Word in the world spoke of a place where wolves went to fight. Gilgamesh was quick to make his way from the North to see for his own eyes. While he preferred to stay in the colder climates of Boreas, he wasn't going to resist a chance at making his way through the world without any glory. His paws hit the dirt as his yellowed eyes looked over the rocky plains. There wasn't any doubt that he had made it to the right place. Here and there, and well everywhere, dirt speckled the dried grass and the edges of ponds. Surely he could find a competitor or two to accept his challenge. Standing tall and proud with his chest puffed out slightly, Gil tilted his muzzle skyward. As the sun rose over the horizon, casting brilliant light over a once darkened field, he let loose a deep howl. His ears perked forward as he listened to it echo. Searching eagerly for his first formal contender, his tail twitched. Patient, he knew it might take a while for someone to accept. Content to wait, the speckled black and grey wolf stood lazily now by the edge of a pond. Speech

After much consideration Skadi had decided to go to the battlefield alone. She knew it wasn't ideal and some of her superiors might be displeased, but the way she saw it, if she was trusted enough to participate in a raid, trusted enough to defend the pack as a solider, then dammit, she deserved the same trust abroad on her own. Skadi could take care of herself. Her parents and pack had taught her well and if any of them had any misgivings it was a problem of theirs, not hers. She was fine.

She arrived on the scene without fanfare and began looking around for an opponent. Naturally when the big man's call went up her attention was drawn to him. He was a big fellow, easily head and shoulders taller than her, but just about every one of her packmates (it felt like) stood as tall as dires so she was accustomed to giant opponents. His average 'bigness' would almost be a respite for her. It took her all of two seconds to decide. Yep, that's the one she wanted.

Skadi circled around the pond and came up on Gilgamesh's left side. "Hey," she called as she approached. "If you're looking for a spar," she slipped her skull mask on, "I'm your girl."

Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for someone to appear. What did surprise Gil was the size of his opponent. Clearly, she was much smaller than him, but he wasn't going to take that for granted. Even the smallest of foes could best someone of his height. As she rounded the pond, he watched her skull mask as it slipped over her face. Unfazed by her shield, a tight smile curled the edges of his lips. There were no words that he need to speak. He wasn't a man of many words anyway. Her acceptance of his call pushed him into action. Lowering his head as he watched her lean toward his left side, he bared his teeth in her direction. Hackles raised quickly as he darted closer to her, aiming directly for her shoulder. His paws dug in deep as he closed the gap between them. Opening wide, Gilgamesh went to grab at the top of her left shoulder. Since they had a considerable size difference, he hoped to make contact somewhere along her back depending on how quickly she could dodge his sharp teeth. Gilgamesh vs Skadi for Spar Round 1/x Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Beginner Intellectual & Beginner Fighter

The grin was all Skadi needed to know the fight was on. She fell into her defenses with practiced ease; knees bending, ears pinning while she lowered her head and raised her tail to bring her spine into alignment. It seemed smarter to let the big guy come to her. She knew she was fast and the distance between them might allow her to get a sense of his speed. He darted forward and Skadi sank into a lower crouch, ready to spring when he got too close.

3..2..1. She was in the air in a flash, legs uncoiling like springs as she sought to not only escape the worst of his attack but get in an attack of her own by trying to leap onto Gilgamesh's back. Midair Skadi felt teeth graze her left flank and while it hurt mightily she couldn't help but be a little smug because her opponent didn't know what he was in for. All reactions were different, but most creatures found the taste of her blood absolutely abhorrent and whether or not he devolved into a drooling, teary mess or was simply irritated by the taste was all a matter of fortitude.

As for her attack, Skadi's goal was to get her arms and legs around Gilgamesh's body. Wherever they landed, her claws would unsheathe and dig in for purchase, hopefully cementing her to his back like a burr.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 1 of 2
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Hunter

Satisfaction rippled through his body as he felt his teeth graze her left flank. The utmost bitter of flavor filled his mouth. Grimacing and in awe at the same time. What in the world. The thought streaked through his mind for a brief moment before he was registering that she was leaping toward his back. Due to the speed he had been going to pass by her, he thought she would have over-jumped. Yet, he was proven wrong. The small vixen made contact upon his haunches. What he hadn't seen were her razor claws now outstretched and digging into his lower back and hips. Forcing himself to not yelp in pain from the way she dug into his thick fur, he whipped around as her back claws were trying to find purchase on his legs. Attempting to sling her off his back from the sheer strength of moving in a tight circle, he reached toward her. With mouth open wide once more, he aimed directly for her right shoulder this time. While she had her defenses, he had his brutishness and perseverance. Snapping almost wildly in her direction, he hoped to make contact. Gilgamesh vs Skadi for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Beginner Intellectual & Beginner Fighter

Skadi had just enough time to feel satisfaction over her claws digging in before her opponent started whipping around like a bronco. Her mirth soured as she slid this way and that, paws scrambling and claws flexing as she tried to hold her ground. She refused to admit defeat by bailing off of his back so instead she would try to ride out the bucking.

There was a searing pain in her right shoulder as Gilgamesh sunk his teeth in. It seemed he was one of the lucky ones. Or maybe he was a bit masochistic and liked the burn. To each their own; Skadi wouldn't judge. She also wasn't about to leap off to get away from his teeth. He had a handle to pull her down now which meant she needed to even things out a bit with a bite of her own.

Lashing out like a snake Skadi sought to sink her teeth into Gilgamesh's scruff just behind his ears. A nice little bite there might be just the anchor she needed to ensure she didn't get flung off.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 2 of 2
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Hunter

And the winner is...

Gilgamesh

Skadi must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Gilgamesh : Attack Roll: 18 Defense Roll: 84 Agility Roll: 42 Perception Roll: 79 Total: 223 Attack[18] + 5% Bonus[0.90]: 18.90 Defense[84] + 5% Bonus[4.20]: 88.20 Agility[42] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 42.00 Perception[79] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 79.00 Total[228.10] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 228.10 Skadi : Attack Roll: 1 Critical fail! Defense Roll: 19 Agility Roll: 86 Perception Roll: 50 Total: 156 Attack[1] + 30% Bonus[0.30]: 1.30 Defense[19] + 20% Bonus[3.80]: 22.80 Agility[86] + 15% Bonus[12.90]: 98.90 Perception[50] + 20% Bonus[10.00]: 60.00 Total[183.00] + 15% Bonus[27.45]: 210.45

Once more the sour taste of her blood filled his mouth as his teeth found skin. All the more curious as to why her blood was this ungodly flavor instead of rich and coppery was beyond him. He didn't mind it as he felt her struggling to keep ahold on his back. The more she flailed, the wilder he spun. Refusing to let go of her shoulder, he saw from the corner of his eye what she was about to do. In his attempt to sling her, she was able to gather the strength to reach out and land her own teeth into his scruff. Pain spread up his spine into the back of his head. Thankfully her small stature meant that her mouth was also smaller than a larger wolf like him. Knowing that she wasn't about to let go, Gil had one more idea in-store to possibly get her off his back. Suddenly, he released her shoulder and flopped. Legs going limp beneath him, he fell to his side and felt the hard surface of dirt and grass beneath him. He was thankful to stop spinning as the world sparkled dizzying dots in front of his eyes. Breathing hard, he grinned maliciously in her direction on his back. Curling his legs closer to him as he prepared to roll over. If she didn't let go now, she might possibly meet the same fate as a squished bug... Speech

This wasn't great but Skadi didn't feel like she was losing exactly. Round and round they went as he tried to fling her off. She was beginning to get nauseous and it was really temping to close her eyes and block out the world streaking by, but she knew if she did that would be the moment she missed something crucial and found herself on the ground eating dirt.

Suddenly her opponent changed tactics and Skadi found herself listing to the one side. "Oh fu-" and just liked that, boom they were down. Her breath left her in a painful wheeze. She tried to scrabble out from under him, but one side of legs was completely pinned. Okay, okay, this was a loss. "Yield, yield!" she cried before he could roll all the way over her. Damn. Next time she was going to have to be faster. Practice her bails.

Without even sparing a moment to catch her breath, Skadi roared, "rematch!" She then moved to smack his side with her free paw. "Get off me, let's go," the words were said with an emphatic 'shooing' motion. "Round two."

Her cry made him smirk as he stopped mid-roll to feel her paw smacking his side. Glancing over his shoulder at her, Gil chuckled to himself. It wasn't a moment later before she was demanding a rematch from him. Quickly getting up on his paws and giving his fur a shake, he glanced at her with a tilted chin. Round two? She's got spunk. The larger male thought to himself as he turned to trot a few steps away. While Gil may be a bit devious, he wasn't disrespectful. Leaving about two feet between him and the girl, he stared with determination at her. "Alright, if you'd wish," he rumbled, the few words leaving his mouth feeling rusty. Gil's lasting smirk curled into a grin as he ignored the itching pain and bitter taste in his mouth. Maybe this time he would settle for scratching at her - nothing too serious. Flicking his tail with anticipation, he knew she was ready for round two, but would give her a second to stand...

"She's got more than that," Skadi retorted while bouncing to her paws. She shook out her coat, which only helped so much. It felt like half the battlefield was plastered to her hip and butt. Alas, it would have to stay for now. She had vengeance to take. "I do, let's go, come on big guy," she said while tapping on the ground impatiently. Her pride couldn't take much more of this.

She leaped forward suddenly and sought to drive her left shoulder into the front of his left foreleg. Skadi's goal was to buckle it and unbalance him. Simultaneously she reached out and tried to grab his left wrist with the claws of her left front paw, the idea being that this would prevent him from catching himself as he tried to correct his balance from her shove. It was a simple attack and quite a bit different than her approach in their first fight which would hopefully throw him off. If only for a moment. And then, hopefully, while he was trying to adjust to this new tactic, she could go in for another attack.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 1 of ???
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Intermediate Hunter

Gil chuckled at her retorts, excited to start another round. He nodded firmly with his smile as she charged straight for him. Anticipating her moves this time, he was surprised when she went straight for his leg. Steadying his weight as he braced for impact, her shoulder slammed into his leg. Feeling himself start to buckle, his toes splayed out, trying to find purchase on the hard ground. Gritting his teeth for a moment as her claws wrapped around his forearm, he opened wide and reached out to grab at her back. In an attempt to find some sort of hold on her skin, he wasn't too worried about the taste of her blood anymore. What he was worried about was the fact that she had indeed started to knock him off balance. His left arm was held tight by her grip as his shoulder began to fall closer to the ground. Pulling back his head away from her, he quickly swung it back in her direction, hoping to head butt her face with his cheek. Gilgamesh vs Skadi for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Novice Intellectual & Intermediate Fighter

Had she not been so focused on the task at hand Skadi would have sniggered with glee as she felt Gilgamesh stumble away from her. Given their size difference that was about the best she could have hoped for and she was quite pleased to have seemingly caught him off guard. It would do her no good to pat herself on the back just set so for now she’d hold in her crowing and focus on the bigger win.

She did her best to keep pressing forward, hopefully skirting down Gilgamesh’s left side so they were almost shoulder to shoulder. In doing this his headbutt was relegated to thumping her on the ribs which caused her to stagger but she was quick to right the imbalance and stand square again.

After tipping her head to the side Skadi sought to bite into Gilgamesh’s left side just behind his elbow. The skin over the ribs was tight but sensitive and if she were lucky he’d like getting pinched as much as he liked her tripping him up.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 2 of 2
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Intermediate Hunter

And the winner is...

Skadi

Gilgamesh must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Skadi: Attack Roll: 59 Defense Roll: 86 Agility Roll: 60 Perception Roll: 61 Total: 266 Attack[59] + 30% Bonus[17.70]: 76.70 Defense[86] + 20% Bonus[17.20]: 103.20 Agility[60] + 15% Bonus[9.00]: 69.00 Perception[61] + 20% Bonus[12.20]: 73.20 Total[322.10] + 20% Bonus[64.42]: 386.52 Gilgamesh: Attack Roll: 79 Defense Roll: 73 Agility Roll: 6 Perception Roll: 75 Total: 233 Attack[79] + 5% Bonus[3.95]: 82.95 Defense[73] + 5% Bonus[3.65]: 76.65 Agility[6] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 6.00 Perception[75] + 5% Bonus[3.75]: 78.75 Total[244.35] + 10% Bonus[24.43]: 268.79

Shoulder to shoulder now, his head made contact with her side. Jarring him slightly, he was pleased to feel her stumble only for a moment. As they corrected their postures, her teeth lashed out to bite him. Feeling a tight pinch right behind his elbow, he let out a small yip of surprise. That had not been where he was expecting her to go. Pulling away quickly as he watched a tuft of hair fall from her lips, he sucked in a deep breath. Expanding the gap between them, he shook out what adrenaline he had left. Eyeing her carefully, in case she wanted to go another round, he smiled. "Alright, you win that one," Gil rumbled as his tail twitched back and forth. "Best two out of three?" The larger male question, wondering if she had had enough of him yet. Their size difference was incomparable, but that didn't mean she didn't have the same amount of tenacity and energy as he did.

Skadi beamed up at Gilgamesh, her upper lip bulging slightly with shorn fur. She hung onto it just until she was sure he'd seen it and then she set about trying to spit it out. Naturally it resisted her efforts and she was left spitting and picking at her mouth for several seconds, but instead of subtracting from her glee that only added to it. There were some theatrics to the process of course so she played them up with relish.

Did he even have to ask? Of course she wanted another go. Skadi had come to the field to fight and she was going to make a day of it. Maybe eventually she'd grow tired of the same opponent and have to find another, but for now she was content. This guy was alright. They'd spent almost no time talking and she didn't even know his name, but somehow he was still alright in her book. "You've got yourself a deal." And as they'd already established... Skadi motioned for him to go first. "Losers first."

The way she beamed up at him with a mouthful of his fur made his lips turn down. Was it really that humorous to her to spend several moments picking out each individual strand? Folding his ears back as he waited oh so respectfully for her finish, he almost regretted doing so. A loud huff rumbled up his throat right as she agreed to go another round. It was nice that they could spar in concession, it kept him agile and on his toes. Rolling his shoulders back, Gil didn't wait a second more. Without warning, he leaped back toward Skadi with a paw outstretched. Raising up on his hind paws as they hit the dirt closing the space between them, he aimed to either land on her head and strike her shoulder or, knowing how quick she could be, at least strike at her face as his paw swept in front of him. Gilgamesh vs Skadi for Spar Round 1/? Age: Over 1 Year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Intermediate Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

The moment it looked like Gilgamesh was going to agree Skadi dropped into a play bow. She was playful for all of one second before her expression hardened. Though she would never admit it out loud Skadi was a little afraid of losing to him again. It would be a ding to her pride; possibly hinting her win had been a fluke. Of course she could also win. That was a possibility.

She leaned first to the left and then the right in quick succession to confuse him, and then she did a very dumb thing that would hopefully catch him off guard. Skadi sought to dive between his front legs. This earned her a very solid thump on the head that made her ears ring, but she wouldn’t be deterred. She pressed on.

If she succeeded in diving under him Skadi would twist her head up and seek to sink her teeth into the soft skin of his belly directly below his rib cage. She wasn’t going for anything untoward; just his belly. But yes, if he did try to lay on her, which was a very plausible move, Skadi and all of her sharp little teeth would be trapped under Gilgamesh with only a few attack options. A few precious, precious options.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter

Her movements were quick and agile, but he was used to that by now. As his yellow eyes tracked her quickly, what she did next did surprise him. As his paw connected with her skull, she lurched down and under him. Slightly confused and thrown off, he felt her small body wriggle under him as her snapping jaws pulled at the skin of his belly. A quick yelp emitted from his lips as his mind assessed his options. She left him with very few. The most obvious would be to lay down on her and smoosh her, but that was too obvious. Growling in frustration, Gil went with his second option. Leaning back on his haunches and lifting up his front paws, he aimed to lift her up slightly and swipe at her back or sides. Fingers extended and weight held by his back legs, he hoped to make some sort of contact. It would be nice to win this final round, but her tactics made him uneasy. Gilgamesh vs Skadi for Spar Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 Year Size: Large Build: Medium Skills: Intermediate Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

To say Skadi was disappointed with Gilgamesh’s response was an understatement. She had been looking forward to scaring the bejeezus out of him had he chosen to lay on her. But alas he was too smart for that. Instead he lifted her up. Instead of trying to wiggle away Skadi held on doggedly. As her final defiant act she lifted her front paws over her head and sought to rake her claws down his belly from about her ear level (his lower ribs) onwards. If he’d felt frightened by her teeth this, she thought smugly, aught to put him over the edge.

Skadi vs Gilgamesh for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: 1+
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter