Aryel winced again as Lupus's claws dug into her hide. She snorted as the wolf's tone became nastier, yet the creeping worry in her gut remained. She was in trouble, make no mistake about it, but this time, stuck under a root, there wasn't much she could do about it. Still, her barely-masked fear didn't stop her from scoffing as Lupus so kindly suggested she should have simply burned. "I figure that'd be more your forte," she said, giving him a smirk through the roots. "Having such white fur and all. Can't be useful in hotter regions, eh?"

She most certainly did not appreciate being called a toy, though. Feeling his weight leave her back, she looked about for where the wolf had gone until she caught a flash of movement above her, then glared up at him. "Well, I'm so glad he holds me in such high value." she said dryly. The scowl became a smirk, though, as she apparently managed to succeed in breaking Crowley's cool, and she turned her attention from the wolf to the unicorn. His usual look of distaste was back in place, but she had gotten him angry for a second, and she was willing to run with it. His next words were yet another implied threat, but something told her he wouldn't do it. If he apparently enjoyed antagonizing her, what would be the point of killing her now?

And his next words confirmed it. Her face lit up in a vicious grin at the mention of a duel. "Why Crowley," she said, batting her eyes, "It looks like you actually do have a spine. I'd be honored to fight you, actually. I think the Heavenly Fields would be an equal battleground, if that's alright with you." The thought of finally getting the chance to grind Crowley's muzzle into the dirt gave her a feeling of vengeful glee like nothing she had ever felt before. Now she would get him back for the snide insults about her previously-odd coloring, for siccing Dakini on her, and for today, threatening to kill her when she was helpless. Still, she doubted it would be easy. Pure fury would only bring you so far. She made a mental that, once she got out of this mess, to find a few soldiers who wanted to spar. Practice made perfect.

She rolled her eyes as Crowley turned to leave, leaving her to her own devices to get free. "Because of course it would be too much effort for the two of you to grab a hind hock, bite down, and pull." she grumbled, then tried to jerk herself backwards again. The back of her head collided with the root holding her prisoner, causing her to grunt in pain, but was that an extra inch of wiggle room she felt? All she had to do was get the broadest point of her barrel out, then the rest would follow suit. Tallsun's bounty of plants had left her a little round in the girth, as it did to most horses, although she doubted she would retain the weight through Frostfall. She considered using her new magic to burn her way out, but as far she knew, she could only create flames from her hooves and wingtips, neither of which could really be used in this situation. Furthermore, in this dry weather she had no desire to start a forest fire. And a small part of her wanted to hide her newfound abilities from Crowley until their fight, to give a nasty surprise. No, her fire magic wouldn't be much use here.

Java, equally upset his new friend had to leave, gave a small squeak. Aryel regarded him for a few moments, wondering how it was that the companions of two mortals enemies could become friends. Life certainly worked in mysterious ways.

Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."