To be perfectly honest he hadn't expected to actually reach the blue boy. He hadn't made any effort to cause pain, hadn't gone out of his way to create complicated battle plans because his heart was not in it. To then feel his teeth connect with flesh and taste the hair, the skin the scent of the stranger he called friend was peculiar. There was this odd mixture of pleasant surprise and guilt. It had to hurt to loose that much hair, and for all that his head was jarred and the teeth felt sore and his neck got twisted in an odd unexpected angle Erebos must feel a hundred time worse.

No sooner had his mouth connected with working muscle than he let go, pace dropping as a direct result of shock. Already with an apology on his tongue Cathun almost didn't see the kick coming - only his shorter strides and increased distance saved him as hard feet kicked out towards him. Snorting in silent surprise he reared, purely on instinct, his body moving him so that sensitive stuff like eyes and brain was placed out of harms way. As a direct result even the targeted chest was nearly completely spared, and a new sensation broke through the melancholy, the boredom.

Relief. Flavored with a touch of smug, vindictive pleasure. He had landed a hit, while Erebos missed. Well almost, there had been a quick scraping over his pectorals but it hadn't even hurt.

That was when the fox's scheme bore fruit. There was no way for him to guard against the flames that suddenly erupted where the very tips of jet cloves had scratched. For one Cathun didn't know that the prince could use magic at all, and for another it wasn't the kind of attack you could really block.

For that matter, the son of flame didn't even know that he could be burned.

But he could. And it hurt like a fucking bitch as he for the first time in his life got a taste of what his mother's last moments had been line. That little graze across skin caught flame and needles if itch turned into a swift javelin of pain that ate its way into his consciousness, erasing everything but the awareness that he had been wrong. So very wrong.  

Right then and there, he felt like quitting. This wasn't fun, how could anyone ever find pleasure in these kinds of sports? How had he ever found satisfaction in receiving cuts and bruises, in running until he felt like throwing up or collapsed from fatigue, in pushing every cell in the body until it ached? There was nothing impressive about being in pain, nothing glorious about hurting someone else. What kind of sick game was this?

Fractions of time snailed past, his body was still descending towards the ground. There was still time to turn, to run, to leave and save himself the trouble and the effort and the suffering. He could be whole, safe and comfortable somewhere far away...

... and he would be alone. Because, if he left now then Erebos would definitely call him a coward. The guy had been generous enough not to mention that time with the Bear, but Cathun suspected that there were opinions forming behind that silent facade. And after all Ranjiri's lectures, after everything Ampere and Gaucho and Megaera had said, it was this lack of words that affected him most.

He didn't want to be alone. Cathun wanted to be friends with this kid for real, not just as a play pretend agreement of non-aggression.

It meant that he would have to prove it, once and for all. That he wasn't the coward they painted him out to be.

So when his feet touched ground again he didn't stop, didn't run, didn't give in. He charged, bit back the scream of pain into a courageous groan and forced his legs to carry him forward, onwards, so that he didn't fall behind. Using whatever blessings his parents had gifted him with in ways of physique he tried to draw up level with Erebos and heave himself to the side, seeking to slam into the younger colt and bring him out of balance.

He was at a disadvantage. His fire harmed no one within the borders of Helovia while Erebos' magic was potent indeed. If this was to end in any way other than complete humiliation Cathun would have to find another way to fight.

---

WC: 747
PC: 2/3 + CD

Summary: Surprised that his attack landed Cathun slows down. When the kick comes at him he rears, making Erebos' hooves scrape across his pectorals. The kick doesn't do much damage but the fire burn away hair and sears the skin. After deciding that he wants to continue the fight Cathun speeds up to place himself level with Erebos, then tries to shove him off balance by slamming into Erebos side.