Aurielle Adravendi

She padded in a circle, marking out a large space of snow and moving into the center to take a ready stance. With a raid impending, not only did she need everyone else to brush off their rust, but she was included in that requirement. It would do no good to have a well-oiled fighting force if she was the rusty cog that seized the working mechanics and lost them the raid. What leader would she be if she didn’t hold herself to the same standards? Last time she’d sparred, after all, Ulric had beaten her soundly. Clearly, motherhood had softened her edges, and she needed to sharpen them again. She’d never change having been a mother, but it was high time she worked off the complacency. The Spirit tipped her head back and howled to the pack, seeking a spar with her fellow packmates. Later on, she thought she might take a trip up to the Field for some outside practice. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

He had just returned early this morning from his small journey to the surrounding areas to get familiar with them and after sleeping for a few hours, he felt refreshed enough to venture out on the plains to look at the state of the prey in Valhalla. He was trying his best to bring in regular kills but he also did not want his efforts to begin a strain on the prey and cause a issue for the pack in the future. Perhaps it was overkill since the agreement was that he stayed for the winter to help hunt to pay off his debt but so far he enjoyed life here and he did not want to cause an issue with these kind wolves. Drachen was following a herd of mule deer that seemed to stay in the area when he heard a howl echo nearby, calling for a spar. He recognized the voice as he paused to listen and it was none other than the Spirit herself. He had not seen her since the meeting and it was due time he at least check in to see if she needed anything.

The black and tan brute turned on swift paws and loped towards the fading echos of the howl and soon enough he saw Aurielle in the middle of a circle drawn in the snow. She was already in a ready stance, waiting for a sparring partner to arrive and Drachen glanced around to see if anyone had arrived yet. It was just him and he focused his attention back to the Spirit, his long dark legs carrying him to the edge of the circle. "If you would forgive my modest abilities, I am willing to be your sparring partner." his soft spoken voice rumbled, humble in tone but a clear spark of fire flaring in his deep blue eyes. He stepped over the threshold of the circle and shifted his weight evenly over all of his paws while his head lowered to be inline with his shoulders. He gave a dip of respect with his head before he suddenly darted forward, much more graceful than one would think, only to dart slightly to Aurielle right side and aim a bite to the base of her neck where her shoulder started. His bite, should it connect, would not be hard enough to draw any blood or even bruise. Here was not here to hurt anyone but become better.

Drachen Vaekhal vs (Aurielle Adravendi) for (spar)
Round 1/?
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Red-tailed hawk, Female - Battle
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Intermediate Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

It was Drachen who answered her call, and her teeth glinted in a smile, tail waving briefly in greeting. He took the first move, and she sidestepped to her left, letting Drachen’s jaws barely graze her armor. Then she abruptly shoved off from her hind end, dropping her right shoulder slightly, and aiming to slam her right shoulder into Drachen’s gut on his left side. Her head ducked and her jaws sought to capture Drachen’s near hind leg above the hock, hoping to lock the limb behind her canines and yank the limb backward with her momentum as she sought to maintain her movement to shove past his haunches and stagger the man. Her right foreleg snapped up, weight shifting to her other three legs as she sought to hook the paw of her right foreleg around the back of Drachen’s other hind leg and trip it out from under him. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Drachen for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Medium Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Clawed leather bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Bison hide armor Companion 1: Mountain lion, Male - Battle Companion 2: Ringtailed lemur, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Long upper canines - Offensive Skills: Master Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Bard Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Damn she's quick. he thought as one moment Aurielle was there and the next she was nearly gone, his teeth scrapping along her armor allowing him no purchase of control on her neck. She allowed him no time to recoup as he saw out of the corner of his eye that she began to charge in and out of reflex, he dropped low to lower his center of gravity and a grunt escaped him when her shoulder rammed into the upper part of his ribs. He couldn't stop the low growl that instinctively thundered in his chest as he felt her long fangs start to close around his back leg and he tried to rip it from her grasp, not caring if his flesh tore.

If he managed to get his leg free, he tried to aim a kick towards her jaw, perhaps a dirty move but he was used to others not fighting fair and it was habit to do the same. Hopefully it at least caused enough of a distraction for the male to twist so that he was now facing her side and he wasted no time and barreled in, rearing up on his hind legs at the last second to wrap his dark legs around her armored neck and hopefully use his weight and forward momentum to shove the lighter woman off balance or even topple her over. His jaws parted to snap down to try and grab the back of her neck near the base of her skull to try and get extra control over her front half.

Drachen Vaekhal vs (Aurielle Adravendi) for (spar)
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Red-tailed hawk, Female - Battle
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Intermediate Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

She hit a little higher and farther forward on his side than intended, and as she snagged his leg, her ears flattened back to listen for him as he wrenched. She was close enough to feel him beginning to twist and released the leg before he could damage himself, twisting and spreading her hind legs to balance as he came at her in a rear. She met him almost head on, slightly to one side – his left – and seeking to wrap her forelegs around his torso and twist, hoping to throw him into his own momentum and slam him to the ground on his side with the twisting motion, snapping her head to one side as his teeth came for her, seeking to meet his jaws with her much more threatening set of teeth and ward him off with a snap of her jaws that threatened to catch his muzzle in them. She was pleased with his quick reflexes and willingness to fight. Should he stay in Valhalla, he would be an incredible asset to their fighting force, especially should Valhalla expand in the future. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Drachen for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Medium Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Clawed leather bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Bison hide armor Companion 1: Mountain lion, Male - Battle Companion 2: Ringtailed lemur, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Long upper canines - Offensive Skills: Master Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Bard Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

And the winner is...

AURIELLE

DRACHEN must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Drachen: Rolls: 72, 95, 2, 68 Adjusted rolls: 90, 99.75, 2, 68 Total: 259.75 Aurielle: Rolls: 2, 72, 80, 68 Adjusted rolls: 3, 79.2, 80, 85 Total: 309.00

They clashed together, black, tan and white fur mixing for a moment as their forelimbs wrapped around each other's shoulders. Still Aurielle was faster than him and her armor was slick enough that he could not get away real grip on her, it was frustrating but not enough for him to loose his head over. Drachen saw a flash of her elongated fangs coming towards his face and instinctively he jerked back, his muzzle feeling the sting as her teeth grazed his skin. He tried to shift his upper half to get a better grasp and strike again but the woman was crafty and twisted her torso in a way that used his forward momentum against him and he felt gravity take over. The male tucked his chin to his chest to keep himself from getting whiplash from the rough landing he knew was coming a second later. The snow provided little comfort as he landed hard on his side but thankfully, either by sheer luck, or the Spirit's remarkable forethought, he landed on his good side and not the ribs that were almost completely healed.

The jarring of hitting the ground was never a pleasant sensation but he was quick to get back to his dark paws, but he knew when he was bested and the male stepped back out of the circle and dipped his head with his eyes to the ground in submission of the fight. He lifted his head up again a moment later and beamed a smile at the Spirit and rumbled in his hushed tones "Thank you for the spar, Spirit. I have much to work on. Hopefully I have not shamed myself too bad." a deep chuckle of amusement dancing in his black freckled chest. Perhaps another male would have had a bruised ego at being bested but Drachen took no offense and would use this event as a way to review and better himself.

Aurielle Adravendi

The spar ended with the man sailing to the ground, and once he submitted, Aurielle stepped back, answering his smile with a grin. “I think you fought well. You think quickly on your paws.” She stretched and stepped from the circle with a flick of her tail, head tipping in an invitation to walk. “Cairo tells me you and he had a good hunt the other day. That was a good catch.” She padded along, eyes scanning the plains with a faint smile as she let the man take up the conversation if he wished. Cairo had been pleased with the man’s initiative to call for a hunting partner, and she found it pleasing that the male seemed eager, or at least willing, to spar and work on his skills. He didn’t seem hotheaded or egotistical, but there was a sense that he would rise if asked. Of course, in the long run, he might not stay in Valhalla, but she could see the pack benefiting from his steady work ethic. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Drachen dipped his head in a silent thanks at Aurielle's compliment and then accepted her invitation to walk by falling into step with the Spirit. He turned his head to look at her when she mentioned Cairo and their hunt and the corner of Drachen's lip curled up in a fond smile. "Yes, he is a fine hunter. I'll be glad to hunt with him anytime." the Vaekhal male replied. It was a nice change to the hunting partners he usually was assigned to back in the Kingdom. Silence then passed between them for a moment, the soft padding of their paws in the snowy ground was comforting and felt like home, the fondness that he already had for Valhalla was surprising to him. He couldn't help but think he would be sad to leave it after his debt had been paid and the Spirit asked him to leave. He flicked his tan tipped tail as he brushed away those thoughts and deciding he would not dwell on it until the time came. For now he had a job to do and a den to sleep in, that was all he needed and was grateful for.

"I am grateful for you taking me in during winter, I have truly enjoyed living here. It is much different from where I come from. It is a nice change." Drachen rumbled softly, breaking the silence as his oceanic blue eyes scanned fondly over the plains. Other than missing his mother and his best friend, Drachen did not miss his previous life and did not feel guilty for not trying to return. He knew his mother and his friend would be ok and would live long, his father's love for them was the only good thing about the man. No matter what happened when spring came, whether he was asked to stay here in Valhalla for told to move on, Drachen's eyes were on the future and on what he could built and make the life he wanted for himself.

Aurielle Adravendi

She smiled as they walked, nodding in agreement at his assessment of Cairo. “He’s worked hard to rise, yet it’s never once been for his own benefit. Always for others. I’m proud of him. And I’m sure his mother is so very proud of him, may her soul be safe in Somnium.” She missed Gwen, with her steady calm and logical mind. The woman had given so much to the pack in her time with Celestial. She only wished Gwen could have lasted long enough to see Valhalla’s rise from Celestial’s nest. It had been a long time coming for Valhalla to regain its rightful, true name, to bring past and future full circle. Her eyes trailed over the lands, and at Drachen’s words, she smiled at him. “There is much history here. Save for a couple of years or so, my family has been here since the Great Exodus of Alacritia. It’s a long tale, but I may tell it at the next Story Time.” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

His praise for the Sentinel seemed to please the Spirit, the maned woman even adding that Cairo worked for the benefit of the pack and not for himself. Drachen could see that, even in the little time he had met the man, the Sentinel seemed to have a good heart and Drachen knew he would not mind hunting along side Cairo again. Drachen's dark ear flicked as Aurielle mentioned a name of a place but from her words it obviously was not a place for the living. "Somnium..." he whispered under his breath. His birthpack never had a place for the souls of the dead to rest, in the Kingdom you were simply gone and just your name lived on, only if that wolf's name was worth speaking. For some reason the thought of having a place for the souls of family and friends brought some comfort to him.

The black and tan male's interest only peeked further when Aurielle mentioned that her family had been a part of this land for a long time. Drachen's oceanic blue eyes flicked to rest on the woman, his gaze gleaming with the thirst of knowledge. "When that time comes, I will most certainly be amongst the crowd." his deep and calmed voice rumbled. Long ago when his Father still held him in high regard, the man nearly beat into the importance of history and the lessons that could be learned from it. And even though his Father was heavy handed in his methods of teaching, Drachen loved to study the past Empires. "How long has Valhalla been settled here?" he asked curiously, his pace slowing slightly as he waited for the Spirit's answer eagerly.

Aurielle Adravendi

She smiled amiably as Drachen remarked that he’d be at the next Story Time, and at his question, her own pace slowed as she considered, thinking. “For the pack you reside in now, it’s been ten years since my grandmother Surreal revived Valhalla under the name of Celestial. I changed the name back to Valhalla when I was a yearling.” Her head tilted in thought, steps measured and almost delicate as she considered further. “When Cairo, Valhalla’s founder and the Patriarch of the Adravendi family, led the Old Valhalla to these lands when the Old Lands suffered a catastrophic eruption, my great grandmother, Erani, was five, almost six, I believe. She was never Adravendi by blood, but Cairo the first— our Cairo’s great grandfather – gave her his surname not long before his death, as well as his confession of love... And her descendants carry it with honor. She passed at ten or eleven, about a year after she was bested in a challenge. She was elderly by the time she was Valhalla’s Queen… It really is a long story, and interesting.” She chuckled, head shaking. “In total, Valhalla has owned these lands for maybe fourteen years, give or take. The pack that squatted here after that challenge was vanquished after a year or so of occupancy. I could be off on my estimate, though...” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think