[the boy heeded, which soothed many of lestan's worries. focus then, placed back and almost fully upon the creature. antlers swept at his heels. fangs glinted toward dun flank and earthen shoulder. in time both bled through streaking wounds which wet their coats. but in the presence of wounding, lestan was more confident to have the boy at his back. there was no such relief for the deer, whose eyes began to reflect fear. this too was dangerous. swing! swing! came the tines again, seeking to cut lestan, to maul him further. he parried with low dodges and bites sank deep into flesh, metallic taste a reward for all he was in that moment. a hunter. a killer. a teacher. lestan ran for the far round arch of the ring, directly toward tangled branches. at the last, he swerved right. stag crashed; heels drawing back, hooves flailing in rear, left side of the antlers caught in twisted vines while the witch wavered, bruised but triumphant. a mistake now for either would prove fatal.]

the boy heeded, which soothed many of lestan's worries. focus then, placed back and almost fully upon the creature. antlers swept at his heels. fangs glinted toward dun flank and earthen shoulder. in time both bled through streaking wounds which wet their coats. but in the presence of wounding, lestan was more confident to have the boy at his back. there was no such relief for the deer, whose eyes began to reflect fear.
this too was dangerous.
swing! swing! came the tines again, seeking to cut lestan, to maul him further. he parried with low dodges and bites sank deep into flesh, metallic taste a reward for all he was in that moment.
a hunter. a killer. a teacher.
lestan ran for the far round arch of the ring, directly toward tangled branches. at the last, he swerved right. stag crashed; heels drawing back, hooves flailing in rear, left side of the antlers caught in twisted vines while the witch wavered, bruised but triumphant.
a mistake now for either would prove fatal.