Everywhere seems to hurt, to the extent that Volterra contemplates doing something he never does - consulting a healer. It may be that he has more than a bruise on his back, that Weaver has indeed broken a bone, and he needs to be fully healthy to protect his herd. Part of him is dismayed at himself for going into this battle all guns blazing and receiving awful wounds as a result, wounds that could compromise the safety of his herd, yet he can't shake the innate satisfaction that he's finally had a truly epic spar. Mose of his fights are one-sided, given his strength and indomitable will, but this one has been a challenge. Weaver is a formidable foe, and the aching in his groin only intensifies.

With the dragons on her tail, the mare suddenly shifts. The form that emerges from her formerly pegasus body is that of a raven, and a combination of nostalgia and awe fills Volterra's mind as he thinks of Isopia. Is raven-shifting really so popular? Either way, the mare's newfound small size and agility means that the dragons don't land the hits they'd hoped for, and Vadir unleashes a thunderous roar as her shock breath finds nothing but air. Her red brother is marginally more successful, yet still not to the extent either of them had hoped. They wheel away, hissing angrily.

The raven plummets towards the grounded leviathan, but given his level of pain Volterra is helpless to move out of the way. Instinct drives him forwards one single, agonising step, but this turns out to be the worst mistake he could have made. As the bird is aiming for his neck, his step forward means it instead strikes his upper back - his horrendously bruised, absolutely agonising upper back. The claws and beak are like an inferno against his flesh, ripping through skin that is already battered and beaten and hitting the muscle beneath. Unable to contain himself, the goliath throws back his head and bellows, a sound so loud it threatens to shake the ground. Weaver probably hadn't intended to hit so hard, but it's the combined effect of her attack landing on an already wounded area that ensures that she engraves torture itself into his body.

The bellow turns to a haggard, pain-infused laugh as the sweating, exhausted monolith allows himself to embrace the molten fire burning through his veins. His wounds are bad, but he thinks this is another victory to add to his ever-expanding collection. "Clearly you like to be on top, too," he manages to rumble out even as he staggers forwards again, flashing the raven-mare a weak but lust-filled grin.

_____________________

Thanks for a fun fight :D

Closing defense - 498 words