Nolan left the den that morning with a set determination. Most days he just let life throw him whatever activities it saw right to give him, but today he knew what he wanted to do. The tall young man had his bracers strapped to his front legs and he set out toward one of the more open areas in the plains. He hadn’t had a spar to practice his fighting skills since they left his old home and given the raid training they had recently had it was a skill he certainly didn’t want to fall to the wayside.

He found a spot that seemed like a good enough place to have a spar, looking around at the open area where the grass had been worn down from the wolves moving through here consistently. It was far enough from the meeting area that he knew they wouldn’t be in the way as well. He lifted his head and howled for one of the fighters to join him, just loud enough that they might be able to hear him if they were also somewhere in the plains. He waited eagerly to see if someone would come join him. With as many fighters as there were in his pack he figured at least someone would be available to spar with him.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari stretched and rolled his shoulders back and forth before letting loose a loud yawn. He'd just woken from a nap before rounds and he still had some time to kill. He debated what activity to do as a warm up when he heard Nolan calling for an opponent. What perfect timing! With a grin Dómari bounded towards the call and arrived a few moments later to see the younger man. He dipped his head in greeting.

"I was just wondering about a warm up before rounds. May I take this spar?" He'd been hunting with the young man and wondered how he fared in the realm of battle.

Nolan rolled his shoulders and leaned his head from one side to the other, reaching forward his his forepaws till he got a good stretch though his back while he waited for someone to join him, getting his muscles warmed up. He was just as excited as he always was whenever he got to spar. Even though he hadn't had much experience just yet in an actual fight where the results meant more than just a boost to his pride or a sense of accomplishment, he was very familiar with these sorts of practice fights. He used to practice with his father all the time and even after his father passed he kept up that training with Ochre and the other fighters in their band of wolves. Sparring reminded him so much of his father and it made him happy every time he did it.

He grinned when he spotted Domari come into the clearing, nodding his head to the older male in return. "Absolutely! I'd love to spar with you!" he replied enthusiastically before beginning to settle into that defensive stance that had been burned into his memory as soon as he had been coordinated enough to follow his father's instructions. The ground was fairly soft under paw so he let his toes spread and claws dig into the ground while he steadied himself and got ready to meet whatever Domari threw at him. He didn't really care who won or lost, he was just having fun and working those skills before they got dull.

"Wanna take the first swing?"

Nolan Thorben Adravendi vs Domari Xanilov for Spar
Round 0/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

"Great!" Dómari was thrilled that Nolan wanted to spar with him. The boy was proving to be an excellent addition to Valhalla and the older man appreciated the younger's enthusiasm. He couldn't wait to see the boys skills continue to grow. Dómari prepped himself for battle, swiftly setting his defenses. His companions spread out in case they needed to get involved but they'd wait and see how things went.

Dómari kicked off and dove straight for Nolan. He twisted his head and tried to bite the taller youth on the underside of his neck a few inches down from the corner of the boys jaw. At the same time he attempted to lift his front limbs up and wrap them around the base of Nolan's neck.

Dómari Xanilov vs Nolan for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Defensive Battle Accessory: Deer hide cape
Companion 1: Red fox, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Red fox, Male - Battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Nolan watched Domari carefully while he waited for his opponent's first move, his muscles tensed and ready to leap out of the way or respond with an attack of his own. As Domari leapt toward him, Nolan reared back onto his hind legs, his stance widening a bit to help him stay stable while he leaned back to keep his neck out of Domari's reach, just feeling his teeth graze his throat instead. He didn't quite escape the hold Domari went for around him with his front legs, but it was a less firm grasp than the gray male may have wanted. It was enough to keep him from being able to get away from Domari immediately, but didn't feel like it would be impossible to break away from.

With his forepaws already off the ground, Nolan lifted his forepaws till they near the center of Domari's chest and tried to push the heavier male away from him. He tried to use the momentum of him coming back toward the ground to give his shove some heft and attempt to send the blue-eyed man to the ground or at least just away from him to put some distance between them again. If he was able to get Domari onto the ground then he would he would try to land with his leather-wrapped forelegs across the base of the male's neck and over the thickest part of his shoulder in an attempt to pin him down, but if not then he would just land back onto all fours and recenter his balance to get ready for the male's next attack.

Nolan Thorben Adravendi vs Domari Xanilov for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari's fangs grazed Nolan's neck but he could not get a hold as the younger male reared back out of reach. His arms did managed to start wrapping around but he wasn't able to keep his grip for at that moment Nolan's front paws pushed him sharply in the chest. Dómari quickly arched his spine as his hind legs slid back, using his superior weight to bring his forelegs to the ground. He quickly reset his defenses and tried again, this time attacking low. He kicked forward, twisting his head to his right as he tried to catch Nolan's left leg in his jaws, just below the boy's elbow. At the same time Dómari launched his left shoulder forward for Nolan's chest hoping to use his weight and momentum to make the boy stumble and fall to the ground.

Dómari Xanilov vs Nolan for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Heavy
Defensive Battle Accessory: Deer hide cape
Companion 1: Red fox, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Red fox, Male - Battle
Skills: Expert Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

Nolan's paws gripped to the ground as he fell into his widened, defensive stance, trying to keep himself lower to the ground since Domari had used his taller height against him last time. He saw the gray male lunge for his leg and felt his jaws latch onto the limb before he could pull it away, feeling the slight pressure that Domari's strong jaws put on his reinforced bracers. Nolan shifted his weight back toward his hind legs again to brace himself when his opponent shifted to throw his shoulder into his chest. His shoulder connected solidly and made him give a grunt as it knocked the wind out of him a bit, but he used his hind legs to push back against the force of Domari's shove and kept himself from falling over with a bit of effort.

He tried to tug his leg away from Domari's grasp, but it felt too solidly locked between his jaws so Nolan immediately abandoned that idea. Instead, he let his weight remain on his hind legs and lifted his opposite foreleg so he could attempt to wrap it around the back of Domari's neck. He wanted to use that grasp along with the pressure he could put on the older male's jaw with the leg that was currently caught there as he shoved his weight forward and kicked off with his back legs to try and push Domari off his feet and pin his opponent under him.

Nolan Thorben Adravendi vs Domari Xanilov for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter
Specialty: N/A

And the winner is...

DOMARI

NOLAN must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Domari: 198.24 (91, 5, 2, 48 - Adjusted to 109.2, 6, 2, 48) Nolan: 135.95 (6, 46, 35, 42 - Adjusted to 6.6, 50.6, 36.75, 42)

- nyx