Northstar Vale *internal screaming*

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For @Redshank or anyone else who might want to spar (aka kick titty in the butt).

'Teehee would've been able to fight the bear.' he thought as he skulked. 'Or Phox. Or Orca's biggest poo,' Or that stick, or that tiny bird bopping about through the shrubbery. Anyone else could've done it. Titmouse wasn't much of a thinker to be completely honest (I know, shocker), but now that he'd latched on to this idea that he was a terrible protector, he ran with it.

And he ran, and ran. The boy was looping all across the vale as if he'd never run out of energy. Around boulders, through gullies, from tree to tree, over and over and back again. He ran without a clear destination in mind, and was clearly not enjoying himself - but everyone seemed too preoccupied to do anything. Maybe it was the sight of him appearing normal that eased their minds? But Titmouse wasn't feeling normal.

Titmouse was feelin' fighty.

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Airi rested a top a boulder. She found that she really liked high places, for a variety of reasons. But best of all, it was the best spot to sunbathe, the rocks absorbing the sun's heats and transferring it wonderfully to her fur after the cold mornings where the sun was blocked by the towering spires that encompassed the vale. Airi's eyes were closed, but she opened them at the sound of paws thudding on the ground.What are you doing? She snapped, her brief nap broken.

Redshank had seen Titmouse racing through the territory from a distance, at first mistaking him for some crazed black-phase fox. But no, it was just the weirdo being...well, weird. He watched him with both amusement and confusion for a while before deciding to take a closer look, maybe even intercept him. Thoughts of tripping the other boy surfaced and a mischievous grin slipped across Redshank's features.

It instantly disappeared as he heard a deadpan voice, and looked up ahead to see the dark girl who was perched atop a boulder. Her again? His attention shifted to the female instead and he almost forgot about the darting Titmouse. She was in front of him and he behind, and the boy hoped she hadn't noticed him yet. He slunk down low, a wicked grin creeping across his face again. Titmouse was no longer his target for the moment.

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A voice called out to him as he careened on by, and when Titmouse heard it he jerked his head like a horse whose reins had been pulled too tightly. He sort of reared back - trying not to fall over - and twisted so that he could see her. She was off on her own, situated on a boulder or something where she was out of the way. The boy looked at her like she was stupid then, and said, Runnin'! What're you doin'? Being fat'n lazy? His tone was bright despite the sharpness of his words, and to be totally honest he wasn't trying to piss her off - it was a genuine question, and Tit was too stupid to realize how much of a jerk he sounded.

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'Fat an' lazy'? She echoed. Airi rose to her feet, stretching for a moment before she was straight on her feet, looking down at him from the rock. I take one moment's rest and I am lazy now? She asked, cocking her head as she looked down on him. Without a word, she leapt from the rock, aiming to land near his body and tumble him down into the grass. I'll show you fat and lazy, she snarled in her head.

He chuckled quietly at Titmouse's statement. While he wasn't fond of the other boy, it was Airi he had come to despise even more. Something was just...off with her. Her bitchy attitude didn't help either. He watched attentively as she rose, repeating Titmouse's insult. Again, Redshank stifled a laugh, delighted she was so offended. He was about to stalk closer before suddenly, the dark girl pounced!

Whether it was simply a threat or an outright attack, the boy wanted to make sure she didn't touch Titmouse. He found himself oddly protective of the younger child — only he was allowed to bully him! With a snarl, Redshank leapt onto the rock and used the momentum to then push off from of it. "Surprise, bitch!" he yelled, forelegs outstretched, aiming to land atop Airi and force her to the ground.

The dark girl came down off the rock and Titmouse thought she had fallen off her rocker too; she came leaping off of her high-horse and he was nearly met with teeth and rage. Thankfully Redshank was there - he came out of seemingly nowhere with a holler, diving for the girl just as Titmouse side-stepped. It all looked very choreographed, but really Titmouse was just on high-alert since he'd been running all over the place for the past couple of hours. All the same, Tit croaked as he slipped away from her, and that sound became a chorus of shaky, hoarse laughter when he saw the two dark forms goin' at it. He then wheeled about, laughter ringing in the air, and plotted a course for Airi as well, hoping to take part in the wrestling and make it a threesome (which might've pleased Fox's ghost, at least until he was a few months older and could do the same with Peregrine's, but in a different manner entirely).

She was embarrassed to say that she did not sense Redshank until he yelled and landed on her. She was intent on teaching the other a lesson, an amused smirk covering her face as she lunged to the young wolf who had sidestepped away from her pounce. The yell and crippling weight on her back caused the young woman to shriek in surprise. No amusement filled her mind then: the shock brought the Dragon to life. Zennyo snarled with Airi's voice and wriggled the girl's body as best he could to manuver the vessel's jaws to the attackers neck, overreacting to the whole situation.

His attack must have caught her by surprise, if her weight suddenly buckling underneath him and scream were anything to go by. He was filled with an odd, sadistic sort of delight, proud to have caught her so off guard. Titmouse, too, had escaped her teeth and now his high-pitched, almost maniacal laughter joined in the cacophony of snarling and growls.

For all of the good his initial attack did, however, Redshank's upper hand was quickly lost as the girl beneath him squirmed and aimed to get a snap at his neck. He was thrown off balance, falling onto his side as Airi countered his attack, leaving him exposed to her jaws. As he scrabbled back to his feet, he only hoped Titmouse would side with him and hold back the dark girl. Together, they could show her just who the dominant ones here were.