Valiant Paw

By MyLittlePonyTales

• April 24, 2013

Age: Teen

Gender: Female

Species: Non-Pony

Appearance: [b]Eye colour:[/b] Auburn<br />[b]Coat:[/b] Around her left eye, Valiant has painted in cherry (colour) the track print of a wolf. It was a gift from the chief, a sign of her bravery. Her coat is light brown in colour.<br />[b]Physique:[/b] Strong and well built, Valiant's muscles can attest that she is obviously built for fighting.

Personality: [b]Occupation:[/b] Defensive combat instructor, meditation instructor<br /><br />In her free time, though, Valiant does have to earn money when there aren't critters to wrangle. She teaches self defense classes in a small, empty warehouse, devoid of anything except its walls. In addition to defense though, she also teaches meditation. Being calm, cool, and collected during a fight with a wild creature is just as important as knowing how to fend one off. Valiant would never encourage the killing of living creatures—after all, they have to eat to, and are acting only on their instincts. They should not be punished for the body they were born into. The wild creatures of the desert may be dangerous, but they do not know any better. That is why Valiant teaches a lot more [i]defense[/i], and very little offense. Her meditation exercises are found to be quite soothing, and help solidify the harmony present within all beings.<br />

Backstory: Most ponies would find the desert life of the Buffalo harsh. They live off the land, never staying in one place for too long, and not having the luxury of houses and lights for protection. The Buffalo must live by their wits, defending against predators with only their hooves and horns.<br /><br />So it was that one night, Valiant awoke to the sound of wolves howling. That wasn't too unusual—after all, she lived in the wilderness. There were wild creatures all around. But something didn't feel right. She crept out of the shelter of her and her family's tent, looking around for anything unusual. It was at that moment she saw a rogue wolf sniffing at the entrance to another tent nearby. Valiant knew what she had to do.<br /><br />With a war cry that woke up at least half the herd, Valiant charged at it. The startled creature looked up in surprise, in time for Valiant to whirl around and buck it in the head. One of her hooves hit its target, while the other missed and [i]wooshed[/i] over the other creatures head. As such, Valiant fell off balance, and the wolf shook its head as it tried to get its bearings after the blow. It noticed its attacker, and leaped forward to bite her. Out of instinct, she flailed her front hooves menacingly, and the wolf backed off.<br /><br />So scared was it, in fact, that it left the camp entirely. Valiant could have sworn she saw several other pairs of eyes disappear, but at that moment, she found herself being picked up and dusted off by her fellow herd mates. She didn't know it yet, but she was a hero. Inside tent she had fought to protect was a couple and their baby. A lone, quiet wolf could have easily grabbed the baby in its jaws and left the camp without anyone noticing for hours.<br /><br />Trying to be modest, Valiant claimed that she had done what any other tribe mate would have. That may have been true, but the fact remained that she alone had been the one to wake up and warn the camp. And so, she was recognized by the chief for her bravery. The fur over her eye was dyed with paint in the shape of a wolf print, as a reminder to all the members of the herd, and anyone she would meet in the future, of her deed. 'Paw' was added to the end of her name, as a symbol that while wolves may have had claws, they also had soft paws, and should be treated as gently as any other creature when possible. Valiant Paw had let the wolf live, if even by accident, as any in the tribe should strive to do. She was also given a necklace, with a single wolf tooth tied in the middle, as a reward. Even the most modest of Buffalo respected traditions, so she gratefully accepted the praise and thanks from all.<br /><br />Several years later, Valiant moved to Appleloosa, to help protect the pony folk there. There may not be any wolves in town, but there are plenty of little nooks for snakes, scorpions, and spiders to hide. Ponies don't seem to be much for the little desert nuisances, but after skirmishing with a wolf, they don't really bother Valiant.