Sedna rolled her shoulders as she made her way to the sparring grounds. It had been a while since she had had a chance to leave her garden and silver eyes scanned the area looking to see who was around. It seemed pretty deserted for now, so she busied herself clearing seaweed and driftwood debris, using the blade on her tail to mark out a circle in the sand. Perhaps one of the children wanted to try their luck, or maybe wanted some pointers? Until then, she would take a moment to sit and breathe, allowing the sound of the lapping waves to carry her worries away.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Ever since Grandad had made it clear he was supposed to train here, Levi dropped by whenever he had time to spare. Which honestly, was more than he'd ever want to admit since he was still a pup with no real, grounded responsibilities, but whatever. He was here now and that's all that mattered. Padding across the sand, Levi noticed the grey form of a she-wolf just up ahead. He didn't recognise her and thought she was rather plain, but the scent that clung to her for marked her as an Armada wolf.

Someone useful.

"You. Give me a fighting lesson." He sort of asked, if you squinted.

A pale brow quirked at the boys tone and a smirk ghosted at the edges of her lips. She had seen this kid being born, and if she wanted to mean she might comment that he hadn’t grown much since that day, but she was sure that one way or another it would eventually become a sore point and she didn’t want to bring that further forward if it could be helped. “OK, I’m Sedna, whader yer already know? Do yer wanna get better balance, do yer wanna discuss walking on different terrains? Tactics?” In all honesty, she knew he probably just wanted to fight, and she would let him, but she was going to make him use his brain first. “Once we get through th’ borin’ stuff yer can show me how it works, deal?” She dipped down playfully, her tail arching over her back in mock challenge before rising back up.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Lesson 1/3

Sedna? He felt as though he'd seen his Mother talk to her at some point, like they were close friends despite the fact she never ever went outside. Maybe things had been different once. Either way, he took a moment to think about the questions posed. A lot of the offers sounded boring, all sugarcoated and soft, far removed from the harsher aspects of fighting that he liked best. But the mention of tactics caught his ear, making him pause in thought as he wondered how his were different from everyone else. And yes, sparring after sounded like a good idea to him, after all like any young pup he found it hard to sit still for too long. Too much to see and do, places to go and things to bite.

"Tactics."

She tried to control the smile that came to her face with his abrupt answer. “Tactics it is, but I’m not gonna tell yer th’ answer, yer gotta figure it out okay?” she rose to her feet and shifted her paws so that she would be better balanced for the onslaught. “Wolves ‘ave a lotta loose skin, an’ it’s thicker in places like over the back o’ yer neck an’ by yer shoulders. Thicker fur too.” she gave a slow shake to show how the skin continued to move across muscle even after her movement had ceased. “Those’re th’ places yer grab if yer wantin’ ter show dominance, it’s nothin’ personal, kinda fights.” She gave her words a few seconds to sink in before continuing. “So where do yer think yer’d bite if yer wanted ter make someone bleed?” She tipped her head, inviting the boy forward to have a closer look at the way her skin fit her body, expecting a nip, or a bite to come, and knowing it would be her own stupid fault for inviting it.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Lesson 2/3

Levi didn't know much about restraint, didn't really care to so this sort of question suited him best. Where could he make someone bleed? He already knew abit about that, but the idea of learning more had the gold tips of his ears perking forward, ready to learn more. Maybe this method of learning wasn't the worse, though undeniably it was made better knowing they'd spar after.

"Throat. Ears." He told her, wondering if there were other places he ought to aim for. Whether they'd be easy to reach or if he'd need to work harder to grab a hold. But that'd be okay, he liked the challenge.  "Where else?" He asked, eying her as she moved. Considering taking a chomp, but not without a little more provocation.

The monochrome woman nodded to each answer before stepping alongside the youth. Sunlight caught her tail blade as she moved to tap the flat side against his belly. “Belly, where yer legs join yer body, an’ there’s major arteries along th’ inside o’ th’ backs of yer legs.” Not that you really wanted to make a sparring partner bleed, but it was useful information to know. “Now if yer fightin’ someone bigger’n yer, yer can’t count on knockin’ ‘em ter th’ ground. Yer gotta be quick on yer feet, cos bigger usually means slower.”

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Lesson 3/3

Levi nodded thoughtfully, he hadn't thought of those places but it sounded true. And from the looks of her he was certain he'd be able to reach those parts with a little effort, enough to make it worth it. So what now then? Was it time to spar? He damn well hoped so and didn't intend to pull any punches, so she better not either or he'd get all sulky. And no one wanted that, surely.

Keen to put her advice to use, Levi was quick to lunge for the back of Sedna's front left leg, he danced to the side hoping to take her by surprise and grab a hold. He knew he ought to take care not to do any real lasting damage, this was just a spar, but how was he supposed to learn if not practice? Sedna was an adult, he was sure she'd be able to deal with it and If not...She was a healer, patching herself up had to be part of her job description.

Levi vs Sedna for spar
Round 1/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tail blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Metal chest piece
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Black Shiba Inu, Male - Battle
*Companion 3: Jerboa with spiked tail, Male - Battle - Boosted
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Raptor claws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Scruff spines - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Navigator

He seemed to suck up all the information she had laid out like a sponge, and was quick to put the lesson into practice. Teeth pinched painfully on the underside of her elbow and she grinned around a growl. It was a good shot, and she had always hated letting the other person get ready for an attack before launching one of her own.

As he bought his body around to the left, she swung her own body into his, hoping to either knock him off balance or bring him underneath her larger body. She wouldn’t hold back on throwing her weight around.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Sedna vs Levi for spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Double Edged Blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Cougar Armour
Companion 1: Opossum, Male - Battle
Companion 2: White Ibis, Male - Flying - Boosted
Skills: Master Intellectual & Expert Healer
Specialty: Professor

Levi was fast, fast enough to dodge Sedna's body swing...if he'd seen it coming. Letting out a breathless ooof, he was shoved to the side, forced to stumble to regain his footing as he shook his head, regaining his composure. He'd been forced to give some ground but was quick to leap back into the fray, eager teeth snapping as he went in for a second try; this time aiming for her left hind leg where it got thin with tight skin and sinew. He really deserved a kick to the face for this, would serve him right for being so vicious about a spar.

Levi vs Sedna for spar
Round 2/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tail blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Metal chest piece
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Black Shiba Inu, Male - Battle
*Companion 3: Jerboa with spiked tail, Male - Battle - Boosted
Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive
Mutation 2: Raptor claws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Scruff spines - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Navigator

Satisfaction as her swing sent the boy skittering. She had forgotten how much fun it was to spar, even if it was just with kids. They were so focused on what they wanted, they often missed the bigger picture, all those other little moving parts that might influence the outcome. At least experiences like this one would hopefully help mould the boy into a more thoughtful fighter.

She remembered the single mindedness with which she used to go after her siblings at that age and when the boy rallied with his eyes set on her left hind leg, she waited until he was close and then lifted the limb, hoping that Levi would overshoot his mark and find himself beneath her hefty rear, then she would bring her whole body down to pin him beneath her.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Sedna vs Levi for spar
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Double Edged Blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Cougar Armour
Companion 1: Opossum, Male - Battle
Companion 2: White Ibis, Male - Flying - Boosted
Skills: Master Intellectual & Expert Healer
Specialty: Professor

And the winner is...

SEDNA

LEVI must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: LEVI Attack Roll: 9 Defense Roll: 11 Agility Roll: 42 Perception Roll: 60 Total: 122 Attack[9] + 65% Bonus[5.85]: 14.85 Defense[11] + 20% Bonus[2.20]: 13.20 Agility[42] + 30% Bonus[12.60]: 54.60 Perception[60] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 60.00 Total[142.65] + -10% Bonus[-14.27]: 128.38 SEDNA Attack Roll: 54 Defense Roll: 9 Agility Roll: 18 Perception Roll: 84 Total: 165 Attack[54] + 20% Bonus[10.80]: 64.80 Defense[9] + 40% Bonus[3.60]: 12.60 Agility[18] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 18.00 Perception[84] + 45% Bonus[37.80]: 121.80 Total[217.20] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 217.20