i'm the one hiding underneath your bed

@Anneliese
Athena wants to move on up(;

A combination of white cedar and the scent of the agouti painted guardian of the river clung strongly to her snowy coat as she stalked the borders for the third time that day. She was truly in her element while running the borders. Something felt so similar about it. The feel of the cold ground beneath her feet as she made her way around the perimeter of Maksim's domain. The determination to keep all and every unwanted being from the lands of her liege. Everything about border runs made her feel alive. This was where she belonged, defending her home and protecting her family.

With the persistent border runs, something inside her rustled. Knowing where she stood in rank, that something wasn't satisfied with where she stood. Without even knowing that this was the lowest rank that she had ever held in her whole existence in Relic Lore, she had the urge to rise and challenge her way up. She had no intention at the moment to overtake for leadership, just rise to be the best subordinate that she could be. With that settled in her mind, she searched for a suitable clearing within the towering cedar trees of her home. Raising her jaws towards the rising moon, she released her song into the evening wind directed to the unknown female that ranked above her.

With the evening sun slowly falling, the darkness began to creep towards her paws. Her breath was easily seen in the cold air each time her breath left her lungs. She had no intentions of seriously harming the one above her, it would be unwise to do so as it would harm the pack as well. However, the leader hidden inside her, longed to be shown. And today was her time to be revealed.

|| Ash is welcome to make an appearance in any thread. ||

OOC|| Hope you don't mind if I butt Naia in here. Arya-- I've been meaning to PM you about a Naia/Athena rank challenge soon. It just doesn't make sense for Athena's character to let a squirt like Naia stand above her. I don't want to step on your or Cadence's toes, but if it's alright perhaps we can do a back-to-back rank challenge? Athena can challenge Anneliese and then Naia? I'm thinking Athena's HP is more than capable of handling it, but we can see how it goes.

Edit: Or we can play it out in separate threads if you're going for more skill LP. That just occurred to me. ||

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Naia's ears flew to attention as a call to the ranked females of Cut Rock River rang out from the direction of the pack's border. As an aspiring scout, Naia had collected her share of hearsay that was whispered among her packmates. Makisim was keeping an old friend by his side as Second Female—one Naia hadn't met yet, but she was certain the position was well-deserved. On the other hand, Naia herself was standing at Third right now, a rank that honestly confused the hell out of her. She was a hardworking and loyal pack wolf to be sure, but the ranks weren't doled out according to merit, were they? Maksim led a pack with traditional customs, and therefore a wolf earned her rank based on strength in battle-- strength she lacked as a petite Timber wolf and fledgeling fighter. The challenge echoing across the packland came as no surprise to Naia, and she answered with a return howl of her own, "I'm on my way!"

A spike of adrenaline spurred Naia on toward the source of the howl. Though she knew she was likely to drop in rank at the conclusion of the encounter, she was eager to answer the call of her packmate. She possessed the innate desire of every packwolf to know exactly where she stood among those she considered family, and therefore she approached the challenge with a lighthearted resignation to to probable results. She entered the clearing where the snowy female stood and slowed to a walk, approaching the older wolf with a subdued smile. ”Naia Aegina,” she introduced herself, ”The Third to Maksim Baranski.” The ivory woman was an intimidating sight, to say the least. Scars criss-crossed her face beneath fiery orange eyes, and her form hinted at a lean strength beneath her frosty fur. ”Shall we wait to see who else turns up? I'm not positive who stands at Fourth.” Despite the serious nature of the assembly, she was eager to finally meet a few of her female packmates and find out where they all stood.

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(This post was last modified: Jan 29, 2014, 12:00 AM by Naia.)

Anneliese had been at the border of the pack lands, anticipating a scouting trip to feed the wanderlust that coursed so strongly through her veins. However, just as she was about to step toe over that imaginary divisor, a song called out and filled the night air, intended, surprisingly, for her. She stopped dead and raised her head, ears pivoting to catch the fading note. Nose quivering, she wondered who it was that beckoned her for a challenge. Willingly, she altered her course and returned to the heart of her new home, bubbling with curiosity over what was about to occur. As she approached the vicinity, she was aware that there were two pack mates present. One carried eyes that shone with wonder as bright as her own, and the other's face was hardened by determination, making it simple to guess what their roles were. Anneliese looked over the woman who stood as instigator, admiring her stature. Immediately, she knew she would not win this one, and anyways, she did not wish to; clearly if this wolf had the ambition to issue a remonstrance of rank, she would be better placed above Anna who wasn't even sure if she would remain with the pack past spring. However, that did not mean she would forfeit without attempt; all things must be earned after all, and what was more, this would be fun. Anneliese gave them both a warm smile as she closed in, mindfully keeping her posture level with Athena's, beryl eyes focused on the appropriately blazing ones within her opponent's head. She had come just in time to hear Naia's, the woman who she had met just the other day, last spoken sentence. "I suppose that would be me. The name's Anneliese, may I know yours before?"

PLOT WITH ME!

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

As her determined song died with the winter wind, her fiery eyes looked around her surroundings once more. She hoped that the pristine white snow would be unmarred by blood at the conclusion of this challenge, but Athena was more than determined to rise up. The leader inside her cheered her on and made her focused on the challenge ahead. Would she finally discover her past? Would she be able to shed the veil that hung over her true self, the leader that was screaming to be shown? She would soon find out as an answering howl rang out across the darkening sky. Athena was more than ready for this night. Her blazing eyes would soon catch the agouti patterned coat entering the selected clearing. Her coat similar to that of their leader, but her size was drastically smaller, even smaller than herself. The unknown female introduced herself and announced she was third under Maksim. "Athena Moon," she answered. She nodded in agreeance to her comment of waiting for whoever stood at fourth.

They wouldn't have to wait long, however. Out of the darkness of the cedar trees, the body of a cream colored female approached the two of them. The woman's posture was equivalent that of hers and eyes equally focused on hers. The woman did not need to announce that she was the one that Athena was looking for, she already knew it by her body language. The fourth ranked female introduced herself as well, while asking for her name in return. "Athena." She spoke no more words, instead let her body talk. In conclusion to her introduction to Anneliese, her body rose from her defensive position to a rivaling dominant stance of her opponent. Hackles slowly rising, tail wavering high like a banner, lip curling to show slightly yellowed teeth, Athena took a dominant step forward. Anneliese could make this long and complicated or short and simple. Athena hoped for the later. Her intention was clear, Athena wanted the spot where she stood.

As soon as she took her step forward towards the cream colored female, a sharp pain stabbed through her temple. Gasping suddenly, the pain of a sudden and pounding headache ripped through her skull. In surprise, Athena stumbled with her step and stepped on her ankle wrong. Blinking away her clouded vision, she tried to focus once more even though the headache still ripped through her skull.

(This post was last modified: Jan 31, 2014, 12:37 AM by Athena.)

|| Ash is welcome to make an appearance in any thread. ||

ooc: after athena wins, we can use the food drop to show the new rankings? iwantdempoints.

Anneliese nodded once as she was answered, sure to remember the woman's name well. As Athena's posture inflated, Anna made sure to carry the same level of intent within her own muscles, holding a stance more aggressive than she'd been asked to in a very long time. Something in it felt good; far ago, she had been highly ranked in a pack that was extremely reliant on respect, ritual and shows of standing. This, even though she knew herself to be the loser already, was making her feel more at home than anything else had. Perhaps, she would stay. Perhaps she would work to follow Athena up the ladder.

Before either could actually make a move in pressuring the other to submit, however, something overcame Anna's opponent. Concern collided with the determination in her eyes, and she wondered wildly what could be the matter. The way the woman tensed and the pained expression upon her face caused Anna to believe that maybe she had been attacked by a migraine, or was an old pain acting up? No matter what it was, she considered voicing that perhaps there would be a better time for this challenge. But she would not insult Athena's pride that way; Anna would always preserve that, even for her most dire of adversaries. She would, however, aid to speed up the process.

Lunging forward, Anna sought to scruff Athena, striving to take advantage of the wincing her pain caused her. This would bring them head first into immediate proximity, and the results in the end would be determined by whoever was stronger.

PLOT WITH ME!