Just as planned, Raela heard the racing paws of the Lagina boy heading straight for the weakened fawn. Her glinting eyes caught sight of the action a moment later as she continued antagonizing the poor mother doe. It had been working well, and as if shot from a gun she heard the great hulking form of her friend come barreling from the bushes. Between this action and the next, fear slowed the passage of time. She saw how the doe's head turned to look for her little one, returning to Raela again as another click of teeth sounded at her feet. It was much too late. The deer had seen what Kova was doing, and whirled away from her efforts at distraction. The woman's ears rose to the top of her head with concern; a dumbfounded and shocked look overtaking her features as her mind pieced together what would happen next. The mother was aiming straight for the silver boy, and there was little she could do from her current position. Instinct and reflex drove her forward again, hoping dearly that she could bite something, anything to get the doe to stutter. 

As she lurched forward, the subordinate's eyes tracked Gent's sudden change in course. Instantly she knew he was trying to save Kova. Her fangs snapped shut around the creature's back leg just a fraction of a second too late. Her autumn colored ears pinned themselves down; bracing against the horrible sound of Gent's shriek. She'd never seen the man hurt, much less crying out in pain. The mother had hit at least one target; successfully slamming the larger wolf to the ground before registering the jaws around her limb. Raela's eyes took in a black blob; barely glimpsing her partner's location before the creature's movement dragged her aside. The sudden whirling movement wiped all vision into a motion blur. The agouti woman refused to release her hold, choosing instead to put all her energy into sinking her teeth to the bone. For all she knew Gent was mortally wounded. Even if he wasn't she was now the only thing keeping the doe from mounting another vengeful attack. 

Determined to protect the prince and her now fallen comrade, the woman's golden eyes burned. She would not let anything else happen. No. The animal started kicking in an attempt to free the hind leg; succeeding only in dragging the assailant around some more. Raela danced with her, doing her best to keep the whole of her body beside the prey and not behind it, in kicking range. It was a horribly dangerous thing for the lithe little female to be doing. A good smack could spell the end, just as Gent had so graciously demonstrated. This ballet of frantic swinging and shuffling feet continued; the doe unknowingly inching further from her child as the need to survive rang louder than any maternal instinct. She just needed to buy enough time – just enough time for Kova to do something to help. If she let the doe go now it would only attack again. She had to make it stop. 

In a rush of adrenaline, the russet-furred woman pressed down as hard as she could manage. In the effort she stopped moving, simply letting the deer drag her while her jaws pressed harder and harder. Then, with a sickening crunch, the bone cracked. The mother panicked. Her leg swung wildly, pulling the distracted wolf square into her range and slamming the wounded appendage into its chest. The air left Raela's lungs immediately as she was sent tumbling to the dirt. Lucky for her it was the back of its leg and not the hoof that had hit. A fine bruise that would make. Damn, damn! Thinking quickly and running on adrenaline, the girl scrambled aside. The doe had stumbled and was now struggling to get back up. A quick and wary glance upward revealed though that the damage had already been done. The animal's leg couldn't hold her weight as she tried to stand; now completely broken from the force of the impact. It was limp and utterly useless. Still low to the ground with her legs spread defensively, the crest woman tried her best to breathe. Her chest was stiff and painful and still refused to take in much air. The strain was plain on Raela's face as she panted, looking on through half-lidded eyes. She needed a moment, and it seemed that it would take the doe more than that to become an effective threat. Frantically she sought out Gent's form, terrified that he might not have gotten up yet. 

To the woman's great relief, the mammoth black form of her friend rose from the ground, albeit awkwardly. In the short glimpse her squinting eyes captured, she could see that he was standing on all his legs, and no blood was visible. That alone was cause to chase away the fear of loosing him in that moment. Abruptly her gaze snapped to the burst of movement that was the silver prince. Like a bolt of lightning he lunged, clamping tight around the animal's neck. From her position the subordinate could glimpse the little streams of blood flowing from its neck; growing by the second as Kova tightened his hold. This was just what they'd needed. The only unharmed member of the troupe had delivered a killing blow. He was even able to avoid her retaliation; a scene that had the woman's heart pounding. Luckily the boy had the sense to release her, and chose to back away. His snarl was a sight the Crest wolf had not yet witnessed; the novelty of such a thing had her eyes focusing on him instead of the slowly moving form of Gent. 

The youth's voice drew up in pitch and fervor as he pleaded for their status. Still trying to regain her breath, Raela managed to straighten up her splayed stance just a little when she saw Kova coming for her. Silently and with gusto she nodded her head. Yes, she was quite alright, or she would be. Her eyed searched past the prince, finding that the one they ought to truly be concerned for, Gent, was now taking it upon himself to end first the fawn and then the doe. Worry strangled her stomach again as he made his way toward the frantic hooves. The creature would not have lasted long anyway, but it was always better to put it down if you could. Still, she couldn't help but grow anxious as she watched him, wondering the whole time what the nature of his injuries were. Soon enough, the beast met with the dirt, leaving the ebony man unharmed. 

He returned to them without ceremony, choosing to focus on the panicked yearling first. The russet-coated woman looked on as painful breaths came and went; her lungs growing slightly in capacity each time. Gent's saddened utterance managed to draw Raela's face up, though her eyes remained half-squinted against the strain. Desperate to assure them both of her condition, the woman's strangled and airy voice struggled to sound. “It's alright.” The words began to gather substance as the subordinate continued. He had to be at least a little hurt after a blow like that. “I'm fine, just had the wind knocked out of me. Are you alright Gent?” Real worry and concern soaked her tone. She could see that the boy was unharmed, at least, if a bit shaken. The thought caused her attention to shift as soon as the dark man had answered. “That was well done Kova. That was exactly what we needed you to do.” It really was admirable that the yearling had stepped up so; and during such a stressful situation too. She was proud of the lad, and let it show with a soft grin.