I'd rather be dead than live a lie
BURN THE WHITE FLAG!

Natha felt the need to get a workout while she still could. Once winter came she'd likely hole up in the north until it had passed and she needed to spend the later portions of autumn gathering meat for the winter. Not that she wasn't a capable hunter. Lynx thrived on snowshoe hare but she still liked to have a little meat stored up just in case. Especially in an unfamiliar territory.

Natha picked a smooth, flat area and tipped back her head to let out a yowl. She hoped to catch a curious wolf or really anything at this point. Except a bear. Heaven helped her if she attracted another bloody bear. She was almost excited for winter to come when most of the bears would be hibernating and she had no plans to go so far north she'd run into polar bears.

H E S T E R

Hester found herself wandering far from where she'd first begun. Fall was in the air, and though it was only just beginning, Hes could feel the minuscule bite in the air that was attempting to take hold of the land. Leaves were beginning to brown beneath the onslaught, and as she meandered, she came first upon a plateau with gargantuan metal beasts protruding from desolated grounds. To her left spread open plains, and to her right, a rock face stood, imposing in its size.

She heard the yowl some distance ahead, and her ears perked forward in sudden interest as her slow pace fastened to a trot. It wasn't long until she found the lynx that had released the call for battle, and Hester slowed, tilting her head as she spoke. "Are you in need of aid?" she asked, wanting to be sure before she took the woman's offer. She was tall for a lynx but similarly colored to the ones she'd seen in her travels. Her gold eyes mirrored Hester's own. "Or was that a call for merriment?"

Hester, battle loving she-wolf that she was, hoped for the latter but awaited the other's answer.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

I'd rather be dead than live a lie
BURN THE WHITE FLAG!

Natha drank in the cool autumn air, taking advantage of the peaceful silence that hung in the air after her call. Soon her attention would be fully taken by battle and she knew to take advantage of the quiet moments while they were present. Natha's patience was swiftly awarded as a wolf appeared to answer her call. She grinned as she turned to face the wolf. "It was a call for battle. I'm looking for an opponent to spar against. I don't suppose you'd be interested in fighting me by chance?" She certainly hoped so. She'd hate to see the wolf go and then have to wait around for another to answer her. It was a tricky dance though calling for a wolf in Common Tongue rather than her own but with practice she would get it down. She sent her defenses, ears pinning tightly to her head as she waited and hoped that the wolf would agree to the fight and perhaps even get the battle started.

H E S T E R

The woman's words settled Hester, and the wolf grinned wildly. The lynx wasted no time readying herself, setting defenses and for that, Hester was thankful. Her defenses fell into place naturally -- chestnut legs spread for balance, her ears pinning to her dome so that they might be missed if that was the lynx chose to pounce. Amber eyes narrowed against the sun above, narrowing her view to her opponent and the area in which they would meet. Hackles stood, excitement leaving the fur on end as her tail swished behind her, ready to aid in balance as Hester dashed forward. Maeve, she thought, calling on the goddess of warfare and bloodshed.

Hester made a quick but considered decision and aimed her maw at the feline's shoulders, just beneath her scruff, in an attempt to gain control of the vicious claws she knew felines sported.

Hester vs Natha for Spar
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1yr
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Accessory: N/A
Defensive Accessory: N/A
Companion 1: N/A
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: N/A
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Beginner
Specialty: N/A

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

I'd rather be dead than live a lie
BURN THE WHITE FLAG!

The wolf answered by setting her defenses and preparing to fight. Excitement shivered down Natha's spine and her bob-tailed rear wiggled a little in response to her eagerness. The wolf dove forward, fangs diving for her and Natha sprang forward to her right managing causing the wolf to fail in her attempt to grasp the cat's shoulders but Natha had been a bit slow in her decision and while she prevented the wolf from getting a grip the canine's fangs still grazed her left shoulder, leaving light lacerations across the outside.

Natha kept with her forward momentum attempting to bite into the wolf's left knee while her front claws extended to try and grasp the wolf's thigh. She hoped to dig in and hold tight.

Natha Críoch vs Hester for Spar
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Other species
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Bobcat, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Flying fox, Female - Battle
Skills: Advanced Navigator & Expert Fighter
Specialty: N/A

H E S T E R

Her own attempt missed, noted Hester with brief disdain. She didn't have time to dwell on it long, however, as the feline launched an attack of her own. She leapt passed Hester's waiting maw, and the woman attempted to move her leg back, too late. She felt the lynx bite into her knee, the skin splitting easily before the onslaught, but banished the pain, shoving it deep within with brutal efficiency to keep her focus on the battle at hand. Claws followed the teeth, and Hester grimaced.

Body low to the ground, her defenses still in place, she would swivel her rear, tail flagging out to aid in balance. She gaze settled on the feline's body, and while Hester wasn't nearly as flexible, she knew that she was heavier. A paw struck out, only moments after this realization, attempting to settle on Natha's ductile, and hopefully exposed, back.

Hester vs Natha Críoch for Spar
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1yr
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Accessory: N/A
Defensive Accessory: N/A
Companion 1: N/A
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: N/A
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Beginner
Specialty: N/A

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

I'd rather be dead than live a lie
BURN THE WHITE FLAG!

Natha grinned as she tasted blood. She latched on tight, pleased that her attack had succeeded. She kept her defenses set as best as she was able but in her position she was not able to see what was happening behind her and so there was little she could do to defend herself. A heavy paw landed on her back. Between the paw and the wolf's body already lowering to the ground Natha had no choice but to follow suit, losing her grip on the woman's knee and thighs as she was pushed onto her belly. Her hind legs coiled beneath her just in case and Natha immediately lashed out, her right paw sweeping forward as she tried to swipe at the wolf's ankle, seeking to tear deep lacerations in her opponent and maybe get the wolf to take some of her weight of the cat's lithe back.

Natha Críoch vs Hester for Spar
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Other species
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Bobcat, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Flying fox, Female - Battle
Skills: Advanced Navigator & Expert Fighter
Specialty: N/A

H E S T E R

Hester's strike was successful, and though she leaned to put more weight on Natha to keep her in place, she didn't want to put so much weight on her that she might seriously injure the feline. This was, after all, only a friendly spar. Her ears were pinned in grim satisfaction, but she kept her face stoic as she focused on the task at hand. She felt her skin give way beneath the feline's claw yet again, but a sharp hiss of pain would be the only indicator of it. Simultaneously, as she'd leaned to place her weight on the woman, Hester would aim another strike at Natha's scruff, her maw parted in hopes of welcoming the fur into its grip.

She was still low to the ground, as she hadn't moved to allow Natha any space, her tail flagged behind her. Nails were digging into the soil beneath, in search of purchase, and her hackles stood at the ready.

Hester vs Natha Críoch for Spar
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1yr
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Offensive Accessory: N/A
Defensive Accessory: N/A
Companion 1: N/A
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: N/A
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Beginner
Specialty: N/A

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.

I'd rather be dead than live a lie
BURN THE WHITE FLAG!

Natha squirmed but as the wolf put more weight on her it was becoming clear that she wasn't going to get out of this the easy way. Her claws scored a successful mark but the wolf bore the pain and answered Natha with fangs in her scruff. Well this wasn't good. Her only hope right now was to do as much damage as possible to the other woman's hind leg as it was the only thing within her reach. While Natha's scruff and back were held firm her long arms were still in reach of the woman's ankle and she lashed out again, claws seeking to worsen the damage of her previous attack. Hopefully it worked, if not she was going to have to try and twist around to get at the wolf's face which was doable but it meant risking more damage to her scruff.

Natha Críoch vs Hester for Spar
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Other species
Build: Medium
Companion 1: Bobcat, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Flying fox, Female - Battle
Skills: Advanced Navigator & Expert Fighter
Specialty: N/A

And the winner is...

NATHA

HESTER must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Hester: 175.50 (72, 65, 11, 21 - Adjusted to 72, 71.5, 11, 21) Natha: 363.96 (95, 48, 97, 25 - Adjusted to 118.75, 48, 111.55, 25)

- nyx

H E S T E R

Hester's grin was wide as she stepped away, being careful not to crush the smaller predator. The lynx had pulled no punches, and while her ankle was bleeding, Hester didn't begrudge the woman for that. The smaller predators, though they came with weapons of their own, often had to make up for a size disadvantage. She'd had the headway to allow her to challenge Natha without truly hurting her. Although, if it had come to it, she wondered if Natha's reaction would be the same if Hester had, in fact, injured her.

She didn't think it mattered, though. It was an agreeable fight on both sides, and it had given the chestnut wolf a chance to test her mettle against a creature of this land. "A respectable spar," Hester said, no bitterness clear in her tone. The woman craved battle almost as much as she craved a place to belong. The type didn't matter; even a friendly spar was a welcome activity.

She walks. "She speaks." She thinks.