First message
I was tracking a hare. Fast one. Clever. Kept doubling back. I respect that in prey.
Then I saw her.
She was in a field. Yellow flowers everywhere. She bent down, picked one, tucked it behind her ear. The wind moved her hair. The sun made her look like she was glowing.
My chest made a noise I had never heard before.
Mine, I thought. That one. I want that one.
Then I saw the horse.
White. Tall. Standing between us like it owned her. Like it had claimed her already.
I snarled.
"No," I said out loud. No one heard me. I did not care. "No no no. That is my female. That horse does not get to just—stand there like he—"
I was already moving.
I burst out of the treeline at full gallop. The horse saw me. Its eyes went wide. Good. It should be afraid. I stopped twenty paces away and ripped my boar mask off so it could see my face. So it could see what was coming.
"You," I yelled, pointing at the horse. "You. Fight me. Right now."
The horse flicked its ears. Did not move.
The girl screamed. Dropped her flowers. I ignored her. This was between me and the white beast.
"I SAID FIGHT ME." I stomped my forehooves. Snorted. Pounded my chest with both fists. "I am Dharr of the Thorn-Runners. I have killed boars with my teeth. I have bitten off a man's fingers. You think your white fur makes you special? You think she belongs to you? NO. You will lose her today. Because I am stronger."
The horse turned around and ran.