A trio of glittering bolts snapped out of one talisman as she released, followed by an invisible wave that swept up the water out of the mud and snow and formed it into a penetrating, homing drill.

Or at least it would have been homing if her first attack had landed. The bright bolts were fast— almost as fast as bullet, fast enough that she couldn’t visibly track them, but Avyr dodged out of the way regardless, moist soil pluming behind him as the talisman techniques slammed into the earth with a trio of pops and a roar as the water cut a furrow through the grass. To think he was only Shedding, still! It emphasized just a little how lucky they’d been with their previous encounters.

The moment she’d shot off her first talismans she’d already been reaching for the second— a set of yin-aligned binding talismans that would use the cat’s own blood against him— but she changed direction the moment she saw the fate of her attacks. Shields. She needed shields. A whole handful of shielding talismans burned to nothing as she ripped them in a single motion, a multilayered dome forming around her— different elements conflicting against one another and shimmering beautifully— if not quite practically. She didn’t have the time for anything better though, just instants after her shields manifested—

Avyr struck.

He landed from his first leap in a crouch, tail lashing and hackles raised, eyes darting once around the field and then just as fast leaping towards her, a pounce filled with all the intent of a deadly predator. Lily literally couldn’t move fast enough to escape the blow— but that was fine. That’s why she had her shields. The shimmering fils of energy burst into dazzling light the moment Avyr hit them, crumpling like wet paper beneath the force of his claws— but the expected blow never came. Just barely, her talismans had managed to stop his first blow.

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He darted back, but not fast enough. Slammed up against her barrier, he was right where she wanted him. The fire-burst talisman ignited in her hand and— fizzled, only a weak burst of fire managing to splash against Avyr’s fur. Which, as an extreme yang cultivator, probably wouldn’t have done anything regardless…

Then Avyr’s second blow struck like a truck and she went sprawling. “Ow.” Instantly, Avyr paused his assault, stopping beside her with a look of concern. “I don’t think you hurt hurt me, just my ego, but… ow. That’s going to leave a bruise.”

“Sorry,” the cat murred. “I didn’t mean to hit so hard. You just… managed to surprise me a little.” He shook himself vigorously, flicking off mud that had managed to stick to his fur. At least— she couldn’t help but think a little vindictively, she wasn’t the only one who was getting muddy. “You don’t need to push yourself so hard. You’re really good with your talismans. I felt threatened at several points during that whole thing.”

She raised an eyebrow doubtfully. “Really?”

“Okay, well, three points, but the round lasted for three seconds.” Avyr chuckled softly, nudging her with his head. “Just take the compliment, would you.”

“Fine, whatever—”