The brute was well practised. That he could tell swiftly as he continued upon his heels even as he turned away. Through the quiet of his mind a brief moment of satisfaction burns at the contact of his hooves against flesh before it is gone in the recognition of how little it effect it had. Barely did the giant seem to lose his pace as he pushed on upon him, another lash backwards of his heels meeting naught but air as a lurch forward put a momentary distance between them. A distance that was closed almost as swiftly as he'd snatched it. Fool. The thought slipped through his mind as hooves cut into the earth to turn him about to face the draft. But it was not at the other, but himself. Vodnik only protected what was his. His actions were unquestionable and completely condonable. There it was Anonymous who in the wrong. Fleeing would have been the obvious answer. There was no doubt whilst he stayed on top of him there was no avoiding the weight that he continued to barrel against him. To turn and stretch out his dark limbs, to put his energy to flight might have given him the distance he needed. Yet he did not. The scent of the other stallion filled his nostrils as they flared, sending rare adrenaline racing through his blood. Fool indeed. A cry leapt from him as he rose, launching up to meet the attack, hooves raking the air before his own neck snaked out to bite at the brutes own. They pinched tight locking upon any flesh he had managed to find purchase on. But he had more to contend with than the sting of Vodniks of teeth snagging at his shoulder. He fought to maintain his grip upon him even as the stallion’s weight caused his limbs to buckle. But this time his balance did not return so easily. Pain. It shot up to his shoulder as his muscles failed him, midnight frame colliding awkwardly upon the earth half upon his knees. Breaths heaved his dark sides as he scrambled with flattened ears to rise. An unfamiliar emotion stirring deep within. Doubt? ..Panic? To stay upon the ground with that stallion towering over promised damage there could be no returning from. But no one would miss him. For half a breath his movements still before fight flooded back. No to face this giant intent on baring him down, but to survive. There was a new urgency to his movements as limbs heaved, lurching heavily up to back away a limping step eyeing his opponent coolly. Fleeing had become an even harder option now.