04-30-2018, 12:59 PM
She trots around the battle field, the swift movements warming up her muscles, as do the occasional bucks and rears. She is here early, in the darkness of the early dawn. They had set their match for dawn, but Starlin prefers to get the lay of the land.
It is a cold autumn morning, and the wind is strong. It whips her dark hair around her head, and she makes a mental note to not allow it to obscure her vision. The bare earth of their arena is firm and flat, barely damp from a heavy rain two days past. It is in the center of that that Starlin comes to a halt, ready and waiting for her opponent.
When he arrives, she wastes no time.
The grullo mare trots toward him, and then passes closely and parallel on his right, not within striking range of his sharp teeth, but close enough that if he were to turn to follow her he would be an easy target for a well-timed buck. She counts on this, really, knowing that Castile is experienced in battle.
As soon as her hindquarters are level with his chest, Starlin attacks.
She takes a half stride forward, angling to the right so that when she lifts her forelegs in a rear, she is turned toward the right side of Castile’s hindquarters. She intends to bring her hooves down on his meaty flank, bruising the muscle and making it difficult for him to bear wear and turn easily using his hindquarters. She exerts nearly all her force, utilizing all of the training she has done.
She could have hit harder - just a bit harder - but this is Castile she is fighting, Castile her friend, Castile who she has had a small crush on since she was just a child. Her desire to seriously injure him is minimal, but she also does not want to disappoint Nerine, so she does her best.
It is a cold autumn morning, and the wind is strong. It whips her dark hair around her head, and she makes a mental note to not allow it to obscure her vision. The bare earth of their arena is firm and flat, barely damp from a heavy rain two days past. It is in the center of that that Starlin comes to a halt, ready and waiting for her opponent.
When he arrives, she wastes no time.
The grullo mare trots toward him, and then passes closely and parallel on his right, not within striking range of his sharp teeth, but close enough that if he were to turn to follow her he would be an easy target for a well-timed buck. She counts on this, really, knowing that Castile is experienced in battle.
As soon as her hindquarters are level with his chest, Starlin attacks.
She takes a half stride forward, angling to the right so that when she lifts her forelegs in a rear, she is turned toward the right side of Castile’s hindquarters. She intends to bring her hooves down on his meaty flank, bruising the muscle and making it difficult for him to bear wear and turn easily using his hindquarters. She exerts nearly all her force, utilizing all of the training she has done.
She could have hit harder - just a bit harder - but this is Castile she is fighting, Castile her friend, Castile who she has had a small crush on since she was just a child. Her desire to seriously injure him is minimal, but she also does not want to disappoint Nerine, so she does her best.