This time, when he embraced me I was slightly more prepared for it. As he buried his nose in the thick fur of my ruff, I moved closer to him. A slight zephyr blew through the space between us, making the hair on my chest stand up straight and expose the black that lay beneath the gray. Following through, I lowered down over him, listening to his words while my eyes traced over his body. He helped to fill the gaping holes within, and I knew that I would never be able to do this thing that I asked of myself without him. My desire to lead Spirane into a reign of peace and prosperity would be a difficult journey. But my painted warrior would help me build the strength I needed to overcome all the obstacles in my path. With his help, and the help of my sister, and those who I called family or friend, I knew my goal was visible on the horizon. It might take time for me to reach it, but I would move towards it constantly. I would not give up.

Rather than answer his words with more conversation, I answered them with action. This time it had been Leo that was taken by surprise. Where before he had startled me with his affection, I now took advantage of his position and shocked him with an act of aggression. Our eyes locked once I had spun away from him, and his glare was met with one of my own determination. I was ready and willing to sacrifice the gentle closeness we had just experienced for a more antagonistic contact between our bodies. I knew it would be simpler for him, and maybe it would be easier for me too, to express the emotions that wrought our hearts through combat rather than words and caresses.

I could have been unfair to him and made the first true strike in those moments when he had just regained his feet. But honor was something instilled in me from a young age, and I did not wish to allow myself to gain a habit of fighting without respect for my opponent. When Leo charged me I was ready for it, and rather than attempt to dodge his assault I took it in full force. There was only one way to learn to deal with pain, and that was to experience it. I did not brace my body, father had taught me that sometimes it was better to soften your frame to the blow so that you were able to react around it rather than through it. As he reared up my eyes searched for vulnerable spots where I could attack. His weight came down on me and I folded with it, trying to twist up underneath him as he locked his forelegs around my neck and back. I snaked my head forward and made to bite into the lower portion of his chest, just above his abdomen. It was as I struck that his jaw clamped down on my ruff and I winced from the pain, but I did not cry out. Instead I remained focused on staying on my while trying to unbalance Leonidas by thrusting my head forward rather than tearing back on whatever I might have been able to bite. I did not want to make him bleed, but I hoped my bite was sufficient enough to allow me to shove forward and keep him from dragging me to the ground.