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The breath wheezed out of him, and he lay heaving, rolling onto his side and putting his arm over his head to protect himself, his mind a turmoil of suprised pain. He was mostly worried that he might hurt her; he knew he could if he lost his controll. Evidently, she had no such restrictions. What little was in his stomach rising in his throat, he gasped for air, the beach tilting crazily in his sideways view. He hoped she wouldn't be so into the fight as to hit him when he was down. Now that he knew how much pain she was willing to give, all he needed was a chance to recouperate. Then he could return the favor.

Dewpaw dropped down from the tree she had been perched in, but didn't approach the fighting pair. She wasn't stupid enough to stick her hand between two snarling wolves, even if it was just play. But she also knew wolves got hurt in play fights just as much as real ones. *I don't think Dancer will be happy healing you two. She has enough with Savith and Star ain't looking too good either* Her send was as flat as she could make it, but her cub-ish joy snuck in, after all, how often did a cub get to point something out to an adult. She grinned, reflecting that same joy.

Dew just shook her head and muttered to herself as she sat down cross-legged and watched. *I'll let Dancer know that* she sent, mostly in a joking tone, partly not. *But then she'll wonder what you two wovles were biting about anyway.* Dew didn't really think about what had called them. After all, Autumn was a wolfrider adn Blaze was just acting like a wolf in her eyes. They were fighting for fun or to show how tough they are, respect, place, status, whatever. They were behvaing like wolves. She also knew that meant they would most likely get over it adn teh fight would help. But she sat quietly after that, figuring she had given her warning adn was no longer a part of it. besides, she wanted to see Dancer get mad at them, she hadn't really seen Dancer mad yet.

Blaze mumbled something unintelligible, and his hand found hers, trembling weakly. He waited untill she turned her back, then he exploded. His other hand found her throat, and the force of the attack carried him to his feet as he pretty much lifted Joy off him by her neck. Holding her at arms length with both hands, he kept pressure on her windpipe with his thumbs, but only just enough not to close it completely. The heat mirages rose unbidden but faintly around his body, and the laughing eyes held as much emotion as a pair of hot coals. **Lay down, rockshaper.** The locksend carried a blast of the sensation of a summer sandstorm, blinding hot and scouring, a blacksend but for that it didn't pierce and cut, rather, it crushed. His mind carried a perfect blank but fot that one send.

Autumn was smiling till the attack came. Feeling her feet leave the ground made her snarl. Hands came up to grip his hand but her eyes watched him. She lifted a hand ready to rake his face with her nails when the send blasted her mind. The hands grabbed at her head as a voiceless cry came from the gaping mouth. She hadn't used her powers and thought he wouldn't either. She was not ready for such an attack and did just as he asked. Her body falling limp in his grip.

Dew's glare never left her, and her lips curled into a snarl Blaze dropped Autumn to the ground, *Wolves. Both of you acting like the wild wolves, starved and crazed.* Her send held anger, probably the first since she had arrived. She wasn't even made at Blaze when he blacksent to her when she first got there. she knelt by Joy, lightly tapping her cheek with teh palm of her hand. *Wake up Autumn. Come one* she sent lightly, teasing Autumn to rejoin the world of the concious. She wasn't sure what to do or what Blaze had even done, but she knew it wasnt' good.

Blaze almost cried, and the slap wasn't at all enough to make up for his wrong. **Thank the First.** He brushed a strand of her hair off her face, grinning sheepishly in spite of himself. The wolfrider would live. **I will do everything I can to make shure there won't be a next time. I don't know what came over me there. I can't trust myself not to do that again.** He felt sick to his stomach just acknowledging that there was something wrong with him, and he looked up at Dew, the beginnings of tears glistening. **I didn't hurt you too, did I? I can't remember... Did I say something?**