Avalanche

**Avalanche** is a big white wolf (*canis lupus*) with icy blue eyes. She has a torn left ear and a long scar running down her leg, gained from battles.

**Avalanche** is a Razorfang lone wolf who used to wander in the forest around The Cave. At a young age she discovered strange powers while defending herself against other wolf packs; she could battle tirelessly without getting much injuries. She denied joining any pack, mainly because she knew as a Razorfang with Cursed roots, she would be stuck at the bottom and live much more miserably than she could as a lone wolf.

Coincidentally, she met Bluesky who was then in battle and fell into a fire pit. She saved Bluesky, who stared at her in disbelief as no Razorfang could have wandered so close to the Cave "unintentionally". When asked for her prophecy, Bluesky looked visibly shocked that they had the same exact prophecy. Bluesky decided to bring her to The Cave so that they could train together.

## History

Avalanche was a generally introverted wolf at first, as she had been a loner for so long. She met Bluesky by chance, although the latter insisted that someone, perhaps Lupus, had planned all this to happen. Having saved Bluesky from that fire pit, the gray wolf still did not trust her, saying she was an "albino" and back then white wolves were already considered a curse. However, Avalanche gained Bluesky's trust by proving she could fight as well as any. But due to her Razorfang status, she was only allowed to use the best *training* weapons; no steel was allowed in her paws. Avalanche knew she was look down upon because she was a Razorfang, but she continued to train hard. As a show of respect, perhaps, she was given the best enchanted training weapons.

Several times she snuck into battle with steel in her mouth, a flash of white stunning the enemies and cutting a bloody swathe in their ranks. She fought many battles, the taste of steel in her mouth, once she beat all the coyotes, but was seen going back to The Cave with blood patches all over, and caused Bluesky to demote her to omega for half a moon.

Avalanche, although she was upset that she couldn't be of much, help, continued to train. When Bluesky told her that she was to go with her on a mission to Lupus' sacred cave, she was delighted that Lupus had allowed her to have steel blades in her paws again.

## Spoilers

### Teaser

"Avalanche, don't go..." Bluesky was sitting by my side, her tail brushing my head. I was frozen with pain, my side was still pouring blood and the Healer was frantically trying to apply leaves and cobwebs all over my wound. That poor Healer. When war came, Healers suffered the most, watching canines die right in front of their eyes. Canines like me. I could feel my life drifting away. "I'm joining you soon, mother," I thought, as memories of my Cursed One mother flooded my mind.

"Hold on a while Avalanche, you can't die, please!" the poor Healer, Aspen, screeched into my ear, her paws scratching around at my side, pressing the herbs, poultices and cobwebs into my wounds.

The battle was a lost one. I had known since I joined it. Bluesky had turned me down, that stupid mentor of mine. She hadn't allowed me a touch of steel since we returned from the journey to The Tree Where Stars Reside. I had left. I ditched them. Or maybe they ditched me. Now this stupid big ball of fluff came to sit by my side, hoping I'd live. I know all sorts of canines would look down on me because I was an albino Razorfang with Cursed roots. Bluesky was a lie; she said she didn't care if I was a Razorfang, yet she turned me down in the end. She never let me fight again, never let me feel the rush of blood in my ears. What could I have done? I could only steal a blade, run away and fight the battle. I wanted to be a lone wolf once more, all the glory belonging to me. Yet... when I saw the battlefield, when I saw death beckoning me to come close, I didn't back down. I couldn't turn back. There was nowhere else to go! I just didn't want to return to my mentor's side.

"Avalanche..." Bluesky trailed off. I managed to raise my head, focusing all the energy to glare back at her. I hate her. She never trusted me. I would die hating her. But do I want that?

"Please forgive me..." Bluesky whispered. Was that sadness and regret in her eyes? I couldn't be sure. Tears were streaming down her big blue eyes and dripping onto my blood splattered fur. My gaze softened. I couldn't die hating her. If I did, I might keep that hate forever. "Please..." Bluesky begged, leaning forward. Aspen had stopped working to share that final moment in my life.

"I..." I croaked weakly, "forgive you..."

With a final gasp of breath, my world went black.