never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious and just confessed to treason
It was not in the Thief's nature to fight. He was supposed to work in shadow, deceiving, beguiling, a duplicitous ghost, not a grunt spilling blood on the battlefield. It had been years since he'd last thrown down the gauntlet. The customs of war had long ago been shoved into the back of his mind, making way for information, secrets and fabrications- it was a finer art than that of battle, more sophisticated, more precise. But what good would sharp words be if the Basin faced war again? Roland would be nothing more than a rusty knife against swords.
The call that rang out across the valley was not a plea for help, nor a warm and friendly greeting. There was the distinct note of a challenge in its voice. The Thief could not say why he felt compelled to answer, but he did. Perhaps it was because of the incident at the Endless Blue that drove him to return to the fight. He often thought of the winged beast on the shoreline, of the fire it had loosed upon himself and Lena, and wondered if he had possessed the courage, the speed, the strength, might he have been able to save them?
Roland spared one last glance at the lake, just the slightest ripples dancing across its surface underneath the playful antics of a cool breeze, and turned towards the challenger. She stood not far from the shoreline, a black smudge against muted earthen hues, a splash of white upon her face. The ground was soft beneath the Thief's feet, slightly damp from melting snow, mud showing against the overturned grass, and when he looked down it was to the sight of numerous hoof prints in the damp earth, scarring the distance between them. Roland picked his way tentatively towards the mare, a slow and careful advance through the mud. He convinced himself it was to buy the time to puzzle out his first move- he was definitely not stalling for fear of finding himself dreadfully outmatched. His blue eyes flitted from the stranger's face to the ground and back again, sizing her up when his gaze was upon her- they were evenly matched, from a distance Roland would guess the same height, and of similar build- disguising what he hoped was a carefully orchestrated approach under an air of hesitance, uncertainty. When he had drawn as near as he dared, he bowed his head in greeting and flashed a small smile, hoping to mask his uneasiness.
Before he lingered too long and lost his nerve, Roland sidled a step to his right, gaze sliding along the mare's left side until he settled upon his target. Without a moment's hesitation he made the first move, hind legs digging into the soft earth and hoping to find purchase amongst the churned grass and mud as he propelled himself forwards. The Thief prayed he had been quick enough to catch her by surprise as he reached out, hoping to deliver a bite to the soft flesh between her neck and left shoulder. Dirty water sprayed up to his knees as he found his footing and turned to dash past her hindquarters, grimacing as his hooves skidded in the mud. He had only gone a few steps before he wheeled to face her again, muscles tense, tail curling against his hocks and head lowered, horn tipped towards the mare as he set himself up for her retaliation. The slightest of smiles danced along his lips as adrenaline coursed through him. He had forgotten the thrill of fighting. Even if he no longer possessed the brazen confidence he had once boasted upon the battlefield, it was as if he was slipping into an old routine, a distantly familiar song and dance. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.
---
@[Sialia]
[WC: 635/800
Attack: 1/3
Summary: Roland approaches Sialia face on before stepping to her left, lunging towards her in an attempt to deliver a bite to the skin between her neck and left shoulder. Then he turns and dashes past her hindquarters, turning around to face her.]
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[JUDGED] Heroes and Cons [xRoland]
