by Jones. » Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:37 am
Sorry guys its really long xD I couldn't help it :3 But here is my story entry for the two equid sleigh competition, involving my Reagan and her dad Helios (fantasy girl)
The equids in front of me tensed up. I knew it was dangerous to have a father daughter combination, especially as their personalities were almost completely different. However it was done now, and I trusted them. The starters were counting down it was less then ten minutes before the race started. I adjusted the tack that was around Helios's head, gently stroking his nose and whispering words of reassurance more for me then him. Pulling my scarf over my chin, breathing out a breath of air it swirled gently before vanishing into the air. Both the equids looked at me, the expression of surprise on their face.
"Im nervous, ok?" I said, rubbing the back of my neck with a frosty mitten, wincing as small beads of snow dripped down my back. Reagans nose reached out towards me, blowing hot air into my face. Laughing slightly I pushed her nose away, giving each equid a pat on the neck before I returned to my sled. It wasn't pretty, fancy or any sort of batmobile. I was all I could afford and it did the job. Carefully placing my boots into the holds and tightening the grasps around my hands, looking to my left there was still roughly four minutes left, taking a deep breath I just took in my surroundings. The air was clean and crisp, much different to what I was used too, and it tasted strange. The smells enveloped my nose, the smells of equid dung, pine trees and rusty sleds. It was difficult to take in all the bright whiteness of the snow, in the backstreets it was always dark and gloomy. The sun never managing to peek above the tall business buildings. I had to shake myself out of my dreams, the bell was going to ring in less then a minute. I placed my hands on the bar, looking forward between my pairs ears. I took a deep breath, focusing on my life in the backstreets, whispering words of help to myself.
"We can do this," leaning back on my right leg the bell went and I urged my sled forward. Using words of encouragement and a slight touch of the whip to keep them galloping. We stretched ahead straight away, my light, practical sled seemingly better then all the other expensive ones. Reagan would occasionally try to nip at Helios's ear but a quick jolt of the reins would bring her back to Earth. They worked surprisingly well. Helios stretching his long legs and Reagan seemingly being pulled along.
"Get up, Reagan," I growled quietly, again giving a slight jolt on the reins. She whipped her head round and galloped harder, pushing Helios to keep up. He managed. Just. Soon we were way ahead of the other racers, just me, my horses and my thoughts. For a while I was glad, even a smile pushed its way onto my face, the thought of winning the race made me happy. It was a rare feeling for me but I decided to ravish it whilst I could. The snow was glistening with the suns rays, my equids were snorting as I slowed them to a steady canter, best keep up their stamina, I thought to myself.
"Well done guys, keep it up," I said aloud to the pair. I twisted my head to check where we were, we were coming up to the fourth checkpoint, that was halfway. There was no other racers in sight, and that. Was when I heard it. A quiet eruption, my mind raced to the view of the city from my rock. There was no volcano there. Looking up I saw I was surrounded by cliffs, covered with large drifts of snow and the snow on the one about a mile away from me was travelling fast. Did I stop and loose the race, or keep going but be in risk of loosing not only mine, but my equids lives. It was a snap decision. I cracked the whip down, shouting encouragement, urging my pair on. We were getting closer and closer to the drift, it hadn't yet breached over the sides. I was certain we could make it. Thats when Helios tripped, I hadn't noticed it, but I was pushing him to hard. He couldn't keep up the pace, and Reagan was only
just managing. If I pulled them up the others would gain on us and we might not be able to hold the lead. But if we carried on there was a high chance we wouldn't make it. I was willing to take that chance. I carried on urging my equids, really pushing them to the limit. I felt horrible, guilty and knew that if I made it and they didn't, I would never forgive myself. Helios recovered quickly, I knew he would, then he carried on galloping. I think they knew what was happening, they say horses can sense things we cant. Their nostrils were flaring and I was sure I could see the white of their eyes as they continued forward. The snow drift still hadn't breached the walls, this must be a good sign. Unless it was building up on top of the cliff. This made me worry. I touched them with the whip, expecting them to surge forward, they stayed at the same speed. I knew this was all they good give me, and I had to put up with it.
"It's ok, keep trying, we can do it," I whispered and I knew they heard me when they're ears began to swivel in my direction. "Good girl Reagan, keep it up Helios," this was all I could do to encourage them. We got closer and closer and soon we were just about to go underneath it. I had been so busy talking that I hadn't noticed the snow had seeped over. Pulling hard on the left rein I tried my hardest to guide them out the way but it was no use. The snow pounded down onto us, it covered their backs and pushed us to the floor.
I soon managed to dig myself out, it seemed we caught the near end part of the snow drift. I had it worse then the equids, seeing as they were in front of me. Shaking my head the snow cascaded from my head to the floor, honestly, I was surprised I didn't have many injuries, just a bit short of breath. Reagan was unscathed. As usual. She was shaking snow from her mane, snorting and frisking about in general. I walked towards her, taking hold of her bridle and stroking her nose. "Good girl," I whispered. It took me by surprise to hear how shaky my voice was, nothing usually scared me. Looking around for Helios was heartbreaking, I couldn't see him anywhere. My heart began to pound, my breath became more raspy then it already was but more importantly my mind was in a
blur. I began frantically digging in the snow, hoping to at least find him. It annoyed me that tears were running down my cheeks, I couldn't help it. They were the only things I had, and I might have lost one. Reagan began to neigh, louder then usual too, I looked around and saw Helios behind the drift. I was overjoyed. I couldn't help myself, I ran to him and threw myself around his neck. He snorted and took a few steps back. I detached myself and looked at him, his back right leg was above the ground. He was placing it on the ground, gingerly putting weight on it. It came to me that he was lame, I didn't have any experience with a lame horse. I simply held his bridle and stroked his neck, the race didn't seem important now. It was the one thing that could change my life but if it meant I'd loose a horse it didn't matter. Helios began to snort, he shook my hand off his bridle. He gingerly stepped forward, putting
weight on his injured foot. He seemed to be able to walk on it but could he gallop? I gathered him and Reagan together, attaching their harness's back to the way they were before. "Im just going to find the sleigh," I muttered with a sigh, by the time I'd found it my mittens were wet from the snow. Carefully, I hooked Helios and Reagan to the sleigh and asked the to pull. Reagan threw herself into it, pulling with her all her might, were as Helios hung back, still unsure about his hoof. "Its ok boy," I muttered. I stopped Reagan and unattached Helios from the sleigh, carefully leading him to stand a short distance away. Reagan has to pull harder but she managed it, "good girl," I said out loud to her. Helios was soon next to her and we were moving. It was only a walk, I didn't think they could manage much more, but we were moving and I was thankful for that. The sound of hoof beats distracted me. We were too far ahead... Surely? There were tales of wilds equids around these parts but they were tales, and they wouldn't come to close. I turned my head, and sure enough there was a fellow sled team racing towards us. If I spurred them on Helios's leg might be permanently damaged but I couldn't loose this race, not now. I clucked them on, asking Helios to forget his pain and run. He didn't. He couldn't. His front legs thrashed as Reagan launched forward but it was too much, he stayed at his previous speed, limping more now. The other sled team overtook us, the driver laughing with glee as his equids ran so much faster then my walk. I rolled my eyes as his laughter was still heard, "its ok, we'll catch up." But I wasn't sure we would.
It wasn't that long before Helios could gallop again, and when he did I think he really tried his best to make up the lost ground. Two more sled teams had passed us in the time it took for him to be able to run. I would of gladly swapped places and ran instead, being strapped to the sleigh and him riding it. At least we might have got there faster. But we were galloping now, and at least that was good. Reagan tried harder, I thought she knew what was going on, and Reagan did seem competitive. Her and Helios pace began to match and they were galloping in perfect harmony, both never seeming to tire or slow down. We reached the seventh checkpoint, and the second sled team was in our sight. I urged my team on and soon we were galloping our way to victory. We wearn't first but second was good and at least we had a chance at catching the leader. Suddenly he was in our sights, his team walking. The moment he galloped past my walking equids, the laughter on his face. I wanted to relive that moment, to laugh in his face as we galloped past to take the lead. I spurred them on, wishing, hoping to take the lead, thats when he turned around. He saw us coming and urged his equids on, but my team were too quick, we caught up quickly. Pulling equal to them in no time. The only thing I hadn't notcied was how close the line was, we were neck-a-neck as we crossed it. After the race, I rubbed them down and prepared bran mash to warm them. Helios had no lasting damage to his leg and everything was fine. Now I just eagerly await the results that could change my life forever.
Revamped sleigh entry 
no one understands what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is. Unless you have it yourself.
