Kotori had grown stronger in this last season a lot stronger.  For all the time he’d spent away and he’d assumed had held him back Kotori realized there had been used in his travels also.  Kotori might have not gained as much experience in fighting or hunting larger prey but he had built up stamina and the ability to think independently without needing orders to figure out how to do a thing.

So once his mind had been put to training the young man worked hard to train and had found the task enjoyable.  The more time he’d spent at the pack the more Kotori realized the warrior status was to constraining and worked to push himself further.  Now, after many hunts, predators and spars he wanted to test these new skills of his out.  Kotori made his way down to the training circle and howled for Azure.  This was no official challenge for rank as that he planned to make to his father.  This fight was about seeing how he compared to Azure for the simple fact that Kotori would accept no less from himself than just as good but preferably better.

Independence mixed with pride and a growing maturity had Kotori wanting a place with the best.  

"Kotori Fatalis"

It was not often a wolf in his pack would howl for him rather then his father, and when Azure heard Kotori's call he did not entertain the idea of letting it go ignored. He explained to Basilisk that he'd be back shortly, adjusted the pup's fighting stance, and set his son upon the training dummy they had been working before. While he may have felt a lack of raw potential from the majority of his litter, Basilisk somehow managed to make up for each of his siblings and already the pup was becoming an accomplished warrior. His children were thriving, and now it was time to see how the rest of his pack was fairing post-apocalyptic ooze. He arrived before Kotori and looked his little brother up and down, realizing he hadn't really had much interaction with this Fatalis in particular. "Kotori." Azure greeted shortly. "What can I do for you, brother?" There was a recognizable fire in the near-adult's eyes, one Azure had seen time and time before in other Fatalis wolves. Was this to be the first wolf who would take him up on his challenge to reach for a higher rank? He settled back and waited, prepared to hear his brother's request. "Speech"

Kotori gave both the clouds and water a few moments of being watched.  He worked to keep his mind calm and not think too hard on anything.  The young man wanted to be excited, wanted his pride to have him twitching to get the fight on and prove himself but it would be smarter to remain calm and collected.

It didn’t take hardly any time for Azure to show up and Kotori stood up once spotting him.  “Hello, brother,” simple greetings thrown out and time for the meat of the talk.  “I want a fight.  I barely know you.” Kotori wasn’t a kid or chatty wolf that needed long talks to know his sibling.  What he wanted to know was aside from blood and title how good was his brother for the respect Kotori was to give him.  

“Official challenge to dad soon enough.” it didn’t sound like he intended it to be far away with how it was on the top of his mind.  “I want to see exactly how good you are.  Got a few minutes?” A simple statement with no emotion showing behind it. Kotori was in so many ways aim to show himself as an adult but there was still a son's desire to prove himself to his father.  He wanted to beat dad in the official challenge.   Of course Azure had a few minutes or he wouldn't have come, he could of just called back a busy or ignored him.  However, the question was just to leave it an opening of a request for a spar versus demanding one.

He could yap with Azure about what he had been doing and how much stronger he was.  He could tell Azure why he believed he deserved it.  There would be a point to try to impress for a promotion.  No yapping right now, a simple battle.  The horned boy looked quietly at Azure, waiting to see if he’d agree.

"Kotori Fatalis"

Kotori did not chatter on, requesting a simple spar and explaining his intention to challenge their father for a rank. It did not offend Azure, who surely would not have taken a challenge to any wolf aside from Warlord in his yearling year either. Similarly, it did not phase Azure to have it said outright that Kotori hardly knew him. At one point in time Azure had dedicated himself to his family, to Asla and to Indigo and both siblings had abandoned him. He would not make that mistake of giving out his love and attention again, not for every wolf who bore his name. "Very well then." His brother had come unarmored, without the assistance of companions and Azure would take the challenge from a position of equality and not call for his own supporting creatures. He hardly wore his armor around the pack lands anyways, so there was nothing to shed. "Give me your best shot." Azure offered, standing tall before Kotori with a scrutinizing gaze. To give the wolf the full illusion of a fair fight, he'd even let him take the first hit. Azure vs Kotori for Spar Round 0 Age: over 1 year Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Defensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Companion 1: Not Present Companion 2: Not Present *Companion 3: Not Present Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter Specialty: Bloodletter "Speech"

Kotori’s lips curved in a small smile, nothing too large but glad the challenge was accepted for the spar.  His brother was bigger but not overly so.  A small nod was given, acknowledging he was granted the first strike.  His brother’s stance was considered, noting as expected he was well-balanced with no sign of a weaker spot to aim for.

Kotori ran forward, appearing to aim at first for the all so common neck, his mouth opening but it was an attempt at a misdirect.  Instead he tried to get to the side, for a bite to the shoulder, it was a two part attack if things went right.  The bite would of course be to still injure but it was also bait hoping his brother’s muzzle would come close to his head and if it did he’d aim to jab his horns into Azure’s jaw.

It wasn’t a perfect plan of course.  Azure might not turn his head to bite or grab at him, for that matter he might not even get the bite to the shoulder but it was the sort of attack that had been known to work before.  Kotori was practically offering his neck as bait for his attack after all.  Hopefully it would work this time.

Kotori vs Azure for Spar
Round 1/2
Age:  over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Not present
Companion 2: Not present
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Expert Hunter
Specialty: Juggernaut

Kotori Fatalis

 

Kotori's misdirection was well done and beyond what Azure expected from the yearling. It was all-to-common for opponents of many sizes to go for the throat or neck, and Azure pulled back his head and flashed his teeth as he anticipated the hit. Kotori moved past where he'd assumed his teeth would land, and Az reacted quickly. Unfortunately for Kotori, Azure had no interest in maiming or murdering his brother. The saber fangs he wore were both dangerous when used incorrectly, and limiting when he'd try to attempt a shallow bite where they wouldn't cause risk. It was for that reason that Azure did not make a habit of biting often in his spars, and definitely not so close to the head where one wrong flinch could mean an Armada fighter's disability. Rather than bite for the head as Kotori anticipated, Azure fell back on his tried and true claws and strengthened forelimbs. He reared up slightly upon his hind legs and raised his opposite arm high, his body shifting to give it further range of motion. His intent was to bring the limb down hard upon Kotori's spine and shoulders, to shock or unbalance his brother before he could make his next move. Simultaneously his claws flexed hard, so that should his paw find Kotori's flesh his long, curved claws might be able to catch a painful hold there. Azure vs Kotori for Spar Round 1/2 Age: over 1 year Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Defensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Companion 1: Not Present Companion 2: Not Present *Companion 3: Not Present Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter Specialty: Bloodletter "Speech"

Kotori’s plan had only partially worked which would be mixed satisfaction later.  For the moment his only intent was to determine the next course of action. Kotori saw a paw raise and moved to get out of the way, unfortunately, he could only avoid enough to not feel the worst of it.  The limb came down and Kotori felt his shoulder take the brunt of it, with claws raking on his flash.  Kotori felt himself slide off-balance as the shoulder tried to absorb damage.

With his head down low it suddenly made more sense to go for the underside of the throat.  It hadn’t been the initial plan but shoving himself forward the neck seemed one of the easier spots on his body to attack.  Kotori tried to shove himself next to Azure, head snaking towards the underside of the throat.  If he got a solid hold of the neck then it would be seeing if he was strong enough to keep hold of it.  It would be important to get the bite in solid enough to stop Azure from dropping his head to get a bite in return.  It was a gamble but, this was a spar and gambling was part of winning.


Kotori vs Azure for Spar
Round 2/2
Age:  over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Not present
Companion 2: Not present
Mutation 1: Horns - Offensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Expert Hunter
Specialty: Juggernaut

Kotori Fatalis

 

Azure felt his paw come down upon Kotori, who adjusted his attack and instead aimed to bite upon the underside of his throat. It was a sensible attack, and Azure knew that often the wolf who secured himself a bite upon such a sensitive area could come out of the match a winner. As Kotori's jaws grew nearer, Az arched his neck and aimed a bite of his own. His intention was to grasp his jaws around the horns that protruded from Kotori's skull before the teeth could find purchase in his throat, gain control of the yearling's head, and use it to end the fight quickly. It was a tactic his mother had taught him, and defending against such techniques were why Zee wore her thorn wrappings upon her horns. Azure vs Kotori for Spar Round 2/2 Age: over 1 year Size: Dire wolf Build: Medium Offensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Defensive Battle Accessory: Unequipped Companion 1: Not Present Companion 2: Not Present *Companion 3: Not Present Mutation 1: Saber fangs - Offensive Mutation 2: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 3: Bone spurs - Offensive Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter Specialty: Bloodletter "Speech"

And the winner is...

Azure

Kotori must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Azure: Attack Roll: 55 Defense Roll: 59 Agility Roll: 43 Perception Roll: 55 Total: 212 Attack[55] + 60% Bonus[33.00]: 88.00 Defense[59] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 59.00 Agility[43] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 43.00 Perception[55] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 55.00 Total[245.00] + 40% Bonus[98.00]: 343.00 Kotori: Attack Roll: 42 Defense Roll: 83 Agility Roll: 96 Perception Roll: 25 Total: 246 Attack[42] + 55% Bonus[23.10]: 65.10 Defense[83] + 5% Bonus[4.15]: 87.15 Agility[96] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 96.00 Perception[25] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 25.00 Total[273.25] + 25% Bonus[68.31]: 341.56

The fight was over quickly, and while Kotori had come very close, Azure had narrowly secured his win. Releasing his brother he took a step back, eyeing the yearling up and down. "Well done." The Champion did not throw compliments around loosely, but he also knew when to recognize effort. "When you challenge our father, be sure to find a way to protect your horns." With his head he gestured towards the boy's mutation. "Sirius is well versed in sparring horned wolves, and if you leave him the opening he will take it." It was the only suggestion he would offer his younger brother, and seeing their spar complete Azure had places to go, things to do. He turned back toward the grasses, casting a departing glance over his shoulder. "Good luck." -exit- "Speech"