Coyote Ugly

He’d ranged out of the west, on his own for the time being. As yet, he had little say in what Kamilah did—nor did he desire it. He hadn’t claimed the mare as his. He’d spent much of the season to consider her story from every angle, comparing it to the facts of just how young she was. If she was to be believed that she was a lead mare for many seasons, then she would have ended up a Queen as a filly. Which said little in her favor that the whole herd had forced her out.

Horses were social creatures. It was true that a sire would force out colts and fillies who were of age to leave, in order to avoid inbreeding, it was generally the lead stallion’s choice. It was one of the few places where he had full sway. But for a whole herd to force one mare out? He wasn’t certain if the mare was being truthful in her story. She was young, and inexperienced by his reckoning.

His heavy tail swished as his thoughts were pulled to the presence by yipping ahead, then snarling. His great, horned head, shaggy now with the impending snows, lifted high as his eyes scanned the distance ahead. Four coyotes, and one wolf pup.

He made a swift decision. Adults ganging up on a pup was something that needed balancing. He broke into a trot, circling well before he reached the ruckus. The two by the kill were watching the other two as they charged the pup, and missed the steady drum of hooves as he drew in.

He charged in at the last twenty feet, slinging his heavy head low and raking a startled ‘yote with the sharpened blade point strapped to his horn. Isolde stooped, harrying the female that had joined her mate in attacking the pup. The two Taliesyn had engaged wavered before lunging at the strange, brightly glowing creature that had interrupted the easy fight.

A hoof flicked forward, dropping one of the coyotes with an audible crunch of hoof to bone. His head snaked in again, front teeth clacking on the air to drive the other back as the other two wavered, distracted from the pup by the bizarre turn of events.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think