The dying sun waited for no one and as time ebbed onwards, Hector could feel the strain of battle making his body weary. Mucky sweat had begun to form on his neck and between his legs, tinged red as it collected dust that had been kicked up into the air as crimson liquid began to fall down his chest. Nostrils flared as he gasped for more oxygen and his young mind ticking fast whilst silently respected his elder warrior's ability to dodge and move effectively in battle. The orange boy had cursed when solid antlers had met his rhino daggers and cried out when the caveman's necklace had once again dug into him, this time his chest had suffered the same almost identical damage his left shoulder had. Blowing out warm air, with flaming eyes glazed over in sharp pain, Hector slammed his wings down and rose upwards this time. Feeling his teeth rip from Gaucho as the bay brute dropped downwards, there was little time to think or do as his adversary shot a flying buck for his belly, to which Hector locked all four of his feet in as he continued rising. Gritting his teeth in determination as he felt the brush of Gaucho's hooves touch his own.

Veci had returned to his bonded's side, floating invisibly and tensely. The boggart wished for his friend to win, but the most important thing to him was for Hector to be safe and well. Hector, on the other hand, continued flapping upwards with his face a mask of concentration with his gaze transfixed on Gaucho's form as he felt the warmth of low sun caress his dark liver back. Each blow a learning curve and each move something for Hector to remember for later. He had tried being equine, but Gaucho had thwarted his moves upon the ground. He'd tried being pegasus, but his opponent was more than capable in the air. Lastly, he'd tried being unicorn, but even that had been useless in the end. The orange boy took in another deep breath as he prepared himself for the final stage of their battle, maybe he should stop being parts of himself and be Hector instead. Think. Learn. Move.

Remembering Gaucho's use of the sun throughout most of the battle, Hector attempted to play the caveman's game. Though lacking in the fancy trinkets, the venomous snake and the strange vocabulary, he could not remain a fool forever. Allowing himself to blend into the sun's glaring rays, he watched Gaucho's change of movements and the swoop of his wings as he bared his antlered head upwards. Angling himself forwards and dropping his wings into his sides, Hector swooped down with advantage of the weather and downward force as the elder bay flew up. Flying under Gaucho as he swiped outwards with his forelegs, dodging the nasty looking blow and returning it with his own, bucking out towards the bay's under area or his right side. Mimicking the caveman's previous move.

Hardly stopping for much of a breather, Hector unfurled his large brown wings and braced himself against the downward force before turning as tight as his large, leggy body would allow him to. Quickly moving back to try and face Gaucho, levelling out the disadvantage of the sun's glare by following Veci's presence in attempt to find the right side of Gaucho. Hopefully being level with the bay or near the point, Hector flew slightly to his left, folding his wings into his side for a skirmish style and kicked out in hopes to reach Gaucho's right thigh. Unfurling his wings once again and slamming them downwards to continue flying onwards, attempting to drag his leonine tail in a double attack effect to smack against the same area.

Hector grimaced a smile towards his bonded in gratitude for his help, feeling the spectre floating back to his side to reunite them in comfortable companionship. At least that damned snake the bay had couldn't sprout wings. Or, he hoped it couldn't. Droplets of blood fell from his chest to rain a tiny crimson shower on the dusty earth below as his body ached from bruises.

[WC: 694 | 4/4 Attack Posts | 0/2 Companion Uses

Description: Hector suffers damage from Gaucho's necklace and he flies upwards as Gaucho drops down, deflecting the buck to his belly by lifting up all four hooves. Hector continues his ascent and counters Gaucho's second attack by flying downwards, dodging the foreleg attack by flying under Gaucho and aiming back buck for his belly/right side. Hector then follows Veci and attempts to attack Gaucho's right tight area with a skirmish like buck followed by a tail slap.]