Though she didn't know of any raids on the near horizon, Kaija still wanted to be raid-ready for whatever would come next. And there really wasn't any better way to practice fighting than to tussle with a random opponent, was there? Sure, she could fight against her fellow raiders, but fighting someone she didn't know a damn thing about would be a lot better practice for fights against actual opponents, in a fight where there were actual tangible things on the line. That way she didn't know shit about 'em, couldn't even begin to predict how they might attack or react. A stranger was exactly what she needed.

She'd felt a whole lot better about the prospect of a practice fight before she took the swim over to the mainlands, from the islands that made up the Raiders Hollow packlands. It hadn't been a terrible swim and the weather hadn't been all that bad, but the winds were picking up and making it impossible to fully dry off. Gross. Kaija fought a strong shiver that threatened to wrack her body, feeling the way her teeth were beginning to chatter together as another gust of wind whipped through her. It was strong enough that she swore she felt herself sway a little, not quite enough to topple her over but still, it was surprisingly strong. Okay, maybe trying to fight in these conditions wasn't a great idea, but getting her blood pumping would at least warm her up. Right? Sure. Circling a cluster of white-barked trees, she finally lifted her head to the sky and let loose a call for someone to come spar her.

Words: 274

The world was so incredibly vast, and Raka was determined to explore it in its entirety. She wanted to know every land, she wanted to know the story behind every land. Were battles fought here? Had a pack once called it home? She had so many questions, and so little company to answer them.

This was her first time in the strange, eerie territory of Alabastrine shrine. But she was having a difficult time really exploring the territory. A strong wind had started to pick up, and bits of earth and twigs were tossed around. She was worried about losing the precious gems that she kept dandling on her antlers. He strengthened their knots with a little more twine, and had just finished tying that when a howl went out across the territory.

She tilted her head to the side, and grinned as she listened to the call. Someone wanted a fighter? She wasn’t well practised, but she knew the basics. Besides, perhaps she could throw in a little trade. Her smile bright across her sunny muzzle, she trotted in the direction of the stranger.

She found the tusked wolf, and nodded her head towards them. “Hello! I’m Raka, I'll spar you” She offered warmly. She stepped closer, feeling the wind rush over her body. “But it might cost you” She teased lightly.

Total W/C: 503

"Words"

Fortunately for her, Kaija wasn't left waiting long before someone answered her call. Rad, because she wasn't going to keep warm just lingering in these windy conditions, and these skinny little skeleton trees did little to keep her warm. She fought a shiver as the yearling came into view, giving her a friendly enough grin. She wasn't sure anyone would be crazy enough to want to spar in these conditions but she was glad to have found someone and she wasn't about to scare them off, not when she had a goal in min.

"Hey. Kaija," she introduced herself quickly, nodding as she took in Raka's appearance. She sure was pretty, but way too young for Kaija. Her horns stood out, not just because they were there but the way she had seemingly adorned them, adorned with bangles and gems. Pretty. And maybe painful, depending on if she knew how to utilize them in a fight. "Sure. I don't have much to offer though," she admitted, giving a little gesture as if to show she was lacking in material belongings. Unless maybe she didn't mean anything physical? Practically shivering now, another gust of wind caught her off guard and she braced herself against her, shifting her weight into a more defensive position as if she was waiting for the other girl to strike at any moment.

Words: 226
Total: 729

Karka didn’t mind the wind, not really. At least not for this. There had been nights when the wind howled through the trees with an intensity that never seemed to let up, and her den for the night barely covered her from its might. But during the day, and with company, she could manage it. And hey, a spar would warm her up, too! This was Raka’s first time sparring with a stranger, and she took a moment to let her paws fall into - what she hoped - was the right posture. Well, she’d find out soon enough. She continued to smile at the wolf in front of her. Noting the interesting tusks protruding from her lip, and the beautiful tone of her amethyst eyes. “I’m Karaka, but you can call me Raka” she returned the introduction. “Oh!” Raka said, her smile growing as Kaija showed a lack of belongings. Raka could understand that all too well. She only had what she could carry these days, and that wasn’t much. “Would you trade your story? Or - we could make it a little more interesting. If you win, you tell me a story, and if I win, I'll tell you one?” She suggested. She saw the way the other wolf was shivering, and knew that they both needed to warm up. This hammering wind made talking difficult anyway. Saving her voice, she gave a little pre-fight bow, and then charged at Kaija, lowering her head a second time. This time, to put her horns between herself and the other wolf. Total = 993 Karaka vs Kaija for Spar Round 1/? Age: Over one Size: Extra large Build: Light Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Navigator "Speech"

Kaija was eager to get her blood pumping, though she worried the stranger might back down at her admission she didn't have anything to offer in return. She moved to mirror Raka's posture, settling into a more defensive position at the impending prospect of a fight. Thankfully the other girl spoke up and expressed she'd be interested in a story, and Kaija nodded. Sure, stories were something she definitely had a few of. "So winner gets to tell a story? Sounds good to me," she agreed easily. Honestly at this point she'd probably agree to just about anything to get consent to start. She was cold and ready to get moving, whether in a fight or otherwise.

Her gaze followed Raka as she bowed her head, though she had to squint against the blistering wind to really see her, stiffening her posture a bit and lowering her own head as the yearling charged her. Not wanting to get impaled with her horns - were they even sharp enough for all that? Kaija had no idea, and she didn't want to find out - she tried to duck her head low. Being slammed with them on the top of her head, or even in her shoulders, would hurt less than them ramming into her face or neck.

However she managed to collide, Kaija would aim to jerk upright when she did, hoping to heave her weight into Karaka's and hopefully upset her balance. All of this was complicated by the cold - she swore her toes were going numb at this point, making it harder to properly feel where she was on the ground, though she hoped the other female was suffering the same complication.

Kaija vs Karaka for Spar (winner tells a story!)
Round 1 / 2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Tusks - Offensive
Skills: Expert Navigator & Expert Fighter

Raka’s expression broke out into an excited grin at the other wolf’s agreement. Now she was definitely invested! Her initial attack was to charge at Kaija, and while her horns weren’t designed to be forward facing, they were a solid piece of ivory on her forehead. She didn’t know much about fighting yet - but even she could see the benefit of leading with them. The wind howled in her ears, cutting off much of the battle. She couldn’t hear any movement from the other wolf - if she was repositioning her legs, or so on. It also threw up an annoying amount of debris, and she found she had to keep her eyes squinted for fear of anything impending her vision. As she reached her opponent, the other wolf ducked, and Raka’s horns connected with the other wolf's upper shoulder. At the same moment, Kaija threw her weight upwards, upsetting Raka’s balance. As she struggled to compensate, she turned her head violently to the side, hoping to catch Kaija with the edge of one of her horns. Total: 1450 Karaka vs Kaija for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over one Size: Extra large Build: Light Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Navigator "Speech"

Okay, so maybe this wasn't going to be a real cutthroat kinda fight, not the sort she was really preparing for, but hopefully it'd prove challenging anyway. Kaija wasn't sure she'd fought anyone with big horns like that before, so that alone was something different for her. She especially didn't know if those things would hurt, but she found out quick enough when they collided with her shoulders hard that they did, but in a blunt-force-trauma sort of way, not a stabby impaling kinda way.

It wasn't even the fight itself that was so bothersome, but the wind that refused to let up. It assaulted her from all sides, making it hard to even keep her eyes open as she fought against it, making it hard to hear or even think, really. But she tried her hardest anyway, pushing up hard into her and hoping to disrupt her balance. And she did - for a second, before the other woman twisted her head around, catching the side of her neck with one of her horns. Kaija had already been struggling to keep her balance but this only worsened it, and she felt herself beginning to fumble as she tried to untangle herself from Raka's grasp. Without much to grasp before, she tried to pull herself even further down, ignoring how cold the ground was, hoping she could find a way to grab hold of one of Raka's legs somehow in the struggle.

Kaija vs Karaka for Spar (winner tells a story!)
Round 2 / 2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Tusks - Offensive
Skills: Expert Navigator & Expert Fighter

And the winner is...

Kaija

Karaka must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Karaka Attack Roll: 97 Defense Roll: 76 Agility Roll: 8 Perception Roll: 83 Total: 264 Attack[97] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 97.00 Defense[76] + 5% Bonus[3.80]: 79.80 Agility[8] + 15% Bonus[1.20]: 9.20 Perception[83] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 83.00 Total[269.00] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 269.00 Kaija: Attack Roll: 11 Defense Roll: 100 Agility Roll: 10 Perception Roll: 96 Total: 217 Attack[11] + 10% Bonus[1.10]: 12.10 Defense[100] + 10% Bonus[10.00]: 110.00 Agility[10] + 20% Bonus[2.00]: 12.00 Perception[96] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 96.00 Total[230.10] + 20% Bonus[46.02]: 276.12

Somehow, in the friendly struggle, Kaija managed to best Karaka. The grip she'd had on her leg seemed to hold strong as she brought her down to the ground, and once it was clear she was the victor she let out a little celebratory cheer. The fight had been all in good fun, of course, but that didn't mean winning didn't bolster her ego just a bit. Especially in these windy, weird conditions they'd found themselves in.

"That was good," she said, fighting to catch her breath as she pulled herself upright and gave her coat a solid shake. She hoped Karaka could even hear her often the wind that whipped and roared around them. She was grinning broadly toward the younger female, hoping she'd gotten as much out of the fight as Kaija had, despite losing and despite being cold as shit.. "Thanks for the practice. I owe you a story, but maybe we can find shelter first?" Her voice was raised, practically a shout as she searched around them for suitable shelter.