Naiche hadn't cared for Az when they first met, and to be honest it was questionable if he would ever like Azure.  There was a problem with that logic however.  Naiche intended to spend his life in this pack and there would come a time that Sirius would hand over leadership to one of his sons and that meant there was a real chance Azure would lead.  If Naiche wanted to enjoy his home and keep to his word of remaining loyal that meant he needed to find some peace with the giant wolf.

Naiche still spent a portion of his day staying around the sparring area, working on his skills, and practicing on those who came around.  It was at the top of his mind though to stop Azure whenever he spotted him and ask for a spar.  The simple fact was Naiche felt closer to those he fought alongside or sparred with so perhaps fighting the brute would help.  

Naiche had already walked the boundaries of their land for the day so here he was at the ring now, practicing on a training dummy and hoping to soon find a sparring partner, and hoping all the more that Azure appeared.  Naiche doubted they would ever be friends and that was fine, he just had to be on neutral terms with Azure.  
"Speech"

While Azure was not on a training schedule as busy as he was when he was younger, the yearling still found time to get out and try his paw against the dummies. It was rare that he'd approach a pack mate to spar against, the last few times he'd shared a friendly battle with another wolf it'd turned out poorly.

Naiche was already there and Azure huffed a frustrated sigh to see the space taken. Generally he preferred solitude when he trained, avoiding another situation like Malalia's where he got into a spat over technique. Hoping Naiche would be done soon, the big Fatalis boy parked himself a few meters off and waited, inspecting his claws casually to avoid watching the Armada man's practice.

Naiche’s nose once again alerted him before sight or sound.  He knew Az’s scent quite well as their first meeting had left a definite impression in his mind.  It had worked out in the end but it had a few tense moments in it. He stopped in mid-lunge at the dummy and turned his head as he spotted Az.

Considering Naiche had been hoping to see the guy he should have been glad that the giant had shown up.  Logic can label it a good thing but that didn’t mean his mindset had to agree.  He still remembered how Az had appeared to want to rip his head off at their last meeting.  Swallow pride, swallow pride, swallow pride.  Naiche hated having to tell himself those lines.

“Azure,” he turned to face the wolf, “I was hoping to find you.” He took about two seconds pause expecting to that to surprise the giant.  “I want to work more on fighting oversized wolves.  I thought it would be fun you and I to have it out.” Naiche suddenly found a grin in him, it wasn’t about whether he liked the guy now, it was about the challenge.  “How about it? You seem like the sort who would enjoy a good fight right?”

They both knew who had the better odds and that was fine.  Naiche liked the odds, the greater the challenge the more he learned.  How sweet the victory would be if he managed to win anyway.  At the end of it all, maybe he’d find a reason to think of the guy as something more than a jerk.  Unfortunately, he was going to potentially be a leader of the pack someday.

"Speech"

His first reaction was to laugh, to tell the man he could go fuck himself, and to leave. Though Azure was attempting to win this Heir race. Enough wolves had told him how unpleasant his attitude was compared to Mortis', and it seemed one of those key personality traits Az needed to learn to fake was empathy and helpfulness. If anything, accepting Naiche's offer would allow him to bruise and bloody the man without consequence.

He rumbled some noise of half-hearted confirmation then nodded, getting to his feet to face the man. "Usually I'd vote you find someone of your own skill level." Az started, trying to sound more like a wise wolf imparting knowledge and less like a teenager subtley throwing insult. "Though I suppose you don't have as much choice in opponent when you're looking for a specific height." As he spoke Az used his curved claws to unclip his armor, letting the condor-wing armor down to the ground gently before unbuckling his bracers. Realizing his intention, Diablo and Lilith split from his side. The bat perched himself upon the training dummy to watch, the leopard scaling a nearby tree for a rarely-allowed power nap.  

The big yearling shook out his fur, feeling lighter without the armor upon his back. Into his fighting stance he slid, legs spreading to lower his center of gravity. Paws flexed, the long curved claws he bore digging furrows into the ground. Az's ears were already tattered by battle and so he'd learned quickly to pin them to his skull to keep them away from snapping jaws. Lastly was an intimidation tactic, his lips curling to display his teeth in a bold snarl. "Your move." Unless of course, Naiche chickened out. Azure was not a kind enough wolf to hold back in his sparring.  Though he'd been told enough times to avoid permanent injury, it did not mean his opponents came away without a bit less blood then they'd started with.  

Azure Keres Fatalis vs Naiche for Spar
Round 0/?
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Defensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Companion 1: Not Present.
Companion 2: Not Present.
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Naiche was working hard at reminding himself what this spar was about.  This time it was about getting stronger in area besides fighting, though it was bound to help in that area also.  The wheat-colored wolf wanted to be of value to the pack and that meant doing the fun and the non-fun.  Trying to keep his attitude in check would be the un-fun part. Naiche was grinning as Az talked and taking off the armor, “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but as you say only so many big contenders.”  Well, there were other options, this had to seriously be a pack of giants.  How many were keen to fight Naiche didn’t know nor care at this exact second, all he wanted was Az.  Getting in one good shot would feel pretty nice also.  Charging straight ahead would be foolhardy but that didn’t mean Naiche didn’t long to do it.  What Naiche wouldn’t do to just get a big growth spurt, by about afoot. Looking at the monster before him some part of Naiche remembered the odds, and that same part realized the danger but most of him was feeling the rush of adrenaline and imagining the glorious feeling that even one bite would give him.  Maybe he was too dumb to be scared.  His move huh? Naiche was used to waiting for others to move first. About every wolf Naiche had fought so far had run straight to him and at least second moved to one side to go for the neck.  It was fair to assume a lot would try the same way with Az, right? Naiche charged towards Az fast, but at the last stride, he put in a new burst of speed and went right past the face and neck everyone had always targeted in his past spars. Az was a giant like the bears he had fought, so he would fight like he was a bear. The idea was simpler than the action.  Naiche was hoping surprise would give him just one second extra time to connect to the leg.  It would be an in-and-out attack if do one properly, charge in, bite, and charge out.  If any of that went wrong he was in trouble. Naiche Dauner vs Azure for Spar Round 1/3 Age: over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Companion 1: Not Present Skills: Expert Fighter & Intermediate Navigator Specialty: N/A "Speech"   Think

Against the other wolves as large as he, most spars devolved into a wrestling match. It was common for the attacker to rise up and initiate a grapple, which then Az was always prepared to reciprocate. His mutated paws gave him a distinct advantage when two wolves were up hugging each other's necks, and so it was a positioning he anticipated and preferred.

When Naiche moved past where he expected, Azure's left foreleg was already lifting anticipating a big bear-hug. It was because of his over-eager shift in positioning that he could not pull away in time to dodge the yellow man's teeth. They clasped down upon his still grounded leg and then withdrew quickly, and all Azure had time to do was to try and slap his already-in-motion left paw down as hard as he could upon Naiche's shoulders as he retreated. Being the victim of an in-and-out strategy would make the fight infinitely more annoying to the bear pawed boy, and he put all of his weight into the attempted blow so that should it connect, it would be punishing.

Regardless of whether or not Azure's blow would land, the yearling would not be fooled a second time. Azure's own mother was an agile wolf experienced in landing fast glancing blows and he'd trained with her all his life. Naiche was larger then she was, so if anything he'd be even easier to catch if he tried the move once more. For good measure he snarled, daring the man to try it again.

Azure Keres Fatalis vs Naiche for Spar
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Defensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Companion 1: Not Present.
Companion 2: Not Present.
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Azure’s first blow missed Naiche as he barreled forward but just by a hair.  Naiche would have likely lost right then if that had connected and slammed him into the ground.  The problem was what to do next?  He had acknowledged this concern before the fight but couldn’t resist the urge.  Fighting the bears it had always been two wolves so after the first attack, he had backup.  Now he fought a bear of a wolf and there was no backup.  Naiche responded to Az’s snarl with his own, sure enough, his desire to fight growing and the harder to think as he desired to charge. This was a spar, now wasn’t the time to remain still thinking.  Naiche tried to fake Azure out again, moving forward pivoting to try and keep out of claws range but he didn’t aim for the back legs, he was attempting to pass by Az’s shoulder turning his head, hoping to find Az’s paw heading his direction so he could bite it before connection.  Talk about risky, he could get nailed by claws instead or still plowed to the ground.  This was a spar, this was the time to find out if it would work against a behemoth.  This was risking injury but in theory, not death. Naiche Dauner vs Azure for Spar Round 2/3 Age: over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Companion 1: Not Present Skills: Expert Fighter & Intermediate Navigator Specialty: N/A Speech:"Live to fight" Think

His paw pounded against the earth and Naiche's snarl sounded in reply. Azure's fangs remained beared, the sharp aqua of his eyes roaming his opponent's body carefully to see the telltale signs of another attack. Naiche darted forward once more and Azure was prepared to respond, though rather then strike the man down for it the behemoth yearling shot backwards. An in-and-out style of fighting was something he was prepared for now, and he'd keep his precious paws out of the yellow man's teeth at all cost.

He shifted backwards only long enough to dodge the flying jaws, throwing himself back forwards teeth first to try and grasp upon the top of Naiche's retreating scruff. Because his limbs were longer than his neck, he threw one leg out as he aimed his bite to try and swipe with his dangerous claws back further along Naiche's side, so that should his teeth miss their target he might still be able to reel the other fighter back into combat range.

Azure Keres Fatalis vs Naiche for Spar
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Defensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Companion 1: Not Present.
Companion 2: Not Present.
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Naiche hadn’t planned for Azure to change his fighting style.  Naiche jumped almost straight up and sideways to try and avoid Azure getting his scruff.  Teeth raked his skin on his neck but with Naiche’s movement, it was thin scratches instead of teeth clamping the neck.  Unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to escape the long claws, feeling the sharp points connecting and knew the moist feeling was blood, but not too much.   Naiche pivoted in the monster's grip to face the monster he was reeled into, the movement would mean claws raking along his side but so long as it wasn’t long term damage Naiche wasn’t going to care.  He was hoping Azure wouldn’t expect Naiche to turn with the claws pressing on him, lunging forward to try and bite the underside of the neck, to press teeth around the jugular without actually breaking the skin.  If he could get his teeth there then in a real fight it should win, right? Naiche Dauner vs Azure for Spar Round 3/3 Age: over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Companion 1: Not Present Skills: Expert Fighter & Intermediate Navigator Specialty: N/A Speech:"Live to fight" Think

His teeth may have fallen too short for a solid grab, though Az's claws managed their grasp and as he flexed his toes he could smell the blood they'd drawn. Naiche spun towards him, and Azure allowed his paws to drop as soon as he realized the other man's intent to lunge. Az's limbs splayed, his snarl intensifying as he readied himself for the manuever. As the smaller man aimed to land his teeth upon Az's vulnerable throat, Az aimed to intercept those very same teeth with a hard bite to the top of Naiche's muzzle and to then use that hold to force the yellow man to the ground beneath him.

Azure Keres Fatalis vs Naiche for Spar
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Defensive Battle Accessory: Not Equipped.
Companion 1: Not Present.
Companion 2: Not Present.
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

And the winner is...

Azure

Naiche must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Azure: Adjusted: 73.6 62 99 83 Total: 397.00 Naiche: Adjusted: 35.7 21 74.75 41 Total: 206.94

Naiche dropped like a rock.  His teeth didn’t so much as get to Az’s fur much less his neck.  His head was twisted up where Az had held the muzzle his body had somehow ended up on its side.  Naiche hated losing, but he had known it was highly likely considering who his opponent was.  However, Naiche loved a hard fight and this had certainly been that!  Both the short term victory in connecting early on to this hard loss had all been glorious fun and good work on strategy building.  There was blood on his muzzle but that would heal, nothing to stop the grin that was on his face.  The blood on his side would thicken end up having his fur cling together in a way he would want to wash off.   “Good fight,” Naiche would cheerily offer to the wolf he’d been pissed at earlier.  “Nice to know we’re on the same side.  You're faster than I expected.”  Yes, now he would praise the wolf he just wanted to toss insults at earlier.   Speech:"Live to fight" Think

It wasn't long before Naiche was on the ground, and Azure took only a brief moment to hold his muzzle there before releasing him and allowing Naiche to stand. He stepped back, rolling his shoulders and shaking out his coat as the other man collected himself. His grin confused Az, and his brow lifted in an unspoken question. He'd felt nothing but animosity from this wolf the moment they'd met, what had changed?

Naiche declared it a good fight - and damnit, Azure had to really swallow back his reply of 'well, you did your best.' Diplomacy. Mortis was right, and none of these wolves would willingly follow him if he did nothing but beat them down. "You too." It was vague enough that it could have meant 'yes, good fight' or also 'you're faster then i expected too.' Azure did not like to lie through his teeth if he could avoid it, and it took a lot to have him declare someone a worthy opponent. After a beat he decided to offer a little more, reaching out in a small way to his defeated pack-mate. "Don't take it too hard, I've been training since I could remember. If I can't beat you then how am I to avenge you if you fall in battle? Or any other pack member, for that matter." Although he could count on one paw the amount of wolves he liked, he'd still defend any one of them who happened to need him.

Naiche stood back up, shaking out his own coat. “I don’t need easy fights.” Eyes trying to slant down glancing at the blood on his muzzle as best he could, just trying to see how much it was actually bleeding.  Not enough to kill him so whatever.  “If I get in fights I lose it means I found an opponent I can learn from.” Naiche looked amused and not any sort of resentment, “We got off on a pretty fucked up start. You’re a good fighter, and not just for size or claws.  I can respect that, and damn straight anyone whoever takes me down I’d prefer you got em slowly if you have the chance.” “I mouthed off before, sorry about that.  I was already in a crappy mood and not ready to deal with anything else.”[/b][/color]  The secret to his apologizing was getting the shit beat out of him apparently, and it was sincere versus any cowering submittal, “I don’t want to hate someone in my own pack, even more so if he becomes the alpha someday.  Besides, if you're ok with it I’d like to spar with you again at some later time.  It was fun.” Speech:"Live to fight" Think

It was awkward for him and very difficult for the prideful boy to not push harder, to demand more from the man who already was apologizing. Disrespect was not something he knew how to easily swallow and the easy way Naiche shrugged off his 'mouthing off' did not subdue the prince as much as he'd have liked. It was however enough for him to be civil, even if the subordination was not as obvious as Hanako's was when she won him over.

"Apology accepted." He murmured in reply, dropping the topic quickly and shifting it to something easier. "Why not just ask my father? He's the strongest of us all, the same size I am. If you want difficult you would think he'd be it." Azure assumed that what Naiche meant by not wanting it wasy was merely that he wanted it to be a winnable fight, but not one handed to him. If he truly wanted to learn, he'd go to the top of the food chain for those lessons. "But yeah, alright. If you need another spar just let me know, though expect to come away bloodied again and again."

Naiche had gotten somewhere it seemed.  He didn’t need Azure to love him or for them to be friends but simply able to work together if the time called for it.  Knowing the wolf wouldn’t be happy to rip his head off would work well enough. “I fought Sirius once.” Naiche acknowledged the suggestion, “and you’re right, I am hoping to ask him again later.  I admit I partially wanted to see how I’d manage against someone else his size first, test a few theories.” The wheat-toned wolf seemed to remain in a chipper mood ignoring Azure not seeming to be in one himself.  He would be asking Sirius for another fight soon, and it should play out considerably better this time. Naiche put more focus on Azure at the last comment, that grin back, “I don’t mind a bit of blood, long as I can get the chance to repay in kind.  Any fight I can heal without permanent injury is one I can enjoy and learn from.  Preferably not one that stops me from working either.  These will hurt, but they won’t stop me from working and training.  You didn’t come here to see me though, so I’m happy to get out of your way.  Thanks for the spar.”   Speech:"Live to fight" Think

It was a good sign already that Naiche had no hard feelings over his injuries, nor the potential for more in the future. Az didn't think he'd ever intentionally cause harm to a wolf belonging to the Empire, but in his mind any cuts or bruises earned in training were fair game. He wouldn't want anyone to hold back on him, so he wouldn't hold back on anyone else either. He gave Naiche an affirming nod in reply. "Good."

He'd mentioned that he'd already fought their warlord - and didn't say he won, so Az assumed he'd gotten his ass handed to him by the titan - and planned to again and a ghost of a smile touched Az's lips. While the dire boy had come close at one point to besting his father, it was still a mountain he'd not yet been able to conquer. The day he defeated Sirius, well, perhaps he'd be finally ready for a crown. "We will see which one of us beats him first." He offered good-naturedly, turning his shoulders away from the man and preparing to leave. The training had been welcome, though he still wanted to get some time in with the practice dummies. "Let me know when your wounds heal and you're ready for your rematch."

-exit-