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The skin at the back of Aislinn's neck prickled uncomfortably as Nera chanted her release phrase. She tensed, waiting for the attack that would likely follow the release of the arrancar's Resurreccion, but the strike didn't come. Instead, the arrancar vanished. Aislinn wasn't fooled, though. The woman's scent still lingered among the trees, and it would have been completely illogical for the arrancar to drop so many cryptic threats and simply vanish without following through.

Still, Aislinn, with her human nose, was unable to pick out Nera's location. Without giving it a second through, she dropped to all fours and phased into her werewolf form. She raised her head, shaking out her glossy, silvery-gray fur and putting her nose to the currents of air that gusted through the forest. The arrancar held an unnatural, oily scent that made Aislinn want to sneeze. It was completely unpleasant and burned her nose, but at least it was distinct. All the same, she padded of into the forest, making a beeline for Nera's location. Her muscles were taut, nerves singing as she expected an attack at any moment.

Playin' hide and seek at your age? Aislinn taunted, calling out in her low-grade form of telepathy. She had no notion as to the arrancar's powers, but Ash wasn't exactly the type to calmly assess a situation. She usually jumped in headfirst, letting instinct rather than a level head guide her.

Aislinn whirled around, sharp reflexes saving her from the blow Nera directed at her back. She bared her teeth in a low snarl, luminous blue eyes flashing in anger. She held her head low, tail extending straight out behind her as she eyed the tender skin at the arrancar's throat. The moment the arrancar had thrown the first strike, she'd gotten Ash's blood up. She would do anything in her power to defeat Nera and keep the man-- whoever he might have been-- safe from her.

Ah, so it's tag, now? You're switching gears awfully fast, her eyes flickered from the girl's weapon to her body, wary of another attack. Without her shikai, she knew she was at the disadvantage, here. The arrancar had a resurreccion power that would easily trump her swordplay and fledgling werewolf powers. Still, Ash wasn't one to dwell on the impossibility of her situation. She'd just keep throwing herself at her opponent, battering them with all the power she could muster. Even if she came off second best, she'd land a few good blows.

Aislinn's ears flattened against her skull in response to the energy crackling at Nera's knuckles. She snarled and lept forward just as the first bala was released. Her muscles rippled under her glossy fur and, though she could feel the energy licking at the underside of her abdomen, her jump had put her clear of their path.

You'll 'ave to excuse me for ending the game a bit prematurely. She opened her jaws, sharp canines glistening as she angled towards Nera's neck. She intended to rip the woman's throat out, effectively ending the battle before it had begun. As an arrancar, she was absolutely the enemy, so Ash had few qualms with killing her.

Displaying much more agility that the arrancar apparently gave her credit, Aislinn twisted in her leap, narrowly avoiding the strike Nera threw her way. She managed to plant her front paws on the face of the blade and pushed off, catapulting herself forward. Extending her right foreleg, she made a slash with her claws, attempting to rake Nera across the face. Unlike a natural wolf's claws that were often worn down with use, Ash's were sharp and keen and very able to rend flesh from bone.

Y' seem fair daft if y' think I know what you're on about, Ash snarled as she moved. Seein' as I don't know who you're after, you'll pardon me if I don't help you find 'im.

Again, Aislinn's instincts served her well. After missing Nera with her attempted slash, she landed lightly, muscles tensed. Taking in the sight of the woman's arm cocked back in a characteristic stance, coupled with the energy that made her fur stand on end, Ash knew what was coming. She sprang out of the way just as the cero erupted from Nera's palm. It caught Aislinn's side, but it did no more than scorch fur and since her ribs.

By then, she was already off and running, bounding towards the arrancar with her teeth bared. I'm thinking I've given the arrancar too much credit-- here I was thinkin' you all had brains inside those funny masks a' yours, but I see how I'm mistaken. Y' c'n ask all y' like. Won't change me answer.

She lept forward, apparently intent on tackling the woman to the ground. At the very last second, she willed herself to phase back to her human form. Clothes, clothes, clothes... She mentally chanted the phrase, hoping she wouldn't come out of the change with nothing on as she so often did. Apparently, her desperation was enough to force the required change. She phased back to her human form in a short, tattered kosode, naked blade in hand. In midair, she slashed down across Nera's chest, using a powerful two-handed technique more similar to kendo than her preferred fencing style.

Reluctant to release her weapon, Aislinn freed one hand from her two-handed grip, apparently undaunted by the fact that her attack had failed to penetrate the arrancar's hierro-enforced skin. To Nera's retaliating blow, she pivoted on her front foot, turning to the side and presenting a profile to the strike. It whistled ominously past her chest, but she was left unharmed.

"You'll be getting used to that," Ash retorted without missing a beat. She pulled her blade from the arrancar's grip, making sure to add force to the maneuver in an attempt to at least cut Nera's palm. Ash was careful not to acknowledge Kasen's name, though the fact that this arrancar was looking for him worried her. It only made her more determined to defeat the woman and defend her Pack. "I won't go down so easy. Shiny?"

Upon speaking the last word, Ash gathered back and lunged, thrusting her blade towards Nera's stomach.

"And I'm thinking your pride'll be yours," Ash shot back, tensed as balas fell all around her. Given her position, they did not pose a threat. They were fired from Nera's weapon in such a pattern that they shot outwards at an angle. Standing her ground just beneath Nera's aerial position, Ash was able to avoid the deadly ring of balas altogether.

This decision made her vulnerable in a different respect, however. Upon completing the bala attack, the arrancar dropped, massive blade aimed in a strike directly at Ash's head. Hemmed in by the balas, she was unable to move completely out of harm's way. Given little time to think, Aislinn reacted instinctively, raising her blade above her head and presenting its thin face to the tip of Nera's weapon. As luck would have it, Ash's blade face caught the point of Nera's weapon dead on. Ash bent her knees to absorb the impact of the powerful attack, attempting to negate as much downward momentum as she could. The blow still drove her to her knees. Her sword hand ached and the blade edges sliced into the palm of her free hand as she supported the maneuver.

Although her zanpakuto held, she was in an even more vulnerable position. Nera's blow had driven her to the ground. Their weapons were so oriented that she couldn't pull her blade away without risking injury. She gritted her teeth, but still managed to flash a crooked smile.

"If that's your storm, I'm a bit disappointed. I've seen drizzle more threatening n' that,"