'sup homie Gs what'sup in the bumpin crib. A'ight let's get this party started old school yo!

Hooray for the horse race! Suspense! Will Romeli win? Will Daine win? Will it be a tie? Better start reading the story to find out!

Chapter 6: The Horse Race

Daine, Numair, Alanna, and George were all waiting for her at the top of the field. Romeli, Shadowdancer jogged up to them with Sharpfang in tow.

"Okay I'm ready." She said when she arrived. Daine and Romeli went behind a thick weeping willow tree to transform into their horses.

Come on come on, the antlered girl thought. Pictures of proud mares flowed through her mind. Running free with the wind following only where the weather took them forever. Her body transformed into a large horse with a sturdy back and elegant mane. Okay now for the strength. Romeli thought of a Clydesdale ten feet tall with enough power to pull a ship.

When she opened her eyes, she was an ebony mare.

Daine was ready, transformed into a short, gray Shire horse.

What is she doing? Trying to embarrass me? Romeli thought. But then she remembered that not all things turned out as anticipated.

They ran up to the group of people and lined up at the top of the field. Numair walked up with a black flag in his hands.

"Okay," he started. "We'll race from here to the trees over there." He pointed to a large and thick clump of trees about a half-mile away. "One, two, three!"

Romeli's great muscles flexed and she exploded down the hill at an alarming speed.

She didn't dare look behind to see where he mother was. She immediately forgot about the race as she was caught in the breath of the wind and the freedom of running.

Her legs began to grow numb from the use of muscle, but she didn't care. She was free.

Romeli snapped back to reality when she saw a flash of gray whoosh by her. It was Daine. The opponent's legs blurred in quickness.

Romeli pushed herself harder. Leaping more then running. She caught up a little, now only a scarce distance of five feet between them, but she knew that she was giving her all. She had no time to catch up with her.

She counted the feet as they neared to the trees. Daine had only twenty feet left, Romeli had twenty-five.

The finish was only near seconds away, but it felt like a torturous eternity. She felt each and every aching muscle and bone creak as she pushed herself down the remaining length.

One last 'leap' and she crossed the finish line. Five seconds after Daine, but she didn't care. Romeli was grateful just to race against such a powerful wild mage, and loving mother.

Romeli trotted behind the trees to transform back to her original figure. When she was totally normal, she felt a tug at her legs making her want to collapse. She was unbearably sore. Her legs felt like mush below her. She could barely even feel them. Okay. How in the world am I going to get out of this blasted place, she thought as she sat and leaned against a tree.

An idea flashed into her mind. She leaned against the tree for support and grabbed a couple of low branches with her hands. She slowly pulled herself up and put her back against the tree again. Still holding on to the branches to keep her weight, she listened for Shadowdancer with her mind.

Shadow? Shadow are you here? she asked.

Yes? Shadowdancer asked as she sulked. I can't believe you lost to a Shire horse. How could you loose to a Shire horse?

That's not important, Romeli informed the mare. I'm so weak I can barely stand up.

Okay I'll be over there soon, Shadowdancer told her friend.

Romeli sighed with exhaustion. How do horses stand this? She wiped the dripping sweat on her forehead.

"Goddess I need a bath." She told her self. One thing she hated was bad hygiene, and she only coped with it when she had to.

After a couple minutes of waiting, Shadowdancer finally arrived. Just then, she realized a bigger problem.

Shadowdancer, how in the world am I going to get on your back?

After a couple of tries that included swinging and having Shadowdancer lean down, they still had no good outcome.

It had been fifteen minutes since the end of the race and she was sure there was no other way to get on in her situation.

"Okay this is just stupid," Romeli pointed out. Fed up with the nonsense, she thought of anything, desperate for a solution.

Shadowdancer, she started. I'm going to transform into a falcon. Since my arms are not nearly as sore as my legs, I'm going to land on your back and we'll head back to the castle.

She closed her eyes and thought of being a falcon, dropping down into the ocean for a nice salmon snack. Wings replaced arms, her mouth turned into a razor sharp beak and sore legs turned to skinny and thin legs with claws as sharp as daggers.

When she opened her eyes, she could see further then any human ever could. Shadowdancer towered over her, but landing on her back was not a problem. Romeli the falcon extended her long wings and swooped them down to lift her off of the lush ground. She repeated the process until she gently landed on her friend's soft mane. Making sure her claws didn't bore into the horse's flesh; she stood secure ready for the horse to move.

It took only a minute to get out of the dense trees. The thorns and branches always were getting in the way. Eventually, Romeli had to demand the plants to bend away from them. They did so gratefully, not wanting to be broken by the horse.

When the sunlight hit their cold faces and they stepped out into the summer sunshine, they saw the party of Romeli's friends waiting for her patiently.

Daine must have found out somehow, Romeli thought. She didn't even see a hint of concern in their faces and she was grateful for that.

She pushed off of Shadowdancer's mane, being careful not to pierce her, and flew into the air. She glided straight towards her father and landed on his shoulder.

Romeli chirped in a victorious manner and rubbed her head against Numair's cheek affectionately. With a light push she jolted into the air and flew towards the castle.

By the time she got back and was in her clothes, she felt relaxed and happy. Sure her legs were sore, but on the bright side she had a great workout. And of course she could now walk, which improved her morale significantly. Her hair was a big mess from all of the flying, and her cheeks were pink from the wind..

Romeli picked up her brush and started the tedious work of making her hair look a little bit more mannerly. Her thoughts drifted to the flight. She loved flying, feeling so free with each natural flap of her feathered wings. But the mess afterwards was brutal.

Daine and Numair stopped by her room to tell her a job well done. Romeli thanked them and asked about the techniques Daine used to beat her.

"I used a Shire horse because they are very small and hyper horses, but in the middle of the race, I used a hint of cheetah speed." Daine answered after Romeli had asked.

Romeli nodded, mentally kicking herself for not thinking of the idea herself.

Once her parents had left, there was a wisp of silvery smoke and Old White stood proudly in front of her. Romeli ran up to him and hugged him around his neck clinging to his soft mane. Old White tapped his wet nose on her cheek.

Romeli breathed in her white friend's fur. Rivers, willow leaves, and wind filled her nose. She felt she had smelled it before, deep in the back of her head, waiting patiently for her to grasp at a later time.

Sharpfang slithered up to the pair and climbed onto Old White's back also giving him a warm snake hug.

"Why are you here?" asked Romeli happy to see him again. She picked up Sharpfang from off of Old White's back and sat down in front of him. Old White also sat.

I've come here to warn you about something that will happen today. It's not bad, exactly, but it will become natural for you. Old White spoke with a sparkle in his clever eyes.

"And what is it?" Romeli asked, this time uneasy.

I cannot tell you much. That is for you to find out on your own. But I will tell you how to cope with it. You cannot stop it, but it will last from as long as one minute to fifteen. There will be great pain, making you think that one minute is eternity and fifteen is like dying ten times over. Now here is your clue. His voice went to a mystic tone.

Earth shakes, stopped by grown tree roots. Gifts quake, draining will please. Animals shiver, give them life. Weather quivers calm does right.

When he stopped, Romeli was about to release a hailstorm of questions. Old White silenced her with a look. But before any of this happens, your body will paralyze. You can still talk, breathe, your heart will still beat, and you can feel pain. But you can not move your body. The paralysis will help you gather your power. With that as a good-bye, he disappeared in smoke.

Romeli looked wide eyed at the place where the wolf had once been trying to fight back tears of confusion and frustration.

Sharpfang what did he mean? Why can't he just tell me? I hate this! She clenched her fists, fighting down a lump in her throat. There was no way she would allow herself to cry two days in a row. Sharpfang did his best to try and comfort her.

I don't know sister. I don't like it either, Sharpfang voiced mournfully.

Well I've got to solve that riddle before it happens. Whatever 'it' is. Romeli picked up Sharpfang and left the room to look for George.

OOO

"Earth shakes, stopped by grown tree roots. Gifts quake, draining will please. Animals shiver, give them life. Weather quivers calm does right." Romeli said to George in the study.

George stroked his chin as he thought of all the possibilities. Romeli had no clue as to what it meant. She would maybe think straighter if she wasn't so scared.

A couple minutes later George spoke. "I think th' key word to all o' this 's 'give'. 'Animals quiver, give 'em life'. Whatever happens, I suspect yer supposed to give the earth more roots, Drain th' Gifts from the Gifted, give life to animals, and calm th' weather. That's th' best I can guess."

"That seems good. I'll try it when it happens." She turned pale and nervous. When it happens. When will it happen? The thought made her stomach churn. Before her thoughts could consume her more, the both of them were called to dinner.

OOO

They had salad, bread, soup, chicken, and the usual for dinner. Romeli was grateful for the food since she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She went straight for the soup.

When she was done with her salad and soup, she reached for a cherry tomato that sat in a bowl in front of her.

But before she could, she dropped to the floor, paralyzed.

Dun Dun Dun!

Sup yo. I got a bouncin' party waitin' for me. I heard it's off the heazy yo. Peace out a'ight? (That's rap for 'hey, if you think this chapter got a little too happy go lucky at time, then yea...I agree'.

Heartdamoose