A warm orange glow was cast over LightFoot Village as the sun began its decent into the horizon, the late summer afternoon breeze helping to take the edge out of the heat of the day. However, one particular area of the reclusive dwelling was buzzing with activity and excitement. The residents had gathered around a peculiar wooden carving with two long arms extended out from the base. At the front of the carving was a large and deep hole dug and built into the ground. Eventually, three male anthropomorphic animals approached the carving.

The first in the group was of average height. A two legged male LightFoot with a large headdress and collar necklace. This was Chief LightFoot. The second male was similar to the first but was a lot taller and incredibly muscular. The third was slightly shorter than the chief. He was a vulpine and dressed in a white jacket, green vest and trousers, a red neckerchief and silver boots. This was Fox McCloud, a mercenary for hire looking to become accepted into the LightFoot Tribe in order to continue with his mission on the planet.

The Chief turns to Fox and smirks, letting out a chuckle. "Let's see how strong you are!" Fox, who was standing confidently with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, looks to where the Chief was pointing. He was pointing to MuscleFoot. The large LightFoot walks forward and laughs, without warning striking a fellow LightFoot into the pit. As he got closer, it was clearer to see he was double the size of Fox in height alone.

Fox's expression turned from one of confidence into one of disbelief. He looks around the group that had gathered, mouth open, thinking to himself, "What have I got myself into?" The Chief simply smirked to him and stepped aside, pointing to the carving.

Fox and MuscleFoot began to take their positions, Fox choosing the paddle on the furthest side away, trying to think of something, anything to help him either get out of this or win the challenge. He glances into the pit, seeing despite the fact that the bottom was filled with leaves, it would still be a hard landing.

Eventually, the vulpine reached his side of the carving and places his paws onto the paddle, stepping one of his feet in front of the other and braces himself for the big heave. He glances over to MuscleFoot who simply grins at him. Whilst in his pushing stance, Fox's head would be the only part of his body that was higher than the top of the paddle. MuscleFoot on the other hand was so tall, even bent forward in the same position as Fox, his shoulders and chest were still higher than the top of the paddle.

Soon however, the Chief lit the torch on the top of the carving and gave the signal to begin the test. The bright, warm orange glow of the flame shone down on the two competitors as they pushed on the Chief's command. Both Fox McCloud and MuscleFoot let out grunts as they began to pit their strength against each other and Fox truly realised the enormity of his task. Even as the vulpine pushed forward into the paddle with reasonably hard force, he still felt himself moving backwards. MuscleFoot was not going to allow himself to be beaten by a smaller, weaker looking opponent.

Fox felt his boots begin to slide back through the mud and the leaves on the ground, the vulpine instinctively digging his feet into the earth to get some leverage in order to stop this from being a complete walk over for his rival. Letting out a strained groan, Fox put his all into trying to move this seemingly unstoppable force. The wooden paddle creaked and groaned as the effort from the two competitors was transferred through it but despite this, it remained strong and nowhere near close to breaking.

The crowd of LightFoot villagers that had gathered to watch the event sneered, jeered and chuckled as they watched Fox struggle to stop the progress of their strongest member. However, it was at this point that the vulpine leaned all of his weight onto the paddle and with another hard push, strained groan and a tail flick of frustration, Fox manages to stop the slow journey backwards towards the pit and starts to step forward very slowly.

"Just one step at a time…" thought Fox as the muscles around his body began to bulge, having being warmed up and now able to give their peak pushing power. Fox's snug uniform clung to his form, leaving little to the imagination as his trousers outlined every contour of his muscles in his thighs and calves, even so much as to hug his tensed buttocks. The seams in his trousers began to stretch as they tried to hold in the enlarging form of Fox's body.

Fox's arms began to bulk up as the muscles inside of them bulged and strained with the effort he was exerting. Beads of sweat were now starting to form over the vulpine, the orange glow from the torch and the setting sun causing them to glisten and make Fox's fur shine with more intensity.

It was evident that the mercenary for hire was putting everything into pushing MuscleFoot back as his arms and legs shook with the strain as he made one small and slow step forward, his eyes screwed shut, his teeth gritted, occasionally but not always opening them to let out a grunt or a groan or a deep intake or exhale of air. However, Fox began to realise that his strength would not be able to last forever and so decided to try to think of several tactics, letting out a nasal grunt and several strained squeaks as he continued to push forward. He looked over at MuscleFoot to see how he was fairing.

The muscle-bound LightFoot was pushing hard it seemed and certainly felt it but his eyes were shut and Fox could just make out that his teeth were gritted as well. MuscleFoot's body flexed and strained as the large dinosaur let out strained grunts and groans whilst heaving.

Fox felt reassured that this was a good sign that he was on a par with this large lizard and so considered his choices quickly.

One option was to continue his slow and steady progress by concentrating on getting each step forward down, feeling that he was just strong enough to do it.

The other option was to really push himself and power into the paddle to gain momentum to help him but he knew that if this didn't work, he would be in deep trouble.

What should Fox do?