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All three children nodded soberly, and Aras looked up at Lin and frowned. "But he's been like this since before he even came out of his vase."

[coolor=teal]"He doesn't like people," Ruque added quietly, shuffling his toes in the dirt.

"He's a bully," Ecthelion piped up, folding his arms across his little chest.

Ruran stared at Timaeus, not struggling, but not giving up either. "I don't see why you would defend someone like her," he sneered. "I mean I know she's too weak to defend herself, but still! Why defend a human?"

Timaeus's eyes burned into Ruran's. "Because unlike someone else," he said crisply, the violet of his eyes turning a little more red and a little less blue, "she is a good person who does not deserve to be badmouthed like this."

Ruque blinked up at Lin. "Hang out?" he asked, more calm now that Ruran was more or less out of commission. "What does that mean?"

Kanis still hadn't said a word, and now she took advantage of everyone's distraction to slip away towards Ulani and Ulrich's house. Even if her father was out, someone needed to come and take care of Ruran.

Ruran's lip curled in contempt. "You would actually choose to spend time with a human female?" he asked Timaeus, not even acknowledging the fact that Lin had spoken. "You're as weak as my father! Disgusting! Do you even realize what you're doing to yourself?"

Timaeus's grip tightened on Ruran's shirt. "One more word ..." he said in a threatening tone.

Timaeus dropped Ruran unceremoniously and motioned for the other children to stand back. "The only thing out of hand here is his mouth," he muttered darkly, glaring at the boy.

Ruran hit the ground hard, but he made as if it didn't hurt at all, and he regained his feet quickly, facing Lin and squaring off against her. "You'll get what you've got coming," he growled; and without waiting, he ran at her again, his right hand hidden behind his left so that she couldn't see what was coming.

Ruran feinted to the left, then at the last possible second he whirled to the right and jabbed his hidden hand forward, fingers straight and rigid, lightning fast toward the underside of Lin's ribs. He had not liked his trainer at all, but he had been a quick study, and he was an excellent fighter, as young as he was.

Ruran did not allow himself to become distracted by her reflection of his attack; on the contrary, he never stopped moving, continuing his motion and swinging one leg around behind hers and catching her ankles with his foot. He dropped to his other knee, pulling her feet out from under her, at the same time striking with his other hand toward her stomach to either hit her or help push her down, whichever way it went.

Ruran grunted as he hit the ground yet again, but he didn't let it slow him down. He yanked his arm out from under Lin and curled both hands into fists and began to rain punches over her back and side, aiming for the tender spots - liver and kidney and so on. He didn't hold back at all, but went at her with all of his strength. This was the first fight he had gotten since coming to this world, and he was venting all of his frustrations.

Ruran didn't duck quite in time, and he received the blow to his left brow. It took a few moments to register in his brain, and when it did it wasn't pain that he felt, it was a renewed rush of anger.

"You'll pay for that, b***h!" he snarled, running at her again and trying to get her before she could rise to her feet.

Ruran almost skidded out when Lin changed location so suddenly, but it was only a second or two before he was back facing her again. His nostrils flared, his eyes almost mad as he glared at Lin. He could have wasted time and energy with words, but he didn't - instead, his hand snaked down to his boot. Once more he charged Lin, and there was a glint of something metal and shiny in his hand as he ran at her.

"Ruran, NO!" Aras screamed, seeing what he was about to do.

Timaeus jumped up and ran after Ruran, heedless of his own safety. He shouldn't have let the two of them get so far away from him, he berated himself as he ran towards them. He only hoped he could make it in time ...