[@Undying Curiosity] [@LukasVolkov]

At the shockwave that spread from Zeyruun's hammer-pound, Akshay found himself forced forwards, staggering a couple of steps. A flash of anger spread through him for a moment - but it was quickly snuffed out. They were strangers. Of [i]course[/i] they didn't hold together like a woven rope - these things took time, right?

He wobbled, vulnerable, and had to swing his shield up and out of the way to counterbalance.

His adversary didn't respond to goading, and he wasn't fast enough to track her the usual way, which meant he had few options.

Akshay called on a sense he hadn't so much as touched since the god-war went on, and the form of his enemy lit up in his eyes like a sparkler... slightly too late. He saw her coming, but despite his best effort to get out of the way, he hadn't left himself enough time to dodge completely. Lykantha's dagger slashed a deep gouge in his side, and Akshay let out a snarl of pain - even as his hand grasped tight around her wrist, pinning her in place and hopefully preventing her from dodging back into the smoke.

She'd landed a dangerous injury that he'd be paying for [i]very[/i] soon, but Akshay trusted that his "partner" would take advantage of the moment and do [i]something[/i] to deal with her.