The quiet boy walked forward into the evening light, his puppy form skirting by the barn as he sought out another rat scent. Nothing seemed very fresh but he was sure once the sun was further beneath the horizon his prey would appear. The first rat he’d caught hadn’t tasted too bad, and the tail had been fun to chew on for hours after the snack of its body was gone. He enjoyed the crunch of tiny bones beneath his teeth and there was a bit of relief to his growing canines.

Ysmir’s attention shifted from the barn as he strode forward, his gait confident for his age. He couldn’t speak but he was developing quickly in other areas of his growth. He was overly observant for a puppy of his age, he listened closely and used his eyes. The young boy was developing those skills everyday, and each day he was making progress. He might not be able to sing praises to his gods, but he would be able to devote his skills to them.

Prancing lightly through the grass the boy’s dark ears were perked as he took in the sounds of the once farm land. He lifted his nose to the sky and sniffed out any hint of some small prey animal he might be able to stalk. His favorite pass time was become more obvious, if he wasn’t with his family he was out looking for something to stalk.

Skadi too had a favorite pastime. It was a bit like her brother's except for one key difference: height. She loved a good sneak attack and was Fireside's version of a drop bear except she was both real and could not be deterred by the usual methods. And currently she had her sights set on one Ysmir Finnvi. Skadi was up a tree pressed against the trunk to take advantage of the shadows. She watched keenly as Ysmir bounded her way. His nose was in the air and looked like he was after something which was perfect.

She flattened herself out on the tree limb, her ears dropping to the sides and her eyes crossing a little as she peered over the edge at her brother. Unbeknownst to Skadi the end of her tail seemed to have developed a mind of its own and slipped from the branch to dangle over the edge, white tip vibrating with anticipation. She was just so excited it had to show somewhere.

Oh, here he came. Skadi shifted her weight from foot to foot. When she thought he was within pouncing range she leaped from the tree with an delighted shriek that was supposed to be a war whoop had not her excitement gotten the better of her.

The boy stopped as he searched out a trail, his nose to the sky he was suddenly overwhelmed with his sister’s scent. He blinked his one blue and one silver eye she smelled like she was right on top of him… Suddenly he felt claws in his back as a weight fell on him. Though his jaws opened in surprise no sound came out as his young mind raced to react. Alarm obvious in his eyes he wouldn’t freeze up, without any warning, unlike the warcry he’d barely been able to acknowledge before the attack. Ysmir’s first reaction was to roll.

Without hesitation the young boy aimed to slam his shoulder on the ground along with his attacker before trying to roll over Skadi’s smaller form. He’d try to squish his sister before clambering to find his own paws and turn about face in case of a follow up attack. His eyes were wild, his long teeth bared. Hackles raised and his tail stiff. Ysmir was taking the attack much more seriously than such a young puppy should, but he wasn’t great at playing anyway.

Success! Had she been heavier Skadi's weight likely would have squashed her brother to the ground, but as it was she simply didn't have the heft to her. Instead her brother seemed to barely notice, instead dipping into a deliberate roll in the hopes of stunning her and shaking her free. Skadi, having no intention of letting go, let out an explosive wheeze as her brother slammed her into the ground. As he moved to rise she did her best to hang on. His squashing had hurt but instead of motivating her to let go it had done the opposite. She was now determined to stay on his back even if it meant getting slammed into the ground repeatedly.

Skadi sought to wrap her front paws around her brother's waist and use her claws to turn her into the puppy version of velcro. She'd landed with her butt on his shoulders which, in her opinion, was perfect because now that they were officially fighting she could kick him in the back of the head if she was super careful and ambitious. Which she was so that's what she attempted to do. It was tricky business kicking backwards blindly and trying not to get shaken off, but Skadi felt up to the challenge. Ysmir was going down.

Skaði versus Ysmir for Dominance
Round 1 of ???
Age: under 1
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Novice Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Ysmir fell to the ground on top of Skadi like he’d intended to do, but as he lifted himself to his paws he had additional weight. The boy did debate on throwing himself to the ground again but her claws in his flesh were warning enough he didn’t want her to latch back on again. With her back there Ysmir’s options were very much limited, but he wouldn’t quit. Even when the odds were stacked against you, a viking fought on. He was no coward and even so young the pup would continue on to the bitter end.

Of course his mind was being dramatic, this was no life and death battle between himself and his sibling. Ysmir would go all out, and he was very much prepared to, but sometimes what you needed was a bit of smarts. Instead of slamming his shoulder or rump down again Ysmir fell back onto his haunches. This would be a dual fronted attack, hopefully she would be thrown off balance easier with her face near the ground.

The second part of his attack would be his hind leg coming up to scratch her off his back like he’d scratch off a wayward tick.

Ysmir Finnvi vs Skadi for Dominance
Round 1 of 2
Age: under 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Mutation 1: Saber Fangs
Offensive Mutation 2: Cat Paws
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Skadi tipped forward with a shriek as Ysmir wisely sat down. Smart boy. She did her best to backpedal and save herself from a fall. Doggedly committed, when her hind legs slid out from under her Skadi tried to wrap them around Ysmir's neck and hold herself in place. Her tail windmilled wildly as she tried to keep her balance. Meanwhile her front paws were scrabbling at Ysmir's backside, tail and the ground as she fought a losing battle against gravity. She was going to stay aloft! He wasn't going to shake her free so easily! Nope, she was stuck like sap! Wild horses couldn't yank her free! Of course, upon thinking that Skadi immediately teetered to the side and very nearly lost it then. Bitterly she cried, "Yssy you butthole I'm gonna fall on my face!"

Skaði versus Ysmir for Dominance
Round 2 of 2
Age: under 1
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Novice Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Like he suspected, Skadi would do her very best to stay on his sloped back, so as she struggled, and he knew no matter what the end result would be painful for him, the boy shook himself to help her along. She squealed at him, her failure at holding tight obvious in the way she slid down and the inflection of her voice. Ysmir had some very choice words for her if she could have managed to hear him, but as he threw a look over his shoulder it said everything. She had thrown the first punch, and she shouldn’t have been upset that he was going to finish it.

In his final act of defiance and to assure that she was thrown from his back Ysmir stood back up. The effort was obvious, but he had an additional spring in his backend that would full deposit her, on her face.

Ysmir Finnvi vs Skadi for Dominance
Round 2 of 2
Age: under 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Mutation 1: Saber Fangs
Offensive Mutation 2: Cat Paws
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

And the winner is...

YSMIR

SKADI must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: SKADI: 188.51 Rolls: 62 52 48 97 Adjusted: 65.1 52 55.2 97 YSMIR: 193.55 Rolls: 85 90 48 32 Adjusted: 102 94.5 48 32

Judged by nyx