When Avantika got back from her patrol, she was still thinking about how she might manage to get better relationships. Although the train of her thoughts had twisted at some point; something more anxious and bitter ran through her mind. She was doing better right now, but fate only knew how long that would last. Her happiness and sense of safety were precarious things, and life, as she knew too well, liked to throw difficulties her way like shooting arrows at an apple on her head. At any point she could be hit with another crisis. Somehow those things always seemed to rattle her more than they did others. And with that chance in mind, was it worth it to bring others into the messes caused by the risk she was? It was fine if she only hurt herself; it was her and her cowardly mind's fault anyway. But anyone else didn't deserve to be hurt by her sudden anger or cold neglect. She was a liability.

What would cheer her up? As if she was pulled, she made her way into the dojo. Maybe someone else would be in there, looking for a fight to blow off some steam.

"Speech"

A new day in the Hallows had come, and Memento Miori had awoken with something different than her usual tasks in mind. On a normal day, she might be fiddling with some projects, blankets, pillows, and baskets… but the night prior, as she lay down to rest, she thought of the bear that she and Ezra had confronted in the grove. She thought of her fighting skills, and while they weren’t bad, the pale-eyed woman felt that they could be better. It wasn’t as if she was needed as a fighter now… but what if something happened in the Hallows some time from now? An invasion, be it another pack or some other predators? Meme had decided that regardless of if fighting was her favored skill, she was going to work on it. So Memento rose with the sun and, waking her companions Rein and Jacques, she set off for the dojo within the castle. She hadn’t seen it used too often lately, and the open space would be perfect for her to train against her companions. It would also offer a different type of terrain than she was used to. Her nails would not be able to grip the floor here as easily as she could out in the wider world. But wasn’t fighting in different terrain an important part of being a fighter as well? So, for the first part of the morning, Meme had been practicing moves with Jacques and Rein, alternating between the two jackals to keep them fresh while she did not get a break. She was just backing off from a clash with Jacques when movement caught her eye. She lifted her head, ears flicking forward as her pale gaze fell on a fellow packmate. A smile graced Memento’s lips and she tipped her head toward the other female in greeting. “Morning! Care for a spar? My companions and I were just warming up.” That had to be why the other woman had come to the dojo, right? Or did she already have a sparring partner in mind, and had come here to wait for them? "Talk, 'Think.'

Avantika wasn't sure whether she was disappointed or glad that someone was already there, seemingly training with her companions. She had gone here for a spar and she was getting one without having to wait at all, so why was there a spark of faint irritation twisting her fur? She was just tired, probably. It had already been a day of strange experiences given the conversation she had with Mercury, which had been surprisingly vulnerable for her -- she was trying not to regret it now. This is growth, she reminded herself. Growth can be hard sometimes. She let herself smile and reply, if not cheerfully at least in a friendly way, "Yeah, I was thinking that. Want to just jump into it now?" She'd let Memento Mori go first if she wanted to, but would make sure that she was in a defensive stance. Avantika Carpathius the Commander of the Hallows did not get caught off guard.

"Speech"

Memento’s greeting was responded to with confirmation. Perfect! Meme’s pale gaze lit up and she gave a nod. “Alright! Let's get down to it! Rein, Jacques, at the ready!” Memento Mori turned to face Avantika with her companions, dropping down into a defensive position. Her ears flicked back against her skull to protect them from bites, her gaze narrowed, and her hackles were raised. She also made sure to keep a widened stance, rolling her shoulders forward, and spread her digits out on the dojo floor. She lifted her tail, aligning it with her spine, and lowered her head to align with her spine as well. Her bear cape rested upon her shoulder, and though she had her blade she would not draw it in a friendly spar. The other she-wolf was ready, that much was said in her stance and her gaze. Memento Mori didn’t doubt that this would be quite the spar. Beside her, on either side, Rein and Jacques mimicked her defensive position, ready to lunge forth. With the slightest motion from Memento, Jacques lunged forward, heading for Tika. The woman was taller than the jackals but shorter than Meme. The jackal sought to close the distance between them, and after a couple of seconds head start Memento Mori lunged forth after him. Jacques came at Avantika head-on, coming in low, hoping to use his smaller height to have the woman focus on him and lower her head toward him as he sought to bite her left front leg. Memento Mori on the other paw sought to come in toward Tika’s right side. Whereas Jacques aimed for a lower bite, toward the middle of her leg, Memento Mori sought to use her fangs to lightly slash across Tika’s left shoulder. She would not seek to smash her body into Avantika’s however, seeking more of a hit-and-run method. Rein had come after Memento but seemed to slow with about two wolf’s lengths away from the other fighters. He would be at the ready. "Talk, 'Think.'

Memento Mori vs Avantika for Spar
Round 1/?
Age: Over One Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bone dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bear cape
Companion 1: Black-backed jackal, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Black-backed jackal, Male - Battle
Skills: Expert Intellectual & Advanced Fighter

Avantika's companions, though they preferred the freedom of the open sky to following right at her side or perching on her shoulders, were never so far from her that they could not be called in to help her win a spar. The birds swooped in through the open doorway, perching on shelves. They disliked not being able to assume their usual positions flying in lazy circles that belied their intense focus above her, but all they really needed were good vantage points to observe the fight. Kit would watch from behind Avantika, while Kaata would do the same from behind Memento Mori.

One of the jackals lunged for Avantika, going for her leg. Avantika would drop her head even lower, reaching to grab his scruff in her teeth hopefully before he could bite her. If the grab was successful, she would snap her neck to toss him as far as she could away from her. She growled at the sting of the light scratching of her shoulder, but she had no time to focus on the pain. She would attempt to twist around in time to spring forward towards Memento Mori and wrap her forelegs around her neck in order to try to pull her head down.

Avantika vs Memento Mori for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Defensive Battle Accessory: Metal mask w/ throat cover
Companion 1: Sharp-shinned hawk, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Black-thighed falconet, Male - Flying
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Tactician

"Speech"