By the time she arrived at the battlefield it was snowing good and proper. Perhaps if she was one ounce less stubborn, she might have turned around and gone home. It was hardly optimal conditions for a spar. But then, she could never guarantee that the conditions she would be fighting in were good ones. What better way to learn? She had a long way to go if she wanted to be a worthy fighter for Elysium.

She jogged on the spot for a moment, warming up her limbs. She grimaced at the icy wind that bit into her coat, and took in a breath of cool air. She could do this. Once a fight was going, she’d be too distracted to think of the cold. She raised her head and called out. Looking to see who else was dumb enough to be out in the battefield during a light snowfall.

Wc: 151
total 151/1500

"Naráca Mendacium"

The snow was coming down hard.

Wren could barely see through the slight blizzard, squinting her blue depths at the world around her. It seemed like months when it was only barely the season starting... Coming to the land, that is. She approached the Battlefield with the intent to spar in a friendly manner. She had no interest in petty squabbles.

A young woman around her age (if she had to guess) was there already. Wren lifted her head to call out a greeting before approaching. In this snowfall, it was just polite to do. Who knew if the woman could see her? She didn't want it to be a surprise or anything. "You called?" she asked "I'll spar with you."

Wren tucked her chin to make sure she was at least defensive, squaring her shoulders and curling her tail. She gave a curt nod to the red hued woman to begin.

"Speech"
152 WC / 303 WC total

A voice called out in response to her howl, but closer than she anticipated. She looked through the falling snow, and found the reddish toned wolf with piercing blue eyes. She grinned at the stranger. Surprised and pleased that she had found a sparring partner so easily. In preparation for the spar, she had already pulled on her leather calf coverings. The supple leather also helped to keep the snow off that section of her coat. No doubt she would need to carefully dry them after this so they didn’t start to crack.

As for her elegant kudu horns - she had carefully pulled her wrapping overs them. The spikey material was a good deterrent for any that might think to grab her horns in a bite and control her motions that way. She was as prepared as she would ever be, though a companion might have been a good aid on the field. Another set of eyes in the snow and wind. But alas, she was yet to bond with one.

She thought over her preparations as the other wolf came more clearly out of the snow. She was a few inches shorter than Ara, and seemed amicable. Ara was pleased that she had so easily found an opponent. She took a moment to see which way the wind was blowing. It seemed almost chaotic, like the snow was blowing from every direction. After a moment, she got a feel for it. She shifted her paw gently in the snow, and knew she would need to watch out for any hidden pockets beneath her. The last thing she would need is to put her foot wrong at just the right moment to cost her the fight. Alright, she was ready. She looked up at Wren, having missed her curt nod. “Thank you, sparring with you should be fun” she said with an easy grin. “Ready?”


Wc: 319
total 622/1500

"Naráca Mendacium"

"I'm ready."

It was clear she was. With her tail and chin tucked, Wren had prepared herself for the woman's attack. But none came. Instead, the reddish one would prepare her accessories and such. The brunette lifted her head to the sky, calling for Euryale. The peregrine falcon shrieked once against the oncoming blizzard before landing on her shoulder.

Its beady eyes stared openly at the other wolf. "If you're going to use items, I'll use her" Wren began courteously "if that's not okay, I'll call her off any time." It was a vow she intended to keep, being upfront as possible with sparring partners. The falcon called out one final time before lifting itself into the air. Euryale would survey from above. The fight was now. Here and now.

The brunette charged. She aimed a controlled bite at the woman's left front, below the neckline. There was no need for any bloodshed. Euryale dove suddenly, trying to distract the reddish woman with her presence. The falcon beat her wings furiously in front of the other's face just as Wren struck. This would be a good test to see how well they worked together too.

Around them, the blizzard began to pick up again. Wren squinted her eyes against the festering snow, trying not to miss at critical points. The sheet of ice below their paws would be tricky to work around too. Fuck, why did she think this was a good idea?

"Speech"
243 WC / Total 865

Wren vs Naraca for SPAR
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Peregrine falcon, Female - Battle
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Expert Hunter

Ara nodded, her attention fully on Wren now. A friendly smile still on her maw, but it sharpened a little with concentration and combat readiness. As the tawny wolf raised her head to the sky, Ara would follow her line of sight, and see the falcon. She let out a soft, interested noise. Hmm, she had just been thinking about companions, as well. “That’s fair. She’s gorgeous, by the way” Ara would add, her eyes slinking back to Wren’s striking eyes, and she smirked. It was clear she thought the bird wasn’t the only pretty thing. But there was no time for any further flirtations, no matter how pretty her opponent.

Then the battle would begin in earnest. The marginally smaller wolf closed the gap between them. Coming in hot towards Ara. the bird dove at her, and Ara snarled at the creature, showing her pearly whites as she ducked her head. Trying to bat the bird away with her curved antlers.

It was a good thing she did, as Wren’s first attack went towards her neck. She lowered her head a little more in an attempt to fend off Wren's attack towards her neck. She also raised a paw. Trying not to slide in the snow as she did. Rolling her weight to her back legs to support herself as she attempted to swipe at Wren’s right foreleg. Hoping the other wolf's forward momentum would help to unbalance her.

Wc: 242
total 1107/1500

Naráca vs Wren for Spar
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spikey horn wrappings
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather calf coverings
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Advanced Hunter

"Naráca Mendacium"

Despite having only known Euryale a brief moment, Wren could tell the falcon was eager and loyal. It shrieked in protest to the woman's snarl, beating wings and backing off just as its mistress made contact. The distraction wasn't enough to completely shrug off the other, but Wren felt her teeth briefly touch fur before a swipe was given to her.

Wren had momentum and a split second to decide. The woman was larger than her, so she ducked down to try and avoid the swipe. With her neck uncomfortably tucked for a second or two, she bounced back. Her neck expanded and she growled, trying to cling to the bottom of the other's throat. It was a gentle hold, as this was a spar, so it would be easy to dislodge.

Still, Wren felt the fur again against her teeth. This was only the second round too, and it was already heating up. A good spar, all in all. Even if she lost in the end, she had no regrets about it. She didn't raise any paws or balance on her back legs. Her balance was nearly perfect; she wouldn't be shifted so easily! Or so she thought, anyway.

"Speech"
200 WC / Total 1307

Wren vs Naraca for SPAR
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Peregrine falcon, Female - Battle
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Expert Hunter

Her opponent ducked down, avoiding her swipe, and brought herself right under her lowered antlers. It surprised Ara how easily she avoided the long, sharp horns as her opponent managed to latch her teeth against her throat. She felt teeth nick skin, and she bared her own teeth, grinning at her opponent. “Like the taste?” she whispered huskily before attempting to bring her own teeth down near the other wolf's eyes. If she could manage it, she’d just give Wren a little love-bite above her eye.

As she did so, she kept her weight to the back of her body and attempted to bring a paw up and behind Wren’s, attempting to swipe the other’s paw out from under her. Still attempting to dislodge the others' balance in the tricky snow. She could feel her warm paws melting snow beneath her, and wondered if they’d be in slick and sludge before they knew it.

Wc: 156
total 1463/1500

Naráca vs Wren for Spar
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spikey horn wrappings
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather calf coverings
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Advanced Hunter

"Naráca Mendacium"

Too focused on the battle, Wren let the comment slide. Her eyes were already squinted due to snow and for protection, so she let the bite be. There was a heavy presence there, and a subtle annoyance... but no blood had been drawn. Directly below the woman's throat now, she lashed out in an attempt to headbutt the breath out of her.

It was a singular moment; if it worked or not, she recoiled her skull back to where it had come from. The snow was turning to slush; it'd be easy to get unbalanced. The reddish wolf seemed to know this, for she tried to swipe Wren's paws from under her. She quickly tried to shift weight to her front, slamming into the snow and earth. Trying not to be dislodged.

Wren dropped her jaws and snapped at the reddish wolf's paw. She aimed to grab it and pull.

"Speech"
150 WC / Total 1500+

Wren vs Naraca for SPAR
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Peregrine falcon, Female - Battle
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Expert Hunter

Ara gave a husky laugh, enjoying herself as her teeth found purchase just above Wren’s eyes. She pinched the skin and released, not going for anything more dangerous. It was for that reason she hadn’t attempted to go anywhere near the other wolf's actual eye.

Wren lashed out, but without giving her more room she wasn’t able to get enough momentum to do much to Ara. As the Mendacium woman lashed out at her opponent's paw she felt the other wolf shift her weight. Ara’s attack scrabbled at the back of Wren’s leg without dislodging her, and Wren lowered her head. Perhaps trying to dissuade the swipe. As Wren did so, Ara tucked her own chin and lowered her head as much as she could, attempting to get her antlers in between them. If she could press them against the back of the other wolf neck she could try and hold her down with the sharp points of them.

1500+

Naráca vs Wren for Spar
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spikey horn wrappings
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather calf coverings
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Advanced Hunter

"Naráca Mendacium"

And the winner is...

NARACA

WREN must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Wren: Attack Roll: 14 Defense Roll: 34 Agility Roll: 63 Perception Roll: 95 Total: 206 Attack[14] + 35% Bonus[4.90]: 18.90 Defense[34] + 5% Bonus[1.70]: 35.70 Agility[63] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 63.00 Perception[95] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 95.00 Total[212.60] + 10% Bonus[21.26]: 233.86 Naraca: Attack Roll: 32 Defense Roll: 33 Agility Roll: 95 Perception Roll: 56 Total: 216 Attack[32] + 35% Bonus[11.20]: 43.20 Defense[33] + 15% Bonus[4.95]: 37.95 Agility[95] + 5% Bonus[4.75]: 99.75 Perception[56] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 56.00 Total[236.90] + 10% Bonus[23.69]: 260.59

It was close, but!

She won. Wren lost. She admitted the defeat with dignity; stomping and snarling would do nobody good. "I submit" she said, pulling away from the woman to lick her wounds mentally. Another loss? Was she that out of focus, or was she just out of shape? The brunette called her falcon. Euryale landed on her back, wings buffering against the wind.

"Take cover fast" Wren knew that Naraca wasn't stupid, but it was a polite reminder "this'll be a bad storm. See ya!" She turned and began to head off, picking up a slow pace that threatened to burst. She had to get back North to her pack, but she'd have to stop along the way for shelter. /end

"Speech"