2. Frosty

     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?"