The loud crack of colliding antlers echoed, followed by the frenzied thud of hoofbeats, panting breaths...and a pained grunt. Their gazes met, both pawed the ground in time with the other, then lowered their heads and charged again. One of them lowered his head further, his velvet-covered antler catching his opponent in the shoulder, digging deep before ripping swiftly through flesh.
As abruptly as it had started, it was over. The now-injured buck, his shoulder dripping blood down his side, stumbled out of the clearing, crashing off through the trees.
A shock of red trickled down the victor's antler, still covered in velvety skin, a somewhat-grisly testament to his win. Pawing at the ground, he threw back his head, the crimson stain drying slowly, changing from bright red to a more sedate reddish-brown stain of blood on velvet.