Kitsune had been steadily working her way towards a rank challenge. Making the preparations she needed and more often than not feeling inadequate. Her Fathers sudden and unexpected departure from the pack had thrown a wrench in her plans, and it felt like it took her a while to pick up the pieces again.

But for better or worse, today was the day. She didn’t feel like she could put it off any longer. Iho helped her into her armour pieces and she stood before him for a moment. Quiet and dignified, the black kites on her shoulder. “A kiss for luck, my Pirate Prince?” She asked, her voice lightly teasing to help her settle her nerves. She expected a solemn, chaste kiss on her cheek and was caught wholly by surprise when it landed on the end of her snoot. She almost went cross-eyed looking at him, before clearing her throat. Trying to maintain her pose. Her eyes lightly scolded him, but there was heat in her cheeks. With that, she raised her head and howled to her Uncle Plague

Kitsune vs Plague for Dominance
Round 0/1
Age: Over 1
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Shoulder spikes
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest piece
Companion 1: Black kite, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Mutation 2: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Healer


"Speech"

He had been told ahead of time that Kitsune had prepared for her fight to earn her new rank and that he had been picked as her challenger and Plague was eager and excited for the fight. His nieces and nephews were all growing up so quickly and it was hard for him to believe they were already old enough for things like this. In his mind they should still be the little balls of fluff that he came to visit after they were born. Instead he was pulling on his armor and waiting for Kitsune to call for him while spending a bit of time with his own children in the mean time. They were also getting older far faster than he would have liked and he knew they would be getting mentors soon enough and before he knew it they would be finding their own place in the world and challenging for positions they wanted...

His train of thought was interrupted by Kitsune's howl and he grinned as he got up to go join her, his snow leopards flanking him on either side. He found the fiery young woman easily enough and gave her a nod of his head. He expected a lot from his nieces and nephews so he had high hopes for a good fight, but he was honestly just happy to have a reason to spend time with her and spar someone again. "Ready?" Once she said she was he settled into an easy fighting stance. Viridis, his male snow leopard, bounded forward at the same time as him, swinging wide around her right side while Plague approached her head on. He went to hit his right shoulder into the center of her chest, using the skull affixed to his armor as a blunt force weapon of sorts to make up for the fact that he'd be hitting her armor. Meanwhile, Viridis dove in to try and wrap his paws around her back, right leg, making himself a hindrance to her movement. Plague certainly didn't want to give her any major injuries, but he wasn't going to give her an easy fight either!

Plague vs Kitsune for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest brace
Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Snow leopard, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Green obsidian talons - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Professor

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Kitsune faught her nerves as the familiar, regal form of her uncle appeared. He stopped before her, and his voice was gentle if she asked her if she was ready. In response the young girl got to her feet, and bowed her top half low in respect for her opponent. “I am, Uncle” she said. Pulling the cover of prim and proper over herself like a shield. Blocking out the nerves. There was only here and now. She couldn’t worry what ten or so minutes from now would look like.

Then Plague and one of his snow leopards bounded towards her. Her black kite screeched and dipped forward to intercept the leopard. Kitsune meanwhile braced for the blow of the heavier wolf. She felt the weight of the taller, heavy set wolf collide with her and for a moment wondered if she had erred in letting him contact with full momentum. She fought to catch her breath, and hide that fact from her Uncle as she thrust her head down and across in an attempt to scrape the top of his skull, or drive some movement between them. Meanwhile, she raised a paw, and swiped it at his right hind leg. Her cat-like claws extended.

Kitsune vs Plague for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Shoulder spikes
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest piece
Companion 1: Black kite, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Mutation 2: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Healer


"Speech"

Viridis fell short of catching her leg as a bird flew in toward his face and chased him off, making him hiss and swipe up at Kitsune's companion with his large feline paws. Plague had better luck and his shoulder connected solidly with Kitsune's chest. He didn't stay there long though, wanting to keep moving and really but his niece's skills to the test. He ducked out of the way as she went for the top of his head, but as he went to go past her shoulder he felt her claws cut into his back leg, making him wince. Procella jumped into action then, the female snow leopard running up to pounce on Kitsune's extended paw and knock it away while Plague repositioned himself to face her again. He reached out a paw to try and catch her front leg, hooking his talons around the limb to try and pull it out from under her while he lunged forward to try and grab at the back of her neck in hopes of pulling her fully off of her feet by her scruff.

Plague vs Kitsune for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest brace
Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Snow leopard, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Green obsidian talons - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Professor

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Trusting her Kite to have her back, Kitsune concentrated on the white wolf. Her Uncle didn’t stay pressed against her for long. He ducked out of the way of her horn swipe, but her claws caught him. Just not where she had intended. He was moving, leaping past her, and she felt her caws catch a little in his coat on his way past. She had scored a hit to his back leg.

The second leopard made things a little tricky. Kitsune only had one companion herself. She hissed almost like a cat at this second snow leopard. As Plagues paw caught her front leg, Kitsune threw her body weight forward. Sacrificing balance for a quick shot as she attempted to drive her horns into his shoulder.

Kitsune vs Plague for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Shoulder spikes
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest piece
Companion 1: Black kite, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Mutation 2: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Healer

"Speech"

And the winner is...

Plague

Kitsune must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Kitsune : Attack Roll: 37 Defense Roll: 19 Agility Roll: 65 Perception Roll: 24 Total: 145 Attack[37] + 40% Bonus[14.80]: 51.80 Defense[19] + 35% Bonus[6.65]: 25.65 Agility[65] + 5% Bonus[3.25]: 68.25 Perception[24] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 24.00 Total[169.70] + 20% Bonus[33.94]: 203.64 Plague: Attack Roll: 3 Defense Roll: 100 Critical block! Agility Roll: 38 Perception Roll: 82 Total: 223 Attack[3] + 55% Bonus[1.65]: 4.65 Defense[100] + 10% Bonus[10.00]: 110.00 Agility[38] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 38.00 Perception[82] + 25% Bonus[20.50]: 102.50 Total[255.15] + 25% Bonus[63.79]: 318.94

Venom heard the call for Plague from Kitsune and knew what the meaning of it was. She didn’t rush towards them, and let them get comfortable believing themselves alone. Plague wouldn’t hold back and Kitsune would give her all. The Empress was watching though, and she was witness to the whole fight, and her heart swelled with pride watching both of them. Eventually though Plague’s last grab for Kit’s leg threw her completely off balance. This would bring about the end of the battle as he held her to heel. Plague had won their match.

Kitsune had nothing to be ashamed of though, she fought valiantly and she showed off what she had learned. Venom approached from the trees, emerging from the foliage with a Klein like smirk playing on her features. "You’ve done well here Kitsune.” Venom offered with a grin as she let both warriors stand up straight. "You have learned much, do you think you’re ready for the rank you seek?” Venom asked with a tilt of her head. What did the girl think?

"Venom"

Kitsune put up a fantastic fight and kept him on his toes, but in the end he had that little bit of extra know how and experience that put him over the edge against her. He hooked her leg, sending her toppling forward, and at the same time dodged to the side to avoid her flame-colored antlers. He wouldn't actually let her hit the ground though, instead throwing his foreleg out to catch her and keep her from toppling over. She had been his opponent, at least momentarily, but in the end she was still his niece that he loved dearly and he didn't want to see her fall down to the ground in her defeat.

Before he could say anything though, his sister came out of hiding and came to congratulate her daughter on a well done fight. He nodded in agreement, smiling as he brushed off some dust from Kitsune's fur. "You did very well," he insisted, sneaking a little kiss to her cheek before he backed away, sitting near Venom while his sister questioned her daughter on whether she felt ready for the rank she had been fighting for. He looked between the two curiously, interested to see what Kit would say.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Kitsune found herself panting softly as the world turned around her. She started to hit the ground before she even felt the impact of his attack on her leg. He was that fast! And, since she was too startled to fall correctly, was secretly grateful that her Uncle caught her before she could hit the ground.

When she hard her mother's voice, her cheeks burned a little. Especially as Plague brushed her fur and kissed her cheek. She straightened herself, paws firmly on the ground. Pulling herself to her height, her stance prim and proper. She turned to Plague who was settling by the Empress and bowed to him. "Thank you for accepting my challenge, Daimyo" she said formally. She snuck a glance then to the sidelines where she knew Iho waited for her, but she didn't meet his eyes.

Instead her attention was to her mother. A part of her wanted to crawl into the woman's lap and sniffle her disappointment as Venom brushed her coat and told her she loved her. A lovely fantasy that didn't match with the reality around her. She had wolves watching her, and a fight freshly lost. So she spoke more carefully then she would have if she and her mother were alone. "I want to do you proud, Lady Empress." She took a sharp, quick breath to steady herself. "You need wolves around you strong enough to uphold their promise of the rank. I f-failed-" She stumbled on the word, but there was no evidence of the impact on what it meant to her in her face. She was far too well breed for that. "-you." She continued. "But I will fight for the rank. Again, and again, until I worthy of it" and do you proud.

Plague caught Kitsune as he tripped her and took his victory. Venom might have worried slightly had this not been the inevitability of the spar. As Ashen’s Daimyo Plague was not an easy individual to beat. Second only to the Empress in his prowess. Venom would have been considering much different eventualities had he lost to her half trained daughter. Kitsune really did have much to be proud of. She showed what she learned, her strengths and weaknesses, and simply asking for the spar had given much insight into her inner workings. Venom had endless confidence in her children, as they should have in themselves.

Kit looked a little sheepish when she looked up to her mother after being praised by both of her elders for her work. Kit made herself straight, offering her mother all of the decorum and propriety she had learned through her life and spoke from her heart. She wanted to do her mother proud, she wanted to be something for the Empire, she would keep fighting until that goal was met.

"My sweet daughter,” her proud gaze swung from young wolf to Plague, and back again. Both were proud and satisfied with Kitsune’s performance. "You have already made me proud, and you have not failed here.” She told her affectionately. "Ashen has a new Chunin, and a very proud mother.” She grinned at her daughter, feeling for the first time in a while that things really were looking up.

"Venom"

Kitsune would never, could never ask her mother for special treatment. As a Princess of Ashen, she knew that sometimes she had to be careful what she asked for. So this rank that her heart craved, was something she would fight for. She would train and prove herself, and be worthy of it. Anything less would crumble her confidence.

It was clear that Venom and Plague both considered her worthy of the position. As she spoke her piece, her mothers affectionate voice told her she had already proven herself. She almost vibrated with sudden relief and excitement. She broke decorum for a moment and leaped forward, kissing her mothers cheek. “Mumma, thank you” [b] she whispered. [b] “It’s not… it’s not because I’m a Princess?” she whispered for her mothers ears only. She had to know.


"Speech"

Venom didn’t expect a win out of a rank challenge, it was simply the motivation and determination to take on such a fight against one’s betters. Kitsune stood up, challenged Plague on her own, and showed her skill against her uncle. That was the main goal of a rank challenge and Kit had showed her prowess and determination, that was enough for Venom. Even if she wasn’t her daughter.

Surprisingly Kit leapt forward towards her mother, joy and surprise evident on her innocent features as she kissed her mother’s cheek and spoke uncertainly. Venom dropped her decorum as well and without hesitation wrapped her arms around Kitsune’s shoulders. "It’s because you have earned this.” She assured her softly, kissing her forehead and squeezing her gently.

"Venom"