Hah! I own 67%, so nyah.



Ahem. Kovu, get off the ground, you guys are my main inspiration, and if you die I won't FINISH the story!



Umm. . . yeah. Right. I. . . have more. . .



Time stopped for Copper. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. She dodged a slash and came up, parrying Kroys' next blow. He swung at her feet; she danced back lightly and then stepped in with a quick thrust. He backpedalled and she pressed her attack, hammering him with hard blows that he was hard put to block. His back to the wall, he fought ferociously.

Suddenly she stepped away, warily circling him.

He moved away from the wall, towards her, and a flicker of motion caught his eye. He turned and blocked Claw, who had been trying for his back.

A pressure at his magical senses made him turn. There was nothing. Copper was gone.

He turned back to Claw and flung a sizzling violet levin-bolt at him. He ducked and rolled nimbly to his feet again, and Kroys was waiting for him. With a quick downthrust that Claw barely blocked, he suddenly backed off and turned to face the wall.

Copper was there. He advanced on her, and she brought her smoking sword up defensively. Abruptly he turned and fired another levin-bolt at the stalking Claw. It took him through the chest and flung him against the wall in a boneless heap, limp, fur smoking and singed.

With a cry of "Claw!" Copper flung herself upon him. Startled, he brought his staff up to bear, and then shoved her away. She growled something low in her throat, and promptly had to dodge yet another levin bolt. She came to her feet with her sword ready, and, touching the jewel and breathing something that Kroys didn't quite catch, shimmered out of existance. He cursed as she materialized behind him, and caught him in the ribs with the flat of her blade. He cast a crackling shred of fox-fire at her; she twisted away as it lanced by.

"It's a lot easier murdering innocent, unarmed creatures, isn't it," she mocked him, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Murdering? I do not murder, rabbit. I exact vengeance," Kroys rasped. He, too, was panting from his exertions. She snorted contemtuously.

Suddenly he pounced, driving an unexpecting Coppertop back until she was against the wall. He hooked the crosshilt; Shale went spinning across the floor. He brought the staff up in a blurring arc, resting the razor curve against her throat. . .