Vanta had spent countless hours of the night perched in a border-hugging tree and watching into the adjacent battleground, seeing wolves come and go and spectating from afar the rare bloody combat. It seemed a place all wolves came to improve themselves and held unspoken rules on not murdering anyone. Vanta desperately wanted to attend a match, to fight someone who wasn't related to her for once. After countless days harassing her mother, the aging woman reluctantly decided to agree.

Her mother stayed close, ready to jump in at a moments notice if any wolf seemed to have ill intentions with her child. Vanta was ignorant to the worry entirely, more worried about putting on a good show and learning something then she could ever be about being truly hurt or even kidnapped. Even then, Zee had warned her multiple times that an opponent might not even arrive. After all, what responsible parent would let their puppies wander in the middle of the night to a place such as this?

Even aware that her call may go unanswered, Vanta was still determined to sing the song of a challenger. Tipping her head back she let loose a loud, squeaky call. Hoping someone her own age might be near enough to hear and interested in a friendly puppy duel.

"Vanta"

The night is strange and full of wonder which, of course, means that Calico Jack has to go explore it. Maybe he is not supposed to be out here but he doesn’t really care, the pup lives by the motto, ‘a pirate does what a pirate wants’. So, when Nico had invited him to tag along with his little band for an overnight trip, Jack had eagerly accepted. Now, under the bright, starlit sky the calico pup rolls restlessly.

He doesn’t want to sleep! If he is going to break the rules, then he wants to use every moment to his advantage. Rolling to his belly, Jack smoothly makes it to his paws and noiselessly trots away from the strange group, shaking his head in wonder at them. Falling into a lope once he is far enough away, the patchwork pup gallops along under the watchful moon, happiness zipping through him.

Paws cross into a strange plain, where steel swords stick up from the ground, catching the silvery moonlight and reflecting it across the dark grass. Calico Jack slows to a walk, his icy blue eyes scanning the land, pulling in every detail that he can. Blood stains the land, old and new pools marring the grass and soaking into the dirt, filling the air with its coppery scent.

Jaw hangs open as he walks, ogling the place with all the interest of a child who is out past his bedtime. But the night holds more in store for him as a squeaky call fills the plains, calling for an opponent to step forward. Shoot, they sound about as old as him! This could be fun! Jack breaks into a run as he races to where the call issued from, slowing when the form of a cream and teal pup materializes.

As he gets closer, he sees the pup’s guardian nearby and Jack offers her his most charming smile before squaring up with the challenger. Before the fight begins, he says, “I‘m Calico Jack! Good luck!” Flashing a happy grin at the girl (oh shit she is even prettier up close!) the boy then sets his defenses before dipping down in a play bow, tail arched over his back and wagging playfully while his front paws tap the earth, eager to spar.



Calico Jack vs Vântoase for Puppy Spar!
Round 0/?
Age: Under 6
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Modified cutlass
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced bandana
Companion 1: Macaw, Male - Flying
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator


"Calico Jack"

Excitement thrummed through her tiny chest as she eagerly awaited an answer to her call. Her opponent showed herself as a pup similarly aged to herself, his pelt a mixture of oranges, whites and browns that was all-too familiar to both the princess and her supervising parent (who said nothing, though her gaze began to focus harder on the distant and dark surroundings from where the boy came.) Calico Jack looked like Hanako! Even down to the ice blue eyes, though the emotion in them was wildly more innocent and joyous then she'd normally noticed from her brother's grumpy mate.

First thing was first, introductions were in order. The Fatalis princess had yet to meet many outsider pups, but she'd been taught well in making sure a name was given in exchange for a name and that all proper pleasantry protocol was covered. "Hi Calico Jack!" Vanta parroted back the name given. "I'm Vanta, and I'm gonna kick your butt!" The words were spoken with the most playful and devilish of grins, her tail lashing excitedly as she mirrored the boy's play bow. His eager paws tapping the earth were the only sign of readiness she needed to initiate.

Crouching her raised rear end low so it near touched the ground, the puppy coiled herself. She would need to hit the strange puppy hard and fast to have any real chance against a boy (she'd never sparred with a boy, before). Her launch only took her halfway in covering the distance between them, the rest of the ground made up by bounding strides and half an enthusiastic gallop as she threw herself forward with intent to start the fight off with a bang - a forehead bang, her forehead versus his own.

Vântoase vs Calico Jack for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Hidden crystalline blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Black leather bracers
Companion 1: Channel-billed toucan, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Bush Viper, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive
Disability: Light blindness - Moderate
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Advanced Hunter

"Vanta"

Calico Jack introduces himself and, when Vanta returns the greeting with her name and a declaration that she is going to kick his butt, the patchwork pup can’t help but bark out a laugh. Her grin is met with charming one of his own as he tosses the pup a wink before stretching down into a play bow. Paws tap the earth, letting her know he is ready.

Vanta launches herself at him and Jack narrows his eyes, watching her strides to try and glean what she is planning. Eyes round as he understands her plan and he lets out a yip of excitement while tucking his neck and pushing his front end upward. With a resounding ‘CRACK’ the pups foreheads connect and Jack’s world spins. Body lurches sideways and, mostly in an attempt to stay up right, his front legs shoot out toward his opponent in an attempted hug. Oh, hey! Maybe, if he can grab her, he can pull her down to the ground too! Mentally patting himself on the back, Jack pretends that was his plan all along.



Calico Jack vs Vântoase for Puppy Spar!
Round 1/2
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Modified cutlass
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced bandana
Companion 1: Macaw, Male - Flying
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator


"Calico Jack"

The thrill of her first real fight leaves the pup short sighted and silly, her forehead crashing into the koi-coated boy's own and sending both pups into a spiral of dizziness. It would seem the victor would be whoever could come out of it fast enough to retaliate, and as Vanta wobbled left and right on her heavy paws the world began to turn.

Calico Jack's paw came out toward her as his world too began to turn and Vanta's first instinct was to jump over it. It felt like her jump defied gravity entirely, her rear legs wobbling up and overtop of her head as her forepaws landed, sending her into a somersault that found her on her back before the boy.

Desperate for a smooth recovery, Vanta began to kick out with her rear paws not unlike a cat. The tumble may not have been graceful, but maybe if she got a lucky shot on his face she could pull it off like it was her intended move all along.

Vântoase vs Calico Jack for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: under 6 months
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Hidden crystalline blade
Defensive Battle Accessory: Black leather bracers
Companion 1: Channel-billed toucan, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Bush Viper, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive
Disability: Light blindness - Moderate
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Advanced Hunter

"Vanta"

The girl headbutts him and Jack’s world reels. Dang. If she wasn’t so pretty, he might have said something not so nice to her after the fight! Legs snake out toward her and Vanta, who seems to be just as dizzy as him, makes a gravity defying leap over him! Oh wait, she is on her back in front of him. Man, the world should really stop spinning so he can tell what is up and what is down!

Gravity pulls at his body and Jack decides to aim his fall so he can try and squish Vanta underneath him. With any luck he can pin her and claim the win. Calico body falls sideways as he locks up his legs to help him descent a little faster. With a laugh, he shouts, “TIMBER!” on his way down.




Calico Jack vs Vântoase for Puppy Spar!
Round 2/2
Age: Under 6 months
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Modified cutlass
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced bandana
Companion 1: Macaw, Male - Flying
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Intermediate Navigator


"Calico Jack"

And the winner is...

CALICO JACK

VANTA must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: VANTA Attack Roll: 50 Defense Roll: 18 Agility Roll: 51 Perception Roll: 95 Total: 214 Attack[50] + 65% Bonus[32.50]: 82.50 Defense[18] + 20% Bonus[3.60]: 21.60 Agility[51] + 5% Bonus[2.55]: 53.55 Perception[95] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 95.00 Total[252.65] + -30% Bonus[-75.79]: 176.85 CALICO JACK Attack Roll: 96 Defense Roll: 9 Agility Roll: 73 Perception Roll: 57 Total: 235 Attack[96] + 10% Bonus[9.60]: 105.60 Defense[9] + 15% Bonus[1.35]: 10.35 Agility[73] + 15% Bonus[10.95]: 83.95 Perception[57] + 10% Bonus[5.70]: 62.70 Total[262.60] + -15% Bonus[-39.39]: 223.21