.{Kodack}.

Kodack scrunched his nose at Blu, not keen on making conversation.

"Maybe we are running on ice?" He shrugged.

Honestly, it wasn't that hard to think for yourself!

Kodack narrowed his eyes at her, looking very unimpressed by the other dog.

He wasn't exactly keen on Blu, she was slow for a Swing Dog.

Well, not exactly slow but she fretted a lot which kept her eyeing every corner and making the move seconds too late.

It wasn't exactly a bad thing per se but it gratted on his nerves a litte.

Kodack was the mover of the pair, he was sleek and large and pulled orders around like it was nothing,

Blu was quiet, she did the job just fine but was so reserved that he did all the talking.

He was hoping to shape her up a bit but they never really spoke much.

His best bet was out on the ice

Blu huffed at Kodaks response, then her ears flicked backwards as teufels voice rumbled behind her. She turned to face him, didn't trust he wouldn't do anything but didn't really think he had any malicious intent. She kneaded the earth with her paws scanning over the pack. She thought for a moment before speaking "I think we all know Tahoe will try for the lead position" she paused thinking for a moment "Aputiak is young but he's bold he probably won't win but he'll try to fight" she tipped her head to look at the musher who was still walking slowly by the kennel while talking on the phone and holding the packs harnesses. She watching him with ivy blue eyes before turning back to the group she was sitting with.

-+-+-

Elvis bounded over to Jaeger "good luck, I don't think you have much competition this year so I'm putting my money on you" he wagged his tail the mousy brown of his coat just a blur as he nudged Jaegers shoulder with his nose. A squirrel darted through the kennel catchinhbthe attention of all of the dogs. "Huh, strange" he said before turning back to Jaeger "again good luck" the light brown male shook his pelt before trotting to go talk to one of the other dogs.

Teufel fell silent as Kodack and Blu came over. He didn't mind Kodack yet, but Blu? He minded. His gaze grew flat and uninterested, his head lifting to show how he still loomed over her, despite the fact she was big for a female. He could tell she didn't trust him by how she whipped around when she heard his deep voice. As she started explaining what he already guessed, he mentally checked her off of the list. She wouldn't challenge Jaeger. He waited silently until she left, gaze flicking next to the musher. They had just gone on a run an hour or two ago... this seemed unnatural, but whatever. A new opportunity to observe. Maybe they were being taken out with a wheeled sled - he'd had that happen before.

-

Jaeger tilted his head as Elvis came over, snorting slightly. "The only one I'm worried about, legitimately, is Tahoe." He responded flatly, then nodded as the young dog left as quick as they came.

.{Kodack}.

Kodack just gave Blu an unimpressed look, hoping she'd leave him alone in peace.

He was hoping someone challenged Blu, he needed someone that kept up with him out on the ice.

She wasn't a bad runner exactly, just not the best and that's what the Swing Dogs had to be.

He took notice of the fact that Tuefel didn't look annoted by his presence and took that as a small win.

Kodack swivelled his ears towards Jaeger, catching him talking about Tahoe and the fact that he thought he was the only concern.

Arya won't be pleased to hear that.

Sure she was female but plenty packs had female leads, it was just less common than a male.

Teufel hummed under his breath quietly before looking between Kodack and Arya. "Not that anyone cares to hear my opinion, but Arya, you'd be a better leader than Jaeger from what I've seen already." He droned, his fur ruffling in the breeze that danced through.

He had heard that Kodack was the other swing dog, so he hoped that they got someone better. If he was going to have connections in this group, he'd rather it be them than Blu or Pigeon, or even Jaeger. He really had nothing against the current lead dog, except for their apparent arrogance and quick temper.

He flicked an ear and looked slowly around at everyone. Polaris seemed to be the only other dog with an even temperment and a brain. Tahoe hated him already, Pigeon and Blu- well, you heard, he hadn't met Aputiak but he guessed he wouldn't like their confidence, and the backup dogs were not his concern.

.{Arya}.

She looked at Teufel in surpise, narrowing her ice-blue eyes.

"Thank you, suppose i'll see how Tahoe gets on. The hope is he flops as soon as the pressure hits."

She looked back over to Kodack, "You think someone will knock Blu? You could do with a faster Swing."

She scanned Teufel, looking up and down for a fair bit.

He was a bit large but had solid hindquarters, a strong mind and good eye.

-

.{Kodack}.

Kodack didn't speak, just happy to see he wasn't the only one who wasn't sure about Blu's position.

"One can only hope." He said finally.

"Did you hear Jeager talking? He's convinced the only threat is Tahoe, gives you the upper hand."

Teufel merely inclined his head slightly, ignoring the way the glanced at him. He was presenting himself as anything but a threat, exactly what he wanted. However, if anyone happened to challenge him... he would take them out with no mercy, regardless of their reasons or who they were. He was a ruthless force, disguised under a lethal stillness.

"I bet Polaris would make a good swing." He mused, his gaze scanning the dogs. When he heard what Kodack said about Jaeger, he snorted quietly. "The dog thinks he's untouchable. Someone should teach him a lesson, just to get the message through his thick skull." He pointed out flatly, then tilted his head. "On the other side of that coin, however... I don't think he knows that Arya wants the lead." He turned his gaze to them. "When he was watching everyone, he barely looked at her, and he did that same thing with Polaris. Not underestimating you both, per se, but not believing you actually wanted it."

His quiet explanation came with observing every second that he was in this pen, watching everyone, experience in gauging them.

.{Kodack}.

Kodack tilted his head, letting the breeze shoot past his ears.

"Polaris is nice, little bit over his head but he wouldn't be awful."

Kodack blinked slowly, running his gaze throughout the pen.

"What about you?" He asked, turning back to look at Teufel. "Your pretty big, and luckily not insanely stupid. I know you go in for lead dog, not now, but i know a couple dogs that would roll over in seconds."

He moved his paw lazily over the snow, running it up and down to see the marks it left.

He looked over at Arya, who was clearly thinking. Kodack assumed she was assesing her chances.

He didn't expect an answer from Teufel, they hardly knew eachother and sharing the role your after is like handing out part of their story for him and Arya to see.

(I just made artwork for Teufel and put it under his sheet in the sign ups <3)

-

Teufel slowly tilted his head, his dark eye fixing on Kodack for a long moment. "Not insanely stupid.... I'm flattered." He blinked slowly, sarcasm dripping from his voice with such a strong poisonous lilt that it could melt through bone.

"I have no plans on going for lead dog." He affirmed a moment later, tail flicking slowly. Typically, the Wheel Dog position was looking for the powerhouse. A strong, big, muscular dog with a super steady temperment and a level head. Swing Dog position was looking for a leader, a good comminucater, responsive, agile, and quick. He could go anywhere on the team, but mushers always chose to put him at the back. Maybe it'd be a nice change.

Then he remembered... the other Wheel Dog was Pigeon. "Oh." There was a verbal realization there, followed by the wrinkling of his nose. "Actually." He stood slowly, stretching again. "That's a good idea."

He turned his gaze towards Blu, the one dog standing in the way of possible peace. He was not going to go next to Pigeon the whole year- no fricking way,

Blu had started off but was still within earshot. Kodak had always thought less of her as a swing dog Blu was just as fast as him maybe even faster but her eyesight especially in the snow has made her misstep. Her blue eyes where sensitive and their musher had a habit of not left her eyes adjust before hooking her up to the sled. The first corner always put her off but she was golden for the rest of the race. She had always been extremely fast she was part border Collie that's why their musher had hand picked her as a swing dog when she was only 2. She shook out her coat annoyed that both Arya and Kodak probably teufel too thought that she should be knocked from her position. Wasn't her fault that her shoulder had been fractured during a race last winter. The other teams dogs had smashed into Kodak diving Blu into a boulder her shoulder had taken the impact and she had continued to run the rest of the race. The pressure on the injury had almost permanently damaged it and she almost missed the biggest race of the year. Luckily she had recovered enough to race but the last two races she ran with the pack she was slower then she used to be. A rock hurtled through the wire pelting her in the flank with a earsplitting crack. She made a sound in-between a yelp and a snarl. Standing up a teen boy was on the other side of the fence laughing as he continued to throw rocks at the canines. Another stone cracked into blus ribs. She barked at the boy with her hackles raised in a snarl. Before the boy could throw another rock about the size of a lime a blur of light brown lurched infront of her and snapped at the fence "Elvis?" She asked slowly

-+-+-

Hearing the rocks pelting the side of the shed Elvis trod out. A teen boy was hurtling rocks at the canines for sport. Blus flank was bleeding and she was growling at the boy. When he went to throw another rock the wolf dog snapped jumping into a run he jumped infront of Blu snarling and snapping his teeth. He smashed Into the wire with his shoulder making the boy yelp.