Bearclaw Valley lionizing

they are suddenly surrounded—not one, not two, three, no, four onlookers—like Aventus, she ignores them all. no one objects; no one intervenes. all she sees is her brother, and all she knows is the fight.

her teeth find flesh and blood and she bites down hard, savoring the feeling of being above him. savoring it too much, perhaps. she underestimates his strength, and the blow knocks her off-kilter, staggering backwards,

she mustn't fall she mustn't fall SHE MUSTN'T FALL

it's a half-tumble, her back legs giving way, her forelimbs splayed out before her. Avicus scrambles to get to all four paws; she has to, before he has a chance to strike again; her mouth tastes like iron;