ARM YOURSELF
Because no one else here will save you and I will replace you
The cries and screams around him became nothing but a pleasant background noise, a comforting lullaby to soothe his aching, hard heart. The ache was not a pain of heart break or emotion, but of one need to act, a desire for blood, and a yearning for death. He was a dealer, an instrument of the ferry-man, sending the souls to cross the black river into oblivion. Emotion used to be a luxury he could not afford, but now it was a weakness he could not endure.
He acted without passion, except the passion of battle itself. The stallion was unnaturally calm, giving no indication of his opinion on this war. He was not paid to have an opinion, only to yield results. Everything he did was calm and calculated. His mind, never cluttered or clouded by rage or anger. Ever cool, ever collected, his expression remained impassive, watching his opponent act and watching each little tense of the muscles that moved his bones like a puppet master.
His horns slid across the stallion's body, but the black shadow of a dragon had given enough of a warning that the spires did not inflict as much damage as expected. No matter, time was not a factor against a cold blooded opponent like this, not typically, anyway. Once the cold blooded ones were fatigued, they rarely gained enough of a second wind to act soundly, but Rafe would not put all of his hope in that basket of statistics.
After coming out from behind the tree to face his opponent, he watched, standing and doing... nothing. Rafe waited, muscles tensed and stance prepared as he backed up a few feet, just enough for his chest to clear the slender pine if he needed to move. The stallion was not unintelligent, though he was more of a tool of war than an independent instrument. Rafe turned his head just as Destrier's weight was falling into him, aiming to knock his shoulder. Rafe braced his neck and hoped that his horns would do the rest, hoping that Destrier would fall and impale himself right onto the weapons that anchored into his skull.
The outcome of that remained to be seen. Rafe quickly pulled away, sidling to the side with his tail swishing, catching on Destrier's hooves as the stallion kicked out. Unfortunately for Rafe, the black beast's reach was more than he had anticipated, and the massive circles grazed across his hind, left gaskin. The edge of the hoof was not enough to break the skin, but the fur was torn from flesh and a bruise began to form beneath the surface, making the muscle ache.
Rafe's expression did not relay the pain, but his next few steps were off, favoring until the muscular fibers decided to release (and mostly likely tear a little in the process). Destrier was too far away now, but Rafe was fast and agile, at least in comparison. The moon overhead cast shadows, almost managing to hide his opponents in the thick trees, so the bay picked up an active canter, spying the stallion quickly. Rafe cantered close and struck out with one of his front hooves in a show of force before making his way closer, sidling with his horns pointed defensively.
Only when he believed himself to be in reach did Rafe act. He lunged forward, jaws open and neck low. He aimed to bite the stallion on the throat or at least on the chest, leaving his four horns to scrape under the black one's jaw if he was lucky. The approach this time was from the left, reaching to the Stallion's right side, hopefully, in an attempt to weaken both sides.
[[(617 words) | (2/4)
- Counter attack to Destrier charging and throwing his weight into Rafe was to turn his head around with the hopes that Destrier would impale himself on his horns
- kick catches on Rafe's left gaskin muscle
- gets close and aims to bit Destrier's throat or chest while his horns, hopefully scrape Destrier's jaws or face]]
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[O] Downfall of Decimation [Invasion Defense]
