Not throwing away my shot [Pack claim!]

The empty tundra around them quickly began to fill with wolves, most of them clearly here to support the woman that stood between her and what she came to claim. It made her wonder just who this strangely dressed woman was, but now was not the time for conversation and formalities. If anything she was a bit disappointed that this woman—she heard someone in the crowd call her Sparrow—didn't start the fight herself. She stood and watched as Sparrow addressed the wolves at her back that seemed to question her choice to try to lay claim to this pack and she smirked slightly. It sounded like discontentment all around from where she was standing. By the time the woman turned her attention back to her and stated that she was interested in more than just the ship itself Manea had already resigned to fighting her way out of this. She hadn't planned on spilling blood today, but she most certainly relished the opportunity to do just that.

However, this caricature of a pirate seemed hell-bent on talking the day away, questioning her on what her pack would be. The mention of "taking down all of the koi packs" caught her attention, and while she didn't know exactly what Sparrow was referring to with that statement, she couldn't help but think of the Ashen wolves she had made friends with—thinking of the Shogun's orange-splattered markings. Well, if this woman intended to bring some sort of destruction upon her friends, then that was all the more reason to paint the snow red, wasn't it? Another smirk crossed her lips and she decided to humor her with a reply. "Simply a place where my family and friends can live our lives however we please. Not all that much different from yourself, I'd say. Although I do also desire a place where I can keep my children safe."

As if on cue, her ears perked as her son's voice called out behind her and she glanced back to see the black and red fireball of a pup struggling against Alastor's grip, attempting to throw himself into the fray. A grin tugged at her lips at his insistence that Manea "kick her butt", to which her daughter also chimed in to encourage her to do the same. That was when she noticed all the other wolves that had gathered behind her while she was focused on the pirate and her loud compatriots. Irilyth of course had come with the pups—no doubt having to chase Saracyn down as he rushed the group—and she wasn't all that surprised to see Naráca there beside Alastor and Imperia. She was surprised to find Seraphina there, the pretty girl already proving the loyalty she had pledged in that moment. Perhaps the most surprising was Oxx, the man she had hunted zebras with once upon a time. She gave him a curious glance with a smirk, making a note to speak to him when this was all said and done. She barely glanced the man that matched her husband's stature that had begun to whisper something to her husband before she turned her aqua gaze back toward her opponent. She wasn't sure who he was, but she was eager to find out once she finally finished with this.

Quickly she settled into a defensive stance with her ears folded back against her skull, her paws placed evenly under her with her weight distributed between them, her head even with her spine and tail tucked away so it wouldn't be a target. "You heard the boy," she said with a wicked grin, giving a small shrug before she rolled her shoulders forward so her scruff would be bunched protectively around her neck. Her lips pulled back into a snarl to reveal gleaming fangs hidden beneath. Her tiger-like claws gripped the frozen ground with her toes spread while her legs bent slightly with her muscles coiled and ready to spring. Her scaled armor covered her torso and shoulders while hardened leather bracers covered her forelegs from elbow to ankle, a blade hidden away on the inside of each one. "I guess I have to kick your butt! Can't let my son down. I’m sure you understand."

There was a gap of empty space between them of about half a dozen feet or so. Nothing that a few strides of her long, lithe limbs couldn’t handle. She raced forward, using the advantage she had in her lighter build and agility to her advantage, and aimed her path toward Sparrow’s right side. Manea ducked to her left with a quick hop that put about a foot or two of distance between them as she went to go past Sparrow’s shoulder just on the off chance that the pirate hat wearing wolf might want to try to snap at her. She jumped in toward Sparrow’s right side with her head dipped low and attempted to ram her head into Sparrow’s ribs, both to aim for the more vulnerable bones there as well as to stab the ridges of sharp, spiked horns into her flesh. She readjusted her stance as soon as she was at a place where she could, making sure to keep her paws firmly placed beneath her since she imagined a heavily-built woman like Sparrow would likely try to throw her weight into her at some point and she wanted to be prepared.

MANEA vs SPARROW for CLAIM OF INCENDIUM
Round: 1/4
Height: 44"
Build: Light

Manea | Temno | Ciemny