OOC: open to any Winterfell wolf or wolves who want to do the fighting prompt.

He'd made his way up north looking for a bit of a break for a while from the pack. As important as it was to him and as paranoid as he was about having them vulnerable and stranded in neutral territory, the responsibility got a bit stifling sometimes and he needed to get away. Sometimes, far away, which meant he would be gone for quite some time and the knowledge of that was making him antsy already when he found himself on the border of a pack that smelled mighty familiar. He stood there a moment trying to place the scent, then smiled grimly. Oh, right, the pack that Tyranis had belonged to when he'd gotten them into a bidding war over Kai. He wondered if he'd managed to bankrupt the pack, though since they were still here they must have muddled through somehow. Interestingly, Tyranis' scent was absent from the scent markers entirely. Maybe the self-righteous albino alpha had finally wised up to that irritant's ways and kicked him to the curb. Now, normally Chaos might have let bygones be bygones since they weren't harboring Tyranis anymore, but Chaos was itching for a fight after all the stress lately. Besides, he was harboring a bit of a grudge himself for the way this pack's alpha had interfered in his bidding. So instead of diverting around the pack land when he found the border, the fanged alpha meandered instead along the border, one foot on either side of the nebulous "line" that delineated the border, singing a jaunty, deliberately-out-of-tune little ditty and weaving back and forth as he did, wondering as he did who would show up to confront him over this.

WC: 283
Total WC: 283

Idalia had taken to going for long walks on her own since Incendio's antlers had fully come in. Their sudden disparate appearances was giving her a personal crisis of faith. Without him to follow like a shadow, Idalia was feeling... lost. Striking out on her own seemed to be the logical answer but so far it had only led to long, frustrating walks along through the pines of Winterfell. Spring hadn't done much to erase the snow that permanently covered the ground of her home but Idalia preferred the quiet that fresh powder provided. The forest floor had always been white to her. Part of the advantage of their snowbound home was that trespassers were decidedly easy to spot. Not that she'd ever encountered one, necessarily - but you could see anyone coming from a mile away. Her ears perked as she caught faint notes of a stranger's lazy song and she redirected herself towards the border to investigate.

When she arrived, Lia saw a large intruder. The pup coughed softly and puffed out her chest. This was the time to be brave. She quivered for a moment, questioning her own resolve, before buckling down to the task at hand. If Ace wasn't around (and she hadn't seen her father in months), she'd just have to deal with it herself. Idalia trotted towards the stranger, her ears perked with interest. She flagged her tail a bit higher than she may have usually. It was the first attempt at "dominance" she'd ever made. "Hey! Are you looking for Acere?" she asked, putting on her most authoritative tone.

wc 265
twc 548/1500

Chaos had been wandering the border and singing in relative solitude, other than the owls who paced him, for a bit of time before a voice drew his attention, and he peered over at the newcomer to the situation. Over, and down, and down, so that he was peering at a petite young wolf who couldn't have been even a year old yet. She wasn't even any taller than Rhythm was. He squinted, rolled his eyes, then with exaggerated care crouched so he was at her level. "Well, kitten, if I was looking for Acere, I certainly wouldn't have any reason to tell a midgety little pipsqueak now would I?" he said, in a clearly false tone of baby-talk. "If this is all Winterfell has to patrol its borders why would I even bother looking for the washed up old bear?" He straightened and stretched. Well, if this was the best Winterfell had to offer, it seemed he needn't have bothered staying at the border, either. Well, he'd just make his own damn fun, then, because he wasn't going to pick a fight with a toddler. Turning deliberately away from the kid, he pushed into a trot deeper into the territory. "Word of advice, little girl," he called back over his shoulder, "Let the grown-ups handle border patrol next time. Beating up babies is no fun for anyone involved."

word count: 229
total word count: 777/1500

Idalia puffed up considerably when he called her kitten. How rude! What would Incendio do...? Well, if it was before his antlers had grown in, he'd probably go and pick a fight. Now she wasn't so sure. He'd been uncommonly timid since his rack had come in and still spent most of his time avoiding her. Lia couldn't help her own feelings of rage and irritation that bubbled up. Those feelings belonged to her alone and without her brother or any adults to counsel, the little girl couldn't help but act rashly. "I'm no kitten, old man!" she retorted, pinning her ears back and giving what she hoped was an intimidating growl. Unfortunately it came out as more of a squeak.

This only fed kindling to the little fire that Chaos had stoked within her. Idalia wasn't sure how she felt about Acere, but Winterfell was her home. She wouldn't let anyone talk down to her about these wild northern lands. She raced to catch up with Chaos, her ears still plastered against her skull. "I'm not a baby, ya bag of wind!" Idalia hissed, snaking towards him to try and grab at his white-tipped tail. Puppies might be easy to beat up but at least their tiny teeth were needle sharp.

Idalia Elementas-Praetor vs Chaos for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Under 1 yr
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter

Things had been pretty quiet for the pack, not many visitors as of late until...well...until he smelled a trail leading towards pack lands. He had been out with his companions in search of precious stones he might be able to integrate into his new armor and feathers to decorate his new helmet. He was wearing them of course to get used to the weight and the feel of them. But when he found that scent trail, he grew suspicious of it. It smelled like a wolf from Legion and the only wolf he sort of knew from there was Valdis, but he knew this definitely wasn't Valdis' scent. He followed after the trail with a narrowed gaze and soon learned that the wolf didn't stop at the borders but instead, continued right on into their pack lands. He was taken aback that someone would so brazenly do that, but then again was he really surprised? He vaguely remembered the scent but couldn't immediately place who it belonged to until he heard voices up ahead. Hurrying forward, he spotted the fiery body of one of his cousins and..."Chaos!" He breathed. He vaguely remembered Legion's alpha from a previous encounter, but other than that didn't know him well.

While the crimson male was generally laid back and friendly, there was something about the words Chaos said and the way he spoke to his younger cousin that made him feel...not so friendly. "I'll show you the best that Winterfell has to offer!" He exclaimed as he charged towards Chaos. The dire wolf male headed straight for the older male, head lowered as he aimed to batter the side of Chaos' body with his newest creation. Simultaneously, he drove his chest forward complete with breastplate and all, to achieve a more reinforced hit with it. Jaws sprung open then, seeking to closed them around the back of Chaos' left elbow. Meanwhile, his wolverine companion sought to aid Idalia with her rear attack, the smaller beast heading straight for Chaos with the intent of ramming his body straight into his hind legs and knocking him on his ass.

Ignis Praetor & Idalia Praetor vs Chaos Saxe for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1yr
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Skull helmet
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bone breastplate armor
Companion 1: Palm cockatoo, Male - Flying
Companion 2: Wolverine, Male - Battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Beginner Healer
Specialty: N/A

Instinct sent his hackles up at the proximity of an enemy even before Sgili called out a warning overhead, and Chaos pivoted neatly to present snapping teeth instead of the tip of his tail that the pup had apparently been aiming for. He sought to close his jaws with a crack in front of the pup's nose rather than actually make contact with her, thinking that frightening her off would work just as well.

Good thing, too, since turning was what gave him the chance to see Ignis coming, and see the armor the brightly colored wolf wore before he closed the distance. Chaos sprang backwards, avoiding Ignis' charge and, hopefully, getting the younger wolf tangled up with his own companion and packmate. "You again?" he asked with idle curiosity, aiming to slash his oversized fangs at Ignis' hip as the words left his throat.

From above and behind Ignis, Heecha dove suddenly to seek to grasp the back of the odd bony helmet the crimson wolf wore in an attempt to flip it over his face and blind him, while the owl's mate continued to circle above them to watch for any more Winterfell wolves - or sneak attacks.

CHAOS vs IDALIA and IGNIS for DOMINANCE

Round 1/2

Age: over 1 year

Size: extra-large

Build: medium

Offensive Accessory: N/A

Defensive Accessory: N/A

Companion 1: male great-horned owl - flying

Companion 2: female great-horned owl - battle

Mutation: saberteeth (attack)

Disability: N/A

Skills: Beginner Hunter & Intermediate Fighter

Specialty: N/A

word count: 200
total word count: 1,542

Chaos teeth snapped shut with an audible "click" just millimeters from her nose. Idalia yipped in surprise, stumbling backwards on her haunches. He was quicker than she'd expected for a bag of bones. Luckily, Ignis came running pell mell to her rescue. She was feeling a bit irritated that he felt the need to interfere, but the smarter part of her brain told her that she was badly outnumbered and outclassed. The Legion alpha had two huge owls assisting him, and Lia had... well, no one. But Ignis was here now! As he charged towards Chaos, Idalia scuttled back out of the way. She'd be of better assistance from the sidelines. Probably. Idalia snarled and scared exactly no one. The page pinned her ears and did her best to circle around Chaos, trying to box him in towards Ignis' flashing teeth. Occasionally she darted in and tried to nip at his heels. If she could just keep him on his toes, maybe Ignis could land a blow that would send him running.

Idalia Elementas-Praetor and Ignis vs Chaos for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Under 1 yr
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Skills: Beginner Fighter

Well, his surprise attack hadn't worked too well but that didn't matter. He wasn't exactly the type to fight dirty which was why he had said something as he was coming in. Mainly though, he wanted to draw Chaos' attention to him and away from Idalia. He knew this would be a good experience for her. To learn and observe and of course, assist. He'd do his best to keep her from getting hurt. When he saw Chaos threaten her, however, his rationality kind of went out the window. At first, he would have been okay with sending Chaos off with a warning, but now he wasn't so keen on that. The old man had threatened a child, and now Ignis was inclined to teach him a lesson!

Although Chaos had sprung back and away from him, Ignis kept his momentum and sprung over his comrades, ignoring the pain from Chaos' teeth and instead, lowered his head further to slam it into the older wolf like a battering ram. The owl going after him was intercepted by his cockatoo, the exotic bird swooping in and attempting to block the owl and offering a cacophony of sounds that his cockatoo companion was often famous for around these parts. He sought to grab one of Chaos' legs with his own teeth then, snarling with anger and adrenaline and ignored any pain he had and would likely receive.

Ignis Praetor & Idalia vs Chaos for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: over 1yr
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Skull helmet
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bone breastplate armor
Companion 1: Palm cockatoo, Male - Flying
Companion 2: Wolverine, Male - Battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Beginner Healer
Specialty: N/A

Chaos continued backpedaling as the crimson red male came towards him, uncaring whether the pup got in the way - it would serve her right if she got stepped on trying to pretend to do grown up stuff. When Ignis lowered his head to try to ram him, though, Chaos reared up sligtly and flung his forelegs out stiffly, aiming to slam them down on the skull helmet the male wore with the intention of driving his head towards the ground between his own weight and Ignis' momentum. Commecting with the other male would likely send him skidding back but Chaos expected it and braced himself ao that his hind legs would slide in the dirty slushy muck rather than letting the strike bowl him over. As he did he snapped his jaws forward, seeking to grasp his haws on either side of the back of Ignis' neck halfway back to avoid the skull helmet.

CHAOS vs IDALIA and IGNIS for DOMINANCE

Round 2/2

Age: over 1 year

Size: extra-large

Build: medium

Offensive Accessory: N/A

Defensive Accessory: N/A

Companion 1: male great-horned owl - flying

Companion 2: female great-horned owl - battle

Mutation: saberteeth (attack)

Disability: N/A

Skills: Beginner Hunter & Intermediate Fighter

Specialty: N/A

And the winner is...

CHAOS

Idalia and Ignis must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Idalia: 158.19 (45.1 90 33 18) Incendio: 178.44 (2.4 38.4 54 53.9) Team Average: 168.32 Chaos: 282.26 (72.5 39.9 87 57.2)

His jaws snapped together without catching hold since his paws managed to plant on top of Ignis' helmet and the resulting momentum shift nearly sent him rolling over Ignis' back. Instead he shoved off with his hindquarters and used the helmet as a launch platform to vault over the younger wolf to land neatly beyond his tail. Without missing a beat or turning to see whatever chaos he might be leaving behind him, he flagged his tail and - head at a cocky height- pranced back over the border and onwards. He didn't need to look back to know he had won. That was the problem with puppies getting involved, they just got in the way and cost their side the fight. Well, maybe the humiliation would get the Winterfell pup chewed out - in which case, he was entirely satisfied. He did hope the story got back to Acere. He wondered of he would get a visit from an irate alpha in the near future. Definitely would liven things up. For now he was satisfied, though, and set back out towards Legion's temporary digs.

-exit Chaos-