Halloweendonkey
The day had been rainy during hours, but now the sun tried to show its nose between the clouds and the judges had decided to start the race before the rain fall again. Several fawnlings were awaiting the start, ready to join the line in the hills. No starting gate that day, but just a line in the grass, made of white paint, half erased by the elements. The ground was soaked, slippy, but nothing a fawnling couldn’t handle. The jockeys jumped on the back of their mount of the day, excited and yet worried, hoping no one would slip and fall. Fortunately the grass was tall and luxuriant, the wouldn’t risk so much serious injuries.
Darwin and tormento, finally together after several show separated, was as close as usual, waiting patiently the top. At their site Shine and Zea, pretty and yet looking annoyed by the rain, was waiting as well, and in last Tip toe was playing innocent, as usual. Darwin and Tormento didn’t really liked the dark stag. He had something false. They never knew what he was planning behind his eternal smiles. They focused on the trace in front of them, today the race was almost straight, but they had to climb the hills, and with the rain the difficulty would be to stay on their legs more than distance.
Hayleyfawns
Shine and Zea were back on the racetrack again. Many wondered why Zea’s owners still brought her back. She was a fast doe, but her stamina wasn't so great...nor was her balance. Hopefully she wouldn't slip in this bad weather and turn an already dreary raceday into a disaster. Shine was a decent competitor, nothing great but definitely more long lasting and graceful than Zea. The blue-hued doe was eyeballing her competition from the other stables. She'd been up against Darwin and Tormento in many competitions. They were familiar faces. However, Tip Toe was new...and she was uncertain about him.
Zea slipped into the gate, on the rail much to her jockey's dismay. The rail was the muddiest and wettest part of the track...not a good place for a clumsy fawnling to be. Shine was on the outside and she offered no resistance as she was loaded up. Darwin and Tormento would be loaded in the second and third slots, leaving Tip Toe to enter the third. Shine’s head turned as she awaited the stag’s arrival. She had ever intention of looking him dead in the eye, a clear challenge.
Halloweendonkey:
The three stags in line were ready to go, focused on the track before them, hoping for the best. The hill would be a challenge for sure, but they were ready. Tip toe felt the gaze of the doe on him and turned the head a little, meeting her dark eyes. Snorting, amused, he focused back on the race to come, amused by her temptative to impress him… But not impressed at all! He was used to deal with Cursed fire, so no, the doe wasn’t much a threat for him.
The doors opened, and all jumped out like devils of a box, but still keeping a reasonable speed to not slip in the mud. All but Tormento, who always missed a step, but managed to keep his pace and run as fast as possible despite the soaked soil. Darwin made a grimace. It was so uncomfortable! The hooves were heavy, glued in the mud, stopping them and making them slowing down. Jockeys quickly realised the left behind would take all the mud threw by the first ones, and no one wanted it, so all tried to keep a good place.
Hayleyfawns
Shine was irritated and discouraged by the stag’s response, or lack of more like it. Why was nobody intimidated by her!? She didn't have time to dwell upon it too long though as the gates suddenly flew open. Snorting in surprise, the lilac doe hurled herself into action. Zea was already struggling. Typically the piebald doe went straight for the lead, but the rail wasn't treating her so well.
Her jockey had no choice but to pull her up and let everyone pass them, so that they could swing to the outside. Zea wasn't so happy about the faceful of mud being slung her way but once she finally got off the rail she found her stride. The champagne doe sped up, trying to play a game of catch-up now. Shine was neck and neck between Tormento and Darwin. Tip Toe was directly alongside her left flank, which made her nervous. She didn't trust the stag one bit. There was something in his eyes that made her nervous..
Halloweendonkey:
Darwin didn’t realized Zea almost missed the start of the race but wouldn’t have been surprised. The doe usually did, too much in hurry to take the first place. He was more worried about Shine. As usual she was shoulder against shoulder with him and Tormento, the trio was often together, running at the same speed. Tip Toe was the fourth of their little band, all focused on the race… All but Tormento, maybe. The young stag had a weakness for Shine, and more they saw each other, more he had difficulties to fight against her.
At his jockey big rage he slowed down, joining Zea behind. Not the last, but clearly giving the potential victory to the dark doe. Tip toe snorted with humor, a little disgusted by his stablemate behavior, and rushed forward. The mud was slippery, he risked to fall at each moment but he didn’t cared. He didn’t wanted lose against Darwin and Tormento, neither that doe who dared try to impress him ! His jockey tried to slow him down, to not take the risk to take the hill at full speed, but Tip Toe refused to listened.
Hayleyfawns
Shine’s purply eyes rolled over towards Tormento as he began to slow down. Pfff, silly stag! He was giving her the win!? All those stags were the same. Flirt around a little bit with them and they're head over heels! Ah well, it was literally his loss. Now she just had Darwin and Tip Toe to worry about. Neither of these stags had connection to her and neither were about to just hand the win to her like sweet little Tormento had. Tip Toe had gained a little ground, now neck-and-neck with her and darwin . It was going to be yet another close race.
Zea was gaining ground, but she didn't have so much hope of having enough energy to win, nevermind place. This mucky weather just wasn't good for her. She was surprised when Tormento suddenly slowed to join her. The doe blinked at him curiously, wondering what his reasoning might be. She was unaware of his connection to Shine. A little fire blazed in the doe's blue and green eyes again. Even if she couldn't win, maybe she could keep from getting dead last! Her mission was to beat Tormento now. He was such a sweet stag though! Hopefully if she did win he wouldn't take it personally?
Halloweendonkey:
The grass was really slippery, and the hooves of the fawnlings slipped a lot, threatening the balance of the runners. They tried to keep going, but it was more and more difficult. Soon their legs were covered with mud, heavy, and each step was more difficult than the one before. But they kept running, more or less quickly. Tormento had obviously abandon the race. His jockey, Requiem this day, desperately tried to push him again, but all hopes were lost. One gaze from Shine and the heart of the soft stag had been lost. He didn’t even minded lose against Zea and take the last place!
Tip Toe and Darwin didn’t wanted abandon. Tip Toe had more facilities thought, his long legs and light feature allowing to avoid more mud than Darwin, whose each step was digging deeply the grass. The purple stag started to lose some speed despite his efforts, but he kept running, again and again, clenching the teeth as he tried to accelerate. From the judges place the race looked rather slow. But on the fawnlings side it was a storm, soil flying everywhere, the smell of their sweat, the sound of their hooves and their heavy breath. Darwin was thinking that even race on the sand of the beach was preferable to that !
Hayleyfawns
Zea wasn't sure if Tormento had given up completely, if he was being nice to her and letting her win, or if he just couldn't keep up the pace in this nasty weather. Whatever the case, she didn't care! The piebald doe pulled away from him now, streaking along as fast as she could manage. At least she wasn't last! Upon glancing back briefly she noticed that Tormento seem to just not want to run today. He didn't look tired. His heart must just not be in the race today! Zea looked back to Shine, Tip Toe, and Darwin. She had no hopes of catching them, but maybe she could close the gap so it wasn't quite as humiliating a defeat.
Shine smirked as she noticed Darwin beginning to fall behind, bit by bit. The shorter-legged stag was obviously struggling in this mud. He strained to keep up, but it was just too much. His endurance faded before long and suddenly it was a match race between Shine and Tip Toe. They careened around the long curve of the home stretch, speeding increasing as they prepared to put everything they had into the race. Stag and doe watched one another, neither looking away as they ran neck and neck.
Halloweendonkey:
Darwin refused to give up, but he had to admit he couldn’t keep up with the pair. Shine and Tip Toe, advantaged by their light physical, were literally flying above the mud… He tried still to do his best, Zea behind him. He wouldn’t let the third place so easily! Tormento may had abandoned the race, it wasn’t his case! Breathing deeply, the nostrils open as taste of blood filled his mouth, he was giving all he could to at least steal a third place.
On his side Tormento finally realised the race wasn’t done yet. Shine was first, or second he couldn’t tell, so he didn’t had to worry much about that. But if he was close to her, he wasn’t of Zea! Why he had let her take the head of the race? He had no idea. But it was finished, and he would try to at least not finish last. It was a little late now, the race was almost done, but he couldn’t let Shine think he wasn’t a good one! So, rushing a sudden, almost throwing his jockey away, he jumped forward to join Zea and Darwin.
Neck to neck with Shine Tip Toe was showing a little of his fighter personality. He wanted the first place, and was doing all he had for it. Each of his steps was a jump sending him closer of the goal, closer to the victory. Let Shine win? NO WAY!
Hayleyfawns
Zea tried her best to bear down upon Darwin, but it wasn't enough. The stag continued to run in front of her and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get past him. Then, movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention. Oh no! She couldn't get last! Straining, Zea tried her best to ward off Tormento. He was still full of energy though and seemed to have gotten his head back into the game. The fresher stag passed both of them up and now the tides had turned. Zea and Darwin now fought for fourth, rather than third.
Shine and Tip Toe were too far ahead for Tormento to catch them. It was down to the two of them. In the end they flashed across the wire, neck and neck. A photo would have to announce the winner there! Tormento sealed third place. Zea and Darwin were too close to tell. It was a close race all around!
