The coyote was just trying to get through the ride. Just trying to wait it out because soon he would be able to put his paws back on solid ground and find someplace quiet and dark and safe to hide his hurting head.
He had to keep thinking of soon or he would end up trying to get off the horse right now.
He was feeling... not good. Scared. His heart was thumping too hard, blood racing too fast, and he could feel the slight-heavy warmth of the wet, matted fur on the back of his head. Bleeding. There was the scent of blood --of bloods, Kaitanu was also bleeding and the dead fox had bled too-- and that made his teeth mash together as if the blood meant danger.
Danger. There was something else. He wasn't feeling good. Jittery. Head swimming. He really wanted down now. He had to stop his paws from tensing beneath him. Something wasn't right. He could smell Kaitanu, and Kaitanu also smelled like fear, and the scent was setting him off even though he knew his dogs were nearby. He could feel the muscles of the horse-shifter's back tensing up beneath him, as if the strong horse legs below were preparing for something. Preparing to run. He tried to lay still.
Then came the unexpected, almost shocking sound of angry horse-noises, not from Kaitanu but from some other animal, and the coyote twitched and lifted his head, creaking his burning eyes open. He looked over at the angry newcomer, and felt the fur rise all along his back.
What it was he didn't know, but it was not a horse.
It looked like a horse but it smelled all wrong. Blood and meat. A meat-eater. A predator. The not-horse --the blood-horse-- raised a lip and the coyote caught the shape of bloodied fangs where flat-shaped horse teeth should be. These were teeth for ripping and tearing and attacking, not for grazing.
No, it was not like a horse. It was much worse.
The coyote's human-form mind told him hold still much as Kai was doing, but animal instincts urged him to move, body struggling up into a higher position, and he gave the blood-horse a show of his own sharp teeth, hackles raised and ears flat back to his pounding aching skull.
When he snarled, his dogs began to echo the sound.
The horse-thing was making a noise much like a growl too.
It was looking away, at his dogs which were drawing close, he could hear the the sound ripping from their throats. His sharp bark was a warning --too forceful-- that made his head creak with pain and his light-hurt eyes water. The blood-horse flicked its ears towards him and stamped the ground.
That was enough. His dogs tore from the grasses, dashing close to the not-horse, snapping their teeth, daring the creature to attack. They split as they ran, looping one on each of its sides, circling behind and around, just near enough to annoy. Attracting its attention. They were feinting back, trying to draw it away, back into the deeper grass. Whether they planned to attack it or just lure it the coyote didn't know.
He knew he had to do something, though, move, do anything. Without thinking he shifted human, just wanting to be larger, not a target. He quickly lost his balance on the Kai-horse's back. All he could do was try to fall on his feet and when he slid and fell he hit hard, stumbling to the ground.
For a moment Kyo was lost there, headache and sunlight jarring, crouched with his arms coming up as if to protect his head and shoulders. He didn't know where the blood-mare was exactly but it was still nearby, the grass rustling in bursts as the dogs and horse-thing chased around, close enough for him to feel the brush of the moving grass against his arms and back. Too close. He found his feet, shaking all over, legs unsteady beneath him. A hand went out and found a place on Kaitanu's pale shoulder to keep him up. Then he was gripping hard and trying to walk, no, trying to run, the anticipation of sharp hooves falling over him as heavy as the shadow of the rearing mare behind.
Somehow he got out of there without being trampled.
Stumbling and running. Moving towards the tents. Any attempt to make him stop or slow would be met with an unthinking tug on Kaitanu's arm, and with a glance from blue human eyes suddenly as wild as a frightened animal's.
Panic carried him back to the safety of the tents. Out in the grass there were still signs of disturbance. Kyo noticed for the first time that he was still carrying the fox, snatched into his free hand. He dropped it, put blood-stained fingers to his mouth and whistled, catching his dogs' attention, hoping they would run away from the city and the bad-horse. Then his legs wobbled out and he fell to his knees.
On the ground, he struggled with controlling his breathing as his heart clutched in his chest. There was a whooshing noise in his ears and a high sound like a phantom of the whistle he had made. He cupped one hand to his heart, one to his head, and tried to blink the black dots from his smarting eyes.
OOCIf you hadn't noticed, Kyo doesn't do well with things he doesn't understand. For instance, a head injury coupled with an unknown predator horse. ^_^ Can you say adrenaline rush?
Also sorry if this is crap, I'm trying not to be too rusty coming back in.
