I am someone to fear, not hunt

She comes as black as night, head held high in the face of Hotaru’s challenge, a disrespectful smirk lacing her lips. We will make her bow that head in deference, Alice snarls to Alice, and the hell bitch lets a thick, discordant growl vibrate in her vile chest in eager agreement. They stand tense together, the chill of the wind doing nothing to cut into the heat of their battle-ready blood. Hotaru would make an example of Sialia, a display of might that nobody could contest or hope to overcome. Even if Hotaru were to topple from her throne, she would be waiting, a poisonous viper in the robin’s nest. Her fangs would be the subtle dagger to any who dared to oppose her, and she would never be without her crown for long.
 
“With pleasure, Lady Strawberry.”
 
Such names will not guarantee your triumph, Hotaru thought, not bothering to verbally engage the woman before her. Not when blood and bone called for a far more primordial clashing of wills and skills. Sialia wasted no time, springing forward across the compact earth towards Hotaru. The rose Lady charged forward to meet her, knowing her speed was unnecessary here with a faster opponent. She could outpace Sialia any day, and that is exactly what she intended to do. Conserving her energy was most important with the heavy armor upon her frame. As Hotaru dug her small hooves into the firm earth Alice shot to the right, allowing Sialia the target she was clearly aiming for, remaining close at hand for when her Lady called for her. Hotaru’s grin was a flash of bone white, recalling this basic move from when she’d ground Tingal into the sand as a mere babe. Sialia may be taller, but…You will not push me around. And so she began her counter attack, hoping Sialia was as foolishly easy to read as Tingal had always been. Prepare to pin her, Alice!
 
Hotaru angled herself to the right, neck arching down and away from potential harm as she jutted her right shoulder out towards Sialia’s approaching form. She threw herself bodily to the right, kicking off with her hind legs to try and meet Sialia’s slam head on. If she wanted to hit Hotaru there so badly, she could have it. Sharp armor and all. Maybe it would scar Sialia’s left shoulder, and she would gaze upon it and remember how her Lady had humiliated her before their entire herd. Maybe it would drive her to be better - you call yourself MY Corporal?! - and not make such foolish first blows. 

However the impact may hurt Sialia in return, the blackened shoulder descended upon her own regardless, shoving her up against her armor and making a dull ache blossom across her right triceps muscle. As impact rang across her head in a buzz of connection, she dug herself into her bond and yanked. ALICE! The hellhound darted obediently across the snow from where she’d struck off to the right away from Sialia, acid dripping off her jowls as she lunged for Sialia’s left pectoral. Hotaru had hoped to slow Sialia’s faster form with her body slam, while Alice attempted to secure a full halt by jumping for such a vital part of her body nearly head on. The pin that they had planned as a team, a well-oiled machine with no boundaries between their minds.
 
Prey! Alice howls in her head, imposed bloodlust making Hotaru’s head swim and body go hot as she jerks her head to the right, teeth flashing. They aim for Sialia’s right flank, hoping the mare would try and swing away from Alice and into her blow. She really was prey, and Hotaru envisioned a pack of wolves leaping for an elk’s delicate throat, just as Alice was. Hotaru wondered with gleeful inhumanity if Sialia would rear up and away from Alice like the quarry she was, if she would fall to her instincts just like the imaginary elk. At least that would plant her ass where it was and make attacking her easier. All bark and no bite, my Corporal?

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Words: {688/800}
Attack: {1/3}