Fell has lost count of the blows traded between himself and the Arch woman, but he does not stop. He isn’t sure what set off the fight, but he feels no anger, not within himself or the pale mare. There is only the thrill of snapping teeth and thudding hooves, and the sting of his own mane and tail as they are whipped against his skin in the frenzy. He is reminded of his play fights with Blue before she left. There is no language barrier in these scuffles; there is only a freedom he rarely gets to feel.

It changes when the Arch stallion arrives, though he keeps his distance. Despite his failure to intervene, Fell’s attitude darkens, and his ears slick back against his neck. One gold eye rolls to watch the tall, painted male with suspicion, and this distraction causes Fell to take a few more hits than he can give back. Under normal circumstances, the irritation and suspicion of another stallion within his borders would ignite him, but he is reluctant to stop the battle between himself and the pale mare, even as she kicks his ass. Any spark of genuine anger toward the Arch stallion is blown down to embers by exhilaration.

They fall apart, eventually, and stand steaming and breathing hard. Fell’s gaze flicks between the pale mare and the gold-white stallion. The mare speaks, and the mention of Maziel, Fell’s ears tick forward. His heart quickens a bit; he recalls the first time he had met Maziel, on the cold beach of the Bay. She had mentioned her sister. Fell had expected Maziel to leave long ago to continue her search; there wasn’t anything he could do to help her, what with their extremely limited means of communication.

Despite her lingering presence in the Bay, Fell does not feel like Maziel and her daughter have overstayed their welcome. The raid attempt on the blind mare and her newborn had cemented something within him, and he had grown used to keeping the two within his sight to ensure nothing else could happen to them. Khoshekh, too, had become fond of the little near-white filly, and thought of himself as a protector as well.

Now that he is confronted with the possibility that Maziel and Charmeine may not be around forever for him to watch over, Fell’s heart gives a squeeze, and his ears tick backwards uncooperatively. He could refuse them, but he doesn’t think he would win a second scrap with the Arch mare, especially not with her stallion’s help. He blows with frustration, and stamps a hoof into the frosted ground; but he is uncertain. He can’t keep them out, and if Maziel finds out that he tried…

He doesn’t want to hurt her.

Fell blows again, but it’s closer to a sigh this time. He shoots a glare at the painted stallion; neighbor or not, he had better keep to himself if he’s going to cross the border. Then he turns into the pine forest and begins to sniff out the faint, sweet trail of Maziel.

FELL

stallion. 16hh. black. marwari x. Rougaru x visurix.