[Training] we had a marvelous time

and look for the stars as the sun goes down
each breath that you take has a thunderous sound

It hurts so much she can hardly think, each word he hurls at her another sharp and whipping wound. Gods, she wishes she could walk away from him here and now, leave him to his isolation. Get on the high horse he keeps accusing her of having and gallop into the sunset to lick her wounds.

That's idiotic. Amalia keeps her eyes upon him even as he steps even closer to her, fire snapping in her mane and at the tip of her whipping tail. Why should she have to prove her friendship, her alliance, through violence and anger? Through a competition rigged against her from the start? He is larger, stronger, bound to win, and yet...

Maybe if her body is broken, her mind won't feel so bad. Maybe if she lets him hurt her physically, he'll stop his assault on her mind.

A snap of her tail is the only warning as the qilin rears up on hind legs. Dangerously sharp hooves flail forward at the manticore, and a scream like a winding gale uncoils from her lungs. The long tail snaps around as well, fiery yet harmless, attempting to wrap around his wing joint and keep him from taking to his advantage of the air.

Amalia