Work Text:
Angelus hefted the banner, the dark steel warm in her claws, Fire's symbol blazing across its front. She was stood upon a ridge, the setting sun at her back. In its dying light, she could see a group of centaurs milling about, flashes of orange glinting off their armor as the metal caught the right angles.
One of them glanced up, and gave a shout upon spotting her. This was followed by more movement, swords and spears and bows being drawn, wariness in the Beastclans' eyes.
Wariness was not enough.
They'd made a fatal mistake, both in underestimating her and in not running when they could. Angelus threw back her head, a throaty cackle turning into a full-bodied roar, the war-cry shaking the ground itself. And then she sank the banner's staff into the ground, drew her own cleaver, and charged.
Her claws dug into the earth as she landed among the centaurs, her trusty blade swinging and hacking at their forelegs, forcing them to retreat or risk injury- their armor simply was no match for the strength of a dragon. Her own was golden, the filigree worn from numerous battles, but it proved itself once again as an arrow-head shattered against its surface.
Angelus cast a glare at the archer, who froze, bow clenched in a white-knuckled fist. The dragon took a step forwards towards the centaur, but a different centaur charged into her path, auburn pelt rippling and sword raised.
She batted the blade away, the forceful parry unbalancing her opponent. As he fell to his knees, she let her cleaver drop over him, bracketing him under its blade and offering no escape- if she let go of the handle, or even lowered it slightly, it would cut him. And it would hurt.
The act had been foolish. Noble, but foolish nonetheless.
"Retreat!" A command was sounded out, the desperate voice nearly lost over the sound of hooves. The archer cast a last glance at Angelus, before fleeing, leaving her ally for dead.
Angelus scoffed.
She waited until the hoofbeats faded from her hearing. Only then did she lift her cleaver, lowering her head to address her downed enemy.
"Go. And tell your friends that today, they met their match in Angelus."
She didn't wait for him to respond before she took off with a roar again, this one marking yet another decisive victory.