screaming with fatigue, her teeth hurt from the thrashing of the badger when finally muscle gave way and blood flooded her mouth, staining her white markings on her face and down her front. She was sure she must look a real fright, but as the threat was neutralised, growing limp in her jaws, she lessened her hold and used her dexterous paws to help release her dagger like teeth from the mangled flesh where she had taken hold.

Once she was free she stood for a moment, catching her breath with her head hanging between her shoulders and the ground. Adrenaline fled her system, leaving her shaky limbed and gasping for air, her horns had never felt so heavy. There was still a ringing in the back of her ears. She stepped closer to check her saviour over, finally finding her voice again. “Thank you.”, her accent was heavy and the common tongue thick and foreign in her mouth. “I'm Fuji, from Tojo-Kai. Jus' on m'way home. Yer should keep'im. Are yer ok?”

“Speech”

Just move those left feet, go ahead, get crazy

-1528/1500-

Her claws successfully grabbed at the badger's cheeks. Right at the corners of their eyes, she watched as the badger closed them tightly. It was starting to flail and grunt. Wildly trying to get ahold of her, she was feeling braver now than a few moments prior. Continuing to hack and slash at the badger's face until her own face and chest were covered in blood, Bramble didn't stop until the badger fell to the ground. She was quickly out of breath, her chest beginning to heave with difficulty as the adrenaline began to fade. Once their opponent was rightfully dead and limp on the ground, her bright teal eyes turned to the small-horned girl. "No thanks needed," Bramble said breathlessly as she plunked her butt down on the cool stone. Even if it was slightly difficult to understand the girl's common tongue, she got the understanding she needed. "Bramble Carpathius, I live just over in that castle," she pointed lazily with her paw as her eyes flicked over to the bloodied beast. "Tojo-Kai is in the bamboo, yes? I met your Kaicho once. Maybe I can come to visit sometime?" Bramble asks with an eagerness in her tone as her tail taps against the ground. Bramble Carpathius