As Hector rolls to the right - orange eyes suddenly eclipsed by white - a fury blooms within Gaucho, as he senses his opponents fear. Opening his mouth, a wholly primitive sound escapes his jaws, as he feels his hoof connect against Hector. "NNnnnnnnnnuuuuuhhhHH!!!" His teeth gnash together as he bitterly stifles the cry. NO FEAR his mind bellows towards Hector, as their bodies pull away. FEAR FOR WEAK. - but there was no time to reprimand the younger stallion for his natural aversion (perhaps after) for an enemy would use Hector's fear against him.

Even as Gaucho's large hooves carried him to the right, and towards the Oasis, the reddish sand was not so dampening beneath him that the primal warrior was dumb to the fact that only 1 set of hooves were now treading upon them. Dark ears were trained backwards, yet it was through Mara's sharp black gaze that he saw the oncoming attack. Coiling herself neatly around his antlers, Mara remained as still as possible, both to avoid an attack from the orange giant, but so as not to un-balance her companions already bulky skull. As Hector's aerial attack neared, Gaucho tucked his chin to his chest, bucking twice in rapid succession, aiming to scoop and kick the hot sand onto his oncoming attacker. As his hooves struck the ground for the second time, he felt a flare of pain jolt through his rump; a sensation that caught in his throat, coming out only as a harsh grunt as Hector's hooves scraped down the top of his muscular thighs.

Biting back a grunt of pain, Gaucho forced his hind-end to propel him forward as his large black wings unfurled from his sides, thrusting him into the air. Were it not for Hector already sweeping around for another attack, Gaucho would have probed Mara's mind, to see if her aim had been true, and whether Hector had been poisoned. Without this knowledge, Gaucho would have to assume the worst; that his companion had missed, and that Hector was fine. Although Hector was larger, and therefore had more momentum carrying him towards the bay, Gaucho had already surmised (by the orange-giants' fearful looks), that he was not as skilled in battle as Gaucho was. Would that also mean he wasn't as skilled of a flyer? Snapping his wings against his flanks, Gaucho relied on his battle-trained muscle memory, as well as on Mara. Bite when close he projected to her, as he beat his wings picking up speed. Once Hector was closing in, positioning himself on Gaucho's right side, the gun-white snake bit Gaucho on the ear, drawing blood, and simultaneously causing him to swiftly bank to the left, and almost out of Hector's reach. Given his wing span, Hector's hoof had caught the end of his right wing, causing a dull roar of pain to glide up into his right wing-muscle.

A blood-thirsty grin appeared on Gaucho's dark features, for Mara had done more than just forewarned of Hector's attack, by biting his ear: She had awakened his magic. As a tiny droplet of blood dried on his sun-soaked skin, Gaucho could feel the dark smoke within his belly begin to stir. Angling himself up into the sky, Gaucho flew towards the west, closing his right eye, and letting the war paint on his left help to block the suns rays, which would hopefully obscure Hector's vision of him, should he follow. Relying now on the hours he had trained to give him speed over his opponent, Gaucho released his magic - causing a silvery vapor which caught and reflected the suns light - to spill from his antlers. Three large eagles - the size of medium dogs - rushed down to meet Hector. Flying in a triangular formation, they seemed to be trying to swarm around Hector to attack, as Gaucho banked around as quickly as he could, to fly towards Hector as well. With the sun at his back, hopefully obscuring his form, and his spirit-eagles causing a possible distraction, Gaucho dove towards Hector, with his front hooves outstretched. He was aiming to hit the tribrid on the left shoulder, where his spiked collar had already torn flesh, but to remain at enough of angle that he did not pass underneath, so that his back was less vulnerable to a possible kick. As he neared, the brute also lowered his antlers to gauge at Hector's nose or eyes, lest he try to bite or stab Gaucho as he passed. Finally, Gaucho kicked out with his hind legs - though not at full strength, as his muscles still ached from Hector's attack - to defensively kick at the stallion, as he descended, with his wings forward, hopefully out of kick-range.

[WC: 798
Note: imi-doll, I asked one of the judges - Veci's aiding Hector doesn't count as a companion use. Only physical attacks do, so you're 0/2 :3

Mara alerts Gaucho to Hector's oncoming attack as he rushes towards the Oasis. Bucking twice, he tries to kick sand at Hector, before taking his attack to the top of his thighs. Leaping into the air, he dodges Hector's second attack for the most part, getting hit on the end of his right wing, before flying towards the sun. Hopefully flying faster, he sends 3 spirit-eagles to attack, while he turns around to fly straight at Hector. With the sun at his back, he aims to hit Hector's left shoulder with his forelegs, and lowers his antlers in case Hector tries to bite or stab at him on his way down. He kicks defensively as he flies by, and pushes his wings forward, hopefully out of kicking distance.

Attack 2/4
Closing Defense 0/1
Magic and Companions: 2/2
Gaucho will be using buffs Dance and Swift