Paradise Falls twiddlin' my thumbs, yeah, I've been patient

rank challenge for @Specter

i am a dark red liver stretched out on the rocks

All the poison, I convert it and I turn it to love

She should do this now.

She stalked the forest in the evening light as she followed the scent. She knew next to nothing of the man who ranked above her, but she knew that she needed to face off against him now. For once, it was less personal against the wolf. This mattered to her. In her bones it felt right. If she climbed and secured a place then there was even more support for her future.

Finley's blessing and support for whatever she brought into the world was good — but Isla had always wanted more even from a young age.

She let loose a summoning sound for the man ranked above her.

He had been slowly carving his place with in the pack since he had joined. Learning the territory and the borders, and everything that lay in between. Specter hadn't sought out any of his packmates though. Which if one considered how starved for a conversation he had been what felt like just yesterday it would seem odd. Yet, he found it was easier when he knew that there were others well within his reach if he wanted a conversation.

A howl rang out for him as he paced the borders and the pale man tipped his head slightly with a frown. He didn't recognize the voice and he surely didn't know why he was being called. Tipping his head up he let out a short howl in turn to let them know he was coming, before heading in their direction.

It seemed to be only a few moments later when he was faced with the dark wolf that had summoned him. Greeting her with a soft wave of his tail he questioned with a slight smile.

"How can I help you Miss?"

i am a dark red liver stretched out on the rocks

All the poison, I convert it and I turn it to love

A pale creature. She might have called him a wraith or ghost but he seemed too...warm for that. With a polite greeting and wave of his tail, she wondered if he had a clue at all.

Maybe he did and he was just as kind as everyone else here. Maybe he had none and had become just as clueless as everyone else too.

Her tail raised rigid and tall behind her then. Head held tall and neck stiff. She did not want to talk, not unless he intended to simply go belly up on her. Which she wondered given how considerate he seemed even in the face of a near-stranger.

Her body language said it all. This was a challenge.

His question was left unanswered or at least it was verbally. The dark wolf's form had said more than enough. Posture rigid and sharp, gaze piercing as she stared him down. All but screaming challenge to him.

Specter paused for a second as he considered his options. Yet, it was only a heartbeat of hesitation later that his own posture turned sharp. The pale fur along his nape and spine bristled as he took a single stiff step forward in silent acceptance of the gauntlet that she had thrown at him. Lips peeled back to bare equally pale fangs at her as his tail raised behind him.

He wouldn't be the first to move though. No, this was something that she had called him for. She had made the challenge. So the pale man would also have her make the first move.

He postured back at her, but he had not made a move to physically correct her yet.

Isla knew her goal here could not be to maim. How terrible a look it would have been if she mauled her way up the ranks. It would surely remove some of the nicer things she had gained lately...

So she decided she wanted to be strong and direct, without a full on bloodbath. If it could be helped.

She lunged with her teeth aimed for his muzzle. It would be the swiftest way to assert herself over him if he would not step down by his own will.

It was a shame she would miss.

round one, miss x)

He stood still as she lunged for him, only to move at the last second. Pale form dipping to the side and out of the way of snapping teeth as they closed on air. The fact that she had gone for his face immediately wasn't lost on him. His ears flattening against his skull in an attempt to protect them from future face grabs.

A low growl rolled in his chest as he twisted his body so he could aim fangs at the fur of her neck, aiming where the fur seemed thicker. An attempt to scruff her and hopefully force her head down. Mindful to not draw blood as he tried to force her body into a lowered position.

His teeth grabbed her scruff and she ground her teeth.

It flared an ugly feeling within her. It reminded her of being disciplined as a child. She supposed that's what this was all really about anyway. It would have been no different back home. Order had to be maintained with a strict hand. Perhaps she had just underestimated who she wanted to climb rank over.

With her scruff held, her options were limited. So she settled for pushing her weight further into him in hopes she might shove him off of his hold. Anything to free herself from this embarrassing hold.

round three, hit

His teeth had found purchase in her fur. A useful spot to limit her movements. Yet, Specter lost his hold almost as fast as he had gained it. Her body shoving into his and he released his grip rather than chance clamping down too hard. This was a challenge and he would rather lose an advantage than draw blood.

Staying close to her darker form he shoved his body against her, trying to shove her over or at the very least make her lose her footing. His jaws snapping together with a sharp click in the air near her ears.

His move had worked. His weight against her had tipped her over and she met the ground on her side. Exposed, vulnerable, embarrassed. She wanted out of this situation, even if she had started it.

So she stayed there for a moment, belly out as she offered a whistled sound of accepted defeat. He could keep his rank today. She would not try him again for the time being. She made no more lunges or snaps. She wanted him to see her like this so that she could get up again without another round of retaliation.

All of this simply meant she would have to get better, be stronger. Perhaps find other ways to rise...

He felt her give beneath him. Body tipping over as she fell to the ground. Specter followed the motion staying close to her but now above her fallen frame. A growl in his throat as he moved to grab her muzzle only to freeze at the sound of her submission. He stood there for a moment longer to make sure she was truly submitting and not using it as a ploy for a sneak attack. His siblings had liked to use that trick too often for him to fall for it from another.

When it became apparent that the challenge was over he pulled back. His posture immediately dropping into something more neutral. Specter watched her carefully in case he had accidentally hurt her when he had pushed her down. The pale man didn't voice his concerns though since she didn't seem to be one for words but he was sure it was evident on his face.