Frosty. The Pitwolf pup Claude's father rescued after a group of Heroes accompanying his father in a Tangent killed Frosty's pack and left him to die. Claude's father, Gil, snuck the pup out of the Tangent and brought him home to Claude where he was healed and has lived ever since. The only remnants of Frosty's tragic past can be found in a ring of missing hair around his back leg where he was once caught in a snare. Despite this rather harsh upbringing, he'd be alright. PitWolves were tough..
PitWolves are descendents of the Wolves that wandered into open Tangent's and integrated themselves into the battle hungry lives of whatever species resided in said Tangent. THey found themselves best suited in the Tangents housing the wildly violent tusked giants known as; the Orcs. The canine-like species that already roamed the forested lands wildly or at the behest of their Orc owners proved to be perfect breeding partners for the Wolves to ensure their survival and evolution. Over time the mixing became more frequent and successful until a new hybrid species became common ground in both Tangents and on Earth. Since then, the PitWolves never looked back and continue to grow.
In terms of physical stature and build, PitWolves come in a variety of colors and sizes but on average they're around 260-300lbs as adults-- and what isn't solid muscle, is irone-like dense bone. So dense in fact that PitWolves are incapable of swimming, only sinking down to the murky depths of whatever body of water they fall in.
***
"Frosty, what's the matter with you? I almost had a heart-attack you bonehead." Claude explained, knowing there was a good chance the pup would sneak attack him again tommorow morning anyway.
Frosty replied by sitting and raising his right paw in an attempt to shake Claude's hand-- which is how Frosty usually greeted him in the mornings. It would've been cute if not for the semi-sabered fangs, dirty claws and rippling muscles that jumped under his skin with every movement.
Claude got up and dusted himself off, removing the sticks, dirt and other debris. He went over to Frosty and gladly shook his oversizd paw that he swore felt heavier every day. After shaking with the PitWolf, he connected is head to the muscle-bound pups in a show of affection taking in his naturally wild scent of pine, wet fur and blood.
After he got his usual greetings with Frosty over with, he continued the rest of his run-- now accompanied by an overgrown PitWolf pup who had all the stamina and youthful vigor a young predator could ask for. As they ran there was no sign of the PitWolf once living a life in shades of red and tones of pain. He was simply happy to be out-- Claude understood this even if they didn't speak anything close to the same langauge.
Once he completed his run through the forest he headed back to the cabin where the workout equipment his father got him was located. It was nothing luxurious in nature or anything close to what they had at the Combat/Strategy Academy, but for Claude it was more than enough.
"I really don't know where i'd be without you all." He said while eyeing his weights ad equipment with excitement.
Once he filled a bowl of water for Frosty, Claude began his usual morning workout of 50 squats, 15 pull-ups, 15 push-ups and 25 strict muscle-ups.
"Twenty three......tweeeeenty four...tweeenty five." He groaned out the tail-end of his set of muscle-ups with effort. He dropped from the bar as quickly as he'd hopped on, breathing heavily with the conclusion of his workout.
After a short while, he realized he didn't feel the need to lie on the ground and catch his breath-- and his limbs didnt feel like they were pumped to the point of popping at the slightest provocation. Instead, a light and refreshing sting lingered within each limb. They felt primed and alive in a way he couldnt properly explain.
"YES! I know you see the progress, Frosty!" Claude cheered in an energetic tone while he flexed his pumped arms. After he didn't hear any movements or huffs of acknowledgement he reaized he was talking to himself a felt a little red with embarassment.
"Well goodbye to you too...damn." He said while looking around the forest as if someone would see him talking to himself while shirt and shoeless.
Claude headed back inside the cabin and looked at the clock that hung above the front door and realized he had thirty minutes before he needed to leave for the Academy. He looked around the living room of the cabin, taking in its homey essence. Even with his time constraints in mind, he still had to let himself simply appreciate the home he'd grown up in.
The living room was the heart of the cabin in more ways than one-- spreading its warm openness to the rest of the house like the heart of man pumping life to every corner of his body. It had shiny darkwood floors that wer spotless and only ever interrupted by the placement of a sturdy metal desk in the left corner of the room, right below a clean bay style window, the metal desk was riddled with his fathers notes and hand drawn depictions of the Tangent's. Some looked like real life nightmares, while others just looked like serene snowy biomes. Tangent's often differed heavily like that. Like they were each worlds of their own creation and origin. Claude couldnt wait to explore them and establish himself as a Hero.
Claude's daydreaming was interrupted by a familiar smell that made a small earthquake erupt from the depths of his stomach..."CHICKEN!!!"
Claude peered deeper into the cabin where the dining room was and saw on the oakwood round table that there was a steaming plate of chicken and rice-- made more colorful than even a rainnbow with the amount of lively vegetables placed within. Claude's favorite meal, all he could do was silently praise the chef who made it.
"Dad....you are a HERO!" Were the last words he said before giving into his insatiable feeling hunger like a starved beast.
After a few minutes spent devouring his meal, Claude noticed a piece of paper-- a note, from his father next to his plate. It read; "Hey kid, I had to leave early for work today. But i'll be back tommorow. Also, I saw your armor...it looks like Orc excrement. So, I left some coppers for you to get a new leather set. Have a good day at the Academy try to smile more and kick some asss!!"
Claude ran over the last line again in his head, "Have a good day at the Academy....? What is that a joke?"
After Claude finished his meal, he headed to his room. The space was a modest 12 by 12ft. The small space was made presentable only by the placement of the wide double hung window to the right of his room and another directly above his bed so that he could bathe in the sun and moonlight on the weekends. Since his room wasn't very spacious all he had was his twinsized bed with a small and chipped rack of practice swords. Among the wooden weapons was one that shined silver and radiated with true killing power. His shortsword. He looked at the foot of his bed where his beaten leather backpack was and began putting his books inside in preparation for his 5 mile walk to the C.S Academy. "Old World History..uhhh. Check. Team Formations and Strategy...Check. Wildland Exploration...and Animal Identification. Check." Claude continued loading his back with books and homework until it filled out completely wi
As soon as Claude laid his eyes on the spear, he recognized its model. It was a Gladiator Spear, also known as a type of javelin or short spear. Something from the Old World, before Systems and the Tangent's. When man was more often pitted against man than Monster. The spear was jet black and shorter than the stadard spears you see today but the blade was longer-- and thicker. The spear was practical, deadly, and Claude knew it. While most people would go for the gaudy spears with the wild attachments and unnecesary add ons, Claude knew better. Claude knew those would be the ones to break or become a hindrance to the user in tight spaces, but this simple short spear wasn't anything like that. This spear was ideal. "This weapon is made for battle...." He thought to himself in awe. As he continued to ogle at the masterful creation-- noticing the ridges and weave patterns towards the middl
Claude continued deeper into the intracitlety built city cutting corners and going through alleyways until he ended up on the street that led to the Angelos Districts Combat/Strategy Academy. He could see students in front of him all heading into the cathedral-like building with various forms of weapons and armor, as they got closer the students began to seek out their friends to form their usual cliques. Seeing this always made claude angry because he didn't have a clique….he didn't even have friends, but then again in order for him to have friends he'd have to let those royal scumbags halt his progress and ridicule him whenever they needed to reup on self confidence. So, Claude came to the conclusion he always comes too. A simple, yet effective one that was often ignorant of his internal emotions and feelings. &n
"Alright, students what will be your most difficult foe in your upcoming Guild assistance run? You get this wrong and ill make your training for today a living hell." announced Prof. Raizen. ** Professor Raizen is a teacher at the academy, who is known for his incredibly harsh tactics and respectable aura due to the fact that he was a pretty famous Tangent Hero, a swordsmen with amazing Lightning Elemental Magic. He was fast approaching the top 5 in strength but stopped for some reason and took on an angry demeanor while picking up his new position as a teacher at the Angelos Districts C.S academy. ***** Claude's hand shot into the air as he was more than confident in his answer, Prof. Raizen directed his attention to him giving the boy the greenlight
After Claude remembered his match he looked around the field littered with people and equipment until he noticed Samuel spearheading the line of students walking to the the training grounds. Samuel was walking with his usual heir of confidence that caused Claude to clench his fists in anger until his knuckles were white as snow. Every fight they had, Samuel won, Claude knew his weaknesses and tendencies but the damn gear and strength difference was always the final decider. Prof. Raizen thought training in your armor helped you get comfortable in it. He also thought that everyone should use their individual armor to their advantage in every way, the only problem was poor, common class students didnt have an advantage to utilize. Luckily, Claude had his speed but others
The finality in Prof. Raizen's words functioned like a bolt of lightning smashing into the earth and startling them both into offensive action. They descended on eachother with the focus of two wolves on the hunt. Claude went in fast, but slow enough that Samuel gave a downward chop with his brand new shining broadsword, he changed direction when he was in close enough proximity with Samuel and barely missed the Noble's blade as he felt the wind on his back with a satisfying "WHOOSHH!" Now facing Samuel's side while the boy was open to any and all attacks, Claude swung his blade cutting the part of Samuel's arm that wasn't covered in high end armor causing Samuel to let out a loud exclamation of pain. While doing so, Samuel swung his blade to the side wildly in an attempt to remove the offensiv
"HE'S BEEN REBORN??!" "What Class do you think he's awakened? I've never seen an Aura that color..." "Reborn at fifteen?? He really is the son of Marshall Leon." The onlooking students were positively stunned, they all stared at Samuel as if he were a god. The deep purple Aura seemed to radiate from him like a dark flame, making him look as omnipotent as the students thought he was. Samuel wasn't exactly aware of what happened, all he knew was that he got an immense boost of power and sent Caude flying out of the ring, "An easy win as always...." The thought filtered into his mind, leaving him with a smug grin in response to his ego being fed. After that thought, he heard a sound that seemed to come from the depths of his own mind. DING! &nbs
Claude kept his eyes closed and listened to the light fizzing sound in front of him. After a while he could smell a serene and calming smokey smell, almost like sage...someone was using Healing Magic. He opened his eyes and saw a middle aged Hispanic woman with elegant yet mature features and soft hazel eyes. The calming features of the woman were one's he grew to assign with Prof. Callista. The Academies Healer. A job he assumed she was in the act of performing due to the smell of the room and the fact that he only recently got obliterated in the midst of his opponents physical Rebirth. The memory brought his blood to a furious boil. ".....That bastard! Right when I was about to win he cheats...and then he's REBORN! The fuck are those odds!?" As he thought of the absurdity of it all he couldn't help but clench his jaw and ball his fist in anger. This seemed to grab Prof. C