In preparation of a fight Armando rolled his neck and shook out his shoulders. He could do this; he had the training. The world was full of giant predators and he'd been fending them off for years. He'd never sparred with one before, though. In all of his six years the only fights he'd ever gotten into with, say, canines, were the ones where they tried to eat him and he desperately tried to not get eaten. So this whole putting himself out there and inviting fights thing was a little nerve wracking to be honest.

But necessary. He needed to learn. Especially since he'd been spending so much time among predators. It wasn't like the old days when he could count on Atlas to protect him or for the band to back him in a dangerous encounter. He was all by himself. For that reason he needed to hone his skills as a fighter. Or at the very least learn how to defend himself from giants.

Armando raised a paw to his mouth and coughed into it to clear his throat. He then sat back on his hind paws and used his front ones to smooth his chest and make him look presentable. Then, without further ado, he shrieked a challenge to any who wished to spar with him.

"Mamma may I?" Skadi asked as her gaze darted between her mother and the little challenger. When her mother agreed she went bounding up to Armando, who looked, in Skadi's opinion, like a cross between a cat and a raccoon. "Hey, catcoon! My mamma says I can fight you! What'ya say? Wanna fight me? Huh, do ya?" She fell into a fighter's stance and immediately her expression sobered. He wasn't a wolf but she was going to take a fight against him as seriously as if he was one. Clearly he wasn't food otherwise he wouldn't have screamed for a fighter. That's not what prey animals did. She would consider this a warm up to the big guys because oh yes, if she got her way today she would be fighting grown ups. If, she snuck a peek in her mother's direction, her mother agreed to let her.

Armando didn't have to wait long as through the grass bounded an overly exuberant wolf pup. Her words baffled him. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure she was talking to him and oh, wouldn't you know, there was no one else around which meant he was the catcoon. The child wanted to fight him. His dignity almost made him refuse, but then the wily, scheming side of him kicked in. This was a good introduction into the world of wolf fighting, no? Something small and manageable with jaws only barely capable of killing him instead of ones strong enough to cut him in half with a single bite. Yes, this was probably better, dignity or no. He couldn't afford to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"It's red panda and you're on." Armando adopted his best idea of a battle stance and then readjusted the helmet on his head. "You best watch out for this one," he said as he jerked his head in his little bird's direction. "She's a mean one." He was joking, of course. The titmouse was as vicious as she was small. Hoping to capitalize on surprise, Armando leaped forward and sought to grab the pup by the neck and roll her to the ground. This was perhaps the one and only time he'd be able to do this to a wolf so why not enjoy it?


Armando versus Skadi for Spar
Round 1 of ???
Age: 1+
Size: Other species
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked helmet
Companion 1: Tufted Tit Mouse, Female - Battle
Skills: Intermediate Intellectual & Advanced Fighter
Specialty: N/A

Skadi cocked her head and eyed the red panda's tiny bird companion. She missed Armando's sarcasm entirely and was genuinely trying to figure out what made the little bird so dangerous. After a beat she nodded slowly, still unsure, and said, "Okay, I will." Her companions could take care of the little beast if it became a problem. Skuggi could probably eat that tiny thing in one bite and she could definitely crush it in one foot. Wherever the owl was Skadi hoped she was paying attention.

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the sneaky little weasel was after her. Skadi resisted the urge to squeal as his arms found her neck. For something so small he sure was heavy and his momentum caused the pair to go rolling, which was just fine with Skadi as it freed up all of her claws. She immediately put them to use by bunny kicking at the fat red weasel and trying to wrap her arms around his neck.

Skadi versus Armando for Spar
Round 1 of 2
Age: under one year
Size: Extra small
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed forearm guards
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear skull mask
Companion 1: Great Horned Owl, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Magpie, Male - Flying
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Spicy blood - Defensive
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Hunter
Specialty: N/A