Retaliation was inevitable. She needn't resurface the civilized mind to know this to be fact. There truly was no rational thought left. Every iota of her body screaming to follow generations of instilled behavior that demanded her present behavior. She had proven herself to be a defiant adversary, but not an idiotic one.
Obsidian claws dug deeper into the ground, her limbs holding her strong body her place, unwavering, not so much as touched by fear. The forward thrust of his body and teeth were met with their intended mark. Her head whipped down at his sudden movement, the hot flash of teeth catching the side of her muzzle causing her to whine in pain. Still, she kept herself standing, even as she felt the sting of his strike bring forth blood to meld with that of the elk's still stained on her face.
She kept her eyes turned from him. Her tail lost its rigidity and rebellious height, falling lifeless between her legs. Eventually instinct won over pride in the face of power and dominance. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground at his paws, bringing her paws to curl against her chest as she rolled onto her side.