There was a split second of hesitation right before Gladiator managed to shove Zora off that filled her with the closest thing she was going to get to hope in this godforsaken place. Was it working? Was Zora coming back to her senses? Their eyebrows flicked up in anticipation as she watched Zora pick herself up — and bare her teeth. Her breath puffed out in sigh of dismay, taking a second to look around for anything even vaguely resembling an exit. Zora was still stumbling after her, but she was slow and wheezing and if Gladiator took off at full tilt now, they'd probably lose her.

They took a few more tentative steps backward, keeping space between them, seeing the look on Zora's face without the threat of her jaws clamping around their throat and bleeding the life from them a second time, and wondering with a pang just what she was seeing. What could possibly contort her face with so much hatred that she was willing to kill— oh.

Yeah, that would do it.

A part of Gladiator almost wanted to let her catch up, get a few good hits in, just for how cathartic she knew it would be. But no, they had to get the fuck out of here, because if they thought about it too much she'd absolutely let Zora just straight up kill her and then this stupid fucking cave would probably drop the illusion and she'd see— yeah, no. Worse possible outcome. Must avoid at all costs.

Dia's paws pranced in place, anxious, impatient, feeling her skin crawl. Is that the best you can do? They blurted out, forcing their lip to curl in a wavering sneer. C'mon, they quietly pleaded. Chase me. Your Gladiator put up more of a fight than that.