~

Riptide was making steady progress to the back of the herd. He stopped briefly, seeing another, bigger stallion approach with a filly. Oh, no. This herd is Loki and I's. He continued on at a brisk pace, but stopped when something large rammed into him. It wasn't a hard enough ram to end up on the ground, but he was still veered off his path. What the- He snorted, challenging whoever dared run into him. He saw it was the rather large stallion. Riptide sized him up and had deduced he was a little taller than him. Gee, thanks, Laufey. Really appreciate you leaving the big meatball to me. He studied the stallion's markings and size. Mmm. Heard about you before, big meatball. You must be the Beast of the Plains. Eh, I prefer big meatball. It fits much better.

-

~

Thalia watched as the two lone bachelors moved towards them, one of them splitting up and circling around to the back. Another, bigger, stallion approaches the herd, a little filly in front of him. The stallion moved in front of the filly for a moment. Thalia pinned her ears, Aztec was now prancing at the front of the herd, clearly trying to appear as a stallion.

Thalia helped in pushing Poko to the middle of the group and stepped forward, being in one of the lines right behind Aztec. Nobody's getting taken today.

River/"Runaway"/Lone/Mare/M - the herd, The Duo

River saw that one of the mares saw her and she quietly troted back down the hill. She was happy that The Duo didn't see her but she hope that the herd could exscape from the stallions. She went down to the stream again and drank some more.

Laufey | Stallion | “The Trickster” | The Duo | M: Aztec, Herd, Riptide

Laufey glared after the mare, rolling back to his feet and moving away from the herd. He shook himself off, clearly pissed, though mostly for letting himself be tricked. I suppose thats what I get for getting carried away. Nearly having his stomach stomped in was hardly prevalent in his mind, instead he was scolding himself and trying to not be lured in by the challenge. Her size gave her an advantage, which was that she could fairly easily knock him over as she’d proven. Yet he had the patience and stubbornness to not give up so easily, set on getting a victory out of this, no matter how small. He almost wanted to try and capture the mare, except he found more joy in the prospect of taking her confidence down a notch.

He knew she thought she was winning, and in truth she was. She needed to make a mistake, then the tides could turn in his favor. For now he needed to wait until she made that mistake, keeping a close eye on the mare in case she made another move. He kept his distance, staying far enough that he’d have ample time to dodge an attack, walking in a semi-circle around his side of the herd. He avoided the other side, not risking the herd running away or getting dragged into Riptide’s conflict with the shire. Instead he focused on searching for weaknesses within the herd, certain they were not all as confident as their protector.

-

Aztec was careful to keep him blocked from the herd. With Thalia by her side she was way stronger then Laufey and could probably fend off Riptide too, then the Shire, which means destruction upon them. She would and could do it if needed. With a slick curve, she parted from the herd and circled around the littler animal. Inching closer, pushing him further out from the herd.

She wondered how it would feel to have your hooves kicked or stomped on, she tried it on Laufey. Kicking his left back hoof from the back, she bolted back to the herd, hoping he would lose his temper, then she could find his weakness.

Torbjorn stands rather proud, watching the opposing stallion as the Shire protects his side of the group. His ears flick forward then back, head raising with his front half before crashing down, paces away from the opponent. With a husky voice, seemingly worn from years, he calls out the the horse, "Leave now and no pain shall fall upon you or your friend."

Fox walked around she tossed her head in the air, of course, there were small herds of some horses and some lone horses like her self she stood on a large hill her mane flowing in the wind she lifted her head to smell the air.

she lowered her head, at times she would see some horses that didn't look safe but who was she to judge? She's a mare with no herd and no one to keep her safe.

Laufey | Stallion | “The Trickster” | The Duo | M: Aztec, Herd

Laufey didn’t engage Aztec as she circled, letting himself be pushed away as he tried to anticipate the mare’s next move. He hadn’t expected the blow to his hoof, stumbling as he lost balance on his back half. He quickly recovered and spun about to try and land a returning blow, however the mare was out of reach by the time he did. He snorted his frustration, though kept his temper check. Be patient, you’ll get your chance. Soon enough he had returned to his original distance from the herd before being pushed away, but prepared to kick out if the mare came anywhere near him. She was testing him and he knew it, same as he was trying to do to her. If anything it was a battle of attrition, one he was confident he could win.

He changed direction quickly without warning, bolting straight for the herd but peeling away quickly after with a kick towards them but not making contact. He didn’t stay in the area long, going back to his previous distance from the herd, eyes staying focused on the mare in preparation for a retaliation.

-

Aztec's best skipped a beat when he charged, she snapped out and nipped his flank but this time she stayed at the herd. A battle of wits I suppose. I do have the size advantage, and we'll see about the cunning. She flooded herself with attack ideas, then figured none would work, because he's prepared and waiting. At this point, she called upon doing something strange.

Aztec started walking upto Laufey, her head low as she walked closer, the distance closed between them, she batted her eyes and stared into his, replicating the seductive process. You are a fool if you fall for this. She flipped her mane to one side. Letting it topple over when she tipped her head and reached out to him.

-

-

The intentions of The Duo are unmistakable, the wrath upon the mares of the plains, is something that one can never forget. Feliz looked down at the foal beside her, it was shaking. She could tell this filly wasn't of the shire's blood.

Her head popped up when she say Teluva, she hadn't been around in a week or two, she was obviously seeking safety in numbers.

Laufey | The Duo | “The Trickster” | M: Aztec

Laufey watched Aztec’s approach with a hint of curiosity, though he knew almost immediately that it was another of her tricks. He almost laughed, deciding to play along for the sake of it. He waited til she was close, meeting her gaze and faking interest. The moment the distance was closed he pinned his ears back, lifting his head high and stomping one of his back hooves. “Bold of you to assume I’d fall for another of your tricks.” He spoke coyly, stepping back from the mare. With a shriek he reared up, bringing his hooves down with a thud mere inches before the mare’s face. His head shook back and forth, body coiling in preparation of a lunge should she retaliate.

He appreciated her attempt at a trick, knowing plenty of stallions would fall for it. Yet he wasn’t quite so eager to take just any chance that presented itself, prepared to hold his own throughout the night should it come to it. He did hope it wouldn’t come to that, uncertain whether the herd was actually worth the effort of waiting that long.

-

Aztec jumped back, huffing but not scared. His hooves brought down in front of her face. She flicked her tail and nicked at him, a little twist in her head, she didn't attack, she just stared at him. Smart boy or Confident Coot. She walked closer again, nearing his face she bit him on the nose and flung a hoof up, connecting with his chest, enough to knock his breath away and hurt like hell but do no damage.

She catered back to her herd and held her head high. As she looked back, there wasn't even the slightest bit of worry as to whether he was okay or not. If he didn't back down, then he surely wouldn't be after she was finished.

Although she was tall and unpredictable she was harmless to most creatures, unless they didn't feel right.