Kass' jaw was set in determination as he made the trek from his home. He glanced back every once in a while to make sure his brother was still trailing behind him. He'd had enough of sitting around watching Sigmarr moping, unable to do a thing to help. He was a healer, and it was in his nature to do just that, to help, but Sigmarr didn't seem inclined to accept his gentle ministrations. It was time for a boys' night out. It was time to do things the hard way. He hadn't told Sigmarr where they were going, just bullied him into coming along with him. Everything had been handled in a curt, pushy manner quite unlike Kass' usual methods and honestly, if Sigmarr was been anything like the boy he'd once known he'd likely be a little pissed at the treatment... but Kass didn't know what, if anything, had changed in his brother. It was time to change that. He stopped abruptly, the gloomy twilight shrouding his form in swathes of fog and darkness. He couldn't have chosen a better setting - thunder grumbled in the distance, the occasional flicker of lightning heralding a far off spring storm, and the mists lent a certain surreal feel to the whole affair. The ground underfoot was still slushy with melting snow, but the terrain gave an impression that it wouldn't take much for the ground to be churned to mud. The snowy white of his paws was already splattered with it, black in the gloom. He turned dark, serious eyes to his brother as he turned around to face him. "Sigmarr," he spoke, his voice disconcertingly muffled by the fog as he studied his taller, younger brother. "Do you know where we are?" The smell of old blood, the fear scent, permanently marked this land as a battlefield and though Kass had never personally been here he had known of it and known to come here. Sigmarr may not have spoken to him about his time in captivity, but the scars marking his body betrayed repeated battles - Sigmarr was no stranger to the blood and death found here. Kassander had tried and failed to gently break him out of this depression and start the healing process, but maybe now was the time for harsher ways. Maybe it was time for a good hard push. "Fight me, Sigmarr." The demanding words weren't an offer... they were a command. The untrained youth spread his paws slightly, his stance sturdy and determined as he stared at Sigmarr. He didn't want to hurt his brother, but he would if it meant snapping him out of this. Besides, it would be good practice, for both of them. "KASSANDER vs SIGMARR for SPAR" Round 0/?

Sigmarr trailed after Kassander a begrudging frown on his face at being dragged out to who knew where.  His brother was being awfully secretive about where they were going and what exactly they'd be doing and he didn't really appreciate being kept in the dark.  Sigmarr knew Kass was trying to help him but it was so hard for Sigmarr to let himself be helped.  Time, that was all he needed, right? Sigmarr sighed, his gut tightening as the made their way onto the battlefield.  What in the hell were they doing here?  A slight feeling of nausea began to over come him but he choked it down.  Kassander stopped suddenly and whirled around to face Sigmarr.  What the hell was this?  Everything looked eerie and distorted through the fog but there was no mistaking where they were.  "The battlefield" he replied curtly.  He didn't like Kassanders tone and was gearing up for some sort of lecture.  He swore if Kass told him to just 'get over it' he'd personally toss Kassander in a mud hole. "Fight me, Sigmarr." Sigmarr stared fiercely back at Kassander.  "No." Was this some sort of joke?  He'd nearly mauled Sindri and now Kassander wanted Sigmarr to fight him?  Oh yes, because he really wanted to relive that mess over again, the fear, the hurt the rage in his own sister's eyes as he dove in to drag her back to a bloated prince's harem.  Sigmarr could handle destroying strangers, he could get over the fights in the ring, he could get over the beatings but that…. that was too much.  Sigmarr stared at Kass for a moment before sighing heavily.  "I know you're trying to help Kassander but no… I'm not going to wound my siblings, never again." "Talk" "You" Think

Sigmarr refused. The taint of that unspoken trauma surrounded him like a aura of gloom - as children Sigmarr would not have hesitated to gleefully jump on him. Kassander did not back down at the refusal though. "Sigmarr, I meant what I said in the meeting," he said instead, his eyes intent upon his larger brother. "There is evil in the world and Ebony is going to be a part of stopping it. If you think I'm going to sit back and let the warriors handle it just because I'm a healer you're wrong." He took a step forward, hesitantly pressing his muzzle into his brother's ruff. "If there's anything I've learned it's that the world is a terrible place, and the only people we can really depend on are each other. You guys are the only ones I trust... so why should I trust anyone else to train me the way I need to be trained?" He stepped back once more and directed a fierce stare at his brother. "I can't do this without you, Sigmarr. I'm not going to tell you to just get over it - it's not that easy. But I am asking you to be strong, and to face it, because you are the best thing Sindri and I have going for us right now." He paused, and his voice softened, coaxing. "Fight me, Sigmarr. Please. I need you." "KASSANDER vs SIGMARR for SPAR" Round 0/?

See our world is slowly dying I'm not wasting no more time Don't think I could believe you Sigmarr turned to walk away, too ashamed to know what to say.  Maybe if he'd earned Sindri's forgiveness that was one thing but how could he expect to go on living in the same pack as her without it?  Kassander spoke and Sigmarr halted.  Within in there was already a battle raging.  He was desperately trying to pick himself up after having fallen so far but the first steps were unbelievably hard and he was beating himself back down every step of the way.   Sigmarr tensed as he felt Kassander nuzzle his ruff but slowly he relaxed, taking in his older brother's words.  In many ways this was something he'd always wanted, his older brother leading the way, comforting and supporting him.  Sigmarr knew the other was right.  With a deep breath he sighed.  "I know… I know…."  Kassander pulled away to stare at him fiercely.  Sigmarr gazed back but could not quite return the ferocity.  Instead he leaned forward to lick Kassanders cheek.  "Thanks… you and Sindri are all I have left and I will fight to my last breath to defend you and… and…. I want to help you, so that if ever there's a time I can't be there you can look after each other." Sigmarr moved away from Kassander, seeking to put a distance of about six feet between them before the battle would start.  Eyes closed and he took a deep breath, psyching himself up for what was to come. Kass was a healer, he kept telling himself.  Any injuries he dealt out Kass would be able to take care of.  He wasn't going to help Kassander learn how to battle if he pussy-footed around the other male. Ice-blue eyes opened in a fierce stare, the meaning clear that the other male had best prepare himself.  Defenses fell solidly into place.  Ears pinned and eyes narrowed as he snarled viciously, jaws parting in preparation to attack.  His chin tucked just slightly as his neck scrunched back, shoulders rolling forward to cushion his neck with fur and fat.  Hackles raised as head and tail aligned with his spine.  Sigmarr's legs spread equidistant apart, his weight evenly distributed as his legs coiled to lower his center of gravity.  Toes spread, claws bit into earth as he body tensed for a moment before he launched himself at Kassander. Sigmarr attempted to close the distance between them as he tried to come at the other male low and nearly straight on, about a foot to his own right.  Sigmarr knew he couldn't quite face Kassander head on just yet, attacking the visage of his brother would take far more willpower.  Instead Sigmarr hoped to brush his left side along his brother's left side as parted jaws attempted to grip his brother's left knee.  Head would tilt to his own right  as he attempted to have his upper fangs land on the outside of Kassander's knee, lower fangs on the inside so the patella would rest in between his jaws.  Sigmarr hoped to gain a grip, that was all.  If the opponent were a true enemy the goal would be to cripple, but this was a spar and the targets he went for would simulate the cruelty of other wolves without risking to much injury to his older brother. As Sigmarr attempted the bite he would also attempt to throw his left shoulder up and slightly to his own left in an attempt to throw the tip into Kassander's left-sided gut about equidistant between the hips and the ribcage in a bid to knock the breath from his brother and maybe make him wretch.  Weight would shift evenly over his back legs and left front leg as Sigmarr attempted to lift and slam his right forepaw down on Kassander's back left paw hoping to sprain the toes. Sigmarr vs Kassander for Spar Rd. 1 of 3?