An Oath of loyalty

Oath’s brow furrowed slightly at Azriel’s words, though there was no offense taken. He understood the weight of what was being asked, both of him and of Atreyu. To keep Judalia strong, to grow the Morningstar name, it required sacrifices from all of them, but it also required trust. And Azriel, ever pragmatic, was right. They were all pieces of a larger whole, all working toward something that stretched far beyond personal feelings.

He managed a half-smile when Azriel grunted his agreement, and Oath nodded in return. "I can promise that much. If I start to feel like I’m getting left behind, you’ll hear from me. No point in sulking alone when we’re supposed to be doing this together." There was a warmth in his words now, a soft undercurrent of gratitude for Azriel’s unwavering loyalty, not just to Atreyu but to him as well.

The invitation to spar, however, caught Oath off guard. He hadn’t been expecting it, especially not after the conversation they’d just had. A sparring match wasn’t exactly the solution he’d envisioned, but then again, it wasn’t a bad idea either. There was something in Azriel’s mischievous smirk that coaxed a laugh out of him, and Oath’s tail flicked with a little more energy.

"Oh, so now you want to test if I actually learned anything from you?" Oath teased, a playful glint returning to his cyan eyes. "Alright, Az. Let’s see if you can still keep up.

He shifted into a ready stance, feeling the familiar adrenaline start to course through his veins. Oath hadn’t sparred in a while, and the thought of going up against Azriel was both daunting and exhilarating. The demigod had always been a fierce opponent, and while Oath’s strengths had always been more cerebral, he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

"Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because you’re about to marry my sister," he quipped, a grin breaking across his face as he crouched low, waiting for Azriel to make the first move. His playful demeanor didn’t diminish his focus; in fact, the banter was only sharpening his instincts. Without waiting for Azriel to fully settle into his stance, Oath made his move, darting forward with surprising speed.

He aimed low, angling his body toward Azriel’s left side, attempting to use his smaller, lighter frame to his advantage. With a quick burst of energy, he aimed a well-timed shoulder slam, hoping to knock Azriel off balance before the demigod could fully react.

Oath vs Azriel for Spar
Round 1/x
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed collar
Defensive Battle Accessory: Fang caps
Companion 1: Red-tailed Hawk, Male, Battle
Companion 2: Red-tailed Hawk, Female, Battle
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Novice Intellectual