Rowena feels the satisfying shock of a strike that connects reverberate up her foreleg and into her chest. For just a moment she and Cullen face off. Haunted eyes study her opponent, searching for a cue. Whatever move he chooses to make next, Rowena will be ready.

What she won't be ready for is a sideways attack from someone else entirely.

Rowena's attention is diverted by a sharp pinch on her shoulder. Battle cries and the clap of hooves and bodies colliding all around her have already set the black mare on edge. Rowena whips her head around. Her ears are lost beneath volumes of raven mane, and her eyes roll with rage. Her nostrils flatten and flare, and her lips curl in a most menacing snarl. The mare makes a motion to strike, but the familiar face that fills her vision halts her mid-lunge.

Confusion moves in to replace her rage. Ears emerge, drawn instead by startled thoughts as she turns to face Elvira. Dark eyes search her youngest daughter's furious face, twisted in such a way she bears a striking resemblance to Osiris. Elvira, sweet Elvira, is coming after her in much the same way Osiris had in years past. Never has Elvira acted like this. Such behavior leaves Rowena reeling in shock and vulnerable to the flurry of attacks that follow.

Elvira's gnashing teeth grab Rowena's shoulder, separating her from a patch of her own fur. Rowena takes a step back, but the assault continues. Rowena tosses her head, dodging bites too close to her face. Elvira! What are you...? But Rowena doesn't get to finish her sentence. One hard bite connects with the underside of her neck and chokes the words from her lips. A panicked Rowena rocks back on her haunch, freeing herself from Elvira's deadly grip. She strikes out at the space between them with both front legs, guarding the distance between them.

Rowena is baffled by her youngest daughter's behavior. They always got along before. Elvira had proven herself level headed, and kind. She seemed as unhappy with Osiris' oppressive rule as she was. Elvira was the first to escape Osiris' grasp by way of Bjorn. After Elvira took her place under her own stallion, and after an emotional reunion with Dances, there was nothing keeping Rowena in the Ridge. She thought Elvira would be happy for her, that she would focus on her new life with Bjorn and let time with her mother fade to fond memory.

Elvira takes after Osiris more than Rowena ever imagined.