This was no holds barred. Loretta's mourning-turned-fury continued to engulf Archibald's mind. His heart burned and his blood turned to lava within his veins at the consuming emotion.

Archibald did not have to hold himself or his companion back from this soon-to-be battle. This woman, this ashen pixie, was not a member of his herd. In an odd realization, the fact that this was the only demigod Archibald did not have some working relationship with came to the forefront of his mind. Isopia was a member of his herd, his Wise One. Archibald watched Mesec grow when he was under the wing of The Grey. Roskuld was Ophelia's daughter, and one he felt incredibly protective over. Hototo had been the son of Ktulu, his Champion and gods know what else. This second flame was nothing to him, as her predecessor had been. Was it the fury that burned so dark toward the Sun from Archibald's breast that made the fiery offspring such distant figures in his life; was it merely life's circumstances had pulled the Sun's children so far from him and pulled the other Gods' children so close? It was a mystery, but for now it did not matter. What mattered was besting her here, on this field so close to the eyes of the gods. He did not care for her welfare or safety. He would demolish her and break fragile bones. He would watch to see if she would rise from her own ashes as she had her sister's. Another snort left him as the tiny demigod approached him, confidence elongating her stride.

As she moved, Archibald processed the information like a supercomputer. His cold, golden eyes watched the way her muscles tensed and untensed beneath silver fur, how her wings unfurled brilliantly before him and how her thin legs danced over the field on cloven hooves. Her slight frame was obviously speedier than his monstrous body, and her barred wings only added to the speed. Archibald would have to keep her close, keep her in range of his debilitating kicks and his overpowering strength. He suspected that she would take every chance she could to leap into the sky and create space between them. It was one of the downfalls of fighting pegasi--they could run like cowards so easily. Up his sleeve, though, Archibald had an arsenal of magic that could ground even the most skillful flier, and once grounded take them off their hooves.

Archibald bristled at how her eyes swept towards Loretta dismissively. The behemoth darkly chortled inwardly at her sweeping gaze. Loretta was no cur to take lightly, to brush off to the side for merely being a dog, for being a companion. She was strong and able, as battle-hardened and trained as Archibald himself. She was a dragon slayer and, with the Dauntless, a destroyer of worlds. She held as much title and weight as he, for they were one soul split into two bodies. She had magic running in her veins, silver and ready to trap an opponent. The demigod would learn not to take a creature such as Loretta lightly after today. The malamute was sure to see it. The dog lowered her center of gravity and snarled lowly at the filly, tail straightening erect behind her and ears pinned down into crimson fur.

When the woman leapt from the ground and into the air, Archibald coiled and Loretta barked into the dim light. His suspicion was correct. He had battled against enough winged to know how they loved aerial attacks. Golden and amber eyes followed the girl as she swallowed the sky and gained altitude, nearly losing her in the grey of the clouds she seemed to be trying to touch. It was only the dim, golden accents on her wings that gave Archibald a pinpointed location. The pegasus turned to dive and the Dauntless readied himself. Gritting his teeth, Archibald sent his magic toward her. He intended to turn her bones to stone and pull her crashing down from her dive. A small spark of light caught his attention, followed by a hellbent fireball rocketing straight down for him. As quick as he could muster, the stallion reeled backwards. The fireball struck the ground behind him and gushed outward like a drop of rain, flames licking his side as he reared and turned simultaneously. The stallion neighed as the fire touched him, white-hot flashes of pain crashing over him. The stallion was no stranger to the feeling of fire boiling his skin, but the familiarity of it did not lessen the pain.

Loretta, quicker than her massive bonded, skirted around the flames and launched herself toward the diving pegasus, sending her time-bending magic toward the demigod with a raging vengeance.  



[PC: 1/3 | WC: 792 | Archibald Magic: :: The ability to turn another's bones to stone, causing immobilization or slower movement :: Restrictions: Bones are turned to actual stone; the effects will wear off gradually; in battle, attack lasts for 50 seconds. Can only be used once in a post | Loretta Magic: - Time slip: another, making them think they are a young child for 30 seconds]