Every inch of Africa’s bloody, puddled-grey pelt seemed to crawl above the trembling sinew beneath. It was fear that seized her focus, pain that stunned her will, and confusion rose like thickening white fog through the writhing thoughts in her mind - the surreal, strange reality unfolding around her. The enemy’s magic began to fade, its hold to deteriorate, and the dappled mare began to realise her mistake. The white fiend from the north was as evil and untrustworthy as the macabre animals she called family; as honest as the fabled nymph of the ocean - alluring, manipulative and savage.

Silas grew weary both in body and patience - though his thoughts only ripened with resolution. In a bold exercise, the Roc thrust upwards his skull with the intention of sinking his sharp raptor beak beneath the Griffin’s skin - at least, he would startle the creature’s grip and be released. Like a rock he fell indeed, but free again and without the terrible curse of those claws upon him, his strength began to return quickly. Violet eyes switched promptly to the faltering frame of his beloved. ’Recover your mind’ he hummed through their bond, ready to end this ridiculous struggle once and for all - she was no warrior (not fit for such horrid violence), and this deceitful Basiner’s spineless endeavour had long worn thin, from his perspective. She feeds lies…’ the Roc continued, night-savvy gaze sweeping from the enemy to the cat-bird in her company. His wings spread apart, glittery starlight spewing from their breadth, and he landed upon saturated, choppy loam as carefully as he could manage. He needed only a moment more to recover, and then he would turn the tide and free his beloved from this nymph’s vicious storm.

Pale, golden eyes cleared suddenly as the magic reeling through her mind became no more - the voice of her companion’s reason echoed above the hollow message of before. The white mare was coming again, and Africa fought the onslaught of bitter emotion, hurt and the agnoy of her injury to realise the other creature’s intention. There was little the dappled mare could do to avoid Arah’s next attack - she came from the side, using to her advantage apparently, the time it took for her opponent’s mind to clear - and the one-winged could really only position herself in a way that would not see her maimed further, impaled or perhaps killed. She swung around to the right, limp wing wheeling with the motion most horrendously. The flash of white antler swerving low seemed to glint in the fire-light, and Africa’s skull was hurled rapidly up as her forequarters lifted out of reach into a half rear.

Gathered haunches released their tension in the same moment propelling her awkwardly upwards (she was an agile mare), above the shorter white’s weaponry, though not all of the prongs could be cleared. One gored her exposed undercarriage, easily penetrating the twisting layer of sinew beneath the skin. The cecum concealed inside was pierced - though only a little - and again the broken mare screamed out to the tortured night sky. Front hooves fell heavily against the wet earth, near buckling as the wounded, aching, bulk plunging behind robbed her of strength. She managed though, as pain began to swamp her resolve and flapping wings breezed by her face, to tuck her chin and launch a backward assault before her hindquarters returned to the ground. In a last ditch effort and with any vigour she had left, Africa kicked out at the mare to her rear, and then she stiffened throughout and begged the magic within to consume her.

In the same moment, Silas (still standing nearby) began to flap his wings more strategically in favour of his beloved so that their enemy would have, potentially, very little time to react - both to the double barrel kick dealt, and the transformation of his bonded mare. Time seemed to pause, perhaps, though for Africa and Silas it did not. Feathers sprouted right the way across her shrinking, contorting frame and once the painful transformation was complete, she collapsed, exhausted - but not beaten. Silas gathered himself and ascended into the air quickly, releasing time as he did so. He dove intently to secure his beloved in the safe embrace of his talons and his angry screech rose through the stilling vicinity - the defenders were falling. Though he could not draw particularly high with the small recovered energy available to him, the protective Roc was able to carry her from the grisly desires of the northern beast, and away home to her tucked away den in the south.

---

785/800 (Apple’s pages)
attack 3/3
 
Summary:
Africa takes a blow from Arah’s antlers to the gut, though avoids the Griffin by ducking as she executes a backward kick in response.
Silas slows time.
Africa uses her shape-shifting magic.
At the end of the fight, Silas carries Africa away.
Africa does not forfeit.

Magic:
:: [Magic: Earth | Able to transform into an African Grey Parrot.]
:: [Restrictions| Transformation is painful, can only transform once in battle.]
Roc: a night-dark bird speckled with stars that is able to change the time of day and sloor speed time with its wing beats.

Note: Could I please request a rubric, even just for Africa so that I can see how I went?