Exhaustion only began to become more evident as the agouti male continued his barrage of snaps towards the other man's neck and pelt. Each strike coming up empty mouthed while Anthem went with the motion of his initial kick to the hips, using the momentum to his advantage to find solid ground beneath his feet once more versus the emptiness of the sky above. More growls of challenge booming from their throats as time went on, a stalemate still acquired. In all honestly, Vespertio was beginning to question how much longer he could keep this up. The energy once pumping strongly through his body was sorely getting depleted. What move would end up being the last in this fight?

There wasn't much time to question such things for long as his creamy jaws once more jutted forward in an attempt to snag the nape of the stormy male. An attack that was countered by an opposing set of teeth, clinking against his own to defend the vital area that would bring this all to a final end. Quickly the tawny man recoiled to avoid giving him an opportune moment to grab for his lip as something to hold onto. Shifting his body weight into a defensive position with head lowered to protect his own throat, ebony lips revealing his saliva coated teeth. A flame still burning strongly behind his liquid gold eyes despite the gradual sinking of his energy preserves as he watched the other rise. Someone had to give eventually.

There just wasn't enough time in the world to properly prepare for nor dodge the next attack created by Anthem, but brace himself for the oncoming blow. Muscles tensed as best they could now and head lowered with ears pinned back, the lining of his lips rose higher in a more menacing snarl as he waited for the inevitable impact. Then the attack came. Teeth snatching their predetermined target at the back of his skull before the lager man's weight came crushing atop of him. Forcing the agouti king to the ground on weakened limbs. A rumbling growl of disapproval at the new position echoing off the rough barked trunks of the surrounded pines. It was over. He had lost.

Not an ounce of strength was left in his body to fight back leaving him with no option, but to succumb to the defeat before him. Forcing himself to morph into a submissive posture despite his body's kicking and screaming to remain on top. To keep holding onto his dominate demeanor. It wasn't until Anthem finally released his hold did Vespertio rise from the dirt and shake it from his once preened coat. Tongue dangling out from parted jaws in exhaustion. "Congratulations, guardian." He spoke between heavy breathes, a smile replacing the once present snarl on his lips. "Now off with you. You have duties to attend to." A friendly banter lacing his words as jaws snapped near Anthem's elbows to shoo him off as well as serve as a reminder that although he lost this challenge he was still the man in charge.

Watching the stormy pelted man trot off a quick shoulder roll was permitted to asses the damage of what was done. A sore muscle here and there beginning to make their presence known, but nothing the rugged mountain man couldn't handle. A good long drink at the lake was now needed more than ever to quench his parched throat.