Give up? Toss his heartblade into the mud? [i]Let[/i] her get those big, grizzled hands on his soft soft cheeks?

That’s a horrible idea! The worst idea! Shame on you Ma’am! You are not helping, not even a little bit. What’d he ever do to you, huh? To anyone? Ever? And yet this is how you treat a poor, imperiled foxboy, bravely putting both of his tails on the line for a noble cause. Shame! Shame on youuuuuuuuu!!!

Why is it such a bad idea I’m so glad you asked. Judges, deduct one Shame Point from the mystical fox lady’s account. So: If she catches him, then she’s not going to be distracted anymore. If she’s not distracted anymore, she might notice what’s going on inside the castle. If she notices what’s going on inside the castle, she might swing-swing-pound dodge cancel into thrust-thrust-backspin all over everybody, and - last he checked - nobody has flasks of any kind! Keli and Seli don’t look like they’ve invested much in Vigor at all! It’d be a disaster!

Hrm? What’s that?

Well. No, he’s not. [i]Exactly[/i] thinking of all that while he yipfully dives away moments before he’s pounded flat. There’s an awful lot of heartblade here for one comparatively tiny foxboy. Lottttttta complex mathematics, working at that scale. And, you know, it takes so much thinking to manage two tails at once, so, there’s not really that much room in his noggin left for long-term planning, yah? Erm, yeah?

But! But! That doesn’t mean he’s not focused on the mission! He’s so focused on the mission! He’s been doing such a good job with the mission! Right from the start, when he emerged from the grass, tails shining, glittering void of a blade in hand, gazing over his shoulder at her. Inviting her. Enticing her. Asking her, with flutter and swish, are you satisfied just watching the hunt? Is he satisfied just watching the chase? Why must we be left wanting, hm~?

And! Eep! And he’s kept her attention ever since! All of it! Maybe there’s been less sneaking than intended, and the swishes have been more incidental, but you’d better believe there’s been plenty of scamper and sword! Even though he can’t close the distance. Even though he can’t outrun her. Even though his plain heartblade can do little more than clang uselessly against her giant slab of a weapon. He’s still got her attention! He’s still on his feet!  

He!

Is not!

[i]Dwaugh!!![/i]

Easy!!!!!!!

[Rolling to Defy Disaster with Daring: 4 + 5 + 0 = [b]9[/b]. Hazel is risking his pride. The pride of a foxdeerboy who keeps hearing that he’s too silly, too naive, too weak to do anything right.]