shake the dust off

Venom was forced to the ground, her back and head landed heavily against the ground and she lost her breath and saw stars. As she attempted to catch her breath her glazed eyes caught sight of Hattori. He stood above her, his features cast in shadow before he lunged at her neck. The feeling of his fangs a hair's breadth away, his body towering above her as she lay prone beneath him, invoked an unattainable sense of vulnerability. The Empress lost control, and for that split moment the shinobi invoked complete power.

He took her breath away in a completely different manner.

Hattori stepped away from her, leaving her belly exposed to the sky as she remained motionless as she gasped for breath. Venom blinked back her sunset gaze, finally able to take in a deep enough breath that her wits returned. The feeling of helplessness did not relinquish, but her trust and respect for Hattori had increased tenfold. Releasing her breath as a huff the Empress finally found her paws.

Defeat didn’t look good on the young leader, but Hattori aided in keeping her humble. Resolved to fight harder for her people, the young woman’s serious gaze returned to the victor. ”Your skills feel unhindered by your injury. I am bested.”