As promised, Sirius would take Vanta up on the challenge of a spar. After giving her a day to settle in and reunite with her siblings, he would take himself down to the beach. It was almost tradition to take a challenge here. It had been the chosen grounds of the packs first land to fight on the beach, and he enjoyed the feel of the sand beneath his paws. 

He stretched out his toes, digging them in before tilting his head back to enjoy the warmth of the day. He wondered if Zee was watching, even now.

He took in a deep breath, and he howled for his daughter to join him. He was curious to see what she had learnt in her time away.

Vanta approached the beach, a messy mix of anticipation, determination, and nerves. The sand beneath her paws was a familiar sensation, yet today it felt different below her paws. Like the beach itself was charged with significance. Her father stood a formidable figure against the backdrop of the sea, his presence as commanding as the ocean itself. She paused for a moment, studying him. How did she ever think she had a chance against the Warlord? Drawing a deep breath, Vanta stepped forward, her crystalline eyes focused and alert. "Father." She greeted him, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest. "Thank you for this opportunity." She bowed her head slightly, a gesture of respect for the man before her - acknowledging him as not just her father, but as an alpha. Getting into the right headspace to take this spar seriously mattered to her. If she could best Sirius, she could best anyone. Right? "Speech"

He smiled at his daughter as the green and crystalline wolf made her way to the beach, and to her place before him. It settled something inside of him to have her home, to know that she was okay. He knew it was a temporary thing, but even then, just knowing that she was okay…

“Of course, I wouldn’t deny you kids anything” He said, a hint of teasing in his tone. Before he let himself move into position. His body sliding into his defences, which were as familiar to him as breathing. He ignored the aches, both old and new. Pushing them aside as he reached a certain state of mind. Calm rolling over his features, and when he looked at Vanta, it was as her opponent. As the Warlord of the Armada “Make your move, Vanta” He ordered her


"Speech"

As Vanta watched him shift into position, every trace of the father she knew seemed to dissolve. When he'd finished setting his defenses, it was as if he'd been entirely replaced. The Warlord of the Armada stood before her now; a warrior whose reputation was etched into world. Taking a deep breath, Vanta readied her own self. This was more than a mere spar; today she would measure the wolf she had become. She eyed her father, assessing his defenses, looking for an opening if there was one to be found. His impenetrable defenses were another stark reminder of the skill and experience she was up against. He gave the command to begin, and she did not hesitate. Vanta lunged. While the two wolves were the same height, their builds made them each suited for a different fighting style. Her father had always been a powerful man, terrifying to fight in close quarters. Vanta, inheriting the agility and lithe frame of her mother, was built for speed. Her first attack was a feint, an attempt to gauge his reaction and test his defenses. Then, she could adapt her strategy accordingly. Vântoase vs Sirius for Spar Round 1/? Age: over 1 year Size: Dire wolf Build: Light Offensive Battle Accessory: Hidden crystalline blade Defensive Battle Accessory: Black leather bracers Companion 1: Channel-billed toucan, Male - Battle - Boosted Companion 2: Bush Viper, Female - Battle Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive Mutation 2: Crystalline saber fangs - Offensive Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter Specialty: Bloodletter "Speech"

The Warlord held his defences, feeling the limber strength of his body. He knew there would be a time when even this left him. But until then, he let his paws spread beneath him. His claws digging into the sand, extended for extra traction. His tail swept like a banner behind him, his knees held at a slight bend, and his eyes narrowed. Prepared for dirty tricks, like sand in his face.

When Vanta came at him, it was in light paws and without commitment. She didn't enter the sphere of his absolute reach, so he did not try. He would not compromise his balance easy against this quicker opponent. 

Sirius vs Vanta for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Spectacled bear, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Fangs - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

Her father did not fall for her feint, holding his ground firm and doing a great job of making Vanta feel particularly unthreatening. She snarled, her crystalline hackles raising, hoping he could not see the nervousness behind her eyes. This fight mattered. If she could not best her father, how could she ever hope to take a pack by force?

Steeling herself for another strike - a real one this time - she began to circle. Finding an opening on the Warlord was near impossible, so perhaps she'd need to exploit his weaknesses instead. The only weakness she could think of, however, was his age. Did he move slower now? Vanta hadn't paid enough attention to know.

She'd have to stop circling eventually.

Vanta uncoiled like a spring, shooting forward with commitment this time. She aimed to move alongside Sirius' left rather then to come at him head on, hoping that if she were fast enough, she could grab the man's stifle in her jaws.

Vântoase vs Sirius for Spar
Round 2/2
Age:  over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Hidden crystalline blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Black leather bracers
Companion 1: Channel-billed toucan, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Bush Viper, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive
Mutation 2: Crystalline saber fangs - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

"Speech"

Seeing his daughter snarl, he grinned, spreading open his maw in an answering snarl. Something about seeing his children put their all into a fight had his pride swelling. They were from a lineage of warriors, and he could see it in Vanta’s form.

She circled him now, and he watched her with slow, careful movements. He didn’t commit too much to his observations. Waiting for her to take her chance and strike. He was debating feigning an opening so the match could begin proper, when she launched herself forward. She was wicked fast, young and without the ache in her joints that he felt every day now.

She went in for the front of his back leg, and he couldn’t avoid her initial strike, but he kicked out a moment later, hoping to score a solid hit below her jawline. At the same time, he coiled himself inwards, aiming to grab her with his front paws.

Sirius vs Vanta for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Spectacled bear, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Fangs - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

"Speech"

And the winner is...

VANTOASE

SIRIUS must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: VANTOASE: Attack Roll: 37 Defense Roll: 100 Agility Roll: 45 Perception Roll: 59 Total: 241 Attack[37] + 85% Bonus[31.45]: 68.45 Defense[100] + 20% Bonus[20.00]: 120.00 Agility[45] + 5% Bonus[2.25]: 47.25 Perception[59] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 59.00 Total[294.70] + 40% Bonus[117.88]: 412.58 SIRIUS: Attack Roll: 36 Defense Roll: 54 Agility Roll: 62 Perception Roll: 29 Total: 181 Attack[36] + 115% Bonus[41.40]: 77.40 Defense[54] + 20% Bonus[10.80]: 64.80 Agility[62] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 62.00 Perception[29] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 29.00 Total[233.20] + 40% Bonus[93.28]: 326.48