Time for a CHALLENGE [Cobar/Wangara]

[{ Opal }]

OOC: Cobar's fillies welcome, too. ^^

Light was flooding into the land, the serene yellow of the morning sun. The air was fresh, and the pale breeze sung of a brand new day. Next to the rushing Dead Horse Creek, which flooded gleefully over the banks, stood a proud buckskin stallion. His head was up, nostrils quivering, taking in the sweet scents around him. Cobar had sheltered his small herd in the proximity of the creek, to gain from the lush foliage by the broad brook, and of coarse for the ease of having water not far away. The larger snowgum trees helped with shelter, and the area was peaceful and quiet; no herds had passed here in a while. But it was the safety of the area that was, in a way, bothersome to Cobar. The dappled stallion was full of a burning energy; he had not had any excitement in a while, and he was also hoping to prove his worth to Omaroo and Allira- pretty, spirited fillies whom he had grown quite close to. Cobar was restless, as stallions may be, when it is time for a challenge. But no challenge was obvious for the moment, so Cobar shook his head and started toward his fillies; perhaps they would play a game with him? He did love their playful antics; it kept him young and not too serious. But something in the breeze stopped him short. The scent of a strange brumby, a stallion, floated up his nostrils, making his coat itch.

Cobar fought the impulse to neigh angrily on the spot, and forced himself to let the stallion come to him. The stranger may be a threat, but he also may not, and Cobar wasn't out to make enemies everywhere he went. So, tense and ready for action, Cobar made his way to his two fillies, and lingered around them protectively. Meanwhile he keeping all his senses alert; he would not be caught off guard. So, with his blood boiling and his mind seething, he uneasily waited for the intruder to show himself.

[yaruka]

Omaroo was always up for a game. Eagerly, she tossed her head and pranced towards Cobar, feinting to the right in an effort to engage play. But just then the stallion froze, scenting the air. The black filly stiffened, she could smell it too. A strange stallion coming their way. Turning to face the direction she thought he must be coming from, she stood trembling, ears pricked forward curiously and black coat gleeming in the late morning sun.
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The sooty blue roan stallion was hot. He had been travelling all day and the sun burned hot on his dark coat. He was on his way to the creek he knew wound it's way through this parts, the thought of the water first and foremost on his mind. That was until he caught the scent of other horses. Throwing up his head, he gazed about him. They must be in the valley by the water, exactly where Wangara had been heading. Trembling excitedly, he made his way towards them. Pushing through the trees he came across a buckskin stallion and two fillies. Trembling excitedly he watched the fascinating mares with interest, it was high time he found himself a herd. And with thoughts of the water promptly forgotten he tossed his head and issued a bold challenge to the stallion.

[{ Opal }]

Cobar's ears pricked up at the sound of rustling shrubs, and he looked in time to spot a sooty blue roan emerge from the background. Cobar tensed instinctively, making himself ready to fight, and by the stallion's attitude it seemed he was just as willing to start a brawl. The way the roan looked at his fillies provoked his temper, but Cobar bit it back, and started to size up the intruder. The stallion was hot and thirty, which would make him easier to tire, and he was a few years younger than himself. Cobar couldn't help but be comforted as he weighed the odds, and the conclusion made him feel even more confident with his position.

A challenging call burst forth from the blue roan's throat, arousing Cobar's instincts, and sealing the other's fate. You want to play, eh? Well, I'll show you how to play... he thought with a fierce glare in the other's direction. Rising up onto his back legs, Cobar reared, then let loose a fearsome scream- something more to impress his fillies than the stallion. And with that the buckskin came to the ground with a thud, which brought up a cloud of dust around his hooves. Snorting defiantly, Cobar started prancing toward the roan, daring him to attempt a strike. He started teasing the stallion with quick feints and dodges, trying to get him to charge. If the roan took the bait, Cobar figured it would be easy enough to dodge out of the way, then land a hit on the legs or hindquarters.

[yaruka]

Cobar's assessment had been right, Wangara was itching for a fight. With a bold nicker to the fillies, he pranced forward to meet the stallion. The buckskin's random dodges and teasing feints aggravated the blue roan. If the other was going to fight, at least he should do it straight up. Squealing in irratation, he gathered himself and charged down the short slope, barreling straight for the other's chest. Noticeably inexperienced, Wangara had already let himself overheat be flustered by the other stallion's tactics.

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Omaroo was suitably impressed by Cobar's display. Having never seen a stallion fight before she automatically assumed that the showierthe stallion was the better, or at least the more intimidating. Stepping back to watch the fight, the black filly squealed in indignation at the blue stallion's audacious nicker, baring her teeth at the stranger. How dare he? Snorting self-righteously, she moved to stand closer to Ally, head held defiantly and tail raised loftily in the air. She had no doubt that Cobar would win, clearly he was way better than the other stallion. He had to win anyways-there was no way she was going with that brute.

[{ Opal }]

With a daring nicker to the fillies, the roan stallion charged straight for Cobar, aiming for his chest. Neighing triumphantly at his succeeding plan, Cobar let the brumby come near, then suddenly he leaped out of immediate range. His great muscles flexed, tendons strained, then he came to the earth once more. With speed that surprised even himself, Cobar whipped around and flung his hooves viciously at the roan's backside. He could tell he hit something, as shock vibrations wound up his legs, but he was unsure whether it was the legs or haunches he had hit. But Cobar wasn't about to wait around to find out. Proudly he loped away from the stallion, his tail flagging especially for the fillies. Then Cobar turned to face his opponent again, and he let loose a jeering whinny, emboldened by his successful hit. However, stallions did not truly fight by playing tag- they fought savagely, rearing and meeting one another in the air. So it was now Cobar's turn to charge, and that he did, eating up the ground then flinging himself at the blue roan. Rising in the air, he shot his hooves at his rival. If Cobar could get on top of the stallion, it might just be an easy win. Now, Cobar had considered that the roan might dodge as he did, but he wasn't worried. If his adversary tried to copy the trick, he probably wouldn't get much damage done. Cobar sensed that the blue roan was tiring fast, as he had expected, and so speed would not be his helper this time around.

[yaruka]

OOC:
Wangara had not expected the swiftness of the other's hooves. With a muffled squeal of pain he spun his hindquarters around, away from the battering hooves of the buckskin. The other stallion neighed mockingly and Wangara pawed the ground angrily, sweat darkening his already dark blue coat. Breathing heavily from his ever present thirst, Wangara was keen to get this fight over with. The buckskin charged him and Wangara ducked his shoulder, hoping that the move would unbalance the other. He made to grab the buckskin's tawny neck with his teeth, groping for a hold through the rough black mane.

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Omaroo winced as Cobar's hard hooves made contact with the other horse's hindquarters. She may not like the blue roan but that didn't mean she wanted him crippled. Still, she was glad to see that the fight appeared to be going in Cobar's favour. She stood, watching transfixed as Cobar showed off a little, apparently confident of a win against this dark roan.

[{ Opal }]

Cobar had felt satisfaction at his opponent's squeal of pain, but suddenly he found teeth clamping onto his neck. The roan was still groping for a solid hold, so Cobar had time to wrench himself away, though he was sure the move left his neck fairly scraped. Ignoring the faint sting, the buckskin quickly twisted his head around, and found himself face-to-face with his rival. Cobar bared his incisors menacingly and looked the blue roan in the eye. "This is not your fight." he muttered with a snort, then broke the contact as he lifted himself in a rear. Cobar again came at his challenger in the air, ready to come down on him with flinging hooves and sharp teeth. He could see that the roan was dark with sweat, with lather coating his back, and his breaths came rapidly. Cobar had no intention of killing the young stallion, nor overly hurting him, and he could see now that the fight was taking a toll. So Cobar held back from crashing upon his opponent, instead giving him an opportunity to surrender.

[yaruka]

To Wangara's disappointment, the other stallion was able to break his hold on his neck and Wangara's teeth were left groping thin air. Suddenly the buckskin was in his face, "This is not your fight." the other snarled before rearing up. Wangara was about to launch himself back into the fight when the pain in his leg really began kicking in. His left hind gave out suddenly and he stumbled backwards to keep his balance. Gingerly he stood on his rapidly swelling leg, sweat beginning to stream down his sides. Rolling his eyes he bared his teeth at the bucskin- hating the other stallion for putting him in this position, unreasonable as that hatred might be. But recognizing defeat and acknowledging his burning thirst the blue roan finally gave a rough jerk of his head. "You win," he muttered.

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Watching the fight intently, Omaroo was nonetheless surprised to see it stalled. What had happened? The two stallions exchanged words and the black filly's sensitive ears flickered to catch them. Immediately her heart swelled with pride, Cobar had shown mercy to the younger stallion, allowing him to surrender before he sustained serious injury. And he was winning with barely a scratch on him! She stood quivering, waiting to see how the end of the fight would pan out.

[{ Opal }]

Cobar could see how the roan was struggling with his defeat, but in the end he muttered, "You win." Satisfied with his opponent's answer, Cobar wavered in the air, then pulled away from Wangara to settle on the ground again. He dipped his head politely to the stallion, then moved away toward his fillies, allowing the roan access to the stream. Cobar had been tired out by the whole ordeal, and though he arched his neck with the pride of victory, he was looking forward to some rest.

The morning had passed into daytime, and neutral sunlight streamed between the boughs of snowgum trees, warming Cobar's dappled coat as he relaxed next to Omaroo. He had his head rested on her shoulder, his eyes half closed, as he quietly enjoyed the light that played on his coat. Behind him, the creek flowed on, softly flowing over the bed rocks, lulling him to sleep. Cobar had no mistrust or spite against the blue roan; he knew that fights were a part of life, that they had to happen, and someday he, too, would loose.

[yaruka]

Wangara hated to admit it, but he was actually very grateful to the buckskin for the mercy he was showing him. Straightening up, he nodded his head respectfully to the other stallion before making his way over to the creek, trying not to limp to noticeably. He sucked up a few gulps of water greedily, but wanting to find somewhere more private before he truly immersed himself in the water to clean off his newly acquired wounds, soon moved off down the creek.
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Omaroo nickered excitedly to Cobar as the buckskin made his way over. The black filly pranced over to him, barely surpressing her energy. She was still up for a game but could tell that unfortunately Cobar wasn't going to be up to it. She glanced at the blue roan as he limped off, a flicker of concern passing over his curious gaze. But he looked like he'd be fine, Cobar hadn't hurt him badly. At the thought of her stallion she turned to look at him with pride, nickering softly to him. It was the first time Omaroo had really thought of Cobar as her stallion, not just a fun companion to be around and tease. The buckskin had proven himself a worthy protector, not that she was going to give up the teasing. Forcing herself to relax, she gave to a halt beside Cobar, allowing him to rest his head on her withers. Slowly she too drifted off into sleep.