H E S T E R

Hester stepped into the arena on the pack grounds, tail wagging behind her as adrenaline pumped through her veins. The wind was light as it ruffled her fur, and the midday sun would have been harsh were it not for the cool breeze coming from the sea nearby. Her paws, while buried in wrist-high grass, sat in front of her as she settled on her haunches and tipped her snout to the sky, howling to summon Sirius. The one thing, the only thing, that she required of a leader was the strength to lead. For this reason, she'd decided, she wanted to test the mettle of the wolf who'd invited her into the fold of his pack.

She wanted to measure the caliber of the man she was to follow, as any great warrior should, so she waited for her call to be answered and willed her breath to stay slow.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

He was amused and pleased to realise his newest warrior had already found the pack arena. Perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised, their first meeting had already been somewhat explosive, with the bear they had taken together. He had made sure the bear pelt had been delivered to her door, so she could do with it as she pleased. After all, taking it down wouldn’t have been possible without her help.

The crunch of leaves beneath his paws changed to shifting sand, as he made his way to the small beach that was a part of his territory. He looked out at the morning sun as it hit the horizon, always more aesthetically pleasing on the beach than the long grasses of his main territory. He continued his walk, and reached the Arena in short time, stepping into the ring, the course sand beneath his feet washed clean from the regular rising of the tide.

“Hester” he said in pleasant greeting. “I do hope you like the taste of sand in the morning.” He teased. He knew exactly why she was here, and would be quick to accommodate her. “Stepping outside of the arena is a forfeit. No low blows” he said, explaining the rules of the game to her. He had already had a novice try for his tender parts, he didn’t need a repeat it what was essentially a practice match - even if it did hold high expectations for the both of them.

"Speech"

Sirius Fatalis vs Hester for Spar
Round 0/2
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture - extra large - Male - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Offensive: Fangs
Skills: Master Fighter & beginner Hunter
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

H E S T E R

It wasn't long before her call was answered, and Hester case a wicked grin when Sirius greeted her. The chestnut woman stood, placing her paws a firm distance away from her body as she evened her balance out. For a brief moment, the world fell away and there was only the beginnings of adrenaline as it pumped through her veins, her paws digging in the sand beneath as she readied for battle, and her opponent. Then it was gone, as quickly as it'd come, and Hester laughed.

"Don't let that confidence get you bitten, old man," Hester retorted and took a step forward, the call of battle sharp a consistent. "Low blows? I'd never dream of it." And with that, Hester strode forward, her gait picking up speed as she moved. Head low, ears pinned against her head, and hackles raised, she charged at Sirius, eyes narrowed against the morning sun. As much as Hester would like to be true to her word, she was very much aware that Sirius stood heads taller than her; meeting him head on in a battle of strengths would quickly turn the spar in his favor. And she couldn't make it that easy for him, could she?

Her jaws opened, she aimed to latch onto the left side of his neck, simultaneously swiveling her rear to her right to avoid any grabs in return that he might attempt. Her tail was flaggin behind her, aiding in balance as she moved.

Hester vs Sirius Fatalis for Spar
Round 1/2
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: N/A
Defensive Battle Accessory: N/A
Companion 1: N/A
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: N/A
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Beginner
Specialty: N/A

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

He only grinned at her gentle bantering, the noise almost familiar, and something he had missed. He hadn’t had a battle comrade in a while, what with the way he had accidentally surrounded himself with healers.

She easily agreed to avoid low blows and his man parts would be thankful. They didn’t want any more abuse, and he was almost surprised Zee hadn’t tried to remove them yet. He let out a soft breath, centering himself in the combat to come, and kept his eyes carefully fixed upon her. He watched as she moved, picking up speed and closing the distance between them in a few heartbeats. The arena wasn’t built to give them a great deal of moving room.

She aimed to latch her teeth onto his neck, and he allowed her the hit. He bunched his neck, rolled his shoulders, to ensure she grabbed mostly fat and fluff in her jaws. She anticipated him to use his teeth - an easy guess, with the way he was blessed with large fangs. That was hardly his only play, and as he watched her move, he brought up his leg, aiming to shove his knee into her front right forepaw. As he did so, he twisted just right to pop out the knife hidden in his braces, and grazed it against the space just above her ankle.
As he made the motion, he pulled in his head, trying to drag her forward if she wished to keep her latch on his neck, and pull her off her center of gravity.

"Speech"

Sirius Fatalis vs Hester for Spar
Round 1/2
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture - extra large - Male - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Offensive: Fangs
Skills: Master Fighter & beginner Hunter
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

H E S T E R

Her attack struck true, but Hester drove down the satisfaction that welled in her gut so that she could focus on the task at hand. She'd moved to avoid the vicious teeth that he'd killed the bear with only days before, and it seemed that that had been a prudent move. Though, she felt more than saw that she hadn't managed to grab any muscle in my maw, Hester was fine with that. She was sure to hold on tightly enough to perhaps bruise but not so much as to break skin.

She felt a sharp sensation against the ankle, just above her paw, and she started in surprise, jaw loosened for just a moment, and in the next breath, Hester's front paws scrambled. Her center was thrown for but a moment, and her back paws shoved forward to re-establish her balance and keep her hold on Sirius' neck as she aimed to simultaneously again tighten the grip she'd had on his neck. Her tail wheeled in an effort to help her keep her balance, and her ears were pinned as she narrowed her eyes in a glare at the man. Hackles stood in the midst of battle, waving in the light wind coming off the sea nearby.

Hester vs Sirius Fatalis for Spar
Round 2/2
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: N/A
Defensive Battle Accessory: N/A
Companion 1: N/A
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: N/A
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Beginner
Specialty: N/A

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

He had surprised her with his knife, he caught that in her stiffened movement. He made a mental note to show her his knives later, she might wish for such a contraption herself, now that she was one of his warriors.

She fought to keep her grip on her neck. She had made the shot, and seemed more attached to it then she should be. That was fine, he would use that against her. He tossed his head back as far as it could go, shoving his weight into his back feet as he used his colossal weight against her. If he succeeded in pulling her off her weight or cost her her grip on him, he would lunge.

He would intend to shove his weight against her front-to-right side, and shove her further off balance. Fully over, if he was capable of it. Anything he could do to show his dominance in the battle.

"Speech"

Sirius Fatalis vs Hester for Spar
Round 2/2
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture - extra large - Male - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
Mutation - Offensive: Cat claws
Mutation - Offensive: Fangs
Skills: Master Fighter & beginner Hunter
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

And the winner is...

SIRIUS

HESTER must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Adjusted rolls: 97 9.9 71 12 HESTER'S total is.. 189.9 Adjusted rolls: 55.8 47.3 21 31.9 SIRIUS' total is.. 195

H E S T E R

Hester grinned as she released Sirius, dropping her defenses and tossing her head back in a laugh. "About as expected," she said in an easy tone. Briefly, she bared a portion of her neck, conceding the victory and its spoils to the other wolf. She hadn't expected to win when she'd laid the challenge at his feet; in fact, if she had, disappointment would have been a close companion in her exit back into the outside world. She craved a pack; this much was true. But how long could a pack stand with a wolf so easily toppled at the head of it?

No; it was better that she lost. She'd found a place with a leader that she liked. A place to grow into while she finally set out to find her goals in this world. Survival had been the only goal since she'd been left on her own. For once, she'd like to thrive.

With that, she looked at Sirius, her grin still in place as she backed away a few paces. "Any comments on my form, sire?" she asked jokingly.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

He smirked back at the wolf, especially when she abred her neck to prove her defeat. He pressed his nose against it, offering her no harm. He looked across the bridge of his muzzle to her, his smile fond, protective. She had a warrior's spirit, but not many could defeat him in battle. That was why he was the leader. To protect those beneath him, and that now included Hester.

He was finding himself rather liking Hester, and was glad he had stumbled upon her - quite literally too, in fact. She was welcome in his pack, and he hoped to see her thrive here.
“Hmm…” he mused, when she asked for his advice. “Get good, my peasant.” he said, leaping forward and jabbing her with a paw, before prancing away again. Big and hulkling as he was, it wasn’t a delicate motion. “Come on, let's go poke some more bears” or maybe just border patrol and see what comes their way.

H E S T E R

Hester snorted at his words, and threw her head in a delicate motion, joking displeasure in her eyes. "Peasant?" she scoffed. "You'll earn yourself another spar if you keep mouthing off, old man." Her tail wagged behind her in ease, and the wind in her fur was gentle, the sounds of sea and gulls nearby a relaxing background noise to the interaction. She shifted her step when he poked her in the chest, and she looked at the taller wolf in mild amusement.

"More bears?" she asked, rolling her eyes. "I've only got one good ear left, Sirius." Funnily enough, it was only the left ear that was still whole. She flicked her halved right ear. "I take pride in my battle scars, but I would actually prefer to keep at least one ear whole." It wasn't a denial; Hester would wholeheartedly take on another bear and deal with whatever was left of herself afterwards. The call of battle sung sharply in her heart, and she took a step towards the border.

"Perhaps, though," Hester said, eagerness clear in her voice. "Perhaps, just one more won't hurt."

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

She took his banting in good stride, and he smirked at the smaller wolf. She was a far cry from any sort of peasant, of course. She was a warrior, and it showed. “What do you need two ears for anyway?’ he asked, feeling the familiarity of a battle companion slide over him. It had been a long time since he had connected to a fighter on this level. Back when the Ashen Empire was fighting wars, he had fought side by side wolves like her. And wolves that weren't worth the salt their bodies left on the soil. He definitely prefered those to the likes of Hester. He was glad to have her at his side.

“Your an addict” he laughed, when she admitted one more wouldn’t be so bad. Together, the two of them began to patrol the borders of the Armada. He wondered how familiar she was thus far over the territory. She hadn’t been her long, after all. He took them towards the border that connected them to the Ashen Empire, and then down towards the sea. They walked by his barracks and training arena, then up towards Weeping Woods. All the while keeping a lookout for anything threatening enough to justify killing.

H E S T E R

"You'll brook no argument from me," she said at his accusation -- which would only be an accusation if it were wrong. She followed him along the border and noted that the Armada's border was against another pack's. She scanned the area but noted no other wolves. "Why is the Armada so close to another pack?" she asked wearily. It seemed like it was a way to start a war quickly over something as meaningless as territory. Then again, after spending the better part of her three years nomadic, perhaps land didn't have the same meaning to Hester.

When you had a pack with young and elderly wolves who couldn't travel very often, perhaps land was something were fighting over.

She noted the positions of the buildings as they went, memorizing the lay of the land. It would come in hand if something happened and she needed to move quickly.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

He laughed lightly at her weary voice. Ah yes, he hadn’t explained their heritage to her, he supposed. “The Ashen Armada is an offshoot from the Ashen Empire” he said, emphasising their similarities in names. He walked as he spoke, painting a picture of their world for her. “I was Deathbelle’s guard, when I reached a point where I needed a pack of my own, I split from the Empire to create the Armada, but my loyalty and protection is still hers. So long as she is Empress, our alliance stands.” he explained easily. He didn’t go into further detail - like how he had trained her daughter and heir from the moment she was old enough to lead the den. His loyalty would be to Venom, as well.

They passed the training grounds, and made their way closer to the Weeping Woods, and he took to scenting the air. The North and East of his pack were ‘unprotected’ the rest either lined up against the Empire, or the ocean. If they were going to run into trouble, it would be here.

H E S T E R

Hester perked her ears at the information, nodding to let him know she'd heard him. She noted the name of the wolf he'd given -- Deathbelle -- and wondered, briefly, if she would meet her one day. If Cato, the goddess of fate and death, willed it, then she supposed she would soon enough. The air coming off the sea had a bite in it that spoke of fall and the change coming to the world around them with its passing. Hester stopped, giving her body a shake as it sent shivers down her spine.

There was open land ahead, and she scented the air, not noticing any unfamiliar scents, though a whiff of prey did come to her. Her stomach growled, and she cast a look at Sirius. "Perhaps a meal is in order," she said on a quiet laugh. The spar had indeed worked up a good appetite, she realized.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

She offered no complaints to the arrangement the pack had with Deathbelle, which was just as well. The Warlord was loyalty to his previous master, and arguing with him over it would be akin to banging your head on a tree; not likely to get you anywhere, but certain to get you a headache.

The scents off the ocean were refreshing as they passed the sea by, and as they got closer to the woods, the Warlord would also catch the scent of prey. He laughed at her growling stomach and admittance to a desire to eat. “Alright” he agreed, always happy to hunt.

He sniffed the air a few times, determining that the creature they both had scented was a goose. A bastard of an animal, but slow to get into the air. If they were careful, they should be able to bring it down. He crouched down low in the foliage as he determined how far away their prey was.

H E S T E R

Hester said nothing, but her agreement was in the way she followed Sirius, bringing herself low into the underbrush. Whatever scent of prey she'd caught was a scent that the other wolf had determined was their quarry for the day. It smelled similar to duck, though not exactly the same, and Hester was driven to step cautiously forward by the hunger gnawing at her ribs now that she'd taken notice of it.

If their prey was anything like a duck, she assumed it'd be wily and irate. Ducks, for all their size and delicate bones, were confident little things with the attitude of a predator with more teeth than it had. She caught sight of movement ahead and narrowed her eyes at the all white bird with and orange beak, legs, and webbed feet. What the hell is that? Hester ceased her movements as she studied it closely, and another joined the one she'd spotted. She willed her stomach to stop its complaints -- otherwise, it'd be hungry for a while longer.

She continued watching the two birds as she waited for Sirius. He'd seemed to know what the scent was and what it would lead them to; that meant he likely knew what the two birds actually were and quite possibly how to take them down.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

Sirius caught sight of the geese a moment after she did, and he nodded his head, looking at the two large birds thoughtfully. He would prefer to take down both if he was able. The feathers would make a lovely softness to any blankets his members might decide to make for themselves. He took pride in keeping his stores stocked up on all sorts of supplies and comforts for his people. Even if he and Zee would never actively seek out feathers again, not after the drama that came from them the last time…

He cleared his thoughts, nodding his head to Hester as he settled in on her left. “You take the one on the right” he whispered softly. “The key is to startle them before they can fly, and they are slow to get into the air. They are also aggressive, and bitey, but hey if they chose to engage rather than fly, easier for us.” he whisper-laughed. “You ready?”

H E S T E R

His words filtered into her ears, and Hester nodded silently, veering to the right with her own golden eyes focused on the bird closest to her. She was low to the ground as she stalked slowly closer to her quarry, and when she was only a few feet away, Hester dug her paws into the soil. She exposed herself in one swift movement, leaping forward as she threw a paw to knock her bird off balance. It's wings flared wide, as it hissed at her, and she bared her teeth, holding her ground as the bird struck, quick as lightening, nipping into her left shoulder.

She didn't feel any blood, although the spot was sore, and she growled and leapt again, teeth sinking into its neck. No matter where she went, birds were the same. She wrenched her head to the side, snapping its neck as quickly as she could. She was no cat, to play with her food before the kill. The hunt was not for enjoyment; it was to satisfy as baser need that begged to be fulfilled.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

Sirius angled to the left, sneaking about the quarry, and waited until he was sure Hester had time to get into place. He leaped about the same moment she did, smacking the bird with one heavy paw. He squawked in surprise, even as he heard Hester’s hiss.

It didn’t quite fall, despite the bouncing he had given its head, and it snaked the long appendage about, hissing and prepared to strike. It’s wings flared upwards, and he wasn’t sure if it was for intimidation or flight. He struck again, grabbing it by the throat with his feline-like claws, and slamming it into the earth. His fangs moved down in the same motion, and tore out its throat.

He looked up to see Hester had managed much the same with her kill, and gave her a bloody smile. “Good hunting” he complimented her.