Valkyrie hadn't been back to the battlefield since she'd witnessed the near-melee that had been the challenge between an albino and the guy she'd fought in the tournament. That day she'd glimpsed her mother from across the field and hadn't known what to make of her presence. To be honest she still didn't. She didn't want a reunion, that much she was certain of, but she did want to know more about her. Where she'd gone after she'd left Valkyrie with her grandfather. At any rate Valkyrie had gotten a good look at the wolves her mother had been with and when the day came that she was ready to get answers she thought she knew where she could get them.

That wasn't why she'd gone back to the battlefield. It wasn't exactly the place to reminisce. She'd ventured back here because it was the place to find pretty much everything she could want. If she wanted a fight, she'd find a fight. If she wanted to recruit, often there were wolves looking for purpose here. And if she wanted a slave, well, she could find those here too.

Stopping in a small, fire-scorched clearing, Valkyrie threw back her head and howled for anyone who might be interested in trying their luck with her. She was game for whatever came her way and she made it clear that whoever answered better be too.

"Talk"

((ooc; forward dating to dutch's arrival at boreas ;D hope that's okay)) she hadn't been here long, but she knew enough. like, sticking close to Valkyrie in a new place was definitely a good idea. Dutch would come back to this particular surface area on her own, but for now, she was just curious why the band's leader had come here. when the Viking woman sent out a call to challenge, the dwarf's little feet walked quickly to meet it. she had experience with her shortness and wasn't as exhausted when she traveled to here. it'd been a few days since she joined the band, and she wanted to test Valkyrie. to see if the other wolf was worthy of being called her leader, mainly. "if ya want, I can spar with you" she'd puff, standing as tall as possible for the short woman before Valkyrie. "don't expect to win, but I want to learn" her people crafted beautiful ornaments for battle but hadn't been in any wars themselves. they were quite neutral, which is why her Pops and Ma had been... very against her coming to Boreas. they wanted her to stick her nose out of any Northmen business. she'd dip her head slightly. "you made the call, you go first, ja?"

It her surprise, Dutch, one of the newer members of the band, answered the challenge. Her initiative pleased Valkyrie. Though the woman was small Valkyrie expected her to participate when it came time to raid, so knowing now that Dutch was one to seek out training instead of being the sort Valkyrie had to push, raised Valkyrie's opinion of the tinkerer.

"Your desire to learn is admirable. Should it interest you, I'd be happy to spar with you in the future as well." After sweeping a critical, assessing eye over Dutch, Valkyrie tried to square off with her. Normally her weight put her at a disadvantage, but against an opponent who was so much smaller than her, Valkyrie may as well have been a tank. This was barely charted territory for her and she intended to explore it fully. It seemed that size-wise she was above average in Boreas, so it was in her best interest to learn how to use her weight to her advantage.

"Sounds fair to me," she said in response to Dutch's statement that Valkyrie go first. She wasn't going to object.

Without warning Valkyrie charged forward. Though she was bigger and heavier than her opponent she was still a lightweight and she moved like one. Her goal was to close the distance between them fast enough to make Dutch struggle to react properly. It would be awkward for her to try to slam her shoulder or even her chest into the smaller woman, so instead of doing one of those fight stables Valkyrie opted to try to tackle Dutch and take her to the ground. She sought to leap at the woman and wrap her forelegs around Dutch's lower ribs. If allowed to maintain their head on positioning, this move meant that Dutch's head would get mashed down by Valkyrie's chest and that the smaller woman would be forced to bear all of Valkyrie's weight across her shoulders.

Valkyrie versus Dutch for Spar
Round One of ???
Size: Extra Large
Build: Light
Companion: Japanese Macaque (Battle)
Mutation: Retractable Claws
Fight Skill Level: Expert

Dutch wasn't a stupid woman. she knew that Valkyrie would win this easily. the dwarven woman was inexperienced and at a disadvantage height and weight wise. it'd be a struggle to keep up but at least she was damn well trying. she wasn't sitting at home, crying about the lack of excitement in her life. she wanted to explore and learn and expand. if the band leader wanted to fight, she'd take this opportunity to learn how the Vikings and the experiences in Boreas shaped Valkyrie so far. maybe there was hope even for a small lady like her to be a great fighter. "ready" she uttered to herself, squaring her shoulders and moving her limbs to a more comfortable position. her head tucked to protect her throat, violet eyes on Valkyrie as the woman shot forward. the leader leaped, trying to probably pin her to the ground. Dutch reacted by tumbling out of the way. quickly rolling onto her back and rolling to the side, she'd evade just in time as the other woman came to the earth. of course, she was like a turtle in this regard. it took her a while to get to her feet again, her hefty body rocking back and forth before she jumped up. with Valkyrie closer now, Dutch reared up and swiped her paws at the larger woman's head. despite this being a spar, she knew that Valkyrie would use her mutation to her advantage in any fight. it would also be rude and impolite for the dwarf to hold back. trying to show as much awkward force as possible for a beginner, the dwarf would try to make her see stars. a swift knock upside the head left her belly open as she reached upward though. Valkyrie versus Dutch for Spar Round One of Two Size: Small Build: Heavy Companion: N/A Mutation: N/A Fight Skill Level: Beginner

She missed; the spry dwarf rolling out of the way at the last second. The moment Valkyrie's paws touched the ground she spun to face Dutch who still lay on the ground with her belly turned upwards. Unbeknownst to Valkyrie as she turned she turned into Dutch's kicking foot although the height difference kept her from catching the blow across the face. Instead it slammed into her neck and just barely missed her windpipe.

Her retaliation came swiftly. She leaped at Dutch again, this time hoping to capitalize on the smaller woman's exposed belly. Valkyrie sought to slam her forepaws down hard on Dutch's belly directly below her rib cage. The aim was to wind the woman so that she was powerless against Valkyrie's next attack.

Valkyrie versus Dutch for Spar
Round Two of Two
Size: Extra Large
Build: Light
Companion: Japanese Macaque (Battle)
Mutation: Retractable Claws
Fight Skill Level: Expert

success. she could almost taste victory. albiet insanely brief that victory was. one good smack to the head didn't mean shit all. Dutch knew it wasn't as easy as that and predicted that Valkyrie would have something far worse in store. and like she thought, this was true. the band leader moved fluidly forward, slamming her front paws against the dwarf's chest. it was successful too. "gak!" unable to swear properly, she spat wind and saliva into the air as she was winded. it was hard to move now. Dutch had tumbled onto her back, lying there for a few brief seconds before she tried to wiggle free of her exhaustion. panting heavily, she randomly snapped her jaw forward in hopes of grabbed onto Valkyrie's front leg. the Northmen and women may have their fancy height, but down in the dirt... she wrestled with her brothers' plenty of times. she knew how to tango like that. if she did grab onto a leg, she sought to pull the woman to the earth with her. Valkyrie versus Dutch for Spar Round Two of Two Size: Small Build: Heavy Companion: N/A Mutation: N/A Fight Skill Level: Beginner

And the winner is...

DUTCH

VALKYRIE must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Valkyrie: 228.63 Dutch 241.65