In his bid to spend more time with his kids Malleus had set aside today for Aureus. He'd already wrangled the boy's twin and spent an entire day learning how to play (and then playing) a game called checkers, which Pyrrhic had been all too pleased to beat him at. Now it was Aureus' turn. Hopefully they wouldn't be playing checkers because Malleus didn't think his pride could handle another lose. Malleus seated himself beneath a sprawling oak tree and looked out across the garden. He'd been looking for his son for a few minutes now and had seen neither hide nor hair of the boy. It was time to make it a little easier on himself and call his son to him. After tipping back his head Malleus let out a low summoning howl for Aureus.

TIED TO WHAT IS LATE, AIN'T YOU NOW

Aureus eyed the small bird. Kali was crouched next to him, whiskers twitching as he coached Aureus through the finer points of stalking. They were nestled in the bushes as Aureus waited for the perfect time to strike. He really wasn't sure he wanted to eat the bird but that wasn't really the point of the exercise. This wasn't about food. This was about patience. Something Aureus still didn't quite have as his patience ran out and he leapt from the bushes a moment to soon. The bird spied him and took to the air, narrowly making his escape.

He heard a rumbling sigh from the bushes as Kali slunk out. "Do you know what you-"

A howl cut the panther off. "Oh, that's my dad. I probably better go, you coming?" Kali shook his head and stated that he had breakfast to catch. Afterwards, if he wasn't to tired, they'd continue their lesson.

Aures nodded and took off to see what Malleus was calling him for. He spied his dad sitting beneath an oak tree and he quickly went over to him, tail wagging lightly. "Hello dad, you called for me?"

Malleus didn't have to wait long. Aureus was there in a flash. He was getting so big. So mature. While Malleus was looking forward to a day when he didn't have to fear the silence (which of course meant someone was up to something) he knew that when they were gone he would miss those days and their simplicity. In response to his son's question Malleus nodded. "I did. It's been some time since we got to do something just the two of us, so I thought today would be a good day for us to catch up." His son's childhood was quickly slipping away. While they had countless days ahead of them to hang out and do whatever, the days Malleus had to romp with his puppies were almost gone. The days after, when Aureus was a yearling or an adult, wouldn't be the same. "So what would you like to do today? The day is yours; I'm up for anything."

TIED TO WHAT IS LATE, AIN'T YOU NOW

Aureus grinned at his father. It had been awhile since they'd spent time together when it wasn't the whole group of puppies. He was looking forward to some one-on-one time with his father and he couldn't wait to see what Malleus had planned for them. Maybe an awesome fight lesson or maybe they'd go hunting for some cool, exotic creature. He couldn't wait to show off everything he'd been learning so far, especially some new tricks Kali had taught him.

So what would you like to do today? The day is yours; I'm up for anything.

Aureus sat down and thought for a moment what he'd most like to do with his time with his father. There were so many possibilities but finally he settled on a spar. He'd been training hard and felt like his skills with fighting were improving quickly. What better way to test them than against his dad?

Aureus sprang to his feet, setting his defenses. "How about we spar? I've been working really hard, I want to show you what I can do and maybe afterwards you could teach me some more."

Malleus got to his paws too but not quite as quickly as his son. He wasn't an old man by any stretch of the imagination, but he couldn't quite match the boyish enthusiasm of the younger Abraxas even though he was pleased with Aureus' decision to spar. He too adopted a defensive stance and fixed his son with a playful smirk. "Alright, let's see what you can do." Malleus motioned for Aureus to take the first move. His son was very nearly his height and of a similar build, but while Malleus was expecting a good fight he was confident his years of experience would save him from getting his butt kicked by his yearling son.

TIED TO WHAT IS LATE, AIN'T YOU NOW

"Yes!" Aureus bounded away from his father, seeking to put a distance of about 10 feet between them. He was eager to show what he could do but also, if he was honest with himself, frightened. He was pretty sure his dad could kick his butt but he felt the tournament had taught him a lot and he'd at least have a fair shot. He quickly set his defenses, his limbs coiled and ready to go.

He took a moment to steady his breath and then he sprang toward Malleus. He attempted to approach his father at a forty-five degree angle facing in to the front of Malleus' right shoulder. He wanted to slam the whole weight of the point of his own right shoulder into the side of Malleus right shoulder right into the larger deltoid muscle. He hoped to cause significant bruising and maybe even stun the limb. As he moved to launch his shoulder his weight would shift to his right forelimb and hind limbs making it easier for him to lift his left forepaw and stretch it forward as he sought to grab hold of Mall's left forepaw to pull it out from under him. Aureus hoped to combine this with his shoulder throw and maybe, just maybe, knock his dad over.

Aureus head twisted to his right, his jaws opening wide as he sought to seize hold of Malleus' face, with his upper fangs seeking hold behind his father's jaw just below his right ear and his lower canine's at the right corner of Malleus' jaw.

Aureus vs Malleus for Spar
Round 1 of ?
Size: Extra Large
Build: Heavy
Companion:  -absent- I don't want to count this
Fight Skill: Advanced

Malleus stood stock still as Aureus prepared for the spar. He remained still and unmoving as his son began his charge. The demigod remained still for so long to an outside observer it appeared he was just going to take the blows. He was not. Quick as whip Malleus moved to destroy the perfect scenario of strikes his son had set up. In one smooth move he sprang forward and pivoted on his right front paw so that Aureus' right shoulder struck the left side of his chest. This move caused his son's paw to hit nothing but air. As for Aureus' attempted bite, Malleus had a test for him. He was curious to see what his son would do when faced with a bizarre move. It was for that reason that Malleus sought to intercept his son's reaching jaws. He turned his head sideways and quickly reached out in the hopes of grabbing Aureus' bottom jaw. If he was successful his top jaw would land on the right side of Aureus' bottom jaw and his lower jaw would land on the left side of it. His goal was to grab it and hang on with the sole purpose of seeing what his son would do. MALLEUS versus AUREUS for SPAR Round ONE of TWO Size: Extra Large Build: Heavy Fight Skill Level: Advanced

TIED TO WHAT IS LATE, AIN'T YOU NOW

Malleus pivoted to face Aureus, displacing his attacks. His momentum carried him forward and he let it, there was no time to change course when he was this close to his opponent. His shoulder struck Malleus' chest, bruising his own shoulder with the blow. He realized his paw was going to miss and he swiftly placed it back on the ground so he could center his weight over his limbs. Malleus dove for Aureus' jaws. There was a brief moment of surprise but when Malleus had pivoted to face him Aureus already realized he was going to have to reconsider his attack and he had adjusted accordingly.

Aureus had rotated his head sharply to his left so that the left side of his face was parallel with the ground. He pushed violently forward, seeking to grasp onto this father's throat, just below the corners of his jaw with his upper fangs on the right side and his lower fangs on the right. He wanted a hold but he didn't know much more than that he'd just have to roll with it. Once again though he was to close to dodge and so the right side of his face was prime real estate for Malleus' fangs which seized hold of his right cheek but Aureus threw himself into his own attack, knowing his flesh would rip and he steeled himself for further pain.

Aureus vs Malleus for Spar
Round 2 of 2
Size: Extra Large
Build: Heavy
Companion:  -absent- I don't want to count this
Fight Skill: Advanced

Perhaps he should have been more hardened to harming his opponent, but seeing as his opponent was his son, Malleus couldn't help but recoil instinctively when his teeth made contact with the thin skin of Aureus' cheek. The thought of accidentally splitting his son's cheek from lip to ear - the knowledge that it was a very real possibility - was a thought that alarmed him and overrode his fighting instinct. That fear propelled him backwards a step with a noticeable, pained cringe. An outside observer might have thought an electric shock played a role in it somehow. There was a silver lining to his hesitation, though. His backwards movements nearly matched Aureus' forward ones so his son's teeth slammed shut short of their goal. Instead of closing on his throat Aureus got a mouthful of fur and a couple furrows of skin from where his teeth scraped the surface. Quick as a flash Malleus sought to use his left foreleg to sweep Aureus' forelegs out from underneath him. His son would hopefully be so focused on the nearness of his father's jaws and the failure of his bite attempt that he wouldn't be prepared for another sudden change in tactics. MALLEUS versus AUREUS for SPAR Round TWO of TWO Size: Extra Large Build: Heavy Fight Skill Level: Advanced

And the winner is...

Aureus

Malleus must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Aureus: 310.89 Malleus: 237.86

- Judged by Nyx