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Post by Tiggs on Sept 4, 2009 8:45:58 GMT
Nevada was unbalanced as he lost the hold, and he dodged too late for Tingara’s first rush not to drum into his chest. He reeled, but he was too slow to miss the second strike. His right foreleg was the one that took the hit, right on the knee joint. He bellowed in pain, the weakened joint buckling. His season of healing had still left a weakness, and now he paid dearly. Blinding by the renewed pain, his good leg tripped on nothing and he lost his balance.
He fell onto his knees, the crippled one bringing another scream of pain. With his rear legs still up, he should easily have been able to rise but the black stallion took the advantage and took hold of his withers. He struggled desperately to get his good foreleg under him, but one hard shove from the black would topple him.
This entire fight had been banking on the continued use of his leg. Without it, he was doomed. Even thinking of using it caused him pain. But he would not die while giving up, and he would not retreat. It was all or nothing. He turned his head, snapping blindly at his opponent’s forelegs. Blood caked one eye, but he was determined not to go down without a fight.
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Post by tingara on Sept 4, 2009 9:09:14 GMT
In one swift move the fight had swung his way. As he held onto Nevada’s withers Tingara felt the bellow of pain more than he heard it. It reverberated through the white’s body as the King held fast. Clumsily Tingara walked forward so that he was not dragged down on top of Nevada. He tripped and stumbled over his rival’s body as he buckled. The black stallion had hit the leg that had been injured only a few seasons ago, a decisive blow he hoped.
Using Nevada’s stance to his advantage Tingara pushed forward in an attempt to topple the white stallion over. He snorted as his forelegs were bitten at; the bites were sharp and painful. He let go of the withers, turned and aimed a swift and powerful kick at the top of Nevada’s head. Not to kill him, just to daze him or so that was the plan. |
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Post by Tiggs on Sept 4, 2009 10:28:41 GMT
The interval between Tingara releasing his grip and kicking him soundly in the head wasn’t nearly enough time for Nevada to get to his feet and so he went down, dazed and sprawling. It took a few seconds for his senses to return, and by that time he knew it was futile to try and rise. Bloodied eye rolling, he looked up to the victorious King.
“So then,” he croaked, “this is it?” He winced as his leg shifted. “I can’t rise; you win. You always win. I suppose that’s what makes you King.” He struggled to lift his head, but he resolutely glared at the black. They would always be enemies, nothing could change that. He wouldn’t beg for mercy, or beg for death. He couldn’t walk again, not like this, so he’d rather be dead when the scavengers came.
Grunting, he laid his head down, half-blinded eye staring up at the sky. He hoped the next and last thing he’d see was the King’s hoof. The slightest smile curved his lip Perhaps now he would find Mica, after all these years since losing her.
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Post by tingara on Sept 4, 2009 10:58:15 GMT
Breathing hard and sweating Tingara stopped and held his head low. He’d won but it was a hollow victory. He didn’t want to deal the final blow, silently he willed the white to get up it couldn’t be over not now. The two of them had been rivals ever since they’d met all those summers ago. They were the ebb and flow of each other’s lives, the push and the pull. Whenever Tingara looked to the future he always saw Nevada there badgering him and lurking in the shadows and that would be how he saw the future for a very long time even once the grey stallion had passed.
Maybe he could let him live... no. If he did Nevada would die anyway, his leg was shattered and useless. Compared to this death the alternative was slow and painful, this one would be as quick and honourable as Tingara could make it. ”I’m sorry Nevada. I will take care of your mares and your children. Rest now, here in the valley of kings past. Here your bones will bleach alongside those of Yarraman’s. It is a place you have earned my friend, my brother,” the King lamented sadly as he readied himself to take a life...
For hours he stood over Nevada’s lifeless body mourning. His body ached for rest but Tingara would no move. He’d known before he’d started fighting that it would be a fight to the death but still how could he have readied himself for this? It made him wish selfishly that he had been the one whose life had ended. |
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