read, set, don't go.

the spar between @West Tyree and Desdemona, @Hydra obvious permission to be allowed in

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As the two faced off, she nodded at him, hiding the slight disappointment toward his memory. She remembered him clearly, from the borders of Easthollow, and the meeting of Leta and West - as well as the taking of the sister, and an eventual union that came between the two wolves. So many have lost their memories, and Desdemona wondered, if her own would ever fade. For she would always remember all ; to even death itself.

"Are you ready?"

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They would be left to their own devices, a challenge between two warriors, and though he was sure she was more than capable, he couldn't help but wonder if it was exactly a fair fight. She wasn't a small wolf, but he still stood above her and had to weigh almost double.

It may serve as better practice for her than him, given their task, but he wasn't about to let himself go down so easily just because he had the advantage. “As I'll ever be.” He held his signature grin though it had evolved into a confident smirk as he adjusted his footing to be wider and more stable. He might not go easy, but he'd at least give her the first move.

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If not for her birth, Desdemona was suited far more to hunting. Her body was sleek, though tall and thin as it was ; she looked like that of a prarie runner. Yet, she held muscles from daily training and years of treatment as not only a punching bag, but a guard alongside of the borders of her homeland. She did not let her tones get soft either, for the guarding of Moonspear, now Empyrean, was the upmost importance to her. To be of use, was what she felt was to be destined for ; and to die in their honor.

Desdemona took a running strike, a dashing toward him but straight on, rather she ran to the side in a quick step, a body that pushed to his legs then to his side. She wanted to attempt to topple the man, a teeth clackering at his paws in that hope to make the titan fall.

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She was smaller and to be quick was expected. The guard wouldn't be able to topple him with brute force and that much he was aware of already. She made the first move as he allowed, dashing forward with a speed he would never rival though just as he thought she might try a frontal attack, the woman stepped to the side. West had already lurched to meet her head-on, but as a result, her fangs met his leg causing him to jerk back.

Large paws would betray him as he found his own feet to be in his way, tumbling halfway to the ground as he quickly reached out to prevent himself from falling completely defenseless. The woodland man snorted, more out of practice than he expected as he worked his legs under him until he was upright again, “Lucky start.” He had been caught off guard, but now he had seen what he would be working with.

West would waste no time turning with a snap of his fangs to hopefully startle Desdemona as he muscled his way through his movements. He might not be as graceful as her, but he was still a train of weight to face that he could easily use to his advantage so long as he kept his guard up. Lowering his head, he looked to shove his skull at the bottom of her chest where he would be able to easily flip her.

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She expected some push back, but from all that she knew - toppling or tackling down would be impossible. Slowly would Desdemona have to nick away at any stamina he has, like a woodpecker toward a tree. He was quick to make his comeback, but with his large body it seemed almost slow-mo like, where she could see what he wanted to do, yet she wasn't agile enough to completely stop it. He pushed her back and bruised her chest, but wasn't completely toppled down, simply skipped a few steps away and licked at her throbbing chest.

With no time to let him continue on, she tried a more.. Reckless act, an attempt to jump ontop of him. Ride on, bull. Maybe with ontop she could grasp at his neck, but that was a worry for another time, she needed to simply get on.

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His skull would collide with her chest, a dull throb bloomed from his head as he managed to push her back, though as he tried to flip her she had shifted just fast enough to hop a few paces off and regain her balance. There would be a moment as she retreated that they would simply eye each other, both likely looking for the next's move. Attacking recklessly didn't seem to go well, all he could do was remain guarded, watch for her movements and try to use them against her.

She came again, this time speeding as she threw her weight into the air. West wasn't sure where she had been going with it, a jab for his neck maybe, though it would be a difficult task with his bulk and height. Even though they both stood tall, climbing onto another wolf was no easy feat. Seeing as Desdemona was taking the high ground, he ducked again to go low, his sights set on her torso as he tried to wrap his front legs around her to body her down.

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The two were both warriors, though in battle it was clear there was different techniques. She hailed more with speed and quick counters, while he like a building was best to be a heavy-set, a guard of patience as he could rarely match so. Yet if she were to count he was a harder one to fall, for even if she did stuck near him he could easily just throw her like a toy with such muscle match. A displeasure rising from her throat, feeling how outmatched that she was. Not many could she beat in these mountains, and slowly, it was catching up to her patience..

He ducked, and she lopsided as felt his legs wrap around, but she clamored onto his pack. A tugging feeling but a reluctance to remove self as she attempted to grab at his back neck, though most likely if she failed.. He would manage to slam her back to the lower ground, and Desdemona would have to be quick in that attempt to escape his grasp.

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Even as he managed to grab hold did she wiggle in his arms, neck reaching to grab at his scruff that he could no longer protect. It mattered little now though as he used his momentum to continue his shove and slam her to the ground. Though she seemed to expect him to continue, their only goal had been to knock the other over. With Desdemona in the dirt, West relinquished his grip, but would have to crouch and wait for her to do the same to his nape. “Told ya you got lucky.” He chuckled in a teasing manner with a lighthearted smirk to hopefully lighten the loss.

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As she toppled to the ground Desdemona was quick to gather herself back up, and diving back into a prowl. He laughed slightly though she remained expressionless, watching in caution of where her next move should be. He was a hard opponent, for in the end their size was a true drawback to this battle — though she had speed, it meant nothing to a giant in size. Her tail flickered in the minor of irritation, as she dove at him in a jog. Her aim was toward his legs, and grabbed of surprise to buckle his behind in the hopeful surprise she once more could attempt the tossle down.

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Even now she had nothing to say, something he more or less expected of the rather mute woman, but come on why look so serious? This was just a friendly spar after all, or maybe it was something more to her...he didn't feel as if he had something to prove, but maybe she did. Maybe she needed the win... When his chuckle was not reciprocated he felt his smile fade. She gathered herself and worked her way to her paws, eyes piercing his body like spears as she searched for something to grab hold of.

Of course, he wouldn't let her circle him without following her pace, ensuring that she was always somewhat in front of him to better defend himself for whatever she planned next. Then, she rushed, swerving wide to avoid his own fangs as he lunged to grab her by the scruff only to dive like a bird for his haunch. Just like she wanted, his leg would buckle, but he was just behind, teeth flashing for her side as one knee hit the ground. Maybe that was enough to be considered a down though and he knew when he had lost. Given that it was only a spar, he let the rest of his weight fall, his teeth releasing whatever grasp he had if he had managed to grab hold at all before he huffed a sigh and rolled to his side.

“Alright, fine, this time you win.” Once more he felt a grin creep its way to his maw as his tail wagged under him. She might have won this time, but next time they faced each other he would be sure to score his own victory. “You're good. Did Hydra train you?” All his experience had been learned in action and that was...some time ago now. His father never did like fighting and his mother was a hunter, not a fighter. The skills translated some, but it wasn't the same in the end. Rusty as he was, she likely had more skill beneath her experience if Hydra normally held these training sessions. “I guess we should go tell Hydra we finished, huh?” Once more he expected no answer from her, or at the very most a simple acknowledgment, but one day he'd get more out of her. A smile or something more than just that deadpan cool gaze.

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"I have taught myself, and learned from the Ostrega's." A nodding, she improved greatly since coming to their pack and gradually learning more how to improve herself. She was used to being a shield, taking the blunt of targeting and being that of just a meat upon a defense. It helped greatly though to resolve herself in finishing a fight, but it was often not well. Clumsy, but gradually she felt herself learning.

She wanted to give no credit to her motherland.

"You have done well, as well," she said to him. A compliment though voice tinged in a usual monotone, even if she meant it by heart. Perhaps even a little bit of envy, with such a large body he would always hold an advantage to wolves like herself — a rare time to feel proud, but hidden away into her soul. She would remember this, for what came to toppling those of a giant spectrum. Thankfully, they weren't extremely common.

Then she nodded, and followed behind him to inform the Alpha.

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