The raid had left Widow with a lot on her mind. The grown man had been the first to beat her, even if she hadn't fought enough for it to really mean much, it still stung the yearling's ego. Had the man not scraped up her heel so much she would've gone in for another round, however even now the pressure the bandages put on her limb with the pain relief salve wasn't enough to stop the girl from partially limping her way out of Habari and towards the vacant once-home of a pack. She couldn't place knowing anyone from the pack, but she had always been interested in their gardens and human structures. What could she find there? Probably not much considering a pack had lived there, but if anything, perhaps she would learn a thing or two about gardens.

That was her goal anyway; to study what she could here and bring back samples to try in her garden. Collecting ash from the volcano was another experiment she was interested in, though figured venturing out was safer for her ankle than scaling parts of an already dangerous volcano. If anything, she could maybe send one of her stinky brothers up the volcano for some ash. Wouldn't she be so lucky if they fell in?!

Although the pack was long gone, it wasn't entirely deserted. In the distance she could see a herd of something that didn't look like deer and off over by a structure was a forest of crops. Interest immediately piqued at the sight of the garden, Widow changed her trajectory and investigated. These crops were growing so well in comparison to hers at home (which weren't doing that bad!) that she wondered if the dirt had some kind of magical properties. There was no turning back now. Unfortunately, she hadn't come equipped with much to bring any dirt home with her and so she huffed. Collecting the dirt would have to wait, first she needed to find something to put the dirt in. Mercurial eyes centered over the structure, wondering if there would be anything inside that she could use before she started to move towards the gaping, loose door of the barn. It was dark inside, but light filtered in through the holes in the roof and offered some sort of light as she walked in. Certainly the wolves that once lived here cleaned out everything useful, but maybe they left something behind... One wolf's trash was another wolf's treasure, right?

"Speech!"

Art by SkeletonDragoness & Code by Skelle 2022

With his birthday and the turning of a yearling, young Abraxas lord Stolas had been granted a certain degree of newfound freedoms—freedoms he was currently enjoying to the maximum as he wandered freely from Ashen territory. No longer requiring the escort of his parents' companions, Stolas had wandered to the northwest of his home lands, eager to explore the vast countryside of springtime Boreas. The weather was particularly dry for once, spring having shown its wet side as heavy rains pelted the continent almost constantly. The shifting weather patterns fascinated the young academic, yearning to know more about the world around him and how it functioned. From puphood, the dark-furred lad had shown an aptitude for his studies, his inquisitive mind soaking in facts and knowledge like a sponge. Even now, slate gray eyes drank in the rolling plains that surrounded the Range like his brain was parched for new discoveries. This, this was all he'd ever wanted! The freedom to roam, to explore, to learn and discover! They were simple pleasures, but they were his to treasure.

Stolas hadn't come to the Range with any particular purpose in mind. All of his siblings had been given mentors from the royal Abraxas yearlings to help them train up their skills, but Stolas saw to his own teachings. Sure, things would likely have been easier with a mentor of his own, but with his other siblings also seeking personalized attention, he didn't want to deprive any of them from their opportunities to learn and grow. Still, he wanted to prove he was useful to Ashen and that he could be responsible for his own education. So the Abraxas made his way to the old structures and ruins of the Range, old pack territory from a group he had never met before. Still, if wolves had been here once, there was a high probability that they left something useful behind. Stolas didn't meander; he headed straight for the large barn at the center of the fields. The structure was old and dilapidated, but still standing somehow. Being one of the few buildings still standing, it stood to reason that the previous pack would have used it for storage. That was where he would start his scavenger hunt.

The black and crimson wolf pushed his way through an opening in one of the barn's set of large doors, peering around the dimly lit interior with a quiet coo of curious intrigue. The air smelled musty and he could see dust dancing about in the streams of sunlight spilling in through the holes in the weathered roof. He didn't smell anyone else in hear, so after giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the dark, Stolas crept inside, tail wagging eagerly as he peered into empty stalls and began poking his nose into open crates. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he figured he'd know it when he found it. After a short bit of time rifling around, the sound of the barn door shifting as someone pushed their way inside made his heart leap up into his throat. Someone else was in here with him! Stolas spun on his heels, turning to face the open barn doors and the silhouette of the wolf in the sunlight. "Hello? Who goes there?" he called out in his most intimidating (and awkwardly strained adolescent) voice.

"Stolas Abraxas-Destruction"

She had only thought she had been alone. The pack that had once lived her abandoned their home and it had been some time since that even so plenty of others had time to pillage the once-pack lands. Widow was late to the game, hoping only that a single container would be left for her to return home with enough dirt to boost her garden. A bucket with no holes and a working handle would be best, since she hadn't been so smart as to bring a cart with her.

A voice called out and chills ran down her spine, fur bristling naturally in response. They seemed vaguely familiar, but she wouldn't question it and instead her lip curled into a snarl, eager to protect herself if need be. This was open land now, but the voice sounded more like a tough man and less of a weak one, even if the voice didn't sound like someone much older than her. Widow wasn't looking for a turf war today, but wasn't going to be so willing to answer their questions as they wished.

"Come find out!" She snapped back, bracing herself as she glanced around uncertain of where the voice had come from exactly.

"Speech!"

Art by SkeletonDragoness & Code by Skelle 2022

Stolas hadn’t been expecting resistance to his demand. Okay, maybe he should have, but the young Abraxas lord had never met another who refused him so brusquely. It took the adolescent aback, and for a brief moment his manufactured confidence wavered. Well shoot, now he was facing down a potential fight on his hands against an aggressive unknown opponent! The fur on Stolas' hackles raised, bristling all along his spine while his muscles tensed and jittery nerves tried to steel themselves. He was still hidden in the shadows behind the refuse, his dark coat practically making him invisible in the darkness. He had the element of surprise on his side—but that was about it. Suddenly the young wolf was regretting not taking up more chances to pursue fighting lessons with his father or siblings. Maybe then he'd feel like he actually stood a chance of backing up his words with action.

The stranger challenged him to come out and see for himself, but Stolas wasn't about to give up his advantage that easily to someone who sounded like they meant him harm. The voice, feminine in tone, rang a distant bell in the back of his mind, but his adrenaline-fueled nervous system wasn't focused on discerning how he might have known the voice. This was a do-or-die moment, and Stolas wasn't about to let his family name be besmirched by cowardice! Okay, Stolas, time for your months of not practicing to pay off, he thought with some self-deprecation as he took a deep breath to steel himself for what he was about to do. Gods, please don't let him die today!

Slate gray eyes narrowed to points, Stolas peeled his lips back from sharp fangs and shouted back, "Gladly!" Then, without a moment's hesitation, he leaped out from behind his cover with a snarl. His paws landed on the dusty, straw-littered ground and he had but a moment to spot the silhouette of the figure out in the open, just illuminated by the light spilling in from the open barn door. Stolas didn't waste any time, barreling for the other tall figure with all his might and aiming to throw his entire weight at them, paws outstretched and seeking to catch the wolf around their neck. He hoped to use the element of surprise to catch them off guard, perhaps even able to topple them over and get them to submit before the fight even began.

Stolas vs Widow for Dominance
Round 1/?
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Obsidian dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Studded leather bracers
Companion 1: Maine coon, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Barred owl, Male - Flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Novice Intellectual

"Stolas Abraxas-Destruction"

no time limit <3

The voice was quick to appear before her, a rather large silhouette of a man that would only vaguely sound familiar. She wouldn't stop to consider how she knew the voice however as she was rushed towards by the large male. She didn't even get time to notice he wasn't any shorter than her before he would close their distance, however she did get the time to rise upon her hind paws and settle her left leg back for balance just before the man would collide into her chest, his arms wrapping around her torso as her own forelimbs sought to apply pressure against the mans shoulders from above. Her size was usually her greatest advantage, but she feared that perhaps against someone so equally sized he might have a better chance at toppling her with this tactic.

"Speech!"

Widow vs Stolas for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Witches staff
Defensive Battle Accessory: Hooded cloak
Companion 1: Common raven, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Domestic short-haired cat, Female - Battle
*Companion 3: Common Raven, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Dexterous paws - Offensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Intellectual


Art by SkeletonDragoness & Code by Skelle 2022

What Stolas lacked in traditional fighting techniques, he made up for in spirited passion. Without the refinement of his father's lessons, he was left to rely on sheer aggression and hope that it caught his opponent off guard. Fortunately for the young Abraxas lord, it seemed to work! He managed to collide with his opponent while she tried to rear back on her hind legs—up close now he could tell the other wolf was definitely a young woman—preventing him from getting the full grapple he sought, but still managing to get her around her midsection instead. The weight of his foe came down onto his shoulders, and with how close they were he was unable to even think of trying to evade her, now forced to bear the brunt of the wolf's weight while she pushed down on him and the two grappled like wrestling bears.

Stolas grunted against the struggle and fought the resistance, his hind legs pushing forward with all their might while he shifted his weight to one side, seeking to use his hold on his opponent to turn and topple her over. His goal remained unchanged: get her on the ground and in a pin. He had no interest in doing real harm to her, but he was prepared to do what he must. Or at least he was, until Stolas caught the familiar scent of his foe with his nose practically in her fur. That was enough to give him pause—and maybe give her an opening to exploit.

Stolas vs Widow for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Obsidian dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Studded leather bracers
Companion 1: Maine coon, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Barred owl, Male - Flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Novice Intellectual

"Stolas Abraxas-Destruction"

Toes tangled into the fur of her assailants back as they grappled, searching for a grip as she felt him begin to lean. She hadn't taken the time to focus on the familiar scent of he carried and instead sought to defend herself against this large man... Whether he was familiar or not did not make him any less of a threat every second he continued his attack. Widow wasn't ignorant of the world and while she may still only be a yearling, even just a stranger she'd met in passing could be a risk to her life... Had she been followed here by one of those nasty pirates?

Her footing wasn't so sure underneath her and she would then begin to topple as a foot slipped beneath her. Her grip would tighten on the man, fangs seeking to grip the shoulder opposite to the direction she began to fall, that way her weight would hopefully assist in bringing her down with him. There was no time for hesitation now, not when she was at risk of being pinned beneath this man!

Widow vs Stolas for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Witches staff
Defensive Battle Accessory: Hooded cloak
Companion 1: Common raven, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Domestic short-haired cat, Female - Battle
*Companion 3: Common Raven, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Dexterous paws - Offensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Intellectual

"Speech!"

Art © LadyAmaris & Code © Skelle 2022

And the winner is...

Stolas

Widow must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Stolas 1: Attack Roll: 1 Critical fail! Defense Roll: 69 Agility Roll: 66 Perception Roll: 60 Total: 196 Attack[1] + 35% Bonus[0.35]: 1.35 Defense[69] + 10% Bonus[6.90]: 75.90 Agility[66] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 66.00 Perception[60] + 15% Bonus[9.00]: 69.00 Total[212.25] + 10% Bonus[21.23]: 233.47 Widow: Attack Roll: 1 Critical fail! Defense Roll: 16 Agility Roll: 95 Perception Roll: 1 Critical fail! Total: 113 Attack[1] + 65% Bonus[0.65]: 1.65 Defense[16] + 10% Bonus[1.60]: 17.60 Agility[95] + 5% Bonus[4.75]: 99.75 Perception[1] + 20% Bonus[0.20]: 1.20 Total[120.20] + 20% Bonus[24.04]: 144.24

The next few seconds all occurred within a blur of whirlwind movements. Stolas began to withdraw his offense, but the wolf he assumed was Widow refused and continued to press. The young Abraxas-Destruction wolf felt sharp fangs find their way into his skin at his shoulder, drawing another hissing snarl from him at the stings of pain that came with those fangs. Then weight pulled him down, and with his footing not yet solid, Stolas went down with his opponent. However, where she ended up landing on her back beneath him, he managed to straighten his paws and catch himself mid-fall. Stolas wound up straddled atop his opponent, three paws on either side of her with one large paw pressing down on her chest, effectively pinning her beneath his body weight.

It was only then that Stolas managed to draw back enough to confirm his opponent's identity, his lean, youthful muscles still tense and exerting all their strength to hold the other wolf down beneath him in a pin until they yielded. Graphite gray eyes leered down at the wolf he'd bested, noting the slender, supple curves of a young female's body. Her scent was rich in his nares, ringing all sorts of bells. The dusty slate and navy coat was familiar, and while the leopard-like spots on her sides were new, the gold markings on her face were unmistakable. Yep, this was Widow, all right!

"Widow, stop! It's Stolas!" he snapped down at the furiously growling fae, bracing his paw on her chest hard to keep her held in place while he held his stance firm on his other three legs around her. "Grrrrr, stop fighting and look at me! Remember, the carnival?" He tried to give Widow a charming little smile, hoping she'd recall the day at the carnival they'd shared—but the lad was prudent enough to not lessen his pressing down on her in case she didn't remember and decided to choose violence again.

"Stolas Abraxas-Destruction"

Widow had been off her game since the loss at the raid. She had defeated Veigar, but he was easy being partially blind. She felt bad for beating him to a point, but the success had done good to her ego after losing to the smaller pirate man. Their weight shifted against her favor and she found herself hitting the floor of the barn with a solid thud, knocking the wind out of her lungs as the man pinned her down beneath him with his heavy paw into her chest.

The world around her spun, her head and back having taken the brunt of the impact only made worse by his equally massive size and strength behind it. Her lips curled in pain and anger, ready to snap upwards at the mans face despite his weight pinning her down, but her name had stopped her. The dark barn and his dark coat prevented her from seeing him, especially now with the little light infiltrating the ceiling coming in and giving him an outer glow, but darkening his face in the shadow he made. It took a moment for the snarl to wipe from her face, silver eyes searching his shadowed features for any sign of truth. It wasn't until she caught his scent when he mentioned the carnival that her body relaxed, eyes closing slowly as her chest heaved trying to catch her breath under his weight.

"You attacked me first, you know," she said between breaths, silver glare suddenly flashing towards him as she finished her words.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle 2022 | Art © Saltine 2022

The pair of wolves that had moments before been locked in sudden combat were now both still and breathing hard to regain their lost breaths. Stolas chest heaved as his breathing slowly returned to a normal rate, holding Widow's silver eyes with his own darker gray ones while he watched the recognition begin to dawn in her expression and the snarl on her face begin to die away. She scrutinized his features, likely to determine if she really knew him, and when she did, he felt her body relax beneath his paws, the fight slipping away from her. It was only when he felt her go completely lax that he loosened his paw on Widow's chest, no longer holding her down to the ground since he knew she wouldn't attack him. She still glared at him and declared him the aggressor in this situation, but made no move to turn to violence again, so Stolas took that as a positive sign.

"You asked for it. I just finished it," the Abraxas lordling retorted with a wry scoff, pointing out that it was her who demanded he come out to her. He met her glare with one of his own, though his pointed gaze was clearly meant to tease her. "I'm sorry though, I didn't recognize your voice. You've, um..." Stolas' words drifted off as graphite eyes shifted slowly down from her youthful face to her barrel, looking over her adolescent form beneath him as best as he could in the low light. Widow had definitely matured a lot since he'd seen her last as a lanky puppy! "...grown up a lot since the carnival."

"Stolas Abraxas-Destruction"