Wolf RPG

They had departed the Plateau at approximately the same time that morning and taken different but converging routes. Behati recognized him as a recent addition to the pack, and after sizing each other up from a distance the pair exchanged formal introductions at the bottom of Porcupine Ridge. Behati had taken the slow way down, braving the juts and peaks of the ridge for the honour of saying she had done it. Now they stood within view of the spookily named Dungeon, but neither wolf had spotted the entrance yet. "Which route did you take down here?" Behati asked eagerly, keen to impress with tales of her own treacherous route down the mountain.

Regi recognized her as a pack mate earlier that morning when they had happened to cross paths within the Plateau's claimed lands. Their exchange had been brief, introductions had been given: formal and to the point. Their missions were not dissimilar and the pair had set off, albeit in different directions. When Behati had taken the treacherous route, Regi had looked for the path that did not exhibit quite the danger that the path his pack-mate had chosen. This was not because there was fear — caution, perhaps, yes — but for the simple fact that most wolves would inherently tend to shy away from taking the most treacherous path to The Dungeon, lest they be natural daredevils. It was wiser in the Frostfur-DiSarinno's mindset to seek a path that was a bit safer, if even such a thing existed. 

There were some slopes, of course, for the undertaking was not without it's own share of danger, regardless of if he'd taken the less intimidating looking path or not. Eventually, they'd both made it to their descent to their target, though it appeared that neither of them had been able to find it's entrance, yet. She seemed eager enough to engage him when he finally reached her position, having taken the 'longer' route down. The chances of being asked about the Dungeon and the best path down by anyone didn't strike him as very likely, yet, these were good things to know. 

It was apart of an Outrider's job, after all. To know the layout of the territories and even, if permitted, their secrets. “There's a path to the west of the path you took,” He gestured behind him with a cant of his muzzle, eyes of liquid gold coming to rest upon her. “It's obviously longer, or perhaps you have the ability to move faster than me,” Spoken with a small smirk, a mischievous thing. He was big and lumbering and that tended to slow him down. 'Twas why he was best suited for being a “tank” when it came to a fight. He wasn't fast but he had weight and power behind his strikes. Yet, this wasn't about warrior or warden things. Still, his size did not allow him to maneuver as fast or easily as some wolves. “but it seemed pretty safe. Plenty of footfalls, not too steep and only a few spires as which to impale oneself on should footing be lost.” It was a grim image, but he spoke it in jest figuring it was ok because it wasn't as if either of them had been impaled.

Behati positively glowed in the light of his praise, even though the observation wasn't particularly far-fetched. Regulus was on the heavier side, and the fact that he already accepted his limitations made him rare amongst his age group. Behati, despite being older, would sooner impale herself than admit such a thing.

"Well if you've got it!" she grinned, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid and throwing a burst of twinkling laughter into the grey sky. Adrenaline rushed through the girl's circulatory system, and she struggled to stand still. She looked around for the day's next challenge but failed to observe the entrance to the Dungeon each time her stark eyes passed over the area, seeing only dark rock and shadow. "So, since we're travelling buddies now.. where to next?" she asked of Regulus, practically bouncing out of her skin.

Behati seemed to radiate as he praised her, and Regi let out a soft chuckle, eyes of liquid gold raising off of her for a few seconds to study the path she'd chose to brave, admitting to himself that he would have a hell of a time avoiding dying if he attempted the descent. He had been taught that knowing his limitations would work to make him stronger ...at least in a fight. Knowing his strengths and weaknesses would benefit him. He couldn't dance around an opponent and taunt as his more svelte cousins could, but he had advantages that they had not, and eventually, they'd learned to work together ...utilizing each other's strengths and covering their weaknesses. It was how they were taunt to function in a fight that involved more than one of them, and these lessons were carried out his training so that Regi found himself applying them to instances such as previous: which path to chose. Play with fire and try to wind his way down the path she'd favored or try to find one that worked better for him, and for others, he assumed, because facing facts if he were ever asked about it he would recommend the path he'd taken over hers for the simple of sake of not wanting to hear of a gruesome impaling from the careless.

“flaunt it,” Regi finished it for her as she allowed the “old saying” to trail off after her femme laughter that rose to greet him. “I've heard that one before,” He teased her, falling silent as she posed her question, ears cupping forth atop his skull, as he contemplated it. “Ladies' pick.” He offered to her, gentlemanly, as he moved closer to her, gaze taking in the landscape around them, studying it and taking it in, though he found himself taking in another view that had nothing to do with their Outrider 'mission'. He did not seem to be able to help himself, it would seem.

Behati was not unaware of his lingering look. One admirer was not enough, it seemed - she revelled in the lusty gaze of all handsome men, consequences be damned. After all, what harm could a little teasing do? She had no mother to call her on her shit, and very few female friends. Spurred on by the veiled admiration in his eyes, she pirouetted and bounced a little more than usual on her way to the western rock face - the one that would eventually lead them to the Dungeon.

"UMMMMM," she pondered aloud, looking in all directions for something that would match the fear factor of Porcupine Ridge. She moved with intent, aware of being watched. "There's that forest over there.." Northstar Vale. Nope. Behati's ears wilted - she still hadn't spotted the cave, even though it was all but staring her in the face. "I d'no! You pick instead."

It took Behati a moment or two to figure out what he was gesturing at - not helped by the brief brush of physical contact as Regi moved past her. She surprised herself by shying away, startled by his proximity even though she had secretly wished for it a moment ago. Even though he was around Casmir's age, Regulus looked and acted like a much older wolf, and Behati was beginning to feel small in his presence.

"Cave," she repeated dumbly, but perked up when the entrance to said cave became apparent. "Oh! Cool," she whispered, scampering ahead of her pack-mate and into the mouth of the Dungeon. The sound of running water dominated the space. "There's some kind of little cave river!" Behati yelled over her shoulder.

Regi didn't realize that he might have been wiser beyond his years, though it would make sense enough. After all, someone had to be an adult and look after his mother since she wasn't able to really look after herself and up until his departure from Venia Dei it had been Regi that had taken that role. The protector. The “adult”. Patient (with his fair amount of impatience with her)  guiding, making sure she didn't get manipulated by those that would seize the opportunity; and ancestors above knew how many males had tried — even within the pack itself. Behati shied away from his proximity and it was not a breach that Regi would try again, given that.

Regi's laugh echoed in the yawning chasm of the cave as Behati scrambled on ahead of him, with an eagerness to explore what mysteries lay within. “Hey, wait up!” Regi called after her as he lumbered towards her, chocolate colored ears cupping forth atop his skull, cradling the sound of running water moments before she announced it. “Let's follow it. See where it leads?” He was game for it, as long as she was.

"Let's go!" Behati agreed, never one to turn down a challenge. She surged forward, stepping lightly alongside the winding stream that took them deeper into the earth. Only when her eyes adjusted did she see that the underground river was a beautiful, brilliant blue, offset by the burnt red of the surrounding rock. The sight of it elicited a gasp from Behati, who whirled around to point the detail out to Regulus. "Look!" she gasped, eyes bright with excitement. "Why do you think it's so blue?" Was it drinkable? Behati lowered her head and poked at the stream with her tongue, noting the stroing mineral taste - not entirely unpleasant, but strange enough that she didn't dare take a gulp of it.

"Hopefully it's not poisonous," Regulus shared all casual-like. Behati's eyes widened, bouncing between the water she had just licked and her companion's face. As if on cue, her stomach made a sickly rumbling noise, pulling the girl's ears and tail close to her body. "Uhh-h.. I guess.. we find out!" she responded. There was a second rumble, and an ominous clenching feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was more likely that Regulus was to blame for planting the seed of fear, but Behati's mind could not differentiate between poison and the thought of it - the third rumble was definitely audible. Behati disappeared down the tunnel like a shot before the sound could peak, taking her unpredictable gut into the depths of the cave. "LAST ONE TO THE BOTTOM IS A LION TURD!"

When Regulus emerged next to the vast underground space that fed off the streams of blue water, Behati was nowhere to be seen.

He was right - the water was harmless. If anything, the mineral content and many miles of filtering made it the healthier choice, but neither wolf was to know that - nor was the part of Behati's brain responsible for blowing things out of proportion. Fear took root in her gut and began to bubble, acting like the first coffee of the day after a large, carb-filled dinner.. and we all know how that goes.

Regulus arrived at the bottom faster than Behati had anticipated. She was barely half-way through emptying her bowels when the echoing sound of her own name made her clench... and subsequently fart. Loudly. The noise seemed to come from nowhere at all, bouncing off the walls like an ass klaxon. Behind her boulder, Behati died a thousand times inside.

Regulus made an admirable attempt to sweep the incident under the proverbial carpet, but Behati could not look him in the eye for the rest of their time in the cave. They explored separately at Behati's request, shouting to each other across the vast space - it was highly impractical, and they soon stopped altogether. They parted ways at the entrance with no more than a breathy Seeya! from the humiliated girl, who scampered off under the pretence of 'having business to attend to'.