[BotT RACE] Westfen

[LOLLI qAq]

He reached the peak of the hill and practically flew down the other side when he met his old nemesis ... The Thicket. Or it was at least another one like it. He gripped the stick in his mouth so tight he could feel it cracking slightly from the pressure. There was no way he was dropping it this time.

Once he was through, he let out a triumphant shout from around the item in his mouth. That was when he spotted his teammate. He'd done it.

Energy: 16
Feet: 31

thyPOPE

You're up! <3

 

[thyPOPE]

50 energy / 0 feet

Time to Go hadn't been sure she'd recognize all the new faces, but it didn't seem to matter: a brown kimeti holding a stick in his mouth while still managing to look relieved at the sight of her was, well, pretty obviously a member of Clan Westfen. She took the stick from him gingerly and set off. Or, well, she'd been planning to, but a sudden yell from elsewhere startled her. Had someone else already finished?

Oh, it was two foals, she noted, embarrassed.  

[thyPOPE]

50 energy / 0 feet

Another shout from a different direction made her look up, too. But it looked like another foal, racing to join her peers.

All right, she told herself: focus. She had to do just as well now as she'd done on the obstacle course.  

[thyPOPE]

53 energy / 5 ft

As if from nowhere, a veritable choir of songbirds emerged, chirping as they flew...in the direction she was supposed to also move. Smiling, Time to Go headed after them, finding that she felt no fatigue building in her legs just yet. Perhaps the birds had been luck!  

[thyPOPE]

52 energy / 10 ft

She continued running with aplomb, now: the path before her was clear, and she felt as though it was also free from the distractions of large animals or roots in her path. With any luck the rest of the admittedly short journey was comparable.  

[thyPOPE]

47 energy / 7 ft

She scanned the skies again for a sight of the songbirds, who seemed to have scattered back into the canopies. Nothing, she thought, but maybe -

Oof! Okay, it was probably better to look where she was going: that had been a tree. She hoped none of the other members of Clan Westfen had seen that!  

[thyPOPE]

47 energy / 7 ft

But when she turned her attention back to the path, all Time to Go could see was...jellyfish.

Would they feel pain if she ran them over? It was probably best not to risk looking unnecessarily cruel to animals.  

[thyPOPE]

50 energy / 12 ft

When it had passed, Time to Go continued on her way. Again songbirds descended from the canopy, and again she could run, heart lifted by their song.  

[thyPOPE]

45 energy / 9 ft

This time, her gaze followed the songbirds upwards again, and she smiled to see them settle back on the highest branches.

Then she frowned, for she'd run into a tree yet again.  

[thyPOPE]

45 energy / 14 ft

A hound's barks sounded at her heels, and she didn't glance back: she didn't want to be caught.

It didn't seem, though, as though the hound was malicious, and as it caught up to her, Time to Go saw why. It was an innocent eaglehound. Amused by the apparent plethora of familiars today, she went on.  

[thyPOPE]

44 energy / 17 ft

Was it just her, or did the amount of work it took her to cross a shorter distance now match the amount of work it'd taken her to cross a longer one earlier?

Time to Go certainly hoped she wasn't growing that weary.  

[thyPOPE]

44 energy / 17 ft

More shouting came from up ahead, and Time to Go looked up - was she approaching the finish? No, it was more foals. One of them, she noted with displeasure, was an acha.  

[thyPOPE]

44 energy / 22 ft

The eaglehound had returned to her side, and she smiled to watch its tongue loll out of its mouth as it ran. It had to take several steps to match her own, but it seemed infinitely less tired. Nevertheless, its presence made this a little more pleasant.  

[thyPOPE]

42 energy / 27 ft

She kept running, and the eaglehound loped off eventually. Would there perhaps be water somewhere on this path? She was parched.

A strange red flower blossomed as she ran by, and she felt herself raise her eyebrows. She hadn't seen that one before, and that was pretty rare when it came to swamp plants. Was it poisonous, she wondered - and then she reminded herself to focus. Right.

But that was so much more interesting.  

[thyPOPE]

39 energy / 32 ft

There was a thicket, and beyond it, the acha and Longstride waited. Ah, she noted: the finish. She quickened her pace, and charged through the thicket. Sure, it was a little painful - but the end of the race was worth it. Had Westfen made it through on time?

150 - 5 - 16 - 5 - 18 - 14 = 92!