She was a good listener, clearly absorbing and taking notes as he spoke and showed her the weak points. Eventually, he thought he might sew a neck-guard onto the collar of his armor. It bore visible marks as well, aside from the intricate carving, embossing and dyes. Four huge rakes that flaunted the natural color of the leather below. They weren’t deep, but they had clearly come from a very large cat. Aurielle wasn’t the only one to fight large predators. He nodded as she explained how Carlys and she worked together. It was interesting how cultures differed. Here, even Aurielle’s Lemur Ayodele, fun loving, playful, sometimes sassy Ayodele, knew how to fight and stab with a dagger made from a deer antler tine sanded into a flat blade. Loshir, the mountain lion, was formidable, often striking without warning if his charge’s opponent was foolish enough to forget him. He chuckled as Rhaegara gave in to her curiosity. “I did. Both the main armor and the bracers. The carving and detail are from Aurielle’s lemur friend though.” He reared slightly, twisting as he added, “I made the body armor in such a way that it articulates with me, so I can move quickly and not be impeded by my own protection. Some add spikes to the shoulders of their armor, which adds an extra punch to a shoulder slam. I considered spikes on the bracers, but the bear claws are enough.” He dropped into a brief play bow, stretching his forelegs out before him before he grinned. "Ready to try?" Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She was mesmerized by the armor, wondering how she could hope to win something as simple as a spar without a set of armor of her own… no, she could not think like that. Her mother would never let her live it down if she did, watching from above yelling at her for giving up before she even tried. He went on to explain how the armor worked with him, not overdone to go against him and she nodded in understanding. Carlys took to the skies, watching from above, ready to give her feedback. Rhae felt nervous, but she forced herself to bury them.

Nerves had no place on the battlefield.

He asked if she was ready and she smirked, offering a brief play bow in return as she widened her stance, stretching her forearms out to mimic his position, tail lashing playfully from side to side. “Ready when you are.” This was serious, but it wasn’t because it was just a spar between fast friends. It would be good for both of them to get back into the swing of things. Her eyes narrowed as she focused her gaze on him, beckoning him to make the first move.

"Rhae" "Carlys"

He flashed a quick grin as she announced her readiness, tail flip-flopping side to side as he held his bow before suddenly launching himself up and forward in a leap, aiming to come head-on at the girl as Chrystal launched upward and circled lazily, watching. At the last second he aimed to drop his left shoulder slightly and edge to his right, seeking to come in on her left and drive the armored point of his shoulder into the center of her chest, head tilting to his right, and jaws parting to aim his jaws for the point below her left ear, angling for a grip on her neck. Simultaneously, his left foreleg sought to snap up and wrap around her left foreleg and jerk it toward himself to shake her balance. He doubted he’d land either hit—she was smaller, and by default, probably more agile, but he was game to spar and try. Cairo Lanze Adravendi vs (Rhaegara) for (Spar) Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Large Build: Heavy Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear claw bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Torso armor Companion 1: Barn Owl, Female - Flying Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Rhae could have sworn that she was prepared. He lunged for her, and instantly she was on the move, shifting her weight onto her left side the body as he dropped his left shoulder, hoping to offset the damage while knowing that she could not avoid the attack fully. His shoulder made contact with the side of her chest near her right shoulder, a hiss as she felt teeth scrape across her neck, pulling it back and to the side to avoid a full grip. She reached her jaws for the base of his neck near his right shoulder, hoping for her jaws to find a spot barren of armor.

She also attempted to throw her weight at his side, hoping to knock him off balance as she reached for a grip, his forearm wrapping around her left foreleg. She tightened her muscles both for her attempted push and for defense, pushing her back paws into the ground to stabilize herself as she sunk her claws into the dirt. She was smaller than he was, and perhaps more agile, but her father had trained her to take things head-on and use the agility to avoid major damaged. Of course, it was a spar and she wasn’t too worried about suffering major injuries, apart from the scrapes and bruises she'd walk away with.

---

Rhaegara Ravyne vs Cairo Lanze Adravendi for SPAR
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Rhae"  "Carlys"

She met him head on, shifting and slightly displacing his slam, an interesting tactic, but not unheard of. Often it was best to get within a larger opponent’s guard and stick like a burr once you got there. He caught a scrape on her, but she shifted enough to avoid his getting a grip on her. He felt her breath flutter his fur and fluffed out his hackles. As he felt her weight push in as she went for him, it clicked into his mind, and he pushed harder against her for a heartbeat until the last second. Her teeth clamped onto the thick fur of his neck, but he was already moving, aiming to use her push-back against her. He sought to disengage suddenly, taking away the barrier of his frame she was pushing into and hopefully maintaining his grapple on her foreleg with his own as he swerved back and to one side, hoping she might topple forward and trip over his left foreleg. Cairo Lanze Adravendi vs (Rhaegara) for (Spar) Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Large Build: Heavy Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear claw bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Torso armor Companion 1: Barn Owl, Female - Flying Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She managed to find the grip, holding on for dear life as she felt his weight start to push back against her. He could tell what she was doing, and he was trying to use her push-back against her. He held his grapple on her forearm, pulling away as she stumbled. She caught herself at the last second to avoid eating dirt, a low and playful growl falling off her maw, landing parallel to him. She didn’t stay that way for long.

If an opponent’s muzzle gets under that they have access to my belly and flank. She recalled his words as she swung her body, aiming to line herself up so she could slam herself into his side, hoping to knock him off balance while trying to line herself up in a manner to allow her muzzle access underneath the pieces of leather that hung off his side, trying to use the things he had taught her just moments before.

---

Rhaegara Ravyne vs Cairo Lanze Adravendi for SPAR
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year

Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Rhae" "Carlys"

And the winner is...

CAIRO

RHAEGARA must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Adjusted rolls: 102.5 91.2 36 48.4 CAIRO'S total is.. 333.72 Adjusted rolls: 110 44 38 58 RHAEGARA'S total is.. 250 *note* Rhaegara rolled a critical win! You can claim an award in the Award Claims.

It wasn’t enough. Rhaegara was certain she had put up a good fight, adjusting fairly well to the added complexity of sparring with someone in armor. She found herself rolling onto her back, paws up in the air as a sign of defeat with a wide smile on her features, panting as she caught her breath and allowed the adrenaline to subside within her. “I concede, you win.” He had earned it too; she had much to learn. Perhaps the wolves in her former pack had not been as strong as she thought they had, or perhaps she was just that rusty.

She waited a few moments before she pushed herself back up onto her paws, giving a shake of her pelt as Carlys landed on her shoulder. She had a few wounds, but nothing a few days of doing her best to take it easy wouldn’t handle in the long run. “That was fun, exciting. The armor really does make it much harder to land a hit.”

"Rhae"  "Carlys"

He came out victorious, and he grinned easily, stepping away to give the girl room to stand as he sat, tongue lolling in a light pant. “You fought well, though.” His tone held no condescension or lie, only genuine approval in the ability he sensed lay under the rust of disuse. With practice, she’d be a strong fighter, and a formidable foe. After all, she’d never fought someone with defenses like armor, and he nodded agreement with a laugh. “I had fun making it, and it’s saved my hide a few times already.” Mostly against big cats. He straightened his spine in a stretch and cocked his head at her, ears perked. He had no doubt she’d probably be somewhat sore in the following days, so he added, “I can share some of my field kit with you. I’ve got food, some wound salves and light pain-killing herbs. They’re only just strong enough to dull really bad pain until I can get to a real healer, but I’ve gotten some pretty good basic field healing training.” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

He let her up, a grin still holding strong against her features as she regained her breath; it had been awhile since she’d had a good spar, and it had been good for her despite the rust that had formed on her abilities. She was certain she and Carlys would be working hard in the coming weeks, knowing that companions could be used in battle without it being a call against one’s honor. She only offered a respectful nod when he complimented her onto her fighting.

It was good to know she still ‘had it’… sort of.

“I can imagine.” She agreed in reference to it saving his hide. It could be useful; perhaps soon she’d craft some of her own though her focus for the time being would no doubt be training Carlys to fight alongside her in battle. She rolled her shoulders back, stretching as he offered some supplies from his field kit to her, an eager nod. “You really are prepared for everything, aren’t you?” She asked with a grin as he explained how he carried herbs, salves and food with him as well. He was perhaps the most resourceful wolf she’d ever met.

"Rhae"  "Carlys"