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He hadn't calculated the factor that another being would interfere with his meticulous planning, so when his older brother, of all creatures, flew from the shadows and in front of his aimed target, the skinwalker was caught off guard, yet had no time to fall back onto a secondary course of action, his mind and claws already set into motion for his next attack.

Snarling as his target was now blocked from physical range of reach, the coyote lashed out to strike the being that had gotten in the way. If Pyre was going to be a damn idiot and ruin not only Smolder's plans but endanger his own life, then Smolder would give him the death the Nightmare was apparently and silently begging for, the moment he decided to defend this old black and white stallion.

He felt the burning sensation on the tip of his nose before the smell of singed hair even reached his sensitive nostrils. A frustrated howl escaped from between his lips as he faltered sideways. The force of the attack had yet to be dissolved, so the coyote found that same force impacting him, as the original blunt force hadn't been able to fully find its way onto the stallion due to the unforeseen flames, causing the smaller being to topple. He caught himself and rolled to the side, regaining his footing and balance, the cruel sneer returning on his face. Oh, how he'd make that b*****d PAY. He'd always been the one blessed with fire, but now Smolder himself was granted the same opportunity, and he had every intention of using it against his brother in any way, shape or form that he could.

Letting out another snarl, red eyes watched the two stallions, waiting to see what they would attempt to do next, before he himself would decide his next course of action.

He had expected the charge out of Pyre, at least, but certainly not out of this old excuse for a stallion.

Taking a step back in surprise, the young coyote remained as he was, baring his teeth and claws at the hoofed oppressor. What that old steed was thinking, he didn't know, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Remaining poised for attack, he stood there, waiting. Did the dark stallion think he could take on a skinwalker, of all things? And what was Pyre thinking, trailing behind like some dutiful foal? Where was his spirit for fighting, or did he leave that behind when he was attacked by this monster, who, unbeknownst to him, was of his own flesh and blood.

He would let him pass, but only to see what he was up to. Then he would finish this old stallion off, and his brother at the same time.


He heard the ruckus in the distance, before he saw the flames flickering in the distance.

He trotted faster, and the flames increased in size with every step. Grim hadn't the faintest idea what was going on, but if the forest was ablaze with a multitude of flames that refused to burn down the trees they flickered next to, something suspicious was happening, and the unicorn wasn't about to allow these suspicions to continue while Nos remained pregnant in that same forest.

But wait... was that Nostalgia's friend Draven, as well, among those flames? What in the hell was he doing out here, this late at night?

He snarled as he heard the older stallion talk to his brother. There most definitely was some sort of plan afoot, and he'd be damned if he were to fall into any sort of trickery that some old geezer could come up with.

The dark stallion's head lowered, as if he were a bull ready to charge. While Smolder knew he had the upperhand against one of them, the weight alone of a stallion compared to that of a coyote's was far from equal.

As the stallion drew closer, Smolder waited until the last second to dodge the running stallion, and lashed out with a claw, almost feline-like, in attempts to strike out as the older being passed by. Well, he might not be able to kill off the old horse, but he could at least take care of Pyre!

His attention turned back towards his slightly older sibling, his mouth foaming from the exertion his muscles were giving out, along with the slowly increasing adrenaline rush going through his veins. It was time for Pyre to die.


He saw Draven appear on the outskirts of the forest, the flames still blazing behind him.

Grim had no idea what to do, but by the look of things, knew he had to do something.

The dark stallion drew close, though kept a fair distance away, pending whatever was to come out of that forest behind Draven. He couldn't be a help to his mate's friend if he himself caught himself in the same danger that the other stallion had done. He heard snarls, which perked his ears up. Was that... a dog of some kind? Why would a dog be attacking a perfectly healthy horse that no doubt weighed ten times as much as it did? And to top it off, weren't dogs scared of fire? If so, then why in the world would one be lurking in the forest, so close to the flames Grim could see leap out from within the trees?

(( Summary of the end written with Cuter's permission. ))

The rest had played out like a scene in a movie, passing so quickly that he wasn't sure what had happened until he found himself stirring from the ground moments later. He could hear something sizzling and the smell of smoke lingering in the air, rain falling lightly on his coat as he rolled to stand.

"Careful..." He leaned down, offering Pyre what support he could as the other made his way to his hooves. He had declined the healing of anything but his burns, insisting instead that Grim take care of Pyre. "That Skinwalker got you pretty good."

"... Skinwalker?" His brow furrowed as he opened his eyes, regaining his footing as he searched his mind for the last thing he remembered. He had heard Draven's warning but it had come too late, the coyote was already on him with claws and fangs and then...

"Grim, the unicorn who healed you, is the mate of a dear friend of mine... Skinwalkers are very dangerous creatures. If it hadn't been for him you and I would have been in trouble." He nodded slowly, taking a step back so that he could see how well Pyre could stand on his own.

He shook his head slowly, clearing the last of the fuzz before tilting his head to look up at Draven. "What happened?" He had obviously missed something; something rather big.

"The skinwalker turned on you." He said that as if, somehow, he was apologizing. He had thought at first, after all, that the thing had been with Pyre... "You gave it a pretty good toss, I'll give you that much..." He nodded slowly once he was certain that Pyre was fine, turning to head back towards home. Kochu was bound to be worrying by now. "Come on."

"Huh?" He glanced up, both brows lofting. "What do you mean, come on?"

He looked back over his shoulder. "Just that. I won't leave you here and my mate will be worried... As will my daughters, no doubt." He paused for a moment. "I owe my life to you, Pyre. The least I can do is guard yours as you recover. I have a feeling this isn't the last we've seen of that skinwalker..."