((Though it's a valid combat tactic, I don't feel like intimidates and things being used back to back without action to back them up is...I dunno, sporting? Fitting? Just feels empty. x3 So, gonna hold off of actually making a roll here unless Xali requests it. Not trying to actually deal damage with these particular intimidates.))<br/><br/>Stoically standing between the floating raccoon and Celrie, Arcea affixes the girl with her bright, emerald gaze. It was hard to read her expression, there was so little of it beyond 'hard', though the way she'd so eagerly licked her lips just a few seconds prior might attest to 'hungry' as well, whether or not she really showed it. Had it not been for Celrie's sudden intrusion, nestling herself up against Arcea's back, the catgirl might very well have simply stared the raccooness down into simply fleeing. The presence of the elf's soft body against her back, however, instantly softens her expression, her ears - once firmly folded against the top of her head - flicking back up into place. It wasn't much, but it was an obvious drop of aggression and readiness, a far cry from the angry, riled up catgirl from just a few moments ago.<br/><br/>In fact, the expression turns into one akin to embarrassment when Celrie's hand begins running across her belly, the soft, warm fur coating her tummy just barely hiding the slightly more firm, toned muscles beneath. Arcea wasn't 'muscular' in the traditional sense, but Celrie's exploring hands all too easily discover the more toned, lithe body nestled away beneath that warm fur coat, much more an endurance sprinter than one who'd be instantly recognized as one who got by on pure strength. Of course, judging by how she'd taken out the mech....it was obvious there was a little bit more to the little catgirl than just 'endurance'. Sure enough, a soft, hungry 'grrrwl' emanates from Arcea's belly just as Celrie's fingertips glide across it's warm, smooth surface, hinting at just how hungry she had become. It made the feline growl slightly under her breath, her eyes once more fixating upon Delilah. Fighting made her hungry, and right now, there was a half-dozen squirmy morsels just waiting to take a trip down her throat scattered out in the snow around her.<br/><br/>It was frustrating, but she dared not leave Celrie vulnerable.<br/><br/>Whatever small semblance of 'intimidation' she might have had left instantly vanishes when Celrie sneaks a hand beneath her leather skirt - it more resembled a loincloth, but skirt was appropriate too - and grips a handful of firm-yet-soft kitty tush, elicting a little, squeaking 'Eeep!' from the catgirl. Whatever semblance of fury she might have possessed instantly vanishes, her ears once more flattening against her skill - but this time, to hide the red glow that had risen within them "Mmph. You're welcome. Hard to look threatening when you're...exciting me, though." Arcea murmurs back to the giggling elf, giving her thigh a hard, playful swat with her tail. Despite her expression, the lighthearted almost 'purr' in her voice, so silky and sweet, made it hard to imagine she was the least bit upset about the elf's intervention.<br/><br/>When Celrie finally steps away, Arcea once more readies her shield, though this time without the fervency she had before - the coon had not instantly attacked, and the larger one had fainted dead away at her threat...perhaps for the best, as she'd had all intentions of following up on that threat if the pudgy girl had tried anything.<br/><br/>Stepping to the side just enough to reveal Celrie leaning over the downed form of Maribel, Arcea - tail swishing back and forth behind her, still eager to continue the fight - focuses upon the jetpack coon some small distance away "She was over here cause she stepped out to stop us. Celrie talked to her, she decided we were not worth fighting. So, she tried to call off the attack. Couple of your idiot kinsmen took a pop-shot at us, hit her right between the eyes. You're lucky her head ain't splattered all over the snow, quite honestly." The mental image honestly made Arcea wince - she'd seen it happen before, and it was not the prettiest sight as one could imagine. Taking a deep breath and shaking her head to clear the thought from her imagination, Arcea continued "If you're spoilin' for a fight, I'll take you on in a duel to first blood. Me and you. I win, we keep every single one of your kin....and piss on the empire." Turning her head to the side, Arcea spits into the snow, clearly showing her contempt "These are still Cal'Drua lands, so you'd be subject to Cal'Drua justice. Tribute for every person who survived that you wish to claim. Run out of goods worth their lives, and those lives belong to us. An' there's a whole cart of hungry Cal'Drua just in the back of this here train who'd be happy to dispense their own special brand of justice, I assure you."<br/><br/>Lifting a foot, Arcea calmly tapped a big clump of snow off her boot, casting a sidelong glance at Maribel and Celrie as the elf worked to heal her. Admittedly, she'd never felt any of the elf's healing energy, though...she could just IMAGINE what it felt like. Good...very good, most likely. Still, it seemed as if Celrie was content with letting some of the coons go, and if that is what she wanted and the rest agreed....well...<br/><br/>"...Alternatively.." Arcea continued, once more focusing her intense, emerald eyes upon Delilah "...You could take Maribel and everyone who can still walk and get out of here. As I said, we might have jewelry, but it's not so expensive as to be worth your live, and the lives of your kinsmen." Sweeping her sword in the general direction of the few coons who'd been dropped permanently, laying dead in the snow, she snorted "...Any amount of jewelry worth this? Any amount of fighting worth the death of the REST of your kinsmen, yourself, AND Maribel? I think not. You have an option to just take your cousin here and leave, without punishment. Can take grandpa over there. Can take your...what...pa?" She jerked her head towards the cowering male coon hiding in the stump some distance away "...And make yourself scarce. Your downed kinsmen would belong to us, but maybe we'd spare them. Maybe not. You wanna take the chance on dooming them all, or getting to see a few of them walk away from this fight?"<br/><br/>With the fight seemingly over, Arcea felt the intense rush of adrenline pumping through her veins beginning to subside, leaving behind only thoughts about how close to death she honestly came. The crossbow bolts that clinked off her shield, the massive farming implements on the mech that could have skewered her - or it's strength that could have very well simply captured her, leaving her at the mercy of those who'd no doubt kill her eventually, or worse, eat her. The gator that could have bitten her leg, death-rolled and broken it...or ripped it off...<br/><br/>The thoughts were sobering, and all at once she felt the fatigue hit her "I'm tired, coon. What's it gonna be? We gonna dance, or you gonna make a smart choice and just get your kin outta here while you can? An' have that Marten cough up our damn squirrel, too, before I skewer it."<br/><br/>((Am pretty much 'ready' but...not doing anything until she does something aggressive, or otherwise.))