BRUTES - 2

Their display and distraction to keep the focus off of Xayah as she ran around only worked for so long. Eventually, the round ended and the remaining contestants got themselves situated for the next round. It would likely be harder to do the same trick again on these ones, so Xayah hung back with Cislunar to make sure their pile was situated and not spread out and easy to grab.

"These will be tougher opponents than before," Cislunar warned as he helped move the gold, his focus scanning the stern faces of the other haedians. Many of the vayrons and tyrians in their group had been eliminated last round, only a few other groups remaining. Themselves included. "Tricks and distractions likely won't work. We're going to have to defend more. Steal when you can, but focus on keeping what we've got. If there's a harder push, then I can't guarantee being able to defend what we've got."

Xayah's ears pinned as she listened, not liking their odds now at all. She would throw down if she needed to, but she was no Cislunar. Was no muscled guard who could act as an unmovable force. If a haedian wanted to have her moved, they'd be able to do it without much issue. 

"I'll stick to closer piles instead, then. So I can keep an ear out for you if you need me to head back and help." Xayah said, deciding the pile was situated as good as it was going to get before she turned to face the arena of sorts. She scanned the many faces, not recognizing many beyond... well, Zarod. 

The clan leader had quite the pile of gold herself and didn't look winded in the slightest. A mildly terrifying fact to notice, given that Xayah watched her fight and win several times in the last round. Xayah had a sneaking suspicion that she would be thinning the numbers even further this time. Though... it seemed many were retiring for the evening. 

"Wait- is it done?" Xayah asked, very clearly confused as she looked around. There was nothing said about a second round, but... she'd assumed that was what was happening with how the others had been prepping as well. Instead, they seemed to be joining the audience on the sidelines.

"Not for us, apparently."

Xayah looked to where Cislunar was staring, the runner's hackles going on end when she saw Zarod's focus on them. Was that why the others were calling it? Because she was focusing on the pair of them?

They didn't have the time to discuss or theorize about whys or hows of it all, Zarod advancing on them at an alarming speed. One that had the pair tensing, Xayah jumping to the side while Cislunar braced for impact. The two collided with a series of booming snarls, both of them being about the same height but Zarod possessing greater length. Therefore, more weight to use to her advantage. 

Xayah tried to figure out how to help for only a moment, but quickly decided to rush for Zarod's pile instead. She couldn't defend and attack, but the vayron knew that choosing to try to swipe gold instead could very well have the heat all on her back instead. This would likely be one of the worst games of cat and mouse ever. With the roles reversing depending on who was pushing for the gold.

Her claws scraped along stone as she hurried to the unguarded pile, snarls and growls aplenty sounding from behind her as Cislunar worked to keep Zarod back. Even if they lost some pieces, they'd be okay. Probably. So long as they don't lose their entire stack, they'd stand a chance with there being two of them. Xayah came skidding to a stop as she reached the pile, eyes on the two fighting while she hastily scooped up a couple pieces of gold into her leather sling. It couldn't hold much, but piece by piece is better than nothing.

Xayah rushed back, dancing around Zarod's lashing tail as she tried to force Cislunar off his pile. By the wicked grin on her face and triumphant gleam in her eyes, she was about to succeed. However, Xayah sprinting around them and depositing gold pieces drew her gaze to the runner. Her expression twisted upon realizing that, not only had she lost some of her own gold in her power struggle, but Xayah was running to get more.

Xayah heard an angry shout and heavy footsteps shortly after, ones rapidly approaching herself as she ran. The vayron's hackles went on end once more as she tried to run faster, adrenaline fueling her as she neared the gold pile. Unlike last time, she didn't slow. Only lowered her head to grab an ore with her mouth without slowing her pace at all, narrowly avoiding a swipe from Zarod as she cut back and around to head back to Cislunar.

She only stopped once behind Cislunar again, Xayah's chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Only, Zarod hadn't chased her back. No, the clan leader was approaching much slower this time. Seemed to be evaluating the pair and how she wanted to deal with them. Xayah had doubts about their success rates with this to begin with, but after pissing off Zarod by slinking off to steal her gold while she fought with Cislunar? Yeah, she was ruthless already, but things would likely be even worse now.