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Description
** I am writing Stories for all horses that are standing in for competitors, since there were odd numbers for both EBS and UPFA horses. **
VS

The thrum of the crowd was muffled by the boom of loudspeakers. The announcer's voice was drowned out, however, by the swirling thoughts and concentration that caused Ex Ira to pin her ears to her neck. She heard her name over the speakers, one ear twitched at the mention of her competitor. He seemed to have an extravagantly long name, she mused. Her handler gripped her lead and tugged on it annoyingly as she snorted, pawing the earth. Clods of hard dirt flew against her belly and she twitched in anticipation. She saw her rival across the arena at the other gate and locked eyes with him, chomping angrily at her muzzle and handler. The two horses were led to the open gates on the opposite ends of the arena and Ex Ira's muzzle and halter were removed. Both horses bounded forward towards the Facing Board that separated them, with the handlers quickly shutting and latching the gates behind them. Ira slammed her full weight against the facing board, biting angrily at the chainlink that rose off the wooden base of the board. Her competetor hissed loudly, rattling his manes as he too roared and snapped at the board, centimeters from Ira's snarling face. The board shook as the two 16 hand Ballators threw themselves at it, and then the foghorn sounded the end of the alloted 30-second-facing period and the board was raised.
Ira ducked under it as soon as she could squeeze her lithe body beneath the wooden frame; her nostrils flared red as she curled her lip, lunging at Alethius with an open maw. He lunged in response, latching onto her backmane at an attempt to grab at her neck. Exa squealed as he began to pull her, shaking his head violently; the glint of his helmet in the bright indoor lighting caused her to squint. Bucking up with her back legs, she launched into the air, tearing her mane from the stallion's mouth, course hairs flying as she did so. The two horses turned and wheeled, rearing and snapping, studded shoes landing blows on each other, causing bruises and lacerations. This stallion was evenly matched for Ira, which was a welcome change, as recently she had been matched against weaker mares. She welcomed a powerful stallion as a competitor, but she refused to lose to him.
It was time for a change of tactic; something to spice things up. In the throws of a rear, Ira ducked down, ramming the stallion in the chest with her curling, thick horns. The stallion sucked in a breath, stumbling backwards as Ira dug her hooves into the earth, ramming his now-exposed side and pushing him as he fought to face her again. Ears pinned, Alethius snaked his head down and took hold of Ira's forelimb, digging his fangs into the warm flesh. The first real blood of the competition was spilled, and it was Ira's. She screamed in pain and anger, backing up rapidly as blood pumped from the wound; but Alethius didn't waste a moment. Now, with his breath regained, he attacked full-force, aiming kicks at the sore leg and biting at Ira's face. The tawny mare has a brief moment of panic as her rump hit the fence, but she could hear her handler yelling and encouraging her. She ran forward, head down, and the bluish stallion quickly shied out of the way of the two tall spikes on Ira's horns, though one grazed his already-bruised side. Ira spun, legs tense, as the stallion and her faced again, both panting and sweating and bleeding.
"Let's end this." She hissed.

(602 words)
Rewards for each horse:
+6 Stats for story
+3 Stats for Sketch
+ AS for entry

Description
** I am writing Stories for all horses that are standing in for competitors, since there were odd numbers for both EBS and UPFA horses. **
VS

The thrum of the crowd was muffled by the boom of loudspeakers. The announcer's voice was drowned out, however, by the swirling thoughts and concentration that caused Ex Ira to pin her ears to her neck. She heard her name over the speakers, one ear twitched at the mention of her competitor. He seemed to have an extravagantly long name, she mused. Her handler gripped her lead and tugged on it annoyingly as she snorted, pawing the earth. Clods of hard dirt flew against her belly and she twitched in anticipation. She saw her rival across the arena at the other gate and locked eyes with him, chomping angrily at her muzzle and handler. The two horses were led to the open gates on the opposite ends of the arena and Ex Ira's muzzle and halter were removed. Both horses bounded forward towards the Facing Board that separated them, with the handlers quickly shutting and latching the gates behind them. Ira slammed her full weight against the facing board, biting angrily at the chainlink that rose off the wooden base of the board. Her competetor hissed loudly, rattling his manes as he too roared and snapped at the board, centimeters from Ira's snarling face. The board shook as the two 16 hand Ballators threw themselves at it, and then the foghorn sounded the end of the alloted 30-second-facing period and the board was raised.
Ira ducked under it as soon as she could squeeze her lithe body beneath the wooden frame; her nostrils flared red as she curled her lip, lunging at Alethius with an open maw. He lunged in response, latching onto her backmane at an attempt to grab at her neck. Exa squealed as he began to pull her, shaking his head violently; the glint of his helmet in the bright indoor lighting caused her to squint. Bucking up with her back legs, she launched into the air, tearing her mane from the stallion's mouth, course hairs flying as she did so. The two horses turned and wheeled, rearing and snapping, studded shoes landing blows on each other, causing bruises and lacerations. This stallion was evenly matched for Ira, which was a welcome change, as recently she had been matched against weaker mares. She welcomed a powerful stallion as a competitor, but she refused to lose to him.
It was time for a change of tactic; something to spice things up. In the throws of a rear, Ira ducked down, ramming the stallion in the chest with her curling, thick horns. The stallion sucked in a breath, stumbling backwards as Ira dug her hooves into the earth, ramming his now-exposed side and pushing him as he fought to face her again. Ears pinned, Alethius snaked his head down and took hold of Ira's forelimb, digging his fangs into the warm flesh. The first real blood of the competition was spilled, and it was Ira's. She screamed in pain and anger, backing up rapidly as blood pumped from the wound; but Alethius didn't waste a moment. Now, with his breath regained, he attacked full-force, aiming kicks at the sore leg and biting at Ira's face. The tawny mare has a brief moment of panic as her rump hit the fence, but she could hear her handler yelling and encouraging her. She ran forward, head down, and the bluish stallion quickly shied out of the way of the two tall spikes on Ira's horns, though one grazed his already-bruised side. Ira spun, legs tense, as the stallion and her faced again, both panting and sweating and bleeding.
"Let's end this." She hissed.

(602 words)
Rewards for each horse:
+6 Stats for story
+3 Stats for Sketch
+ AS for entry