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The naga put a hand up to his chest in a 'who, me?' fashion. "Worry? I don't know the meaning of the word." He shot two fountains of water from his hands, the two powerful magics canceling each other in a hiss of steam. Cannon balls of water with icey hard cores flew in every direction. He didn't want to risk Alek having one of those transporting powers as well.

As Tuula made a final prep, Ashierra was standing in a daze, legs shaking from trying to support her own weight. She didn't want to do this, it sounded scary. Although, in her current state, walking to the hotel would have been scary too. She blinked in a distracted wonder at the wall of flames in front of her. So familiar, yet so strange. When she tried to touch it, it burned her hand, making her yelp in pain and fall backward. Something wrapped her waist before she hit the ground, lifting her up, and up.

With a wicked grin, the naga cooed dangerously. "Aww, does the kitty not like getting wet? You're not the first to challenge me, and you won't be the last." He waited until Alek was close enough before bringing up a wall of thick water with a center of slushie ice at the last moment. The solid ice in water had worked before, but he wanted the cattaur to go through this, planning on the slush to stick to Alek, delaying his power just enough. His tail whipped around to come up behind Alek.

The naga smiled again at the frustration in Alek's voice. "It's been fun-" He said as the cattaur slid toward him, "but it's time to end this." He leaned forward, arms extended, Alek sliding right for the naga's sharp claws, when suddenly a weight fell onto him, pulling him back again. He half turned in shock, looking at the red female who was inconceivably laying on his naga body. The next he knew, both he and Ashierra were surrounded in flames, both screaming as power flowed...

Tuula stared at the wall, ears perked as she listened. Was that really the naga making so much noise? Her tail lay hanging still, afraid to hope.

Gasping as the wall dropped, Tuula's hands smacked up over her mouth and she dropped to her knees. Was it really working?!

Fire swirled and enveloped, rushing through to the core. At first it burned her body like a swallow of rich whiskey, not exactly painful, but contained a sharp sting. As it spread, Ashierra felt her strength returning, her mind sharpening. She held as tight as she could to the thick body of the naga, afraid to leave a single bit of her magic behind in the wretched creature. A snarl formed on her lips, claws starting to dig through the scales, eyes burning when she was able to lift her head to glare.

The naga could hardly think straight, questions flying through his mind as he screamed in frustration and pain. He could feel the fire magic being pulled out as though a hand was grabbing at his insides and yanking. How had that girl thought to touch him again? She shouldn't have been able to think at all! He hadn't had time to put a new sealing encantation on his arm...
When the reversal was nearly complete, he tried to flair his tail, trying to whip the cattaur off his snake body. Faced with the shock of his life, he forgot about Tuula and Alek.

Tuula couldn't answer Alek at first. The sense of immense victory made her entire body tingle and shake. The naga was not so all mighty anymore. She knew his secret, and would be sure that everyone else did as well. This was his end, whether he died or not. She got up and hurried over to Alek. "I... I've been watching him for so long, I had a theory. He told- taunted- to me once that those markings on his arms are incantations. Seals. They're how he keeps others' magics in him." She shook her head, watching the magic transfer. "But he didn't have as many the last time I saw him. He must need a new seal each time he gains a new power. I figured, the fire magic was so new to him, once it felt its mom, it would go back home. That's why he didn't try using it right away." She saw the flames dwindle and gasped. "Orangey! Quick!"

Ashierra clung tightly, her eyes blinking at an odd feeling of support. It was almost a comfort as she clung to the thrashing tail. Suddenly, the fire was out. Now it was just her clinging to a seriously pissed off naga. That was fine though. She was just as pissed. She saw flashes of others on the ground. Some green female, she didn't look like Jade, and... he was here? "Alek." She breathed. When had he gotten here? She didn't have time to think though. She had to avoid those hands.

"I'll kill you, little bi-" He hissed as nails raked his face, his arms punching out without control, his rage boiling and not leaving room for collecting his thoughts.

Ashierra dug in with nails, claws, teeth, wherever she could puncture through. One of the naga's wild hit smacked her cheek, her paws lighting up in responce, leaving shallow paw marks behind on the scales. Suddenly Alek was on the naga as well. Let go? Right! She released only to jump closer to Alek but part of the thick tail swatted her off to the side and she rolled dizzily into Tuula's waiting arms.

Feeling connections, the naga was encouraged to swing more violently and wildly. He felt a stabbing on his tail, a quick slash flicking off one of the pests, not realizing he had granted Alek's command to Ashierra. The male wouldn't let go though. He couldn't lose. He never lost! He had all the magic, all the experience. He hissed, wondering where the other bandits had gone. Why weren't they here?
He didn't realize what the bandits were thinking. If a couple cattaurs could take over the powerful naga, what would happen to them? They had counted four cattaurs. Two fiesty girls was one thing. This was entirely different.

Give up? He never lost! He never lost! Blasts of hot pain in his face was more than he could take. This wasn't like burning seals into his arms. This was the feeling of losing. His tail whipped up, reaching to wrap itself around Alek. He would steal his magic and squeeze him to death at the same time! Somehow, he managed a maniac laugh, even when a flail of his tail drove the stuck dagger deeper into his skin.

Struggling to stand, Ashierra half leaned on and half fought off Tuula who was trying to help her up and keep her back. The adrenaline rush, the magics flowing, seeing Alek there, she had to make up for failing earlier. Once again, she was causing only trouble. Hissing, she send a razor whip of fire out, deep cuts appearing along the naga's torso, the skin sizzling. She didn't notice, but Tuula was also sending razor sharp winds, cutting into and through the naga's snake body.