Those few words she said chilled him at first.

Then he smirked, anticipating the adrenaline of battle.

He didn't move as she walked closer, making her raise an eyebrow. She didn't hesitate in swinging at him, though. The sword hit the ground, going through Thorn as if he were air. She furrowed her brows as his smirking image disappeared. Ryne growled.

He materialized a few feet away, laughing. She glared at him, making a shiver run down his spine. "Jester," she hissed, picking up her sword and running at him again. Surprised at her swiftness with such a large sword, he was caught off guard and she slashed him. He stumbled back, avoiding the worst of it. He looked at the gash that went along his stomach. His eyes went dark.

"Bitch," he growled, folding into himself. Ryne's eyes widened at his change in demeanor and tone of voice. While in her state of shock, Thorn had transformed into a large dark brown wolf with bright green eyes. She gulped, trying to hide her weakness at all things fluffy and furry. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore his fluffy tail and velvety ears... so soft looking and...

Thorn ran at her, growling. She ripped herself from her thoughts and got into a defensive position. When he jumped at her, she rolled onto her back and held his front paws as she planted her feet on his chest. With a loud grunt, she gave him an extra boost off of her, making him fly elsewhere. She quickly stood up and turned around, only to find a human fist fly at her. Her head snapped to the side, forcing her body to stumble back. He didn't hesitate a swift kick to her ribs, making her drop the sword. She skidded along the ground a few feet away as he neared her sword.

Thorn sneered, thinking that without her sword she would be weak. He leaned down, aiming to grab it. He wrapped his hands around the hilt, and then realized why she didn't hand Stark the sword when he asked for it: Thorn wasn't able to pick it up. He grunted as he gritted his teeth in an effort to move it at all. He looked up to see a punch fly towards him and make contact with his face.

Ryne roughly popped him in the jaw with an armored fist; the metal cutting into his skin. He stumbled back, spitting crimson onto the bright white snow. He looked up to see an armored boot swipe under his legs; knocking him off of his feet. With a loud groan, he landed on the ground harshly. Rubbing his head, he looked up to the tip of a very sharp sword. Following the sword's body up to its hilt; tracing the hand gripped onto the handle, and seeing Ryne's emotionless face stare down at him blankly.

"Checkmate." Thorn looked up at her, a helpless smile stretching across his face. He put his finger on the sword's tip, pushing it aside.

"Let's put this away, shall we?" He asked, gaining little resistance from Ryne. She dropped the sword, turning to leave. He smiled innocently.

He suddenly lashed his leg out, hooking his legs over hers. With a sudden move, they had traded places; Ryne's sword far out of her reach. She glared at his smirking face.

"Looks like our positions have changed, huh, deary?" He chuckled, a sinister tone leaking through his words. She stared at him blankly, inwardly confused at his sudden change in tone and body language. A sinister smile appeared on his face, contorting into a disturbingly happy expression. "Come on, pick up your sword." He challenged. Ryne just stared at him defiantly. His brow furrowed, gritting his teeth. "Pick it up!" He demanded, his arm contorting into a hairy appendage; his finger nails grew sharp and destructive. The blonde continued to stare at him, only causing him to become further frustrated. He let out a raging growl, trapping her neck in his claws. Slowly, he began to squeeze.

Ryne tried not to show emotion; her walls soon breaking down as her neck was squeezed. Her armor dissipated away, leaving her to grope mindlessly at his strong grip. Her eyes squeezed shut in pain. "Thorn." She hissed through her clenched teeth, realizing that his powers had gone feral. One hand gripped his arm uselessly; the other reached out for him. She waved her limp fingers in front of his eyes, and he growled. "Let go," she begged. Thorn realized that she was just like all the others; the others who had begged for mercy. "Let go, Thorn," she said again, her voice leaving her. "You might get hurt."

Those words made him stop. He might get hurt? She wasn't worried about herself; no. She was worried about him? The boy who was currently strangling her? He growled in response. Her eyes then looked pleading, full of sadness. "Please, I'll hurt you--" she was cut off by her body stiffening, her eyes widening in pain. Her arms started to convulse and twitch, heat radiating off of them. Thorn immediately let go; alarmed by her body motions. Her body hit the ground, not stopping its disturbing show. Then, she fell still; her body relaxing. The boy was extremely confused. He walked back over to her, grabbing her once again by her neck. He examined her relaxed features, void of any emotion -- yet seeming calm and content. Her eyes fluttered open, looking around in innocent confusion and tenderness. Then, her eyes landed on him.

Her eyes widened in pain; her mouth opening to a soundless scream. Before he could let go, lightning sparked around her body, electrocuting the boy. He yelped in pain, jumping back. Ryne's body convulsed and twitched a few more times before finally relaxing once again. Not wanting a repeat of the earlier event, he looked around.

"JARVIS?"

"What can I do for you, Tholden?" Replied a robotic voice.

"End simulation," he said. There was only a reply of the sound of lights shutting off. The landscaped disappeared, putting them back in the same room as before. Stark and the captain, upon seeing Ryne, jumped up from their game of cards.

"What happened?" Captain asked sternly. Thorn shrugged.

"We were dueling... and I think I blacked out..." He mumbled, trying to recollect what happened. "She was twitching and convulsing, sparks were flying about around her, too." He added, putting in a few more gestures.

Tony groaned. "Another attack! What a troublesome child she is." Thorn raised an eyebrow.

"Attack?" He repeated, inquiring for further explanation.

"She can sometimes lose control over her powers, and they become loose." Captain said, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Think of it like a spring coil: The more she uses her powers, the tighter it gets until -- finally it breaks, exploding, in a way." Thorn nodded.

"What do we do?"