Astrid Ostberg vs. Leah Rivers

[CaptainL]

Astrid had little time to waste. Acting on the spur of the moment, she threw her legs behind her, where the soles of her boots buried themselves into Leah's breasts. But it still did the job - the blow landed with enough force to knock Leah back, granting Astrid the precious time she needed to crawl away from her opponent and catch her breath. Slowly, she lifted herself to her feet, wiping her mouth as she turned around to face Leah. Her shoulders rose and fell and her chest went in and out as she panted for air. But at least, she thought, she was up now. As long as she was up, she'd stand a chance - whatever Leah threw at her, she would be ready for it.

At least, that's what she thought. But when she heard Leah snap back at her, it gave Astrid pause. "...What..!?" Her stance softened and slackened, and her eyes widened in shock. An animal. That was what Leah saw her as? For a split-second, the seed of doubt had been planted in Astrid's head, and that was enough to make her freeze right where she stood. If Leah saw it, she thought, it was a confirmation of her worst fears - that she really was letting herself be ruled by her rage. That she had forgotten what really mattered. That she had foregone the discipline and dignity she had brought to all of her matches, and now, that she was little better than the very wrestlers she spurned - all because she had gotten too caught up in chasing after the glory she'd lost.

Astrid was lost in her thoughts - and when Leah drew closer to her, her guard was down. She didn't even realize that she was getting closer - up until she felt her body against her own. And by that point, it was too late. Before Astrid could so much as take a breath, Leah grabbed onto her face, and pulled her head straight down into her skull! A loud crack rang out. In an instant, Astrid's entire face was consumed with a burning, throbbing pain - a pain that ripped a wail from her lungs as she threw back her head and clutched at her aching jaw. But while she went reeling, she had let down her defenses - which meant that Leah was able to scoop her up and hurl her to the mat!

Before Astrid even knew what had happened to her, she was hurled through the air in an arc - and she came down against the canvas like a thunderclap, sending the whole ring shaking under the force of the impact! Gritting her teeth, Astrid grasped at her sides, trying to rub away the lingering aches. But the more she thought about where she'd ended up, the more her body stiffened with one purpose - Astrid knew she needed to fight back! She couldn't let Leah walk all over her like this. That would just prove that she wasn't capable - that would send the very message Astrid was afraid of. No, she had to get up - she had to prove she was stronger than that!

First of all, she couldn't just lay around doing nothing! Sucking in a deep breath to steel herself, Astrid rolled herself across the canvas, getting to the ropes. She wasn't going to let Ambre catch her anywhere she was vulnerable! Once she was a safe distance away, she'd reach up and grasp at the ropes, going to pull herself back to her feet. She teetered back and forth on an uneasy footing, panting out heavy breaths as her own weight caused her to sag forward - but then, she would lean back into the ropes to stretch them against her weight, and bounce herself back toward Ambre, drawing on their momentum to guide her forward. And then, as she closed in on her target, she whipped her arm around to try and slam it into Ambre's face with a lariat! She knew it was risky to run right back into the action - perhaps more risky than she tended to play things. But she couldn't stand to let Ambre think she had her beat. She couldn't look weak!