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Ruin growled as the shoulder spike of the male dug into his soft flesh, just in front of his spiked saddle. "A worthy opponent who doesn't burn. How interesting." He grinned. Sure he'd have to use his old fighting style, the one he'd used in the Underworld, but hey, atleast he knew how, and he didn't have a rider on his back to hinder him this time. Ruin reared and turned, slamming and scraping the spiked side of his saddle into D'von's side. The dragon may be fire-proof, but he certainly couldn't be steel proof. "As for my, granddaughter, that boy toy of hers won't last long, not with me as his mentor." He growled out, lashing at the male's face with his hoof.

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Were it not for his training, D'von would've cried out. Instead, he just grunted and gritted his teeth when the spiked saddle bit into his side. "Tch. Like fighting D'art," he grumbled. His teeth went to the chained bridle, yanking on it hard before moving away so he could get a better angle on his opponent. "Regardless, I'm not interested in her. I know the mare I want, and you can't have her."

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Ruin cackled as he spun around, kicking with his back legs towards the male before turning to face him. "Why? Why do you want her? She's nothing but a little, whorish slut, who will leave you the first chance she gets" He laughed and moved backwards, setting some space between him and the other male so he could go in for another attack. "You really think she would stay? Or even be worth staying for? You're even more foolish than I thought." He ran towards the male, galloping with his forelegs stretching out so he could kick at D'von when he got there

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Something began stirring in D'von. Something dark. Something primal--bestial even. Rage surged through every fiber of his being as the mare he'd quickly grown to cherish was insulted. Memories of their travels northward flashed in his mind. "... To hell..." As Ruin charged in, the chains containing his blood's demons broke. He reared up. "TO HELL IF I CARE!" His hooves went to smash Ruin's head, but the strike was early. But the instant his feet landed, he swung his head up, slicing at the head with his nose horn. "As long as she's safe..." His entire body moved with a level of skill and prowess even his brothers and father shouldn't have possessed. "... as long as she's happy... " His rage-filled eyes met Ruin's fiery ones for a single, brief moment. "NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!" He could feel nothing. He could hear and see nothing but his opponent. It was as if the world around them had disappeared. He was sure to feel the many wounds he was accumulating later, but that was the farthest thing from his beserk mind. Ruin would not touch Arachnae. No one would take his mare from him.

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Surprised at the outrage pouring from the male, Ruin froze, just in time to be gored by his nose horn and pummled by the hooves. As soon as his senses returned from him Ruin tucked tail and ran shamelessly to care for his wounds. It was the first and last time he would be beaten like that, and if anyone found out, they would be killed. He would be sure of that

Arachnae stood in shock on the hill. D'von's words had carried to her, though she tried to pretend not to care. What did this mean? The stallion actually cared for her, and wanted to protect her? Wanted her happy and safe? This was new. And after how he had treated her, after the silent trip, during the whole thing, all he wanted was to care for her?

She went back down the hill to where she had been sleeping and curled up, sure he would come to her. She knew he wouldn't want her to know what he said, know how he felt. So she wouldn't let him know she knew, though it would be hard to hide in the days coming.

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The demon in his blood seemed satisfied with the result, because a moment after Ruin was out of sight, all of the power and ferocity he'd had before vanished. His body quickly alerted him of its accumulated damage. It wasn't good. He'd live, but it'd be a rough going... He was going to have so much fun explaining this fight to Arachnae. Maybe he'd just go with his usual, "He pissed me off" excuse. Otherwise he'd have to explain all of the other fights too...

It was almost time for the sun to rise. He wasn't going to get much sleep. Well, he would have to make do with what he could get. They still had half of the neutral lands to cross before they hit the King's lands.

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Arachnae peeked her eye open as D'von approached. She sat up and motioned for him to join her as she assessed his wounds. Coming to a verdict, she sighed. "Lay down and sleep. One day won't hurt us. It may even be better for us to travel at night anyways... Warer atleast." She said, fully expecting him to just obey her orders.

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D'von shook his head, his body protesting even in that motion. "One more day," he insisted, his voice a bit hoarse. "Then rest." They needed to get farther north. Ruin had run, but there was no guarantee he wouldn't send his lackeys after them to try and finish the job. The farther north they got, the better. If his thoughts weren't still focused on his fight with Ruin, he might've dreaded the thought. But Arachnae's safety was a priority, and with this place being so insecure, he didn't want to rest here. He wouldn't be surprised if his wounds made him unable to get up after laying down, immobilizing him for a day or two. If that was the case, he wanted it to be somewhere that they wouldn't be bothered by every passing stallion. He took a deep, wheezy breath, blood still flowing down his sides. He lowered his head and lightly nudged Arachnae. "Please, sweet pea," he murmured, not unlike he did at their first meeting. Except this time his voice was full of fatigue and had undertones of his affection instead of lust and mischievousness.

He wouldn't be able to rest until they were somewhere safer. He couldn't bear to have something happen to her because he was down...

D'von didn't have the energy or will to argue with her. He shifted so he wouldn't scrape her with his shoulder spikes. He kept just enough awareness to allow him to ensure they didn't get turned around. The day seemed to slip by without his notice beyond the change in earth underneath his feet. When it finally hit him that it was dark, he lightly nudged Arachnae. "Is there... somewhere out of the open we can rest?" Even his fatigue and pain couldn't shake his training.

Once they got to the nook, D'von let himself collapse there. Only when Nae had settled by him did he let his eyes close. Dreams came instantly, but quickly turned into fire-filled nightmares. When he finally broke free of them and woke up, the sun was shining brightly just outside of the nook. Despite the loss of the nightmares, the heat remained. Fever. It was likely a fever. His eyes frantically searched his surroundings. "Nae," he mumbled. She was nearby, right?

D'von's relief was visible as his body was allowed to relax. The terrors of his nightmares vanished. She was safe. He nuzzled her back and then let his head rest again. "How long... was I asleep?"

A day and a half? Considering his current condition, it wasn't too long... He remained as still as possible as Nae put the pulp on his wounds. "Thanks... and sorry." He let his eyes slide close, though he didn't fade off to sleep. "My fighting's slowing you down..."

D'von couldn't help grinning. "As if me demanding could change you. I think I might actually get scared if that happened." He snorted. "There's a fine line between dedication and idiocy." He sighed quietly. "Sometimes I wonder why I insist on having two hooves on either side." He opened his eyes. "... But I'm going to have to change. I have to get stronger, no matter how much I don't want to." His eyelids fluttered. "If I don't, I'll be surpassed... can't... let that happen. Have to... keep..." He trailed off as he started to nod off, shaking his head to try and keep himself awake. "With my body's... natural regenerative properties... I should be able to travel normally within a few days..." He'd be able to travel for shorter amounts of time as his lesser wounds healed, but it would be a while before the large stab wound in his side healed enough to comfortably travel.

D'von couldn't disobey. Her touch on his neck was pure bliss and he quietly slipped off to sleep.

Two days later, D'von's condition was much better. The smallest wounds had disappeared, and the larger ones had scabbed over and were healing steadily. The stab wound from Ruin's saddle, however, was taking its time. It would crack when he moved and then re-scab in an endless cycle. But he'd been laying around too long; if he waited any longer to walk around, he'd have trouble getting up.

Wandering around, his first instinct was to locate Arachnae. He watched the mare for a moment before he approached. Her wounds had healed; that was good. But there was... something off. He couldn't put his hoof on it, though...