Skill: Bulldozer
Not for religious reasons, but Alder did not make definitive statements so carelessly as she did. Her confidence would be her undoing.
It was better, he had assessed over the years, to set the bar low - one was less likely to face disappointment should eager hopes be dashed, and this guiding rule also played into his utter hopelessness at ever securing Solvi's affections.
They were friends, he thought. It would be a terrible shame to ruin the precious friend-bond they shared by dumping his (woefully unworthy) feelings onto her golden lap, so even as his heart broke whenever they parted, it mended itself a hundred times over each time they met again.
At least for right now, Alder was focused on winning.
Letting out a whoop of exultation, he threw his head back and laughed without remorse, thoroughly satisfied with himself. That's right - this was the same guy who'd kicked ass in Northfall's tournament! Hah!
Except -
Moments passed, and Alder's tail slowly ceased its wagging as he stood curiously, head tilting to the side as he observed the motionless pile of snow that now rested atop his petite friend.
He retracted his lolling tongue with a quiet slurp.
Uh...Well, shit.
Solvi? You uh... you alright?
Naught but the sound of a distant crow permeated the silence as he waited with increasing concern.
Hey, quit kidding around,he said weakly, trying to inject some playfulness into his tone.
C'mon, get up.
Nothing.
Oh no.
Solvi?!Alder sputtered, rushing toward the snow mound,
Solvi! I'm so sorry - Solvi - shit - oh, hell, I didn't mean to -
In a sudden explosion, Alder's next words were cut off as a fat wad of snow jammed itself into his open mouth, and he sputtered as the impending avalanche continued to cascade over him in waves. For such a little thing, she sure was able to move some weight. The very same crushing pile with which he had buried her had now thrown the wolf off-balance and flat onto his back, having rendered him so startled by the unexpected attack that it had given Solvi the advantage in what might have otherwise been a failed maneuver.
Alder snorted as bits of slush expelled from his nostrils.
Cheap.
Now who was cheap?!
With a feeling of rising injustice, Alder took a deep, steadying breath - then violently launched himself out of the snow, aiming to tackle Solvi (as carefully as he could without injuring her, at least) and send them rolling down the hill in a tangle of paws and tails and breathless laughter, and for a fleeting moment, Alder's heart was free of every burden.
![[Image: UWkba3H.png]](https://i.imgur.com/UWkba3H.png)
- Alder is not actually Inuyasha, despite the evidence
