Själ

In the wake of the girl's encounter with Nymeria and Mesec, it had become apparent to Själ that, despite her best intentions, she was in no shape to be anyone's protector.  Though she had leapt to Nymeria's aid when she imagined that her friend might be endangered by the stallion that had come upon them so suddenly, she had done so without thinking and without considering the consequences of her actions.  What would she have done if it had been Mesec who had abused the wolf-mare?  What would she have done if he had attacked them?  However badass capable she might imagine herself, she was no warrior.  She had no training.  She would have been useless against any intruder who had meant them harm, and the memory was a fly that dodged her angry tail incessantly.

Well, she told herself after a few days of moping, I suppose we'll just have to do something about this, won't we?

Ansgar soared through the air overhead, her keen, golden eyes watching the ground ahead of her bonded.  A sense of satisfaction crept into their bond as the griffin, predatory by nature, realized where the unicorn's mind was going.  Finally, Själ was prepared to do something.  It wasn't that her companion minded wandering the Wilds without purpose, but she was becoming bored with chasing rabbits and mice alone.  In her mind's eye, Ansgar imagined that the two of them would be powerful contenders to any who thought to rise against them.  The princess, perhaps more confident than she should have been in her abilities, agreed.

And so they came upon the earthen mare cavorting across the Thistle Meadow, dragon in tow; a light breeze blew into Själ's face as Ansgar landed briefly upon her haunches.  -- Breeze good, -- the griffin mentioned with low, feral growl riddled with anticipation; the princess quickly caught on, noting that although she could smell the scent of the stranger, it was less likely that her own smell would alert the mare to her presence.  The pair paused, far enough away that it was unlikely that they would catch the stranger's gaze, half-hidden by tall grasses and shady trees.

A part of her, no doubt influenced by her mother's genes, considered attacking without warning, wondered what it would feel like to plunge her horn into the mare dancing and frolicking across the fields - but the stranger was massive, larger and heavier than the princess.  She would be stronger, and a miscalculation on Själ's part would lead to painful injuries to her lighter frame. No - speed and patience would be the key.  After all, she had no real desire to hurt the mare (did she?).  All she wanted was practice.  Just then, Ansgar's eagerness for the taste of blood flooded the bond, surprising and intoxicating the girl, and she leapt into a run, sending the griffin quickly into the skies.  Attack from above, she instructed, amber gaze flickering to the sun high above, her mind ticking quickly in an instinctual analysis of their surroundings.

Her gallop was lazy, and as she approached the stranger (who had probably seen her coming, by now), she called out, "Shall we?"  With a toss of her head and a snort, the princess brandished her horn, attempting a wide circle around the bigger mare, hoping to consume her attention and distract her from the tiny figure circling far above, invisible in the sun's bright rays.  Suddenly, the princess veered inward, directing her horn towards the bigger mare's center of mass.  Simultaneously, Ansgar dropped like a stone from above, intending to sink her outstretched talons into the mare's back.  Själ paid little attention to where precisely she aimed, for as she neared the stranger, she leapt suddenly to the right, hoping to swerve around the mare and to avoid any attack that might be aimed her way, giving Ansgar time to complete her strike.

"Talk."

Words :: 651
Attack :: 1/3

--Ansgar.--