Barghest prowled along the muddy banks of the river, her senses on alert as she searched for signs of prey. She had been allowed out with a friend of her father’s, and it was the best thing ever! The air was thick with the scent of murky water and decaying vegetation, the sounds of the river echoing in her ears.

But as she moved deeper into the dense undergrowth, her ears pricked at the sound of movement nearby. Something large and heavy was crashing through the underbrush, sending birds scattering into the sky in a flurry of feathers. Barghest tensed, her muscles coiling as she prepared to face whatever creature was coming her way.

And then, it emerged from the shadows of the trees, a massive behemoth of muscle and rage. A hippopotamus, (not that she knew that) its massive bulk towering over Barghest like a mountain of flesh and bone. Its eyes glinted with fury, its massive jaws opening in a menacing display of teeth as it regarded Barghest with hostility. The girl held her ground, her aqua eyes narrowed in defiance as she met the hippo's gaze head-on. She knew better than to think she could handle this opponent alone, she wasn’t insane, but she would not turn tail and run before she got a lick on it.

""

Following after her packmate, Nimue was honestly just trying to be nosey and sneaky- hoping she’d catch the daughter of the alpha up to no good. Not that she would tell on her or anything, but she’d certainly act like it, only to gain some type of leverage over Barghest. And so, she was lurking in the shadows, trying to keep out of sight the best she could, using her tiny size to keep herself well concealed in the underbrush. Approaching a river, Nimue held back in the underbrush, waiting to see what the girl would do. Silence surrounded the clearing, but not for long- the thundering of massive feet crashing through the underbrush filling the air around them, causing Nimue to raise her guard and frantically look around. And then, the huge creature emerged from the sidelines, enraged and filled with fury as it went straight for Barghest. Nimue didn’t hesitate, she shot forward on swift paws. Trying to grab it by its right back leg, to turn its attention away from Barg so she could run or try and fight it too. ”Speech”

Cadaver had been roaming the area near Wolfpaw Lake, his senses attuned to the sounds and scents of the wilderness around him. The air was thick with the familiar smells of the marsh, and the gentle rustling of leaves soothed his restless spirit. As he wandered, his thoughts drifted, lost in the peaceful serenity of the moment.

Suddenly, a distant commotion broke the tranquility, snapping Cadaver back to attention. He heard the unmistakable sounds of a struggle, followed by the thunderous footsteps of a large animal. Without hesitation, he raced towards the source of the noise, his instincts telling him that his help was needed. As he arrived at the scene, Cadaver saw Barghest and Nimue facing off against a massive creature, one he had only heard of in stories. A hippopotamus, its massive form towering over the two wolves, posed a significant threat. Cadaver knew he had to act quickly to assist his fellow wolves.

With a deep growl, Cadaver charged towards the hippo, aiming to draw its attention away from the two girls. He knew that this would not be an easy fight, especially not for them. Really, they probably wouldn't have stood a chance without him. As he closed in on the massive beast, he prepared himself for a fierce battle, his muscles tense and ready for action.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

Bowen had accompanied Barghest to Wolfpaw Lake at the behest of her father, Chimera. Bo and Chi had met a few times and the man trusted her to take hius daughter exploring. Things happened sometimes while exploring and today would prove just that. A hulking grey form rocketed from the lake and Bowen yelled for Estie to get out of the way. Forms seemed to come out of nowhere, rushing forward to attack the beast. Bowen was no different. The small fae launched herself from the ground and sank her teeth into the hippo's ear. Blood filled her maw.

"Bowen"

Barghest was resolute and undaunted. Even before the figures of Nimue and the boy emerged, before Bowen's urgent cry reached her ears, she sprang into action. With fierce determination, she circled around the hippo, barking ferociously to disrupt its focus. Then, seizing the moment, she launched herself at its side, aiming to inflict some damage and teach it a lesson for daring to threaten her. The hippo, caught off guard by Barghest's sudden onslaught, grunted in surprise and anger. Its massive form shifted as it attempted to defend itself, but Barghest was relentless in her assault. How was everyone else fairing? Damn this big thing! It’s skin was so hard to bite through! She felt like she’d only managed a trickle of blood so far!
""

More wolves appeared, perhaps interested in the massive, ominous creature lurking in the underbrush. It was dangerous alright- Nimue could tell this wasn’t going to be easy, the moment she bit down on its incredibly tough hide. Her little teeth barely made purchase, she couldn’t even draw blood without having to force her teeth in deeper and shake her head around. A boy suddenly appeared, along with a woman. The boy trying to get the hippo’s attention, while the woman grabbed it by an ear. Barghest shifted gears, circling it and biting into its side. With the assaults, the hippo started to shift, spinning wildly to try and rush the wolves away. Which made Nimue release her grip, stumbling backward before regaining her footing.   ”Speech”

Cadaver's heart pounded in his chest as he joined the fray, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he confronted the massive hippo. He could see Barghest, Bowen, and Nimue all engaging the creature, their determination evident in their every move. The hippo was formidable, its thick hide proving difficult to penetrate, but Cadaver was undeterred. With a fierce growl, Cadaver lunged at the hippo's flank, his sharp teeth sinking into its tough skin. He could taste the metallic tang of blood as he tore at the creature's flesh, aiming to distract and disorient it. The hippo bellowed in pain and rage, its massive body thrashing as it tried to shake off its attackers.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

Bowen kept her jaws latched around the hippos ear for a short while, then, on a spin, she let go, sliding backwards on the damn grass. The others had attacked the beast and were keeping it distracted. This allowed Bowen enough time to run and leap, landing upon the back of the hippo. From her vantage point, Bowen attacked the ears and eyes of the beast. It made the hippo falter in its attacks and take a step back into the water. Perhaps it was rethinking this.

"Bowen Carpathius"

As Bowen released her grip and slid backward, Barghest's instincts kicked in. She lunged forward, ready to cover her retreat. But Bowen had other plans. With a swift and agile leap, she landed atop the hippo's back, her claws finding purchase in its tough hide.

Barghest's heart thrummed with exhilaration and awe as Bowen continued her assault from her newfound vantage point. With each strike to the beast's ears and eyes, Barghest could see the impact it had, causing the hippo to falter and retreat.

An idea. She repositioned, joining Bowen in the attack, her own teeth and claws adding to the onslaught.

""

Avoiding being trampled with only inches to spare, Nimue stayed on the sidelines, looking for her new opportunity to strike. Cadaver was attacking its flank, holding on despite the hippo’s thrashing. Bowen having leaped onto its back, attacking its ears and eyes. And finally, Barghest was following every move Bowen made and landed on the hippo’s back too. The beast started to falter, losing its balance, and Nimue figured, why not help with that. Lunging forward, she propelled herself straight into its side, trying to use the sudden force to knock it over even if she hardly weighed anything. She could count on the two heavier wolves on its backs to help with that, right? ”Speech”

Cadaver felt an electrifying surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he relentlessly attacked the hippo's flank. His sharp teeth dug deeper and deeper into its tough hide, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. The air was filled with the sounds of battle - the snarls and growls of his packmates as they joined in the fierce fight against the massive beast. With each strike, the hippo seemed to weaken, its once-powerful body now showing signs of exhaustion. But Cadaver wasn't about to back down. He could feel victory within his grasp and he was determined to claim it.

As Bowen and Barghest attacked from atop the hippo's back, Cadaver focused on maintaining his grip, refusing to let go despite the creature's violent thrashing. He could feel the hippo's strength waning, its movements becoming more erratic as it struggled to stay upright.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

From atop her perch beside Barghest, Bowen could feel the hippo shudder beneath them. It had had enough and was close to giving up. "It's had enough," the woman called to the others before leaping off of the hippo and back to solid ground. Lips peeled back and Bowen snarled at the massive creature, warning it back into the water and away from them. She continued to follow the hippo. Each step that it took backwards, she took one forwards.

"Bowen"

Bowen Arrow Carpathius