How do you like that now, Cue? he smirked, shoving her straight back; but she was part of the pack and she too, was capable, managing to push him onto his side. They scuffled on the floor, kicking up patches of grass and mud in the struggle for dominance.

She was almost...almost - no, he had swung back - almost! Long moments flew by without her notice, the struggle grit her teeth and strained every muscle. All she knew was she would win...and that her reserves had run nearly dry. But so, she narrowed her eyes and believed it, had his, and she would - must - triumph... 

The push and pull was weighing on his considerable stamina; he heaved against her, gasping as he did so; he couldn't show it, he had to WIN I WILL WIN it was too far gone now to cease battling! His head thudded as they wrestled, and he revelled - necessarily, in his exhaustion - in every inch closer to victory... 

Finally - she wriggled free, springing away, chest heaving. Now - now she would land the killer blow; pawing at the ground, she slid her head low and prepared to charge...

He rose, summoning the last of his energy, body arched and ready to run. Cue wanted a head to head? He'd be the one left standing! He panted in his stance, but determined to win in the impending clash...

In the darkness, there was a flash of blinding green. Did they see him coming? Perhaps, perhaps not. The latter, Cry supposed as he peered down at their suddenly-sprawled forms, from the altogether rather satisfactory result was in all probability far more likely.

...What? WHAT?! Flat in the mud, eyes wide, Cue could. Not. Believe. It. Cry?! But he hardly even moved much, mostly - and he was half-blind! She struggled to her hooves, burning in indignation, the fight knocked out of her, "That's not FAIR!!!"

Who could have expected that of Cry? Sure he was gasping, but out of incredulity now - he pushed himself up, blurting out a sharp accusation: "You said you were just going to watch!"

The quiet colt slowly but steadily tilted his head to a side, regarding his ragged siblings with his good right eye. Just as their fervor seemed fit to hit a breaking point, the words finally fell, low and measured:

"That’s not what I said."

The trio of siblings had found what they were missing that day - that first duel granted an unmatchable thrill, an (almost) true test of skill. That was not the last time the three of them would spar, but that was certainly the last time they would speak of that first.

END