He grinned to himself as he trotted to the meeting boulder, stretching as he came to a stop in the middle of the flat expanse before it, trampled to dirt by constant use over the generations. The ground was slightly muddy from the snow, but with the freeze overnight, and the early hour, the ground was hard and frosty, not yet thawed by the morning sunlight. He tipped his muzzle to the sky, howling for Caelia and Drachen, tail flagging in a brief wag as the call echoed over the plains off the hill and back. The intent was clear in his voice—he wanted that melee spar he’d chatted to Drachen about. Ardyn was already on his way, and above, Chrystal circled. Enito stood nearby, grumbling at the cold. Cai waited patiently, watching the plains for his sister and friend, and Ardyn. This would be fun. He hadn’t been in a melee since the newest fighters had been group tested to see where they’d suit best in the ranks. He hoped Rhaegara would be back from her search for her missing family, and, doubly so, hoped she’d return successful. When she got back, he'd for sure be sparring her. It was high time for a rematch. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Ardyn trotted briskly from the hill, stretching warmth into his muscles along the way as the frosty ground nipped at his toes. It’d been a clear night with a good hard freeze. The footing would be firm, perhaps even jarring, so he made notes to himself as he padded through the plains, tail swaying on the breeze. He came into sight of the meeting area and grinned at Cairo, the echo of the Sentinel’s call still floating off on the air. Taking a spot next to the man, he watched as well, Lyr perching on his armored back with a contented clack of his beak, feathers rustling busily. He’d been looking forward to this spar since Cairo had suggested it at the bison hunt. He wanted to see how Drachen fought, having heard from his mother that the man was a quick thinker. How that would go in a melee would be interesting to see. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Drachen lifted his head with his dark ears perked on top of his skull as a howl of summons for him and a few others echoed in the air. A bright smile parted his dark lips before he turned away from the cleaning he had been doing to his den and loped quickly to the agreed meeting spot. A shadow overhead told him that Enzi had come back form her hunting trip and met up with him, the hawk swooping low and playfully swiping her talons at his scruff before flying on ahead. He slowed to a stop just as his companion dropped from the sky and landed on the boulder and Drachen playfully flashed his teeth at her before turning to greet the other males. "Good morning, reporting to get my ass handed to me." Drachen huffed in good spirits as his breath clouded in front of him in the brisk air. Excitement was plain of the usually reserved male, his more light hearted side showing through bit by bit the longer he called this place home and the darkness of his past crumbled away. The male stretched deeply to loosen his muscles to release any remaining tension his run from his den did not remove. Out of habit, Drachen looked over his opponents, getting an idea of potential strengths and weakness before turning his eyes to scan for the other wolf that was to join them as his heart beat loudly in hid chest in anticipation. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Caelia had decided to sleep in today, though not before rising once and making a circle around her den - and then promptly deciding against staying up for longer. The ground was cold and the dew was frosted over, covered in icicles that glimmered in the rising sun. No thank you, she thought sullenly to herself before sneaking back in to catch a few more hours of sleep, though it seemed that dream was short-lived. Cairo's call to her, Ardyn and Drachen arrested her suddenly from sleep. There was no urgency in his voice but in her half-asleep mind she couldn't properly register his tone, and so instead of trying to make out what he meant she simply headed his way.

By the time she arrived, paws chilly and only slightly less groggy from sleep, she deduced it was no at all an emergency - it looked like they had some training to do. Right, she remembered that discussion now. Giving her legs a little shake to wake herself up more she headed toward the group, giving her head a bow in quiet acknowledgement. Truthfully she wasn't really in the mood for training but that didn't mean she wouldn't give it her all. Lately she found she wasn't the most motivated wolf, but when presented with an actual challenge like this, she had a way of stepping it up and really coming through. She could only hope this occasion would be no different.

Ardyn arrived first, then Drachen, and Cairo smirked at the man, flashing a toothy grin. “Y’never know, you might do the ass-handing today.” Then came Caelia, and Cairo studied her, noting the slightly ruffled fur that suggested he’d dragged her from bed. So, in typical brotherly fashion he greeted her with a twinkle-eyed grin and a drawled, “Gooood morning, Sis.” His tail flagged in a playful wag as he stretched down into a brief bow before straightening and regarding the three before him. “Alright, so; we can do this melee one of two ways, or both. We could do it free-for-all, or team up for two versus two. I’m great with either, or doing both to practice working together and to practice quick thinking in a chaotic situation. What do you think?” Sapphire eyes flicked between the three as he stood waiting to hear their votes. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Ardyn grinned as Drachen arrived with wit on his tongue. “We’ll have to oblige, but I think you’ll do great.” Ardyn added with a wink at the man. Caelia was next, and the Heir smiled at the woman, tail flaring side to side in greeting as he regarded her. The woman was quiet and reserved, but she was also tenacious and loyal, pitting herself against a bear, and a lion before that, a good time ago. While he didn’t know her as well as her brother, he still highly respected the Adravendi woman. At Cairo’s words, Ardyn thought for a beat then said decisively, “I’d love to do both. I can use all the experience I can get, especially if Aerie’s raid comes any time soon. I may have won my fight against Eligos, but I’m not entirely sure he was fighting fully well. Their tactics might be different when on offense.” Aerie might use teamwork and two on one fights in their raid, or they might do as they had during Valhalla’s raid on them, one versus one fights. They would just have to see when the time came to defend against the neighboring pack. He looked to Caelia and Drachen, ears perking to see what they thought. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Drachen chuckled softly in response to the other males replies and then not longe after, a rather disgruntled she-wolf arrived who must have been Caelia and Drachen bit back the smile that threatened to dance on his lips in amusement. He knew the feeling all too well and had wished more than once to just go back to his den to sleep on several occasions. He did, however, give Caelia a respectful nod of greeting before Cairo's words caught his attention again. The Sentinel suggested a free-for-all or a two-on-two and Drachen nodded in agreement when Ardyn wanted to do all of the above. "I agree, let's do both." he replied, glancing between the wolves present. His heart thrummed at the thought of a free for all and he shook out his pelt to push down the memory of the last time he fought multiple opponents. At least this time he would not have to jump off a sea cliff to save his life like he did a year ago prior to coming to Boreas. His deep blue eyes then flicked over to Caelia to see what her thoughts on the matter were while he tried to decide for himself whether or not he would like to just jump all in and start with the free for all, or get warmed up first and start with the two-on-two. The Vaekhal male swiped his tongue over his muzzle was he came to the conclusion that he didn't mind starting with either one and was just antsy to start. He was slightly anxious to find out of his fighting skills had become rusty or not in the past year. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

"Morning," she finally greeted her brother, with the barest hint of a smile, giving a silent acknowledgement to both Ardyn and Drachen. Quickly Cairo spoke up as to why they were gathered and handed the decision to the three of them, whether they'd team up or do a free-for-all. Both options seemed worth exploring and she nodded in agreement. A free-for-all sounded a bit chaotic though, so maybe it'd be good to warm up to that? "Let's start with me and Drachen versus you two," she decided, giving Drachen a glance. Both Ardyn and Cairo were skilled fighters - and so was she - but she knew little about Drachen's skills, though she supposed she'd find out soon enough. Once she saw a sign of approval and readiness from both Cairo and Ardyn she set the fight into motion,  her stance stiffening as she drew slightly into herself and then sprung forward. At first she made to barrel towards Ardyn, then at the last second she sprung herself around and into Cairo's  right side. He was larger than her, and no doubt stronger - though she hoped she could manage to lift a forepaw onto his back and close her widening jaws down on the scruff of the side of his neck and gain early control over him. Caelia & Drachen vs Cairo & Ardyn for Spar Round 1 / ? Age: Over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather Bracers Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Knight (Not applicable)

[So sorry this is late. I think for this we won't observe default times. Time ran off with me apparently >.>] Each gave their vote, and Cai nodded as Caelia finished it off, relaxing into readiness, defenses falling into place as he glanced between his sister and Drachen. His sister bolted toward Ardyn, but he spotted the shift of muscle the feint as she abruptly shifted her trajectory to himself. He stood ready, and as she rose, he grinned in greeting, letting her paw land as his head abruptly ducked, front end dropping slightly to avoid her teeth, though he felt a bit of hair tug free from the upper edge of his neck, giving his sister only a small mouthful of fur to spit out as he sought to twist slightly and come up beneath her. He sought to sharply pop upward in a rearing motion and heave his smaller sibling off balance, possibly even throw her as he twisted his head and sought to clamp his jaws around her left hind leg at the hock, wanting to gain a grip and jerk the leg toward himself in time with his upward heave. His ears, planed to the sides, listened to their surroundings, aware and ready for a possible added challenge if Drachen chose to help Caelia rather than engaging Ardyn. Above, Chrys waited in the oak for an opening. Enito waited as well, fingers flexing in preparation for a grab if he was needed. Cairo Lanze Adravendi and Ardyn vs Caelia and Drachen for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over 1 Size: Large Build: Heavy Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear claw bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Bison armor Companion 1: Barn Owl, Female - Flying Companion 2: Mandrill, Male - Battle Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter Specialty: Weaponsmaster Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Ardyn buzzed with excitement, but tamped it down as everyone agreed on a course of action and prepared. He settled into defenses and as Caelia launched toward him, he tensed briefly, then spotted that she was going after Cairo, at which point, he leapt toward Drachen, aiming to come head-to-head with the smaller man. The yearling Heir sought to shift to his own right, to Drachen’s left and drop his own left shoulder, seeking to plant the armor-clad point of his shoulder into the middle portion of Drachen’s left shoulder, but not putting his full force into the blow to avoid doing real damage to his packmate and friend. Simultaneously, his left foreleg, unlocked with the drop of his shoulder, lifted as his weight shifted smoothly to his other three limbs, and his long-toed left front paw swept out, seeking to snatch Drachen’s right front leg around the ankle, with hopes of gaining a grip to jerk the older wolf’s foreleg under himself and flip him onto his right side with the shove given from his shoulder. Lyr, croaking in excitement, circled above the match, eyes flicking over the four wolves and, like Cairo’s owl and Mandrill friends, waited for a good opening in which to be useful. Ardyn Adravendi and Cairo vs Caelia and Drachen for Spar Round 1/2 Age: 1 Year Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed bracers Defensive Battle Accessory: Bullhide armor Companion 1: Raven, Male - Flying Mutation 1: Saber teeth - Offensive Mutation 2: Retractable claws - Offensive Mutation 3: Dexterous paws - Offensive Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Hunter Specialty: N/A Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

After the agreement had been made, the spar commenced almost immediately with Caelia charging towards Cairo. Drachen would have charged with her but Ardyn moved towards him and aimed an armored shoulder at his bare one and struck out with one of his strange nimble toed paws. Drachen almost smiled as he realized the younger wolf was trying to throw him off balance and knock him over so Drachen countered by moving straight forward, catching Ardyn's shoulder with his left hip instead of his shoulder, making him wince at the impact. It would probably bruise but it was nothing that he couldn't fight through. His left rear leg aimed a kick at either the younger male's jaw or shoulder, not really putting much effort into the kick as his intention was more for a distraction than a blow. Once that paw came back the Vaekhal male turned back on himself and reared to try and get his right front leg over Ardyn's back while his jaws aimed to get a grip at Ardyn's scruff, ideally, or maybe some sort of hold on the armor so then he could push forward with his rear legs and hopefully make Ardyn stumble and open up an opportunity for him to get the upper hand. He heard Enzi screech her encouragement and he wanted to glance over to see how Cairo was fairing but all of his attention remained on Ardyn. He had the feeling the boy was a great fighter judging by their past fight with the bear when he first came here. Drachen knew he could not afford to have his attention waver, especially when Aurielle was trying to figure out how well he would be at being a Mist. Drachen and Caelia vs Ardyn and Cairo for Spar Round 1/2 Age: Over a year Size: Large Build: Medium Companion 1: Red-tailed hawk, Female - Battle Skills: Intermediate Navigator & Advanced Hunter Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Though she moved quickly, Cairo was a seasoned fighter as well and even if he didn't fully anticipate her move, he reacted quickly enough to counter it. He dropped lower to the ground, forcing herself to adjust slightly to compensate. Though she only ended up with a mouthful of fur as he pulled away, she had to lean back hard to steady herself as he pulled up sharply. Immediately she felt her limb being jerked upward, her body beginning to lose its sense of balance as it threatened to flip her over completely. Trying not to be thrown totally off-balance, she used his position to her advantage, holding to grab hold of some of the back of his neck, fully intending to hang on for dear life. She hoped if she went down, she made pull him down with her, if nothing else. Caelia & Drachen vs Cairo & Ardyn for Spar Round 2 / 2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Medium Build: Light Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather Bracers Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Master Fighter Specialty: Knight (Not applicable)