It had been days and there hadn't been a single platypus in sight, let alone the perfect platypus.  After having no luck anywhere remotely close to home, Fir decided she'd try her luck down south.  She'd never crossed the strip that connected Boreas to Auster before, maybe it was chock-full of beautiful platypi to pick from!  And if not, well, at least she can say she'd finally gotten around to seeing what was down that neck of the woods. Not long after the fae officially landed in Auster did she stumble her way into the loveliest little grove.  Maple trees as far as the eye could see, at least a couple of different types of berries, and it was a warm, sunny day so the location was probably pretty much at pique beauty.  It was the kind of place that just made you want to run around around and act like you were still a small child, which Fir definitely wasn't opposed to doing.  ".....M' gonna run." she said seriously, squinting at the sight before her.

_________________________________________________________________ Her mind was a frenzy of messy thoughts. Allowing her paws to take her wherever they did, Audra was surprised that she ended up back in the grove. The place she'd first met Tika. Oh, that beautiful, long-legged girl that had swept her heart away. A wistful sigh left her lips as she kept an even pace through the wooded area. With sweet aromas of fruits and berries filling her nostrils, she almost missed the other wolf nearby. It was the quiet murmur of words that caught her attention and caused her ears to turn. Ever since losing her one eye, her other senses had thankfully compensated. Curious, the petite fae wandered closer to the green and white female. Glad that it wasn't anyone who appeared threatening, Audra let out a chuff so the girl knew she was there. "D-did you s-say something a-about r-running?" She asked softly as her paws came to a stop near the girl. Tilting her head lightly to the side, her lips turned up in a smile. It had been a while since she'd let her legs really out for a run so the idea of a race made her excited. _________________________________________________________________ A  U  D  R  A

"Oh.." Fir said quietly to herself as the stranger announced their presence.  The fae waited for her new guest to get a little closer and listened as the woman spoke. "Tah -- err, yes." She nodded.  The yearling spent a lot of time alone talking to herself and had a tendency to switch between the common tongue and fennish as it suited her, but not everybody knew fennish.  It was certainly going to be a hard habit to break if she intended on continuing her quest outside of the swamp lands. "We can race." she added, not sure if the woman came here because she too wanted to run around or not.  There really wasn't a reason why they couldn't run together, the place was plenty big enough.  "To that big, big maple tree and back.  Winner get's uhh.... well, I ain't got nothin' to give.. Huh... Anyways, ready, set-" Fir got in position and motioned to the stranger that she should be doing the same if she wanted a proper race.

_________________________________________________________________ Audra smiled at the wolf with a slightly funny way of speaking. It wasn't much different to that of Vidarr and she wondered if they perhaps spoke the same language. Focusing now on the topic at hand, her one working eye turned to spy the very large maple down the path a ways. It was a good stretch for them to run, enough to get the built-up energy she needed to get out. Letting out a short laugh, Audra nods. "No p-prize needed," she responds in her tinkling light tone as she readies her paws into a wider stance. The flow of adrenaline is already built up as the stranger readies them for their race. As the last syllable leaves the girl's mouth, Audra takes off like a shot in the direction of the maple. Her paws drum into the beaten path beneath them. At first, her disadvantage unsteadies her as she gets accustomed to the surroundings. Then as her senses balanced out, her speed continued as she let out a happy yip. It was the first time in a long time that she felt free. _________________________________________________________________ A  U  D  R  A

Audra vs Fir for Race
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Small
Build: Light
Skills: Master Healer & Expert Navigator
Specialty: Field Medic

The pair took off darting toward the giant maple in question as the very last word fell from Fir's lips.  She could feel the earth tear from underneath her paws as she pushed herself further and further to gain more speed.  Her heart was racing wildly, she really wanted to win this.  Fir wasn't all too competitive in nature, but something about this time was different, though she couldn't quite place why.  There was no prize and she didn't even know the stranger, so there seemed to be no logical reasoning behind this sudden need for success.  Could adrenaline be the culprit?   The young fae continued in her attempts to gain ground, legs throbbing in the process.  She'd figure out what all these new feelings were all about later.  For now she just needed to get to that tree and back.

Fir vs Audra for Race
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Intellectual

_________________________________________________________________ Dirt tore up from beneath her paws as they hurried closer to the big maple. Adrenaline coursed through her own body as she stretched out her legs. Her strides lengthened as they neared their ending marker. Feeling the rush of wind over her fur was invigorating. It had been more than long enough since her last race. Having forgotten the feeling of what it felt like to rush through a forest without a care in the world made her heart soar. There was nothing but her and the other girl digging in deep to beat the other. As they reached toward the end of the course, Audra spared a glance toward her. A smile rippled across her face as she reached deeper into herself. There was no prize to be won here, but winning nonetheless would be the best prize of any. Letting her paws take her just past the tree, she skidded to a halt to turn and see which of them had gotten there first. _________________________________________________________________ A  U  D  R  A

Audra vs Fir for Race
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Small
Build: Light
Skills: Master Healer & Expert Navigator
Specialty: Field Medic

Fir couldn't remember the last time she ran to do literally anything, so it wasn't all too surprising to the young girl when her lungs began to burn and her legs started to feel more and more like piles of mud with each step, but neither of those things were going to stop her from completing the mission at hand.  She glanced back at the stranger with a wide grin on her maw as the pair continued hammering their paws against the dirt.  

Fir's biggest mistake, however, was that when the stranger glanced away, she did not.  She watched the woman so intently that there really was no seeing that damn tree until it was too late.  "Woreap! Fanlonona woreapona! Shay fan wan woreapal och'al! Fan kaneoch... Woreap!" The impact certainly felt brutal, and the yearling had to lay there for a moment and just sort of work her way through the pain.  "Who won?"

”Speech”  ’Thought’

Fennish Translation:  An assortment of obscenities

I’m going down singing unholy hymns.

Fir vs Audra for Race
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Intellectual

And the winner is...

AUDRA

FIR loses the race. Better luck next time! Totals: Audra: Speed Roll: 35 Stamina Roll: 94 Balance Roll: 79 Total: 208 Speed[35] + 10% Bonus[0.00]: 38.50 Stamina[94] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 94.00 Balance[79] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 79.00 Total[208.00] + 20% Bonus[41.60]: 253.1 Fir: Speed Roll: 38 Stamina Roll: 72 Balance Roll: 46 Total: 156 Speed[38] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 38.00 Stamina[72] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 72.00 Balance[46] + 10% Bonus[4.60]: 50.60 Total[160.60] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 160.60