Alysanne's instincts weren’t made for battle - she simply hadn’t expected Tembovu to move with her. She assumed he would have moved towards the pond as in her head there had been an image of warriors circling one another and constantly trading places. Which was, as she found out, entirely wrong. He stepped forward with her - the proximity turning a simple brush of her wing into a violent whack that sent tremors through the limb.

“I’m sorry!” She balked at the sight of the blood, going so far as to switch her forward momentum and move backward as though she could get away from the sight and the knowledge that she had been the one to draw it. She had never drawn blood before, never carried the knowledge that she had intentionally caused physical injury, and she wanted to stop the spar right then and there and tend to her wounded king - only he was not stopping. Later, she would have time to appreciate (or not) his dedication to the task of teaching her but for now she didn’t have the time to think. If she took it, she’d end up hurt herself. She needed to find her instincts - they must be there somewhere, buried deep beneath her self-consciousness and worry.

But it was still her instinct to move away so she hurried forward again to avoid his striking hooves, letting herself be corralled toward the pond - relief flooding her as she did not feel an impact. Her hooves splashed lightly in the shallow water and she made as though she was going to try passing by him again, only on the other side. Mind racing, Alysanne tried to think of what she could do next. She didn’t want to use her wings again. She flinched away from the obvious proof that it had been an effective attack. While her instincts had gotten her moving again her might caught up and slowed her down.

Perhaps she should follow his lead and use her hooves.

Instead of attempting to pass him fully as she had intended last time, she turned to the left again so that she was facing the middle of the pond. With her wings leaving her side just a little for balance, the mare transferred her weight to her front legs and she bucked. Really she was hoping not to catch Tembovu at all but if she must, she had angled toward where she thought his right side and shoulder might be - thinking they would at least be able to stand the impact.


A: 2/3
WC: 430
Summary: Alysanne balks at the sight of Tembovu's blood, stepping back and changing direction to move to her left/toward the pond to avoid Tembovu's hooves. As she tries to pass him again, she turns and bucks - hoping to catch Tembovu on his right shoulder/side.