Stick 'em with the pointy end

The spar was on as soon as Briar kicked her paws off the sand and came charging towards him, her weapon held ready to strike. Artorias smirked around the faux dagger in his jaws, amber eyes narrowed in steely focus as he tracked his mate's movements towards him. He knew Briar was no pushover or slouch when it came to combat; he had been on the receiving end of more than a few losses to his beloved wife's fighting skills. But this was his wheelhouse now and Briar was about to get schooled. Artorias bided his time until Briar had come close enough to the point where she wouldn't be able to retract her attack, Artorias pushing back on the soft sand to quickstep backwards away from Briar's wild swings of her dagger. She had the heart and the gumption, but she lacked the finesse and the technique of practice and time, just like any student learning a new skill. But just because she was a novice didn't mean he was going to go easy on her.

Chuckling to himself as he dodged her attacks one after the other, the Lord of Cinder managed to catch his Lady's weapon against his own with a clang of dulled steel, pushing her attack off to the side and leaving her open to a quick tap on the shoulder. One point to him. Trying to show off a little bit, Artorias began a rapid barrage of quick strikes back at Briar, and to her credit she did manage to hold her own enough to either deflect or dodge his assault. Pride shone in the dire brute's eyes, but so too did a challenge burn in their fiery depths. He was goading Briar on, encouraging her to come for him. It was a valiant effort of student against master, of enthusiasm versus knowledge. Their dance would continue like this for a while, with Art deflecting, blocking, or dodging Briar's attacks only to take advantage of his wife's less-than-perfect form and get a strike in to tap his blade against her side and a third on her shoulder. Game, set, match.

By the end of their spar, both wolves were breathing heavier, adrenaline coursing through the Lord of Cinder's veins, his eyes shining with a playful mischief as he secured his victory. He returned Briar's grin, watching as his beautiful wife speared her dagger down into the sand and admitted defeat. Art's tail was also wagging a mile a minute as she conceded to him. She was teasing him with her words, but Artorias was too excited from his win and what that meant to pay much attention. No sooner was Briar speaking, Art was also tossing his dagger down into the sand and then the great big dire brute was advancing on his beautiful wife, a sly grin on his face and an eager gleam in his eyes for a different type of "playtime". "About time I did after all the times you got me on my back," he replied in chuckled, husky tones, not stopping his advance until he was almost nose-to-nose with Briar, booping the end of his muzzle against hers with that lusty yet playful grin on his face, tail still a-wag off the end of his rump. "So do I get a prize for finally beating you, Deer Girl?"

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"