It was smack in the middle of a barren wasteland that Ariston found the confidence enough to attempt leveling up his 'badassery'. He'd been bothered by his unabashed complaining to Amekaze the other day and was still suffering the embarrassment of his vulnerability...the sensation of which prompted him to follow the old alma mater of join 'em if you can't beat 'em.
Or...something like that.
"Are you talkin' to me?!" He accosted his wordless victim. It was a shapeless pile of snow to anyone else but to him it was a safe partner to practice being tough with. So safe in fact that he satisfied the urge to smash its smug little non-mug with a deft pounce.
Everything from nostril to bonghole clenched as his forepaws plunged through the miniature snow drift and he discovered an icy reservoir - a puddle really - hidden beneath the powdery depths. A swear lodged in his throat; he tried to manipulate the words to his lips but was instead only able to spill out a garbled hybrid of sounds that did not sound at all kin to a canine...much less a male one.
The lesson was a painful one but it didn't seem to have much of a negative impact on him (or at least his attitude). He clacked his teeth together and withdrew from his trampled foe which, to its credit, had not gone peacefully...a true testament to most things in life. "Was not expecting that!" he commented aloud as he limped a few yards away and licked as his tingling toe toes to nurse away the sting of frostbite.
set by Emy