The sun was setting in her prospering land and still it was bustling. Narmer and Smoke were beginning their work on the Greencave garden, the foals of the herd were getting ready to begin their apprenticeships, and the others were busy about the task of keeping things green. The growth of her herd satisfied her deeply, so deeply that she felt it in her very bones and she sighed with happiness. The gods had chosen her well, thinks the white mare. Suddenly, Paladin, the mate of her daughter, calls out loudly across the Foothills. She hears his words and his call and feels her throat tighten and her legs tremble with apprehension. She was no fighter, that was why she had Smoke and Indy by her side. There was no way out, for he named her directly. Lazulli, sensing his Love's worry, gives a battle cry from the sky as he rushes towards the stallion

Her feet drag upon the dust for a few strides before she steels herself, she must fight today, she must be a warrior today as well as a Chieftess. She takes one hard step, it lands a thud upon the ground, a cloud of dust poofing up about it. She feels stronger then. Soon her entire stride is powerful and strong. She is not a healer, she is a mother, she is a Queen. With the setting sun at her back she gallops towards her goal. Her eyes flash with something unknown, but it is certainly not happiness or love. She reaches him and skids to a stop. She gives him a calculating glance. He is a stallion, warmblood-like, around her height, and were she a battle scarred stallion they would be evenly matched. However, she was not, she was an anti-war mare. Though, from the fierce look she has put in her eyes he will never know her pessimistic thoughts. Regardless of how much he feels her teeth today, let him feel her stare, let him know that even if he wins he will never be safe. Her voice has no time for refinement today. Her voice is powerful, it rumbles up from her chest like that of a goddess of war as she speaks.

"Paladin. Look around you, this place is already great . We have the most intellect, the most resources, the greatest numbers, and have treaties with every major lead, both in herdlands and those still striving for one. Thanks to Narmer we have buildings and better kept pathways throughout the herdland and we shall also soon have a garden with all the important plants of Helovia within it. My herd currently wants for nothing. You could have had almost any rank. I understand your love for this land, however, I am offended that you would challenge my position. As such, should I win, you will be made a prisoner until I, along with the possibility of Smoke and Indy, decide what to do with you. Your family will not suffer any repercussions." She does not mention her respect, but she gives him a brief nod of her head to signify it, before taking a moment to contemplate her course of action. The ground is rocky, but she has been here longer than he, and before that she lived for quite some time in the Cliffs, her feet are as sure as they will ever be. Her gait floats. But he does not know this, yet.

She launches off a cantering charge aimed towards his left side. However, she is not all that she seems. She allows a bit of nervousness to appear on her facade, making it seem as if her judgement will be clouded by emotions. She pretends to be distracted a bit by picking around the rocks beneath her feet, allowing him the opportunity to lunge. She slows her stride as well, making it less even, and allowing him to judge that perhaps her older age has made her slightly less agile. She does not try to feign things he will already know. Thus, she aims to reach his left side in 3 measured strides. She goes far slower than she would like to, and looking far less skilled than she'd prefer. However, she knows it should pay off later. The Benevolent reaches her target and aims a bite at a large chunk of his shoulder. Should the bite hit, she'll push into him with her nose in an attempt to loosen his balance a bit. However, she holds he weight up, lest she herself become unbalanced. While there she flicks up her tail like a whip towards his face in an attempt to keep him from biting her, should anything hit the plus side would be that he'd feel a sting.

{Post: 1/4
Word Count: 798(fixed) Original: 861
Gossamer arrives with sun behind her, speaks, then charges towards his left side. She slows down her stride, pretends to be distracted a little bit by the rocks, and appears slightly less agile than she actually is. Assuming she reaches his left side she aims a heavy bite at his left shoulder area, fleshy part, and whisks her tail up to attempt to prevent any biting back.}