Today Saucy was itching for a spar. She had been robbed of a good fight when she hadn’t been able to catch up with Dalia’s attacker, and since then she hadn’t found many opportunities to blow off steam in the best way she knew. Also, it was just so much fun- and she could use the training. With all those reasons in mind, the white lioness trotted along the shoreline, searching for a good spot to act as the battleground. She decided on an section of the bay where the sand wasn’t as thick, so she could move easier. She then tipped back her head and let out a howl, which spread across Stavanger Bay. It sang for a fight, and whoever dared to be her partner in it.

It didn’t take long for the warrior girl’s request to be answered. The wraith emerged in all his regality, her black lips curled into a half snarl half smirk. The girl was glad it was him, as she was up for the challenge she was sure he’d bring. She had never sparred with this titan before, but she was confident in her abilities as always, perhaps a little too much so. His arrival was aknowledged with a dip of her head, then turned into a similar protective stance when he took up his. She watched him carefully as he closed the distance between them.

There they were, the lioness and the shark, facing each other with the fight in their eyes before it had even begun. She gave no verbal confirmation to begin, she simply let out a growl and charged forwards with her pearly white teeth bared. She aimed for his shoulder, a brute force attack with the goal of perhaps catching him off guard, and pushing him back.

Saucy let out a guttural huff when her attack landed, she watched as Ford stumbled backwards but took it fully. He wasn’t much dazed by her move, but she still felt off to a good start. She sturdied her base for the anticipated retaliation, lifting each paw them stomping the ground of keep rooted but warm. He moved back towards her and with a mighty swing his teeth were upon her. She had prepared for it, her own maw moving to meet his before he could grab her muzzle. She attempted to push him aside, but he was forcing from above, and she was shoved down and away a few steps, having to catch herself from tripping.

The lioness caught her breath, then darted towards him with her skull aiming for his chest area. If she could throw him off balance like this than she would attempt to bare him to the ground.

Saucy's charge met his shoulder again, the same one from before. This wasn't her original plan, but somehow it was perhaps effective. It would certainly cause a strain on that shoulder, and then maybe the whole leg. However it also cause a strain to her head. The impact, however not as hard as if this were to be a true fight, shook her, and she had to back up a few paces to straighten her senses. Fuck, she cursed under her breath as she wished she hadn't done that.

For some, frustration was a downer, that would make them want to give up. For Saucy it only made her more determined. The lioness shook off the stupefied trance and decided to play defensive this time, preparing herself for whatever move he might play next.

It was rare that Saucy didn’t play broadsides, sending attack after attack after attack. But this time she wanted to play the game differently, she wanted to show Ford that she was no mere brute. So far all she’d done was charge in recklessly, and she wasn’t going to this time around. He was a hunter when he fought, looking for her weakness the way one would scout out their quarry. But she was no mere prey, she was a predator too. Saucy held her ground, black lips peeled back, daring him forwards. He’d see how patient a lioness could be.

Ford refused to attack either, and for a moment they were at a standstill. It was almost funny, the silent glares they gave each other, each waiting for the other to make a move. A smirk worked its way onto Saucy’s features, her tail flicking side to side. The titan finally started to move, but not towards her. His feet were carrying him back, as if he were pulled by the tide. He goaded her foward with a sneer, and while that did make her want to attack it wasn’t that which made her move. She could see easily what he was doing, coaxing her to fight him on his turf. Better make her move now before he made it all the way out into the shallows.

So with a frustrated snarl she leapt forwards, teeth aimed straight for Ford’s knees hoping to pull him down.

Just as Saucy’s fangs were about to hit their mark, Ford did a 180 and sent a wicked splash of saltwater at her face. It went all over; up her nose, it her open mouth, in her eyes. What the- she started, backing off quickly to blow air out her nostrils, in hopes of expelling the water. It burned, and she made a half cough half snarl as she whipped her head back to Ford. The lioness fixed him a accusatory look, though likely looked sort of foolish squinting through the salt. Then in a fit of frustration she lashed out again, this time her teeth aimed at his muzzle. She wanted to grab him and pull him down into the water, see how he liked it.

Saucy hadn’t meant to draw blood with her attack, but she miscalculated how hard she’d snapped. She’d just sliced his snout, a trickle of blood oozed out through his fur. She felt bad, and held off for a moment to see if he was alright. Her icy eyes followed him as he moved further out into the brine, but something in her gut paused her from joining him. She was way better at swimming than when she’d first encountered the Stormrift wolves, and while she might venture to swim out to him, she dared not tussle with him in that water.

She took a few tentative steps forward, trying to appear as though she wasn’t bothered by the mysterious dark water. She let out a few snorts, her eyes and nose still stung and her head still pinched from the earlier impact. Why can’t we fight on land, I was doing great on the sand. You know I’m not the best in the water, she said reluctantly, feeling the cold burn of the winter water along her chest fur now.

Ford raised his head when he replied to her, he looked massive even when chest deep in the colossal that was the ocean. His answer was akin to that of a mentor’s, and while Saucy usually hated getting input from others, from Ford it seemed natural. She didn’t want to snap back at him some defensive quip, but instead she wanted to prove herself to him. He had a strange effect on people, even on the strong willed Soleil.

She elicited a growl in response, her head bobbing down as she narrowed her eyes. The sea wraith beckoned her, and while her gut told her to stay where she was, her determination and perhaps bull headedness dragged her out. She had to do more hopping than he had to reach where he was, chest deep for him was a bit higher for her. But once she was near him she aimed her teeth for his snout again, this time from under it.

Teeth met teeth when Ford moved to meet her, they tussled for control, she pushed against him in a flash of white as her pushed back. Snarls escaped her mouth as she tried to grab at his cheek, the saltwater brimming around them sometimes splashing into her face again.  She took what he had said earlier about learning to fight in both, and tried to ignore it. She imagined that they were dry and on land, that her legs and chest were not submerged in frigid waters and slowed by a tugging current. It worked some, and she was able to hold her ground as they clashed.

Saucy was successfully holding her for a moment there, rooted solidly in the thick sand so that not even the waves could move her. However, Ford could. With an unbelievably quick snap, his teeth closed around her muzzle. The lioness lost her base, and was plunged into the water, only to inhale a large amount of water through her nostrils. This caused her eyes to pop open, and in moments they were burning with salt. She struggled against the water to resurface, forgetting completely about the fight at hand.

Coughing and spluttering she pushed to the shore, trudging through the water as quickly as possible until she no longer was surrounded by the sea. She spat and sneezed, blinking time and time again until finally she’d cleared up enough to shoot Ford a scowl. Big Bitch, she said, having decided on his nickname. Her scowl melted into an exasperated grin, teach me how to fight in the ocean and maybe I’ll let you a pick better one, she said. This was the highest honor she could offer, this was a very fair bargain (in Saucy’s eyes).