Charn

Charn had chased and harried Xenarona for an exhausting distance, driving her from Pike's Lake to the flat lands on the western edge of Golden Rose Canyon. The dark brown and ebony stallion was breathing heavily by the time he laid off the mare, slowing down and bringing his head up. He looked around, quite proud of himself for capturing his first mare. "This is your new home, Xena. You'll be safe here as long as you don't stray too far from me." Charn gave her little say in the matter, and didn't wait for any comment from Xena before he unleashed a bellowing call, letting all others know that this was his land now.

Xena

Xena nostrils flared and she was sweaty by the end of the whole trying to get away. In the end she ended up here and pregnant. She snorts at him.I don't need you for anythingShe says stomping a hoof. However, at this moment she couldn't even try to escape him.

Charn

Sweat glistened like a million little stars from Charn's dark hide, attesting to effort he'd put into moving the uncooperative mare to his new cadre. But unlike Xena, Charn was feeling upbeat and proud, and some of the hostility in his vocals dropped off by the time he answered her, "You will if a hungry cougar or pack of wolves show up." The stallion gave her space, but kept her near enough to dash in and corral her if she tried to leave. "We should be safe for now. Eat, and drink - there's a spring just down that way."

Xena

Xena snorted at him.i will find a herd that suits my needs you do not suit my needsShe said stomping a hoof and moving away from him intentionally showing him her butt.

Torank & Stormtail

A heavy, harsh snort announced the presence of Torank. The rattle and shuffle of oak leaves came next, as the red deer pushed his way through a stand of the young trees and stepped plainly into view. Above his regal head sprouted a pair of sword-like antlers, perfectly curved beams devoid of any tines, and currently covered in a soft layer of velvet. He eyed the two trespassers warily before speaking, "You're in land that's spoken for." A front hoof stamped solidly into the ground, showing little fear against these larger equines.

Emerging from the brush a few feet aside from his leader, Stormtail also sized up these interlopers, but with some hesitancy. Being a fallow deer, the buck was considerably smaller than these two horses, and like Torank, his impressive rack was similarly covered in soft velvet that he was hesitant to damage in a fight. His pale tail switched behind him and he flicked a tongue over his nose, waiting anxiously for any order Torank might give.

Charn

Charn helped himself to a few blades of grass, but hunger wasn't his current focus or mood. He was keeping an eye on Xena, and hoping to soon turn this two-horse herd into a thriving harem for himself. "It's not much at the moment, but there will be others in time." He no longer tried to snap or harry Xena, and was more than happy to stay clear of her rump and those dangerous hooves. If she moved too far from his view he'd trail her of course, or outright chase her back into the lands if she tried to leave, but otherwise the stallion was content to let her do as she pleased. And now that she was carrying his child, he was keen on keeping her healthy and safe, regardless of how she viewed him.

Whatever peace and calm Charn was hoping for was put on pause when a pair of cervids made their grand entrance, and wasted no time drawing the stallion's ire. The blue-eyed brute snorted and pinned his ears, and immediately took several thunderous steps towards the pair, showing no fear, "I have no qualms with deer in and around my herd. Quite to the contrary, I told my mare that you and your kin would be beneficial here. But lets get one thing straight right off the hoof; I am in charge of these lands. You heed to my authority, and you will have my protection." Charn pawed the ground next, drawing a swirl of dust as his ebony hoof dashed at the dried soil. It was a warning that he was not afraid to tangle with these two if they pushed him.

Xena

Xena snorted at him and shakes her head.no I will find a herd that run by a stallion who knows how to treat his maresShe said and gave a small buck in warning. Thats when the deer come out and she snorts at him.IF its their land well its their land you demanding muleShe said at him.i am not his mare and I will not aide him in trying to take your herd. I wouldn't mind if you gored him to deathShe said with a calm look at them.

Torank & Stormtail

Torank's blood began to boil at the audacity of this stallion. He held his ground when the horse charged forward, and nodded his nearly three-foot antlers at the aggressor, a silent warning that he wouldn't be afraid to use them if need be. He didn't want to, as they weren't quite ready for the velvet to be shed, but they were hard enough to do damage. "By the sounds of what this mare is saying, you don't deserve the title of herd leader. I'll give you one minute to make up your mind and leave my land, or you will be declared an enemy of the Golden Rose and forcefully removed."

Stormtail lowered his head so that his fuzzy antlers were pointed at Charn. They too wouldn't be quite as hard or sharp as he would have liked, with the rut still several weeks away, but they were more than capable of piercing flesh.

Charn

One ear swiveled towards Xenarona, "You'll find no better stallion than myself. You have a foal, fertile land, and my protection from all dangers - what else could you ask for?" He didn't take his eyes off of Torank as his spoke this though, and had no time to remark on her cruder comments to him. When the stag didn't back down, Charn suddenly dove forward, dashing his front hooves in rapid succession at Torank's head and antlers. He knew it was a dangerous move, but if he could break the deer's formidable defense, or at least bypass them, the creature would stand no chance.

Torank & Stormtail

The sudden rush forward nearly caught Torank off guard. There was a brief moment of indecision, where he wanted to meet Charn's flailing hooves with his tineless antlers and pierce past the horse's offense, perhaps to spike him in the throat or face, and end this fight before it hardly began. The wiser side of him knew that was too risky of a move though, because a single lucky dash from Charn's hoof could snap his antlers or crush his skull. With years of battle beneath his furry belt, the stag wisely pivoted away from danger, while turning his antlers in an arc against the side of the stallion's neck and face as the brute's hooves were crashing back to earth.

Stormtail seized the opportunity to charge forward himself. Loath as he was to damage his velvetine antlers, his leader needed help, and he wasn't going to stand by and wait for a call to arms. The axis buck sprung forward with a lowered head, driving his own set of weapons against Charn's flank...

Charn

By sheer luck, Charn avoided a potentially devastating wound to the neck when Torank's charge was interrupted by a stumble. He didn't see precisely what had happened, but he heard the crack of bone and saw red upon the deer's once glorious antlers. He was thankful that it wasn't his own.

"You have a chance yet to submit." The stallion offered, albeit in a tone that was far more aggressive than anything else. Even as he spoke, Charn remained in motion, now pivoting and moving forward to escape the charging spears of Stormtail's anters, though just barely. For the younger deer, Charn kicked out his hind hooves, though his aim was not perfect, as his attention was on the larger stag before him. For Torank, the deer would now have to face his clashing teeth as the horse lunged forward to bite, aiming for the side of his face and ear...

Torank & Stormtail

A patch of uneven ground had tripped the elder stag in his rush and brought him wincingly to one knee, with his antlers crashing to the ground. It was his forelimb that took the hardest blow, smarting with pain upon the harsh impact. Torank heaved himself up nonetheless, working through the discomfort to keep his head in the game. The moment he was swinging his head up of course, teeth were snapping against him, snagging his ear and tearing a wound just past his eye. Torank bellowed dashed his head to the side, trying to rake his antlers across Charn's side as he moved his dial away from those broad teeth. That was his reply to the stallion's offer to concede victory.

Stormtail staggered back under the blow and nearly fell to his side. There was a moment where the buck thought he saw two ebony horses fighting two Torank's, until a few rapid blinks of the eye melded the images back together. After taking another moment to get his senses properly in place, Storm charged again at Torank's flank, trying to angle himself better this time so that he wasn't in direct line of attack from the hind hooves...

Charn

Charn reared back with a throaty scream, tossing his head so that the tip of the unbroken antler swept harmlessly past his neck and sliced nothing but the hot summer air. He'd gotten lucky so far to avoid this one's weapons, and if he could land a few more decisive blows, he hoped to end this fight before suffering any at all. With that in mind, and a point to drive him, the stallion bore down with all his might upon his front daggers, swinging them wildly at Torank's skull and neck. As soon as his front hooves crashed, whether it be upon the earth or the cervid's unfortunate head, the hind ones were kicking into gear next. Antlers had dug into the skin of his flank, rending his luxurious coat and bringing a squeal of surprise from the male, who kicked out in blind retaliation.

Torank & Stormtail

Torank had agility on his side against this beast, which he utilized now to avoid that deadly stomp of hooves. He drew back and let them thunder harmless into the cracked earth below, while perking his ears to the grim satisfaction of Charn's squeal of pain. It may not have been induced by his own antlers, but at least one of them had finally scored a mark on his ill-tempered creature. "You may want to rethink your offering." Torank now returned, stamping a hoof into the grass, "Stand down, and we'll permit you to live in our land with us, if you abide by our laws." To drive home the point that he was not fooling around, Torank dove again at Charn, coming up on his hind legs and striking full board against the other.

Behind Charn, Stormtail saw his life flash before his dark eyes once more as he saw the muscles upon the stallion's flank bunch like a series of ebony cords before launching those hind hooves again. This time, however, the young buck lucked out as the positioning of his tines only drove deeper under Charn's own momentum, and he was able to twist away without receiving so much as a scratch. Feeling quite proud of himself, Stormtail targeted the enemie's side and attempted to rake his weapons there, rather than going in for a deep gouge.

Charn

Fury builds in the stallion, finding the thought of loosing his fight to two deer simply unconscionable. Not to mention, how poorly that would look in front of his new mare, who he'd hoped to eventually win over. "A few lucky hits aren't going to save you in this!" He thundered back, this time withholding the squeal that wanted to break out as his side and neck were rend into by those bony spears. Fresh blood tainted his hide like dark oil, and it infuriated him! Charn lashed out with greater speed, this blow turned against Torank's chest to knock the wind out of the stag, or perhaps crush his sternum; Charn would be happy with either. He had to pivot a little to take a strike at Stormtail, this time unleashing the fury of one solid hoof towards whatever part of the buck he might be able to reach...

Torank & Stormtail

The satisfaction of driving home his ivory spears was lessened some by the crush of impact that caught against his exposed chest. A wheezing grunt of discomfort was about all Torank could muster from what was left of the air in his lungs. He staggered back, feeling a sharp pain that could have been a broken rib, or maybe just a smarting bruise. Either way, the strike was not enough to keep him down. The red deer swiveled and made a mock dive at Charn's left side, and then at the last moment, shifted his weight up and to the center, trying to spike the horse through the throat...

'Sounds like negotiations are closed.' Stormtail thought grimly to himself when his leader didn't offer a rebuttal or reasoning to this angry brute. A bit more roughing up was in order then, and the buck could only hope that this foolish trespasser would be smart enough to know when to call it quits. The hoof that came flying for him this time was easily dodged, and in a counter attack, Storm swung his head towards the retreating limb, trying to tag it before Charn got the chance to kick at him again...

Charn

Torank's actions were being followed closely, though perhaps it was the smaller cervid behind him that Charn should have been more leery of. He felt his mistake when his hind leg was raked before he could fully withdraw it. Hardly before he moved it back beneath himself, Charn was dipping forward and lashing out with both hind pistons, trying to clobber the annoying buck as he had with Torank. For the elder deer, Charn was keeping those three-foot blades of bone closely in sight, and saw the clever pivot Torank made. As he finished kicking out at Storm, Charn reared forcefully to the side and struck down once more, dagger's aiming for the stag's snout or face.

Torank & Stormtail

Charn was able to penetrate Torank's barrier again, highlighting one of the drawbacks of having the mutant antlers that he did. The solid contact of hoof against snout jolted the stag's head downward and left a small gash in the flesh. A trickle of red from his nostrils showed that more of the damage had occurred beneath the skin, but not enough to count the deer out. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, whipping his antlers at Charn's legs in an attempt to strike and hopefully cripple one.

Being behind and slightly to the side of Charn hadn't helped Stormtail this time. The stallion had gotten lucky, and caught the buck against the shoulder, driving him down and nearly rolling him. The axis buck grunted as he picked himself up, favoring his wounded front limb. He nearly collapsed again before finding his footing on three shaky legs. A worried look was shot to Torank, but his leader didn't have the attention to spare. Unable to charge forward or move with any amount of speed, Stormtail stood uncertainly, waiting for an opening where he could help without risking another blow like the one he'd just took.

Charn

Charn was unwilling to give any space to Torank. If he kept in the stag's face, it would be harder for the leader to maneuver those ungainly weapons of his, and impossible for him to charge and add extra momentum to his strikes. He didn't quite anticipate the sweep of horns against his lower legs though, and winced as they smashed against his front pillars with dull thunks. Blood was spilled again on his end, and the scent of it enraged the stallion. He arched his neck and uttered a scream, unleashing his fury and defiance in one vocal burst that could be heard throughout the terra. His blue eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared, "Call an end to this, before you pay with your life!" He cried out. Charn reared again, slamming his hooves forward towards Torank's face, this time hoping to catch the forehead or the eyes. Out of sheer instinct, he kicked a hind hoof out wildly, already anticipating another strike from Stormtail.

Torank & Stormtail

There was a good two feet of space between Charn's strike and where Stormtail stood, but it still drew a flinch out of the stunned buck. His shoulder was throbbing now, and the stench of blood was swiftly whittling away what fight he still had within him. Thunk! Another solid strike connected with his leader, but instead of stepping forward to his aid, the buck took a hobbled step back, panting. "Torank, we can fight another day."

Torank would not bow down this early in the fight. He had a herd to protect, and would not stand by and let some equine try to guide them. A throaty bellow was his answer to Charn's scream, echoing like thunder through the shallow canyon walls of their home. A decisive blow to the snout ended his defiant cry and once more nearly staggered the large deer and sent him down. Torank somehow managed to keep his limbs beneath him though, and gave his head a clarifying shake. His shaggy mane bounce from side to side with the motion, and he pawed at the ground as blood now streamed from a twice gashed face, "I will not bow to you, and neither will my herd." The red deer now reared back, front legs partially drawn up and tucked as he slammed his weight forward and jutted his pointed horns for the stallion's chest...

Charn

Charn now paid the price for keeping so close to this stag. He might out-weigh and out-muscle the smaller beast by more than double, but Torank's weapons were far more potent if he got in a good strike, and that's what finally happened. The stallion gasped as those crude weapons cut in through the muscles of his chest, piercing past his dark hide as if it were made of soft butter. The stallion had to pull back, rearing sharply to dislodge the tines before they could go in any deeper and reach past the ribs. He almost wanted to look back to make sure Xena hadn't seen that, but couldn't afford to take his eyes off this stag.

Venom quickly filled his pale eyes, turning would could be such beautiful, proud orbs of blue into something dark and terrible. The pain that burned in his chest fueled the ever growing fire in his heart. He had no words for Torank this time, only a swift twirl on his hooves that had Torank facing his hindquarters, with a set of hooves coming for his face again...

Torank & Stormtail

'Got him.' There was a rush of dark elation when he felt his ivory spears meet soft flesh and burrow in deep. He pushed forward, his hind limbs straining with the effort to drive his wicked blades in for that lethal touch, to put an end to this fight and protect his fellow deer from a life of servitude beneath this stallion. And had Charn been a fellow deer, the antlers should have killed him. Alas, the horse had a thicker shield of muscle covering his chest, and it ultimately saved him from that fatal blow. Torank hissed beneath his breath as he felt his enemy pivot and lunge, stealing his life back. The stag was in the process of raising his head up when Charn spun, and though he ducked away, those hooves came hard and fast, and clipped him against the side of the head and neck.

Torank saw stars. By tomorrow, all that hidden bruising beneath his shaggy pelt would remind him of every blow taken today. But that he would worry about when the time came. Today he could still save his heard. Letting his rage grow, Torank sprinted forward and to the side, trying now to lance Charn through the side and belly, where there was less muscle to protect the delicate innards...

Charn

He could hear the faint whooooOOOsh of those antlers as they whipped around, cutting air like a pair of well-honed swords. He grimaced at the thought of them lancing his backside, but there was more meat there, less vital organs, and a more powerful kick. He'd clubbed a cougar or two with them, and discouraged many slavering canines in the past, and they'd never failed him before. When Torank tried to dodge aside and come in at his flank, Charn wheeled just as quickly, drawing his side away from the charge and kicking his hind limbs out square for the side of the stag's head...

Torank & Stormtail

Lights flashed in the corners of the stag's eyes when he failed to dodge the incoming blow. He'd swiveled away just enough to evade one of those hooves, but not enough to keep the second one from clipping his head and smashing into his ear with a distinct crunch of damaged cartilage and ligament. The furry appendage hung limply now, though Torank scarcely noticed. He couldn't afford to slow down or stop to consider his wounds. He was already urging his nimble legs into dance, and lurching forward with all the vigor and anger defending his harem against some interloper. Antlers were driven for the soft of Charn's lower belly...

Charn

In between tossing his ears back in rage, he'd keep one tuned to the small buck lingering behind them both, just in case he got a renewed itch to jump back into the fight. Given that solid strike from earlier though, Charn wasn't surprised Stormtail had thrown in the proverbial towel and backed off. It allowed the stallion to better watch the real contender, and dodge these potentially deadly antler thrusts.

Froth was beginning to grow at the sides of Charn's open mouth, such was the effort the stallion was putting into earning this land and impressing his single mare. Bright eyes saw and swiftly calculated the incoming charge, and he wheeled away from those ivory beams to give him a good few inches of clearing as they dove harmless past his heaving sides. In the same rapid movement, he was kicking out with his hind legs, only this time his wide aim was for the stag's chest and shoulder, trying to catch him as he recovered from his failed charge...

Torank & Stormtail

Torank's bloodied mouth was open, his breath coming in deep and fast as the fight carried on at a relentless pace. At one point, as the two shifted and tussled about on the dusty battlefield, the stag caught side of his diminutive comrade standing off a ways from the scuffle, one leg held at a slight angle. Stormtail was out of the fight it appeared, and Tor wasn't sure how badly injured his younger friend was. It was enough to give him pause, and consider calling the fight...

...No, not yet. He had to keep trying, just a little longer. If he could just get a good strike on this damned stallion, he could end the challenge. Thunk! His teeth were rattled by the shock of the strike that connected with his shoulder and side, and for a brief moment the stag was dropped to the ground, stumbling and falling sideways to his knees. Torank didn't for a second waiver however, and even as he was getting back up, his antlers were aimed in Charn's direction. As he stood they were thrust forward, going for the belly or haunches of his foe...

Charn

That fact that'd he'd knocked the other down gave Charn a surge of pride and renewed vigor. He snorted, hot air billowing through flared nostrils, while froth flew from his open jaws. The stallion pivoted again, his hooves dancing across the sun-scorched earth like the frantic beat of war drums as he moved to both evade damage and dish it out in return. He may not be able to fully dodge the newest swing of antlers, but he had time thanks to Torank's stumble to shift his great weight so that the end of the tines only grazed his side, rather than puncturing deeply through it. He wheeled around sharply and uttered a terrifying roar, "You're finished, stag! Admit defeat and live, or have it delivered to you upon my hooves!" Facing the red deer head on again, Charn struck with his front hooves, again going for his foe's already battered dome...

Torank & Stormtail

Stars danced again, flooding the stag's vision with light. He felt the ground meet him before he knew he was falling, and was kicking to stand back up on sheer instinct alone rather than conscious effort. The stallion's roar echoed through his mind while his brain scrambled to right itself from the latest blow, and figure out his next move. When Torank's wits finally crept back to him, he found himself standing with legs splayed and his head low, an effort to keep his balance when the ground suddenly felt so unstable and his own muscles shook in protest. That last knock had really hit home hard.

"I yield." Torank grunted with effort, both physically and emotionally. When his vision caught up to him, he tilted his bloodied muzzle upwards to look at the stallion. 'Imre, we will need your strength in these new days.'

Charn

Charn was ready and very willing to drive his hooves again at Torank. He had no problem taking the deer's life if it would earn the cooperation of the rest of the herd. Muscles had been tensed and ready for that blow, only to be halted by the stag's words. Charn held back. Neck arched and ebony tail flagged high, he snorted and pawed at the ground, "You yield?" Ignoring the agony of his own wounds to shift and turn himself, the stallion eyed Stormtail next, his bright blue eyes staring fiercely at the young buck. "And you?"

The chocolate-black brute allowed his frame to relax just a smidgen, "Spread word to the rest of your herd, let them know who their leader is. Tomorrow at dawn, I want them gathered here so I can address them." Charn snorted again, this coming more as an exclamation of relief rather than any reflection of his fiery attitude at the moment.

Torank & Stormtail

Degrading as it was to submit to this non-cervid, Torank valued his own life. He wouldn't let pride kill him if he could live to fight another day. He raised his throbbing head a little higher, "Very well." It was all he could muster in an even tone. Other, cruder words wanted to fly from his mouth, but this stallion seemed temperamental to him, and he wasn't sure he could take another strike from those hooves. "Storm, are you alright?"

The buck nodded, regret strong in his dark eyes. "I'm fine." A strong limp followed his attempts to trying to walk towards Torank, but he was truly better off than the stag. In a week or two he'd be solid again, as long as no predators spotted his weakness.

Torank held no judgement in the gaze he returned to his smaller friend. Stormtail had helped, and the stag was thankful for that. With a somber nod to the other, he led the chital back into the forests, leaving Charn and the mare to themselves.

Charn

The rush of victory helped to dull the smarting wounds that marred his dark body, and he held his head high as he watched the two deer limp away into the scrubby oak forests, put in their place by the power of his hooves and determination. Confidence soaring, Charn forced his limbs to move with as much fluid grace as they could muster in spite of his injuries, carrying him towards Xena.

"The land is well and truly mine now. Ours." He graciously corrected, as if to make up for the roughness he displayed to her earlier. "Make yourself at home, I need to inspect our territory." He was wise enough to keep his distance from her, figuring she was still not entirely happy with him. "If you need anything, or if any of the deer give you grief, just call. I won't be far off." Bowing his dark head, long mane falling about his face, Charn bid her a farewell before cantering off.