When she got within what would have been jumping range, Raisa shorten her strides as if to pounce--then veered left. Then right, her tail swinging about like a big rudder to allow quick changes in direction, all to trick the halberd into swinging the wrong way.

Then she flattened herself closer to the ground to dive beneath the halberd, so that she might have a better chance of avoiding the weapon and springing at the beorc's face.