The next round of attack came and d'Artagnan was already on his toes, the rings of fire that had once plagued them dissipated in an almost stutter like effect. The shade nodded once as he moved swiftly forwards with Crowley, cloven hooves punching into the sodden, burnt earth with a meaningful purpose. Ears laced back in defiance, a thin layer of sweat beginning to collect on his neck. An unknown, terribly cry shook the air and forced the Mender to a halt, head held tall with a faint nicker under his breath. Legs rigid as lobes swivelled for the danger.

It came from the tall grasses in flashes of orange and a ring of danger.

d'Artagnan took a steady step back, almost onto his hind, with his eyes flashing at the predator. Instinct kicked in and ears roved to find a place to run to, legs itching to gallop as far away from the Tiger as possible. All too soon he realized that others were most likely having the same problem as himself, Crowley for instance had his own big cat to deal with. Escape was simply not possible, surrounded by other clawed predators d'Artagnan deduced he wouldn't get very far. If this was a trick of the evil creature too, these tigers may not be all they seem. In hindsight, the shade might have seen this as a gamble, to take on a tiger in hope he wouldn't get ripped to shreds. Yet, he saw no other option.

Hind rippled with muscle as he leant back and sprang upwards as his tiger approached. It's claws were ripping and lashing with it's loping, ferocious gait. Timing his move to what he believed right, fore hooves lashed downwards at the striped fiend, each hoof strike attempting to pound the tiger until it submitted or d'Artagnan burred it personally. An attack coupled with a defence, head flung high in a prey's fear and using his cloven hooves to keep the beast as far away from him as possible. A flurry of soil being flung around as he did so, churning up the terrain in his relentless barrage until the shade finally dared to dance back. Rebalancing himself on all fours.

The seconds dragged on as he turned as fast as his huge frame would allow him and scrunched his body to release a buck in the direction of the tiger. Hooves snapping and stretching to find their purchase. With a thud d'Artagnan returned to all fours once again and bolted forwards. Hoping his efforts had done the job as he propelled forwards, eyes seeking Crowley to see if his herd mate had had some luck in his own fight.

A familiar cry of a youth's voice to his side attracted his attention first and he watched as the pitiful form of Vermillion cowered near Crowley. d'Artagnan stifled a grumble. The child always seemed to turn up in the most bizarre instances. Although; one could say the same of him. The Nightshade scowled towards the Heart, the closer they got the more heat he could feel emitting from it. Helping the sweat lathering between his legs now. Was that where the real Boggart had gone?

Cautiously and careful not to get too close, d'Artagnan advanced on the Heart until the grasses were at their shortest and slowed to a halt. Dancing on the spot now and then, tail held high with the occasional flick, showing his Arabian genes as his eyes narrowed at hell hole. Maybe he was wrong, but it was his best guess so far.

[ooc:
w/c :: 594
Defence :: Rears and strikes out with his forelegs to keep the tigers deadly attributes at bay.
Attack 1 :: Striking at the tiger with his hooves
Attack 2 :: Once his balance has been regained, d'Artagnan releases a buck at the tiger.
Location :: Positioned before the heart on the sparse grass.]