Áskell hadn't done as well in the tournament as he had hoped but he still felt that he'd shown his potential. Now that he was over a year old he was interested in taking up a real rank in the pack, the rank of a warrior, the rank of Shujaa Hashmallim. Tipping back his head he howled for Recluse for an audience whenever she had time. Even if she felt he wasn't ready for the warriors rank he could at least ask what he needed to do to become worthy of the rank. He could feel himself following in his father's footsteps. Áskell's brother Jigsaw was already ranked and he felt a bit of embarrassment that he hadn't kept up. Well, that was going to change.

Recluse Ithuriel-Klein Much of the pack hadn't bothered to show at the festival and it wasn't exactly surprising but it didn't do much to help her feel like her pack was doing much of well... anything. But her cousin had attended, had even fought in the tournament as she had, and she herself hadn't done particularly well. That said she respected her cousin's ambition and attempts and so she would do her best not to leave him waiting when he'd called for her. Recluse would scale the mountain, cherry gaze sweeping the landscape for him, she glided towards him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she approached. She knew it hadn't been too long since his father had passed and maybe she was growing a little soft with her children, a soft spot having grown for the family that still remained and the last thing she wanted was to accidentally open that old wound. Recluse seated herself before the young man, giving him apraising eye. "Áskell," she began tone open, "what can I do for you?" "Speech"

Art by Sirinsong

Áskell fidgeted as he waited, eager to learn whether or not he'd be allowed to ascend in rank. Recluse arrived and soon it was time for Áskell to speak his mind. He swallowed his nerves and spoke. "M'am, I've been training really hard these past few seasons and I feel I'm ready for the rank of a warrior. I want to request that rank. You're welcome to test me." He was eager to prove himself, not only to Recluse and his brother but also to his father. Harbringr might not be around any more but his father had spoken of the spirit realm before and if his father could see him then we wanted to do the man proud. He was a yearling now, it was time to earn a real rank.

Recluse Ithuriel-Klein Despite all the tragedy they'd faced recently it seemed her cousin had been taking everything in stride, or at least as well as he could. Recluse nodded, a goodnatured smirk pulling at her lips. "I trust you are more than ready." She said rolling her neck and shoulders and rising to her paws, settling into a defensive crouch. "But let's see just how well you've studied." Recluse narrowed her cherry gaze, rocking on her toes, feeling the slant of the stone face under her paws. Then without warning and even if the young man wasn't ready, the pale Alpha launched forward, claws audibly scrambling on stone as the woman attempted to close the distance between herself and her cousin. Recluse tucked her head, chin covering her throat as she charged. Recluse was hoping to ram the crown of her skull into her slightly shorter cousin's face, a single paw lifting to try and slam down on his toes while she hoped he was preoccupied with her charge, a hidden knife in the form of her brutal claw covers. Recluse vs Áskell for spar Round 1/? Age: 1+ Size: Large Build: Light Offensive Battle Accessory: Badger claw gauntlets Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers Companion 1: Black-necked spitting cobra, Female - Attack Companion 2: Great Potoo, Male - Flying Disability: Light blindness - Moderate Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Juggernaut "Speech"

Art by Sirinsong

Áskell was awash in nerves and excitement as Recluse squared up to test his fighting skills. He was eager to show what he had learned but a nagging doubt made him wonder if he had learned enough to go up against his alphess. Áskell faced off against Recluse, swiftly setting his defenses and making sure his ears were pinned and his tail tucked. His shoulders rolled forward, neck scrunching back. He tensed, legs coiled and ready to move just as Recluse charged toward him. Áskell quickly shifted to his left, seeking to sprint along Recluse's right side and grab the front of her right thigh in his jaws. As he moved he felt pain along his right foreleg as Recluse's clawed gauntlet scratched his skin on its way to strike toes that were no longer there to be crushed when he stepped aside.

Áskell vs Recluse for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear claw gauntlets
Defensive Battle Accessory: Helmet
Companion 1: Eurasian magpie, Male - Flying
Companion 2: Macaque, Male - Battle
Skills: Master Intellectual & Master Fighter
Specialty: Tactician

Recluse Ithuriel-Klein Recluse tried to adjust as her cousin evaded her charge, feeling her claw covers hit flesh but otherwise, her attempts failed. She growled as she felt teeth grasp at her hindleg, the flesh just below her hips, and the woman rounded on her younger cousin. Recluse went low, her jaws parting as she tried to make a grab for Áskell's right hindleg, trying to grab just above his ankle. Meanwhile, Lilith went high, curling up along Recluse's neck and atop the alpha's head, launching herself at the younger male as he went by, fangs out though she kept her venom in check as she tried to grab for the young man's rump, hoping to grab hold of the base of his tail where it met his rump. Recluse vs Áskell for Spar Round 2/2 Age: 1+ Size: Large Build: Light Offensive Battle Accessory: Badger claw gauntlets Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers Companion 1: Black-necked spitting cobra, Female - Attack Companion 2: Great Potoo, Male - Flying Disability: Light blindness - Moderate Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Juggernaut "Speech"

Art by Sirinsong

Áskell grinned as his attack succeeded, his fangs sank into Recluse's right thigh and he immediately crouched low, seeking to pull his hindquarters in toward himself. He made sure to keep his tail tucked and readied himself for retaliation. If he were to keep this hold then he would leave parts of himself vulnerable but he wasn't ready to let go just yet. He felt a jolting pain in the back of his right thigh as Recluse's fangs found purchase. His crouching having brought his thigh in line with her attack. Áskell's first instinct was to thrash his head to worsen damage but he hesitated to do that in a spar with an ally. Instead he shifted his weight and sought to lash his right forepaw forward, seeking to wrap it behind the ankle of the leg he was biting and seeking to pull it forward to throw her off balance.

Áskell's magpie saw the snake moving and cried out to Ari. The macaque swiftly moved to intercept the snake, trying to grab it just behind the head as it leapt for the yearling.

Áskell vs Recluse for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear claw gauntlets
Defensive Battle Accessory: Helmet
Companion 1: Eurasian magpie, Male - Flying
Companion 2: Macaque, Male - Battle
Skills: Master Intellectual & Master Fighter
Specialty: Tactician

And the winner is...

Áskell

Recluse must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Recluse: Attack Roll: 13 Defense Roll: 84 Agility Roll: 24 Perception Roll: 89 Total: 210 Attack[13] + 40% Bonus[5.20]: 18.20 Defense[84] + 15% Bonus[12.60]: 96.60 Agility[24] + 5% Bonus[1.20]: 25.20 Perception[89] + 25% Bonus[22.25]: 111.25 Total[251.25] + 10% Bonus[25.12]: 276.38 Áskell: Attack Roll: 97 Defense Roll: 89 Agility Roll: 55 Perception Roll: 44 Total: 285 Attack[97] + 30% Bonus[29.10]: 126.10 Defense[89] + 10% Bonus[8.90]: 97.90 Agility[55] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 55.00 Perception[44] + 65% Bonus[28.60]: 72.60 Total[351.60] + 25% Bonus[87.90]: 439.50