There's a hole in my heart that's bleeding
Noah felt it in the drag of weight across his shoulders, in the subtle shift of balance that refused to break despite the violence he poured into every motion. Zavien was still there. Surprise flashed first, sharp and instinctive and bright, then dissolved into a fierce, exhilarated determination that steeled across his chest despite the boyish joy beneath it.
His wings snapped wide, catching air not for lift, but for disruption. The sudden gust roared backward as Noah launched into another brutal leap. He twisted midair, spine bending before snapping straight, hindquarters firing high in a kick meant to unseat even the most stubborn rider. Stubborn didn't just describe the riders though. A few, stupid or delighted he couldn't quite tell, talking squirrels ran int othe arena and sputtered around wildly. Noah kept his focus despite them.
To send them further away, a rough, exhilarated growl tore from the griffin as he landed hard and immediately pivoted, claws gouging trenches while he threw his weight sideways into a violent spin. A tornado, a controlled storm, he surged forward without warning, bounding into a sprint that lasted only three strides before he slammed to a halt and lowered his front end towards the dirt, surging backward just so. The abrupt stop sent shock through muscle and bone in a jarring attempt to tear Zavien loose through sheer whiplash.
But its given me strength I needed to carry on
