Mira stood in the middle of the plains adjacent to the lake, tense with nervousness and anticipation. A duel. Spar, rather. Her first ever. It scared her, were she to be honest. What if she accidentally hurt Motif seriously? Motif was good, but still only a yearling. She was only two, but trained in the arts of killing. Of death. She turned away from that... but what if her instincts took over? What if she lost control and the perfect father's girl side decided to come out? It wouldn't be play anymore. Only a massacre. The very thought of that scared her. She didn't want to hurt the younger femme. She felt... well... she would feel terrible. Bass wouldn't have needed to drive her out; she would have left on her own. Shaking her head, hoping to clear it of such pessimistic thoughts, she lifted her head to stare at the lake. It was just a shiny smudge where she was, but it's smooth reflective surface calmed her. Perhaps it was the thought of swimming, something she'd always enjoyed. Either way, she was waiting patiently for her sparring partner to come. And all the while praying that her fears wouldn't happen. She's had training - proper training - since then. It shouldn't happen. Shouldn't being the key word. ?speech?

She would dance along the plain with her normal spirits, the air above was open and empty but for the spark of black that beat wings against the sky. Her pace would quicken and her paws would beat drums against the earth until her pace was an all-out run. The shadow of the bird would be before her and she would touch its dark shape with a cry and a leap that followed through with the run she had started. The girl would feel exhilarated and full of life when she came into the setting Mira had laid out. She found that starting it by the lake was a wondrous idea. It was alive with the crystal gleams of gold?s and blues and she would let out a soft music laugh as she stepped before the girl.



?Mira? she would murmur, her easy smile tugging the corners of her lips as she shook out her coat and focused her eyes on the red woman. It was good to think that she was sparring a fighter of Bass?s pack, to see what they were made of, to see what she was leaving Bass with when at last she went on her way. She needed to know that Bass and his dreams would be okay, then she was free again.



Motif Vs Mira for Spar


Round 0 of 3


"Speech"

The red wolf smiled back, teeth baring in a friendly wolf-y grin. "Motif," she returned the greeting. "Good luck." Of course, she would need the luck just as much as Motif, if not more so. With this in mind, she began setting her defenses. This was an entirely new thing for her to do - very rarely had she had to contend with someone ready for assassination, after all. Nor did she have to set her own defenses. Assassination was all about being sneaky. Quiet. Unnoticed. First, Mira rolled her shoulders and stretched out her paws. She had done so before Motif had arrived, but it didn't hurt to do so again. Her paws spread out; her knees bent ever so slightly. Ebony claws sunk into the soft prairie grass. Her ears flattened to her tail and her eyes narrowed, to prevent her ears being harmed and her eyes. Her tail lifted to be parallel with her spine for balance, and she felt her muscles tighten to brace herself for any impact to come. Then, her hackles rose, bushing out as she retracted her neck, tucking it to protect it. The final preparation was perhaps one of the most vital; her lips peeled back to reveal sharp teeth and even sharper fangs, preparing her to bite down. Tensing herself for a moment, she sprung forward, moving as quickly as she could. She lunged , her teeth snapping to bite at the fleshy part of Motif's left shoulder. She was hoping that if Motif moved that she would be able to keep moving, following Motif's movements and still bite her somewhere. While she snapped at Motif's shoulder, she braced herself on her right side to keep balance so she could lift her left paw and swipe at Motif's left front paw, trying to knock the chocolate wolf off balance. ROUND ONE DEFENSES: Second Paragraph. All of it. ATTACKS: Trying to bite Motif's shoulder and knock Motif off balance. INJURIES: None so far! First round c: ?speech?

It seemed that the short greeting would be all and the pair would ready themselves for their spar. The golden eyed girl would stretch out muscles, feeling the flexibility, and bending them before spreading out her weight and her toes before digging them into the earth for traction. Her ears would flutter towards her red opponent before tucking behind her skull and her eyes would wink before narrowing to slits. Her tail would banner out behind her. She would find time for a warm grin to take her lips and to throw back her head for a joyful laugh before rolling her shoulders forward and tucking her chin. Her hackles and back would rise behind her as her golden eyes flashed a challenge at her opponent who was equally as ready.



Mira it seems would rise to the challenge, for she would bound forward, and Motif would brace herself for the impact, scrunching her already rolled shoulders in preparation for the bite. She would wait for it to land on her left shoulder, for her opponent to show her hand and make her move. Now that she had done so Motif would throw her weight forward, pushing with her legs and into the bite, getting the proximity so that when Motif lunged she could attempt to lip and grab Mira?s folded left ear. Should the bite land she would pull her weight downwards, she would aim to pull the girls ear down and force her to rethink her balance.

Mira would swipe at Motif?s front paw, but the brown girl had already shifted her weight forward to her front paws to lunge for Mira?s ear, and the swipe wouldn?t be strong enough to push her, and would do little to unbalance her well-spaced paws.



Motif Vs Mira for Spar

Round 1 of 3



Defences: Knees bent, Legs spread, toes spread, toes dug into ground, ears flat to skull, eyes narrowed, tail out behind her, shoulders rolled, chin tucked, hackles raised.



Attack Defences: Weight pushed forward and legs well balanced to avoid losing balance over Mira?s swipe



Attacks: Attempts to grab Mira?s left ear in jaws and pull downwards with her weight.

Injuries: Bite to left rolled shoulder

Mirabelle felt a brief moment of shock as she felt her teeth land right where she wanted them. Her shock grew as Motif pushed into the bite, and Mira had to tense herself even more than she already had to keep herself balanced. She released her bite on Motif. However, as her attention was momentarily focused on her balance, Motif succeeded in lipping the edge of her ear. Luckily for Mira, with her fur fluffed and ears flattened Motif's teeth enclosed in a nip on the edge of her left ear, leaving it stinging sharply but leaving Motif without a grip on her ear. Mira pulled her head up sharply and she shuffled backwards and to her own right to put some distance in between the two to reset her defenses and evaluate her injuries. As she pulled away, Motif's teeth had, of course, ripped away some fur. Motif also left a rather stinging nick in Mira's ear. Nothing serious, or even really that noticeable. Mira rebalanced herself, spreading out her paws and toes, and digging her claws into the ground. She bent her knees a little, reflattened her ears, and made sure her eyes were narrow slits. She tucked in her head after rolling her shoulders forward, and once more bared her teeth at Motif. She realigned with her tail with her spine and fluffed out her hackles once more. The moment she finished setting up her defenses she lunged forward once more, readjusting her step slightly so she was once more heading towards Motif's left side. As she neared, Mira lifted redistrubited her weight to her hind paws and spread them a bit more, and rose up on those hind legs. Then Mira let herself crash down, aiming to score sharp claws down Motif's left flank. Were she to hit properly and perfectly, Mira's claws would hit starting just below the spine and rake down, pushing Motif back and possibly off balance and leaving at least bruising. Should Motif move out of the way, Mira would try to follow the movement once fully on the ground and sink her teeth into the skin right next to Motif's spine on Motif's left. MOTIF VS. MIRA FOR SPAR ROUND TWO DEFENSES: spread paws, spread toes, claws in the ground, eyes narrowed, rolled shoulders, tucked in head, bared teeth, straightened tail, hackles raised, flattened ears ATTACKS: Rearing up on hind legs to fall on Motif and have her claws hit Motif's flank and hopefully push Motif back as well by the weight. IF that fails, attempted bite at spine. INJURIES: A nicked ear and some torn fur. ?speech?

She had to remind herself that it was for Abaven that she fought, through only moments had passed since the fighting had begun already her heart was a drum in her chest and a soft sheen of sweat would settle against her brow. It was more then exhurstion, it was the concentraion and the weight of expectation that shot the adrenline through her blood. Mira's teeth had found their mark on Motif's left shoulder, just above the shoulder blade and even through her rolled skin she would feel the bite of teeth to her flesh, dug deep with the push of Motif's own weight forward. Her heart beat would encrease, a great roaring in her ears as her own teeth nipped against the edge of Mira's left ear, where she would graze against the skin but find no hold.



The bite would be released on Motif's shoulder a moment later and Motif would be surprised at the sudden release of all contact as the other shuffled a few steps backwards. As Mira took a second to balance and asses Motif would also make use of the respite. She felt the throb of her shoulder and the soft cool touch of blood, but knew it was hardly a threatning injury and she was able to push its throbbing to the back of her mind. Motif was quick to follow the tactics of her apponant, by reasurting her spaced legs and lightly bending her limbs. Her toes would also spread and claws would bite into the earth. Her tail remained outstretched behind her, becoming straight once more after its slight altercations of balance throughout the first faze of their fight. Her shoulders where rolled, and her head would now lower to align with her spine and tail. Her eyes would narrow once more as her lips pulled back and her neck would scunch up around her throat as her chin dipped downwards.



The respite would be short lived and as the girl lunged towards her again Motif would brace herself for the attack. Instead Mira would shift her weight and Motif could see what she was about to do, as the other began her rise off the ground Motif would in that same moment attemt to lunge forward herself. She would dig her back paws in the ground and push off them giving herself as much momentum as possible as she attempted to move towards the rearing shape of her opponant. If Mira's body was upwards as Motif moved forwards then her kidneys would be directly in the line of Motif's slightly lowered head. Motif would attempt to ram all of her weight into Mira's kidneys, she would aim to hit directly on with the point of her lowered crown. Even as she did so her tail would tuck tight behind her to protect her rear end. Because of Motif's forward charge both the bite and the claw attack would miss her. She herself risked brusiign to her head if the attack of the kidneys landed



Motif Vs Mira for Spar
Round 2



Defences: Leg spread, limbs bent, toes spread, claws dug into earth, Tail outstretched behind her, Shoulders rolled, head aligned with spine, eyes narrowed, lips pulled, neck scrunched, chin dipped



Attack: Lunging forward to headbutt kidneys



Injuries: previous Bite to left rolled shoulder, potential bruising to head if her attack lands



Ooc: we agreed to wave the time constraints

Mirabelle v Motif for Spar Round 1 Mirabelle: 2 for clarity. -2 did not specify which side she was trying to come at Motif from (front, left, right) -2 did not specify where her jaws were intending to land (lower jaw and upper jaw where? Which angle?) -2 ?somewhere? please specify where she is intending to bite 3 for powerplaying. -2 ?she lunged? you must attempt to do this. -2 ?her teeth snapping to bite? you must attempt to do this. -3 ?if motif moves, she would be able to keep moving? you cannot put conditionals (explained in comments) in your post 7 for defenses. +1 for each seen. Rolled shoulders, paws spread, knees bent, claws flexed, ears flattened, eyes narrowed, tail parallel to spine, tight muscles, hackles up, neck tucked. -3 on 3 paws without redistributing balance 5 for attack. +3 for bite -1 for conditionals +3 paw swipe 10 for injuries.First round Round one Mirabelle Total: 27/50 Motif: 4 for clarity. -2 what damage was done to her shoulder from the bite? -2 which way did she throw her weight? Did she lean, hop etc. -2 which way did she strike at Mira?s ear? 3 for powerplaying. -2 ?would throw her weight forward? you must attempt to do this -2 ?getting the proximity? must attempt to do this -3 ?should the bite land? conditional 8 for defenses.+1 for each seen. Spreading weight, clenching toes, pinned ears, eyes narrowed, tail out, shoulders rolled, chin tucked, hackles raised. 3 for attack.+3 bite 10 for injuries.First round Round one Motif Total: 28/50 Round 2 Mirabelle: 9 for clarity. mostly clear. 0 for powerplaying. -2 ?she shuffled backwards? you must attempt to do this -2 you cannot assume that Motif gaze Mira time to back up and rest her defenses and then come back to attack ?2 ?Mira let herself crash down? you must attempt to do this -4 ?should motif move out of the way, Mira would try to follow? conditionals ? 2 ? you cannot assume that even if Motif moved that Mira would be able to land and give chase 10 for defenses. +1 for each seen. Spreading paws, stretching toes & digging claws into ground, bent knees, flattened ears, eyes narrowed, tucked head, rolled shoulders, teeth bared, tail aligned with spine, hackles raised. 2 for attack. +2 rake of claws (cannot give points for attacks that are conditional on movement) 8 for injuries. -2 ear nip Round two Mirabelle Total: 29/50 Motif: 9 for clarity. mostly clear. 10 for powerplaying. none seen. 10 for defenses. +1 for each seen. Spacing legs, bending limbs, toes spead & claws dug into dirt, tail outstretched, shoulders rolled forward, head lowered, eyes narrowed, lips pulled back, neck scrunched, chin tipped down 3 for attack. +3 bead butt 10 for injuries. none taken. Round two Motif Total: 42/50 Totals: Mirabelle: 56/100 Motif: 80/100 And the winner is... Motif! Mirabelle must give up by either submitting, fleeing, or passing out. Damage: Mirabelle - Nick to the ear, will bleed profusely for a few IC days unless treated, will heal in 1 OOC week. Motif - Moderate bite to the left shoulder, bruising on skull pending response. Bite will take 2 OOC weeks to heal, bruising will go away in a few IC days. Notes: Tips for both writing, and some suggestions. (no points are deducted here) Notes For Keanai I think this was your first fight here? If so you did great! The judging system takes a bit to get used to. Powerplaying and clarity were your two biggest things, you need to be as specific as possible with where your attacking, what angle your coming from, where your attack intends to land (like your second post!!). With powerplaying you need to attempt to do anything and conditionals got you both. You cannot lay out a second attack biased on how your opponent will move in their new post or say ?if attack a lands then I will do attack b as well?. But other then that great job! Message me if you have any questions!! As well I don?t usually count curling lips or baring teeth as a defense, you could elaborate and say ?Mari curled her lips back, baring teeth and also pulling loose flesh into a snarl so folds of skin would further protect her eyes?. Or something like that. For next time! For Sea Conditionals still!! I skyped you about your first post but your last one was great! The only thing I would suggest would be to try for a bite and maybe throw in a paw swipe to one of those two paws left on the ground. More complex attacks get more points! Aso look at the note for Kea on the snarling thing! - By [Dione]