Bearclaw Valley A war in my name

>:)

Tvar’s ears twitched at the sudden shift in the wind, carrying a familiar scent that set his muscles taut. Ameline.

His eyes swept the treeline, poking and prodding at the shadows between, but she was nowhere to be seen. The faintest narrowing of his gaze betrayed his suspicion, though he didn’t let it alter his steady pace along the border. Legs continued to churn, carrying him onwards, tail perked above his thick pelvis.

It was when he neared a patch of brambles that movement caught his eye—a blur of fur and motion. His body reacted instinctively, legs bracing and head lowering slightly as Ameline burst forth from her hiding place. The guarded man's mind immediately flew to sabotage, or something along the lines—but rational told him it was nothing more than a test.

Ameline had no reason to want him dead or gone. He didn't think...

She was fast. The strike came low, her aim precise and meant to test his footing. He pivoted sharply, his broad shoulders turning just enough to absorb the impact while his hind leg flexed to ground himself; but the sheer force of her momentum caught him off guard. His footing gave way, his world tilted as he hit the ground with a solid thud, snow scattering beneath him.

The impact stung his pride more than his body, but then adrenaline pushed him to react. With a sharp hiss, the brute twisted his frame, using the momentum of the fall to roll back onto his paws. His legs flexed as he pushed upright, shaking loose the frost that clung to his pelt as he straightened. The entire recovery took seconds, and he was back on his feet, whirling to face the Regina.

It wasn't over yet. Tvar wasn't going to take a beating lying down. He moved in a half-arc, and with a sharp burst of speed, he darted forward—not toward her flank, but her front. His head lowered as if he meant to barrel into her, but at the last moment, he veered slightly to the side. With his shoulder angled just enough, he aimed to unbalance her—drive her down into the snow like she did him, and maybe he'd be quick enough to trap her there.