Haunted Wood I'll be granting your permission 'Cause you haven't got a prayer

It was time. 

The young Warlord raised his muzzle and called for @Phillip who he assumed was sticking around and hadn't run off because the woods still smelled of him. It was the same place that Vengeance had made him fight Hela several times over, where his own blood had spilled many times. It was normal for this to happen here. To be a Nightwalker one must fight and know how to spill blood....so why did it just feel like he was being a jerk?

akkskdk this post is shitty I'm sorry

He knew he'd be scared when the time to fight came, but he didn't anticipate being this terrified. When that call reached his ear his heart leaped out of his throat, his legs shook, and his breathing turned shallow. I can't do this, he repeated to himself, and yet he moved forward. There was no other choice.

He arrived with his head low and tail tucked. It was clear he wasn't ready for this.

He almost called it off and told him to get out for his own good. Frowning he stared at the black furred wolf as he approached cowering and seeming to be in worse shape than the first meeting. Torn between feeling kind of disgusted by the total lack of spine and guilty because he probably caused the fear in the first place he sighed "Please stop cowering" he said the exasperation reaching new peaks as he frustratedly motioned at the poor kid "If this is how you walk around you're basically coyote pickings" it was harsh but Valour only really knew violence and he'd be damned if he let someone this soft walk around as a Nightwalker looking ready to piss themselves. Not to mention he was genuinely concerned for the guy's well being, how would he ever survive anywhere else either? Taking a moment to reign in his attitude he tried a different approach "I promise I won't hurt you, this is a spar okay?" he said though his opinion was so low at this point he wasn't even sure Seagull would know what a spar was.

There he was, messing things up already. Phillip was just barely able to lift his head. If his fear made it difficult to do that, how was he gonna make it through a fight? He was positive he'd die here.

The warlord's promise did little to settle his racing heart. He was bound to get hurt during this. Phillip had told himself that again and again in preparation. No amount of assurance could change his mind.

When do we start? he blurted suddenly. He just wanted to get this over with.

Not much of a change in the black furred male's demeanor. Valour's tail hung between his legs as he tried to think of some way to prove that he wasn't going to actually beat the shit out of the kid. "Now" he replied to the question and unlike what he would usually do he let the frightened wolf have a moment to process that before he would rush him. Just a straight beeline for the shaking male that would result in a harmless nip to the ear if there wasn't an attempt to defend. Once accomplished (or defended) he would stand and wait for the other male to retaliate, as there wasn't anything else to expect.

Now.

There was no chance he’d win this fight, so may as well accept what’s coming. Phillip closed his eyes, looked away, and prepared for the worst. But... nothing happened. He had a glimmer of hope for a split second. Maybe his opponent was having second thoughts? He hesitantly looked towards him and, yep, this was definitely still happening. Valour came at him at full speed and he had no time to defend himself. Phillip yelped, not from the pain but from the shock. Come to think of it, the bite wasn't nearly as painful as he thought it'd be. He looked up at the warlord, expecting more to come, but he just stood there. It was his turn.

He wasn't sure what he should do now. Phillip glanced from one side to the next. Well, he should start by getting closer. The yearling took a deep breath before running towards him. Maybe he'd topple the leader over if he were lucky.

I rolled for Phillip's move and it was a hit ^^' lemme know if you want an actual Tabletop set up!

Lifting his brows at the yelp Valour looked around worried someone would come thinking he was beating the newcomer up. As low as his guard was he wasn't expecting Seagull's move to be as quick as it was and the smaller boy connected to him with a solid thud that knocked him aside. All the air leaving his lungs in a rough wheeze he coughed and stumbled to his paws again, turning to face the other guy with a serious expression. Studying him with a more solemn gaze he smiled and lowered his muzzle, tail swaying at his hinds "Good. Remember you're fast and use it when I come at you" he said and with a warning step forward rushed toward the other male, head lowered and charging much like a bull elk would. The move was easy enough to dodge but the young leader hoped that there was more spine in the Grunt than that especially being in a fight against his warlord.

i rolled a hit for the last post in the tabletop thread! forgot to mention it ooc. sorry about that! rolled a faliure this time

He collides into Valour with a solid thud. It's either a miracle at work or pity from the Warlord. Phillip was dazed at first because he honestly wasn't expecting to hit that hard. He stumbled back, shook his head, and focused on Valour, who was coughing from the impact.

Sorry, sorry! He would've kept apologizing if it weren't for that smile. As wrong as this felt, that smile followed by praise and advice meant he was doing something right. Ok, he sighed.

Phillip was still terrified by this, but at least he wasn't cowering. He sucked in a deep breath as he prepared to slip away from the oncoming attack. The yearling jumped out of the way just in the nick of time. How was he managing to pull this off?

He ran forward for a bit before spinning around. Then he tried the same 'run forward and hope for the best' tactic.

Seagull dodged just in time and Valour breezed past him turning to see the ink furred wolf do the same. Much to his amusement the same tactic was pulled and unflinchingly he stood there letting the other get closer and closer until with practiced skill he jumped to the side sticking out his leg and tripping the male up as he passed. Tail swaying he turned eyes following to see whether the other would faceplant or manage to keep his paws. Either way there was already prepared advice spilling from his maw "Don't repeat the same move twice in a row. Especially against someone you know could hurt you" of course he wouldn't  hurt him but in a real fight against someone seriously pissed off it would be different. "One more time" he said again, challenging the guy once more his tone firm but tail giving a slow encouraging sway at his heels.

I forgot this existed: https://wolf-rpg.com/showthread.php?tid=41514&pid=437149#pid437149 I rolled a success.

rolled a fail

He ran.. he ran.. and just when he thought he'd make contact the warlord moves from his line of sight. Out comes the foot and down goes Phillip. Some dirt managed to make  its way into his mouth. Gross.

Valour's talking, he's spitting out mud, and it's a lot to take in. Don't repeat the same move. Got it. Phillip stood up, shook the dirt from his pelt, and just stood there for a moment. Running at him was the only move he had. What else could he do? He could snap at him, but Phillip didn't want to do any harm. But what else could he do? He'd come to a compromise; he shot forward, aimed low with his mouth wide open. If he got a grip, it wouldn't strong. It'd be a nip at best.

If there was one thing Valour could say that Seagull had going for him it was determination. Picking himself back up off of the ground the young man came back at him though with the hesitation it gave Valour enough time to prepare himself and he easily stepped backwards avoiding the pinch of fangs. Enthusiastically he growled tail wagging as a wide grin formed on his maw "Yeah! That was great! Without the hesitation and maybe a little faster and you'd have had me" he would have been maybe a little put off about that but he had to admit for someone who seemed scared of his own shadow Seagull had potential. "That's good for now if you want to stop. Would you be interested in training one on one?" the interest he showed was genuine, eyes lighting up as he fixed Seagull with a more friendly expression. The spar was enough for him to get over his initial opinion of the Grunt and while he wasn't sure how to teach someone to fight aside from actually fighting it was a much safer offer for the wolf than being sent to spar other Nightwalkers who'd be much rougher.

All Phillip got a hold of was air. His teeth clicked together and he stumbled forward. Another failed attempt. His ears fell against his skull only to perk up again. What did Valour say? That was.. great?

Phillip turned to face him. It-- it was? He couldn't believe it. That was nothing but a lousy slip up to him. But if that made the warlord happy then he was content, more importantly relieved.

He almost leaped with glee when Valour called the spar off. He pulled through it.. alive! Well, glad that's over. That is, it was over for now. The warlord offered another round, some one on one training. While he stood there bright eyed, Phillip was just about ready to collapse.

He didn't want to do this. He never wanted to do this, but he was in too deep now. Phillip gulped and tried to smile. Uh, yep! S-sure.

The way Seagull looked the flash of fear at his failure. He remembered what it was like to feel that. The way that every miss meant another harsh word. Never given reassurance he was quick to nod flashing him a warm smile "Yeah! For someone who..probably hasn't fought you're alright. You'll get better" he meant to be encouraging but he could still see the nervousness and exhaustion the fight had left him with. Slowly approaching he gave the boy a gentle bump with his shoulder "You're a Nightwalker now. Let me teach you to be strong, we'll have your back" he offered the words in passing as he brushed past ready to head to his den to try and catch a quick nap before he continued on with daily business.