The arrogance on Fyr's face pissed Elena off. The assumption that he'd automatically win.
All the frustration and fear she'd buried since her arrival bled into the fight, giving her strength as she returned his blows with decisive ones of her own.
Satisfaction filled her when one of her strikes snuck under his guard.
Take that. Who is the easy mark now?
Elena blocked his next head strike. He followed it up with a blow to her torso. Also blocked.
She leaned back almost parallel to the floor to avoid his staff to her face.
She recovered her balance a second later. "You asshole. Were you trying to disfigure me?"
Wreck the adorable features that had convinced Auntie to go against her better judgment on more than one occasion?
She bet that was exactly what he was doing. It wasn't the first time either. From the very beginning, he seemed to be gunning for it.
Elena didn't stop to think, attacking Fyr straight on. Anger gave her energy as she rained blow-after-blow on him. Not giving him time to attack. Only defend.
She scrutinized the play of his muscles. His reflexes. The way he responded if she were to do this. Or that.
All the while looking for an opening.
Not to take it. Honest.
She just wanted to prove to herself she could end this if she wanted to.
Elena evaded an attempt to hook the top of his staff around hers in an effort to disarm her.
Instead, she closed the distance, head butting him in the chin.
He stumbled back with a grunt.
An opening.
The surprise on his stupid face made bad habits rear their ugly head. The impulsiveness that so often led her into trouble whispered that she could take it.
One strike and the win would be hers.
Her hands clenched around the staff as the opening started to close. It was now or never. Already, his body was shifting, turning to meet her follow up attack.
Do it, El. He'd do the same to you.
Fyr read her intentions a second before Elena lunged. His staff came up.
She was going to be faster, Elena realized with excitement.
A butterfly sensation brushed across her mind. Easily ignored as she focused on the win.
The lu-ong spawn wrapped around her bicep shifted.
A second later Uncle Jin's groggy voice sounded in her ear. "Where are we?"
Elena stumbled. "Uncle!"
She forgot the fight for a split second. By the time she realized her mistake, Fyr's staff loomed large in her vision.
Uncle Jin's scream sounded in her ear as something seized control of her ki. Either instinct in response to severe danger, Uncle Jin, or some combination of both.
