The two split from the rest of the gathering, but the voices still remained- echoing in his head, empty of thought. On the day of his birth, he did little more than reflect, his surrounding, his company. Her expectations. Despite the warmth that filled him, he felt that pit open in his stomach (wherever that may be). Maybe he wouldn’t be good enough. He didn’t want to be.

He didn’t want to fail Her.

He lacked in acumen. It had not occurred to him that one could withhold something from the network, and he was curious why he heard so little from his siblings, and Alcina specifically. He was an open book, and he could not comprehend the ones left closed. He was unable to express these things externally, of course, other than the many eyes that remained fixed on his sister. A casual gaze, he hoped. He waited for a signal.

@Alcina

It wasn't that Alcina was purposefully hiding anything from Juggernaut. She just thought he already knew everything he needed to know. But she does feel his worry at disappointing Mother, and in response she sends him a little bit of comfort back. We are training so we can better serve Her, she offers, purring across the network.

She gives him a moment to take it in, before letting out a loud roar to start them off. Dropping low into a crouch, Alcina slinks around, watching, before she leaps at Juggernaut, attempting to close her jaws around on his legs and put him off balance.

ROUND 1/?

100%

ATTEMPT: Chomping a leggy!
DEFENSE: Not really
INJURIES: none

@Juggernaut

Juggernaut is grateful for the comfort Alcina sends, soaking in the thoughts of gentle reassurance. Growth is necessary. Growth is inevitable. Mother's reach grows with their power, with his and her's. Pleasant thinking, of which he is so enraptured with he almost misses his sister's call to action. almost. He has time to move his stingers back and out of sight. He is content with playing defense.

Lucky that it doesn't have to turn much. It follows its opponents circling without movement, save for a quiet tapping of limbs on surface. It is anxious. The first attack is met with a backstep, the leg most under threat lifting up and over- no teeth meet flesh, yet. Using its leverage, it brings the limb down swiftly, seeking to pin Alcina under its weight, hoping to strike somewhere between her shoulder blades and the middle of her spine. The main difference between the two drones is dexterity- It is in Juggernaut's best interests to slow her down.

ROUND 1/?

100%

ATTEMPT: Trapping her underfoot!
DEFENSE: Nothing really, keeping stingers tucked away
INJURIES: none

@Alcina

Alcina's haphazard lunge sends her barreling into the snow underneath Juggernaut. Definitely not what she was aiming for. Unfortunate.

She looks up, realizing just how awkward her new position is as she sees Juggernaut's raised and pointed leg. She scrambles, trying to grab at the ground and scamper backward, away from the spearing point.

ROUND 2/?

100%

ATTEMPT: scramble away
DEFENSE: speed
INJURIES: none

@Juggernaut

Its close, he swears he can feel the brush of contact - though it is fanciful thinking, his opponent wriggling from the collision point. One claw meets the ground, the impact dispersing twinkling snow. Two things can be felt down the line: His panic and his frustration (He understands this is not a real combat scenario, but it would be lying to say Alcina's form didn't inspire some fear).

Its next move is risky, a last ditch attempt. A tendril lashes out, ducking low. It aims for her legs, to wrap around or otherwise trip her. The thorn at its end is curved away from her, Juggernaut does not quite know what pulses within, but instinct tells him it would not be wise to inflict an ally with it.

ROUND 2/?

100%

ATTEMPT: Trip them up with a tentacle
DEFENSE: None!
INJURIES: none

@Alcina

In Alcina's rush she doesn't see the tendril skating across the snow. It wraps one of her foretalons, stopping her and sending her barreling into the snow. Her own frustrations and worries mingle with Juggernaut's in the connection, the adrenaline of the two of them pushing to try and break free.

She lashes out, thrashing against the tendril and reaching out with outstretched, flailing claws. She hopes they rake against something more than icy ground.

ROUND 3/?

95%

ATTEMPT: Thrash and claw!
DEFENSE: none
INJURIES: bruising around left wrist

@Juggernaut

The tendril curls around a forelimb, sending another jolt down the line, from Alcina this time. She writhes like a rat in a trap, claws outstretched and seeking - Juggernaut feels nothing but the strain, thankfully. Even if her offense missed, her attempts still weigh on his stamina. This doesn't seem to be the limb's intended function, and the more she struggles the more it complains.

Better end this quick then; He begins to close the distance, but attempts to drag Alcina backwards by her ankle as he does so. He hopes to bring her underneath, giving him the opportunity for another pin.

ROUND 3/?

98%

ATTEMPT: Drag her towards The Danger
DEFENSE: None!
INJURIES: Strained muscles in one tentacle

@Alcina

Alcina's flailing gets her nowhere, as she's dragged across snow and ice. Juggernaut's jaws loom closer with every moment, and she realizes she needs to make a solid attempt to escape now, or never.

She digs her other claws into the ground, before trying to leap back and away as hard as she can.

ROUND 4/?

95%

ATTEMPT: Leap away and break free!
DEFENSE: getting outta town
INJURIES: bruised left wrist

@Juggernaut

Things are going well for it, until there is a harsh tug on the other end of the limb. It appears its sister had found her footing, much to Juggernaut's dismay. Before it can properly disentangle, the tentacle is pulled forward painfully as the other drone leaps back with enough momentum for it to be dragged forward along with it - it rebalances, but the tendril that pulls away still aches fiercely, tendons pulled almost to the point of no return. Though not broken, further use is not an option.

Hugging its wounded piece to closer to its torso, it attempts to close the distance before Alcina can get further away, a last ditch attempt to pin his sister under-claw again.

ROUND 4/?

88%

ATTEMPT: Charge!
DEFENSE: None!
INJURIES: Pulled muscles in one tentacle

@Alcina

Alcina's freedom lasts all of five seconds before Juggernaut charges. He knocks her aside easily, and she tumbles through the snow. Pain flares through her, and she lets out a terrible howl.

Now pinned under Juggernaut's claws, she reaches up with her jaws, trying to lock around something, anything.

ROUND 5/?

71%

ATTEMPT: chomp
DEFENSE: None
INJURIES: Bruised left wrist, injured right side

@Juggernaut