Something was wrong. His magic wasn't working. Time seemed to slow down and for a few mere moments the Nightshade thought the Moon Goddess may have cheated him when she bestowed upon him a magic. A series of colourful words stuck in his throat and d'Artagnan watched on in confusion as his eyes caught the glow of the amulet, similar to the ones strapped around his own neck, if d'Artagnan had time he would probably have laughed at the irony of the Time God's token being his undoing. The God who favoured them and gifted them with the land he now galloped upon. The amulet shattered and a dark foreboding filled his heart, the magic he had cast gathered around him to infest his body with its delightful narcotic. d'Artagnan cursed profusely and looked to his last resort in his current situation, begging one of the amulets by his chest to save him. Begging the Moon to come to his aid in a wild panic, his heart thumping in his chest with his eyes flashing white.

The magic that was his own touched his body and one of his blue amulets sprung to life, it's tiny smoothed form sucked in the poisonous magic like an antidote purging the ailment. It left d'Artagnan in a state of shock that by the time he noticed Aryel bearing down on him he had just enough time to veer to the right to avoid the main damage, her shoulder did inflict a light blow to his own left shoulder, however, and d'Artagnan scrambled on his rangy legs to keep his balance, which was hard on the permafrost surface. His teeth that had bared to rip at her wing had still managed to find some flesh, but the blow was considerably lessened. The Nightshade was not given time to think as she followed one vile attack with another that was equally dangerous. Crimson ears had slapped back onto his neck and in his wild jump to the right a piercing pain inflicted the left side of his neck, missing the fatal jugular in his dodge, but bloodying him nonetheless.

The red liquid was warm and plagued d'Artagnan with a sharp pain that, combined with the dull ache in his left shoulder, hampered his concentration and niggled at his mind. Again, he remembered Aaron, the shade had suffered similar injuries from that fight and by the end was beginning to flag as his stamina had ebbed away. Right now d'Artagnan felt different, it seemed all his recent fighting had done his body good and he knew he would at least have a little more left in the tank then in the fight with Aaron.

Ideally d'Artagnan had wanted a little more room and he knew he'd be hard to spot under the cover of night. However, he couldn't pass up the chance to try and over power Aryel. In mere seconds he turned his body round in attempt to put his chest in line with her left shoulder and lent back on his hind end, forcing his knees up in the tightest rear he could manage. Throwing himself forwards hopefully towards her left shoulder to try and overpower her and push the mare sideways on the unstable surface of the Basin. His thoughts were to use his sheer height to gain the advantage, always an eye on her wings, though they looked pitifully fragile to him.

With a hope he had succeeded d'Artagnan, once all four hooves were back on the ground, attempted to chase after the advantage he sought. Aiming a violent bite for her crest which he hoped would only take a matter of steps to find.

In the heat of battle d'Artagnan was always faintly aware that Aviya maybe watching him and that his pride as a father was also at stake. He must try his best to set a shining example for his talented daughter. He must also make sure this feather brain learnt her place in the world; beneath the hooves of her superiors.

--

[w/c :: 673] [2/4]
[Magic/Companions use :: 1/2] [Used 1 Moon Amulet of 2] [Battle Buffs :: Bulk]

[ooc commentary :: d'Artagnan uses one of his Moon Amulet's to store the his own power reflected back at him. The surprise of the incident causes him to realize the charge of Aryel too late to completely dodge it. He veers to the right and takes a minor blow to his left shoulder, her bite consequently misses his throat and instead gashes his neck. d'Artagnan then tries to turn his chest in on Aryel, hoping she's still in the same position, attacks with a tight rear and aims his knees for her left shoulder. Hoping he has succeeded, once all fours are on the floor, d'Artagnan then attempts to bite at her crest.]