---
Fizz evaluated the scene in a blink. "Ray," he sang out, "congratulations, you are about to learn a valuable lesson about hubris and ears."
Rhea did not waste a syllable on wit. "Left," she snapped to John, already going right. "Blind."
John gave the world a sideways suggestion. The ridge-back felt ground become unhelpful and shifted to compensate. Rhea Flame landed a line of heat low along the belly where its plates were as thin as pride. Fizz didn't try for flame; he snapped a bubble of compressed air into the open mouth exactly as it inhaled.
Choke. Gag. Rage.
Ray tried to rise to take advantage of the opening he had not made. His ankle folded drama-queen style. He hissed and coughed at the same time, which is impressive if you are a kettle and less so if you are a noble.
"Get down," John yelled, and the command sat properly in Ray's bones. He went down. For once, learning was fast.
