Onyx’s life had never changed. Or, her purpose to her at least. She had been apart of two packs now… looked for Oki. Somehow had some boy troubles in her life. Was that more of a miracle for her or of her? Both probably.

Paws took her to the next hunt. The next den. Her mind stuck on her siblings now. Maybe she should turn to them. Deep down she knew it was better than being alone. She missed them. Never easy to admit on her end.

She came to the willows avoiding the western deserts of Boreas even in the cold winter. She didn’t like sand much in general, or swimming. She was definitely a difficult creature. Standing under the frost cicled willows and the frozen lake beneath. What to do to fill her time for the rest of the day.

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

Three wolfish borzoi stand before you, shifting with anticipation. Their glowing green eyes flitter and dance with an ethereal excitement. To your left, a pale and excitable wolf beckons, their tail wagging fervently behind them. In the center, a mournful wolf who's coat is such a pure slate, it seems as if she's tinged blue. To your right stands a dark abrasive looking wolf who's eyes are barely visible under his furrowed brow as he impatiently awaits your decision. In fact, it seems they are all waiting for you to make a choice between the three.

Who do you choose?

Easy Route: The Gleeful Guide

This route poses minimal risk, but also lesser rewards.
Risks: Scarring, small loss of gems/skill points

Medium Route: The Sorrowful Guide

This route poses some risk and moderate rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

Hard Route: The Irascible Guide

This route poses the most risk and greater rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

As Onyx came back into reality, her head picked up from the muddled reflection in the ice below her paws. Her eyes shifted quickly through the trees around her before she spun around the head off. The winter provided many places for her to call home outside of the northern lands. As her paws moved forward into the willows, a group of three wolves seemed to appear almost of of thin air or from behind the trees. Alarming. They didn't attack immediately but it was normal for her to be skeptical. A brow raised as the three settled, and soon she would lift her paw to point at the dark wolf to the side, "I feel like you and I can relate." A feeling maybe... A choice? Definitely not. But the gruff looking guy definitely looked like her kind of party.

Onyx Chooses the hard route

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider. After a moment, the tough looking wolf grunts in approval and turns to lead.

As you follow, a thick smoke rolls in and masks sight and smell. Through watery eyes, you are barely able to follow the guide, but eventually the smoke begins to clear and you are hit with the strong smell of Sulphur. You take a step forward and the guide pulls you back slightly. Blinking the rest of the tears out of your eyes, you realize you're on the edge of a steep chasm- a chasm filled with bubbling lava. One wrong move and it's over.

The guide motions to a wobbly wooden bridge that connects down into a cave on the other side of the canyon.

What do you do?

Strength: Dash across before the bridge can collapse.

If you're fast, the bridge won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Make the guide go first.

This was his idea, so make him go first.

Dexterity: Balance lightly between the planks evenly as you go.

Most of the planks seem stable enough. If you balance evenly, surely none of them will break.

Wisdom: Evaluate the safest planks to walk on.

If you take your time, you can pick out the safest planks.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

As the wolf went to lead her away she was still skeptical. The typical scorn on her face as she decided to follow behind him.

So strange where they ended up... she had never been here before. And she had done a lot of exploring over the last year or so. She didn't question if this was real or not, but it all definitely felt weird. The man would point across the lava lake over a less than sturdy looking bridge. She raised her brow back at the man before straightening up her posture again. She pointed, "No way, you first." He'd go ahead, or this was a huge waste of time. It probably already was.

Onyx chooses charisma

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

You ask the guide to go first and he doesn't budge. For a long while there is silence, then he is behind you. He pushes you forward, onto the bridge and blocking your way out. The bridge swings and creaks awfully. He pushes you across, scruffing you and dragging you if he must before he deposits you on the other side of the bridge and walks into the cave, not waiting for you to follow.

In the struggle, you scrape the right side of your jaw. It bleeds a little, but will heal just fine.

Inside the cave, warm lava lights the way. Small pools bubble and small streams flow from tiny cracks in the walls. Several boulders act as stepping stones across larger gaps, and small wooden bridges span other areas. Around the walls of the room, a thin edge navigates above any threat of lava. It is clear you need to get to the end of this room if you wish to continue your journey.

What do you do?

Strength: Take the stepping stones.

The stepping stones look sturdy and all you have to do it jump a little.

Charisma: Ask the guide to lead the way.

The guide should know the way through the pass.

Dexterity: Take the thin edge.

Creeping on the thin edge keeps you above and away from danger.

Wisdom: Take the bridges.

The bridges are obviously there for a reason, so use them.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Onyx certainly wasn't expecting the way the guide threw her forwards and nearly pushed her across the bridge. She wasn't scared at least, she could handle herself. But it was quite alarming. Only feeling the sting on her face for a moment it would be quickly forgotten once they reached the other side of the bridge and the man moved forward into the cave. She could have easily left this asshole now, but it would seems there was more to what he wanted. Not just to push her around. She didn't think they were much the same anymore, but intrigued enough she still went forward after him.

Somewhat careful paws ahead as she followed the man at a decent distance though it seemed like he was pacing faster than he was actually moving. Strange. As they came to a halt in a rocky room full of bridges and lava, she glared at the guy for a quick moment before assessing the area a little further. No way was she telling him to go ahead first again, he'd certainly throw her into one of the pools or hold one of her limbs in. The bridge outside was rickety, but it seemed to hold them both in the struggle. Still, she looked towards the ledges. She was accustomed to snowy mountain climbing, so that's what she would go for.

"Onyx chooses dexterity

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

You traverse the thin, crumbling edge around the room. To no one's surprise, it cracks, and your paw slips. You scramble at the surface just enough to save yourself from falling in with a little help of the guide. The lava sputters, splashing you across your throat. The lava singes through your fur, leaving a deep burn about the size of a wolf's paw (5in x 4in). Ouch! that's gonna leave a scar.

Across the lava room stands a flat piece of smooth stone, so level and flat, it is as if thousands of paws had worn it over time. It looks cool to the touch and vaguely important. Surrounding it is a mote of lava, separated only by sharp stalagmites that impale it to point towards the open ceiling. There is no discernible path across. You know you must get there one way or another, but you're not sure you'll be able to go back the same way you came if you cross.

What do you do?

Strength: Jump over the gap.

If you push off real hard, you can close the gap... probably.

Charisma: Ask the guide to help.

Maybe just this once...? He's got to know something!

Dexterity: Use the stalagmites as stepping stones.

If you're careful, some of the tips of the stalagmites look wide enough to balance on.

Wisdom: Build a bridge with the materials from the other room.

It'll take a while, but it should work...

LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE.

If you proceed further, you will not be able to leave. Abandoned threads may result in failed rolls.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

As she scaled the wall, the stone beneath her crumbled and while she was able to pull herself back up to the ledge she didn't go unscathed. The searing pain of the lava was somehow numb, or almost like it wasn't real. It definitely was but in this strange place between voids it would make her able to continue on. A paw to her throat for a moment she then looks to her next destination. Definitely a place many had been before it seems.

The way the stone had crumbled before, certainly that wouldn't happen again? Chances high or small she could really never know. Not until she went ahead and did it. Up on her paws she would go for the leap, as always a strength probably seen in her heart. Little fear, and confidence that she made the right choice.

Onyx chooses strength

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

You decide to kick off hard, hoping to close the gap using your sheer strength. Only when you're almost to the other side do you realize you underestimated the size of the gap, and you feel yourself falling, falling, falling...

All you remember is the hot blazing heat and then... cool darkness. You awake outside of the chasm on a smooth, flat rock.

A familiar form kneels beside you, tending your wounds. It takes several blurry moments to realize this is not your guide, but a cluster of fireflies in a cloak the same color as your guide's fur. Your injuries are blindingly painful, but you will live; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you. The worst of your injuries is an excruciatingly painful wound on your shoulder that will no doubt leave a scar (roughly 6 inches long). You feel less skilled somehow now as well, losing 72 fighting skill points.

You realize loosely how little sense that makes and you wonder if this is real, but a warm force closes your eyes and bids you to think of home, of safety. When you awake next, you are in a safe place, one which you might have imagined.

You kick off with all your strength, hoping your back legs are strong enough to propel you over the gap. Fortunately they are, and you land hard on the other side, feeling the impact of your jump ripple through you.

Though you make it to the other side, a low roar behind you gets your attention, and you spin around...

A giant, glowing worm erupts from the molten chasm below, lava sputtering onto the ground before you. It screeches, towering over the stage and you immediately recognize its name as Perry. The guide growls, his stance rigid and wide. This is an enemy that must be dealt with if you wish to escape with your life.

What do you do?

Strength: Find a way to attack the worm.

With the way the worm's head begins to lower toward you, surely you can find time to strike...

Charisma: Convince the guide to deal with the worm.

Surely he has a better idea how to deal with this than you do, right?

Dexterity: Try to dodge the worm and stay out of its range.

Surely there's got to be a way to escape this worm, if you're just quick enough!

Wisdom: Study the worm to figure out how to deal with it.

You've never seen anything quite like this, so maybe acting too rashly isn't the best idea. You decide to study it inside and see what information you can gather.

Rerolled using Firefly's Favor.

As soon as her paws hit the platform she only had a couple seconds before the ground around her stirred. Everything around her felt so real aside from the odd numb pain from the lava stinging her throat. There wasn't time to question. This place was odd but Onyx had experienced enough to not know if this was real or not. She had never come across this place in her travels but the world was always changing.

She was not expecting the giant worm that busted out of the ground however. Quick and experienced paws sprung to face the giant creature, only noticing her guide looking as if he was ready to help her fight. Wow, was this a-hole actually going to help her? She liked fighting for sport but she wasn't the blood thirsty kind. This would have been a matter of life and death it seemed, so it was easy for her to be ready and defend herself. Onyx thought of taking a moment to look at the worm, but it was too big and angry for her to spend too much time looking for a better angle. She decided to jump right for it. There was no other way.

Onyx chooses strength

"Onyx Destruction"
F2U base by Snowylaika

You decide to strike as soon as possible as the worm lowers its head toward you, mouth opening to reveal rows upon rows of jagged, ugly teeth. Though you nearly manage to land a bite, the worm is apparently quicker than you are, striking you hard and fast as everything around you abruptly goes dark....

All you remember is the hot blazing heat and then... cool darkness. You awake outside of the chasm on a smooth, flat rock.

A familiar form kneels beside you, tending your wounds. It takes several blurry moments to realize this is not your guide, but a cluster of fireflies in a cloak the same color as your guide's fur. Your injuries are blindingly painful, but you will live; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you. One in particular will stand out, a deep, ugly wound that lies across your underbelly, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 57 fighting skill points.

You realize loosely how little sense that makes and you wonder if this is real, but a warm force closes your eyes and bids you to think of home, of safety. When you awake next, you are in a safe place, one which you might have imagined.

Three wolfish borzoi bow their heads in appreciation. Thank you for playing the Halloween 2023 event! All is calm as you look out, but there's no telling what's on the horizon... or perhaps even under it...

Look forward to peeks into the event, hiccups, and maybe some hints into the next adventure!

You Gained This Along the Way...

• ??? Companion Flute
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - right jaw
  
• Medium scar - throat
  
• Major injury - underbelly
  
• -57 Fighting skill points