Silent and pensive, Tavington led me back to the stables, penning me in with fresh water and an apologetic apple. I settled almost immediately and lay down for a good roll on the straw bedding.
"Oh, just there," I groaned, scratching the middle of the back of my rump. "Perfect… yes…"
I leaned back and itched the line of my neck, flailing freely on the floor before getting back to my feet.
"Bllghh…!" Shaking all over, I let my mane and tail fly; no more of that awful, shattering ruckus!
"You're back already?"
With a yelp, I looked over to see the grey horse eying me over the stall wall.
"What's it to you?" I bobbed my head and stepped forward. "Piss off."
The grey snorted a warning and stamped the ground with firm authority.
Still nervy, I took a step back and measured the other beast up. He was as tall as I, if not a tad more, and his build was deeper, stockier. He must have outweighed me by nearly one hundred pounds. The animal was no speed horse, but he had strength on his side, and looked to have a couple years on me for exra advantage.
"You wouldn't dare," he pinned his ears and opened his mouth in an unwelcome threat.
"Oh?" I puffed out my chest and filled my belly with air.
"Rube- frightened by a little stir of noise," he snarled.
I snorted but would not keep with the rules of subordination; meeting his challenge, I reached out with my foreleg and gave the dividing wall a purposeful kick, followed pointedly with a bluffing lunge.
My newfound adversary was swift to act and grabbed the middle of my neck with his teeth, making me squeal in surprise.
Fool!
A moment's panic and I turned, still in his grasp, and bit the side of his neck, going down toward his shoulder, but it did not stop him from handling me like a bastard foal.
"Let go!" I screamed, releasing my bite as liquid heat soaked my mane and coursed down my neck.
As suddenly as the ambush had begun, the grey let up and I sunk away, ducking my head, and drooping my ears, very aware that he was still on the offensive; his eyes rolled and his sides were full of air.
"Yes, get on back to your wall," he snorted, kicking one of the loose boards between us. "Stupid youngling; pray that you get struck down quickly when your time comes. War is no place for the likes of you scum!"