Claws out, Ronan scaled down the side of the canyon. He was a heavy guy, all muscle with extra heft piled on top of that, and though his musculature certainly helped most of the time right now it was more of a hindrance than anything else. Yet another inconvenience added atop his already teetering pile. His muzzle wrinkled throughout his descent, shoulders hunched, till he reached a shelf he could comfortably jump down from without breaking anything. Probably. He landed hard, heavy paws thudding as he grunted. His posture straightening out, his shoulders remained slightly arched out of habit. He flexed the muscles in his forelimbs, wings flaring out only to tuck back neatly into position, unable to shake the tension clinging to his form no matter how hard he tried. Nothing new there. Stepping forward, Ronan moved towards the river that, well bent through the canyon. With all the rain as of late it was straining against the edge of its banks, the water fast moving and sloshing as it rolled past. But at least it was fresh, there was no shortage of clean water here, it seemed, something he could probably get used to.

Exploration wasn't his favorite thing to do in the world, but getting out to see the sights was better than not doing anything. Not that he didn't have anything to do (Don't let Hattori hear you say that). Surely the Kaicho would give him ample tasks to fill his day, but there was something on his mind. An itch that he couldn't quite scratch. Now that he was a year old, emotions had flooded through him as if a dam had broken. Which was thoroughly confusing for the emotionally constipated young lad. This much was on his mind, to the point that he hadn't even really noticed he'd made it as far as Bent Canyon. The deserted and rocky landscape provided a slim path from the top of the canyon near the oaks. Following it down, he doesn't recognize it. Was the water not typically nearly dried up in this canyon? It's rushing flow winding around jutting rock was unfamiliar. Akito carefully made his way along the bank of the river deeper into the canyon. A chilled wind pushed against him, forcing him to take a forward step. His paw tenses, teeth grinding together, looking up from his focus. Suddenly, a rather large wolf stands not far in the distance. Someone he most definitely does not recognize. Another one washed up from overseas? Akito blinks, staring rather disrespectfully at the man with a slight pinch to his brows. He sees the wings, but they are not anything like he'd seen before. The angular shape to the man's face is different as well, but he can't quite put a toe on it. He isn't one for words though so perhaps he should leave the stranger be. But with him being so close to Tojo territory... It also perhaps wasn't the best idea to let him go wandering around either without asking a few questions. Approaching a few more steps, he keeps his distance, body posture somewhat stiff. "Lost?" Akito asks, his deepening tones signaling that he's not quite adult, but also not a puppy anymore either.

Ronan hadn't even had a chance to sate his thirst when someone was approaching, muttering under his breath in his native tongue-something more crass than a man of his age should probably say- he turned and regarded the stranger with a sour look. It was a bit weird, honestly, where he came from strangers weren't in the habit of approaching one another. Least of all where it was so quiet, no witnesses about. Had this been his ruined home, he would have half expected the yearling- cause yeah, with his voice as squeaky as that his balls hadn't fully dropped yet- to be the bait. A diversion whilst someone else skulked in the shadows, ready with a shiv in maw.

He wasn't convinced this place was any different. Most folks were just trying to get by, everyone was struggling but some, some folks were born pendejos. Nothing could save them, not that he tried.

Either way, he didn't consider himself lost, but it wasn't as if he knew where he was either.

"What's it to you?"  He countered, cynicism so thick he could have whacked the yearling over the head with it.

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The body language, expression, posture, everything about the man screams someone on edge. Even the look that is thrown his way and muttering under breath sends a surge of suspicion through him. Who was this wolf and was he acting as if everyone were his enemy? Not that that wasn't a bad way go through the loner territories, but compared to Boreas, Auster was docile. The only threats were other species and this guy appeared capable enough to take down a tiger or bear on his own. And unlike some, Akito didn't grow impatient. He waited for the man to respond. It gave him time to assess, to view, to see things that others wouldn't notice. When the stranger does speak up, the cynical comment would normally have someone else roiling with agitation. Akito on the other hand? He blinks a few times, head canting to the side slightly. Should he be open? Honest? Give away that his pack was nearby? Well, no, that would be a stupid decision. "There's been a surplus of lost individuals around these parts lately," Akito starts after his own few beats of silence, his voice hitching in all the wrong places. Thanks puberty. "It's none of my business, but it would be against my belief to leave someone stranded, alone, and possibly hungry," a slight shift of his brow, his weight settling, posture relaxing, but still on standby in case the stranger tried anything. While he was slim, he was tall and well versed in the art of fighting. He didn't mind a tango with a stranger every now and then.

He was just a kid at the end of the day, regardless of how weird and better than you his attitude made him seem. All weirdly stiff and formal, like he was reading off a script that no one could pull off without it coming across as stunted and unnatural. His accent wasn't anything Ronan was familiar with either, so maybe that could be it. He decided he ultimately didn't care, he only had so much headspace to spare.

"You're right there at least," came another verbal jab, not that he expected the yearling to think much of it. Provocation wasn't exactly his thing, his meanness was just a symptom of greater issues. More stuff he didn't wanna think about. Man, he needed therapy, and a drink and some sleep.

"That's what you believe, huh?" His naivety was staggering, Ronan felt a spark of frustration. A trigger. He'd seen good kids, literal children die trying shit like that. He didn't like being the bad guy, but fuck, he liked seeing dead kids even less. Lives wasted when they ought to have known better. "That's stupid. Say if I weren't alone, had friends waiting to jump you. I don't care if you think you're tough shit. You'd die."

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"That's what you believe, huh?" The first jab had rolled off his shoulders. Nothing surmounting enough for him to care, but that question. It lit a spark him that had the fur of his scruff ruffling just barely. Barely enough to notice, but if anyone were paying that close enough attention to him, they would. Keeping his place, that stiff posture, muscles all too ready to defend, he doesn't respond yet. Surely, the question would lead to.. Ah, there it was. Stupid? Another trigger Akito didn't realize he had. He was far from stupid, but he was also far from being immature enough to feel he had to prove it. His intelligence meant nothing to this man. The rest of the words coming from the stranger's lips nearly having him roll his eyes. If he were a reaction youth, he would have jumped the guy right here, right now, but he had been taught to be better than that. "Unfortunately baka, I can tell you are alone," one step toward him, nothing more, nothing less, "and unfortunately for you, I have fought multiple opponents at one time," his shoulders shrug, a nearly flippant expression on his face as he takes another step closer, "Making assumptions about someone else will only lead to you dying," Akito meets the stranger's gaze with a hardening stare, lips quivering slightly, daring him to try. queue anime fight scene music

That was about what Ronan expected, a bit of pushback, offence to being challenged. Objectively speaking, he didn't have much room to judge since he'd been just as, if not more obstinate when he was his age. But Ronan wasn't the best at remaining impartial, it was one of those things that seemed easy enough a few steps removed from any sort of situation, but in the moment? No one really knew how'd they react till it was over and then it was too late to take it back, the damage already done.

This kid was just so sure, when he had no reason to be. It pissed Ronan off.

Ronan stepped closer, they were about the same height, but his bulk and mass alone made the yearling look leggy in comparison. Exhaling through gritted teeth, he stared down the ombre wolf, shoulders tense, wings folding tighter against his shoulders.

"One time? Wow I'm so impressed." He stepped away with an audible tsk, his tongue flicking against his teeth. "You're sheltered kid. Naive. Someone doesn't pat you on your head and tell you you're a good little foot soldier and it ruins that fancy composure you were clinging so hard to. You need approval that bad?"

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The height wouldn't his issue, it's the man's bulk. Finely curated muscle that clearly houses not a single house of fat. He hadn't been given time yet to build his own - not that he would ever get as heavy as the man standing in front of him. It didn't Akito though. Erik was a thicker build and he had bested his brother more than once. He had sparred with Hattori who was not quite as built, but wasn't stick thin either. So if Akito was anything, he was sure. He was sure he could take the man if he wanted to. But as Akito stared back at him, unflinching, he notices. Something about him begs to scrap. As if his muscles and teeth ached for violence. Was his homeland, wherever he was from, so scroungy that the man expected danger at every corner? An audible tch of his own, a quiver of his lip, muscles tensing again. His brain refused to allow those words to hurt. Deep down, yes, he needed approval that badly, but to some stranger? No. It didn't matter what medals of honor he would wear upon his lapel. "If I were naïve, I wouldn't keep you at leg's length," the fact is true and simple. If he truly were as naïve as the man assumed he was, he would've attempted friendship from the get go. There were many wolves here like that. They didn't understand hardship, scarcity, anything that had to do with what he assumed this man has lived through. "You can pat me on the head and tell me I'm good boy once I'm through with you," maybe it was the hormones or maybe he just simply had had enough of the man's arrogant attitude. If the stranger though himself so 'big and bad,' he could prove it. Put his damn words where his mouth is. As the last syllable left his lips, Akito lurched forward. His paws grip at the ground beneath him, pushing back loose rocks. Folding back his ears, aligning his tail with his spine, he makes sure to keep his eyes focused on his new enemy. Instead of diving forward where the guy would assume an inexperienced and naïve boy would go, he darts to the left, straight into the shallows of the river. Using as much momentum as he can, he drives his front paws into the water and attempts to splash his opponent in hopes of catching him by surprise. Once his front paws are firmly on the rock beneath the water, he pulls the rear end of himself in and surges forward once more to lunge at the guy's shoulder or neck, hoping to clamp down and prevent him from using the secondary appendage attached his leg. Was it a wing?? Wasn't sure, didn't care, all he knew was that he didn't want to find out what kind of damage it could to him.

Akito vs Ronan for Dominance
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bamboo Staff
Defensive Battle Accessory: Kitsune Mask
Companion 1: Male Raven, 50” - Flying
Companion 2: Female Akita 22” - Battle
Mutation 1: Serow Horns (Offensive)
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Ronan couldn't say he was overly surprised by the yearling lashing out, all teeth and words that didn't have the bite he'd likely intended. If anything else came from this, the kid could work on his clap backs, they needed work. For all of his youthful inexperience, the kid apparently had some decent training and instincts, on top of that. Wasn't stupid enough to rush in blindly, gnashing teeth as he hoped for the best. Ronan's eyes followed his movement with intent, shoulders hunching, ears pinning as his tail lashed. Like a worked up cat. Ronan was no slacker, had gotten into more altercations than he could count, but the journey here had been long and taxing- and the lack of good sleep? That was killer, it felt like having a headache was just the standard these days, a throbbing behind his eyes as the kid splashed him. Splashed him, really?

Not even blinking as the water hit his face, Ronan surged forward to meet him in the middle. The problem with his shoulder was that there wasn't much loose skin there at all, he'd be gnashing his teeth against muscle that would certainly hit back. But neck, yeah that was a decent spot as any. Reeling around, he surged forward, creating a splash as he too entered the water, a thunderous snarl ripping from his open jaws as his fangs flicked forward, his temper getting the better of him. Almost longing for the taste of blood upon his tongue. Extending his forelimbs in a grapple, Ronan collided into Akito hard, fully intending on pinning him down and holding him down underwater if he had to.

table coding by bunni ♥


Ronan vs Akito for dominance  
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Companion 1: Spectral Bat, Male, Flying/Perception
Companion 2: Spectral Bat, Female, Flying/Perception
Mutation 1: Retractable fangs (Offensive)
Mutation 2: "Wyvern" Wings (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Jaguar Claws (Agility)
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Beginner Navigator
Specialty:

The water had done nothing... Had it not been a big enough splash? Akito curses himself for not following through enough. The fight is as much proving this guy wrong as it is proving to himself that he can actually fight. Just as his opponent, Akito is watching. How the man surges forward, meeting him in the knee deep water. Their bodies collide, an 'oof' sort of noise leaving him as the much bulkier opponent's weight forces him to slide backward over the slippery rocks. Ignoring the fierce growl that slips from Ronan, Akito focuses on landing an attack. His teeth clack together as he attempts to grab ahold of neck, skin, fur, anything that can keep him close to the stranger. He feels legs lift up and around his shoulders, a strength pushing down on him. Bracing his back paws, water splashing all around him, Akito refused to allow himself to be shoved down. He wouldn't give up. No way. If he was going down, so was this loser too.

Akito vs Ronan for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bamboo Staff
Defensive Battle Accessory: Kitsune Mask
Companion 1: Male Raven, 50” - Flying
Companion 2: Female Akita 22” - Battle
Mutation 1: Serow Horns (Offensive)
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Teeth connected with the front scruff of his neck, throat adjacent and more tugging than an actual latch. The skin pinched tight, sharp and uncomfortable, the sort of pain that immediately made him, or anyone for that matter, want to draw away and relieve the pressure. But by this point it seemed both were beyond the point of reason, that this wouldn't stop till the other could no longer fight. Both stubborn to the core it seemed.

Ronan had always been a massive hypocrite, he simply couldn't get along with those who reminded him too strongly of himself. Of who he used to be, who he could have been, once.

Canine habits rearing their head, Ronan was certainly not quiet in the throes of battle. Barks surged from his throat, the sounds slamming together with scarce a breath between them, all teeth and rabid eyes. He set to push, even harder this time, seemingly intend on drowning the boy in the water they were scuffling in.

table coding by bunni ♥


Ronan vs Akito for dominance  
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Companion 1: Spectral Bat, Male, Flying/Perception
Companion 2: Spectral Bat, Female, Flying/Perception
Mutation 1: Retractable fangs (Offensive)
Mutation 2: "Wyvern" Wings (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Jaguar Claws (Agility)
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Beginner Navigator

And the winner is...

AKITO

RONAN must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: RONAN: Attack Roll: 76 Defense Roll: 63 Agility Roll: 28 Perception Roll: 82 Total: 249 Attack[76] + 20% Bonus[15.20]: 91.20 Defense[63] + 15% Bonus[9.45]: 72.45 Agility[28] + 10% Bonus[2.80]: 30.80 Perception[82] + 20% Bonus[16.40]: 98.40 Total[292.85] + 15% Bonus[43.93]: 336.78 AKITO: Attack Roll: 66 Defense Roll: 67 Agility Roll: 4 Perception Roll: 83 Total: 220 Attack[66] + 65% Bonus[42.90]: 108.90 Defense[67] + 10% Bonus[6.70]: 73.70 Agility[4] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 4.00 Perception[83] + 25% Bonus[20.75]: 103.75 Total[290.35] + 25% Bonus[72.59]: 362.94