<div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/4c/Gladiatrix24resized1.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"><strong><em>~Ryann, in the midst of it~</em></strong></div><br/><em>”Clench your teeth!”</em><br/><br/>What by the Gods was he talking about? The kick she had delivered hadn't taken Aulus over the edge of the cliff as she had hoped, and indeed she was primed to deliver a second blow, until he hissed words at her.  A scowl slid across her dirtied brow, curled strands kissing against her confused visage. Why was this murderer warning her of anything? She was primed to return the favor of his deeds, to slit his throat and watch him bleed dry before her! Yet here he was, telling her to prepare...<br/><br/>His words caused her pause long enough, caused her confusion long enough that she wasn't prepared to defend herself at his next attack. Not only because he had totally taken her off guard, but he was fast. 'Soldier' had kicked in obviously. Green eyes would widen as he came at her, and indeed, as she caught sight of his opened hand coming towards her face, she did manage to clench her teeth in time. A low grunt she would give, as his hand connected, followed by a whoosh of forced air as his body slammed into hers, tossing her across the sands to land hard upon her left hip. Hissing in pain, she would scramble up as swiftly as her injury allowed, a limp obvious now. Vision swept the area, and there, there was the blade she had lost! Her pain forgotten, but still plain to witness, Ryann snatched up the sword and whirled to face Aulus again, settling into a defensive crouch, weapon out at the ready.<br/><br/>He would need to come to her this time...