CYOA 2022

As the sky fills with butterflies, you wait on pins and needles! Claws digging into the earth, the fastest of the fastest are ready for the race around Arilyan! Every species is here today, and the wind rushing off the Starwind Lake is at your back. A Kerual stands in front of the crowd, barks and growls fill the air as she tosses her mane and grins at the contestants.
"On your mark," she yells above the noise, her voice startlingly clear, "get set!"
Your heart is banging in your chest, thumping so loud you can hear it in your ears.
"Go!" she howls to the sky and the racers are off!!

Prompt 1:: June 15th
The race has started! You sprint ahead of the crowd, tearing across the open field that stretches next to the forests of the South Willow Plateau. Some rush ahead, others pace themselves, but it isn't till you reach the River Run Canyon do you see three groups separate. The first stop of the trip will be between the Braven Dunes and the Arboles Mountains, but how will you get there?
Path 1: You veer farthest right, heading into the thick forests of southern Arilyan. The desert is too hot for you and you don't trust the river. This appears to be the safest path.
Path 2: You keep going straight. The river might be high from rains, but it's the summer and there's no way there will be flooding.
Path 3: A short cut? Heck yes! Sure it's through the desert, and there's a good chance you could get dehydrated, but hey! No one said this race would be easy!

Path Chosen: 2. Zelda's claws dug into the soft loam of the earth, her eyes bright and eager. She'd slipped from beneath her father's eyes to run this race. It had better be worth it! Her heart was pumping already with excitement and as she dove down a slight incline, her feet skidded across the grass, the thrax wanted to whoop. Thankfully, her father's training prevailed and she stayed silent, not wanting to waste breath on something so frivolous. She didn't dart ahead and watched with an internal growl as the slimmer and smaller of species vanished ahead of her. Let them tire themselves out, she knew better and also knew she had a long way to go before the end of the race. She'd been training for this all winter despite Hyperion's scoffing attitude. She slowed as she got closer to the River Run Canyon and frowned, spotting no few splitting off from the main path. What were they ..? Oh! There were several paths! Huh. Zelda hesitated between the three obvious routes and finally ducked her head, turning towards the scent of the river as her ears flicked at the hot wind off the desert. Definitely not there, even if she'd blend in with the sand. The river was the route to go, it was high summer and the water would be cool through her fur. Even high water, she could swim better than anyone.

Result: You know, others were worried about this path, but you were right! There was no flooding, and the worse thing that happened to you was getting a little scrape on your ankle from a piece of driftwood sticking up out of the mud. You even found some pinecones floating in the river. How about that?
Earned 25 pinecones, and a scrape on an ankle.

Prompt 2:: June  17th
While some racers went on to run through the night, you decided to take a well needed rest to nurse your wounds. At least there won't be any chances of getting injured on this round. You have a long day ahead of you though so you start running. The Highlands have some rocky terrain, and as you circle around Deadrock Caves, you're coming to the next break in the path
Path 1: You decide to take the long way through Midwater Cliffs. Sure, it's high up and yeah, it's not as direct, but the swamps are full of gases that can cause hallucinations if you're not used to them. Better safe than sorry.
Path 2: You know the swamps better than anyone. So long as you don't go across the rivers, and head for the beach, you'll be safe. Best make for the ocean then cut around to day 2's resting spot.
Path 3: Hallucinations? Psh. You don't believe in the effect of "magic water". So you have to swim over a few rivers? So what? What's the worse that can happen?

Path Chosen: 3. Zelda frowned as the cut on her ankle began to sting. She paused in a good shady spot and licked it clean as soon as she could, but thankfully it was a shallow cut and would soon heal. Though small, she was mildly proud of such a tiny thing - it showed she was living even if it was just from a bit of driftwood. It felt silly, but the thrax refused to think about it. It would heal, after all and it was hardly life threatening. She paused to taka a good drink from the river before leaving and looked for a spot to rest. The river had been high and it had taken some good strength to swim through some parts of it, but she'd been born ready. The next morning, Zelda looked around and recalled what she'd been told of the next leg of the race. The landscape skirted the northern edge of the desert, following the mountains before moving into the light hills of the Highlands. The caves would have been fun to explore, but Zelda refused to get distracted and moved on. Once she reached a fair straight way, she breathed out, letting her legs stretch and pushed herself a little more.

Zelda frowned as she reached the next split, undecided. She'd heard warnings about strange effects, but her father always laughed it off. Hyperion also had a habit of ignoring little things. The thrax didn't want to end up really hurt, she was more cautious than her father, but she was also strong and young. She didn't want to take a too long path and tire herself out and didn't really know the swamps all that well. Maybe it was better to just....cut through as quick as she could? She nodded to herself and decided to swim through the river. It was unlikely there was that much truth to the warnings she'd overheard.

Result: "You probably should've picked a different path". The purple and neon green giraffe scolds you as you cross his river. Since when do giraffe's swim in the swamp? How odd! You make it across, when the giraffe turns...huh? Smaller? Do giraffe's shrink? "Come on, you're lost," the now very tiny giraffe says. "Follow me." You let the small bazaar creature lead you to the rest stop and it takes a full night for the effects to wear off. In the morning you realize your giraffe was actually a mouse. The tiny animal doesn't trust you to make good life choices, so now you have a traveling companion.
You earned a mouse companion. 

Prompt 3. 20th
You made it out of the Serpent's Pass Swamp, and not a moment too soon. As you start the next leg, you know this one is a long one. No one splits up at first, choosing to stick close together through the desert, but that's made tempers run high. If you're not careful, you could walk away with some scars today. Just when you think the crowd needs to start thinning, you reach the forest outside of Sunrock Meadow, and everyone splits up.
Path 1:  Heading up through Sunrock Meadow seems like the best possible path. Not only are the summer flowers in bloom, but you notice a few of the medium sized runners going that way. They look more dedicated to racing than they do to fighting. Maybe tempers will stay lower with them?
Path 2: Some of the larger racers head down this path, knowing they can ford the rivers easier with their massive size. They look more preoccupied with each other though, as they trample over other creatures to get ahead. Be careful. You might get hurt.
Path 3: The smaller creatures all seem to be taking this route, going downstream to where the river is shallower. You decide to follow. Even if they're in the mood to fight, what are they going to do? Bite your ankles? Ha! You'd like to see them try.

Path Chosen: 1. Well, that was certainly interesting. Zelda looked down at her miniscule companion dubiously, but the stubborn little thing only grimaced at her and climbed her fur to make himself comfortable in her mane between her shoulderblades. "You know Father is going to try and eat you when we get home?" she asked, but the mouse only grinned at her. There was clearly something wrong with this one and he said *she* was the loopy one? Bah. The thrax shook her head and turned back towards the other racers, observing those who split into groups and those who ran alone, curious. Morning had dawned early and Zelda took the time to get some stretches in so she didn't cramp up halfway through the run today - it had been a near thing the second leg with her ankle and all. She eyed the desert dubiously - she'd avoided it for a reason: scorpions didn't like her - but thankfully, no one seemed inclined to be overly cruel or bully anyone for the first few hours.

They all reached the edge of the desert fairly easily, certainly helped by the ocean nearby that offered *some* cool breeze. Zelda looked around as the others slowed, all milling about in what shade they could and a few of the more decisive ones pelted off immediately, knowing where to go. Zelda took her time and caught her breath, finding a small pond to get some water - and let the little mouse off, who seemed to fully enjoy the speed at which he could now travel, thanks to his new chauffeur. Gathering her bearings, the thrax finally chose to head north a little ways, following the middle sized runners similar enough to her. While she knew how to hold her own against both her size grans and larger thanks to her father, Zelda hadn't come to this race to *fight*. She wanted to run. The flowers of the Meadow would be nice to run through this time of year, after all.

Result: While everyone was focused on the race at first, when it came time to swim across the river, everyone jumped in at once and stopped paying attention. A paw hit you in the face, earning you a scar across the nose. They were apologetic on the other side, however, and picked you a beautiful wildflower as an apology.
You earned a wild flower accessory and a scrape across the nose.

Prompt 4. 23rd
As the mountains circling the Sunrock Meadow, you stretch and get ready for the next leg of the race. Today should be a fast one, or so you hope. There's only 2 more legs after today, so better get to it! The air is colder as you run farther north, and before too long, everyone begins to break off on a new path.
Path 1: You decide to go farther north than everyone else. Sure it's colder, but your coat is thick, and so long as you avoid the mountain path, you should be good! Sure, the wind is picking up and the smell of a storm is on the air, but you're trusting your gut on this one.
Path 2: The Darkend Mountains got their name for a reason, but it doesn't scare you. You won't be having a "dark end" today, in fact, you know that so long as you stay in the valleys between the mountains, you really don't have anything to worry about. The storm won't be able to make it past the range, so you're trusting your gut on this one.
Path 3: Nope. Too cold. All of it. WAY. TOO. COLD. And they expect you to run in a storm? HA. No, you're going south. Your gut says that's a much safer journey, and you're going to, you guessed it, trust your gut on this one.

Path Chosen: 2. Zelda rubbed her nose where it had been whacked, but graciously accepted the flower crown, her ears tilting up in surprise at the apology. She offered a shy smile to the taller male, but her tail thumped to the ground when he simply moved off. Of course he wasn't interested. This was a *race*, for Maia's sake. The thrax shook her head to clear the cobwebby thoughts, earning a squeak of protest from her errant passenger, but only sighed and moved to the water to get a drink. "Where do you think we should head next?" she asked, more to herself than anything. The mouse just chittered. "You're asking me?"
"No, I was asking the brute four feet away."
"I've never been out of the forest before I decided to tag along."
"Of course." Zelda sighed, but stretched a little more as she saw others doing and moved to the outskirts of the pack. She shivered a little as the cold wind curled through her fur, but shook it off. There were multiple paths, after all, she didn't have to pick the mountain path. She trotted off as she caught sight of a few others leaving, then split off with the others before she changed her mind and decided to traverse the mountain path anyway. Hyperion would never let her live it down if she came home with hyperthermia. She was smarter than that anyhow, the scent of a storm on the wind was too strong. Zelda didn't like the sound of the Darkend Mountain name anyhow, so she'd skirt the higher ranges and stick to the valleys. That was much safer from the storm, at any rate.

Result: Your gut lead you down the fastest path, but not the easiest. The rocks are jagged, even in the valleys between the mountains, and you have to ask for help from a nearby wolf to show you the quickest way out of the north. They offer you assistance, and now want to see how far you can make it. Looks like you got yourself a friend.
Your earned a wolf companion. You can design your own, or used one of the images provided

Prompt 5. 26th
After the storm debacle, everyone needs a well earned rest for the night. Tomorrow, you wake up bright and early and find yourself traveling along the edge of the mountain range with the rest of the racers, until you reach the river. This isn't just any river, this is glacier water. As everyone decides to split up, you find yourself having to make yet another path decision. Careful, this area is more dangerous than it appears.
Path 1: You decide to cross the river, jumping over rocks, and sprint farther north than the others, trying to stick close to the Braeburrow Valley. This is a treacherous part of the journey, and you know it's better to stick closer to a pack territory, than to wander off on your own. Wouldn't want to get hurt.
Path 2: Your coat is soaked through after a little fall in the river, but you seem to have gotten through it alright. Now you're cold though. Best to slip through the trees and hide from anything that might take advantage of you in your chilled state.
Path 3: Ha ha, you are not crossing that river. Have you ever swam in glacier water? No, you're sticking to the other side of the river, staying near the Lifewater Grove. You're not about to put yourself in THAT much harm.

Path Chosen: 3. Zelda sighed in relief when she spotted the rest stop this time and her ears pricked. The appearance of the wolf had been a godsend, for sure and she was much relieved it was, well, something bigger. No offense to her tiny companion, but Hyperion would at least *appreciate* a wolf companion. Maybe the thrax could just...not mention the mouse? She put the thought aside and refocused on the next path ahead of her. She needed sleep and curled around her smaller companions, the wolf appreciating the extra warmth.

She woke up a little earlier than normal, but Zelda was just too excited to stay sleeping. The race was almost over! Like the day before, she traveled the bottom edge of the mountains until the pack split again. Zelda frowned at the river, recognizing it was *far* too cold to be swimming in and eyed the ones that just jumped in dubiously. There was something wrong with those grans, clearly. She was slightly less skeptical when she caught sight of a few hopping from rocks to get across and looked down at her paws. Was she sure-footed enough for that? On the forest floor, sure, but slippery, icy rocks? Finally, she shook her head and turned to follow the river, having spotted a few going that way. There was no way she was going to survive a dip in an icy river. Surely, there was a way across eventually.

Result: Well that was surprisingly easy! You have the best luck on your leg of the race, and as you near the next rest stop a few animals are waiting to cheer you on. A young lynx takes an interest in your journey and, encouraged by their excitement, you settle in to tell them everything that's happened to you. Looks like you made a new friend!
Your earned a lynx companion. You can design your own, or used one of the images provided

 

Prompt 6. 30th
With everyone dry and well rested it's time for the final leg of the race! Today will be the safest, as far as terrain goes, but the racers are keeping a breakneck pace as they struggle to reach the finish line. As you get to the final break in the path, it's time to choose the best way to end your journey.
Path 1: Unfortunately, you're exhausted. You don't think you're going to be able to keep going, so you sit and take a break, wandering around with the Shifas and catching your bearings. You had a good run, but you're happy to just rest now.
Path 2: The straight path to the finish line is the one for you. You'll be running through the trees, but you think you can manage. Sure, the forests are dense, but you're quick and nimble, and trust your gut.
Path 3: The forest is too thick for you. You're taking the longer route, but faster as far as flatlands goes. There's too many hills on path two for you, so you're going to trust your gut and head this way.

Path Chosen: 2. Zelda eyed the lynx dubiously, but accepted the excitement and decided a little fawning was good for her. She was more than happy to tell of her journeys so far and the wolf and mouse wouldn't have known all of it, having met in the middle. The thrax was gathering a menagerie and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. The wolf or lynx, her father would have accepted, but both? Not to mention a *mouse?* She might have to find someone else for them to stay with. She didn't want them hurt if Hyperion got in one of his moods. It was sure nice to talk to others, however. Maybe she could talk her father down...

Zelda shook her fur out, combing through her little feathers obsessively as she eyed the last bit of the race. The thrax stretched as the lynx and wolf argued over who could keep up with her best. The little mouse just snickered, as if he already knew what path the thrax was going to take. Zelda paid them no mind, but only ensured if they lost her, they'd find their way to the finish line all right. She was the one in the race, not them, after all! The cool of the forest enveloped her immediately and Zelda gave a sigh of relief. No more desert or deep rivers! The forest was the place to be. Her stride lengthened as she wove between bushes and fallen logs, inhaling the fresh scent of distant pine and the closer scents of brush, lavender, rose and berries. 

Result: You made it to the end! You're exhausted, and as you lay by the ending line, surrounded by others cheering you on, someone throws a coat over your shoulders as congratulations. Well hey, this is a nice surprise! You might be able to use this later.
You get to pick between Butterfly Coat 2 or 3; 3 is Chosen