It had taken a lot of pleading and puppy eyed stares but eventually Ophie managed to talk Hanako into escorting her to the battlefield. The last time she'd been here she'd gotten her butt well and truly whomped and honestly she was still very very embarrassed by her performance. She had tried her best and given it all but all the other puppies that attended, Gos included, all just seemed to naturally know what they were doing. Ophie was a good girl, she attended her parents training sessions and did her best to live up to the Fatalis name but it was such a heavy burden to bare. Maybe she wasn't meant to be part of the family, or at least not in the same way her siblings were.

Ah well! There was no reason for her not to try again, to test her mettle against other pups and hope for a better outcome this time.

Her coat was, as always, streaked in mud and muck as she walked along side the pristine and really pretty Hanako! After telling Ophie "to go ahead and do your thing" the koi wolf pulled back and settled atop a little mound, clearly not interested in dirtying her paws. Fair enough. Tipping her head back she let out a soft and choppy little awoo, hoping someone would want to come and play with her.

The second she'd stepped onto this plain Kaija was struck with the feeling that she probably shouldn't be here, at least not alone. Or at all? She wasn't sure. This place had a creepy air to it that suddenly struck her but stubborn Kaija wouldn't take her own gut instincts as truth. She was just being dramatic, surely. It was just a big field, just like the one back home; what could possibly be bad about this place? Pushing through the sudden unease that gripped her, the oversized pup ambled on, trekking over bloodstained grass and rubble with all the courage of someone who had absolutely no clue the dangers that lurked all around her.

She was painfully naive, and that was exactly why she wasted no time in heading to a call when she heard one. The voice belonged to a kid, at least that was what it sounded like, which seemed to ease all of her worries instantaneously. Someone was here, and that someone sounded like they wanted to play. Sweet! Happily she trotted on and swiftly closed the distance between herself and the stranger, beaming from ear to ear once she came into view. "Hey! You tryna play?!" Kaija called out, tusked head bobbing as she clambered up the little mound of dirt that Ophelia was standing on, eager to get to know her.

Ophie wasn't a very patient girl, being a princess and all, but she wasn't left waiting for that long.  Soon enough a pup who looked to be about roughly her age came bounding along, carrying such an air of excitement that was just so infectious Ophie couldn't help but grin along in turn. She wiggled on the spot, not able to contain her glee at the thought of making another friend, someone who actually seemed just as happy to see her! Despite the cold season it made her feel all warm and bubbly in side as she loped closer, her tail wagging in a dark blur.

"Yeah!" Ophie cheeped, bending down into a play bow as she started things off with a bat to the stranger's muzzle. Her tusks were a little scary looking but they didn't bother her too much given that lots of her family had sharp pointy teeth! They were similar but also not, somehow curved in away sabres just weren't. "Gonna getcha!"

(companions aren't present)

Ophelia Fatalis vs Kaija  for spar
Round 1/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - offensive
Skills: Intermediate Hunter & Advanced Fighter
Specialty: N/A

Any nervousness that this place had started to instill within her was quickly forgotten in the presence of another pup. She noticed an adult not too far off too, which eased any nerves tenfold. As independent as she was, she knew the world was still dangerous - especially when she trekked off on her own. Usually those were risks she was willing to take, but she was still comforted by the thought that someone made save her hide if she made a stupid decision. The key word being might.

"Cool!" Kaija exclaimed back quickly. She wanted to be a strong fighter just like her mom, so this was a good place to start, right? She hoped this was what she was supposed to be doing. She made an effort to dodge her paw but, surprised by the movement, she failed. In retaliation, she lifted a paw of her own, coated in dirt from the trek here, and made to smack Ophelia right across the eyes. Once she did that she veered backwards, nearly tripping over her own legs in the process, sure the other pup would come back even harder at her.

Kaija Jarvela-Ancora vs Ophelia for Spar
Round 1 / 2
Age: Under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Tusks - Offensive
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Fighter
Specialty: N/A

Their fight could best be described as messy but in Ophie's opinion that's what made it all the more fun! She didn't wanna growl and snarl, fight with bared teeth that left painful marks in her wake, she just wanted to play and swatting had always been her speciality. Otherwise known as the Ophie boop! She didn't put too much omph! into the swat so she didn't think it would hurt that much but the head donk she received in return made Ophie go a little cross eyed for a moment, as she stuck out her tongue. So that was what it felt like!

Shaking herself off and with a new muddy smear to her name, Ophie dropped into yet another bow. This time instead of attempting to boop her again she tensed her hindlegs, hoping to topping her new found friend onto the ground so they could have a good wrestle. And hopefully get even more mucky in the process!

Ophelia Fatalis vs Kaija  for spar
Round 2/2
Age: under 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Medium
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - offensive
Skills: Intermediate Hunter & Advanced Fighter
Specialty: N/A

After this fight she decided to seek out a proper lesson with a fighter back home. If her mom was too busy maybe he dad would, when she saw him again? Or someone else in Vallhalla? Her mind was racing at the thought of a real fight lesson. She was determined now to do her best and succeed here and now so that she had a cool story to bring back home and brag about, and maybe she could use her experience to help her train even harder. It sounded good at least!

She returned Ophelia's expression with a similar one, tongue lolling out from between her jaws as she cocked her head slightly to the side. She didn't have much time to react as her new friend sprung forward and tackled her. Kaija immediately went over sideways, hitting the ground with a nice thud and kicking up at her in retaliation. The dirt didn't bother her much but she wanted to make sure Ophelia went down with her, aiming to swipe at at the smaller girl's neck and bring her down onto the ground with her, kicking and swatting all the while.

Kaija Jarvela-Ancora vs Ophelia for Spar
Round 2 / 2
Age: Under 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Tusks - Offensive
Skills: Beginner Navigator & Beginner Fighter
Specialty: N/A

And the winner is...

OPHELIA

KAIJA must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: OPHELIA Rolls: 94, 82, 65, 76 Adjusted rolls: 122.2, 82, 65, 76 Total: 345.20 KAIJA Rolls: 95, 79, 47, 39 Adjusted rolls: 104.5, 86.9, 47, 39 Total: 235.79

Wrestling was all fun and good till someone got hurt! Ophie really didn't mean it, sometimes she got a little overzealous and her claws just poked out without even meaning to! She felt it snag against her new friends coat and she immediately froze on the spot, all wide eyed and mouth agape as the scent of blood reached her nose. Laying flat and stiff she remained statue still for a moment, as though the mud would suck her down into a dark and unseeable abyss. As though she could just pretend her mistake away. And then the rush of apologies started as she rolled up onto her belly, her front paws waving as if to shoo the hurt away. She meant well and her guilt was written as plain as could be across her mud caked features, if nothing there was no denying she was honest. Not a mean bone in her body.

"Op oop oop! I'm so sorry I- Ah! I didn't mean toooooo!"

It seemed no amount of kicking and struggling would pull Ophelia down with her. She tried but instead ended up just flopping around in the mud - and then, a sharp pain as the other girl swiped at her. It was small but sudden, and she nearly yelped in surprise. They were supposed to just be playing, not fighting for real! She felt the indignation beginning to well up inside of her as she pulled away and climbed to all fours and gave her coat a good shake. Ow, was she bleeding? What the- her thoughts were cut off sharply as Ophelia began to apologize, almost looking like she might start crying. All at once her annoyance faded and she shrugged quickly. "No, it's okay! It happens," I think, she added in her own head. Sometimes wrestling got a bit rough and dirty, right? She was no stranger to getting hurt anyway, so it really didn't seem like a big deal to her. especially since Ophelia hadn't meant it. "Maybe I'll get a really cool scar or something. Oh, my name is Kaija!" They'd jumped right into fighting and not introducing themselves and Kaija now wondered who she had fought against, idly flicking her paws free of mud as she stood.

The stranger was quick to shoo away her worries, writing it off as something that just happened, but even then Ophie felt terrible. As though she'd committed a cardinal sin, turned into a terrible mean person with just the slip of a claw. Despite herself she scooted closer, still on her belly as she rested her chin on the dirt and eyed her from her grovelling spot on the floor. Scars were kinda cool and if anyone could pull one of it'd be Kaija. She just had an air of relaxed ease around her, making it hard for Ophie to cling onto her worrisome ways. Mud was crusting on her eye lids like a poor mans eyeliner. They'd only just met but she felt...perhaps too boldly that they were already friends. Maybe it was because Ophie didn't really have any.

"Maybe. You could say you got it from...um a tiger?" She'd never seen a tiger but supposedly they were tough as all heck. "I'm Ophie." Though maybe she should she didn't think to paste on her last name, but she didn't feel like a Fatalis at the best of times. Like she was cut from the corner of the cloth, the bare minimum of a Fatalis. Mostly in looks and not in temperament and ability. "It's real nice to meet you." He tail slapped happily at the mud, sending even more droplets flying.

If they both weren't already coated in muck they soon would be.

Like both of her parents Kaija tended to be a bit hotheaded and she often had trouble letting things go once they stuck with her, but this scenario was hardly something worth getting upset over, at least to her. She just had her first real fight with someone! And even though she'd lost she'd use her experience to get better and even stronger, Kaija was sure of it! Any initial annoyance was forgotten as quickly as it had arrived, her thoughts already jumping forward to cool scars. And tigers! Yeah, she could totally say she'd fought a tiger if anyone asked, that made perfect sense to her. She found herself grinning wickedly at the idea. "Totally! God, my brothers would be so jealous they didn't get to fight a tiger!" Well, maybe Arne might be. She wasn't so sure how Fidelias would feel about her fighting a tiger.

They were definitely friends, she decided. Especially now that she knew Ophelia's name, it seemed set in stone. Or maybe in mud. A bit of mud splashed near her and distracted her, her eyes following where it landed. "It's nice to meet you too. You're really strong, you know. You could even grow up to be as strong as my mom, I think!" It seemed possible - and it was a huge compliment, coming from her. Even if Justice wasn't the most present mom Kaija looked up to her quite a bit. She was so strong and warrior-like; she wanted to be just like her, and her dad too. "Do you live around here? Or did you go far from home too?" A playful little grin lit her face up further as she swiped a bit of mud in Ophelia's direction, wondering. She knew there was an adult not far from here watching her but she could pretend for a moment that she'd snuck away from home like Kaija had.