Bitterroot Valley tragische

She felt him when he pushed up next to her, the pair of them finally running side by side. The malguk wanted to keep pushing herself forward, her pride riding her to not be the first one to yield, but her muscles were screaming with every movement, and her lungs were beginning to burn. She was afraid her body might force her to stop if she didn't make the decision on her own soon, which would be a hundred times worse than being the first to slow her pace. 

Still, stubborn as ever, she pushed herself a little more before finally deciding to give her body what it had been begging for. She began to slow until she eventually stopped, her breaths coming out in heavy pants making her chest expand and deflate over and over as white puffs formed around her snowy muzzle. After the few moments it took to collect herself enough to speak, she looked up from the ground to inspect the state of her opponent.