Aresenn stalked ahead, his muscular form moving with calculated precision through the towering redwoods. The ancient trees loomed above him, their trunks so massive they seemed to defy comprehension. He scanned the dim forest floor, his piercing orange eyes probing the dappled shadows for any sign of their quarry. He had previously scouted, meticulously planning every detail of Araxina and Dracun's khalif trial. The memory of spotting the mother black bear and her two adolescent cubs was fresh in his mind.

As he understood it, these trials were generally done solo. But of course, he didn’t feel this was a standard opponent- and he was certainly not going to send one of his kids by themself to face this challenge alone. This may have been bending the rules a little, but afterall, these were not his family’s customs- nor were they Absinth. This was the way the Saxe brought up their kids … and well, when in Rome.

Araxina and Dracun followed close behind- he could hear them back there. He was pretty sure he had done an okay job at conveying the significance of this rite of passage, and to do so without scaring them. He didn’t want them cowed, he wanted them confident. Cautious. Prepared. And gods, they were prepared. They had trained and trained, and trained some more. But you could only train so much. At some point … you had to be tested. And that was the point of this.

Aresenn's mind raced as he led his children deeper into the woods, strategizing and anticipating every possible scenario. He had scouted this area thoroughly, memorizing every rock, every hollow, every potential advantage or pitfall. The image of the mother bear and her cubs was seared into his mind, a formidable challenge he had hand-picked for this pivotal moment. He wasn’t sure who would be home in the den. The cubs were probably three seasons old- as old as Araxina and Dracun. And just as his kids were capable of fighting for themselves … he was sure the adolescent bears would be as well. "Keep your wits about you," Aresenn murmured over his shoulder, his deep voice low and gravelly, resonating through the stillness of the Redwood Forest. "This is not just a trial of strength; it’s a test of your instincts, your willpower, and your ability to think on your paws."

The stench of bear den was overpowering, they were close. Close enough, that he chose this moment to turn and face his son and daughter. “Failure is not an option.” He said quietly, holding each of their gazes for a moment. It wasn’t that he would be disappointed- or even that they would be punished. He wasn’t allowed to help them here- or a far worse death would befall them all. But the gravity of his words weighed heavily in the air, wrapping around them like the thick mist that clung to the forest floor. Aresenn’s fiery orange eyes burned with a fierce intensity, urging them to grasp his meaning. He watched Araxina and Dracun, their expressions reflecting the very traits he held dear: resilience, courage, strength. They were ready; he had ensured that much through grueling days of training under the watchful eye of their parents.

“Remember your training,” he continued, his voice low yet steady. “Trust your instincts above all else.” With a swift motion, he gestured toward the terrain ahead, where the ground began sloping gently downward into a clearing cradled between two ancient redwoods. It was a strategic spot—open enough for freedom of movement but surrounded by trees offering potential cover should they need it. It was just outside the mother black bear’s den. And before he sent them on, he cuffed Dracun on the shoulder, offering him a stern nod in encouragement. And then proceeded to press his nose in Araxina’s forehead. “I will wait here until you have claimed your victories.”

With the scent of damp earth sharpening his senses, Aresenn stepped back, allowing the weight of anticipation to settle as his children prepared for the challenge ahead. The clearing beckoned, framed by the towering redwoods. “And don’t forget to take proof of your success when you are done.” He finished, his voice a sharp whisper, as if the words themselves could stir the very essence of the forest.

And with that, he sent them on. To their victory, or to their demise, he did not know. And the pang of anxiety twisted in his chest like the blade of a knife. He watched them both move into the clearing, unfurling their potential as they navigated the uneven ground, the leaves crunching softly beneath their paws.

"Aresenn Praetor"

Today was a day of great importance. Their trial- his trial. A chance to prove that he was capable, strong, and ready to grow into his future role in the Syndicate, whatever it may be. His parents were ideal role models and fantastic teachers. He had no doubt that he would excel today- as long as Xina didn't get in his way, anyway.

The Khalif trials were important and meant to done solo, from what he knew about them, however there was something different about this today. He could taste the scent of the mother bear and her cubs as they dove deeper into the red forest, knowing well before words were even spoken that it would be their target. Too much for one child to handle alone (although he liked to believe that he was perfectly capable), he understood why Xina was here. Had he wished it was someone, anyone, else... absolutely, but now was as good of a time as any to prove that he was better than her... he just needed to find their quarry first and kill it first. Sounded easy enough, right?

Dracun paused as Aresenn turned and spoke, reminding them of the gravity of today's event. He could not help them and Dracun did not want to need him to. After the coyote brawl they faced in the days prior he felt more than ready to do this, he just hoped that Xina was as prepared as he. "I will make you proud," he said with confidence, his voice steadily growing deeper as he aged. He couldn't speak for Xina, but she hoped, in a way, that she would make him proud as well, just not more proud than he made him...

With a look towards Xina, he jerked his head in the direction of the clearing. "You take the left, I'll take the right?" he offered without waiting for much of a response before he set off towards the right side of the clearing, staying just inside the treeline to keep his glaringly obvious red coat hidden as best he could.

Speech ─ Think

─ by Skelle !

Xina was riddled with expectant energy. Her muscles limber and languidly stretched as she walked. Poised and deliberate, she walked behind her father and alongside her brother. Her gilded eyes scanned the terrain as they walked, feeling every pine needle and errant leaf in her path. The underbrush kept the sounds close and the moss padded their steps into an expectant hush.

She kept her breath even as she slowly absorbed the scents around them, moss and pine, bear and wolf. She heeded the gravity of their trial, this wasn't something to scoff at. She had natural talents and the upbringing to hone them. She had trained just as much as the others if not more, she was ready.

When their father turned to them to remind them this was not a test of strength, Xina glanced at her brother with a grin. Rivals since their first lesson. She stood and listened to her father's commanding expectant tone, her tail swishing aggressively to maintain her control. She leaned into her father's tender press to her head. Her body quivered with the anticipation of the kill. The scent of their quarry filled her nose. Proof, proof, proof. She would return with proof that she was capable. Proof she was more than food for the crabs. Proof she was worth a spot within the circle of Saxes. Proof she was better than her brother, Dracun.

She slipped away from her father silently, a mischievous and casual wink her parting gift to him, her signal not to concern himself so much, she had this in the bag.

Her brother took point, and she narrowed her eyes at him. She'd snap at his tail another time. She slipped over the shadows of the treeline to the left. Her tail twitched with barely contained energy. Her paws barely whispered over the leaves, an expert of the terrain already. Xina's gilded gaze danced about the clearing, measuring and mapping each root and tree trunk. Each stone and branch.

She sank into a position to watch as the mother bear's nose wiggled into the dim light, just a breath beyond the den's maw. She was attempting to catch the scent of danger that awaited her and her cubs. The barest wind was in Xina's and Dracun's favor, drifting the ursine scents toward the predators.

Xina's limbs coiled in preparation, tensing for the right moment. Waiting for the mother bear to just come out a little more... If they took the mother out they could trap the cubs in the den while they dealt with the mother.

Another step as she stood up on two legs and there! Without warning, Xina launched at the mother bear, leaping at the ursine throat to drag her down and claw her belly. The bear called out with alarm as the pup latched on to the flesh around the collarbone, not quite making it to the throat. Xina pushed with ll her might with her paws to rend and tear as much as she could.

There was no protest from Xina and they were off, her on the left and he the right. The wind was working in their favor too, the mother bear rising on her hind feet to search for threats and finding none. Boy, was she wrong.

Xina wasted no time in lunging towards the bear, wrapping her fangs around it's throat and clawing at its belly to drag it down. What was she thinking? Rushing into something without thought would certainly get her killed. Oh well, more points for him. He watched a moment before making his own move, rushing towards the side of the bear from his hiding place in the treeline, parting his jaws as he leapt and sank his own fangs into the side of the mother black bear, sinking into the flesh just above her hip where it was loosest and tender.

The mother bear roared and swiped wildly, but Dracun managed to dodge her attempts by latching on hard to her flesh and tugging downwards, planting his hind paws into the ground and forcing himself backwards to shred her. Either Xina would rip out it's throat or he would spill her entrails- either way, the mother wouldn't survive... and soon, neither would her cubs. The thought brought a wicked smile across his face and he shook his head to deepen the tear he was leaving, eager to drag the mother down and her cubs with her so he could pass this test and make not only his mother and father, but maybe even the sultan himself proud of their success... or at least not annoyed.

Speech ─ Think

─ by Skelle !

Xina snarled as the bear narrowly missed gutting the pup as the mother bear sank back down to the ground and cried again as Dracun finally decided to join the fray. She was disappointed that he hadn't taken more time to himself so she could have downed this bear on her own!

She used a back leg to hook the bear's claws away from her but was suddenly thrown free of the ursine with a swift thrash! Having mapped the terrain in her mind she landed with a practiced roll to soften the blow then pushed off a massive tree trunk to fling herself powerfully back onto the bear. Latching onto the bear's ear and using her momentum to tear it clean off! She skidded over the soft pine ground and whirled back around to relaunch her third attack and really get into the mother bear's throat this time. Already the bear was losing momentum and energy as Xina hooked her teeth into the trachea and wrenched with all her puppy might. The taste of blood singing in her veins! The world began to dim and grow overly saturated. The red red red blood on the dark dark fur of the bear seemed to glow. The mother had no fight left. Her brother made sure of it. She could barely see him.

Her breath rasped in her throat as her open mouthed attention and wicked grin turned to the den where her prize trembled in the darkness. She stalked forward and snarled as she caught the faintest of movement, the bear cub swiping its paws at her. She caught the bear's paw mid-swipe and pulled. She pulled and wrenched and twisted her head to pull her prey out from the darkness into the holy light. The child bear screamed and launched its own biting attack at Xina's maw, which had the girl hiss in pain and kick its face back. The bear swiped and wrestled for its life was Xina was blood blind now. She would have its skin. She would have its fur.

Xina's pupils dilated as she tasted the tender flesh while her breathing grew shallow and ragged. The adolescent bear was slightly larger than her with muscles for climbing and thrashing. It clapped a clawed paw against her side and Xina was thrown back. Blind rage overcame her and the fire roared to life within her as she launched a full frontal aiming at the creature's eyes and clawing at its nose with a fearsome frantic energy.

Speech // thought

Xina had done as he expected and ripped out the mother bears throat but she left too quickly, too focused on the prize inside the cave. His tugging on the flesh of the mother bears stomach hadn't been useless however, and soon the bear was collapsing on itself- but not without scraping claws against Dracun's cheek in one final attempt at an attack despite how little use it was. Hissing at the pain and detaching from the bear as it finished its collapse, he couldn't help but partially blame Xina for his injury- had she not been so impatient, perhaps the bear wouldn't have landed a hit on him.

Regardless, it was no use quarreling over it now. Inside the cave he could hear Xina taking her prize and soon he would have his. Dracun entered the cave with a low, rumbling growl despite the noise Xina was making with her cub. The pain on his cheek wasn't much, but it was enough to ignite his fire even more, and what little anger he held towards Xina for leaving sooner than she should have would be directed at the bear cub.

The cub cowered as he jumped forward but made no move to defend itself- did it even know how? Or maybe it understood that there was no use, that without its mighty mother that it would stand no chance against the giant wolf pup. It was easier this way, but Dracun liked the challenge. A cub was not much of a challenge, though given the anger and adrenaline that burned through him it was probably a good thing. Fangs grabbed the cub by the snout and he started to pull backwards, dragging the cub from the den by its face despite it's screaming and attempts to dig its paws into the ground. Dracun was stronger though, and felt his fangs sink deeper suddenly into the bear cubs muzzle, crunching the bone enough to inhibit the ursine cub from breathing through its nose and combined with it's mouth clamped shut, left unable to breath temporarily before pulling it backwards from the den and into the daylight for father to see.

Once outside, Dracun spat the cub from his mouth and watched with mild entertainment how it struggled, pawing at its face and breathing through its mouth while blood poured from its nostrils. But soon that entertained expression twisted into one of annoyance and disgust, and Dracun moved to stand over the smaller cub. Blood dripped from his own face and onto the cubs, mixing into the cubs blood as it flowed now into its mouth, forcing the cub to gargle and choke on its own blood as it tried to breathe but it was clearly getting weaker by the moment between his paws. Would he let it die a slow and painful death, or would he finish it here and now? Even Dracun didn't know at the moment.

Speech ─ Think

─ by Skelle !

Xina didn't care to notice if her brother finished the bear or if the result of her trusting his abilities would smack him in the face. Maybe she shouldn't have trusted him to take care of business. She leaned into her frantic blind energy. She was here for the KILL.

Out in the light, Xina reached out and sank her teeth into its muzzle, then pulled and wrenched at the nose to crush it violently in on itself. The bear screamed in pain insensing her further. Not realizing her brother had done something similar. She didn't wait for it to die. As soon as she let go she was throwing it to the leaf-strewn ground and pinning it under her, her teeth ravaging at its throat until it could scream no more. She raked her teeth down its chest and dug into its ribs, her claws scraping dully at the flesh ripping open the wounds her teeth had made out further as the bear grew limp. Snarling and gasping she dug into its belly, pulling at its thick and slippery innards. She flung a slick bloody rope of intestine aside as she sought her prize. Sweeping away the stomach and digging into the cage of ribs until she found the barely beating heart desperately trying to keep up its rhythm.

She sank her teeth in and wrenched it out. Gasping, covered in entrails, blood, and black fur she stepped back. Her heart hammering as the heart in her maw finally finished its rhythm. With a flourishing dance, she skipped up to her hind legs and threw the bear cub's heart high into the air with a bark of elation! Surely her father would be proud!

Xina attempted to catch it midair but it fell with a harsh splat on the ground. Her laugh was victorious and high, her energy still surging through her limbs as she leaped against the rough bark of one of the redwood trees and kicked the heart toward her brother, hoping it might hit him in the side of the face like a soccer ball!

She bolted back against a tree still high on her blood rage and trying to find that outlet. Suddenly she stopped and shook her fur out, landing into a collapsed heap among the thick underbrush, panting hard with a half-crazed elated glaze to her golden eyes. She lazily pawed at a fern swaying over her head before she let it fall against her chest with a sigh. The trees around them seem to stretch onward to infinity, high above them all. Their trunks were massive and the forest mazelike.

Speech // thought

He had decided- end it quick. He was bored already, the thrill of the hunt and the kill already passed. A baby could hardly defend itself against him, there was no challenge. Not like the mother, now that he felt proud of. Without a second thought he dipped into the childs throat and tore it out with little effort. The cub gurgled for a moment but the life had already left its body by Dracuns next breath.

Xina, however, was literally fucking playing with her kill. He looked on in visible disgust, his lip curled up as his brows gave a 'what the fuck' expression with one lowered and one raised. Before he knew it, the heart was kicked over to him but he was able to dodge it's bloody impact easily since it hadn't been much of a surprise. There were a million things he wanted to say in the moment but rolled his eyes and decided otherwise. Grabbing the deceased cubs paw, he clung the corpse over his back and began the walk back to their father. This had been a test after all, celebrations could be held after they'd learned their results.

"How'd I do, father?" he asked and drug the cub off his back, dropping it with a thud before Aresenn and looking up at him with a hopeful and nervous look in his eyes despite his otherwise neutral expression.

Speech ─ Think

─ by Skelle !