It had amused her to have been suggested as an option for Captain, and pleased her that Mirage had remembered the conditions around her departure from the Foothills and her joining on the Qian and the Edge. Pleased her enough that she had accepted the suggestion that she instead help test those who were truly interested in advancing amongst the warriors.

So it was that she had been chosen to test the one known as Destrier first, and even now went to meet him for his battle. She only vaguely recollected having glimpsed the dark stallion, remembering that first glimpse mostly for the start it had given her, thinking that Indy was here amongst the trees of the Edge. There was certainly a similarity between the two stallions in appearances, but a moment of watching had set aside that thought. He'd moved differently, with a warrior's grace and quiet danger.

Stepping from the trees and into the clearing, she saw the stallion already present, and smiled to herself. She had to admit that she was eager for a spar, for some action instead of wandering around the forest, waiting for someone injured to cross her path or a stranger to be found. It was with enthusiasm that she crossed toward the center of the clearing, pausing several feet shy of her opponent. Her head bent in return of his silent greeting, dark eyes watchful as she lifted her head again to await his first move.

As she expected, he attacked first. An ear twitched for the irony of predictable stallions. He was bigger, heavier, and so leapt straight for her. She shifted her weight back on her haunches as his powerful strides brought him closer, path meant to sweep next to her. Ah, at least he was original enough to not try to barrel into her immediately! But she had no inclination to give him half a chance to think to know what to expect.

Instead of dancing aside, she lunged forward in an explosive burst, snapping at his near side even as he did the same. Their combined momentum, in opposite directions, did not give his teeth time to find purchase on her hide, and they glanced off. She didn't expect to have any better success with her own bite, but the tilt of her head as she bit at him gave her a glimpse of his slightly curving trajectory, and she smiled to see that he'd expected her to move aside.

Another stride was taken as they swept past each other like jouster's steeds, and then she slammed on the breaks. Her hooves slid on the flat ground a little, much better than getting caught in a gopher hole or on a tree root, and then she spun around. A dragon's cry resounded above the clearing, wide wings casting a shadow that circled in silent threat as Zaffre finally showed up. Amused exasperation shot from the mare to the dragon, responded to with merriment. It was a heartbeat's exchange, and then the grulla leapt after Destrier, cheerfully heedless of his superior size and weight. She knew she was more agile, built for sudden turns and bursts of speed, and she surged forward with a surge of satisfied confidence. She meant to run into him, drive her left shoulder into his right, teeth prepared to snap at his neck. Absently she wondered if he would turn and face her, or try to push back. Or perhaps something different? Would this become a battle of wits or would she be more than he was expecting? She doubted the last, for only a fool would fail to notice her battle scars when initiating a fight. She'd noticed his.

(( 617 words, 1/4

Leaps forward and past Destrier as he closes the last distance, biting at his side. His bite glances off due to their mutual speed. Stops and turns around, then goes after him with the intention of slamming her left shoulder into his right shoulder, and bites at his neck. ))