He was back here again - scorching heat, crumbly sand and all. The koi-splotched wolf didn’t much appreciate the sun’s merciless rays leeching into his charcoal back as he entered the battlefield’s yawning plain, keeping watch for anybody trying to sneak up on him or otherwise. He preferred an even, direct approach to a fight. None of this dancy-prancy stuff he’d born witness too here and there, but he kept a fairly strong assumption that his opponents would share his views and spar head-on. With a shake of his pelt, an irritated scowl planted upon his lips as clouds of dusts permeated the air from distant spars around him, he picked an empty plot, glanced around, and called for an opponent, his song deep, rumbling, and bold. "Speech"

After the recent run-ins with Balthier and the predators that had seemed to follow him and his cart, Astrophel it was best to continue improving on his fighting skills. Just going out to pick fights with random predators was erring on the side of too dangerous for him, but seeking out a couple spars was a good place to start. And having had a couple spars under his belt recently, he felt good about seeking someone out again for a quick match-up. Even with it being a bit of a trek north to reach the battlefield, he felt it was better than trying to randomly ask someone if they wanted a spar. When he arrived, after having heard the call and making his way over, he was faced with a much smaller and more finely-built wolf. Not that that meant they wouldn't be a formidable opponent. Astrophel smiled warmly at the other wolf, dipping his head in greeting. "A fine day for a spar," he said simply with a slight wag of his tail, already rolling his shoulders back and preparing himself for the fight.

Usagi spotted an opponent who’d answered his call. He appeared to have come from a long ways away, and he eyed the male with unseen curiosity, but mostly a neutral, frowning expression. As the blue and purple-pelted brute approached, the male offered a brief but polite dip of his head to him, figuring he wouldn’t just ignore his statement. "Indeed,” He said monotonously in response, only out of some obligation to give an answer. He was a man of little words. He figured he’d start the spar first, seeing as he’d given out the intial. With a sharp but smooth inhale, he exhaled in one smooth motion as he lowered his body, upright ear tucked against his skull and surprisingly muscular limbs spread confidently in the dry arid dirt. With that, the male charged forward in a flash of charcoal and scarlet, hind legs thrusting his body forward much like the flight of a large rabbit. Except he wasn’t fleeing, he was attacking. He aimed to charge for the male head-on and then swiftly pivot to the male’s side in a purposeful skidding of dust, aiming a hind leg into the larger male’s side in a powerful, firece jab. It wasn’t intended to harm, just to jostle the opponent and make him sway in his feet a bit. He liked things direct and to the point. Usagi vs Astrophel for Spar Round 1/2 Age: over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Hunter "Speech"

The smaller wolf returned the sentiment, albeit not as warmly, and in a much more monotonous tone. Very well, it seemed this spar was more business than pleasure. Astrophel could get behind that. He had just prepared himself to begin when the other wolf shot forward at speed, much faster than he would have assumed the wolf could move at from a stand-still. It looked as if his opponent was going for a straight-on strike, and so Astrophel dug his hind legs into the sand to steady his balance, bunching his shoulders so he could take the brunt of the impact without too much trouble. But then at the last second the smaller wolf dashed to the side, spinning as he did so, and kicked out with a hind leg against his side. A little thrown off, balance-wise and mentally, he stumbled to the side from the force of the attack that had come from a direction he had not prepared against, but swiftly regained his balance and turned on his feels to face his opponent again. Astrophel took but a moment to gauge what his attack would be, before stepped forward with a long stride and moving to shoulder check the smaller wolf, wanting to force his left shoulder directly into the other's hind end and push through with his momentum to try and unbalance the wolf. It seemed as if teeth weren't going to be a part of this spar, so Astrophel was more than willing to throw his weight around instead. Astrophel vs Usagi for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual

Usagi wasn’t surprised in the least that his opponent was able to brace his attack. He was larger, clearly with more heft and solid bulk on his bones. Usagi wasn’t as solidly built, but the tendrils of flesh on his own limbs provided evidence enough that a svelte build wasn’t unsuited for sparring. As the larger wolf moved forward to shoulder-check him, Usagi felt the impact before he was able to guage his own offense, bracing himself by splaying his toes into the dirt and letting his hind legs buckle into the cracked sand to avoid a full-on stumble. He appreciated the wolf’s mannerisms in that he also didn’t use teeth in this fight - the koi wolf himself rarely attempted to use his fangs unless his opponent used them as well. However, he’d appreciate the lack of jaw snapping in this spar. He’d prefer to hone his skills in other ways. If his positioning was right, after assuming a forward stance, he’d be close to his opponent’s chest. In a swift movement, Usagi aimed to rear backwards in an attempt to slam his back into the male’s chest, hoping to make him stumble as well. No doubt he was bigger, so the idea of bringing him down completely would be a challenge, or even unlikely. In the gap after his back-bump into the male, should it be successful, he’d pivot around on one of his lind legs to bring himself back behind the opponent’s foreleg, aiming the other hind leg towards it to kick it and hopefully make it buckle. It wouldn’t hurt, not for the bulkier opponent, but if it worked, he might find himself closer to the ground than he’d like. Usagi vs Astrophel for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Offensive Battle Accessory: Double-bladed Sword Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Hunter "Speech"

The smaller wolf stumbled but didn't quite fall over. Astrophel turned to face his opponent again, expecting to see the wolf taking a moment to get back on his paws, but instead he had lifted up on his hind legs and was falling backwards with great intent. Astrophel managed to shift his head out of the way but felt the wolf crash into his chest, sending him stumbling backwards almost onto his ass. He could have probably recovered quickly had his opponent not then pivoted and kick out against one of his forelegs. Immediately the leg buckled, bending at the joint and forcing him to reach out with his other foreleg so he wouldn't fall face-first into the dirt, but he used precious seconds stabilise himself and get his feet properly under him. From his position lower down there wasn't much he could do, and as a larger wolf he wasn't used to being in such a position. Thinking quickly, Astrophel pushed against the ground with his hind legs and moved his head underneath the smaller wolf to try and lift up his opponent with his head and neck to raise the wolf at least partially off the ground and hopefully tip him off balance. Astrophel vs Usagi for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual

And the winner is...

Astrophel

Usagi must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Usagi : Attack Roll: 57 Defense Roll: 28 Agility Roll: 42 Perception Roll: 77 Total: 204 Attack[57] + 10% Bonus[5.70]: 62.70 Defense[28] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 28.00 Agility[42] + 5% Bonus[2.10]: 44.10 Perception[77] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 77.00 Total[211.80] + 15% Bonus[31.77]: 243.57 Astrophel: Attack Roll: 19 Defense Roll: 81 Agility Roll: 97 Perception Roll: 71 Total: 268 Attack[19] + 5% Bonus[0.95]: 19.95 Defense[81] + 5% Bonus[4.05]: 85.05 Agility[97] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 97.00 Perception[71] + 10% Bonus[7.10]: 78.10 Total[280.10] + 15% Bonus[42.02]: 322.12