Ko-Ga was not afraid of ghosts, or dogs, or even big blue cracks! And he would not let misshapen monsters tear down all that made Mythris thrive.

For his flock, and his territory, he would fight.

While wolves battled strange beasts below, he would heckle and screech at any with wings, buzzing the wraiths in the high leaves and baiting others down to chomping range of bigger, bitier fangs.

Toad's parents had demanded that she and her littermates stay behind. And Toad had, very emphatically, promised to do so.

And then, when the bosses disappeared into their magical portals, Toad been swept up in the courage of her packmates (and an abject terror at being left behind in an empty Howff while monsters tried to hunt them all down) Toad had picked a path and limped on crooked legs straight through it.

The cold stung at her instantly, withering her lungs and leaving her breathless as she struggled to make sense of the cacophony at play. Pale beasts — bad fae, like Mum had warned her about — ran amok. Wounding and rancid. Bloodstained white splattered the earth as wolves faced those tearing claws.

Toad had seen the adults play fight. Even take scabs, now and then. But this — this was different. Not fun, or exciting, or brave. Only dangerous. Like when her throat closed up and left her dizzy. Heart pounded. Ears burned. Vision swayed.

She tried to back up, suddenly realizing this was not safer than hiding at home. But the gate behind her did not give way and she only stumbled in deep snow. Whining, Toad cried out. A child's plea for rescue from someone — anyone. She crouched low in the deep drifts, tail tucked, hoping the monsters would not see her.

Warrior

Man, this shit was scary!

But mammy didn't raise a coward, so when the doors opened and the opportunity to do something came to her she took it. Charging through, then looking around for a second to figure out her target.

Shit was fucked.

But she heard a cry from a younger wolf, just a baby, who brings a baby to a fight like this!? The babe was the same age Ksyusha had been when the eagle tried to take Eabha, her mother had protected them then..shit, was mammy behind her? No. Fuck.

Ksyusha charged over, standing over Toad and snarling, biting at anything that came near. She was nearly a year old, her birthday was in less than a month, she could do this!

Warrior

He was no wolf, that was clear.

But the ones he swore himself to were, and the whole world was...well. Going to shit.

So when he woke to a doorway, the Champion of Seiiki, the sentry of Northfall, rose and made his choice.

All his life, he's been fighting.

Gladiatorial beast, Bodyguard, Champion, Sentry.

It's time to put these massive paws to work once more.

He's missed this, in a way, fighting for his life. The tiger roared and snarled as he leapt into the mass, sinking his claws and fangs into the slime covered creatures and uncaring if he's hurt in the process

My Darling, You will never be unloved by me, you are too well tangled in my soul
2-0-2

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speech emotional actions thoughts

Eabha was no coward, that was safe to say, she barreled head first into danger with no fear of pain, with no fear of being sore for days on end. So when she saw the portals, in went the silver girl. Jaws drawn up into a grin, hungry for the chaos that came, what she didn't expect was snarling, loud and right in her ears. For a brief moment, something bubbled in her chest.

Then a wail broke into the air, and her head snapped to a lanky wolf with a pelt of snow white and black accents. Seeing the ghost? wraith? Demon, she'll say, attacking the poor dame, Eabha's eyes locked on and her stomach churned with the need to protect.

Quickly, she turned, body lunging to take a bite for Bǎo not feeling the teeth dig into her foreleg but her teeth shifted to clamp onto the beast and rip her head upwards. Eyes narrowing with barely contained excitement for this, she loved the thrill fighting gave, even if she'd long learned she could not feel the pain others felt.

Back ye beast!

She snapped teeth at mucky fur, but glanced back to the dame scrambling away to hide in tall grasses that barely hid their lanky body. Carefully, the silver girl shifted to stand in front of the dame, protecting with the energy she had, and the energy she would be given upon adrenaline rushing through her veins.

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auto for minor injury

Warrior

The beast inside has been boiling, raging, drawing nearer and nearer towards the surface.

They haven't....managed to live this long as an animal for a long time....but with careful planning and positioning, staying away from the others except to bring back food and pelts for Nyra and the litter. Two children, sired by her, the oddity that was always an absorbed twin and someone new.

It's been working.

Even with Solas sent away to keep an eye on the den, it's been fine.

But the dream came.

The rage came with it.

Into the second door, the beast went, the calling for blood spilt too strong to resist.

Something, a miracle maybe, kept it from attacking the living beings, teeth sinking into disgusting burning muck with abandon.

Rip and tear.

ashait was no warrior, of course. it was difficult to be so without the muscle of a true mazoi- gemsbok and wolf alike, with the horns and claws and teeth to battle for hours without growing exhausted. but she was Ra's eye, and it would not do for a protector of Pharaoh, of the little Goddess, of the Divine, to turn away.

but she could not sing, and she could not shatter chains with the force of her jaws, if indeed they were to be shattered. she did not know whether that was the Gods' will.

what she knew was that it was the will of Ra that she would defend, and that she would do so. it was within her to stand as unsheathed blade against the forces of chaos, as she had done in the service of Pharaohs since she had hatched.

the glowing portal opened up into dark and snow- but for once the chill did not sink through her scales and turn her sluggish and tired. no. she was awake, and when the pale shadow-shapes glided past her to sink claws and teeth into the vibrant tree the Gods had ordered her to defend- and as a wall of fur and fang struck back- ashait coiled and lunged, and felt only fierce satisfaction as her venom sunk in.

The next dream comes with the ferocity they're expecting. The story... they aren't, not so much.

They can deny a lot of things; can't deny the reality in front of them. The dreams have always been too real, and the things they herald... the runes are no lie. Neither are the great blue cracks in the earth and sea. Only a lie as much as the rest of this place is a lie- the dying dream of someone who should've stayed drowned with the others.

Sacrificing everything... not a warning that matters much to them, but plenty will leap at the opportunity. Not for them. Taloka knows what they are, knows where they're needed. A soldier is more use in battle than in killing a chained man.

The second portal welcomes them in a flare of blue light. The stump of their tail twitches against their haunches. Pale figures dart around the tree, followed by wolves, tigers, birds, snakes- strangers answering the same call as them.

And Toad, crying nearby, tucked behind the legs of a large yellow wolf.

Taloka wards the first of the wraiths that comes close off with a snap, prowls over to their side. No expert with children- never will be, doesn't care much for it- but nudges Toad behind the ear with their muzzle. "Slow breaths," they say. "Stay here. You'll be all right."

And Lyra will be furious, but the child might be happy for it, then. Taloka shakes their fur out; turning, snaps their jaws onto the closest wraith and tears with a rending shake of the head.