Dear Readers: Guess what's back! Sorry for such a late update. I got writer's block, was distracted by roleplaying ... and then wrote more than 500 words in one day, for this chapter and the next one.
A big shout out to everyone who reviewed, and especially NitroTheKidd88 for his feedback. I hope my portrayal of Woverl is better in this chapter.
Weird Update On The Author's Personal Life: I sang my country's national anthem while burning a marshmallow in the campfire. I'm such a patriot.
"The bracket has been made, and it's time for our first matches! We'll be starting with Levinidas against Eric, and Ridlan against Lina right after that," Evara announced. "The first to the top of the mountain wins, but the route you take is up to you."
Evara did a little twirl in the air. "Eric and Levinidas, to the starting line!"
"Good luck," Eric said to Levinidas with a friendly grin.
"Same to you," the older green-maned lion replied as he examined his Speedor one last time.
"Ready," said Evara, hovering by the starting line. "Set, and…"
"Go!"
Lion and eagle pulled their ripcords and set off, neck and neck. They maneuvered around each obstacle easily, seeming to mirror each other's movements as they entered a grove of trees.
Meanwhile, the other racers were waiting by their tent near the starting line.
"When do I get to race?" Woverl asked Ravyx.
At the raven referee's response, he bellowed, "Last? I'm ready to win!"
"Relax, it's only a race," Ridlan said with a shrug.
"Only a race?" Woverl snarled, glaring at Ridlan. "Only a race?"
Ridlan didn't flinch, but her voice shook slightly. "I mean, it is for the Golden Chi and all…"
"Does honor mean nothing to you? Speedorz are a way to prove your strength! To reach victory!" He bared his teeth. "So don't go around saying that it's only a race, raven," Woverl growled.
Levinidas accelerated with a smile on his face. It felt good to be racing, and his Speedor seemed to be holding up pretty well after the modifications he had put on it. He couldn't seem to lose Eric, though.
But as soon as they broke out of the trees, a pit stretched in front of the racers. Maybe it wasn't visible through the foliage, or from the direction they were facing, or maybe the Golden Chi had caused the entire racetrack to shift. As they approached it, it became clear that the pit was lined with spikes.
Levi pressed a button on his Speedor and two grappling cables shot out, wrapping around nearby trees to stop him before he could go off the edge.
Eric had a different approach. To maintain his lead, he would just have to jump it! Steeling himself, he prepared to drive right of the edge.
He spread his wings as he left the ground, more out of reflex than expecting to generate any actual lift. As Eric chanced a glance back, it seemed that his risk would pay off; Levinidas had screeched to a halt at the edge of the chasm.
"I can't watch!" Maura covered her eyes with her large ears, while Lina gasped.
"Too risky." Scain just scoffed, rolling his eyes, but he seemed to be watching the race more intently than he had before.
"It looks like, while the pit has left Levinidas behind, Eric has chosen to jump over it. Will he be able – oh Cavora he's not going to make it!" Evara's claws were shaking as she held her megaphone. This wasn't supposed to happen!
Even as Eric fell, he was thinking of a plan. Fumbling around in his satchel, he found a Chi Orb and plugged it. His eyes were screwed tight as blue energy surrounded him and the spikes approached.
"Eric has used a Chi Orb, and there he is!"
With a triumphant yell, Eric emerged from the pit with the wings of his blue Chi form spread. The added energy had blasted him up the side of the pit and thrown him, tumbling wings over talons, back onto solid ground.
Everyone watching (but especially Evara) breathed a sigh of relief as the eagle sat up from where he lay. His Speedor, however, wasn't as lucky. It lay smoking on the ground.
Meanwhile, Levinidas had found a large rock a little ways off of the main path and used it as a ramp to make his way over the pit. "Are you okay?" He slowed down to check on the eagle.
"Stupid pit. Stupid Speedor," Eric grumbled. "I can't believe it was a hole!" He got up shakily, going over to his Speedor. "You … can go. I'm fine, everyone!" He had an edge to his voice.
"Are you sure?" Levinidas hesitated a second, before continuing on.
Levi cleared the last few obstacles, making his way up the narrow road, before hitting the gong at the top of the hill.
"It looks like, after a big wipeout from Eric, the winner of this race is Levinidas of the Lion Tribe," Evara said, though after Eric's crash it seemed her heart wasn't in it. "He will be moving on to the next round."
A few medics had gone over to check on Eric, but he kept insisting that he was fine. Eventually he let them at least tow his Speedor back.
When Levinidas found him, Eric was behind the racers' tent kicking at his broken Speedor. "I can't. Believe. I. Did. That." He punctuated every word with a kick, scowling.
"Hey," Levi said awkwardly.
"Just go away," Eric told him. He sighed.
"I just wanted to tell you, that was a good race. If you had made that jump, there would be no way I could've caught up," Levinidas said, holding out his paw to shake with a friendly smile.
Eric accepted it, but still didn't look Levi in the eye.
"I could help you fix your Speedor, if you want," Levi offered. "I'm my tribe's mechanic."
"That … that would be cool," Eric said, smiling slightly.
...I think I focused more on character interactions than actual racing, which I'm realizing is my default writing style. Do you like this style, or should I try to fit more action in? I'm always open for feedback and ideas. Especially for obstacles in the races. I literally put all of the Speedor sets into a random choice generator to figure out what to do. And don't forget to vote in my poll (link's in my profile). Only one person has voted so far.
Also, sorry to bloxxerboy for eliminating their character! Don't worry, I still have plans for Eric. I've already started the next chapter, which is a race between Ridlan and Lina. Hopefully it won't take as long as the last one did.
