Damned! The oaf had actually hit her! If it weren't for the dense foliage, she would have gone down for the count - not good enough, Cue, you've got to do better than this - as it were, she had to emerge from the leaves to avoid another raking thrash, dragging her left leg slightly where the blow had landed.

The impact gave him much satisfaction - so he had dealt the first blow! Another, he needed to land another. Fighting the intertwined branches, he blundered out after her, heavy hooves still charging to his target.

The corner of her lip quirked briefly at his approach. How predictable of you. She stood her ground, willing him to come closer, ever-closer...at the very last moment she pulled out of her stance, darting just slightly away to rear up and kick -

So he fell for it again - this would not do! Death staggered from the sharp hit, but he turned his reel into a round - just the right position to sweep her front hooves while she was exposed from her strike. He rose, ready to hit her while she was down...

Untenable! She gnashed her teeth as she hit the ground, but there was no room for anger as he looked for the kill. Rolling away just in time, she lashed blindly at an exposed limb -

- he fell, victim to her quick thinking. Almost two blows in a row - how could this be?! He released a full, heartfelt cry of frustration and started to scramble upright.

That got you where it hurt.

As soon as her hooves were under her again, she disappeared back into the leaves...

AGAIN. He gritted his teeth, launching into the path that she took, trampling into the foliage once more, enraged and foolishly straightforward. 

Straight into her trap: crouched low, fully hidden, front limbs outstretched right in his path -

- it would only make sense that he would trip straight over her hooves, an undignified, childish fall. Headfirst deep into the bush; the snapping of branches shamefully loud.

She flew out of the bushes as he crashed, triumphant. He would be out for blood now - as if he ever weren't - but it was utterly worth it. Assuming the defensive, she awaited his fury, fierce joy coursing through her veins.

Curiously, there was no sound after the crash's echoes faded, not even a rustle. The silence was palpable.

No sound? No movement? Oh, come on! Annoyed that the call of her bloodthirst had met no reply, she dropped her pose and trotted impatiently back to the bush: as if she would believe -

Death sprung out of the brush, an ambush that was at last, a little more advanced than charging blindly at his target. His weight thrown forward, he tackled her swiftly to the ground.

"No!" she actually cried out, so great was her ire at having been played for a fool - she was pinned, his superior strength making it impossible for her to slip out. She could only - she thudded a hoof against the ground, trying to roll on top...