Ferox came from a long line of warriors and assassins, caught up in the seemingly never-ending feud between her homeland and the neighbouring kingdom. It was common for wolves to train to help defend their home and conquer new lands, but those of the Sanguis lineage were especially dedicated to this cause, sharing their knowledge with each new generation whilst forever striving for glory and success. It had earned them quite the reputation, but their undying ambition also put them at great risk, and now few remained.
Like the rest of her family, Ferox began learning to fight from a young age, but her upbringing was far from normal. Her father was absent her entire life, and her mother left her behind with a guild of elite warriors when she was just two months old. Seeing the potential of her bloodline, they were willing to take her in, but their recognition was something that would have to be earned. Luckily, she already had a bit of experience, and she was determined to show them she was worthy of a place in the guild. She was one of the youngest pups there, but it made her no less spirited.
The guild had many rules, such as that injuries inflicted during the training spars must not be serious enough to affect the opponent's fighting capability, and that she was only allowed to play with the other pups if it was playfighting. There was no affection, no empathy; yet, this was perfectly normal in her homeland's culture, and she never even realised what it was she felt was missing. Ferox just wanted to prove herself to be strong enough to meet their standards, and that would be enough for her.
When she began training with the other pups, she soon discovered that they were quite rough. It took a while to get used to, but weakness was strongly looked down upon in the guild, so she quickly learnt to retaliate to their attacks by attempting to bite them twice as hard as they had bitten her rather than crying out for help. In a real battle, it was unlikely there would be anyone there for her, and this was no exception. It was all part of her training. Without the risk of death and serious injury, it was the perfect environment to practise fending for herself whilst still feeling the consequences of her mistakes if she failed to dodge an opponent's attack.
Before long, Ferox had already made herself a few rivals. There were a few pups who were much stronger than her, and after losing to them, she wanted little more than to wipe the smug looks off their faces. It was clear she would have to get stronger, but she wasn't sure how. All she could do was glare resentfully as the others trained, trying to figure out some way she could turn the tides. One of the older wolves soon noticed, but to her surprise, he was actually willing to offer her some advice. He pointed out the flaws in one of the other pups' strategies and encouraged her to observe the way her rival fought, exploiting these flaws to gain the upper paw. Looking from a new perspective, she could finally see it; although her rival's attacks could be quite overwhelming, they were clumsy and predictable. If she could dodge them, it would be easy to find an opening. She just had to adjust her own strategy and challenge the pup to a rematch.
When she wasn't busy honing her skills, sometimes she would wander off on her own, curious to learn more about her homeland's culture. She already knew she wasn't supposed to trust anyone, but there were some things that intrigued her, and she was going to learn about them one way or another. There was an old wolf nearby who often performed a variety of rituals, and one in particular caught her attention; the curse ritual. It was all just superstition, but the idea of placing a curse on those she didn't get along with made her happy, and she soon took to it as a form of vengeance that could be used when violence wasn't an option. The only catch was that it required bones, and lots of them. As such, she began scavenging through any old carcasses she found, often bringing some home with her when she returned to the training grounds.
As her training continued, Ferox was turning into quite a capable young warrior. At five months old, she could outperform a lot of the other pups at the guild and was beginning to earn some recognition at last, but it still wasn't nearly enough. Even after all this time, there were still some who treated her with indifference and a complete lack of respect. Each loss damaged the reputation she worked so hard to build, and she knew she would have to train harder than everyone else if she were to catch up. Hoping to prove herself to all who doubted her, she began using her free time to watch the others spar with each other, simply observing their mistakes like she had previously learnt to do. It was harder now that they too had advanced in skill, but she was able to pick up on a few new strategies that would likely prove useful. If she could find a way to put them to good use, then maybe she would be able to increase her win rate a little and show them all that she was no weakling.
Sometimes, her mother would come back to visit and see how everything was going, often sharing tales of what she had been up to on her adventures elsewhere in the kingdom. Ferox would use this opportunity to ask many questions, but there was one she couldn't get a clear answer to; who her father was. The subject always seemed to be avoided, and it only made her more curious to know. Yet, the visit always seemed to end before she could even find out something as simple as his name or eye colour.
For a while, it felt like everything she wanted was just out of reach. Answers, recognition... and even acceptance. It was like she had to fight for everything, and it was frustrating... but it was also empowering. Her emotions were like tinder, allowing the flame of vengeance to burn ever brighter. If they wanted her to fight, that was exactly what she would do.
She wasn't afraid to draw blood, nor did she hesitate. It was all like a game to her. She was as relentless as a hurricane, refusing to back down from a fight without giving it her all. It was clear now that if she wanted to earn recognition, then there was no place for mercy anymore. Watching the more timid pups as they shied away at her devious, toothy grin... it made her feel powerful. She would prove herself as a formidable warrior worthy of the Sanguis name even if it killed her. Perhaps then she would receive the respect she so desired.
By the time she was seven months old, she was a true herald of chaos, challenging just about anyone in the guild to a fight whenever the mood took her. She was tired of boring routines; she wanted something new and exciting. Even if she didn't stand much of a chance against the adults yet, it was a good learning experience, and they actually seemed to approve of her courage. Well, most of the time. Either way, the guild was finally beginning to feel like her family, and it gave her a new level of enthusiasm and confidence she didn't know what to do with.
When her mother returned to visit once more, Ferox decided she would ask the question again, and this time, she was going to get an answer. She didn't care if her father was some random wolf; she just wanted to know what he was like, and more importantly, why she never had a chance to meet him. She made it clear she wasn't going to stop asking, and before long, her persistence paid off. However... it didn't go at all like she was expecting. When she finally got the answer, it felt like her entire world had just been shattered right before her. Her father was from the very kingdom she had spent her entire life training to someday fight.
She didn't want to believe it. She had so many questions, but there was only so much she could take. According to her homeland's law, her very existence was a crime. If anyone else found out, it would utterly destroy her family's reputation, and there was no way the guild would accept her anymore... If they even spared her life, that is. The only thing she could think to do was run, and keep running until she was certain no one had followed her. So long as no one found out, perhaps there was still hope... but nothing felt the same anymore. Her sudden disappearance was bound to cause suspicion, and she wasn't sure she could think of a valid excuse. She could hardly even control her own emotions anymore, and it would be obvious there was something more going on. By going back, she would be risking so much...
The forest Ferox called home was cold and oftentimes dark, but it provided good shelter, and there were many unique places to explore. Yet... she had never strayed beyond its reaches. If she left it all behind... perhaps she would be presumed dead, and she could start anew whilst also protecting the honour of the Sanguis name. She didn't know where she would end up, but it seemed like the best plan she had. There was no place for her here anymore. There never had been; she just hadn't seen it until now.
The wilderness was a harsh place, and she was perfectly aware of this, but at the very least, she knew how to defend herself. As for finding food, even if she wasn't the best hunter, she was already familiar with searching for leftovers thanks to her hobby of collecting bones. If she had to fight for survival, then that was what she would do. She was free at last, and it was finally time to discover the wonders that awaited her beyond the familiar trees.
parents
Mother: Stella, Father: Unknown
siblings
None
lover
None
children
None
extended
Uncle: Tenebris (Deceased)
