As much as she believed she was a failure, she had yet to truly disappoint him. Raheerah was a patient beast, and though he had witnessed the woman collapse pathetically in the wake of the avalanche, she did manage to rise when prompted and she successfully made it back to the tree, to safety. That alone meant that she was willing to live, to improve, to fight - to better herself. And wasn't that the very core of his ruling, to become better? Her apology warranted naught but another airy snort from the dragon, and a slow nod as he held her gaze. He allowed her to pass her song into the skies, to keep whatever sentiment it was that made her sublunary.

But as soon as the sound ended, he moved in another step, bristling the hair along his spine. "Wee beegin nooowww." Raheerah rumbled, and gave her no time to prepare. She had to be quick on her feet, ready for the unexpected; so he lunged at her without warning, aiming to thrust his chest into hers and knock her off balance, snapping his teeth at her cheek and ears.

His launch had been successful, and he managed to shove the woman back; the thrust had caused his thrashing teeth to miss their mark, but that didn't matter. For a moment, he wondered if she would be willing to even reciprocate, but he received his answer when she lunged back at him, trying to go for his neck. Raheerah braced his legs, spacing them evenly beneath him so that he would be able to hold her weight. He admired her tenacity - it was considered ferocious to immediately seek somebody's throat, rather than wear them down. Her attack landed true, and she maintained a hold on his scruff; the dragon lowered his front half to ease the sudden arrival of her weight on his front half, but just as quickly used all of his muscle power to launch upward, trying to throw her off. If he wasn't successful, then he would simply shake his head, his neck and his shoulders, to see how well she would be able to keep her hold.

She managed to hold on to him for quite a while; when she kicked her hind legs, he had to pause for a moment to strengthen his own posture, bracing his legs again to keep her aloft. His neck was growing sore from the constant thrashing, but eventually she managed to slide off, falling onto the earth before him. The unprecedented lack of weight on his shoulders caused the beast to rear back, growling deeply. But he was quick to return to his previous position, his front legs spaced and lower half bowed as if in anticipation for another lunge from her. His lips curled back, revealing rows of yellowing fangs eager to sink into the flesh of his enemies - but not her. Raheerah would not shed her blood today.

He unleashed another attack, charging headlong at the woman. This time, he aimed to wrap his jaws around her shoulder and try to throw her into the ground. Hopefully, she would take a lesson from him and brace herself; if she was strong enough, perhaps she could withstand his throw and keep her footing.

Acting outside of his expectation, instead of bracing herself or simply letting herself be thrown to the ground, she stepped back, reducing the effectiveness of his hold. Raheerah grasped more the side of her neck than her shoulder and had to encroach on her further in order to keep his hold. Now, though, she was on his blind side; it resulted in a clean grasp on his own shoulder from the woman without an opportunity for the dragon to avoid it. A wild rumbling emanated from his chest and he revoked his advance, taking a step backward and releasing her. Instead, his neck arched tightly to the left and his head turned, trying to grab her muzzle between his teeth and forcefully dislodge her.

Utilizing brute strength, he tore her away from his shoulder, leaving a large gash where her teeth had once sunk into his skin. Soreness emanated from every where else she had launched her attacks, but Raheerah dismissed the sensation and watched her closely as she stumbled into the tree. As if heedless for her new wounds - an act with consequently pleased the dragon, feeding him a great pride - she got back up and slowly approached him again, circling him. He had become the prey now, but he could sense her hesitation; was she waiting for him to attack, or simply permission for her to?

Following a lash of his raised tail, Raheerah watched her, forced to turn his body in order to keep her within his sight. "Doo nooot hooold baack." He instructed, curling his lips back in a sneer. She was free to attack him once more, if she chose to; but the beast had done considerable damage for a spar, and was not expecting her to retaliate so readily.

With all of his defenses erected - ears flat, single eye narrowed and tail poised to retreat between his hind legs should she lunge for it - Raheerah was ready to see her fly at him with teeth bared. But instead she erased the snarl from her visage and eased back onto her haunches, signalling the end of the spar. The monster followed, straightening up. He strode towards her, closing the distance between them and leaving a few good feet before he halted. "Yoou wiiill bee fiighting moore ooffteennn. Thhe Vaaale willl ruuunnn aas ruuthless waarriors. To bee feeared. Reeveered." He snorted, though it was more of a warning; he had great plans for the pack nestled in their paradise, and he intended to follow them through.

All he needed was bodies willing to participate, but once the change in the Vale's leadership reached the ears of the Wilds' other inhabitants, he was sure it would sufficiently pique their curiosity. "Yoou wiiill be fiightiinng for moorre thaan foood." Raheerah added, glancing aside. That may be what scavengers would cross their borders for, and they would extinguish them one by one; but his intentions lay beyond the protection of their tangible possessions. He craved to leave an impression. To make a dent in the corrupted existence that was this species - for them to remember his name, and his warriors. Forever.

A low rumbling erupted up from his throat; it was not imposing or aggressive, but agitated, and it held a tense discomfort for what he was going to tell the woman before him. "Oouur defeennsesss haave been maaade foool of." He licked his teeth and clicked them as he spoke, bristling the strands of slick, grey fur that lined his body. "Thheey haave been mocked. Byy thoose ooff thee Creeeek." He frowned. "Iiii do noott staaand foor suuch insoleennnce." It was a miracle how the beast had not yet traipsed into the Creek's territory and done away with all of them yet. But he held restraint; he knew that Xi'nuata had extended diplomacy to their leader, and he would respect the agreement they settled on. "Woould yoouu?" He added, narrowing his singular gaze to a slit.