shiny new toy

The yearling was already taller, denser than she. Hazel knows it. Hazel knows that he knows it. There's something exciting about being able to test the mettle of the yearlings, though, and she was ready to have an excellent time of it. Really, just the best. Stratum moved to hit like a ton of bricks against her shoulder, and Hazel was ready for it. Telegraphing his opening well enough gave her a chance to move into him, meeting him on impact. A soft oof echoes from her chest. The kid hit hard, that was for sure. Blunted by her breastplate, but she can still feel the impact. Crystalline teeth glimmering in the sunlight, Hazel bared them with the intent to let them glance off of whatever was close enough. Though his head made contact with her shoulder, she remained calm and in control of her body. He was close enough to bite, and Hazel would certainly try. Still, each attack came calibrated carefully, she's not trying to hurt him more than necessary.

Pain is an excellent teacher, after all.

Though he tries to hook her foreleg, Hazel is quick to move and take space. It's enough to kick her in the knee as she moves, enough to stagger her for a moment. She needs the space to be able to take on such a large opponent effectively. Trying to put a bit of distance between them, all the while regaining he balance. From here, Hazel would try to turn and lunge to launch an assault of her own. It's quick, as quick as she can manage. She'd try to tag the boy about the ankles with her teeth, an attempt to herd and drive him where she wanted him to go. This is an effort to drive him to the corner of their little clearing in the Col, to get his back to a proverbial wall. Using the space to the best of her advantage, at least if she's able to get out cleanly. If she could keep moving, Hazel thought she would be able to maintain control. Hopefully.

"Speech"