When she had made the decision to leave her precious homeland and follow her cousin to a distant land, she didn't picture this. For a land where she was suppose to forge a new path and find honor for her family, she imagined more fertile soil, bluer skies, and plenty of wolves around. But ever since she tried to find her way to Valkyrie's hoard, she had not seen a single wolf. The further south she traveled, the darker the horizon got and the less interested she became. Finally, Slyvia had enough. The brunette female found a flat land where the sweet scent of war seemed to be caked into the very dirt and sat down. She folded her hind legs and let out a huff as she set her rump into the dirt. She needed an outlet for her energy, and she knew one way that always satisfied her. While eventually someone was going to have to pass through here, but in hopes of speeding up the process, the woman would tilt her head back and attempt to call forward an opponent. 

It was time to see what challenges this land held for her. 

"Sylvia"

Aurielle Adravendi

She hadn’t been here to spar since her yearling winter. But now, she felt the need to sharpen her skills. Although it was nearer to Mt Volkan than she might have liked, what with Winter’s eruption, she hadn’t felt any tremors for a long time now, and Druid’s Moor was safe to be in as far as she was concerned. Not only did the need to work on her skills bring her here, but the need to work off the agony in her heart. Anything to ease the hurt of loss. So, she’d donned her armor, Ayodele having braided and tucked her mane away under the neck guard for safe keeping and come here. The blades on her bracers clinked occasionally on stones as she moved, and it wasn’t long before she was treated to a call for a fight and let her course veer to follow it. The caller was another woman, perhaps younger than herself if the scent was anything to go by. Aurielle nodded with a brief smile – mostly an instinctive one, since her heart felt anything but happiness at the moment – and asked, “You called for a spar?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

She didn't need to wait long, before she knew it, a figure appeared in the distance. At first the stranger seemed like a mirage, just a pale wave on the horizon. But as the stranger got closer and more details came into view, it became obvious this would be no average opponent. Though the female that approached was smaller in stature, the stranger was adored in battle armor unlike any Sylvia had seem before. A shimmering gleam of pale white, as if a the spirit of a warrior came to answer her call from beyond the grave. Out of all the images she had picture for her opponent, this was not anywhere close to what she had imagined. Suddenly the woman spoke, and Sylvia was shaken from spirited thoughts with a small chuckle falling off her lips. "Yes, though for a moment I thought you were a spirit." She shook her head at her silliness before lifting her head and glancing at the woman's beautiful armor. "Where is the war, lovely?" If there was a battle to take place, Sylvia wanted to know about it, but if the other woman only adorned herself in armor for this spar, then Sylvia had her work cut out for her. "You must tell me the name of your blacksmith, after this." Sylvia had wanted her own armor for a long time now, but lacked the material or knowledge on how to properly craft such attire. But surely this woman knew, or knew the name of a wolf who did. 

"Sylvia"

Aurielle Adravendi

It was hard to miss the surprise her appearance brought the large earth and chocolate woman. However, by now, Aurielle was used to the reactions. It was a lack of reaction that surprised her these days. She let a smile fall on her features as the larger woman shook herself and responded. Ironic, she thought, that the woman had thought her a spirit, considering her rank’s name in her pack. “In a way, you aren’t wrong. I am the Spirit, or Alphess, of Valhalla.” She noted the study of her armor and at the query, she chuckled softly, even if her heart didn’t feel the humor. “None, yet. I’m rather new to wearing it, and should there be a serious fight, I’d like to be well adjusted by the time it hits. I made it myself, with the help of my companions.” She shifted to face the other woman, giving a subtle roll of her shoulder-blades beneath the armor, adjusting to the feel of it over her hackles as she lifted them, smiling through bared canines and parted jaws as she offered, “Your move first, if you like, miss…” She trailed off in query of the other’s name as she settled lightly into a ready stance, squared and toes spread for further balance, tail raising level with her spine, long hairs fluttering along its length under the breeze. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs (Sylvia) for (Spar) Round 0/3? 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

Hearing that this female was an alpha, but also called a Spirit, confused her for a moment. But what really threw the russet woman for a loop, was noting that she was the leader of Valhalla. "Uh.. Valhalla? The Great Hall?" She questioned, desperately trying to clarify her confusion. While it wouldn't be the first time the Gods or various religious aspects had been Incorporated into the mortal world. However if this strange wolf was from the actual Valhalla, then this spar meant a great deal more than a mere crossing between two strangers. While there were cause for hesitation, Sylvia tried to reason with herself that the Gods would not descend onto this plane for a mere spar, their work far too great for the mere mortal realm.

Shaking off her fears, Sylvia tried to focus more on the armor she would have to face. She would nod her head in understanding, but she was pleased to hear the woman was new to the armor. That meant that just maybe, maybe, she had a chance. When warriors of her homeland upgraded their armor and weapons, it normally took them a few different spars until they were comfortable using them. "You should be proud of yourself and your companions. It is truly remarkable." She would praise, her words honest as she dreamed herself in such attire. However as beautiful as the equipment was, Sylvia found herself envisioning battle armor for herself more simple, and less shiny.

Suddenly the Alpha shifted her stance, and offered the first move to be Sylvia's. It was a great honor, and she nodded her crown, smiling faintly. "Sylvia. Thank you, Alpha Spirit." With that, the russet woman shook her coat, attempting to rid herself of nerves as they began their spar. Violet eyes scanned over the armor, noting how it covered her usual targets; the neck, the front legs, the ribs and shoulders. It offered a new challenge to the warrior, one she was happy to undertake. Finding her target, Sylvia would lay her ears against her crown, and tilt her chin down to cover her throat. She would sprint at the Spirit, appearing head on until she was only a couple feet away, at which point she would pivot and dart to the right as she sought to slam into the Alpha's left side to offset her balance. At the same time, Sylvia would lash out with her right paw and seek to connect with the Spirit's left stifle. With so much guarded, the viking woman had little choice but to attack areas otherwise unprotected.

"Sylvia"

Sylvia Ada Bjork vs Aurielle for Spar
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

Aurielle had renamed Celestial to Valhalla in honor of the original pack that had come all the way from the old land, fleeing the eruption of Mount Animi. As far as religion, she was unaware of the Viking beliefs, and what an alarm introducing herself as the Spirit of Valhalla might induce. A brief smile flowed over her features, more genuine as she corrected lightly, “It’s a pack in the west. We value loyalty and ambition, as well as hard work and honor, and innovation.” The compliment was accepted with an easy nod, even as one of the companions made his arrival, grumbling under his breath about wayward pups. The mountain lion cast an enquiring glance at her, asking if she wished for his involvement in the spar. She flicked an ear, dismissing the offer, and the cat nodded to the brown female before moving off to the side, out of the invisible ring of battle, signaling that he was no threat. The brown woman introduced herself, and Aurielle returned in kind, even as she flowed forward with the other woman’s following attack. “Aurielle Adravendi. Pleasure.” She danced on light paws with a bound, covering the distance in time with Sylvia, her own defenses falling into place as she watched the other’s muscles and eyes. As Sylvia broke from her head-on charge, Aurielle pivoted to her own left to meet the slam of her opponent squarely with the point of her armored left shoulder, ducking low and aiming upward with her slamming thrust in an effort to unbalance the other – larger – woman as she caught the movement of Sylvia’s paw from the corner of her eye. She shifted her frame and hind end to her own right, letting the paw miss her form. Simultaneously, she lashed out like a viper with a practiced aim for the larger woman’s right shoulder, seeking to slice her upper canines into Sylvia’s shoulder, though not in any effort to seriously harm the other. Minor lacerations were her most severe intention. Her weight shifted to her other three legs as her left front paw snapped up and sought to slam down on the toes of Sylvia’s left forepaw, aiming to bruise the toes and dig her claws into the webbing between them for mild discomfort. Spar or not, Aurielle had not been trained to hold too much back in her spars. Privately, she hoped her opponent understood that. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Sylvia for Spar Round 1/3 Age: 1+ 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

It made more sense that there was a mortal pack named after such a heavenly place, if not a bit amusing to the chocolate woman. The pack was most certainly a mere shadow of the true Valhalla, as she doubted the great hall of warriors could be recreated on this plane. Nevertheless, at least it meant she wasn't sparring off with an actual warrior spirit. Not to say this Aurielle Adravendi did not carry a warrior spirit, for there was no doubt in Sylvia's mind that the white witch carried such a fierce soul. But her confidence felt more intact knowing it was another mortal facing her, and when they the two connected, she was thankful not to pass right through the other woman's ghostly frame. Sylvia's bare shoulder connecting with the armored plate caused a ripple of pain to echo down through her arm, making the woman grimace with an audible grunt. While it had been her hope to catch the white lady off guard, Sylvia was not surprised someone with such attire would be able to detect such a simple manoover. Still, ouch. As if that wasn't enough to injure the chocolate woman's ego, missing Aurielle's stifle when she moved caused her right paw to swipe against thin air, the weight she put in behind the attack forcing her leg to slam against the ground with a harsh thud.

Out of her left eye, she saw Aurielle's crown reaching across to Sylvia's right shoulder, which gave the chocolate woman a chance at the Spirit's head. Sylvia would aim to intercept Aurielle as she crossed, trying to find placement for her upper jaw on top of the white woman's skull and her lower jaw to hook under the alpha's mandible; her pressure only enough to deter the woman from biting Sylvia, not to cause actual damage. Caught up in the more alarming attack, Sylvia was not aware of Aurielle's intent for her left paw until it was already slamming into her flesh, causing more pain to shoot up her left front leg. Sylvia let out another grunt, upset with herself for not being more aware of her opponents moves. With her left paw pinned, Sylvia had only her right front to strike with. Shifting her weight more onto her left front and left hind, Sylvia would reach out with her right front and try to catch the region between Aurielle's armor and the crease of her elbow in a hope to push the white woman off of her pinned leg. What was the old saying? Tiny but mighty?  It would seem despite Sylvia's obvious height advantage, the little alpha from Valhalla had quite the shield-maiden within her.

"Sylvia"

Sylvia Ada Bjork vs Aurielle for Spar
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

Aurielle Adravendi

The chocolate female’s counter was met with a flash of fangs as Aurielle diverted from her slash for the woman’s shoulder, aiming to wrap her long-fanged jaws around Sylvia’s muzzle, her upper jaw aiming to lay across the woman’s muzzle, lower jaw remaining parted to refrain from real damage should she capture her opponent’s muzzle. The shift in weight alerted her to Sylvia’s bid with her right forepaw, and the shimmering Spirit relinquished the pinning hold of the woman’s left front paw in favor of swaying back, hoping to let the larger woman’s weight shift to far toward Aurielle as she simultaneously shifted her weight to her hind and, rear claws digging into the ground, toes spreading for balance and traction as her tail swept out in a banner behind her as a rudder. Her right foreleg sought to snap over Sylvia’s back as she rose in a slight rear, hoping to catch the larger wolf off guard and yank her further off balance—perhaps even to topple the woman to the ground. Sylvia’s paw did score a touch, leaving a faint scratch on the leather , right at the edge and taking a little fur from the young woman’s coat where it fluffed out from under the edge of her armor. Meanwhile, her left foreleg snapped sharply up, hardened leather bracered ankle bent and aiming to chop up into the larger woman’s throat, hoping to choke off her wind and startle her. Aurielle Rhiannon Marie Adravendi vs Sylvia for Spar Round 2/3 Age: (Only include: over 1 year, under 1 year, or under 6 months as applicable) 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

To have Aurielle divert her attack from the brown woman's shoulder to her muzzle was a smart move, Sylvia thought to herself as she allowed her jaws to snap close in the air. Time seemed to move slow for the viking woman as she attempted to avoid the jaws of her opponent, jerking her head backward as the sharps of the white woman's canine grazed over top Sylvia's muzzle and scratched into the skin enough to part the hair and draw superficial blood. It seemed like a fair trade as the chocolate woman suddenly felt the weight being lifted off of her pinned paw. With her paw no longer pinned, Sylvia favored to balance her stance, shifting the weight off of her left side and sharing the load evenly with all four of her paws. Finally, she could breathe for a moment. But it was a very short moment.

Not soon after the white alpha was swinging a front leg into the air, most likely to land on Sylvia's spine. However with her balance returned, the brown woman was able to pivot on her front legs, swinging her hind quarters to the left and out of the shorter woman's reach. Sylvia would push her weight back onto her hind and use the power in her thighs to lurch herself forward, hoping to slam into Aurielle's left shoulder and attempt to topple the smaller fae to the ground. It was the glint of her armor that caught the purple eye of the viking, alerting her to another attack. While in close range, Sylvia knew she would not be able to avoid the hit completely, but she could divert the injury to something less vital. So the woodland colored fae lifted her right foreleg to intercept the attack, allowing the sharp claw of her bracer to connect with her shin. Pain crawled over her flesh where the metal connected, and instantly Sylvia knew this wound was going to be a pain for the next several days.

Gritting teeth, Sylvia would have one more shot to pin the alpha, so she would twist her right foreleg, letting the bracer grind against her flesh as she would hope to slam her paw down on top of the bracer, aiming to force Aurielle's left foreleg down, and if Sylvia was lucky enough, even pin it. With Sylvia's weight placed into her front end, the chocolate woman would squeeze her ears against her skull and squint her eyes as she would attempt to swing out with her left paw and find purchase on the leather of Aurielle's torso, hoping to knock the woman to the ground. There was a burning beginning to form in her lungs, alerting Sylvia that this spar was going to come to an end; with either Sylvia getting lucky, or falling to the alpha of Valhalla.

"Sylvia"

Sylvia Ada Bjork vs Aurielle for Spar
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Light
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Intellectual
Specialty: N/A