Both had retreated into thought, though eyes never left the other's form. Faelene had seemed entirely strong and self sufficient when he'd met her, but Tolio couldn't help but wish to stay beside her. She lightened his heart, took away the troubles he felt as whispers of Psyche and the Plague took over their home. The home she had graciously opened to him. He was infinitely grateful that she remained with him, beside him. Nothing would take her away from him, and if they tried they would meet his wrath. It was as simple and cleanly cut as that.

Speed would be of the essence here. Both were slim and built for it, something that would match them evenly. Brute force was something Tolio could not offer up, despite his height. There would be no holding back, not with Faelene. She was not inexperienced, yet neither was he, and he took this into consideration. Both were at least seasoned in one battle, whether in distant lands or here in Helovia's heart.

When movement takes over, everything else disappears. There is no more time for consideration and observation.

Charcoal body leans subtly backwards, coiling strength in her hindquarters. Yet she made a decision he had not foreseen, lunging to the right away from his attack. Her dodge was fast, as he had been pondering earlier, but she was still close beside him. Attack clearly avoided, he struggled to pull out from his momentum and raised his crown, knowing he must be ready to move for whatever she did next. Away from the ground, he found balance and slowed himself, though his hind legs remained farther beneath him than normal. Her teeth reach for him, but her movement draws his eyes to where her hooves are placed. More concerned for his legs than his neck, Tolio took the positioning of his legs to draw his legs up and swing them towards the right away from her blow. As he does this, only his chest is moved to any degree, and he knows the pain will come soon. Teeth connect on his neck and sharp pain flows along the arch of his crest, eyes narrowing as face contracted and steeled itself in pain. Adrenaline takes away the edge, and surely he feels the pricks and beading of blood along his similarly colored coat.

Forelegs have swept far enough to the right, and he is throwing his entire body in that direction. Both hoping to remove his neck from her grip and a greater purpose driven by instinct. When his hooves had touched ground again he drops his head, feeling the painful pull as he tries to rip from her teeth. Balanced now on the front half of his body, and diagonal to her, he curls up his hind legs and bucks, aiming for her belly and flanks in this position to drive her away from him and allow him the chance to confront her once again. Heart hammering, feeling rather excited if distant. Something wild is rearing itself in his head, and he feels the desire to laugh but does not.

[2/2 Attack]
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[[Summary: Tolio is surprised by Faelene's sudden dodge, and knows he is not best suited remaining close to the ground. Lifts his head up so the front half of his body follows. However his hind legs remain close beneath him, which he doesn't like. Sees her teeth coming for him, but knows his legs are more important to him and swings them far to the right. Faelene's bite connects, and he is grimacing and hurt while he lets momentum and his own force push him to the right. Head drops and he bucks. At this point I imagine them not completely perpendicular, and he is aiming to kick at her flanks to both release him (should she remain attached to his neck) and also drive him away to give him room]]