Heathen

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Survival is awarded to the worthy

As it turned out, Heathen hated wind more than sand. More than heat, even. Heat and sand were constant. You knew how it was going to affect you at any given moment. Wind on the other hand was chaotic, short bursts sending their fur in all different directions and drying out their eyes. It was hot sometimes and col other times, sending itself into a fit when the two kinds met. Just what kind of a mess was this?!

Thankfully Heathen had reached the tunnel's end now, giving them some time to groom as the cooler air comforted their burnt skin. Other things tried to call their attention. Shiny things, scurrying things, but the kitten paid no mind to them until they were confident that their fur had been settled back into place. It was only then that they looked up, stomach turning uncomfortably in protest to the lack of food.

Instinctually, they turned their nose to sample the air.

And there it was, a scent gently spreading through the air, calling them to their feet and unsheathing their claws. They had never smelled this, never done this, but the scent itself was enough to guide them. Instinct was powerful. More powerful than even magic, some might argue.

OOC Notes: backdated (sorry) to their first cycle - I'm getting their timeline in order. Others are welcome to join, but don't expect a long thread.

Heathen

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Survival is awarded to the worthy

Heathen trailed the scent while paying little mind to anything else, belly low to the ground as he stalked towards his prey. It took the new predator some time to locate it, but catching it was a whole other battle.

Whatever it was, it was hiding in a hole. While he could (in theory) wiggle partway in, there was no telling what kind of damage it could do to him in turn. So he decided to play it safe, shoving one paw in with claws outstretched in an attempt to pull it out.

OOC Notes:

Heathen

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Survival is awarded to the worthy

Heathen grinned as his claws sunk into flesh, dragging the lesser out of its home and towards his hungry stomach. He secured it with his other paw as soon as he got the chance, pinning it as he went in for the kill.

It made a good meal for a cat of his size, filling him enough that by the time he finished he wanted nothing more than to nap. And he would have, had he not remembered his plan. There was no time for naps when he needed to live! And living meant he needed a safe place of his own where he could grow stronger in peace.

Full and reenergized, Heathen took a long look around.

OOC Notes:

The entrance to Canis loomed many feet above little Heathen, close to grown as he was. Scents old and new lingered here; all were either the particular musk of a well-lived-in room or the faint stink of fear. None left discernible trails, either from being so long ago or blown away by the persistent winds.

Surrounding the yawning opening was a sort of... altar—or was it a memorial? a monument?—composed of many pieces of armor, bones, weaponry; all of which were rather well-preserved and taken care of. Oxidization had taken to every bit of metal, but they were not in totally crumbling relief. The piece nearest to Heathen was a pauldron.

It was nothing fancy, its craftsman having clearly favored function over fashion. Despite that, the metal still gleamed through layers of rust and dirt, a nearly iridescent silvery hue. Whatever had worn it, though, must have been massive: its long edges measured three feet.

@Heathen

Heathen

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Survival is awarded to the worthy

It really didn't take long for Heathen to notice the pile of objects surrounding the tunnel's exit now that they weren't distracted by hunger or heat. There was no real order to the objects stacked there in his eyes, but they managed to stay balanced for however long they had been there, so maybe there was some reason to it. There must have been, because things didn't just... happen. Things were planned. Decided long before his own consciousness had formed. How else would he have been born, let alone survive in a place that so clearly wanted life to be eradicated entirely? Then again, perhaps he had some paw in it. There was no way to be sure. Or... was there?

Fascinated by the collection of bones and shiny metal plates and sticks in front of them, the cub studied them, trying to figure out how they balanced together when they were piled so high in comparison to himself. Was there something else hidden between the things that bonded them? Where they resting on a rock shelf of some sort?

Heathen gently set a paw on one of the larger metal pieces and a shock ran through their body, bringing forth a vision. Images from a life that wasn't his own, playing out like a long lost memory.

OOC Notes:

Tunnel P seemed to fall away, red rock and sand eclipsed by a flash of blinding light. It glinted off of the pauldron--but now the metal was new, shining, though battered already by enemy claws.

A creature reared, the armor visible: this shoulder piece, and a hanging chestplate, and metal spikes down its back and tail. It looked almost like a bear, or sloth, but streamlined, and some forty feet long; a long, trailing tail lashed behind it. Briefly visible was its entire body, with dark tips on pale creamy fur, and short round ears.

Hooked claws swiped at another figure approaching, massive, barreling toward it, dark and indistinct. The sands of Hydra could be seen behind it.

It reared higher, standing on two hind legs, enormous and long jaws snapping open. Another flash of blinding light glanced off the pauldron. An ear-shattering roar ripped through Heathen's mind, a bellow, a challenge--and the image faded.

@Heathen