[i][color=ed145b]The thread. The thread.[/color][/i]

Nico only had two thoughts on his mind as he grappled with the son of a bitch who only seemed to grow more amused the harder Nico tried.

[color=ed145b][i]Weakling.[/i][/color]

He wished that was directed to the ginger-haired asshole sneering under him, but he knew who the real weakling was here. And the other guy knew it, too, from how calmed he seemed about everything and how easily he was pulling Nico's hand away.

For a moment, Nico thought there was a chance. The cocksure face had dropped and the cur seemed to be focusing on something. A soft prodding at Nico's emotions faded away quickly and though his peripheral vision noted the dull gleam of magic coming from the other guy's chest, he was more concerned about the thread. The glow on his hand, the glow on the bastard's hand, the sudden tensing of the body below him--all of it could wait. Just as he jerked forward in another attempt to reach the thread dangling just out of finger reach, he heard a shout and felt the world rapidly tilt sideways.

His head slammed against the ground with enough force to silence his cry of pain and Nico only managed a spluttering cough of shock as their positions reversed and [i][color=ed145b]that fucker[/color][/i] raised a fist for the next blow. He hated the person above him. He hated the guy's superior strength, superior attitude, superior conviction. All Nico could manage with the full force of his rage was a mouthful of grass and dirt and, deep inside, he hated himself the most. Gritting his teeth in both pain and anger, he tried to reach for the arm holding his head down, but before he could even attempt to fight back, he heard a--

--roar? An animal roar? Wh--

His tormentor had heard it, too, apparently, and in the shock of things Nico managed to inch his head towards the direction of the sound. Only to see an actual feline predator pouncing towards them.

An actual predator. Pouncing towards them.

Nico only managed an incredulous [color=f6989d]"Huh?"[/color] before they collided.

[@Riffus Maximus]