Leon felt reprieve for a fleeting moment. The anger remained, but alongside it blossomed pride as fire ripped fully from his maw and bathed the dragon, knocking him flat on his stomach. Tongues of orange flame licked across his white fur, singing the skin; the air thickened with the stench of burning hair, a smell Leon knew all too well. His victory was short lived after Baratheon returned to his feet, seeming to slough off the brunt of the damage. Still blinded by some form of lust - Leon didn’t know if it was hunger or rage, but whatever it was, it was powerful enough to rip Baratheon from his senses. Surely he wouldn’t be attacking Leon if he had his wits about him? Right?

The dragon came charging at him. Leon held his ground this time, knowing that he had no chance of outrunning the dragon, and that if he did manage to flee it would be leaving the babe for dead. He briefly spied the child struggling against the root, but Baratheon was upon him all too quickly, and Leon hunched his shoulders to try and reduce the damage from the blow.

His jaws aimed for Leon’s flank and he felt the stinging seep in almost instantly. The dragon’s jaws were massive enough to cause significant damage to his skin through his thick hide and Leon snarled out loud at the pain, quick to search for a way to get him to back down. The bite had them standing parallel, but Baratheon’s long neck meant much of it was still exposed. The underside was covered with thick scales, but the back of his neck wasn’t and Leon had no desire to go for his throat anyways. He twisted around, aiming his gaping jaws just behind the junction of Baratheon’s skull and neck, using his right arm to try and hook around the dragon’s neck and anchor him there.

Round: 4/6
Attack: hooking right leg over bara's neck, biting at the back of his skull/neck
Defense: braced legs
Injuries: bruised sides, clawed face, gored flank

@Baratheon

His jaws latched into the hide of the bear, teeth sinking in where he could taste the sweet taste of blood. He dug in, unwilling to let go even as he felt the bear shift and sink his own teeth into the base of his skull. Teeth scraped at his fur and into skin, causing a few minor wounds and a small trickle of blood to flow. The pain wasn't enough for the dragon to let go of his own hold though and only forced him to hold on tighter. With the new weight thrown into his neck the dragon spread his toes, claws digging into the charred earth and tail stuck out straight behind him as a sort of counterbalance to that of the grizzly's weight. He would not relent in what he was doing and so, attempted to squeeze his jaws shut even tighter while moving his head back and forth in an attempt to sink his pointed fangs deeper into the bear's skin.

He could taste blood from the bear's body but the beast in him wanted more. Rip. Tear. Feast. A primitive voice within him sang. He was going to do just that. He'd have the other deer as well as this bear for intruding upon his hunt.

Round IV of VI
Attacks: Clenching jaws and moving head back and forth to sink teeth in deeper into Leon's side.
Defenses: Claws digging into the ground. Tail straight out behind him to balance.
Injuries: Scorched booty. Severe burns on chest. Minor puncture wounds on top of neck/base of skull.

---

212
@Leon @Aries
---
7/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

He felt the dragon's teeth sink deeper and deeper into his skin, the pain burning like the hot fire that burst from his chest, only it was entirely throughout, radiating through his limbs to his core. The dragon had no mercy for Leon, who had once thought that they could have been friends; but what chance was there now, when Baratheon seemed so set on tearing Leon apart? What had happened? He hadn't cause to panic before - Leon had taken a few good hits in his time and hadn't worried about distracting Baratheon long enough to knock some sense into him. But that never happened. And now he was tight in the grip of the beast, seconds from losing his leg.

Leon tightened his jaws too, but didn't rip or tear. It seemed no matter how hard he bit Baratheon wouldn't release. His anger began to mount again and suddenly it flared out as a deafening pop of crackling, overcharged magic; an explosion of scalding heat rolled through his body, an even deeper pain as though his insides had boiled, but the heat never made it much past his hide. Whatever had almost happened, be it an attempt to protect himself and ward the dragon off, it had failed - and now Leon was stunned with agony. He lessened his grip, momentarily falling away; in the back of his mind, still slightly aware through the pain, he hoped that it would cause Baratheon to drop him.

Round: 5/6
Attacks: Set self on fire - failed.
Defense: None
Injuries: Bruises, claw face, hole in side

@Baratheon

The dragon was unaware of anything else going in past him and the bear. His teeth sank in further and he could taste the flood of blood in his mouth. It sated the sensation in his throat and eased the burn of lust but he wasn't done yet. He could feel the bear tightening his own hold, keeping his own fangs on fur and skin. Blood continued to flow from the wound which only encouraged him further. He could feel the crackle of heat, of burning rippling through the bear's body the fire within... This bear, the bringer-of-fire, he was pumped with the terrible heat of flames. It reminded him of being blasted in the chest, the intense pain that still radiated throughout his front from the blow. It was enough to make him shift and want to get the bear away from him.

With a feral growl he tensed his neck, feeling the bear drop his grip he knew what he would do now. The dragon's maw tightened for a brief moment right before he jerked his head and neck and opened his maw to release the bear in a savage throw. He wanted him away, he wanted the flames to be gone from him. While no visible flames erupted from the bear the previous memory was enough for his feral mind to link the two. After his attempt to throw him away the dragon would lower his head, bloody face dropping down to protect his already scorched chest while his claws would bury themselves in the earth. Would the prey-stealer rise? Or would it be done and he would be left to his meal?

Round V of VI
Attacks: Throwing Leon away
Defenses: Claws digging into the ground. Head lowered to protect his chest.
Injuries: Scorched booty. Severe burns on chest. Minor puncture wounds on top of neck/base of skull.

---

276
@Leon @Aries
---
7/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

His body was practically limp, and for a moment Leon thought that he might be home free - until Baratheon cracked his head up and threw the bear away from him. The feeling of being suddenly airborne had jarred him from his daze, wincing through the pain that crawled through his insides, but mostly, realizing that he'd been tossed. He reflexively gasped inward, momentarily hoping to feel that heat - which was already burning his innards - to coalesce into something, anything that he could use.

And nothing came.

He landed with a heavy, lifeless thump on the ground, rolling once, twice, before coming to a halt. Everything ached. Blood seeped thickly from his pelt and into the rocks, where Leon remained motionless for a moment, reeling from the throw. Why was this so hard? He could never remember having so much difficulty. He was supposed to be a warrior - a protector - a hero. How could he let himself become so weak? Had it been the failure of Maji Walezi that caused him to retreat into the shell of what he'd once been? Had it been the countless cycles in a chrysalis?

Leon groaned and slowly pulled himself to his paws. His head hung between his shoulders, limbs quaking with effort, until he stood and faced Baratheon again. "Baratheon! My friend!" The bear pleaded. "What's wrong with you?"

Round: 6/7
Attacks: None
Defense: None
Injuries: ok like... everything. (bruising everywhere, hole in side, claw face, heartburn)

@Baratheon

The dragon stared, watching as the bear rolled away from him. For a moment he thought the job was done, the creature was lifeless and oozing blood onto the earth. He took a step forward, eyes enraged and hungry for more... but was this the end? Heavy panting could be heard from the beast, hungry panting, as he waited to see what would happen...

And then the bear rose again.

A savage snarl erupted from his throat as the ursine managed to get to his paws. What made it keep going? Was it that hungry for a kill that it would keep going despite the the futility of its efforts? The bear growled, roared, did something with its mouth that the dragon couldn't understand. Strange sounds... Meaningless sounds... For all he knew it was a challenge. He would not abide challenges.

His mouth opened, a fierce roar was his answering call. It was wordless but it told all of the anger, the hate, the hunger he felt. He was a feral beast... He needed no words to display what he meant and unless he stayed down or something else interfered, he meant death.

He would get closer no more, the fire would temper his anger and bloodlust. He wouldn't feast until he was sure the bear was down. So, he did what he could to ensure that there was no more fire. The dragon began to pull on saliva from his tongue and then when he had a substantial amount he spat at Leon and subconsciously pulled upon his magic to form the spit into ice if it would hit the bear. No more fire. Simple logic for his currently simple mind.

Round VI of VII
Attacks: Spitting ice/frozen spit at Leon.
Defenses: Claws digging into the ground. Head lowered to protect his burned chest.
Injuries: Scorched booty. Severe burns on chest. Minor puncture wounds on top of neck/base of skull.

---

282
@Leon @Aries
---
7/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

It was without fail that his words had buzzed past Baratheon to no effect. A look of hopelessness occupied his maw as he watched Baratheon, as if he was completely deaf to his pleas, only to furiously roar back. This was enough to spike anger once more in Leon's heart, how could a beast be so irrational? This wasn't going to end unless one of them left the battle, and Leon was beginning to feel more and more like it might be him - but he couldn't give up. It was often said that the bear was too stubborn for his own good, and now would be no different. There was a young Gembound in need of help and Leon was not about to allow Baratheon to take that life away, friend or not.

Leon erupted in an angry bellow to match the dragon's, resolving to end this. "Leave!" He roared, summoning the strength to rise to his hind paws. At that moment, Baratheon had spat a mouthful of saliva at him and Leon was still far too dazed to avoid it completely - it hit the side of his face that had been clawed, crystallizing instantly into ice. He snarled and the heat broiled under his skin. It would continue to lash out for as long as he felt, and right now, Leon was feeling a lot. Anger. Betrayal. Confusion. Justice. He wouldn't let Baratheon endanger the lamb.

The impact caused him to fall back onto all fours, shaking his head. Panic and searing pain spread beneath his hide, sizzling the skin into thick, strangling smoke. As the air around him began to darken with fumes, Leon's one good eye cracked open wide, staring at Baratheon with final fury. His jaws hung open, lips peeling back to reveal the daggers in his mouth yellow and gleaming and full of promised threat. Then he charged, roaring, intent on putting an end to Baratheon once and for all.

Round: 7/?
Attack: Thick smoke to make it difficult to see/breathe, charging headfirst at Baratheon
Defenses: None
Injuries: seriously

@Baratheon

The bear roared back, a challenge to the dragon's primitive mind. He took a step forward, then another, predatory in his advances as he stared down at the rival creature. Then, when the bear dropped to all fours he charged... but stopped when pungent smoke began to to coat the air. It blinded him, choked him, confused him. Ice. He'd used it. Fire... Should be put out. Wasn't. The feral beast stumbled backwards. Smoke wasn't a creature he could beat, wasn't a thing that would bleed. It was a thing that made him... want to flee.

He stepped backwards, snapping at the air with his fangs and getting nothing but a mouthful of choking smoke for his efforts. He could feel something charge into him, knocking his feet out from under him but he did nothing to fight back and only let out a blood-curdling screech as the smoke engulfed him. The beast that was him panicked at the smoke. Smoke killed, fire killed, he had to get away... He had to... do... something...

The red haze at his vision began to falter, fading as the smoke choked him and threatened to black him out. Escape. Escape! He blinked, his mind coming back. What was going on? Where was he? He remembered the herd... but how had this fire started? His chest hurt... His body hurt... He coughed, vision flickering as he tried to make sense of everything.

Get away!

He followed the primal urge to escape and flapped his wings, lifting heavily off the ground as he took off and fled. It was then as he flew away that he saw the fading form of a lamb and a bleeding bear...

Leon...

What have I done?

Round VII of VII
Attacks: None.
Defenses: He's running away?
Injuries: Scorched booty. Severe burns on chest. Minor puncture wounds on top of neck/base of skull. Smoke choking him.

---

275+
@Leon @Aries
-exit Baratheon-
7/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

[Origin Cave]

Character: Leon Age: +21 (21 Cycle) Magic Level: +5 (Master) ROUND 1 Attempt: +12 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +8 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +20 Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +9 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: +1 Penalties: -0 ROUND 6 Attempt: +5 Penalties: -0 ROUND 7 Attempt: +17 Penalties: -0 Total: 72

Character: Baratheon Age: +19 (19 Cycle) Magic Level: +5 (Master) ROUND 1 Attempt: +14 Penalties: -0 ROUND 2 Attempt: +8 Penalties: -0 ROUND 3 Attempt: +18 Penalties: -0 ROUND 4 Attempt: +17 Penalties: -0 ROUND 5 Attempt: +14 Penalties: -0 ROUND 6 Attempt: +8 Penalties: -0 ROUND 7 Attempt: n/a Penalties: -0 Total: 79

WINNER: Baratheon

Tongues of thick smoke rolled off of his body like waves, and he could just barely see the dragon's body suddenly begin to choke on the air, unable to breathe. Leon had a difficult time breathing too, but he coughed it out and shook his head, trying to dispel it now that it had distracted them. Everything in him hurt. But he was ready to summon up another wave of heat, ready to try again until he died for this valiant cause.

The smoke suddenly swirled and spread past his feet. Leon flinched, reminded of the ice that latched onto his face as he squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again - one, at least - to see Baratheon take off into the air. He just caught the beast's lashing tail before he disappeared over the trees, easily abandoning the babe and the bear, who had tried so hard to protect him, only for Baratheon to suddenly change his mind.

Why couldn't it be that easy before?

The bear wheezed, already feeling his body weaken under the weight of his injuries. He sought out the lamb, barely able to see him through only one seeing eye, and lumbered towards him. Though his limbs shook and his muscles quivered with the desire to collapse, Leon made it as far as the youngster before leaning onto his rear end, hanging his head and struggling against the pain. "He's gone now." Leon huffed and stood again, reaching for the gnarled roots and weakly trying to free him. He wasn't done yet. He wasn't done until the babe was free. In the back of his mind, he instinctively called out for Makyna, desperate for the comfort of her touch and hoping that she would come to him, where ever she was. He didn't know if he'd make it back to her.

@Aries