Ravensblood Forest My life ain't filled with worries

She landed her hit, her teeth grappling Dante's foreleg. She was careful not to break the skin, though the sharp points of her teeth pressed into his flesh. Nearly the instant she took hold, the male grabbed her scruff. He was stronger, so he broke her grip with relative ease. She teetered sideways and lost her balance, falling onto her left hip with a loud thump. It smarted a bit, though she quickly jumped to her feet and backpedaled to gauge her next move.

"My foster father was the one to teach me about feinting," she blurted between slight pants. Despite this distraction, Ragnar wasn't far from her mind. "I was really little when he first introduced the concept. I thought he meant fainting, like passing out." She chuckled breathlessly, then felt a sudden stitch in her chest. Without warning, a wave of grief washed over her.

Dropping her muzzle, Junior blurted something else, voice softer. "He was murdered. I just found out a few days ago." Her two-toned eyes lifted from her paws, momentarily catching Dante's familiar, friendly gaze. "He shaped me into a Warrior, a Shield Maiden. I want to do his memory honor and really bring my skills back up to par." As she spoke, she swiped a paw over her muzzle, as her eyes and nose had begun leaking a little.

"Sorry," she muttered, feeling a little embarrassed by the abrupt emotional display. "I was actually heading to the bay to talk to his widow, my foster mother, when I ran into you," Junior explained.