Haunted Wood All we do is scream and fight

@Valour for a warrior thread? And a war plotting one once this is closed up?

She wanted to test how well Valour had been doing.
Her teaching Famine...didn't seem to have high hopes but she knew he could fight.
Vengeance did teach him after all, with her aid.

She gave a short call for him so she didn't have to hunt too badly.
She too needed to pit their weaknesses against one another and she needed to rectify the issues Santiago pointed out to her.
Because if she didn't, then she'd be fucked.
She had to do this for her children, to protect them.

One was already snatched by Ursus, another few missing. Hers would not sit the same fate.

Was there a word for something further than exhaustion? If there was Valour couldn't think of one but whatever it was fit. Even so he kept himself going, kept himself eating, kept himself running and reporting to allies. How much he had done in the days since the war had been declared? He was a silent shadow always on the move just as the dead man before him....except he wasn't useless and didn't bring trouble to their door. Vanity's call rang out in the silence of their misty home and he set out at a quick pace, eyes already filled with a fierce light. He really hoped that this wasn't anything too serious and his fur began to prickle along his spine as he considered the option of fighting her just for the hell of it, just because they both were filled with rage and the fact that she had been so bold with her mouth toward him lately had him maybe a little salty. Spotting the masked she wolf he studied her for a moment before asking "What's up?" casually his eyes trying to search for any signs of hostility that would mean a fight or something tense. 

"I figured we should spar, unless you just want to talk tactics."
She stated, not wanting to beat around the bush.
She was planning on jumping him, like she always did with Venny, but the kid looked like he'd been shit on and had lost all hope.

Gone was that childish spark of hope in his eyes.

"What is it like to be, Warlord?"
She invited, making her posture open for an attack if he so desired.
She wouldn't be dejected if he refused and just wanted to talk instead, but a little chat wouldn't go amiss.

Ah.
This was why he liked Vanity. There was always going to be a fight she'd either offer or accept. She was the reason he was good as he was, the lesson on defense was one he remembered very well and had used to keep himself safe in fights a lot. His lips twitched up and there was a faint spark of light as he was already preparing himself to take a hit. Then came the inquiry, one that had him pause and lift his silver eyes to stare into hers for a moment. It sank deep into his bones and he felt his blood burn in response, an almost forgotten feeling. What does it mean to be Warlord?

"You never stop" he responded simply. She wouldn't know how tired he was. She wouldn't know that the war was likely to be the death of him or damned close. Young though he was Valour was smart enough to know that leading his pack to war with less experience than everyone he brought with him meant that he was going to be seen as easy picking. Being Warlord at his age meant he couldn't stop, any weakness was unnafordable especially in front of Vanity who was perhaps the most ruthless Nightwalker beneath himself. Only a second passed before he moved in beelining for her before making a quick dash to the left, using his forepaws to push hard off the ground and rear up over her on hinds to drape one foreleg over her back jaws parted and lunging for a bite to the back of her neck.

Roll: miss

She knew that feeling.
Nothing stopped for anyone, especially the Warlord.
There was always a pack issue, relation issue, and there was always something lurking at the borders that had to be dealt with.

Being an Alpha of some other pack may not be so hard, you didn't have to train your packmates yourself. A Warlord, however, did, and it made the whole pack stronger.
Liken now.

He came at her, rising up. What went up must come down.
She was quick though, like with Santiago, and sidestepped out of his path.
Then, aligned with his rear end, she lunged.

Fast she slipped out from beneath him and went for the back of him. Young as he was he'd learned to be quick and to never waste a chance so it was as soon as his paws had touched the ground he spun around so that his hind end was saves from her fangs. His jaws were already wide open and he struck like a viper to the side of her neck pulling back and angling his chin down to protect his throat from retaliation as he stepped back keeping his eyes trained on her as he slowly circled. Always move, never stop, keep on your toes. Every fight had taught him this, to be still was to invite defeat. 

Rolled a hit

Her leg slipped out in the lung on the dry, soil layered ground.
She should be more careful.
But before she could right herself, her mistake struck her neck.
Rattler.

Her head swung to him, chin low but assessing all the same. She circled his circle, watching for a moment of weakness.
She thought she saw his hind leg drag for a second and made her lunge.
A dumb move, where her lack of patience in the moment sent her careening into an empty spot where he should have been.

 Circling one another Valour felt a twinge where Ursus's leader ripped into his leg, healed but the muscles often complained still. Stumbling he was smart enough to freeze and move to the side avoiding her attack. Afraid that if he didn't strike quick the weakness would be exploited he lunged falling short jaws snapping closed on thin air before he tucked his chin and stared into her eyes not backing up, inviting her to engage in close combat where his hind leg wouldn't an issue. Risky but he figured he carried enough scarring on the front to afford some more, where as he could not show in a fight that he had a bum leg. 

Roll: miss

So she had to clear her head.
She needed to be level.
She took a few more moments, thinking out her plan.

Drive forward, hit him in the neck with her head, and then take out the leg.

Seemed solid, though if he was quick, he'd back up and she'd have to try again. No issue for her though, she could do that all day.
Vanity's tail lashed as she drove towards him, intent on carrying out her plan.

A pause...and then suddenly back at it again.
With a grunt Valour hopped backwards ending in a sitting position because his leg gave out. Seeing her come at him all he could think to do was drop to a crouch with seconds left to watch her come at him head angled higher than his body currently was. Struggling to get his stronger leg beneath him he pushed off the ground jaws parting to grip the side of her neck before his leg completely gave out beneath him and he toppled to the side hoping to drag her down with him. Once on the ground it was getting back up that he was worried about but he figured he'd take it one issue at a time, especially since he was worried ending the fight due to his injury would only earn him scolding. Weakness.....it wasn't affordable. Lately it had felt like the pressure was on...not because of his title but because of the problems arising at every turn. Vengeace had raised him for this and it was what he was meant to do...he could feel it deep down but he knew he was weak. Too soft on others because they'd had a rough past, too welcoming to wolves who didn't fit into their scene. Weaknesses.....the least he could do was hide just one of them.

So his stumble wasn't a tree root or something.
It was an injury. Probably from Ursus.
Almost definitely.

She sailed over him as he crouched, toppling over behind him.​
Or she would have if he hadn't snatched up her neck and sent her reeling sideways, still ending up in the dirt, only beside him and in probably a little more pain.
But she couldn't stop, them both being down was an advantage of who could recover quicker.
And it seemed she would be.

She pushed herself over him, for she wasn't far away, and snapped up his scruff in her teeth, righting her position so if he stood up, she'd just be a backpack.
Valour was already taller than her.

We can end the spar here if you want and continue the thread! Idm

A shark.

Once again he was reminded of the ocean beasts his father told them tales of. Fast slippery animals that had jaws filled with sharp teeth. Before he could roll away she stood over him her jaws closing around his neck having him pinned for the moment. Panting softly and registering the dull throb in his hind leg he grunted and shoved himself up with his forelegs into a sitting position so that she'd slip off while flattening his ears and lowering his head resigning himself. Showing off to Vanity was not worth permanent damage to a limb....he was bold not stupid. "I've been healing, this is the best it's been so far. It won't be an issue by war" his lips curled slightly to make him appear more stern about it but as he turned to look at her he'd seem almost wary, scared as if she would take advantage of his injury. It was a lie....his leg hadn't felt worse and he was sure he'd been straining it but Vanity....was a shark. The boy had admired her for that since he was about Guardian's age but now...he worried it would prove to be a threat to him and everything he'd worked on. Sucking in a breath he limped past her prepared in case she lunged for him again ears still angled backward.

I'm good to end it here, we can fade out if you want or you can tag an ending on

She panted softly, standing over him to ensure the end of the fight.
He seemed to have enough as he sat up, which was fair enough to her. 
It couldn't really be seen that the Warlord was bested by the General, but their dynamic was fair in her opinion. She did want Warlord, yes, but to take over from him now might cause severe troubles. He was the one making more alliances anyway.

Sh let go and moved in front of him, catching their breath.
She knew he had more in him, but enough was enough.
"Practice defending that leg specifically, but ensure you don't leave the rest of yourself open." He could do that. He knew of defensive methods and was smart enough to adapt them to the task.
And if he did that as well as healing, she was well assured he'd have no problems by the war.

He seemed really wary. As if he expected her to start again.
She softly shook her head, "I won't bite again," she grinned, tail waving softly.
She tucked herself in, showing submission to him. He was the Warlord, really her position was the advisor. But alas, she didn't care.

She gave him a couple more pointers on defending his injury before they both moved off to patrol the woods and borders.