The Game of Predators and Prey

United

The marsh was as treacherous to navigate as I remembered, the horses were struggling and the men just as much so.

"Only a bit longer," Hvitserk stated next to me. I smiled at him briefly and trudged on. The mare slowing with each step. I gently stroked her muscled neck, hoping to give her a little bit of reassurance. From my peripheral, I noticed a set of eyes watching me. And when I looked up, he didn't turn away like I expected. But instead watched me fondly. My heart in my chest leapt, he was always so bold and I never knew how to take it.

............

We graced the end of the marshes and the scouts that had been sent ahead of us also topped the hill to out south. The rider heading right for Ivar, I trotted my horse to catch up. I wanted to hear what they had to say. And from the look of him, it was going to be something good.

The rider had blood sprayed all across his chiseled face, a large wound gaping on his side. He had just come from battle.

"They are just a head, we have managed to stop them for the time being." That was all I needed to hear, and I smacked my boots into the sides of the mare. I didn't care if I lost the rest of the search party. He wasn't getting away. Not if I could help it. My name was yelled into the winds behind me but I didn't care enough to stop. I'd deal with Ivar later.

The wind slapped my face, as I soared over the top of the hill. And towards the sound of battle. Metal clashing against metal, men shouting and screaming in pain. Making it over the hill, the scene before me laid in the gully below. I seen the familar form of my uncle as he cut down one of our men. I seen him and my rage swelled in the pity of my gut. Reaching for the rope at my side. I ran into the onslaught of the fight. Ignoring all the men other than my target. Blinded by my rush of adrenaline. I wasn't going to lose to him, not again.
Closing in, I managed to throw the loop of rope over my uncles head and pull sending him into the dirt with the rope snuggle around his throat. His eyes practically bulging from his head in shock.
His mouth open, gasping for air and hands pulling at the twine strangling his neck. I kicked the horse and he drug a few feet behind me. I knew better than to kill him but immobilize him was another story. I leapt from my horse as he rolled and groaned in the dirty. I pulled my axe from its home at my side and turned it so the blunt side would be what made contact with his skull.

Knock him out

That was what I was supposed to do. Get him back to Caulder alive. But the rage in me, had other ideas. He pulled himself up carefully on his knees. Finally ripping the rope free.
"You dumb bitch," he croaked his voice failing him. I sauntered up to him and swung, the axe cracking into the side of his shoulder. He dodged my head blow. Stumbling up to his feet and pulling a knife from his belt. The axe he was using still a few yards away.
"You looked pretty silly dragging behind my horse," he gritted his teeth and advanced on me. His arm swinging and I ducked.  My maneuverability better than him at this time. He was sloppy and tired. Better for me to be able to kick his ass.
I shoved him and swung myself, using his poor balance to my advantage. And bluntly breaking a rib or two. He grabbed the hilt of my axe, he let me hit him.
He yanked my hand off the weapon and I recoiled. Breaking from the fight was enough to gain me distance. I needed to think, before i made any rash decisions.
"You're still a dumb little whore." He seethed. Blood pooling from his mouth, and he spat a large amount my way.
"And you're still a monster that preys on children, what's new?" I circled him and at this time the rest of the scout party had joined us and Ivar had tried pushing his way through the battle field. But what remained of my Uncles men, were adamant in keeping me separate from them. I was alone in this. And I needed to finish it. Before my own axe penetrated my chest or severed my head from my shoulders.
"Come get it than girl, if you're so tough," I couldn't let him get to me, think. He was always slow with foot work, my brother able to disarm him if he kept close and fast. I noticed a downed Viking to my right, an arrow bedded in his chest.