She returned to the Boneyard, the babe more confident and sure of herself this time. Last time was a blunder. She didn't have the confidence then that she did now. She had trained in solitude most of the Winter and when she wasn't learning from Malleus. Now though, she sought to redeem herself...assuming anyone answered her call, to begin with. Honestly, she didn't see too many faces around Auster save for her own family. The continent seemed quiet as opposed to Boreas when all those wolves swarmed to Archon's challenge against one of the Mortal packs. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before...she thought about it and wondered if the Abraxas pack rivaled any of those mortal packs. Of course, she didn't quite know how many packs there were...there had been too many wolves. Too many scents to pick out individual pack scents. But hopefully, with her cousin's guidance, she'd figure it all out at some point. Standing against the earth with the sun at her back, Ina threw her head back and summoned forth someone to fight her. "Speech" <

The chance to spar with his young cousin was simply too good to pass up. Malleus approached his cousin with a wide grin on his face. Pascal, who had been riding low on his back, leaped off and took a seat on a nearby rock to observe. "Proserpina!" he said warmly. "Mind if I claim this spar?" They'd been training for some time and Proserpina was an adult now, but Malleus was keen on keeping her involved with the family. Perhaps it would be a good idea to pair her with Pyrrhic. The boy, now a yearling, was itching to engage more with his relatives.   "Malleus" - "Pascal"

It was much to her surprise and even more to her delight that her cousin Malleus showed up. At first, she thought maybe he came to watch her fight. But it turned out, he wanted to join her fight. She grinned, the young babe's tail wagging as she nodded. "Of course! I'd be honored to spar with you!" The last time she had been here, she hadn't done too well. She hoped to do even better this time around, though she was sure that her cousin had the upper hand when it came to experience. She hoped to learn from him today, maybe he'd even give her pointers as they sparred. She was eager to learn everything she could from him, and so far, she felt she was doing a decent job at it. Now it was time to test herself against him. To prove to them (and more to herself) that she wouldn't be the failure her mother was. Squaring her stance, the pale babe bared her fangs in a display of fierceness (not that she felt she could intimidate her cousin), hackles bristling along her spine while chocolate ears pinned securely to her head. Her chin tucked against her breast, tail flagging out to aid with balance as she lowered her head slightly so her body would be streamlined for when she decided to charge. Surely Malleus wouldn't be offended if she took the first move, right? She narrowed her eyes on him, gaze briefly glancing at his companion as she noted that it likely wouldn't be joining in this spar. "Ready or not, Mal!" She called out in a friendly tone before kicking off. Dirt flew up behind her as she made her charge. The young girl seemingly aiming to come at her cousin head on. However, when she was within a couple of feet from him, she feinted to her right in a bid to throw him off, even if it was just for a second or two. Front paws lifted from the ground for a split second before pounding the earth for another second, the babe jutting her left shoulder forward like a javelin as she sought to push off the ground with her front legs and side-slam into Malleus' left side just behind his shoulder. If she were able to get this far, then her position to him would be her left shoulder just off center to his own left shoulder. She spread her hind legs as she then sought to twist her head to her left, jaws opening up as she aimed to bite Mally's scruff and tug. Hopefully, she'd be able to get a good grip with her fangs and yank his head back like she's tryna pull out a weave. If successful, maybe she'd get some control over his head, or at the very least give him some sort of whiplash... Proserpina vs Malleus for Spar Round 1/2 Size: Large Build: Medium Offensive Accessory: N/A Defensive Accessory: N/A Companion 1: N/A Companion 2: N/A Mutation: N/A Disability: N/A Fight Skill Level: Beginner Specialty: N/A "Speech" <

"Ready or not, Mal!" At this Malleus grinned and slipped into a defensive stance. He needed to do spar with his fighters more often. It would be good for the pack as a whole and individually. And it would be good for him too. The last thing he needed was to get fat and slow now that he was middle aged.

Proserpina successfully psyched Malleus out. He tensed, waiting for the collision, and was a split second late in reacting. However, he did react and the yard or so that still separated them when Proserpina began to move towards his left gave him time to change their positioning. Malleus spun to face her, but wasn't quite fast enough to achieve the head on positioning he'd been hoping for. Proserpina's shoulder slammed into the left side of his chest, but as he was in the middle of turning it slid towards the center instead of sticking in one place. Thick layers of muscle, fur and fat insulated the blow, but it still caused his breath to hitch. No doubt it would bruise later. Her teeth sank into the left side of his neck as she grabbed the loose folds of his scruff. The puncture wounds were minor.

Malleus continued to turn. As soon as he felt Proserpina's shoulder make contact he shoved forward with his chest in the hopes of shoving her backwards. Simultaneously Malleus swung his head down and to his left in the hopes of grabbing Proserpina by the scruff just behind her left ear and along her jawline. His goal was to twist her head to her left far enough to pull her off her paws. Being bigger and stronger he hoped to throw her on the ground.

PROSERPINA versus MALLEUS for SPAR
Round ONE of TWO
Size: Extra Large
Build: Heavy
Companion: Macaque - Battle
Fight Skill Level: Advanced

Surprise overtook her as she managed to land her blows, though  not in the exact places she had initially intended, it was still better than she thought. After stabbing Mally with her teeth, she promptly let go and tried to face her larger cousin. He had managed to spin around to face her, and it would be her misfortune that her forelegs were off the ground when he sought to shove her. He made contact with her, effectivelt leaving a bruise on her bodice and in that motion, she lost her balance and went face forward into the dirt. Malleus, however, managed to grasp her scruff and practically lift her off her feet. And for the first time in a long time, she felt like a helpless pup being carried by her mother. Pale blue gaze met his for a couple of heartbeats until she snapped out of it, and when she did, she wasted no time in attempting to get out of her predicament. Her hing legs flew up and she kicked straight at his throat and chest as hard as she could in the hopes of forcing him to let her go. And, without her hind legs holding some of her weight, she hoped that her near dead-weight would strain his jaw enough, too. Of course, that also meant she'd drop onto the ground like a sack of potatoes, but it was better than nothing. Proserpina vs Malleus for Spar Round 2/2 Size: Large Build: Medium Offensive Accessory: N/A Defensive Accessory: N/A Companion 1: N/A Companion 2: N/A Mutation: N/A Disability: N/A Fight Skill Level: Beginner Specialty: N/A "Speak"

Malleus held onto Prosperina's scruff with dogged determination. He was in a good position and he knew it. She kicked at him and managed to drum her paws against his upper chest hard enough for the blows to echo hollowly through his rib cage, but it wasn't enough of an incentive to make him let go. Her kicking did, however, inspire him to try to smother her movements so she couldn't kick him again. If her aim got better with practice his throat and face would be in trouble. Instead of trying to support both his weight and hers now that she was down, Malleus went to the ground with her. He tried to use his forelegs to trap and pin her flailing limbs down so she couldn't kick him again. His hind legs were coiled beneath him and with his body so low to the ground, if he managed to hang onto her scruff he thought he could pin her head to the ground and further immobilize her. PROSERPINA versus MALLEUS for SPAR Round ONE of TWO Size: Extra Large Build: Heavy Companion: Macaque - Battle <-- hidden link Fight Skill Level: Advanced   "Malleus" - "Pascal"

And the winner is...

PROSERPINA

MALLEUS must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Proserpina: 321.6 Malleus 227.36

Malleus felt he got a good sense of Proserpina's skill so he relented and submitted the fight. He disentangled from her and turned to face her with a grin. After a beat he bowed teasingly and then offered, "Well done, cousin. You fought well."

It seemed like just yesterday he'd met her as she made a hideaway out of reeds. His young cousin had done a lot of growing up since then. She was no longer the semi feral, neglected child she'd been. Now she was a valued member of the Abraxas family and Malleus was pleased to have her in his ranks.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Malleus had submitted and released her from his grip. It had been one of the most awkward positions she had been in, but if it worked, it worked. She was surprised that he had submitted, acknowledging her as the victor. He praised her for her efforts and after she picked herself up and shook the dust from her coat, her chest swelled with pride. "Thank you, Malleus. It was an honor to spar with you," She couldn't contain the grin that showed. She had won against the Fallen God's chosen heir. She was humble enough not to brag about it. At least...not too much. "I hope you'll give me the honor for a rematch in the future," She knew she needed to improve her skills, and she most certainly would now that she had more confidence in it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Speech"