[Deleted]

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It was... quiet. There was no other word to describe the silence that reigned over the barren wasteland that served as the public Coliseum this day. There was no rumbling storm, no high powered winds, not even a single carrion crow to scream out over the expanse. Far above the mortal realm hung a clear azure sky, cloudless and empty save for the sun's overpowering presence. Glaring rays pierced the earth and broke through shadows, lighting every nook and crevice that existed in the cursed field. Luck was on the side of the combatants today - had WE been in the grip of summer a day like this would be hardly tolerable. With the approach of autumn the air had changed, grown colder and staler. The combination of the fresh cold atmosphere and the blinding sunlight made for a crisp afternoon that was neither too hot nor too cold. Every now and then there would be a gust of hard wind across the plain that would ruffle coats and catch in stringed banners. But besides that everything else weather-wise stayed still and silent. It wouldn't last, but that was even more of a reason to just stand and bask in the way Mother Nature held her breath for the moment. In due time this plain would be alive with the sound of thundering footfalls and violent screams until at last they fell silent and the victorious bellow alerted everyone within hearing distance just who was top dog now.

For now though, until that moment, Ra'Zac took the free time he had and spent it wisely: he waited. His ire from earlier banished from his thoughts. Excitable emotions of any kind ate at one's energy levels. If Ra'Zac was to have any chance at this fight he'd need all the energy he could get. In his rush to find a new home all for himself he'd forgone the full term needed for all his injuries received from Baron to heal properly. Every laceration, scrape and bruise was closed, scabbed or gone but the internal damage still lingered. The clash between the two ebonite brutes had ended with Ra'Zac struggling on the ground in blinding agony. Only once he managed to actually breathe did he understand what had happened. Baron's final and victorious strike had left Ra'Zac literally broken with hairline fractures in the far left side of his pelvis and bruises along his ribcage. They were hardly life threatening, painful yes but survivable. And survive Ra'Zac did. Now only three weeks later look at where he stood. If push came to shove and he couldn't shove hard enough he could always hightail it back to White Barrow and prepare for the next attempt. It wasn't like he didn't have anything waiting for him back there. Trademark smirk crawled over the charred hessian's velvets, pulling at the corners of his maw and setting a spark in his orbs that was surely less than saintly.

Back in White Barrow awaited the foundations of an empire. In the land's leads, Mage and Russia, he found allies. A base in which he could return to should things not go as planned. And with that base came... select opportunities that being a rogue had not granted him. Opportunities he'd not let pass by and had taken full advantage of. In his challenge to the claim of Dark Woods he'd not tried to bargain for a woman, and while that was strangely out of character for this particular stag it had been for a reason. Before he'd even sounded off his intentions he'd snatched away a prize for himself from within Dark Woods walls. Butterfly Effect, a lovely start to a stag's collection, but hardly worth the real prize he'd acquired before that. How he'd managed it even he didn't know, but now he could claim proudly that Eros, the queen of the fucking Versai herself, was his prize to do with however he wished. She was a pretty face, true, and probably a great fuck if he was into the whole 'force' thing because he was pretty sure Hell would freeze over before she just bent over for him. But despite what he could do, he had an idea of what he would do and what she was more useful for than just physical pleasure. His pretty little Ty resided in one of the Versai's lands. And if they wanted their queen back - unharmed - they'd consent to a tradeoff. He’d get his queen, they’d get theirs.

That was his plan for Eros. But Butterfly Effect would be going nowhere. She was his now and nothing was going to change that. And he couldn't wait to rub it in Reth's face that she'd not managed to block one of her own. It made him wonder just what else she'd fail at protecting today. Absently scraping at fore talon at the dusty earth, the dark beast swung his facade left and right slowly, dark orbs searching the emptiness for any approaching figures. The Dark Woods Queen should be around soon enough. He hoped she would notice his choice of battleground too. Flat, even. And someplace he’d stepped before. He'd gotten here first, so he got to choose the battle turf. And he chose the place where he and Baron had sparred last. Although you could hardly tell there had been a battle here to begin with. The gore and traces of the clash had been long erased by the sheet rain and scorching sun; the slate cleaned and set up for the next pair of gladiators to cross by. By happenstance one was a returning warrior this time. Shifting upon his uninjured right side to let his tortured left side relax a bit, his tassel whipped aimlessly at the air, dark orbs closing behind satin curtains and audits falling to the sides as if to enter a nap. But he dare not lower his dial earthward. It was already hard enough as it was to breathe through his injured ribcage, and when Reth appeared he'd like to be ready to lunge. The faster this was done with, the better.

===

words: 1056
tagged: ebon & reth
rules of the fight: two hits, zero dodges. victor takes the territory.
time limit: five days.

name: ra'zac
breed: lippitt morgan horse
age: 5
gender: stallion
height: 15.2hh
alliance: dark
health: 88% physical - prominent limp in the left hind leg, sore ribcage that makes deep breathing difficult // 100% mental
attack(s): two - no attacks used, battle not started.

[+ ebonite +]

At first glance, it did not appear to others that Reth was a fighter. She tended to sway on the neutral side of things, staying out of issues unless they pertained directly to her and her herd. However, contrary to those first glances, Reth had been trained as a fighter when she was very young. Her father had seen potential in the young child, eager and hungry for the fluid grace that was a fight. Even as an adult, it was something Reth would always cling to. The grullo vixen had never stopped training, even when she'd been pregnant - even when she'd been traveling outside of Wild Equines. Every hit and dodge, every perfect execution of a move, the ripple of her muscles, and pounding of the adrenaline in her veins - it made her feel alive. She may have lost the last time she had come here, but there was no need for history to repeat itself. Every thought that ran through her mind now was of what she had done wrong last time, and what she needed to do to correct those mistakes. Your attacks were weak last time; they lacked conviction. Pick out and focus on his weaknesses. Be risky; this isn’t a time for games. Avoid permanent damage, if at all possible. She closed her eyes briefly as she replayed the previous battle over in her mind’s eye. The excruciating pain she’d felt when Sempiternal had ripped flesh from her left flank – the victory she’d tasted when she’d broken his nose – every moment, every injury, every successful attack, ran through her mind in exquisite clarity. Her last fight had had too many errors, and she was not going to make the same mistakes this time. She opened her eyes, focusing now on the new challenge that stood before her. She was taking it slow and easy, her pace at a brisk walk to the battlegrounds from her home. There was no need to rush, and no need to tire herself out by hurrying here. If this stallion truly wanted her lands that bad, he could find it in himself to wait for her arrival. There were affairs that needed to be put in order before she met him on the battlefield. The herd members had chorused wishes of good luck in her battle, and she remembered them fondly. She had not been their Queen long, and she knew that some were still in the process of trusting her. They had no need to worry. She had made a promise when she had agreed to be Queen and take over for her aging father, and she intended to keep that promise. Dark Woods would not fall should this battle end badly for her. Dark Woods would never fall - not that easily. The herd had been through this before and although her father had lost the last time, he had kept the herd strong, even if he had to be the bearer of bad news. The day of the battle was incredibly bright, with no clouds for the sun to shelter behind. The sun glowed on the vixen’s back and she relished in its warm, comforting rays. Reth was unused to seeing the sky after being under the cover of tree tops for the past several months, but it came as a pleasant surprise. Upon her return, she had felt nothing less than claustrophobic, feeling boxed in by the canopy of leaves and branches. After her many days of traveling, she'd grown accustomed to falling asleep under the stars. The stallion’s scent was pungent, and she followed it confidently, holding her muzzle high. He had gotten here first, and had more than likely chosen the grounds where they would be fighting, but she did not care if he had the choice. She was ready to fight under any terrain he decided to throw her in. The battlegrounds were dusty, dry, and vacant; only the sound of lonely birds shrieked in the stillness, sheltering in the scant few trees that grew. They had a haunting aura to them, as if they themselves echoed the losses and wins the horses had received. She continued on with determination, the dust of the grounds clinging to the bottoms of her legs. Reth could see the inky silhouette of the stallion on the horizon, but she did not quicken her pace. She did not know what to expect from him – whether he was a dirty fighter, or one who upheld his honor, even in a fight. She did not even know his name, considering he had never once said it. But it did not matter if neglected to mention it. He was someone who was threatening her home, and that was all she needed to know. Reth approached the stallion, her pace steady, and halted when she was a couple of feet away from him. Her blackened gaze scanned the surrounding area for several moments, taking in every detail. The terrain he’d chosen was uncomplicated, nothing but a vast, smooth plain with sparse clumps of grass. There was nothing as far as obstacles, though the fine layer of dust that covered the area might come in handy. She shifted her gaze back up to the stallion’s body, taking note of his injuries with an expressionless look on her façade. There were several freshly healed wounds, as well as wounds scabbed over and in the process of healing. She still thought him a fool for challenging her when he was not completely healed yet - but that was his choice. If he was so eager and hungry for a fight that he disregarded his own health, then that was his problem, not hers. She would take advantage of his previous injuries, and she would exploit every weakness she could. Reth was logical - she did not care about honor. The only regard she gave him was the slightest of nods. He was barely worthy of her respect - fools did not deserve respect. She said nothing to him. Battles were fought with action, not with words. If he attempted conversation, he would be ignored. Her blackened oculars narrowed and she angled her body sideways, so her sides were facing toward the stallion. Her entire body was tensed - eager to spring if he tried to attack her. She was not a fool. She knew very well she would not leave this battle unscathed. But, her injuries would heal, just as they had done before, and she was confident that she could avoid any permanent damage to herself. She slinked forward slowly, moving toward his left side. The most prominent injury she had noticed was the limp in his left hind leg when he had galloped off to the battlegrounds after challenging her, and she was going to attack that area brutally. She was not entirely sure what had caused it, but any attack in the same area would be beneficial to her. The limp had already weakened him some, and she was not opposed to making it permanent. He was of a slender build, much like herself. He did not have bulk to him like a draft. He would be more agile and quicker on his feet than a draft would be – at least in her experience. She had a slight height advantage over him, but it was just that - slight. It was not enough of an upper hand to give her any significant advantage.. He was probably aware that she would attack his injured leg, but she would risk his knowledge anyway. If there was the slightest chance she could damage it further, her chances of victory would increase. It might just be the advantage she needed. With a quick intake of breath, Reth's body suddenly changed directions, twisting forward. She coiled the muscles in her hind legs before kicking them against the ground, launching herself at the stallion. She skidded to an abrupt stop just before she reached him, and sank her weight onto her hind legs. She half-reared, her fore pistons churning into the air, aiming to bruise, break, and rip flesh at her opponent's left flank, and anything else in its vicinity that she could reach – the leg, gaskin, and thigh. In the heat of the moment, she could not be sure whether she felt actual flesh against her hooves, or if it was merely her imagination and wishful thinking. She landed as gracefully as she could manage, gritting her teeth as she attempted to make a quick getaway out of the vulnerable position. She hoped that she had injured the stallion - or at least stunned him enough so that he wasn't able to counter attack in the few seconds she was recovering. The adrenaline coursing through her caused every second to be drawn out an eternity. She scrambled on her hooves as she attempted to flee from him, and hopefully back to a safer distance a couple of feet away. Name- Reth Breed- Appaloosa x Andalusian x Arabian x Appendix Quarter Horse Age- Six Gender- Female Height- 16 hands Alliance- Unallianced Health- 100% physical, 100% mental Hits- one two Attacks- 1) Attempted to bruise, break and rip flesh on his left flank, leg, gaskin and/or thigh with her fore legs. Injuries- None status complete muse good count 1512 notes none Speech

[Deleted]

===

Speak of a devil, and what shall appear? At last the second of the two contenders graced the barren stage with her presence. In the silence her steady footfalls echoed through the atmosphere like thunder. Loud and deafening. Harks stood to attention and orbs revealed themselves from behind the satin curtains as the tension surrounding the brute increased tenfold. But even as Reth stepped into view he did not change his posture. The longer his left side rested the better he'd be in the fight. Gazers followed the grullo vix as she came to a stop nearly a leap away; if he weren't a 'noble' fighter he might just have taken the opportunity to launch the first attack. It may have given him an advantage depending on where he managed to hit. But rules were rules. He appeared first on the field and chosen the grounds - that meant Reth had the honor of starting this little drag out. Her passive gaze looked out over the chosen field, searching for possible dangers and anything a fighter could use to their advantage. But that was one of the beauties of this little plaza. The layer of dust on the ground, prominent as it was, was hardly worth the effort it would take to create a dust cloud big enough to reach the sight line of either of the two rivals. Whether Reth or Ra'Zac decided to play dirty there would be no help from the ring itself. They were on their own.

As Reth's cold gaze swung over to burn into his vulnerable left side Ra'Zac's own ran over her in equal measures critical and curious. Unlike him, Reth had no fresh injuries to speak of and no hindrance in her movement. Those little facts gave her the advantage of speed and a clear mind whilst Ra'Zac would no doubt have to fight through a haze in his own the moment he stepped forward. The slightest of nods jarred her dial, hardly noticeable if you weren't' looking carefully, and the male gave his own in response. He'd no problem with the silence. It took effort to speak, and all effort was better spent on actually attacking rather than boring your rival to death. Slowly she turned so her side was facing him, then began slinking forward towards his left. Right away he caught onto her game. She wanted to get closer to his hind limb, the one hindered by his fractured pelvis. He almost grinned then. If that's where she wanted to hit, so be it. She was no massive beast like the one who had inflicted that wound. In fact besides a few inches, they were practically the same size. Same size, same strength. This was gonna be fun.

Then as though some secret signal had been sounded Reth twisted forward and lunged. Muscles bunched beneath the ebon brute's pelt like springs, gaze growing hard and focused as he prepared for whatever collision she decided to give him. Would she ram into him, stop and rear, or sink her jaws into his battered form? Her talons drew her to a stop against the dusty earth just moments away from his form and drew her weight to her hindquarters. So a rear it was. Like a serpent Ra'Zac coiled around, forcing himself upon his injured hind into a half rear of his own. The fracture was healed, but the soreness was still apparent. It was the only thing to hinder him, and unless Reth managed to break a bone the rush of adrenaline would keep his aching muscles from distracting him too much. Pain flared through his side as her talons slammed into his side; grazing his gaskin and slicing into his lower but altogether missing his hip - the place where she'd have better luck in hindering him. Ivories revealed themselves from behind velveteen kissers as the beast twisted around, pushing past whatever flare of pain he felt to angle his front to the woman. After her first attack she then attempted to try and rush away, but he'd not give her the chance. Talons hit the empty ground and hinds pushed him after her. Boa stretched out and ivories reached for her jugular before she had a a chance to scramble away with every intention of ripping it out. It'd do him great pleasure to feel this bitch's blood splash against his face if he could get his canine's into that area.

===

words: 758
tagged: + ebonite + & reth
rules of the fight: two hits, zero dodges. victor takes the territory.
time limit: five days.
muse: definitely could be better.

name: ra'zac
breed: lippitt morgan horse
age: 5
gender: stallion
height: 15.2hh
alliance: dark
health: 84% physical - prominent limp in the left hind leg, sore ribcage that makes deep breathing difficult; scratch on left gaskin and deep gash on his lower left hind leg // 100% mental
attack(s): two one - chased after reth and aimed a bite for her jugular.

[+ ebonite +]

Reth's heart was pounding so fiercely she could hear it rattle in her ear drums. Her hooves clipped against the ground desperately, but her getaway was abruptly cut short as she saw the stallion's enamels flash in her peripheral vision. Alarms chimed in her brain as she twisted her crania in an attempt to look back to see where he was aiming, but her reaction came seconds too late. His teeth sank into the skin on the right side of her nape, missing her jugular vein, but damaging the area severely. Because of her momentum during his attack, he tore a ragged strip of flesh from the side of her nape nearly down to her shoulder. All of the grullo vixen's nerves burned with white hot intensity, and she slammed her mouth shut on the cry of agony, until all that escaped was a muted moan. Her hooves skidded to an ungraceful halt, a cloud of dust following her escape route. Once she judged that she was a fair distant away from the stallion, she quickly assessed the damage. The wound was about seven inches long. The beginning of the wound was deep, but it tapered off as it went down to the shoulder. Blood steadily poured from it, wreathing Reth's grullo skin in a crimson sheen. She tentatively flexed her nape, wincing as the wound stretched painfully. She turned to face the stallion, taking note of the wound she had inflicted on him. Her hooves had scratched his gaskin and torn a deep gash on his leg. She was disappointed to see that she had not rendered the leg useless, but it was definitely better than nothing. She trotted forward a couple of steps, flicking her ebony tassel against her rump. Her nape throbbed and stung, and she knew, win or lose, the first thing she had to do when she returned home was to patch the wound. Due to the fact that it was a bite wound, it was far more prone to infection. She let out a slow snort, flicking an audit. The sun was still as bright as ever, high in the sky above them. The dust had finally settled after the rapid movements from both parties, and Reth took this moment to re-asses the situation. She narrowed her eyes, strategizing the next attack she would land on the stallion. Due to the injury on her neck, biting the stallion would prove to be more difficult and taxing for her. She would not risk damaging the area further. Even if she dealt with the added damages later, it would mean a potentially less effective attack than if she used her hooves instead. She faced the stallion head on, watching his every movement with intense focus. The weakest spot on any horse that would cause the most damage was, of course, the face and neck. It would be another rather obvious attack, but Reth wasn't going for originality - she was going for victory and the most amount of damage. 'Surprise is important, but it's not your only advantage.' Her father's words echoed in her head. 'If there's an opportunity to cause more damage without the elemtn of surprise, then cause more damage.' Reth's opticals closed briefly as she drew in a deep breath. She tensed her muscles, letting the tension and silence draw out. The battlegrounds was so silent that she could hear the stallion's breathing. Her heart still beat painfully in her chest, making her all the more aware of how the wound had damaged her. Adrenaline continuously coursed through her blood, exhausting and exhilarating her, forcing her brain to work quicker, and lending strength to her muscles. It was then that her opticals flew open, and she launched herself painfully for the stallion's front. At the last second, she feinted, going to the right side of him. She pivoted on her front hooves, swinging her hind end to him. Her weight slid to her front as she kicked out strongly with her hind legs, aiming for his face, nape, and shoulder. With any luck, her attack would fracture a bone, or even break his jaw. Reth took care to stick the landing, though it was still awkward and painful. More clots of crimson ran down her nape, coiling down her right piston. Their battlefield was now as it should be - scuffed up and spattered with gore from both parties. Reth knew she was still dangerously close to the stallion, and she forced herself to wheel out of the way - though just as it was last time, she was not sure she would make her escape in time. However, unlike the last time, Reth twisted her crania around to face the stallion in the hopes of seeing when and where he made his next attack. Her muscles were shrieking in protest as she fled. With both of her attacks now spent, Reth only now had to sit and wait in judgment. Reth was no good at showing emotions. She had at first believed that she did not have them, but with her return to Wild Equines, living amongst the horses she called her family, she had found that she very well knew how to feel. It was giving the emotions a name and expressing them that was the hard part. Right now, she did not know if she harbored any hatred or resentment for the stallion who was her opponent. Right now, her mind was only focused on one thing - the battle and only the battle. Attack and dodge, minimize damage, protect yourself, hit hard, escape quickly. Perhaps afterward she would feel fury toward the stallion who dared to challenge her for her kingdom. But emotions were dangerous. Her father had taught her this when she had first started her training. 'It's natural to feel angry, or to become arrogant during a battle. It is natural to fear and worry over it too. But you must never let this get in the way of a fight. The moment you start using your feelings in the battle, is the moment you throw away all training and strategy.' The words echoed in her mind. Perhaps that was the very root of why Reth didn't feel in any situation. She felt as if everything were a battle. Name- Reth Breed- Appaloosa x Andalusian x Arabian x Appendix Quarter Horse Age- Six Gender- Female Height- 16 hands Alliance- Unallianced Health- 80% physically, 100% mentally Hits- one, two Attacks- 1) Attempted to bruise, break and rip flesh on his left flank, leg, gaskin and/or thigh with her fore legs. 2) Kicked out with her hind legs, aiming for the right side of his face, neck, and shoulder. Injuries- 1) seven inch gash from the middle of her nape to her shoulder, on her right side status complete muse great count 1070 notes none Speech

[Deleted]

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OOC: i'm sorry but i cannot muster up the muse for this battle with this character in time to keep it going. Ra'Zac will regretfully have to bow out, so Reth wins.

===