Word count: 345

Tachi struggled to walk, stumbling along as the string tugged at his limbs, protesting when it pulled too taut. The big Kaicho man said he was too clumsy on his paws, needed to take care and think about how he walked, where he placed his paws. He wasn't at all sure how this was supposed to help, couldn't wrap his puppy mind around it, but took up the challenge anyway. It sounded better than normal training and meant he didn't need to sit around and listen, anything was better than that. The string was tied around his front right and back left limb, linking together in a diagonal line. The hoop around his ankle wasn't overly tight but was snug enough he couldn't wiggle out of it, either by accident or on purpose and it would stay attached till the test was over. Till Hattori said it could come off.

Just how long that would be....Tachi had no idea, maybe even the whole day if the Kaicho was super busy, as he always seemed to be.

And on he trudged, soon coming across the scent of his little sister Rheum. Had she been tangled up in the test too? Or would Tachi have to convince her to join in, to help pass time with a playful tussle. A scrap that would no doubt result in tipped ears and kicking hind legs, as it always did. He shambled, on staggering as the string caught on a bamboo shoot that jutted out of the ground. He gave it a sour look but kept on going, knowing the sooner he found his sister the better.

And there she was, amongst the bamboo like any good Tojo wolf was. At home amongst the maze.

"Hey, Rue! Tori says we gotta spar. You gotta tie yourself up too, like this." All lies of course, but it could also be the truth. Sounded feasible to him anyway. As best he could, he stuck out a leg to show her, his body tilting to the side as he started to lose balance.

All of the siblings seemed to be growing into their own personalities by now. Typically off in small groups or by themselves to adventure and explore the bamboo. Tall, thick green stalks with leafy tops extended high above her. A winding maze of getting lost and slowly gaining her bearings. By now, it was easier, but also safer to stay on the paths. Hiding within the shade to avoid any pestering from her bigger siblings, they all seemed bigger than her now. Except for Fuji who was minuscule compared to any of them. Mama said it was rude to call her a runt, but wasn't that what she was? Huffing quietly to herself as she pulled at the leaves and ground them up with a poorly held rock, her attention was caught by a sound. Freezing for a moment, she steadied her breathing to listen. An irregular thumping of gangly legs and too big paws drew closer to her. Unlike her darker coated siblings, Rheum's plum and fiery pink coat stuck out like a sore thumb. Turning her chin over her shoulder to see who was approaching, a curious look spread across her features. Tachi, with two opposite limbs tied together, stumbled closer to her. She almost laughed, almost. What in the world was he doing tied up like that? Twisting around on her butt to fully face her brother and hide the concoction of whatever it was she was doing behind her, her head tilted more to the side. When her chocolate brother stopped and announced that Tori, their Kaicho and uncle, said they, the two of them specifically, had to spar with both of their legs tied up, her nose wrinkled. Didn't their Kaicho know, by now, that she could care less about spending time tussling with her siblings? Far more interested in exploring and making "potions" - as she liked to call them - fighting seemed pointless. But, it would do to have some practice and at least know she could hold her own. "Tsk, tsk, Tachi, wha' did ya do to ge' Kaicho fuss enough to have ya tied up like that?" She teased her larger brother before standing up to go closer and inspect the way he was tied. After inspecting it with a few more tilts of her head, she looked up at him. "Well, did ya at leas' bring enough rope for me?" She asked curiously, not totally against the idea. word count: +406 = 751

Word count: 280
Total: 1030

Tachi was well aware of the fact that Rue wasn't much of a fighter, didn't seem to have an interest in it but it didn't matter to the little pup. He wanted what he wanted, didn't need to do around explaining why. In part though, it was probably because he knew he'd win, that the little pieces of experience he'd picked up along the way would be more than enough to snatch victory from his sibling's maroon grasp. Biting back a smile, he wobbled on the spot, allowing his sibling to take in the sight of his entanglement.

"Said something about footing. It's important." Which sounded try enough, couldn't win a fight if you tripped over nothing.

As for more rope um uh...he glanced about, hoping to spot a stray rope just laying about and-AHA! As luck would have it there was some right there, as though placed for this very purpose all along. How coincidental. Bending down, he tossed it her way and shuffled around her back to try and help her tie it around a hindfoot. Given he didn't have fancy feet like Fuji it took a lot of tugging with his teeth but he managed to get it securely wrapped around her back. Had Rue managed to do the front on her about? It about looked like it.

As ready as either of them were going to be, Tachi was quick to launch himself at his sister, he reared up his front leg-only for the string to tighten around the back and send him thumping to the floor. His shadow drawing closer, looming over the shape of Rue like a rockslide teetering over a cliff.

Oops.

The whole situation was just silly to her. Tying up your paws was important to learning about footing? How in the world was tangling yourself up in a bunch of rope going to help that? Her expression was still screwed up in a curious and confused look as Tachi glanced around for some spare rope. He didn't even come prepared? What was going to do? Just wander around the maze until someone, like her, was available, and magically had some rope nearby? Rheum's ears flicked back for a second, doubtful that her larger brother would be successful until he was. Her golden eyes widened in surprise as he pulled it out from the bamboo and presented it to her. "I'm impressed," she tutted quietly under her breath as he clumsily swooped around to help tie her right hind paw to the rope. As clumsily as he moved, Rheum was just as clumsy tying the rope to her left forepaw. This was not easy in the slightest bit. Whose idea was this again? Right, Hattori's. She was going to have to give him a talking to next time she saw him. Well, would try to at least, but knew she'd probably just get scooted away with a look of disinterest. Once both of her paws were tied together, she tried to stand best as she could. This was even harder than getting her paws tied to the rope in the first place. Standing there, all wobbly and unbalanced, she had no time to steady herself before Tachi was launching himself at her. Both ears pressed to her skull as lips peeled up in a grimace. Didn't he realize he was BIGGER than her? Not even going to give her a fighting chance?! A loud squeak whipped from her lips as his chocolate form came tumbling down on top of her. With the rope drawing tight as she tried to scramble out of the way, it was no use. He had managed to land right on her hip as she too came crashing to the ground. "Tachi, watch yer big ass!" Rheum squealed, letting out the bad word before she realized she had. Hopefully, mama wasn't nearby to scold her. Squirming as much as she could, she moved out from under Tachi and stumbled again, forgetting that her legs were tied together. Grunting loudly in an attempt to growl at him, she took to flopping back over in his direction. Whether he was bigger or not, she was still going to try and land right on top of his big dumb head. word count: +430= 1460

Word count: 214
Total: 1674

And Tachi seized his victory just like that, in one fell swoop. Easy-peasy and totally on purpose. He landed with a hard ooof, his sister barely cushioning his fall as his legs splayed out, the rope tightening even more as he struggled to stay atop his squirming opponent. She'd already lost, why she was wriggling about like that, intent on making this far harder than it had to be? He furrowed his brows as he flopped, a fish on dry land as he couldn't for the life of him untangle his legs. Sort himself out so he was once again a proper and shapely wolf.

Far easier said than done.

"I'm trying!" He insisted and for once he was.

Somehow she managed to worm her way out from under him and loomed over, a dark maroon shadow as she flopped down on him, squishing him beneath her slightly lesser weight. He huffed again, gritting his teeth as he forced his limbs back into their normal positions, beneath him where they ought to be. And a mighty roar, and for the dramatics of course, Tachi surged up and attempted to hoist Rue up onto his back. Dangling from his sides like a damsel in distress.

He was still the winner, no ands ifs or buts.

They struggled and squealed. By the end, as Tachi raised up under her, Rheum was giggling. Eyes closed and head tilted back as she felt her larger brother shift under her, she couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Unlike Tachi, Rheum wasn't a fighter, but she would always help if he needed it. Slung over his back and rather impressed with his strength, Rheum slid down to the ground. "Okay, okay, you win!!" She quipped in her puppy-like voice to him before rising to her paws. Giving her fur a good shake to rid herself of dust and debris, she smiled at her brother. "You're pretty good," Rheum said as her tail wagged behind her. posting for the awards