The muscles in her side ached as she pulled her arm behind her head, warm blood seeping down her forearm. She punched his nose upward as hard as she could, his teeth could be heard scraping against each other with the force.

[i]There, he ought to have a hard time seeing for a week,[/i] she thought.

Her weight had shifted in the encounter so as she raised her arm up to strike again, his hand gripped around her neck. She hit at him furiously with her free arm, the other stuck behind his. She dug her nails into his arm, to no avail.

'I usually like em with a heartbeat, but I'll  have to make an exception,'

She felt guilt and disappointment wash over her as her eyes glazed over. Her actions became primal and defensive, her body flopping about. Her first chance to impress Freja with the gifts she provided was shot down and beat to a pulp. Not only would she die in a lost battle but to a disgusting lunatic with a knife.

And she'd never eat those mushrooms.

She moved her hands to his eyes and pulled and scratched at them. This only made him squeeze harder, her eyes fluttered and she heard her mother call out her name.

'ELLINOR!'

She closed her eyes and went limp.