Aurielle Adravendi

She was tired. Utterly. It was one of the now very rare moments where she could rest, and nightmares rampaged through her sleep, shaking her awake every few moments. Now she lay on the boulder in the plains, gazing up at the sky with weary eyes. The stars were hidden behind ever-present ash now. She couldn’t really say that she was truly lucid at all. Her gaze was, if anything, trance-like—the look of one dead on her paws. Her father had tried to induce sleep for her with herbs that had helped her mother and Aramis at least sleep deeply, escape their fears and memories, but even those seemed to have no effect. She never felt rested even if she did sleep. Her coat was smudged and rumpled, compared to the sleek, elegant creature the Autumn had looked upon. Ash was hell to get out of one’s fur, especially if you were white-furred. For now, it seemed Valhalla would be safe from the volcano’s wrath, especially the plains. Ventures into Druid’s Moor had shown her trembles, occasionally. She didn’t want to risk it. So she asked those who made their dens in the moor to temporarily den in the plains until – if the time ever came at last – the tremors stopped and life found some semblance of normalcy. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Red had patrolled through the moorland that night, unperturbed by the tremors and the mist enshrouding it. Valhalla, it seemed, was far enough from the epicenter to be left relatively unscathed by the effects, but he knew that other packs - at least one of them an ally of the pack he now called home - and countless loners and prey animals were not so lucky.

Aurielle's advisement to the pack not to den in the moor was no hardship tk Red, who didn't have a den yet nor any particular plans to dig one. He had gotten used to sleeping beneath the stars and wasn't in any particular hurry to change that. He did, however, have a warm hollow out of the wind and lined withgrasses and feathers where he could spread out his sleeping furs, and that was where he was heading when his attention was drawn to the sight of Aurielle upon the boulder with a thousand yard stare. The vaguely content sleepiness of a successfully completed patrol melted into concern.

Giving his bristles a thoughtful shake, Red changed his course towards the alpha. "Lady Aurielle," he rumbled as he came up beside the rock, "are you quite all right?"

Aurielle Adravendi

Red’s approach would normally have caught her attention well before his course had altered toward her perch. As it was, she didn’t react until sometime around the word ”…alright?”. Finally, some spark returned to her eyes, though not much, and her gaze turned and fell upon the large male, mild surprise flickering on her features as she registered that he must have come up to her without her noting his presence. She blinked for a heartbeat before she took a guess as to what he must have said. Honestly, she responded, “Tired. And it doesn’t look as though the spring will bring any good news.” Her eyes dropped to the stone between her paws as she considered. “Our food stores have held up well, but the usual sources of prey that would see them restored in the spring… I see starving animals. Animals that will not be able to hold a pregnancy and stay alive themselves. Other packs may seek to raid for supplies.” Her gaze lifted to find him again as she broke from the string of statistics and worries, asking “How are you, Red?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Aurielle didn't seem to notice he was there for a long moment before she recalled herself to whatever distant land to which her thoughts had wandered, and collected herself enough to respond.Red listened with grave attentiveness as Aurielle spoke of her concerns, then asked how he was. He tilted his head to the side, smiling faintly. "About to be very busy, I expect, and in more than one capacity. One of the wolves who went missing the night of the volcano, he was Valhalla's main hunter?" With all the excitement he hadn't yet had time to meet any of his fellow packmates, though he saw them in passing and had seen them at the meeting that night. It seemed he would need to remedy that lack, if only to relieve some of the worry weighing down on Aurielle.

As was his usual way, he settled down to think over the problem immediately, no matter that he was the newest member of the pack and had no decision making capacity within it. "We are well situated here as far as hunting, comparatively," he added thoughtfully. "The east and south are usually much lusher in general from what I have observed, but with thoae lands not habitable the prey that would usually make their homes there should make their way towards the few western lands that can support them. Valhalla's lands are ideal. But as you say, that puts us at some risk of raiding for those supplies. Do we have many skilled fighters?"

Aurielle Adravendi

A visible sense of focus came into the young woman’s eyes as Red responded. This was what she needed. Productive distractions. Planning. A grim sigh escaped as she considered the query. “He was. And he was also one of my uncles. But, unfortunately, despite my having promoted him to Predator, oujr first…. He never filled those paw-prints. I’m… honestly not surprised he’s missing, as he was rarely attentive to his duties in any way that we could reward him upon when he wanted to be a warrior. As a leader… I’m sorely disappointed in him. As a niece… I’m worried for him.” She shook her head sharply, taking a breath and closing her eyes before turning her gaze down to Red as he spoke on. Her attention was well and truly captured, and her ears were attentive. This was the Aurielle that everyone knew, rather than the exhausted shell that had been staring into the sky in a trance. Her head shook regretfully. “We haven’t had any experienced fighters in a long time. The children haven’t received regular training in battle. There aren’t enough experienced wolves to take them all on effectively. I had been hoping that… But it hasn’t turned out that way. And it needs to change. We need to train, and hard.” Steel came into her voice and she slowly rose to a sitting position, studying him. “Would you care to spar in the Alcoves come morning? The ravine’s sheltered from the ash, at least, and the wide area just outside the cave is perfect for training.” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Red listened, just listened, without judgement while she vented about the missing uncle. He hadn't known the wolf, so reserved comment on the situation. Nothing he said could make her feel better about him being missing, or her frustration with him. He couldn't help her with the uncle, unless they happened to find him, but he could help with the current situation they found themselves in without their hunter. And, it seemed, without fighters. "Even without other hunters, I believe I can help refill the pack stores," he said deferentially. "Valhalla doesn't have any young pups now that it would be a danger to, so I can set large animal snares without fear of one stumbling across it. This will supplement our supplies without needing to pull any of the fighters off their duties for hunts that are less likely to be successful with the prey so wary just now."

Her invitation to spar at the caves caused his brows to twitch upward in surprise. He hadn't seen these alcoves yet and couldn't picture how a ravine leading underground would look, but he couldn't imagine that he would have an advantage in a tunnel given the size sifference between them. He smiled good-naturedly, though. "I would be glad to. And though one would hope never to need it, the ability to fight efficiently in such a space would be beneficial in the event we would need to fall back there under attack."

Aurielle Adravendi

Aurielle listened intently as Red spoke, ears pressing forward at his suggestions of snares. It would help offset the lack of ranked hunters. In the brief silence after he’d finished, she said quietly, “Please do so, as soon as you can. I’ll be happy to help set them.” In the days and times now, she was regretfully glad that no young children were in the pack. With the future of food so uncertain, even with the hope brought by Red’s snare plans, it was no time to have young pups whose growth would be threatened by lack of ready food. It didn’t stop the wistful longing in her chest, though. She tamped it down as he accepted her offer of a spar, and she nodded, straightening slightly. Action, planning. Quell the storm. Most of the keen alertness was back in her eyes and movements as she rose from the boulder and slipped to the ground beside the male. “See you in the morning, then?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Aurielle slipped off the rock, clearly ready to find her rest, and Red nodded respectfully. "In the morning," he agreed. "Rest well, Lady Aurielle. I shall try to give you a challenge." He smiled at her with good humor before moving to seek his own bedfurs. If he was able to ease her mind enough for sleep and give her something to look forward to, well, he was satisfied.

- time skip to morning -

When he made his way to where he knew the Adravendis made their dens, he was... frankly surprised at the size of the whole establishment. He knew it was able to house quite a lot, but he had expected it to be more... a hole or three in the ground, like a rabbit warren. Not this large, comfortable ravine leading into what was clearly a spacious cave system. He had to entirely revise his opinion of the whole exercise, and as he trotted up the ravine to meet Aurielle for their planned spar it was with surprise and interest evident on his heavy, long-toothed face. He had made it a point to show up as soon as there was light to see so that he could reconnoiter, since he was entirely unfamiliar with the terrain, so he didn't expect Aurielle to be there to meet him quite yet and could hopegully take the time to rest the footing and spacing before the spar with his alpha was to begin.

Aurielle Adravendi

She hadn’t slept well. As such, she was already in the small clearing in the ravine, just outside the cave mouth, lapping softly at the cool spring water from the pool to the right edge of the ravine. His paw-step brought her head up and around and she studied the male briefly before moving to greet him. “Are you ready?” There was a hint of challenge in her tone—a driving need to work off the funk she couldn’t seem to shake. She padded to face him a good ten feet out from him, waiting for his okay as she settled into her practiced stance, head level with her shoulders, tail flowing level with her hips as she bared her long canines at him, head cocked in invitation. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Red for Spar Round 0/2 Age: 1+ Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed leather bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather torso armor Companion 1: Mountain lion, Male - Battle Mutation - Offensive: Long upper canines Skills: Expert Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Red chuckled and gave a rueful smile when he saw that Aurielle was already waiting for him outside of the cave, and with that laugh asked jokingly, "When do you sleep?" He moved to match her stance, giving a brief nod. "Ready enough, Lady Aurielle." With her invitation he moved into an abrupt lunge, using his heavy coiled hindquarters to propel his weight leaping across the relatively short distance as he sought to slam directly into her, chest to chest, depending on his heavier body to throw her back onto her heels. As he did he slammed his head downward, aiming to smash his bony forehead into her sensitive nose. He'd rather not risk a bite in a spar, knowing as he did that the long heavy fangs in his mouth could do unintentionally fatal damage if he wasn't careful, and while he would do as he'd promised and give her a workout he wasn't willing to put the pack's alpha out of commission if he slipped up from lack of practice.

Red vs Aurielle for spar
Round 1/?
Age: over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Mutation - Offensive: saber fangs
Mutation - Defensive:bristle ridge
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

She gave a brief smile at his joking question, but didn’t respond, flashing her teeth instead in another challenge as she dropped lightly into a stance. She moved as if to brace for impact as Red charged, but he came close, she stepped to her right in a light hop, pivoting on her haunches to her left, seeking to come side-by-side with him on his left side, and adjusting her weight to her hind and right paws as her left front paw snapped forward to aim a hooking snag round Red’s left front ankle, aiming to jerk the limb backward and out from under him. His shove and headbutt found nothing to meet, and she moved swiftly, ducking her own head level with her shoulders and surging forward, aiming to drive the crown of her head into the point behind his left foreleg, aiming to slam her head into his ribcage and wind him even as she drove forward, seeking to jut her right shoulder-point into his left side and hopefully unbalance him. Her eyes kept a close watch on him, keeping aware of his movements and muscles. She was glad he was so much larger than herself—she knew the ridge of his back and neck were an unsavory place to attempt biting or shoving into. He seemed to be opting not to use his teeth, but she wasn’t as inclined, though she would hold back from using her own canines for now. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Red for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 Year Size: Medium Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed leather bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather torso armor Companion 1: Mountain lion, Male - Battle Mutation - Offensive: Long upper canines Skills: Expert Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Red put on the brakes hard when Aurielle moved away from his charge, skidding on his hocks for one brief moment as he brought himself to a halt and reared back onto his haunches to slew around to his left, half-reared up so that her head would slide along the bottom and front of his chest - the way he partially faced her she'd be in front of his right foreleg if she didn't pull back. He sought to throw his forelegs around her neck, right foreleg across the front of her chest and left foreleg across her shoulders, paws flexed to grip with claws and dewclaws to catch in her fur and mane and grip her neck, and jerk her against his chest. As he did he slammed forward with his weight, the motion designed to catch her beneath him and hold her pinned there. Head tilting slightly his jaws gaped and snapped shut, seeking to catch the back of her neck firmly between his molars, with his long heavy fangs alongside the left side of her throat.

Red vs Aurielle for spar
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Mutation - Offensive: saber fangs
Mutation - Defensive:bristle ridge
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Intermediate Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

He was quick for a large male, but she was quick on the uptake as he changed up the movements. As she saw his forelegs rise, she locked in on the right foreleg aimed for her front end and tipped her chin tightly to her chest, jaws gaping and snapping as she sought to snag his right front leg tightly in her jaws, around the wrist, shoving her whole bodyweight backward and toward Red’s left regardless of an attained grip. She hoped to drag his right foreleg backward along with her as she went, hoping to topple the large male. She kept her defenses prepared, eyes slitted and ears flat to her nape, hackles raised along her spine and toes spread for traction and balance. The footing was ideal for practice spars, soft soil that was almost sandy silt, unlike the hard marble of the cave system inside. She’d chosen it, wanting to ease her friend into the challenging things, testing to see where he needed improving and where he was strong. So far, she was pleased with him, and felt he had a great deal of potential and likelihood to move quickly up the ranks, as long as his work ethic matched his skills. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Red for Spar Round 2/2 Age: over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed leather bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather torso armor Companion 1: Mountain lion, Male - Battle Mutation - Offensive: Long upper canines Skills: Expert Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

And the winner is...

Aurielle

Red must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Aurielle: Adjusted roll: 106.4    16.5    32    87 Total: 290.28 Red: Adjusted roll: 109.25    37.95    56    85 Total: 288.20

[Lazuli]

As Red rose up he felt Aurielle's teeth grip his foreleg and tug it inwards towards her chest. With his weight falling forward the torque on his upper body threw him off balance, jerking him forward much faster and with much less control than he'd planned. He desperately gaped his jaws wider to release Aurielle's neck to keep his fangs from sliding along her throat and lacerating it, and the violent movement and moment of distraction threw him even further off balance. With a muffled yelp he found himself flipping forward over Aurielle's shoulder to land with an ungraceful thud on his back opposite where he'd begun, and seeing stars to boot. His breath escaped him in a "whooof" and refused to come back for a long moment before he was able to drag in back in with a gasping gulp. "Yield," he wheezed, "I yield. Spirits, but I can see I have a ways to get back into shape!" He rolled to his belly and rose a little unsteadily though with a smile despite the difficulty in catching the breath that had been knocked out of him. "You fight well, Lady Aurielle. I'd be honored to spar you more often, as time permits."

Aurielle Adravendi

Her counter worked out far more brilliantly than even she had expected it to. Not only did she topple Red, though she felt a scrape of his canines into her skin, but the larger wolf was sent literally flipping over her shoulder to land in the dirt heavily on the ground at her paws—she’d let go out of surprise when she’d seen him go belly up in the air, or his weight might well have dragged her down after him with a thud. She blinked at him, then gave a soft laugh at his declaration. There was no gloating in her eyes or tone, simply a mild, surprised satisfaction. Slowly her haunches lowered to the ground and she cocked her head at him. “I’d enjoy that. Rusty you might be, but I truly do like your potential.” Rising she went to the clear pool of spring water and drank, nodding in offer toward it as she caught the male’s eye. “I’ve been thinking of making armor for myself… any suggestions?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

His smile widened into a grin. "Maybe next time I will give you a better workout. I underestimated how much work I needed." He rolled his shoulders experimentally, and winced at the tenderness. It wouldn't quite bruise, thanks to the relatively soft footing the sand provided, but it was certainly not going to be comfortable for a bit. At least he could breath without wheezing now. A few more minutes and maybe the ache in the top of his skull would go away!

At her question, Red turned his attention to the alpha, sweeping his eyes thoughtfully over her. "Well, you're not going to be taller than a lot of your opponents, so assuming you don't allow yourself to be flipped," he grinned with good-natured humor as he gestured to the Red-sized crater in the sand, "I do not think you'll need armor to protect your throatlatch or belly. The sides of your throat may be at risk, but most often I believe you're likely to face opponents who will aim for your sides - at the throat, or your flanks - or from above, like I did. The back of your neck or your spine. Or your eyes maybe. Between that and the risk your hair poses, I'd suggest a helmet, or a crinet. Maybe something that drapes over your back and flanks, but that would restrict movement and your strength is in your speed. As for material..." He tilted his head thoughtfully, his eyes going unfocused as he considered. "Easiest would be leather. Boiled leather is tough and can be shaped to your body to be more comfortable and efficient. Ancient humans used to use metal, but working metal from scratch just isn't possible for us I'm afraid. Unless you find something humans left behind, I think your best choice will be leather."