The situation disbanded. Braylen successfully ran the domineering stallion from the forest. Hickere breathed a sigh of relief, her heart still fluttering in her chest like the frantic beating of a trapped sparrow's wings. Her dark eyes widened at the sight of red against Braylen's normally pale, gold and white skin, and she immediately felt a touch of guilt that he'd been hurt for her. Even if life told her it was the stallion's duty to protect the mare, Hickere couldn't help but feel terrible for it. Their noses brushed, she breathed a soft exhale of relief and drew back his scent, but caught the copper of blood along with it.
She herself was not hurt, at least not that she realized as of yet. Maybe if she would have continued fighting off the aggressor without Braylen's intervention she would have been further injured. But against her left haunch there was a glistening trail of saliva, the place where the bachelor's flat teeth had gathered up her skin and pinched. After the adrenaline of the fight wore away she might finally feel it, but for now with her heart pumping so fast her blood was rushing hot through her veins.
"Braylen," she said, her voice soft when they'd stopped and he lowered his face toward the water, her heart aching to see the sight of red blood running a streak down his face, "I'm sorry." She didn't know why she was apologizing, it wasn't like she'd asked the stallion to invade their home. "I..." she swallowed, "thank you, for stopping him." She moved closer to him, reaching out to gently brush her lips against his painted shoulder, her breath a soft trickle on his skin. "Does it hurt badly?" She asked, never once taking her eyes from him.
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