Álarr felt he was having pretty mixed results but he supposed that was typical. A wolf couldn't win all fights and he felt he was doing pretty evenly. He was winning roughly half of his fights but he still felt there was room for improvement, especially now that he finally had a set of armor and weaponry to try out in battle. In truth he didn't know where to start, then Afi suggested the battlefield. Where else would he find a unique opponent? Or heck, maybe he'd run into Theory again. The thought amused him. He knew there were tensions between Abaven and Legion over Rhyme's romantic exploits. He was getting old enough to understand what exactly the consequences were of that tryst but he didn't begrudge his… cousins? Nieces? He was forgetting again. Was it Theory he was related to? Poem? That strange black and blue wolf that had trespassed?  He really needed to have his father walk him through their family tree.

Finding a good patch of land for a challenge he tipped back his head and called for an opponent.

That whole captive narrative had really thrown Balsam for a loop. The clawed woman had beaten him mercilessly and then sold him to a hideous tyrant who had treated him with the kind of contempt Balsam had only ever seen directed at rapists and murderers. He'd lost fight after fight and though his dignity had been bruised because of it, he was alive and he was unbroken. His father, he was certain, though of course not pleased with where life had taken his son, would no doubt have been proud of Balsam's moxie. It was both a sobering and heartening thought.

Balsam had learned a great deal about himself over the last couple seasons. Though he had thought himself a man before everything had happened he could see now that he had still been a naive boy. That couldn't be said of him now. Cruelty had changed him. Now he knew what he was dealing with. He'd known the giants were monsters but now he had lived it. They were dangerous. He needed to learn how to beat them. His win against Sirius, though deserved, was only one win among many losses. Though he knew how to fight he needed to learn how to fight giants if he was going to succeed here.

That thought was what had brought him to the battlefield. Balsam made his way over to Alarr and nodded his interest before squaring up with the massive wolf. He remembered this bloke from a recent spat with a bear and though Alarr was still more or less a stranger, Balsam thought he had a good enough handle on the younger man's character to know he would make a good opponent. At the very least he didn't strike him as the type to try to bite Balsam in half just to see if he could which was more than Balsam thought could be said about Sirius.

He threw himself headlong at Alarr as though making a suicide run at his chest. When he thought he was close enough to take advantage of his opponent's reaction time Balsam dodged to his left and sought to race down Alarr's right side. He was aiming for a drive by biting; one quick slash with his lower teeth at the front of Alarr's right knee with the end goal of racing past his much large opponent without getting hit or smashed. One solid hit and Alarr could probably punt him into the next territory so he was going to try not to get hit at all. A lofty goal to be sure.

Balsam versus Alarr for Spar
Round ONE of ???
Age: 1+
Size: Extra-small
Build: Light
Skill: Advanced

Álarr waited patiently for an opponent and it wasn't long before he got one though the opponent in question was certainly a surprise! It was that small and agile wolf he'd met when they'd tangled with a bear not to far back. At the time he'd mistaken the small wolf for a pup though when he was able to look at the man properly it became more obvious that Basalm was proportioned as an adult, just a very short and petite one. Álarr smiled and dipped his head in greeting before setting his defenses. He was both excited and nervous for this fight. He was growing in experience but he'd never fought a wolf so much smaller than himself and he wasn't entirely sure how best to go about it. It was true that he often sparred Afi but a cat was not a wolf.

Balsam sprited forward and just like Álarr expected the smaller wolf was terribly fast. Álarr's head shot down as he took a step forward and tried to grasp the scruff of the smaller wolf but the little brute dodged to the side, his lower fangs grazing Álarr's thigh just behind his knee. Álarr was in motion, quickly twisting his upper body to the side as he sought to catch Balsam's spine in his jaws, just in front of the man's hips. All Álarr sought was a solid grip to at least slow the other down and keep him in range.

Álarr vs Balsam for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked shoulder harness
Defensive Battle Accessory: Spiked helmet
Companion 1: Pallas Cat, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Raven, Female - Flying
Mutation - Offensive: Kudu horns (small)
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Healer
Specialty: Anatomist

He got just far enough past Alarr to think he was in the clear. That small victory was quickly snatched from him as he felt teeth settle around his lower back. Well that was no good. Quick as a flash Balsam rolled in on himself in a tight 'U' shape. He lifted his front paws off the ground and sought to throw his right one over the back of Alarr's neck with claws extended to steady his attack. As his left forepaw was on the side he was curling into, it's range of motion was limited so all he could do with it was swipe at the side of Alarr's neck with it and hope that at least his outermost claw would find purchase. With his front paws off the ground Alarr would also be forced to support his weight. He wasn't sure how much good that would do considering the size difference but it was something, right? To cap off his attack Balsam tried to twist far enough around to sink his teeth into the bridge of Alarr's nose. He wasn't going for major damage just a solid, painful grip.

Balsam versus Alarr for Spar
Round TWO of TWO
Age: 1+
Size: Extra-small
Build: Light
Skill: Advanced

Success! Álarr inwardly crowed as his jaws latched around Balsam, pleased to have caught the little speed demon but his victory was short lived. With the little wolf in close proximity and Álarr dealing with a mouth full there was little he could do to prevent the smaller wolf's attack. Balsam succeeded in throwing his right arm over Álarr's neck while the left paw dug deep into the fur of his neck. There was something weird about the little wolf's paws, he could just tell in the way the claws and toes dug into his skin. When Balsam twisted around and Álarr saw the little beasts fangs going for his nose he switched tactics and let go and immediately sought to use his forelegs to push the smaller man to the ground and pin him.


Álarr vs Balsam for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked shoulder harness
Defensive Battle Accessory: Spiked helmet
Companion 1: Pallas Cat, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Raven, Female - Flying
Mutation - Offensive: Kudu horns (small)
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Healer
Specialty: Anatomist

And the winner is...

Alarr

Balsam must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Alarr: 446.58 (137.75 78.1 87 69.3) Balsam: 243.80 (31 47 69 65)