Mock Battles

Neither one of them is fighting for real. It is reflected in their moves, in their eyes, in their speed. Where he would have moved in any other battle, he stays put allowing her turn. His every instinct is telling him to move, to get away from her so that he could turn it to his advantage. His muscles twitched, his eyes and head turning to follow her until she comes along his side. There was no spark between their bodies. But for some reason feeling another at his side reminds him of his Cree.

He tosses his head away from her teeth, suddenly his head back into the game as she presses against him. He moves away almost automatically, his weight shifting back upon his hind legs just briefly so that he could pivot his forelegs away from her. He saw her rise and his brief pivot had not put him out of harms way yet. If she fell upon his spine, it could very well be the end for him. He settled his weight back again, throwing his forelegs away from her. He tucked his wings tight against his body, hoping that her hooves would miss those delicate bones.

However, they slid down his side, over his ribs and catching the delicate bones. He almost immediately relaxed the muscles that held his wings so tight. That way they went with the flow instead of resisting. He felt a bone or two snap and snorted, his ears laying back upon his poll.

Before she could move away from him, he shifted his weight from one end to another, striking out a bit harder than he had before towards her back legs. He was now at an angle to her, roughly 40 degrees or so. His hind intersected with her own and it was there that he struck now. He shifted his weight to his forelegs and struck out with his hind legs. He aimed to hit in the area of her haunch where the hind legs met the barrel. He hoped his hooves hit the flank and the stifle area, to further limit her moving.

Once he landed he moved away, continuing in a swift walk with her in his sights.