[hider=Voice References] Voice actors for the characters. [hider=Lotus (Tara Strong)] [url]https://youtu.be/AEL7Aa78XR4?t=1h3s[/url] [/hider] [hider=Ahanu (James Marsden aka Erik the Slayer from Skyrim)] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5-CDYiAbkY[/url] [/hider] [hider=Ruvik (Yuri Lowenthal)] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPyvU1CQeBY[/url] [/hider] [hider=Zinovia (Laura Bailey)] [url]https://youtu.be/E-rYgoJF0v4?t=32s[/url] [/hider] [/hider] I'll be introducing Zinovia in the next scene. [hr] [h3]Ruvik, Ahanu, & Lotus[/h3] The strong scent of blood invaded the air in the group’s private patch of forest that morning. Two canine figures lounged about, Lotus being one of them. The mutt perched on top of a slightly large rock and guarded the area like a hawk, focusing intently and quietly. A few feet away from the rock laid Ruvik the wolf who was tearing away at the fur and flesh of a freshly caught rabbit who was unfortunate enough to be caught in his ivory fangs. In the midst of his chewing, he snuck a glance at Lotus with a furrowed brow. She seemed awfully cautious despite their current situation, which was a safe one. “You [i]do[/i] realize that we’re safe here, right? There hasn’t been a foreign scent for weeks,” Ruvik inferred towards his ‘adopted sister’. Lotus didn’t seem fazed and kept her focus, straightening herself out a bit at Ruvik’s comment. She sniffed the breeze as it floated in her direction. “I’m just trying to be safe. Zinovia said to always stay on your guard and never let it down for a single moment.” Ruvik took another large chunk out of his kill and looked right up at the dog with a chill expression. “Yeah, but… only when you actually smell that something’s up, or when you’re in a new area.” Just as he spoke, there was rustling in the bushes nearby, capturing both of the canine’s attentions immediately. Out popped Ahanu the fox, licking his chops at the scent of Ruvik’s kill. “Leave her alone, Ruvy, she’s still a dog who’s fresh off the leash. Still scared, too,” he chuckled slyly to himself and approached Ruvik. Lotus scowled at him but kept quiet. Besides, even if she decided to voice her opinion about that, Ruvik and Ahanu had already started fighting about one thing or another. “Get your own, stupid fox!” “But I’m huuuungry! Share with your little brother!” Ruvik quickly rose to his paws and violently yanked the rabbit carcass from Ahanu’s grasp quite easily, being a wolf and all. “You’re [b]not[/b] my brother.” He snorted at the fox, who simply rolled his eyes and snickered in amusement. Lotus had already hopped off her perch and approached the two proudly, a soft scowl on her face. “I swear, you two fight like tykes every single day. My siblings and myself weren’t even this bad.” Ahanu raised a brow and sniffed Lotus, who stepped back in annoyance. “Shut up, mutt. You’ve still got some getting used to. It’s a [i]dog eat dog[/i] world out here. You either kill or be killed, steal or be stolen from. You’ve only been here for three moons, so I don’t wanna hear it.” Lotus whined softly in protest, “Well maybe if Ruvik would teach me how to hunt and fight, I could be less of a pampered pet and more like you guys -- just less immature.” Suddenly, there was rustling in the bushes near the trio, and all three immediately became alert and straightened out in caution. Lotus lifted her snout high in the air to try and catch a scent, but the breeze wasn’t blowing it in their direction. Their scents were blowing in [i]this[/i] creatures direction. “I think I smell blood. ZInovia’s back with some deer, I bet,” Ahanu smirked and started to bound in the direction of the rustling, much to Ruvik and Lotus’s shock as they tried to call him back. He refused to listen and kept approaching the area where the noises were, licking his chops in anticipation for a good meal. Who needed Ruvik’s rabbit anymore? “Come on, guys, we should probably help her.” Just as he was a few taillengths away, he halted at the sight of an adolescent cougar who made her way out of her cover of foliage. She wasn’t terribly large, but still greatly outweighed and would overpower Ahanu if they got into a fight. She was somewhat malnourished and licked her maw at the sight of the vulnerable fox, making her way towards him threateningly. Ahanu lowered his frame and slowly started to walk backwards, knowing any sudden movements would cause a chase -- and predators enjoyed chases. Ruvik shouted and snarled at the cougar, grabbing her attention immediately. “Pick on someone your own size, cat! Don’t lay one claw on that fox.” She raised a brow in confusion and stood up straight whilst immediately shifting her body towards the wolf’s direction, swishing her tail in amusement, but the cold, hungry gaze in her eyes still lingered. “You gonna stop me?” Ruvik stepped forward, subtly motioning to Ahanu and Lotus to take cover somewhere as he readied himself for a good fight. “I am.” He growled lowly at the feline and braced himself, muscles tensing up so he could avoid injury and dodge any attacks skillfully. The cougar snorted and unsheathed her claws in annoyance, angry that the wolf was interrupting her mealtime, which she needed desperately. She also readied herself. “Fine. I like wolf meat better than that of a fox anyway.” She wasted no time, and at the moment, the skinny cougar sprinted in his direction, claws and teeth flailing in rage. Lotus and Ahanu watched to see what Ruvik would do, to see if his combat training did him some good. He’d sparred with his mother before, but never actually got into a real fight. But from where they hid, it was clear that Ruvik was frozen and didn’t know what to do. .