Class A Race #4

[Zen]

Kenessia :: Green Nimiath

After hearing that Aslith had strained himself in his own race, Kenessia chewed her lip in worry as she sat atop Nimiath, waiting with the other racers as B'rax repeated the rules for the group. She knew Rachel and Aslith had been working hard to bring candidates back to Mavros, and so had she and Nimi for that matter. She didn't think Nimiath was overworked from their duties, but even as the prepared for the start of the race, she considered pulling out of it.

I am fine. Aslith and his rider are away more than we are. Kenessia wasn't certain, How do you know? That I am fine or that Aslith is away more? Well. Both I suppose. Nimiath snorted, I asked Leviath's about it, if you must know. R'zon? Oh... well.... Nimiath shuffled her wings, Everyone is ready to start. Are we joining them or not? Biting her lip once more, Kenessia nodded decisively, All right, let's do it. Just don't take any unnecessary risks. I'd rather come in dead last than have you hurt. A rush of reassurance and love met her, I will be careful.

And with that the green lifted into the air with the others and awaited Gamath's bugle to start. This should be easy enough. Four of the others are barely graduated. Kenessia chided her, Don't get cocky, Nimi, that just means they have more to prove. With an agreeable rumble, the green focused on the bronze at the cliff's edge, and a moment later his bugle sounded and Kenessia grabbed at her straps as she darted forward.

OOC: Same as last time! There is no posting order (other than that I will start each round) and you can feel free to have your character take the lead or whatever, and of course feel free to maneuver the unclaimed NPCs in the race however you like as well. After Round 3 is over, I will randomize the finishing order and post to end the race. Everyone will be free to make a final post if they wish. Only RACERS should be posting here! You are free to post spectators in the spectator thread HERE.

Racers
Haella of Green Tsulocanth (Alyx )
C'mor of Blue Zardilath (@kiba )
Kenessia of Green Nimiath (claimed by Zen )
R'naus of Blue Hiyacraith (claimed by Esko )
Kayla of Green Dionorath (claimed by Taxx )
A'vel of Green Fealaketh (NPC)

[Alyx]

Haella and Green Tsulocanth

Haella could barely stay in her seat/ With Tsulocanth was dancing all over the place like she was, Haella was starting to think she’d have better luck racing a wild wher. The redhead tightened her legs until her thighs almost ached, the Green making it impossible to think about anything other than trying to stay in the straps. ‘Tully! Stop it.’ The Green was all wiggles, wings partly open and tail and feet all over the place. Her head weaved back and forth, her neck almost coiling like a tunnel snake. ‘Tully!!!’ The Green turned, rising up on her hind legs a little like a begging canine, and twisted her head to look back at her rider. Yes Yes Haella? Why are you shouting? Haella grabbed the straps, pulling herself against the dragon’s body. ‘Because I’m not strapped in and you are trying to kill me you daft little beast! Stop moving!’

Oh, sorry sorry!! Tsulocanth’s brought her forefeet back down, leveling her back out and ‘trying’ to stop wiggling long enough to let Haella finish strapping back in as B'rax called out the rules to them. This is going to be so much fun! I’m going to go soooo fast! Haella couldn’t help but smile, shaking her head as she checked everything over a second time. She didn’t want to risk getting tossed from the saddle when the Green launched off the starting line. Did Haella think they would win? Probably not – but it was the fun of it, and Tsulocanth seemed so happy when the races had been mentioned. How could she have said no to the Green?

I wanna go! Gogogogogo! ‘You have to wait.’ Tsulocanth began to dance again, her tail lashing around her feet. Shards, she was all Wiggles!!! Haella hoped the race would start soon before the prancing impatient Green took out one of her opponents with her fidgeting alone! Rachel and Aslith’s near drop out was still on her mind… she wanted to check on her mentor, but at the same time, she knew the Bluerider would probably be better left alone for the time being. If anyone was going to scold Rachel, she’d do it herself better than anyone else could.

Gamath's bugle sounded, and Tsulocanth’s slingshot launch jerked Haella into focus. GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!!!! ‘Tully!!!! Pace yourself!!’ Haella doubted the Green heard her as she surged forward into the pack of racers.

[Taxx]

Kayla, steady astride Dionorath, joined the line of racers at the starting line. Both were quiet, both watching Gamath and waiting for the signal to start. No words passed between them, just a confidence and surety of themselves- win or lose, Kayla knew that Dio would have given it her all, and Dio knew that Kayla would do everything possible to keep from causing Dio to lose. A solid connection and understanding linked the two, their minds so alike that they rarely were at odds, no matter what they were doing.

The bronze's roar rang out and Dionorath surged forward, Kayla gripping the straps tightly as the green lunged, quickly obtaining the lead. Kayla craned her head backward to see what the rest were doing; A'vel and Fealaketh were making a bold attempt to overtake them, and, without a word passed between them, Dio slowed her wingbeats to let the younger green have the lead. Let her wear herself out, foolish youngster. And then one of the others would take over. 

[Zen]

Kenessia :: Green Nimiath

Dionorath, Fealaketh, and Tsulocanth all pulled ahead of them quickly, but neither Nimiath nor Kenessia were entirely concerned about it just yet. The race had only just begun after all, and they weren't quite in last, as Zardilath claimed that position by no small distance already. Kenessia felt a bit bad for him, the big blue seemed more suited to racing against bronzes and browns than greens and fellow blues. If he won, it would only be because the rest of them worked themselves too hard at the start.

As the first big curve in the 'track' came up, Kenessia urged Nimi lower, where most of the others were keeping higher so as not to be blocked in by the water below, and they moved to outside of the pack to take make the curve a bit shorter and easier to take. As Nimiath rose in the air once more they all leveled out on a relatively straight stretch, they'd managed to steal all the way to second with the maneuver, with Fealaketh still in the lead. Tsulocanth and Dionorath were close behind, however.

OOC: Round 2 has begun! Fealaketh is in the lead~

[Alyx]

Haella and Green Tsulocanth

Haella really wasn’t sure who was in control of this race, but it wasn’t her. Tsulocanth’s chattering filled her head as the Green shot more into the front of the pack, making Haella doubt the Green was going to last the full race. ‘Tully! Take it easy, will you? There’s a lot of race still to go!’ But Fealaketh is leading, we need to catch her! ‘You have time to catch her, but if you use all your energy now, you won’t be able to stay ahead when you do!’ Haella leaned over her Green’s neck, shifting with Tsulocanth’s weight as the dragon banked and continued to chase the leaders full on.

Gogogogogo! Haella would have had better luck trying to tell a wall to stop being hard, or rain not to be wet. She sighed, tightening her grip on the straps that buckled her to the hyper racer, hoping she wouldn’t be joining Rachel in the care of the Dragonhealers. While she adored the bluerider, that was not how she wanted to spend the rest of her Gathering. ‘Tully, please….’ The Green bugled and twisted in the air, giving a playful roll as she tried to chase down Fealaketh. Gotta gogogogogogogo!

[Taxx]

Unlike Tsulocanth, Dionorath was still keeping her silence, even to her rider. There was no need for unnecessary squealing or chatter. They would fly their hardest, and if they won, excellent- if not, well, it was all in fun.

Rounding the turn, Dionorath went to the outside of the group, following Nimiath’s plan but staying well clear of the other green. When Nimiath edged ahead, however, Dio held her place, simply watching as the rest swept along; Tsulocanth was doing her best to catch up to Fealaketh and Nimiath, her wings beating at a frantic tempo before executing a mid-air roll. She was going to hurt herself at this rate, and Dionorath blinked an eye at the exciteable little green- but she said nothing.

Faster, was the agreed on thought, and Dionorath picked up the pace, closing in on Nimiath and Fealaketh. She did not try for the lead just yet, but she wasn’t going to let the rest forget she was there- silent as she might be, she was still in this to win.

[Zen]

Kenessia :: Green Nimiath

Tsulocanth's eagerness earned Nimiath's amusement, and as the younger green drew closer, Nimiath didn't try to stop her passing ahead of them. She's going to tire herself out like that. No harm letting her lead for a while. Hm. Just don't get cocky. Nimiath snorted, I'm only being nice. In that case, how very sweet of you. Nimiath rumbled amusement, keeping behind Tsulocanth and Fealaketh as the previously leading greenpair fell back to second, keeping close on Tsulocanth's tail.

Dionorath is closing in, Kenessia warned her with a glance behind them. We'll pull ahead soon. The cliffs end. Kenessia peered around her dragon's neck to see the end of the cliffs approaching ahead, open water stretching before them. Careful, Nimi. Don't strain yourself. Don't worry so much. I told you, I am fine. Nimiath swung wide as the cliffs passed behind them, putting on a burst of speed in attempt to pass both younger greens ahead of them, no longer concerned with what lay behind.

OOC: Round 3 has begun! Taxx Alyx Esko

[Alyx]

Haella and Green Tsulocanth

Haella was surprised Tsulocanth was holding up as well as she was; the young Green was holding her own, shifting positions between third and second with Kenessia and her Nimiath. She couldn’t tell if Tsulocanth was winded or not; she should be, but the little Green seemed to have hyper to spare. This is fun!! We should do this every week!! Haella shivered. ‘I don’t think my nerves could take this every week Tully.’ The Green laughed in her mind, the sound high and bright like a child seeing a rainbow for the first time.

Have fun, Haella! Fun is fun, it’s exciting and fresh and all sorts of wonderful, bouncy things! Bouncy things? What did that mean? Haella didn’t correct the Green, the smile slipping over the rider’s lips as the racing pack cleared into the open, the water stretching out under them. Nimiath seems to be making her move, slipping wide to move up in the ranks. Haella was sure Tully noticed, but did it really matter? The bright Green was full on as it was, and Haella was pretty much just holding onto the straps until they all crossed the finish marks.

Good Luck Everyone!! Zen Taxx Esko

[Taxx]

Into the third lap the racers swung, Fealaketh still in the lead but seeming to slow down a bit but Tsulocanth as energetic as ever. Then Nimiath began to make her move too, and she and Dionorath closed the distance between the leading greens; behind, Zardilath and Hiyacraith were still close, tailing the four greens but not out of the running yet. There was still a chance that one of them could come from behind and take the win- perhaps they were just conserving their own energy.

Now, Dio hurtled forward, a burst of energy pushing her ahead of the rest. She made no attempt to foul up any of them, keeping plenty of space between her wings and theirs, but she made the final bid for the lead and the win as the finish line appeared ahead, doing her best to keep it during the last minutes of the race.

[Zen]

Kenessia :: Green Nimiath

The finish came up fast, with every dragon pair pushing their limits to be the first across. Nimiath was finding it hard to catch up to the excitable young Tsulocanth. You let her get too far ahead. Didn't I warn you not to get cocky? Nimiath rumbled amusement at the chastisement, for she was not a terribly competitive dragon and, realizing she was not going to be able to surpass either of the younger greens, took it in good humor. So you did. Would you believe me if I told you I meant to let them win? Kenessia laughed, Not for a moment. They have just graduated, after all. Yes, but so has Hiyacraith and I don't see you moving over for him. Nimiath rumbled again, Well, he is not green. So you mean to tell me it's solidarity with your green sisters? Precisely. Kenessia laughed again, Right. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

It was Tsulocanth that finished first, Fealaketh quick behind her, and Nimiath a short time after. Glancing behind them as Nimiath rose in the air, she saw that Dionorath had kept up behind them, followed by Hiyacraith and the lagging Zardilath. Well, third isn't terrible I suppose. How do you feel? Nothing hurts? Kenessia couldn't feel anything through their bond, at least. I am fine. You may stop worrying now. Kenessia rubbed her hand over the green's neck as she glided down to land, and waved over at A'vel and Haella, grinning, “Good race you two! Nimiath says she let them win, but I don't believe her for a moment!” Nimiath rumbled, eyes whirling blues and greens, as she spoke to both younger dragons, Impressive performances.

OOC: The race is now over! The results are as follows, and you are free to post a finishing post if you wish, but you don't have to~
1. Haella of Green Tsulocanth
2. A'vel of Green Fealaketh
3. Kenessia of Green Nimiath
4. Kayla of Green Dionorath
5. R'naus of Blue Hiyacraith
6. C'mor of Blue Zardilath

[Alyx]

Haella and Green Tsulocanth

No one was more shocked to see Tsulocanth still pulling away from the other racers more than Haella. The girl looked back, surprised to see the others so much farther away then she thought. She blinked, Tully’s chattering chanting still swimming in her thoughts. There was no possible way they wouldn’t fault; Tsulocanth was fast, yes, but she didn’t have the stamina to keep the high speeds she could muster. Well, most of the time? Haella turned her attention forward, fingers ripping the straps as the little green continued to surprise.

Gotta Gogogogogogo! Looklook, Haella! We’re winning! ‘I saw, Tully.’ She couldn’t help the smile, feeling the flood of euphoric joy from the dragon under her as they shot over the final distance to clear the finish and claim the win. You would think with the sheer energy the dancer Green had put out in the race, she’d at least be winded? But nope – Haella couldn’t do much more than laugh and hold on as Tsulocanth winged up and around, still at top speed, spinning her body in a series of flips as she celebrated her victory. We did it!! We Won!!

‘That you did, Tully.’ She closed her eyes against vertigo for a moment, and then finally managed to rein the Green’s energy in and convince her it was time to land. With one last aerial cartwheel, Tsulocanth finally came to the ground, touching down with a little dance of claws and flared wings. That was fun! Let’s do it again! ‘Not right now, sweetie.’ Aww!! Tsulocanth pouted only for a moment, then the congratulations of her racemates distracted the dragon’s short attention span.

Reaching her nose toward Fealaketh, then Nimiath, Tsulocanth pranced in place. Thank you Thank you! You did wonderful too! We should do this again! It was very very very fun! Haella didn’t even try to undo any of the straps, instead simply holding on as the Green under her slowly started to wind down. She grinned at Kenessia. “Thanks! You too! I was so sure you were going to catch us!” I want to go again!! Haella gave Kenessia a ‘save me’ look and shook her head.