Falls

The stillness that settles over the spotted stallion surprises Kendry. It is as if he has pulled in all the air around him and collected from it energy which sparks now in his green, green eyes. The stallion comes toward him at an easy pace, gaining momentum despite the apparent slow-speed at which he began, and Kendry braces himself as the spotted male lunges suddenly with all of his formidable weight. The perlino catches his charge full on in the chest with a grunt and digs in his heels, hindquarters jerking as his hooves slide through the deep snow and then hold as he pushes back.

He feels the other’s teeth clench on the thick skin of his shoulder and turns his head, knocking his muzzle harmlessly against the freckled cheek of his ‘foe,’ before snaking his head out to reach, nipping, for his own hold below the man’s withers. Kendry begins to turn them as he tries to land a bite, seeking both to dislodge his leech and become one himself. His breath comes hard, excited as adrenaline flushes his system, thrilled to be engaged in a friendly tussle. It has been too long.

If he’s successful and can make a hold, Kendry will continue to turn and push back against his competitor, aiming to bear down both with his weight and teeth and make the other stallion’s haunches buckle. But if the other evades him, Kendry will wrench himself free (as best he can) and turn, hindquarters bunching as he lifts himself and kicks out with his broad front hooves in a deliberately gentle kick toward the other’s shoulder— aiming only to make impact, not to injure.