The summer sun was blazing hot, baring down on the earth and leaving the grass beneath Hattori's paws crisp and dry. He hadn't been in Boreas for long but it was obvious that it hadn't rained in a while and from the looks of it that wouldn't change anytime soon. He squinted as he looked up at the sky, there wasn't even a single cloud in sight leaving Hattori to wonder if droughts were commonplace in these parts. Whilst not overly fond of the heat it wasn't anything he couldn't handle, the summers back home often got hot and sticky, at times the humidity got so high the air was thick like tar.

The Orchard, despite the weather, seemed to be doing just fine, all green and lush with a variety of fruits out on display. Another wolf might have taken the chance to have a sweet snack, but Hattori paid them no mind as he strode through the rows of trees and stuck to the shade. His side still ached but the thought of laying around all day just waiting for his wounds to heal was insufferable, like bitter medicine he had to swallow.

The frizz of the heat could be felt through her coat in the most unpleasant of ways. She had paused once before at a stream, to gently wet the fur between her ears and down her spine. The darker blacks at top were a trap for the sun’s fire. The young Aracari fleetingly wondered where the paths of her mischievous siblings were taking them. She was a wanderer at heart, but always she returned to them at the end. Summer would be endured, and gentler seasons would arise. Winter was her favourite, when her fur grew lush and thick, and the whites of the snow reflected the tones of her blues. Hot grass crunched beneath her paws, and the shapes of trees appeared before her. She picked up her pace, until she found herself nestled beneath their shade. The strong scents of fruits assaulted her nostrils, and she grinned. Would it be difficult to ferment the fruit to wine with what she had? Likely yes, she had little in the way of tools on her. Alas. perhaps she could direct one of her siblings this way another time. Cicero would make something worth sampling, no doubt. The form of a dark toned, blue/red wolf appeared in the shadow before her. A distance off, but travelling in her direction. She rolled forward on the balls of her feet, and sucked in a soft breath. He was not a wolf she had seen at the beach party. His tones of fire were not terribly dissimilar from her beloved Hyperion, but perhaps more like the colors of cut salmon. There was a dainty set of antlers crowning his head. The girl let out a soft purr. Entertainment had arrived. "Talk" "Listen" Think

Dipping beneath a low hanging branch, Hattori soon found the tallest pair of horns tangled up. His two sets of horns certainly made for nice head wear and were useful in battle but getting caught like this happened far more than he'd ever admit. With a grunt he snapped his neck to the side, outright ripping the branch from the tree so he was free to unhook the branch with a swipe of his talons. Even with that unpleasant distraction Hattori was quick to realise that he was no longer alone. He stood to attention, tall and alert, as his ears snapped forward and his nose twitched. Pinpointing the direction with impressive precision Hattori soon caught sight of the lady coming his way.

The shinobi was quick to learn that in Boreas wolves came in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes. It was a little strange at first, given that the wolves of Nippon were all so uniform in their koiness, but Hattori was nothing if not adaptable. That being said he was still somewhat taken aback by the sight of a wolf with the northern lights seemingly imprinted on her fur. Objectively speaking she was beautiful, there was no denying that, but just because he knew something to be true didn't mean he had to outwardly show it. If conversation was to be struck she'd have to make the first move.

The dashing stranger approached, but before he could get too close his little horns caught in a dangling tree branch. She watched him rip himself free with all force and no thought. She did not slow, putting herself before him a moment later. He watched her, utterly silent. Struke mute by her beauty, perhaps? Oh, poor lad. To be so beautiful, and not have the wherewithal to appreciate it.

"Oh, bless. Your all brawn and beauty aren't you, but where's the brains?" She raised her elegent neck upwards, looking at the brute across from her. Her slow smile working its way along her lips with all the patience and certainty as a sunrise. "Tell you what, love. I could knock you around a few times, and see if something sparks up there?" She was a lover and a fighter, she could knock him around any which way he pleased. She could also be merciless with her teasing, but her admiration for the man before he was a quiet appreciation. Her gentle taunts an immediate fondness. Perhaps he really was a mute? That would be a strange novelty, but she liked her lovers to have passion in their voice as well as their bodies and hearts. What kind of lover would this strange and exotic specimen be?

"Speech"

Hattori continued to wordlessly stare at her. A hint of disapproval glinted in his eyes as he wondered why on earth she deemed it appropriate to be so casual and upfront with him. Boreas was a strange place full of strange wolves indeed. Whilst it was true the people of Nippon were a little more reticent than most, none had ever just gone and openly insulted him right to his face and wearing a such pretty smile as she did so. Had he been quick of temper her words would have no doubt riled him up, gotten beneath his skin like thorns and strung him up like a puppet ready to dance to her tune. But he knew her intent, or at least he'd made an educated guess, and if she was hoping for a knee jerk reaction then she was going to be disappointed. That simply wasn't in his nature, despite the fire of his coat he didn't burn like an open flame. He simmered and roiled beneath the surface, yet still cold to the touch.

"Believe what you will. However, if you are looking to spar you need only ask."

Her laugh was as gentle as a chime of wind as she caught the disapproval in his expressive face. He really did cut an imposing figure, taller even then she was, his fine horns were a grey-silver that blended with the tones beneath his chin. The fires of his coat were captivating, and the blues were simply lovely. He held himself like a warrior, quiet and broody with a tough exterior. She wanted so badly to crack him open, and see if he was mushy on the inside.

“Well, in that case, my love, I would be delighted if you would take a moment to wrestle with me.”

She spread out her toes, sliding them slowly across the ground, making the motion delicate and petite as she stretched out her body, warming her muscles for a potential fight. She made sure to show him exactly how limber she was, as she spread her paws forward, arching her back.

“Are you warmed up, darling?”

she teased him.

"Speech"

Hattori wasn't exactly in the best of forms, given his injuries but he'd spar with her nonetheless. As crass as her words were he saw this as an opportunity to get a feel for just how bad of a slump he'd gotten into. This spar carried little weight in the grand scheme of things but he found himself invested nonetheless, would she fight as the women of Iga did? Swift, delicate but deadly on their paws? Or did she have some other tricks hidden beneath the veil of colours that were smeared across her pelt?

"Yes." Which was to say he was as lithe and limber as he could be considering the circumstances.

Without further ado he got to business. His shift in posture and mood was smooth, seemingly effortless as his muscles moved and shifted in practiced motions. With a sudden rush of speed he was on the move, head dipping low, hiding his vulnerable spots, as he aimed a slash at the air with his sets of horns. Had he carried any ill intend he would have stabbed rather than slashed, as they weren't nearly as sharp as his talons, but if the hit landed it would have at the very least drive her back.

Hattori Hanzō vs Lorikeet for spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Mutation 1: Eagle Talons - Offensive
Mutation 2: Antelope horns - Offensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Hunter
Specialty: N/A