Tonbokiri grunts as he defends through the sudden and powerful spin, and his eyebrows raise when Berkut nearly runs him over as he comes off his horse. But the youth is resilient, already rolling to his feet and--
Tonbokiri can read the situation in an instant. Berkut's posture, the manticore's movement; it is clear what it about to happen. And if Berkut succeeds, they will fail. So Tonbokiri moves.
One foot pushes off the ground, and he very nearly flies, dashing directly into Berkut's side to stop his attack and push him out of the way of the manticore's leap. But when Tonbokiri's other foot touches the ground for that last push, it betrays him and he falters, tripping to the ground. There was some poison on that spine that grazed him a moment ago. So although he is able to shove Berkut out of the way, the beast falls upon Tonbokiri's foot, sinking sharp teeth into his ankle.
His eyes narrow, but he shows no other reaction to the pain. Instead, his voice raises in a defiant shout as he shortens his grip on his spear and slashes out the manticore's other eye.
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Tonbokiri can read the situation in an instant. Berkut's posture, the manticore's movement; it is clear what it about to happen. And if Berkut succeeds, they will fail. So Tonbokiri moves.
One foot pushes off the ground, and he very nearly flies, dashing directly into Berkut's side to stop his attack and push him out of the way of the manticore's leap. But when Tonbokiri's other foot touches the ground for that last push, it betrays him and he falters, tripping to the ground. There was some poison on that spine that grazed him a moment ago. So although he is able to shove Berkut out of the way, the beast falls upon Tonbokiri's foot, sinking sharp teeth into his ankle.
His eyes narrow, but he shows no other reaction to the pain. Instead, his voice raises in a defiant shout as he shortens his grip on his spear and slashes out the manticore's other eye.