Short story under cut.

***

Oh, brilliant. Bring it on. I'm ready for it.

Hooves digging into the dust.
Nostrils widened, gasping for air.
Eyes keen on the target.

Charge.

The antler crown hit against the other's similar one with a loud bang. The two majestetic animals wrestled their heads, pushing and pulling and twisting to win over the other. Then they broke off, stepped back and got ready for the next round.

Charge.
Bang.
Clacking noise.
Snouts, antlers and hooves scrapping against the dirt, pulling grass off its roots and up in the air when they pulled up or changed position.

The two stags had their eyes locked, a challenging contact that they did not break even when they pulled back again for the round three. They barely blinked at impact when their crowns hit one another once more.

This time, the older stag's tactical twisting motion took the younger by surprise, imbalanced him and threw him to ground. Their antlers were still knotted together, so when the younger fell, he pulled the older with him. In a cloud of dust, the two stumbled back up, snorting out the sand and dust from their airways.

When the cloud settled, they both shook the dust off their pelts and the older bent his legs to a gracious bow.
The younger followed, a little deeper to show his humility; he had lost and he didn't hold any grudge over it. A fair fight.

The older spoke as he stood up again.
”You're growing stronger. I doubt I'll win again.”

The younger drew back his left ear and tilted his head.
”Sir, you fight well. There is more to it than just the strength. You have experience, I am just a novice. You will win once again.”

”Once, perhaps,” the older chuckled in a warm, gentle tone, ”but that'll be the end of it. However, I'll still enjoy a bath after a fight. Will you honour me by joining?”

The younger nodded his head and they turned back, walking side by side off the scene of their battle. What they left behind was a field torn apart by their strong bodies, worse damaged than the competitors were bruised, and the lighter dust still hanging in the air that made sunrays visible.
The dust glittered like a thousand stars for a moment before wind carried it away and broke it apart.