The dragon had become her unwilling puppet, she had taken almost complete control of it's mind. The doe grins a savage snarl as the red scaled dragon suddenly turned on his master. The red swooped in front of Tryadon, the beast's form slick, quick and deadly, claws outstretched, it's face looked pained. Yet it is the stallion's reaction that she is looking and waiting for and he does not disappoint her. The black ears pin, was it in rage at his dragon turning on him? Or was it merely surprise that someone he thought he could trust had turned traitor? It didn't matter to the doe she was only interested in his pain, in him suffering the loss of something that he loved.

Though as always, the doe cannot keep control forever and she feels the dragon fighting against her commands. The movements are no longer natural, they are no longer what she wants, he is fighting the control Arah has over his mind. The odd dipping dives that he makes towards the stallion are not with any of the grace he had before, his anguish is clear as the creature is twisting, wringing his paws as if trying to force her out of his mind. Wanting to be able to make movements of his own accord, regain the will and ability to move his own body. She fights the dragon, wanting to keep control.

The dance changes, coming towards the last steps.

The stallion releases a savage bellow and uses the slippery ground to wrench his body around, facing Arah. The doe snarls her rage while continuing the battle for the dragon’s mind. The fury rolled off of the stallion in waves and she knows she’s been caught out. He knows that she’s the one who has control of the dragon and Arah knows that now he’s ready to kill her. The red scaled dragon is literally trying himself into a knot as they pushed and shoved for control of the mind. Arah knew from her own bond with Wynter that there was hardly anything stronger than the magic that bound two souls together. For it was with her companion that she’d fought with, they had stood together against the mightiest of gods and the weakest of souls. There was no one in the world who would ever be closer with Arah’s soul aside from prehaps Maude and Tilney. Yet her family were not bonded to her the way Wynter was. Was she truly willing to sink to the beast's level and harm the innocent creature that was simply fighting for it’s bonded?

The doe releases her hold but it is far too late. Arah knew it was over when the dragon howls and plummets towards the ground. The creature does not slow his descent and the earth seems to shatter beneath her hooves as the dragon slams into the ground. The snow first blasts out around him with the initial impact and then is ploughed around him as he slowly comes to a stop on the frozen ground.
Is the beast unconscious or dead?
Were her daughters deaths worth her turning into this monster?

All Arah does know is that she is exhausted. The snarl from the brute’s lips brings her attention back to the final steps of the fight. Arah must get Wynter and take a final bow to be freed from this battle. Wynter’s talons rip into the skin and thick muscle of the brute’s shoulder and Arah knows he will retaliate. The desperation to stop him from harming her companion takes over, she has to save Wynter. With a scream she leaps forward, the front of her head colliding with Wynter’s body forcing her out of the way. Her leap carries her forward as she attempts to get past the stallion’s assault. His teeth scrape along her jaw, leaving a mark and raising some bloodied bruises.
At first she thinks she has escaped anymore harm, a clean break for her bonded and herself. Yet, Arah does escape the dragon fire, the leap forward had kept her neck, shoulders and most of her rump out of the dragon’s breath. The flames lick down her left leg, searing the flesh and burning away the hairs. The scream that rips out from her throat is not only for the pain of the dragon flames but the pain of loosing herself in this battle.

Skidding to a stop some way from the brute, Arah hopes to bring the fight to a close. Golden orbs flick towards the dragon crumpled on the ground, she holds her breath only to release it when she sees the smallest movement of it's chest. "He's breathing!" Arah didn't know if she was trying to assure and comfort the man who had killed her children.

1/1 - 800 words