I'm on a roll here people! And thanks for reviewing!

The Horse Whisperer

Chapter 9 – A sneaky victory leads to paired revenge

Heading towards the gate the twelve riders were checked, lined up and put into the small space. Neighing and laughter filled the air but Ren couldn't help but feel nervous. Tain had been put in the gate beside him. "Scared?" Ren turned and gave him a smirk.

"No way"

"Watch and learn pony boy!" Ren ignored Wayne's yells. He had to win this; he couldn't let that big shot off for insulting White. A short stubby man appeared beside the track.

"Riders, ready!" Everyone quietened down and waited for the signal. Yoh was up by the stadium front straining his neck to get a good view of the racers. Suddenly he heard his name being called behind him and found everyone else running towards him.

"Guys what are you doing here?"

"I found this on the floor of the stables and guessed it must have fallen from Ren's pocket" Jason held up the letter he had given the small teen earlier. "We all wanted to come and see how he would get on"

"What's happening? Where is he, did he win?"

"They haven't started yet Hao, look" Troy pointed to the occupied gates at the bottom of the track. The bell sounded and the horses were let loose. The thundering noise was so loud even from a distance. Ren's ears rang as he pushed White to run faster. He caught at the corner of his eye that Tain and Milly were a little behind him. But what worried him was he couldn't see Wayne and Air.

Ignore everything else, just keep going.

The wind was like a hurricane swirling around his head and his eyes were watering. White kept on galloping close to the rail without paying attention to his master's nerves. Suddenly something heavy banged into White's right side and Ren turned to see Air panting with persistence while Wayne gave an evil laugh. "Let's see your goat get out of this" He steered Air back into White and Ren felt the left stirrup scratch across the rail. White neighed in annoyance and did the same back much to Air's anger.

"White no!"

"So you're goat's got guts huh? That means nothing here!" With one yank of the reins Wayne crashed his stallion into Ren's and again he felt the stirrup crash into the rail. Ren gasped in fright. Suddenly a flash of brown flew past Air's right side and collided into the black body.

"Go Ren!"

"Not so fast!" Wayne drove Air into Milly so hard that she slammed her hooves into the ground and reared up, throwing Tair to the ground. Ren looked back in shock.

"Tair!" But another knock brought him back to the problem at hand. He could see the finish line and both horses were neck and neck. Neither were about to be beaten by the other. Ren felt White's muscles tense up and he swore he felt him gain a little more speed. But Air seemed to prove that wrong as he inched in front and passed through the finish line. Ren growled, he lost. Shutting his eyes he tried to pretend that his loss didn't just happen. Then he heard a close neigh mixed with someone shout "NO!" He opened his eyes as White slowed down and came to a halt. But there wasn't anyone close enough for him to hear no, even the other riders were not close to him. They were scattered all over the track. He snarled as Air trotted over towards him carrying smiling rider.

"Like I said before, he's nothing but a goat" Watching them walk away Ren dismounted and looked at the ground sadly.

"You tried Ren" Finding Tain approaching him he stood up straight.

"You OK?"

"Yeah, I'm used to falling off her. She's easily spooked"

"He cheated! I could have beaten him easily!" Tain shrugged.

"It's not easy for someone to spot him doing that at the speed we run at. And we're too far away for people to see"

"He needs to be stopped though! That's not fair on other riders, on me and on you"

"But we don't have the evidence. Do you not think I've tried, we all have" Tain walked away with Milly leaving Ren to think. So Wayne had cheated on more than one occasion? Maybe that's how he's so unbeatable.

"Ren!" Yoh and the others were running towards him. "What happened? We were sure you would win"

"Yeah, you were so close too" added Troy.

"Yeah well there's a good reason for that. Listen" He explained everything to them on the way home. Yoh wasn't too pleased.

"That rotten piece of sh…"

"Hey!" Jason cut him off. "Who was that other rider you seem to have befriended?"

"His name's Tain, another one of Wayne's victims"

"We need to get him back. When's your next practise?" asked Horo.

"I have one everyday except on weekends, but I don't want to stoop to his level"

"Which means you have one tomorrow" Troy sounded like he was speaking to himself rather than to the others. Everyone wondered why he suddenly smiled with excitement. "Ren, you don't have to lower yourself like him but you need to get that Tain kid to help you. Listen up…"

Tain stood by the track grooming Milly who was having a mid-morning snack of lush grass at her feet. Giving a few more brushes he smiled at her shiny coat and placed the brush back in his nearby bag. "This is a race track not beauty pageant" Tain rolled his eyes but didn't bother to turn around.

"Get a life Wayne" He began to sort her mane.

"Oh, mine's just perfect thanks"

"Well good for you. Now, if you don't mind I've got a race to win" He glared at the orange haired teen and grasped Milly's reins, leading her away.

"You can try snot head but you won't get far, if I can help it" Tain growled but kept walking towards the gates. The sound of cantering hooves echoed behind him and Ren appeared beside him, already mounted upon White.

"Hey Ren, what's up?"

"Me. Listen, I've got a brilliant plan on how to get back at airhead over there" He nodded behind at Wayne. "But I need your help"

"I'm all ears"

"Riders, ready!" yelled the fat man. They were put into the same gates as before and waited for the bell. Ren and Tain looked at each and both smiled. The bell went and the gates flew open as the horses were let loose. Milly and White galloped at full speed side by side, Air right behind them. They managed to get half way round the track before Air made his move upon them. Tain turned to Ren and nodded, Ren nodding back. He pulled on White's reins and the stallion eased off, dropping back behind several other riders. I hope your right Troy.

Tain kicked Milly to make her gallop at her full speed and she burst away in front. Air and Wayne didn't seem to like this and gave chase. Air caught up and galloped alongside the mare. Like he did to Ren, Wayne steered the black horse into Milly, boxing horse and rider against the rail. Tain growled and looked ahead as they came to the final corner. He only had to keep this up until the last stretch. "Come on Milly faster!" He hated pushing Milly to her limit but it was for a hopeful cause. Again Air collided with the female but she didn't seem to mind as she carried on running.

Ren watched as his new friend was pushed against the rail and he suddenly felt bad for asking him to do this. White nostrils flared and Ren felt him getting inpatient about being held back. As they entered the final stretch of track Ren gave the signal to White and the stallion burst into full speed. He galloped as hard as he could, flying past the other riders. He steered White to the outside of the group and the horse bolted right past Air and Milly. He heard Wayne shout in protest but because he was determined to keep going he didn't make it out. White flew down the green track ahead of everyone and through the finish line in a burst of cheers from the spectators.

Smiling at their achievement of beating Wayne he slowed down his horse and turned him towards his friends. They came onto the track and embraced him in tight hugs when he dismounted. "Guys…not in public" They let him go and watched another horse approach them. "This is Tain, Tain these are my friends I told you about"

"Hey, you must be Troy. The master behind the plan" He nodded towards the white haired teen.

"Yip, that's me!" But their celebration was cut short as an angry neigh sounded and Air burst though the group with an angry Wayne upon him.

"You!" He pointed to Ren. "You think you're so clever don't you? Well that was a one off act 'cause I'm gonna make damn sure you never beat me again!"

"Chill dude, it was only a practise race" But Hao hid behind Jason when Air tried to bite him.

"Mark my words, you're gonna regret what you just did" He turned and cantered away leaving the gang a little uneasy by his last remark. Yoh stood by Ren's side and whispered in his ear.

"Take no heed of him. He won't lay a finger on you while I'm around" Ren smiled.

"You want to come back with us Tain?" asked Jason.

"Yeah sure" He walked beside them while leading Milly along. The rest of the gang made their way back to Ren's place. Ren took one last look at the track with worry, Wayne sounded like he meant business. What if he really was going to do something horrible to him, or worse, to White? Leading White away he had thoughts like this lingering in his mind for the rest of the night.

Can't really say much as I don't know what you even think of the last chapter yet! But still, REVIEW PLEASE!