Welcome to Gaia! ::

She was preparing for them to both flee -- to save themselves, because these birds were not relenting. Before Rose could think to voice her plan, Cat shouted and drew her startled attention; the bird had dove at her again, and the woman -- ! Cat -- ! Cat covered her.

Shock and a self-righteous rage filled her chest, her ribs feeling like a cage against the startling heat of it. Leveling her bow over the top of the buckler Cat held, Rose uttered a soft word that was probably of the four letter variety and let it fly, carrying with it all her anger and frustration.

It not only hit the bird, it ripped a wing off. The bird fell to the ground, dead.

Getting shakily to stand upright, she cast Cat a wide-eyed look of bewilderment. They'd won. Together, they had taken down the flock!

"I...I could not have done this without you," Rose conceded, a twinge breathless. Drawing in air that burned her throat and lungs, she managed a weak smile, bowing her head politely to Cat. "Should I ever be able to do anything for you, my dear - even to sing of your successes - please, find me. It is the least I can do."