They dance, and she screams as his hooves connect twice with her flank. He is somewhat disappointed that the echo of cracking bone does not resound in his ears, and resolves to break her at least once before the fight is done. Cynder's claws find flesh, but not the tender liquid of Arah's eyes - her fire barely clips the mongrel mare's muzzle, and her own trumpet of disgust rings into the heavens. Again, Cynder, commands the beast, his voice a mental echo in his dragon's consciousness. But, to his surprise, he finds naught but a brick wall of resistance - he presses further, and senses Cynder's confusion as her gaze is inexplicably locked to Arah's. The jade lizard's mind, normally so open to her bonded, is closed to him, save for the command he can hear echoing through her brain. "Attack Tyra-horse. Burn Tyra-horse."

The hellion realises what is happening with a sharp stab of mingled horror and disgust - the filthy vermin is interfering with his dragon's mind. The innermost sanctum of their bond, the most private and cherished section of their interlocked consciousnesses, has been delved by the hideous mental trickery of the scum's magic.

Cynder, don't you dare, the beast mentally hisses to her, ears pinning to his mane as his own dragon shoots towards him. He can feel her utter bemusement and fear, not able to understand what's happening to her, unable to realise why she suddenly wants to harm the man she loves more than any other. Her maw opens, her yellow eyes almost apolgetic as she brews the flame in her belly and prepares to send it forth into Tyradon's face, but before she can the stallion makes a snap decision - his skull reaches out and slams sharply to the left, crashing its massive weight into Cynder's side and sending the dragon sprawling out of the way. Her flame misses him by a hair's breadth, but a small grumble of disgust flees his clenched jaws as his head throbs with the force of the impact. That pain is nothing, though, compared to what he can feel from Cynder; confusion and bewilderment, and betrayal that her own bonded would use such brutality on her. Her aching side transmits to Tyradon, and his own ribs pulse as if broken; he finds he cannot meet her wounded gaze, and she swoops upwards with a small caw of sorrow that melts the warlord's stone heart.

Of everyone in his life, his beloved dragon is the one he cherishes most. But it was a choice between hitting her off course, or allowing her flame to ignite his mane, singe flesh from bone and likely cause him to lose the fight. They are both soldiers - they know that the pain of one is worth it for the good of the many. She will forgive him, but Tyradon will not forgive the antler-horned unicorn bitch who sought to threaten their sacred bond. With that action, she has condemned herself.

She will burn.

He begins to turn as he sees Arah charge towards him, but can do little to prevent her horns crashing into the thick muscle of his right leg save for shift to his left to somewhat lessen the impact. The tines rip into flesh and sinew, and the bastard grits his yellowed teeth as he feels blood erupt from the wound and pour in crimson rivulets down his leg. It hurts - by Nieque, it stings like a bitch, but the warbringer's rage throbs like a heartbeat in his chest and he forces aside the pain into the little box in the corner of his mind, where he locks his injuries until after the fight. He can whine, complain and limp once this battle is done; for now, he has a job to do.

He shoots forward a short distance, favouring his torn hindleg as he swings his massive frame around to try and face her right side again. He digs his heavy hooves into the thick snow, scrabbling for purchase as he charges forwards with the force of a freight train, his momentum only slightly lessened by his throbbing leg and the snow that sucks at every muscle of his limbs. He aims to crash his thick chest into Arah's right ribcage, hoping to use every ounce of power in his gargantuan frame to try and smash her bones and perhaps even topple her. His jaws snap forwards, aiming to pepper bites across her back and spine. Cynder, stop sulking and take your revenge, he commands the emerald beast; with a small chuff of agreement (no doubt she will pout at him later), the war-dragon swoops silently downwards, aiming for Arah's backside. Her jaws unhinge and she belches fire towards the mare's tail, aiming to set it alight.

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797 words

2/4

Summary: Charges at Arah's right ribcage to try and knock her over/break bones, and tries to bite her back. Cynder tries to set her tail on fire.