Her claws are fully out and she sticks close to Ash.

She wondered how the heck they were supposed to stop this.

"Look for Oberon or Mab," he said grimly, scanning the battlefield. "Theyll likely be on opposite sides of the river. Try not to engage anything, Goodfellow. We dont want a fight--we just want to get the scepter to the queen."

"Dont kid yourself, Prince." Puck grinned and drew his daggers, pointing to Ash with the tip. "Youre a traitor, we have two Summer princesses, and Im Robin Goodfellow. Im sure the ranks of Unseelie will just let us waltz right through."

And then, a shadow fell over them, and a blast of wind nearly knocked them down. Ash shoved the girls away as a huge, winged lizard landed where they had stood in an explosion of snow and rock. The creature hissed and shrieked, beating tattered wings and churning the ground with two clawed forelegs. Its scales were a dusty brown, its yellow eyes vicious and stupid. A long, muscular tail whipped the air behind it, a wicked, gleaming barb on the end. Hissing, it stepped between the girls, Ash and Puck, separating them with its body, coiling its tail over its back like a massive scorpion.

A rider sat between the creatures shoulder blades, his white armor pristine and shining, not a drop of blood on him.

She stares up at it, prepared to attack.

she fell back, then looked up at the wyvern and its rider.

"Well, well." The older prince sneered at the girls from the back of his lizard mount. "Here you are again. The wayward princesses and our traitor prince. Dont move, Ash," he warned, shooting his brother a dark look. "One tiny move, and Thraxa will snap up your beloved half-breed faster than you can blink. You dont want to lose another girl to wyvern poison, do you?"

Ash already had his sword out, but at Rowans threat he paled and shot Isiea a haunted look. He lowered his blade and stepped back.

"Good boy. This will be over soon, dont worry." Rowan raised his fist, and a dozen Thornguards emerged from the trees, weapons drawn, trapping the girls between them and Rowan. "It shouldnt be long now," the older prince smiled. "Once the courts are done tearing each other to pieces, the Iron Kings armies will sweep in, and everything will be over. But first," he continued, turning to glare at Ash, "Ill need that scepter. Hand it over, little brother."

Ash tensed, but before he could do anything, Puck stepped between them, an evil grin stretching his face. "Come and get it," he challenged. Rowan looked over and sneered.

Shes doing her best to think up some sort of plan.

Lise moved further back, but not too close to the Thornguards.

"Robin Goodfellow," he smiled. "Ive heard so much about you. Youre the reason Ariella is dead, arent you?" Puck frowned, but Rowan went on without pause. "A pity Ash wont ever take his revenge, but believe me when I say this will be a pleasure. Thraxa," he ordered, sweeping his arm contemptuously toward Puck. "Kill."

The wyvern hissed and snaked its head down, baring needle sharp fangs. It was frighteningly quick, like a viper, and its jaws snapped shut over Pucks head. Puck exploded in a swirl of leaves, leaving the wyvern blinking and confused. As it drew back, huffing and scanning the ground for its victim, a huge black raven swooped out of the trees, aiming right for its face. With a screeching caw, the bird sank its talons into the side of the wyverns head and plunged its sharp beak into the slitted yellow eye.

The wyvern reared back with a scream, beating its wings and shaking its head, trying to dislodge the bird that clung to it. Rowan, nearly thrown from the saddle, cursed and yanked at the reins, trying to regain control, but the wyvern was panicked now, screeching and thrashing about in anguish.

She lunges at the wyvern, clawing at it.