The pain pulsed within her like a heartbeat. Radiating down through her hock and up into her hip; all from the central location of the stifle. She considered surrendering, waving a white flag and calling it quits. After all, this was only a teaching spar- was it smart to take this much damage? Yet, she was not that type and she could not bring herself to just give up. Paradox was no quitter and she could not disappoint Ashamin that way. His tones broke- a hushed scream pelting into her ears. Next time don’t run away! And suddenly she felt he was already disappointed in her. She wanted to apologize, say she was sorry, go back and change the fact that she had acted cowardly, but she didn't have time. Her dished face was erected immediately, her ears pricking forward and then lacing back again. He was coming for her. Quickly. The deer was close behind, offering what seemed to be a push that sent Ashamin even faster towards her.

Her heart began racing again, the adrenaline coursing through her like a river that runs rapid down a mountain said- fast, rough, dangerous. She took a step back, her injured leg sinking into the sand only to immediately be pulled right back up. OW! How would she do this? How could she finish? The movement caused the skin to move at her hip, causing the flesh wound to bleed and a sting to emit through the area. This was pissing her off. This pain- from so many areas. Ears remained locked against her skull and she widened her forelimbs, bracing herself for a tough blow, but also lowering herself to give her the opportunity to dart either way if it was possible. His large lumbering body was quickly upon her now. Four strides. Three strides. Two strides. One stride. She counted down his strides and then attempted to make a roll back to the left. Lack of experience mixed with a rush of adrenaline caused her to forget about the injury she had previously sustained. She winced, crying out in pain as she toppled down onto her hip.

Somehow, this fall avoided her the heavy blow of his large frame against hers, but the angle and way she collapsed sent the sharp antler from his back slicing up the right side of her from her wither up towards mid neck, tangling and pulling some of the dreads loose from her neck. She felt the blood instantly as it coated her orange hide. Burning. It was burning from the sweat that coated her body and now leaked inside of her wound. The wound was deep enough, that in a domestic world, stitches may have been necessary, but it was only the hide that was split. Though, she didn’t have time to think about it, she had to mark back. She scrambled up from the ground, trying to avoid putting weight on the left rear leg, only to topple again like a small foal taking its first steps before she was finally up. Damn it. She cursed in her head.

She twisted carefully on her right hide leg angling herself toward him and threw her right forelimb at Ashamin, attempting to strike a shoulder or knee- hoping to scrape the skin or even cause some muscular or bone damage. At the same time, she reached forward with her teeth, snapping them at his hide trying to land a mark somewhere on his body. The pain shot through her at that moment and she drew back quickly, slamming her front right hoof back into the ground angrily. Her eyes pleaded to Ashamin, questioning herself; questioning her skill. She felt like she was utterly failing, but then again her opponent was much larger and much more versed in this arena. She wanted to do good, wanted the approval from him, but she felt as though she was dying with each passing minute. Pain was not something Paradox partook in, usually it was something she took all measures to avoid.