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Post by ponybones on Nov 15, 2014 13:12:49 GMT -5
Deliverin' Redemption
A roleplay between Pony-Bones' Cain and BlueUnicornJ13's Ryder
The sky looked ominous, clouds curling and drawing closer to one another while the western horizon seemed to be aflame, the sky filled with reds and oranges. Off to the east was only inky blackness which began to seep across the sky, overtaking the flame, leaving them to utter darkness as moon and stars hid behind cloud cover. Evening was fading to night, and Cain felt a chill down his spine as he drew his pale blue eyes away from the sky. Around him, the others were pairing off with their partners that they had found after he had issued the order for them to find someone to spar with. In Bachelor tradition, sparring was an important part of their culture, and it was inappropriate to back down from an offer. Yet no one had offered to him. A few had looked at him, some with worry in their eyes, some with pity which Cain could only scoff at. But none came. It seemed sacrilegious to harm their King, perhaps, and against the brutes that he ruled over, he would be no challenge. They would snap him in half without a second thought if they cared to.
Slowly he started to walk through the various encounters, watching carefully, his curled ears perked attentively but the rest of his face betraying no emotion, but once when he noticed that there were females among them. How foolish of him to assume that they would all choose to provide aid rather than to fight. It was not indoctrinated into them that they were a non-warring gender, and thus there they were, including one paint mare that he did not recognize as being an Exile. A Loner, perhaps? His brow arched slightly, but he continued on through the ranks, wondering whether he should bother sparring or not. He would have preferred not to, fighting was left to others, however it would be unseemly if he did not go to battle with his new herd. A defeated sigh escaped him and his ears began to flatten back onto the entanglement of his mane. Cain knew that battle would not be his forte, but at least his Gift would come in handy. He felt on the precipice of more power, but was struggling to achieve it. The fire of that desire burned within him with a passion, and he could only hope that it would propel him to be a better fighter. He just needed to practice, and use his light frame to his advantage, dancing around and allowing the Olde warriors to tire out, or be unable to tap their Gift any further.
As he walked, he saw one horse still standing alone. After a moment of looking, he realized it was Ryder. He wasn't sure how much he wanted to involve himself with the Exiles, but if anyone was going to spar with him, it would seemingly only be them. "Exile..." Cain called to him, raising his head a little bit, beckoning the stallion over. "Have you found your partner yet?"
Word Count:// 525 |
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blueunicornj13
Exile Herd 
We don't have a choice to stay. We'd rather die than do it your way.
Posts: 265 
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Post by blueunicornj13 on Nov 15, 2014 17:14:06 GMT -5
Ryder looked up at the sky as the horses around him paired up after the Bachelor King had given the order for sparring practice. He had looked around at his fellow Exiles to see if any one of them had wanted to match up with him, but they seemed to have dispersed amongst the rest of the herd. A small sigh escaped him, even his son, Leif, had followed after a Bachelor filly and colt to play while the adults were practicing for the upcoming war. The sky above him was dark as black clouds rolled in over them. The setting sun was snuffed out, and even the moon and stars couldn't shine through the veil of clouds in the sky. His blue eyes glanced around him as he looked for someone to spar with. He didn't want to appear to oppose Cain's wishes since Ryder had chosen to come here after the pale stallion's deal. He could only hope that the rest of the Exiles were okay with the Olde herd. Vasska had seemed less than pleased at their appearance, and his offer wasn't exactly realistic. How could one fight a war without gaining a single scratch? His eyes caught sight of his mate's pelt. She seemed to be sparring with one of the large, heavily scarred stallions from the Bachelors. Ryder didn't exactly want to ask one himself to practice. He felt like such an outsider here which was probably because he was. His ears flattened slightly. He had thought that acting with a little more confidence would make him more approachable, but maybe others had caught onto him having his gift. It seemed to frighten everyone he had showed it to. The ability to control water was a strong gift, and he silently thanked the witch for helping him unlock it. It would benefit himself in this war as long as he was near a water source.
The brown paint heard a strong, even voice call him, and when he turned, his heart sank in his chest. The Bachelor King, Cain, stood a little distance away. Ryder walked toward him with an expressionless look. He didn't want him to think that he was disobeying him on purpose, and he certainly didn't want him to see any sort of nervousness that made its way through him. Ryder cleared his throat before speaking. "No, I have not. It doesn't seem like anyone wants to spar with me around here," he said with a nervous chuckle. "Would you like to match up? If you're planning on sparring, that is. I see an open spot right over there." Ryder motioned with his head toward an open spot in the field next to a small pond. Maybe he'd be able to show Cain what he could do. The Exile scout found himself wanting to impress him for offering his family what little safety he could offer which was a lot more than Vasska had. Plus, it wasn't every day that he got to use his gift like this. He wanted to see if it would actually be useful on a battle field.
Word Count : 521
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Post by ponybones on Nov 15, 2014 17:47:55 GMT -5
As Cain approached, through his gift, he could sense Ryder's nervousness without his expression betraying him, though it was quickly disregarded. Nervousness was the usual reaction to Cain's presence, and thus it seemed like the natural state of being since he rose to power. Before he had become a leader, his presence had been soothing somewhat due to his mellow charm, but now he was consistently met with hate and malice. Though he had taken up Klaus' yoke, he was NOT Klaus. Also he was not a Bachelor, it was unrealistic of the herd to expect nothing to change. And yet there it was, all of them were unhappy, and Cain was the best to blame. "I have the same issue." He said with a slight smile, managing to look slightly rueful. However, he was curious as to why Ryder was being avoided.
At the question, Cain was slightly shocked, and his brows inched up a bit before he gained control over them again and took to wearing his mask once more. He chuckled a little bit and nodded, making his way over to where the other stallion had pointed, a small pond lying beyond. It seemed slightly hazardous, but it was better to be away from the group, especially if Cain was going to be made a fool of due to his own personal weakness. For once in his life, he wished for strength in his muscles, rather than in his mind. Strategy worked better from afar. "I'll be the first to admit I have never actually...fought anything, or anyone." Cain admitted, his ears back slightly, his expression somewhat distant. "So a bit of practice would be good for me, to decide whether to fight, or shout commands from the sidelines."
He looked around at the others readying themselves, and again felt that unfamiliar feeling of...insecurity? It was disgusting, and he shook his coat as if it was something latching onto him, gripping his spine, its claws sunk deep into his mane. The leader was at a loss, but attempted not to show it, and thus waited for Ryder to make the first move, his eyes ablaze with intensity. He learned to show emotions like normal horses by mimicking when he was younger, now he hoped it would be the same.
Word Count:// 387 |
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blueunicornj13
Exile Herd
We don't have a choice to stay. We'd rather die than do it your way.
Posts: 265
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Post by blueunicornj13 on Nov 15, 2014 18:54:23 GMT -5
Ryder nodded at the leader's words. He hadn't thought that Cain would be sparring with anyone being the leader, but maybe he had been mistaken. He could imagine why he wanted to train with his herd though. In his short time with the Bachelors, he had heard quite a few conversations about the new king. Most of them had been negative. Cain had a lot to prove if he wanted these battle-scarred horses to trust him. With his scar-less pelt, he stuck out like a sore thumb. Ryder chuckled a bit himself with a small grin. "I had a feeling that it would be a little hard fitting in around here, but it appears that none of the other Exiles had a problem," he said, looking as Prime faced off against an older, heavily scarred stallion who he recognized from the little meeting the Exiles and Bachelors had had when they had taken Cael. He could tell that she looked a bit frustrated, but it didn't surprise him one bit that she would pick him as an opponent.
Ryder turned back to Cain in time to see the pale horse's eyebrows rise in shock. Was he surprised that he had asked or surprised about something else? The brown paint's torn ear flicked in Cain's direction as he agreed. He walked toward the pond, feeling the way the water seemed to draw him toward it. Ever since he had received his gift water had a new feeling associated with it. It was like it wanted him to manipulate it. He shook his head slightly, trying to rid himself of that feeling. At Cain's statement, Ryder raised an eyebrow. It was a little hard to believe that he hadn't fought at least one thing in his life time, but the fact that the other stallion didn't have any scars to show made it seem a bit more believable. "I've fought quite a few times obviously," he said, looking down at the scars that riddled his pelt. "I could show you a few moves if you do decide to fight." He offered with a small nod toward him. Ryder didn't mind helping others even if that horse was the Bachelor's leader. It would certainly be strange, but it would be worse if Cain was hurt in battle.
The brown paint put a little bit of distance between himself and his sparring partner. His blue eyes were determined as he let his mind drift toward the water close to them. He felt the water ripple and then shake a bit more violently as a few spheres of water formed in the air above the liquid's surface. Ryder threw his head back, sending the orbs of liquid in Cain's direction. He hoped to catch the leader off guard to land a more powerful attack. He only hoped that his opponent wouldn't see the attack coming. As far as Ryder knew, Cain knew nothing of his gift, and he hoped he would get the same reaction from Olde as he hoped to get from Cain.
Word Count: 511
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Post by ponybones on Nov 18, 2014 12:20:45 GMT -5
Cain followed Ryder's gaze to Ghost and the irritating mare Prime. He silently hoped that the stallion would crush her until she begged for mercy, but it was doubtful to occur. Though Ghost had a rather gruff exterior, he had a fondness for that blonde brood which mothered his daughter, and had shown some extraordinary courage in saving Elowen from the swamp. Ghost was out of his element when it came to fighting mares, as he imagined most were. It was somewhat distasteful after all. In an odd way, though, the Bachelor mares were the strongest and hardiest. They had to be, to endure. All others would perish in such a world. Though will to live did not necessarily mean a talent at fighting, and he imagined most would crumble if asked to do what Prime was doing now. Their minds were so molded by the doctrine of the herd that fear of consequences alone might cripple them. Cain allowed his gaze to meander back to Ryder as he said ,"I imagine there's more than a little revenge going on. Whatever inspires more tenacity, I have no complaint." Everyone would have their own story as to why they fought, especially for this side. The Exiles were a curious bunch, however. They had nothing to gain, and everything to lose.
"Why did your herd choose to involve itself in matters that don't concern it?" Cain asked as he readied himself, making sure to pay attention to his Gift even in the forefront of his mind. It was his only advantage, and would be in the times to come. "Olde does not want you, and this changes nothing in the face of living off our land. Cael and the others will remain with us, as payment. Had the entire group of you come to our side, perhaps we could have struck a deal, but I could see that blood runs hot when the mention of helping our 'barbarian' herd is made." The Bachelor King gave a lopsided smirk at the thought of it. Were the Exiles so fueled by emotion that they did not stop to think? If they loved their lost members so very dearly, one would think they'd find this the perfect opportunity to make an arrangement to get them back. Cain figured they'd be attempted to be stolen back, alright. However one did not raid the raiders, and he hoped that the Exiles realized that before they chose to betray him.
At Ryder's raised brow, Cain chuckled a little bit. "Perhaps I should rephrase. I have fought, sometimes for my life. But my mind is the weapon my body will never be." He said, giving a nod. Cain would always prefer words over physical violence, however he did appreciate having it available to him. As long as he did not have to be delivering the blows, merely ordering them. However, Cain's pale eyes traced the scars on Ryder's pelt, and the Marwari nodded slightly to the offer. "I will learn what I can from you. Thank you." He bowed his head slightly, still waiting, still feeling. The other stallion was a painfully earnest sort, the type that 'wanted to see the good in others', Cain could sense from the emotions that Ryder was feeling. It was disturbing to think that this stranger trusted him more than Cain's own herd, however the Bachelors were born to mistrust and malice. This was refreshing in comparison, however Cain couldn't help but think that Ryder would pay for it in the end. Perhaps not with Cain, but by someone else who knew the type and was prone to taking advantage.
Cain could feel the determination in Ryder's draw of his Gift, and felt himself tense up automatically, his body at high alert, his mind focused. Conversation time was at an end. However, he was no mind-reader, just 'tasted' emotions, and had no former knowledge of what Ryder was capable of. What had he subjected himself to, Cain wondered. In his periphery, he could see the water rippling, and simultaneously the other stallion's head flew back and water was coming flying towards Cain. He did his best to avoid it, however one of them did connect squarely with his jaw, sending his head snapping to the side, and another grazed the crest of his neck. Cain rotated his jaw, his head ringing as if he had been kicked. His brows furrowed, however he looked...pleased. "That will be impressive come show time." Cain said, stretching his neck out a bit to alleviate the pain. "But what if there is no water? The time spent summoning will be longer and longer, and your 'focus' gives your opponent time to attack." Cain danced away from the water, putting it between Ryder and himself, his expression betraying his amusement.
Word Count:// 803 |
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blueunicornj13
Exile Herd
We don't have a choice to stay. We'd rather die than do it your way.
Posts: 265
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Post by blueunicornj13 on Nov 18, 2014 13:29:40 GMT -5
Ryder watched the scarred stallion and Prime brawl for a few moments as they walked to their fighting spot. Prime seemed determined to defeat the much larger stallion, making Ryder grin at her perseverance. Prime had always had a determination to overcome obstacles that he certainly envied. Sure he would fight hard to get what he wanted, but he could never be so determined to achieve it as Prime was. Ryder nodded as Cain spoke. "I'm sure there are many strong emotions fueling everyone's actions. Whatever helps make everyone strong for the war is fine by me," he said with a flick of his torn ear. He would certainly be feeling quite a few emotions when the time came for the battle that would determine everyone's fate. It was like a large weight rested on his shoulders to protect not only his family but his herd as well. They might have been split at the moment, but the Exiles always had a way of finding their way through any situation.
At the pale horse's words, Ryder's tail flicked absentmindedly as he thought. It had been an extremely difficult situation, and many of the horses had their own reasons for joining both sides of the war. He sighed a bit before speaking, "I suppose some of them wished to find another way to protect the herd by trying to mend bonds with Olde. Vasska only views us as a plague that needs to be gotten rid of though. I sided with you in hopes that at least we'll still be able to come back to the deal you made with us from the beginning. Most of the Exiles thought that siding with Olde would be more beneficial, but if the horse you side with only views you as something that needs to be eradicated, you can't exactly expect him to help you, only use you until he needs you no longer," he said with a small frown. Vasska had made it quite clear that he wanted nothing to do with the Exile's and their 'tainted' blood. How did the rest of the herd think that it was a good idea to side with him after he had declared his deal? There was no way anyone could make it out of this without a scratch. Not even the Olde horses themselves with be able to do such a thing. "I suppose I'd rather talk it out than fight myself, but I was young and foolish once," he said with a smirk at himself. His years of fighting for a living hadn't been kind to his body or his mind. Although he tried to make the best of things now, it hadn't always been that way.
As the water collided with Cain, Ryder grinned at his accomplishment. Maybe his gift would be useful on the battlefield. "If there's no water, I suppose I'll have to be a bit more forceful," he said as the pale stallion pranced away from the water. Ryder snorted in amusement as he shaped a couple large orbs of water. Ryder took off after Cain, using his strong Thoroughbred legs to propel himself forward. The water spheres followed soon after as the brown paint placed them on either side of himself. Cain would only be able to dodge one of them, so the choice would be his to either take the force of water or having to deal with Ryder head-on. A grin crossed his face as he got closer. Fighting had been a way of life for him when he was younger, and he had wondered many times why he had given it up if he still enjoyed it so much. Now that he got the chance to feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, he was definitely reconsidering his past life. Maybe he hadn't done all of those things for others. Maybe part of him had actually found it enjoyable to hunt down killers and thieves and make them pay for what they had done.
Word Count: 668
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Post by ponybones on Nov 18, 2014 19:00:03 GMT -5
Vengeance might not always work in his favor, Cain realized as they were both chatting and posturing, their hooves shifting over the grass that was giving way to autumn and the heavy footfall. 'Everyone' wasn't who Cain wanted to be strong for the war, but it didn't matter in any case. He had a contingency plan if everything fell apart, if the herd was crushed into nothing by the Olde herd. However, he found this to be the unlikely outcome. He doubted an outright win on either side, both would be the losers, but one side just a bit more so. Everyone would suffer the price for pride, even the foolish Exiles such as this one before him, getting involved in a fight that wasn't his own. If not for the fire that consumed Ryder's home, Cain could only imagine that the island was hospitable enough and it was better to be independent of tyranny than to return to one's own ancestral homeland. What ties did the current exiles have to the Isle of Olde, anyhow? Again, pride brought bloodshed. It always would. However, Cain would never fully grasp the idea of herd loyalty. Or loyalty period. He had spent his life being capricious, and while he was making an attempt to understand it for the sake of mimicry, there was no loyalty in him save to the idea of his mother.
Still foolish. Cain couldn't help but think as he watched Ryder smirk. His next thought he chose to speak aloud, his pale eyes staring intently into Ryder's, watching him, understanding what he felt. "But you - why would you sacrifice yourself to an intangible cause, especially since you have just brought new life into this world? Wouldn't it be better to step away, and make sure that you continue to live for him? It is a hard life, having little direction, and you can make no promises for his mother. The only choices you can make are your own." Cain murmured, arching a brow, cocking his head slightly. He knew from experience, raising himself. He often wondered how things might have been different if he hadn't of been ripped from his mother so early, if he had even had a herd to fall back on.
Yet, as he spoke, he continued to watch. Cain felt Ryder's determination ramp up, and it felt like a heat rising from him. He watched the other horse gain speed, charging at him, and made the decision he thought was best. His legs crumpled beneath him and he dropped to the ground in Ryder's path, his head tucked in low. Cain protected his appendages as best as he could and braced for impact, in the case that Ryder couldn't clear him in time. Part of him hoped he wouldn't, so he could cut the legs out from under him and send the Exile stallion sprawling. Though he was no war hero, Cain knew an opponent on its back was as good as done.
Word Count:// 500 |
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blueunicornj13
Exile Herd
We don't have a choice to stay. We'd rather die than do it your way.
Posts: 265
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Post by blueunicornj13 on Nov 18, 2014 19:52:07 GMT -5
Ryder glanced at the other stallion. His emotionless mask made it near impossible to tell what he was thinking, making Ryder frown. He had met horses who disliked showing emotions in fear that it would make them vulnerable and weak, but he had a feeling it was more than that with Cain. It looked as if the stallion's brain was working a million miles an hour to find solutions to every problem that may or may not exist. Ryder supposed that it was tough being a leader especially to a herd that obviously didn't trust you. Everyone seemed to have their own opinions of the Bachelor's new leader, and most of them weren't good. Cain appeared to be the right sort of horse to lead these brutes though. He was quick witted enough to out-think any of the well muscled stallions of the herd that probably thought only of the broods that they despised so much and which horse they'd gang up on next. He shook his head. This herd was the most perplexing of them all that was for certain. Ryder didn't understand how such a herd could function at all let alone make others coward at the sight of the x-scars that marked their faces.
At Cain's words, Ryder furrowed his brow before speaking. "My son is the reason why I chose to fight in this war. I want to make this world better for him, and the only horses I trust to do that is myself and his mother. I know I can't promise either of our safeties, but at least I'll know that I helped to make a safer world for him in the end.... at least I hope so," he said with a worried expression that he quickly shook off. Ryder wanted nothing more than to protect his family, and he knew war wasn't exactly as safe way to ensure their safety, but this situation needed to be sorted out and dealt with. The Exiles were homeless and stuck in the middle of a war that wasn't their own, and the brown paint hoped to ensure a bit of hope that they could return to living under the Bachelor's rule after all of this ended because he knew for a fact that Vasska wouldn't take a single one of them in after this war. He hated the Exiles with a passion and probably wouldn't mind at all if they all died in this war.
As Ryder charged forward, he saw his opponent crumple to the ground in front of him. Confusion filled him as he tried his hardest to leap over the fallen horse, but it had been too late. Ryder's back legs caught on Cain's body, causing him to tumble over the stallion. The air rushed out of his lungs as he made contact with the ground. The Exile horse sighed in frustration. He should have seen that coming. If he wanted to win this war for his son, he needed to be sharper and more alert to his opponent.
Word Count: 506
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Post by ponybones on Nov 24, 2014 13:29:30 GMT -5
He felt an instant jolt of pain as Ryder's legs left the ground a bit too late, his front hooves clearing Cain's body but the back hooves catching his spine. Cain didn't have much in the way of protection, neither muscle nor fat, he was simply lean. He also rolled with the force of impact, however just slightly, and quickly lurched to his knees again. His back felt warm and he saw that two bits of skin were missing from it and blood was starting to trickle down. Cain's ears went back a bit, feeling a little put out. Looking over at Ryder, he sighed. "There will be no safer world in the end. We will always find some way to hurt each other, if we have learned anything from our histories." He said as he walked over to the sprawled out Ryder, analyzing him carefully, eyes searching the paint's face. "I always found it best to stay out of the way. But none of us can resist the call of duty, apparently." Cain said absently. More like the call of power, of destruction. Cain thought to himself. How did they come to be this way, he had to wonder. Each and every horse that was going to be on the battlefield in the coming days was going to wish this wasn't the case, that they were somewhere else, somewhere safe. All but the sociopaths that were utterly fueled by hate, such as Brutus perhaps. Yet here they were, marching forth to kill each other. It was almost comical.
He waited for Ryder to right himself again, but made sure to put himself between Ryder and the pond that they had started at, if to do nothing but make it a bit more challenging. Water wasn't a terribly abundant thing in the mainland, and so Cain didn't want the other to depend upon it. Nor was it useful to Cain, except to learn what to expect. The Bachelor king pranced in place anxiously, trying to keep his feet from the ground. He wanted to be able to move quickly, in the case of another charge. He wanted to wear his opponent down, as it was the only thing he could do. Curiosity was tickling at the back of his mind though, making him ask, "what is the best outcome that you see from this war? What is it that you hope to happen?"
Word Count:// 404 |
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blueunicornj13
Exile Herd
We don't have a choice to stay. We'd rather die than do it your way.
Posts: 265
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Post by blueunicornj13 on Nov 24, 2014 14:06:57 GMT -5
Ryder grunted as he stood. He took deep, even breaths to regain some of the air he had lost in the fall. The spots on his body that had scraped the ground felt warm, and when he looked down, the large scar on his chest seemed to have gained a new scratch that bled lightly. The red liquid dripped onto the ground below him, making him snort quietly. So much for all that time he had spent cleaning and wrapping this scar. It seemed that the spot was like a magnet that was constantly being scraped at. As the other horse spoke, Ryder lifted his gaze toward him. He was a little surprised by the move that Cain had chosen, but he wasn't exactly sure why he was. Cain was manipulative and smart, and Ryder had to assume that any moves he chose would reflect that. "It might not be, but there is a chance that it could be made better, at least until the Exiles can return to the Southern island," he said, thinking of his mate and son. They both meant so much to him, and he hated to think of them being in so much pain because nature had decided that it was their time to be thrown into the mess that was the Bachelors and Olde.
As his opponent scampered away from him once more, Ryder readied himself, shaking out his curly mane. He noticed the blood that trickled down Cain's back, and a small smirk crossed his lips. At least he had been able to wound him after all of that. "The best thing I see happening after this war is over is maybe a place for the Exiles to stay until we can return home. Even if it is split apart between the Olde and the Bachelors, it would be better than nothing. What about you? I'm sure you've got something that you hope to happen," he said, curious to see what Cain would say.
Ryder let his mind drift away from the water. Obviously that wasn't always the way to go, and it wouldn't work every time on the battlefield anyways. His ears flattened against his skull as he charged once more at the prancing stallion. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him until he was a few feet away. The Exile scout slowed slightly as he jumped to Cain's left side. Ryder kicked out with his front hooves, hitting the Bachelor in the side with just enough force to possibly knock him down.
Word Count: 424
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