“So you’re the two who have been ambushing everyone.” Arik said, “I thought Xirxus were clumsy flatfoots. I didn’t even sense either of you nearby.”

“Oh come now Arika, you should know by now I’m a lot smarter than my loveable brothers.” Tulos snickered as he pulled out a small steel whistle, “And I’ll have you know your very own Shiira has been teaching Sancta a lot more than dancing routines.” He put the whistle in his mouth and blew, but no sound came out.

“No need to run your mouth any more than you have already, brother.” Sancta said, “I have an unfinished ‘dance’ with Kaara anyway.”

“Then I’ll leave you to it, my good sister.” Tulos said, putting the whistle in his pocket and walking away.

“As if I’m going to let you get away.” Arik said, vanishing with a thunderous wind and reappearing in front of Tulos.

“Don’t you worry, you’ll too be busy with other things to stop me,” Tulos said, unflinching as a wall of fire cut between them, “Excellent timing, Tadi.”

Kaara looked to see Tadios riding a familiar bat drake. He jumped off and slid into place between Arik and Tulos, “The rest are gonna need your help, so let Ezo take you, I’ll handle things here,” he said, cracking his neck.

“So this whistle works after all. I wonder if I could annoy Raktus with it sometime.” Tulos said, snickering as he mounted the bat drake, “Have fun you two!”

Tulos rode off. Arik tried to chase, but Tadios snatched her tail and slung her back, “Cmon Arik! We got daylight burnin’.” He slipped a donkey kick from Arik, letting go of her tail to deflect a wheel kick from the other side, “That’s the spirit!”

Arik caught herself on her hands and sprang back to her feet, taking her stance, “Why do I feel like fighting you now is just playing into your hands?”

“Probably cuz it is. But you’re not gonna turn down this match, are ya?”

“I’ll just have to make quick work of you and catch up with Tulos later.”

“We both know that ain’t gonna happen. Now come on, show me how hard you’ve worked this year. Hold nothing back!”

“I didn’t plan on it!”

A blast of hot wind staggered Kaara where she stood. The two strongest young warriors of the Tibur clan now faced off.

Meanwhile, Sancta began to pace, the trees coming to life in a crowd of thorns and creeping vines. Roots and bark spread between the trees, locking the two of them in a cage of plant life, “I want to make sure we’re not bothered. I don’t think I’ll be stopping at just your horns.”

Kaara squinted,“You’re really hung up on all this huh? I forget, are you mad I don’t like your brother, or that I might?”

“Neither. The way you act pisses me off to my core. You’ve lived your entire life without anyone teaching you how to restrain yourself and it’s utterly abhorrent. I’m not going to let you hurt my brother.”

“What are you even talking about? You’re the one who has no restraint. You badmouth people and bully them. You always act like you’re better than everyone. Then you cry when someone gives it back!”

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“Shut up! You’re just an annoying bitch who hasn’t once thought of anyone but herself!”

“Have you looked in the mirror or heard yourself talk, ever?”

Tendrils and branches lashed out at her, Kaara raised her arms as a storm of razor water cut them all to pieces in an instant.

Sancta’s eyes widened as she sliced through the thick branches with ease. Even Kaara was shocked at how easy it was.

That pig king was right. She thought to herself, “Since you’re so intent on mauling me over the things I can’t control, I don’t think I’ll be holding back either.” Kaara stood, trying to emulate the Wolf Lady. Just like before another word came to her. She hoped that this time, she could stay conscious to make use of it.

Sentinel’s Vow

The snow melted around her, shifting in a swirling flurry of ice and water which collected into her palm. She swiped her hand through the air as a halberd made from crimson colored ice sprang into existence. The temperature snapped several degrees lower as fog left her mouth. All at once, it was as if she could feel where water was. In the air around her, the trees, her blood, her breath. It was everywhere. She had only ever trained with a spear and a quarterstaff, but the ax head of this polearm felt right. She needed a weapon worthy of chopping wood, after all.

“Oh? So you really do have a deathwish, then. You summon a weapon like that from magic alone? You’re either stupid or you’re just trying to show off,” Sancta reached into the wall of branches and pulled one out. Spider silk spawned out of one end and attached to the other, the strands contracted like a muscle, bending it into a makeshift bow. Wooden spikes sprouted from the ground, forcing Kaara to jump out of the way. The spikes offered themselves to Sancta as arrows. She broke them off, vines encircling her forearm like an archer’s glove.

If the halberd Kaara had summoned had not increased her reaction time, she never would have been able to deflect the arrow Sancta loosed from her bow. It ricocheted into the wooden wall, splintering it like a cannonball.

Kaara launched forward with speed she could barely control. A net of bramblewood sprouted in front of her, but she was too quick. Kaara stomped in and swung for the trees, cleaving a path through Sancta’s defenses in mere moments.

Sancta was ready with another arrow, but that was the only one she could offord to loose with Kaara so close. Kaara stepped and swung her head out of the way, feeling the arrow cut a gash into her cheek. She turned on the ball of her foot and slammed a punch into Sancta’s ribs. A wave of frost ran across her frame as Kaara felt the crunch of bone under her knuckle. Sancta slid, jumping and sticking to the wall as she nocked another arrow.

Kaara was already on top of her, cutting her bow in two. A wave of water followed the halberd’s cleave, cutting a bloody wound across Sancta’s chest.

Sancta cried out in pain, and fell to her knees. That yelp made Kaara hesitate. Had she hurt her that badly? She had overdone it, “Are you-”

It was not long before Kaara paid for her hesitation. She felt a searing pain stab into the back of her leg. One of the arrows Sancta had shot before had changed direction and dug straight through her thigh.

Sancta had not been cut at all. The blood was fake, and she had defended herself with bark skin. She fused her bow back together. Kaara tried to move, but her leg slowed her down. Another narrow miss and another deep cut across her temple. Only an inch from taking her eye, or worse. Blood gushed from the open wound, but Kaara used it as her power.

Sharpened needles made from her wound flung at Sancta, forcing her to retreat while she healed herself. The flow of combat broke, both warriors panting from the brief exchange. Kaara couldn’t feel her fingers anymore, but she could see Sancta’s hand shaking just to lift another arrow. Wielding these weapons was taxing, but neither would dispel it. There was a wordless understanding between them now. The first to dispel their weapon was the loser no matter whose horns were cut in the end.

Why was Sancta fighting? Why was she risking her soul like this? Over such petty things like jealousy. And yet, Kaara was doing the same. She didn’t want to lose. Not to her.

Kaara raised her halberd. Sancta nocked another arrow. It was time for another clash.