Entrance Test | Genevieve

_{‘The entry exam for the Vryheid Van Siel pack is one that tests your bravery, senses, emotions, and cunning. Upon informing the Alpha that you wish to join, you will promptly be knocked unconscious and carried into the darkest part of the sewers. You will be left there with no water, food, or instructions. The sewer will be almost pitch black and the smell will be so rancid that even the strongest of noses will struggle to make out the scent of those who brought you there. Your job is to find your way through the maze and make it back to the Alpha. The only tools you have is yourself. Along the way, you will face large, angry rats, dead ends, and flooded portions of sewer. You may even have to fight off members of the pack, who may try to shove you into the unforgiving waste. You will have a full day and a half to complete the test, if you can't find your way out, well, no one is coming to rescue you.’}

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_{Her own deep brown orbs sought out those of the Alpha before her. She could not remember their name, or if it were even shared. She could only stare into the enchanting depths of the rich brown orbs owned by the male she was told was the Alpha as she expressed her desire to become a part of his pack. No sooner than the words left her maw, a sudden headache had hit her. She could’ve sworn it was a stray lightning bolt, but they were in the sewers. It wasn’t long after the pain, that her whole world went black. The darkness was an unwelcomed comfort. It left her to her mind, if only for a short period. Perhaps they didn’t like what they saw in her, or perhaps they simply didn’t want any newcomers poking their nose into their business. Either way, the lanky female was unusually comfortable with the idea.}

_{Her head had begun to pound, and she could feel herself knitting her eyebrows at the pain hit her. Oh good, she was still alive… for now. Something cold and squishy cradled her skull as she cracked open a single eye. The darkness was once again a welcomed sight. It means she was still within the sewers or, at least, that’s what she had hoped. Trying to ignore that he head was resting upon something possibly unsavoury, she tilted her head to rest it upon her paws. A gentle sigh escaping her maw at the action. The pounding within her head was slowly subsiding, allowing the lanky female to get a better view of her surroundings. Though, she actively ignored the spot in which her head had been resting for fear of what she might discover she had been touching. Not that it would matter as she could barely see in front of her own paws.}

_{With a quick shake of her head, she turned her attention to the question that was niggling at the back of her mind. Why was she here? Her brows found themselves knitting closer together. She was angered by their lack of civility and she was determined to let them know, perhaps discovering why they didn’t want her in their pack to start with along the way. A loud sigh sounded from the frustrated female as she rose to stand at her full height. The sound echoed around her, causing her ears to flicker back and forth. She will make it out of this alive, of that she was certain. Without a second of hesitation, she began her trek though the disgusting depths of the sewers. She could feel the grim squishing between her toes and the warmth of the water that moved with her did nothing but disturb the brown female. She was suddenly grateful at her height as it provided a greater distance between herself and the filth of the sewers. She was certain that she would get used to the filth if she was granted access to the pack’s ranks, but she would only deal with it once that happened, no sooner. There was no need to torment herself if it weren’t necessary.}

_{With minimal lighting to guide her and no sense of smell to aid her, she used her sight and her hearing to guide her. Taking great care in picking her path through the darkness as silently as possible.}

_{The first obstacle she encountered was the deepening of the warm sewer water. At first, she thought that perhaps it was her imagination but when it began to lick at her deep chest, she decided that perhaps she wasn’t. Pausing, she cast her gaze towards where she thought she would have to go. Mulling over her choices. She could turn back and get lost, or stick with her gut feeling and potentially drown in the murky depths of the disgustingly warm sewer waters. Determined to give the escape her best shot, she decided to cross the flooded portion. The water never reached over her back, but she was still disgusted at how much of her had been covered. She would rather roll in a dirty puddle than have to cross the flooded sections of the sewers again. With a thorough shake of her fur, she decided to continue and hopefully forget what she had done to herself. It was only when she reached her fifth dead end that cursed herself. Her mental map revealed that she would have to cross the depths of the disgusting flooded section again. Turning up her nose she began the dreaded trudge back through the water once more.}

_{Once through she couldn’t help but shake vigorously once more. Though that did little to stop the muck that continued to drip from her short fur. With a renew resolve to not make that mistake again, she began trotting silently through the sewers. Pausing only momentarily to decide with tunnel to take. Taking a quick break, mainly to observe her surroundings, she heard a strange noise that mixed with the echoing drips that were nearly constant within the sewers. It was her curiosity that got the better of her as she slowly stalked in the direction of the noise. Slowly, she allowed her dainty head to peak around the corner, only for her jaw to fall ajar. What she saw would’ve easily been the largest rat she had ever laid eyes upon. The thought to kill it quickly crossed her mind, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want to put it in her mouth. What if it tasted just as bad as it looked?
Crinkling her nose, she turned away from the beast. Perhaps if she left it be, it would leave her be. But her retreat had paused once her eyes locked upon a light source just beyond the unusually large rat. Damn. Looks like she was going to have to find out the taste of the rodent after all. Narrowing her rich brown eyes upon the beast, she had decided to kill it. There was no way she would cower from a rodent, even if it was of an unusual size. She was large dog and it couldn’t possible rival her savagery. At least, that’s what she had told herself.}

_{With a deep breath, she lunged at the rodent. But it seemed to have known she was there, as it had quickly dodged her snapping jaws. Genevieve had expected it to retaliate with an attack of its own, but she found it scuttling away to squeeze into a small hole within the sewer walls. She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the sight. The sound echoing around, seeming to lighten her mood.}

_{The female had an unusual bounce in her step as she made her way towards the light. That was until her ever-assessing gaze landed upon a figure in the distance. They seemed to be pacing, waiting for something, more like anything, to happen. Unsure if they would be hostile or not, The Azawakh mix stepped closer to the wall of the sewers, using her tall, lanky build to blend into the sewers. Something she had never thought she would’ve had to do. Slowly and silently she made her way towards the restless canine who guarded her exit. She kept assessing them as she slowly but surely made her way closer. Their pale coat had a green tinge about it that made the tall female’s grin widen. She couldn’t help but imagine them flailing about in the green-tinted waters of the sewers and for whatever reason, that amused her. Though, all amusement vanished as she had gotten far too close for her own comfort. Surely, they would’ve spotted her by now.}

_{She paused, stood taller and tilted her head at the other canine. Silently questioning their motives. As they had finally noticed her, they seemed to freeze. Perhaps she had frightened them with how close she had gotten? Perhaps, they simply didn’t know what to do or expect? The silence seemed to last a life-time between the two, the only sound is the chilling drips of the always wet sewer. It was Genevieve who made the first move, boldly stepping forwards towards the stranger. They had bared their teeth at her, to which she responded with a deep growl of her own. The sound made ever more sinister with the echoing of the sewers. Though, the mutt didn’t stand down. In fact, they seemed to have unexpectedly found their courage as they attempted to stare down the large female. A soft sigh escaped the brown female, it looked as though they were going to fight after all.}

_{Without any hesitation, she lunged. Teeth snapping at the dodging form of the smaller canine as they twisted in an ungodly manner to retreat from her reach. A snarl of disapproval ripped from her throat as her narrowed gaze followed the small bullet-like dog. Both lunged, colliding with a resonating thud. The snapping of their jaws overpowering any sounds produced by the sewers and its creatures. Though, Genevieve had noticed something odd about the dog she fought. They favoured their left leg, something she could use to her advantage. Quick to act, she rammed her form into their hip, forcing them to put pressure upon what she assumed to be an old injury. Her strategy had worked. The mutt had fallen into the murky water with a disgruntled curse leaving Genevieve to bound effortlessly into the society that had left her to rot within the sewers. Her narrowed eyes immediately sought out the thick build of the dark grey and white male that was introduced to her as the Alpha. Ignoring the goop that still clung to her fur, she approached the Alpha. Perhaps since she had successfully returned from what she assumed to be exile, he would consider her for a position within his pack.}

_{Approaching him, she lowered her head out of respect. Signalling that she submitted to his authority.
“Do I qualify?”
Her gentle tone easily carried through the dense air of the underground. She found her drooped ears focus forwards as she eagerly awaited his response. Was she accepted, or was she merely a pest again?}


Genevieve
Stray-City 

+ 3.5 Biscuits