The steady throb of her own heart... Nirvana was grateful for it. Comforted by it. She needed it. It was her mother's blood that ran hot in her veins, after all. It was her heart that kept it going. Yes, she'd rely on it. She could rely on that to tie her to her family... to tie the pieces of herself together. All Nirvana truly needed was herself. Though she loved her family, she wouldn't burden them. She wouldn't let herself rely on them. Especially with the pups... Avacyn and Saracyn, Alastor said they'd been named. Nirvana was even more hesitant to return to her family knowing that they'd been born. She couldn't be another mouth to feed for them. Until her skills were sharper, she'd just be a rank and file member of their military forces. Nirvana couldn't have that either. No, until she could really make something of herself, she didn't want to return to them. Still, she didn't want to go too far yet either. There was comfort in knowing that her family was nearby. It was nice to know, truly. They'd always been so good to her... Nirvana wanted to be good to them in the same way. A war inside her head. If they had to care about her, she was a burden. She was taking up space in their lives, and what did the stormy girl have to offer in return? Nothing. It felt like a hell of a lot of nothing. Nirvana's heart ached as she thought about it. The girl drew to the lake, peering out over it, and on to the rock garden. It was pretty here. It was nice here. Maybe that was why it suited them so well. She did her best not to scowl as she took the place in. Still... scowling is easier. Maybe she had to look unapproachable to get by. Still on fairly high alert, the girl dipped her muzzle to take a long drink of the cool water in the lake. High in the sky, the midmorning sun shone around her shoulders. At least the scenery was decent.

Hunger itched at the back of her throat as she waded through the itchy grass. Overhead, the sun flicked at her spine, warming her thick fur that wasn't suited for this type of environment. Hot, sweaty, and perhaps slightly grumpy, Tenshi wandered closer to the sound of trickling water. Light splashes of water bubbled along the surface from fish jumping to catch bugs. Quietly, her stomach rumbled and she couldn't resist anymore. Turning her paws to move her toward the lake's edge, Tenshi broke from the brush to lean down and take a sip. Lapping up the cool water satiated her thirst, but the hunger still edged on her. There surely wouldn't be anything good nearby. Contemplating her options as she lifted her piercing gaze, the woman noticed a darker shaded wolf also taking a drink nearby. An idea popped into her head. Maybe the girl would like to go for a spar. Not that it would solve her hunger problem, but she was itching to get her muscles moving. A nice warmup would do her body good. Taking a few steps closer to the other female, Tenshi's bold but calm stare lingered on the stranger. "Do you fight?" She asked in her thickly accented voice.

She wasn't alone out here. No, it was silly to think that she would have been. There were so many coming and going from this place, it was unreasonable of Nirvana to expect that she would have the lake to herself. Not that she needed to keep the lake to herself. No. A silly thought. Preposterous, even. It seemed that the woman, standing tall as she did, wearing antlers, wasn't much of a threat. She didn't seem to be upset with Nirvana's presence-- not like Nirvana would have needed to care if she had, but still. The afternoon would pass without incident, and she could stay well enough clear. Avoiding social interactions... check. Avoid them until, at last, the woman spoke. An accent colored her words, and it leaves Nirvana quirking her head ever so slightly to the side. Do you fight? It was an odd question. Still, Nirvana found herself readying nearly subconsciously. She'd set her posture as always, light on her feet. Light, much lighter than the woman that had addressed her. While most in her situation would prefer a flight option when push came to shove, Nirvana wasn't most. By all that the universe had to offer, she'd never been most. Her gaze is sharp as she takes the woman in. "Of course I fight." As if it had been a silly question. Energy courses beneath the surface, a current that runs as her heart throbs in her chest. Nirvana is electric, alive. "Why?" Her tone is a bit more accusatory in nature now, eyes narrowing. Why did the stranger want to know? Was she looking for a fight? Nirvana sized her up, confident in her abilities. If push came to shove, yes, she could take her.

Her eyes watch as the stranger sees her and Tenshi knows she's probably invading the girl's space. It doesn't bother her any as fear isn't an emotion she feels often. She can tell in the tone of the girl that she questions why she had asked. Tenshi doesn't blame her but takes a few steps forward anyway. Muscles coiling as adrenaline began to seep into her body, she lets her head tilt gently to the side and lower a few inches. "No reason," the titan comments, her breath husky and quiet as she comes to a standstill a few feet away. Paws sink slightly into the muck along the shore as her tail lifts over her haunches. "I need some practice. So if you're up for a spar, I would be happy to oblige," her voice is still a husky low tone as she braces her legs in a sturdy stance. If the girl accepted, she would be ready at a moment's notice. If the girl didn't, well she could be on her way.

The lake was a bit... weird. Nirvana is curious, finding it a bit quieter than maybe something like this should be. Shouldn't there be more activity around an area of fresh water like this? She doesn't get it. Granted... does she need to? Does she need to get it? Whatever. Her attention was split between the woman, with her little antlers and blue eyes, and the lake itself. She wanted to know more, but she also doesn't care. Right... does she care? Does she have to? It would be a nice enough place to tuck herself away for a little while, but it was close enough for her to return to her family if she wanted to. The question of what to do about her family... right. Nirvana would trouble herself with that in time, and in time only.

The woman came closer. Her hackles rose about her shoulders and back. Gaze sharp on the stranger. No reason, but she was only a few feet away. Close. Too close for a stranger. Nirvana was being challenged, and she wouldn't stand down. No, she couldn't stand down. Instead, she drew to her full height, making direct eye contact with the stranger. She was being challenged, and she'd been challenged in as many words... directly. A smile cracked Nirvana's face, one that was mostly teeth. Her neck arched, and her claws dug into the soft earth below. A spar, sure. Nirvana could spar. She'd be happy to spar.

"Alright then. Let's go." A grin that stretched all the way to her eyes. She was smiling. It was rakish. Nirvana was always ready for a fight.

"Nirvana"

Nirvana vs Tenshi for spar
Round 0/?
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Punch dagger gauntlets
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Navigator

She could see the unsettled sense of the other female. The way her hackles rose along her back and the uncertainty in her eyes. Tenshi would perhaps take it easy on the girl, there was no reason to be brutish with the stranger. Just a friendly spar to pass the time. Her own devious smile flitted across her slated lips as the unknown girl accepted her challenge. They could exchange names later if it came to be that way. Rolling her shoulders back as her ears laid back around her horns, Tenshi readied herself. No words would be needed as her large paws moved across the mud to approach the smaller opponent. As the distance closed around them, Tenshi kept her movements languid. Ease and calm radiated over her form as she reached out. Pushing her right shoulder forward to aim at the girl's left, Tenshi curled her neck around in an attempt to latch onto the girl's scruff. Being bulkier than most, it would be easier for her to stay in close quarters. While her paws slid in the muck to keep purchase, Tenshi let a low rumble rise in her throat. Tenshi vs Nirvana for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Dire wolf Build: Heavy Offensive Battle Accessory: Shuriken Defensive Battle Accessory: Studded sholder pads Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle Companion 2: White Egret, Male - Flying *Companion 3: Snow leopard, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Antlers - Offensive Mutation 2: Thick skin - Defensive Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Novice Healer