It had been awhile since Delphi had been to the Battlefield. She had seen plenty of fighting around the mountains so it wasn't like she needed to be here. Yet, Vidarr mentioned raiding soon. A raid that would be her first. Delphi would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She wanted to do well, to succeed, to prove herself worthy of her father and Vidarr's praise. Was that so bad to want?

In her mind, it wasn't and that was why she was here. Lately, she didn't have a good track record of winning. Maybe if she got some under her belt before the raid, she'd have better chances of winning. Maybe if she got the experience, she wouldn't be nervous facing her first raid. The plan in her mind made sense. Go to the battlefield, get some experience, return victorious. Easy heckin' peasy.

Standing in the middle of the dusty plateau, she looks around. So far, not many to choose from. That was okay. She had planned to be here all day. Tilting back her muzzle, she calls out instead. Maybe someone will come to her.

It was great to be older! Now at six months Tarnish was allowed to wander farther than he had been before and that also included occasional trips to the battlefield. This was his first official trip. Worc flew along to keep an eye on him and advising him of who might be good to spar and who was best avoided. When a call rang out for a challenger, Worc flew ahead and found the source of the call before flying back to let Tarnish know it was a yearling female. A far more doable challenge than a large adult!

Excited Tarnish raced toward the source of the call. One he spied the girl he skidded to a stop, kicking up dust and screeching at the top of his lungs. "Dibs! Dibs! I'll fight you!" As further proof he backed up to leave a space of about eight feet between them before setting his defenses and pinning his ears.

Raider Brats

A much larger pup meets her call. His all black coat and jolly disposition has her smiling. The way he speaks and backs up to give her room leave her hopeful. This time, it appeared the gods were giving her a fun opponent for once! Smiling at the boy, Delphi nods and sets her own defenses. Ears back, lips trembling, paws pressing harder into the ground, what is left of her tail is lining up with her spine.

The bigger question though is... What move would she do? What was the best route? Though she can tell by his puppy-like face that he's younger than she is, he's still already far larger than her. His legs would be too obvious. His tender underbelly? Hm, the options were there, but she didn't know this boy. Didn't know his expertise or style. Fuck it, right? Take her chances! This was why she was here! To learn, to grow, to get better.

Inhaling deeply, Delphi finally pushes forward. Deafening the lapsed silence with her paws hitting the packed ground, she closes the eight feet between them. Only seconds pass before she is aiming to slide between his front legs. If he doesn't block her, Delphi hopes to make it all the way to his rear legs and move out from between them to hopefully get a chance to try and latch onto his tail.

Delphi vs Tarnish for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers with cougar claws
Defensive Battle Accessory: Spiked collar of bear teeth
Companion 1: Male Binturong, 22” - Battle
Companion 2: Tasmanian Devil, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Saber fangs (Offensive)
Mutation 2: Spicy blood (Defensive)
Skills: Master Healer & Expert Fighter
Specialty: Poison Master

The girl smiled back and Tarnish took that as agreement. He quickly set his defenses, his ears pinned to his head, tail tucking. Already his fur and hackles stood on end as he rolled his shoulders forward, neck scrunching back. He'd never sparred a wolf that wasn't his siblings before and he couldn't wait to give it a go. Even better the girl is smaller than him and after his mother's lesson he was eager to put what he'd learned into practice.

She darts right toward him, fast as a rabbit and he pulls the move he was taught, mimicking his mother with her rabbit he lets his body drop swiftly, aided by gravity, as his front paws slide forward, his chest kissing the ground. His jaws lunge forward, hoping to catch her right foreleg, just above the joint, before she can go darting off again. His companions stood at the ready, waiting to counter hers should they also jump into the fray.

Tarnish vs Delphi for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Under 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Defensive Battle Accessory: Chainmail Cowl
Companion 1: Crow, Male, Battle
Companion 2: Jaguarundi, Male, Battle
Mutation 1: Mountain lion paws with retractable claws - Offensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter
Specialty:

Raider Brats