Velk had mixed feelings about sparring with his mother. His reservations had little to do with her extensive battle experience (including an impressive show at the latest Alliance). Rather, he loved her and, did not want to hurt her.
You can heal her, Velk.At least this duel would be at home and not in front of unfamiliar spectators. Both of them are quite familiar with the terrain of the Cove so they each spent hours patrolling its shore. The milk-and-ink-painted male lifts his sapphire gaze to find the familiar features of Kagerus. He swallows his guilt and engages haunches to force himself into a confident march. For the first time, he looks at her for her physical attributes. He had never looked at her as anything other than his mother and Queen. He notes her lighter build, certainly faster and, more agile than his more draft-type physique. She stands a bit shorter as well though, he does not foresee their height difference being particularly advantageous for either of them. Kagerus also sports a set of antlers atop her poll. Velk's initial thoughts were to approach from the side or, behind. Honestly, either would be safer alternatives to tangling with those many spikes.
The young male sighs, as if signaling his internal "Let's Go!", and springs into a well-balanced trot. The sands of the Cove would make for a soft landing; however, they roll under foot and, make for a thicker footing to push through. Gaze focuses upon the mahogany mare, marked with patches of white, leopard markings (currently invisible in the mid-morning light), and a few healed scars (one recent one which starts at her left ear and crosses her face to her right nostril). He watches her body language, position, and pace. Velk jogs, way out of kicking range, with his right shoulder facing her right shoulder. Right ear remains trained upon Kagerus as he aligns himself to her right side. His two-beat cadence carries him parallel to her hip. He curves towards her right flank in a change of direction. All the while, Velk is mindful of where she is and, he adjusts accordingly.
Muscled haunches push more energy into his gait which lengthens his stride and brings him closer to her. He chooses this approach as it is furthest from the jagged rack on her head and, when he kicks out behind him, there would be more of her to make contact with. He would aim, of course, for her shoulder because, well, it is a larger target than a limb. And, horses naturally bear more of their mass on their front half. Velk waits until his left shoulder is in line with her right shoulder before he leaps forward and to the right. He thrusts his weight onto his front limbs. His front hooves plant firmly into the sands of the Cove and, uncoils the energy through his hind limbs. He targets her shoulder with both rear hooves and, once kick unleashes and gravity pulls against his suspended limbs, the male pulls them back under his chassis.
Sand flies against his underside and the back of his front limbs before Velk pushes forward out of the sand. He draws himself to the left until his out of range of hooves or antlers. He maintains his trot though his stride is back to normal. His left shoulder and, his honed-in left ear now face her as he mentally braces himself for her attack. He decides to keep moving as his instincts tell him it is easier to maneuver if he is already in motion. Expression reflects little as Velk does his best to remain purely tactical. This duel exists as a training exercise. There is no need for pinned ears, fiery eyes and, a menacing snarl. There is also no place for his guilt or, other emotions. Instead, he channels his focus on Kagerus as she initiates her strategy.
Velk
![[Image: kag]](https://78.media.tumblr.com/2e8039018ce4dff6112c167ec23e886a/tumblr_p72zjit7wC1s5a0qvo1_100.png)
Velk
