It was obvious what was about to happen, and Conor would for the first time experience what death was like in the eyes of the man that had given him life. There was hollowness within the Dahlian Rosen now, and Conor knew that this was not Haku. It made everything much easier. A blur of claws and fangs charged at him now, and the boy crossed his arms stiffly against his chest and braced his body for the impact that hit him less than a split moment after. He pushed against the snapping man’s throat, his crossed hands keeping the hungry jaws at bay from his own face. Claws dug into his ribs, but the boy’s body willingly fell backwards from the beast’s charge. His muscles stiffened off the fall and when he felt ground beneath him he rolled up both of his legs and let gravity and force push him a bit more back before he delivered a kick that was meant to throw the enemy off. It sort of worked, but Haku’s secui’s body was compact and heavy. New red lines could be felt on the yearling’s sides, but pain could not become the dominant factor at the moment.
He wished he had better maintained the skills Cwmfen nic Graine had thought him, but he was uncertain of his own skills and had never been forced into fighting another before. Not for real. The boy’s hands found ground and he twisted around to face the direction Haku had moved in.