There were few things more frustrating to Azure then his constant, repetitive losses. His brother had beat him twice now, that stupid girl another time. He'd failed in murdering Resin, why couldn't he do anything right? Azure knew he trained harder then any of his siblings and it made the loses hurt worse to feel like even after all the effort he gave, he still couldn't improve. His snarls of anger could be heard loud and clear across the sand as the boy fought the imaginary opponent. He did his best to remain in the circle that was drawn out, to watch his footwork and focus on falling back into his defenses every time he made for a strike. Azure pictured the opponent's arteries in his mind as he made his feints, imagining where he'd need to bite to sever one and end a life. While he did so he imagined the opponent striking back at him and thought hard upon how he could dodge the hits or compromise and take a blow in a less critical area. His breathing was becoming ragged with the effort, but still the newly maimed boy did not wish to concede even if it was against an imaginary wolf. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

As his paw moved from grass to sand, the Warlord paused. Tilting his head in amusement, as he heard the fierce growls of his little blue-brown wolf. His kids were almost six months now, give or take. In truth, the Warlord hadn’t taken much note of the passing days. But his boys were only fifteen or so inches shorter than him. Little Asla was still tiny enough he feared squashing her in his sleep.

He walked closer, finding Azure chasing his ghost across the arena in a terrible, vicious battle. Sirius could only imagine the boy was ripping out the throats of his foes.

Sirius stepped forward, moving a paw gingerly into the arena , and looking to his son with a hint of pride. He noted the damaged air, patched as it was, but likely the notch would remain for life. A small thing, but one that surprised him. Who had laid a hand on his boy? Perhaps Sirius would spill blood himself later, but for now… “Would you like a more tangible opponent?” he had rolled in the earth with Azure before, but they had never had a defined spar. He had trained the boy, given him tips, but he had always been too small for a fully fledged fight.

Azure was so into the moment that he didn't hear his father approaching, and as he growled and snarled and spun to dodge the fake blows he somehow ended up bashing into his father's chest. "Oh, sorry dad." The boy responded a little sheepishly. At the offer of a real opponent, his mood brightened and his tail wagged behind him. "Yeah! I've been practicing a lot I'm ready." Azure booked it away from his father to stand at the far end of the ring. The boy lowered himself closer to the ground, splaying out his legs for balance and hooking his long curved bear claws into the earth. His tail lifted to remain horizontal with his body to help where his agility was already sorely lacking, and his ears pulled back close to his head so they would not again get notched like they had with Motif and Indigo. The pup let his father see his teeth, growing to get himself fully in the zone. "OK, you have to go first. I always go first." Maybe if he didn't make the first move, he'd finally be able to win a fight. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

He steadied Azure with a paw as he bowled into him. The Warlord looked down at the wolf, and wondered just how much longer looking ‘down’ would be his angle, and not straight across. He had a feeling Azure would reach to his heights. Already his front forepaws were a beast of a weapon. He didn’t know how the boy didn’t trip over them all day long. “I believe you are “ Sirius agreed. Azure had always been the most determined fighter in his brood.

“Alright son, lets see what you have. Loser gets me lunch” he said with an easy grin, before launching himself forward. He aimed to hit Azure hard, not taking it easy on the boy. He wanted his right shoulder to collide with Azure’s collar-to-neck position to both knock some air out of him and compromise his balance if he could.

As he did so, he brought his left fore-paw up, trying to get around the back of Azure’s right leg, twitching his leg as he did so just right to pop out his blade.

"Speech"

Sirius Fatalis vs Azure for Spar
Round 1/2
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture - extra large - Male - battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Offensive: Fangs
Skills: Master Fighter & beginner Hunter
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Azure was expecting the attack, but he wasn't expecting it to feel like he'd been run over by a tank. His father hit him hard and fast and Azure did the only thing he could do to remain upright - he aimed to land a bite somewhere along the warlord's thick neck to hang onto and pull himself back up with. At the same time he lifted his powerful forelegs to try and wrap them around the titan's shoulders, flexing his toes so that his long and curved claws might sink into flesh and help him to maintain his hold. Perhaps he should have considered that using his mutations in this way might actually hurt his father, but in his eyes the warlord was indestructible and needed no handicap. Not that Az's claws were sheathable anyways like the other members of his family. "You're going to have to get me lunch!" He retorted bravely. "The biggest deer you can find!" Azure Keres Fatalis vs Sirius Fatalis for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Under 6 months Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Defensive Battle Accessory: Condor body armor Companion 1: Large flying fox, Male - Battle Companion 2: Clouded leopard, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Hunter Specialty: N/A "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

“If you knock me down, I’ll find you the biggest deer you’ve ever seen” The Warlord promised gamely, enjoying the interaction with his fiery young pup. The boy's teeth latched onto his neck, and Sirius felt him fulling his puppy weght back up with the attack. Sirius grunted in approval, even as he felt the light pain of his teeth digging in.

With the manavouring of the smaller wolfs front paws, Seer’s knife attack would hit empty air. Instead, the Warlord had to contend with the bear-hug and the rather sharp claws that came with. Grunting in surprise and pain - and also perhaps a little bit of pride - the Warlord brought the same paw he had tried to use against Azure’s ankles earlier, and instead went for the boys armpit.he hopes to slash it across and hurt the boys leg - not do any serious damage, but enough to make him let go.

"Speech"

Sirius Fatalis vs Azure for Spar
Round 2/2
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture - extra large - Male - battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Offensive: Fangs
Skills: Master Fighter & beginner Hunter
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Azure's hold was successful and he was pleased to feel the fur in his mouth. His claws dug in and he readied himself to prepare to be shaken off, but his father did not attempt to. Instead, when he'd thought his dad had run out of options he suddenly felt the sharpness of steel against his arm. He clamped his teeth tighter at the pain, and tried to pulled as hard as he could with his forelegs and jaws. The goal was to hoist himself high enough on the warlord using the adult's own sturdy body as leverage so that he could jam his right knee up and into Sirius' side. He hadn't much experience using the spurs in combat, but he was bitter about being cut and felt his father deserved a puncture in return. Az was going to get that deer, he just knew it. Azure Keres Fatalis vs Sirius Fatalis for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Under 6 months Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Defensive Battle Accessory: Condor body armor Companion 1: Large flying fox, Male - Battle Companion 2: Clouded leopard, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Hunter Specialty: N/A "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

And the winner is...

SIRIUS

AZURE must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Adjusted rolls: 158 104.5 69 45 SIRIUS' total is.. 470.63 Adjusted rolls: 171.5 55 35 100 AZURE'S total is.. 325.35

Well, Azure hadn’t knocked him down, but he’d certainly given him a few new scars. The boy had started to climb him, but Siriud body-slammed his upper body into the earth, jostling Azure and knocking him free. Sirius misjudged it a little, and knocked the air out of the boy as well. Sometimes the Warlord forgot his own strength.

He gave Azure a moment to catch his breath, and clapped him on the back happily. “Very, very good Azure. You’ve learnt a lot I see” he complimented, blood dripping from the scraps Azure’s heavy bear-paws had left on him. As well as his spurs, and teeth. Azure was going to be a monster in battle when he was older.

“Your old man can still pull a few tricks over you however. How about we go get that deer, eh?”

No matter how hard he fought he was bested every single time, and the fact had begun to wear on the pup. He took a moment to catch his breath, feeling the clap upon his back and looking up to his father in return. Sirius had seemed to think he did well, and perhaps that could be enough for now. It still upset Azure to be unable to come from a fight a victor, but if the warlord could see an improvement in him then maybe that meant his first win would come soon. "Thanks, dad." His response was a little dejected, but he gave Sirius a smile regardless. Unfortunately, that meant Azure was stuck fulfilling his end of the bargain. He'd need to hunt a meal for his father - and he had the feeling that if he intentionally picked out an itty bitty thing to spite him that he'd be in for a cuff. "You're not supposed to help, you didn't lose." He realized after a moment, frowning. Did his father take pity on him for losing and think he was no longer capable of hunting, too? "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Sirius was glowing with his pride in his son. He was going to be a right hellion on the battlefield one day - perhaps a day soon, in fact. Once he was fully grown, it would be hard to keep up with him. Sirius looked forward to keeping them both sharp fighting together.

“Ha!” The Warlord laughed, as his son pointed out he didn’t have to do the hunting. “No, i’m just taggng along for dinner and a show” he explained. Of course, he would jump in if he was needed, and be there to offer advice along the way. A deer was a decent creature for his young boy to bring down. He would need to be nearby to make sure he didn’t get into any trouble.