River follows, angling behind Damocles, all her power focused on prey, not really knowing where or how to hit.

Instinct takes over and she feels herself leaving the ground, aiming for the only vulnerable spot she can see as the deer flees. Her claws slash into the soft white belly. She smells blood and lunges again, her jaws clamping on a hind flank, but her grip is no good.

The buck chambers the leg and in an terrified frenzy, lashes out with razor sharp hooves, catching her across the muzzle, slicing her open to the bone.

She yipes, tumbles away, coming up snarling, more determined than ever to see this thing ended.