[pain bursts forth through the overwhelming well of love, followed by a sense of duty-- it doesn't matter. how I feel doesn't matter. I still. . . have to do what I came here to do. I have to]
[Catra sucks in a sharp breath, the corners of her eyes stinging in response to that pain. but despite her hesitation, she doesn't hold back]
[she throws herself forward again, ears laying flat against her head, claws extended with the sharp edges driving themselves right at Byleth's shoulder]
[the emotional fallout is like watching fireworks go off in the sky, and byleth sways slightly from the impact, waiting for catra to draw back, to stop attacking, to give up—maybe they could both just go back to the dormitories, pretend like nothing happened.
but instead, something else pushes through—instead, she's determined to...
catra's on her again, twice as fierce, all ferocity, and byleth's tumbling backwards, slashing out, back, at catra as she stumbles, suddenly becoming aware that the lazy river is just behind her.]
[she misses, but she draws back quickly just in time to block, to dodge, to parry, sparkls glinting from each blow of her claws against Byleth's sword. she herself isn't aware of the lazy river behind her opponent, but. . . that doesn't matter. her attention is hyperfocused on the person ahead of her, the person who-- who must be freed. who is in such an unfair position that allowing her to continue on would just be. . . cruel]
[. . . right?]
Byleth!
[she cries out again, and there are tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as she presses forward, he heartache in her chest intensifying to almost crippling levels. but it just seems to fuel her forward as she presses her advantage, seeking any opening, any opportunity, to dig her claws into Byleth's flesh]
[the drive is unmissable, and her efforts to not seriously harm catra are backfiring on her. her sword connects, but so does catra—and with a gasp, she's pushed, backwards, head over heels into the river behind her. tactically, the worst possible situation.
pushing off the bottom, she surges up again, sword heavy in the water as she heaves for the side with both hands, attempting to pull herself up, out, in time.]
no subject
[but it's not enough]
[pain bursts forth through the overwhelming well of love, followed by a sense of duty-- it doesn't matter. how I feel doesn't matter. I still. . . have to do what I came here to do. I have to]
[Catra sucks in a sharp breath, the corners of her eyes stinging in response to that pain. but despite her hesitation, she doesn't hold back]
[she throws herself forward again, ears laying flat against her head, claws extended with the sharp edges driving themselves right at Byleth's shoulder]
no subject
but instead, something else pushes through—instead, she's determined to...
catra's on her again, twice as fierce, all ferocity, and byleth's tumbling backwards, slashing out, back, at catra as she stumbles, suddenly becoming aware that the lazy river is just behind her.]
no subject
[. . . right?]
Byleth!
[she cries out again, and there are tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as she presses forward, he heartache in her chest intensifying to almost crippling levels. but it just seems to fuel her forward as she presses her advantage, seeking any opening, any opportunity, to dig her claws into Byleth's flesh]
no subject
pushing off the bottom, she surges up again, sword heavy in the water as she heaves for the side with both hands, attempting to pull herself up, out, in time.]