Falls

Kendry’s teeth grab hold of the stallion’s spotted shoulder and they begin the age-old turn between men. His hind feet grapple for effective purchase on the snow ground to slush under their hooves but Kendry can do little more than hold himself up and lean into his opponent, not at all the powerful push he intended. Still, he is able to influence the path of his sparring partner enough so that he turns and breaks free of Kendry’s forgiving bite. Kendry, who was using the other stallion’s body more than a little as a means of balance, stumbles and turns to catch himself when they part. His broad hooves slide in the snow as he tries too quickly to turn and face the dark-maned male and so he is too late to retaliate by the time Bondurant has hefted himself forward with the intent to mark Kendry’s face.

The perlino jerks his head back reflexively with an explosive snort. The motion catches the other stallion’s reaching teeth, allowing Bondurant to score his cheek and clip the end of the draft’s pink nose. It stings, but not enough to convince him blood has been drawn. He snorts again, ready to press forward, but the heavy blowing of the older male discourages him from extending this friendly fight too far. No reason to push him to the edge of his limits over something this trivial. Kendry backs off a step to give the other male a chance to breathe, shaking his head and wrinkling his upper lip to test how far the scrape on his nose extends. It probably isn’t even visible, but his sensitive skin stings.

He regards his opponent in the brief reprieve, tracking the spots running the length of his muzzle before lingering, respectfully, on the stallion’s green gaze. Then one side of his mouth quirks up in a grin, and all the warning Kendry gives is a friendly taunt: “All right, Grandfather. What else have you got?” The words have no sooner left his pale lips than Kendry lunges forward to resume their scuffle in one last clash. His aim this time is not to bear down on the other with his weight, only to bring himself chest to chest with Bondurant once more, mouth wide, intent on tapping his teeth against the stallion’s spotted withers, neck, or face should he retaliate in kind; wherever Kendry can reach as he mirrors the same move just used against him. It is deliberately done, mainly to grant each stallion a break from floundering in the snow, but also to show that Kendry is paying attention to all that his opponent has offered to teach.