Still time to vote. Please do so on my poll in my profile or PM me. Thanks. Just wanted to add that in this leg, I did some research online to find out about events, popular pasttimes and the history of Ireland. I loved hearing about the Storytelling competition because I took a storytelling class and had to perform a story in my class (this task brings back memories). I really enjoyed that class. I learned a little about ploughing which I did not know before. Hope you are enjoying the story and please review.
Part 5: The Detour continued
Squirrelflight and Mallownose are up first. They are ready to go. Both have a little trouble at first and get two minor penalties but quickly gain ground and do well and complete their run. Squirrelflight's score was 158 and Mallownose was 159. Next up are Bramblestar and Reedwhisker. After 2 minor penalties, these two get the hang of it too and finish the run with scores of: Bramblestar 161 and Reedwhisker 159. Both successfully complete the Detour. They read their clue and we see Autumsplash saying: "The pit stop is the Rock of Dunamase. In the 1100s, the Normans arrived in Ireland and Dunamase became a very important fortification. There are also ruins of a castle from the Marshall and Mortimer families (Marshall was the surname of the Earl of Pembroke). Drive yourself here to the pit stop and look for me, Autumnsplash".
Both teams rush to their cars. Squirrelflight and Bramblestar arrive there just slightly earlier than Reedwhisker and Mallownose. Both teams must look at their maps to see how to get there and it takes them both two minutes, but Bramblestar leaves slightly earlier. Reedwhisker keeps on trying to get around Bramblestar but in a surprise move, Bramblestar does everything in his power to stop him. So Bramblestar and Squirrelflight arrive at the pit stop just a bit earlier than Reedwhisker and Mallownose. Even though Reedwhisker and Mallownose start to catch up in the foot race, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight make it to the mat first. Autumnsplash says, "For being first, you both win 5,000 mice each. Enjoy! Reedwhisker and Mallownose, that makes you second. You both did an excellent job"!
By the time Tigerstar and Scourge got to the spot for the detour, the other two teams had completed this leg of the race. "Shearing or Ploughing", said Tigerstar. "Shearing? We will have to probably shave some animal. I don't have the patience for that and it definitely does not sound like something an evil doer would do. Ploughing it is", said Tigerstar.
Scourge glared at Tigerstar and said, "You didn't discuss it with me. I agree with you though. We must walk in this direction. They went to the spot and got the clue that explained the ploughing challenge. They saw the plough set up and the notes about the penalties and images of some of the tasks they needed to complete. Then came time for the demonstration. "This looks easy" exclaimed Tigerstar.
"It may be ok as long as we have observed and read everything about the ploughing challenge", said Scourge. Tigerstar is very mechanically inclined and Scourge is good too, so even though Tigerstar was not observing the whole demonstration, they were able to get through setting up the plough very quickly.
Since they were the only team there, they were able to start the run right away. Also since they completed the demonstration, any other team would have had to wait for the next one and not be able to race with them. Tigerstar went first. He was a little too cocky and made some errors at first. But he quickly fixed them. However unlike the first two teams, his score was slightly lower, at 152. Scourge was next. He only had two very minor errors. He got a slightly higher score than Bramblestar, at 164. They completed the challenge and read the clue about the pit stop. "Do you think we are first"? said Tigerstar.
"I think Bramblestar and Squirrelflight and that other Riverclan team finished before us", said Scourge. "That darn son of mine. He has been a nuisance from the day he was born", said Tigerstar. They arrived at the pit stop and discovered they were indeed third.
Tigerheart, Dawnpelt, Crowfeather and Lionblaze all got there within minutes of each other. Crowfeather said to Lionblaze, "I think shearing has to do with sheep. We have a lot of those near us when we were living on the moor. Their bleating annoyed me to no end. I don't want anything to do with those animals. How about the ploughing"?
"Sounds good to me", said Lionblaze. By the time Tigerheart and Dawnpelt got to the two signs for the Detour, Crowfeather and Lionblaze had already left. They knew the other team was here because they saw their car but they did not know what they picked. After thinking (but not too long like in the other challenges), they picked the ploughing challenge. They got their just in time for the demonstration. That meant they had to read the clue and the other signs and information after the demonstration. Crowfeather and Lionblaze discovered that they had to wait for Tigerheart and Dawnpelt to finish setting up their plough before they could race because once there is more than one team, to make it easier they have them race at the same time to save on the amount of runs that are performed.
As Crowfeather and Dawnpelt get some of the stuff they need to set up the ploughs, Tigerheart says to Lionblaze, "Together again. I miss the good old days. We had a weird long history together".
"I'm glad we are no longer enemies, however that still doesn't mean I don't want to kick your butt in this race", said Lionblaze. Then Crowfeather and Dawnpelt came back. Tigerheart and Dawnpelt were slightly faster at setting up the plough than Lionblaze and Crowfeather but they had to wait for each other to do their plough run. Tigerheart and Lionblaze went in the first run. Both had minor penalties and scored 156 and 158 respectively. Then Dawnpelt and Crowfeather were up and both did nearly as well as Tigerheart and Lionblaze scoring 154 and 155 respectively. Both teams completed the challenge, got their clues and headed to the pit stop. We see them leave about the same time but we find that Crowfeather and Lionblaze become 4th and Tigerheart and Dawnpelt become 5th.
"Glad we found the car and map quickly", said Leafpool. "I was thinking we should do a physical type of Detour" , said Hollyleaf.
"While I'm not as active on the job as I was for the short time I was a Warrior, I did do some exercise and training, so I think that could work", said Leafpool. "How far are we from the Detour site"?
"It is difficult to tell. It appears from the map probably 15-20 minutes"? said Hollyleaf. They got there about 25 minutes later and found the two signs that said "Ploughing" and "Shearing". "Ploughing may be the physical one but so may be the shearing task", said Hollyleaf.
"Shearing sounds like you are cutting the hair of something, I think an animal. I'm good with fine detail work", said Leafpool.
"I'm not. Why don't we just flip a coin and go with whatever result we get", said Hollyleaf. "I'd like to call it. I will say heads".
"Okay, here it goes, it's tails", said Leafpool. "Shearing it is".
"Alright I guess that is where we are headed", said Hollyleaf. They got there just as Millie and Blossomfall got to the signs. "I think we should do ploughing. What do you think"? said Millie.
"Actually I was going to say that too", said Blossomfall. "We agree. That is great"!
We see Leafpool and Hollyleaf at the shearing site. "Oh, Crowfeather told me about these animals. These are sheep", said Leafpool.
"That doesn't mean though you know much about sheep", said Hollyleaf.
"I think we will do fine. Don't worry. I'll go first and you can watch me", said Leafpool. Leafpool heard the instructions and then she picked out a sheep. They brought the sheep over to her. The sheep seemed a little fidgety and it took her several minutes to calm the sheep down. Once though she did, she made quick work of shearing the sheep. "Okay you're next. Just remember to keep calm and it helps make the sheep more calm too", said Leafpool.
"Okay", said Hollyleaf. They brought the sheep to her and surprisingly hers was very calm. Hollyleaf was able to get to work. She wasn't as quick as Leafpool but did pretty well. "Wow you have a way with the sheep. Great job"! said Leafpool.
"Thank you", said Hollyleaf. They were able to get their clue and go to the pit stop. Just as they were leaving to the pit stop, Millie and Blossomfall finished the demonstration. "I know Jayfeather and Willowshine won't do this challenge and even if Leafstar and Echosong or one of the other teams arrive soon, it would be too late", said Millie.
"What about Leafpool and Hollyleaf"? said Blossomfall.
"I think they completed their challenge already", said Millie.
As they were finishing setting up their plough (which they didn't do quickly but they did not have too much trouble either), Jayfeather and Willowshine had arrived at the sign. "Thank goodness for that special GPS", said Jayfeather.
"Do you think it is fair we have it and the other teams don't", said Willowshine.
"Well we have other penalties due to my condition, so I think it is fair. Beside the GPS made some mistakes anyhow", said Jayfeather. "What do the signs say"?
"One says Ploughing and the other says Shearing", said Willowshine.
"Well the plough could be machine operated not animal operated and anyhow it would be difficult to do either way. So I guess shearing it is", said Jayfeather.
They made it to the shearing station and heard the instructions. Willowshine went first and her sheep was calm (or maybe Willowshine was calm or both) and she finished pretty quickly. However Jayfeather's sheep was very ornery and would not stay still. "Hey your sheep reminds me of you", said Willowshine.
"What?! That is rude"! said Jayfeather. "Animals don't like me".
"I'm just kidding. I can't imagine why they wouldn't like you. You are great. Just be calm and give off a vibe that you are comfortable", said Willowshine.
"Thanks. I will try that" said Jayfeather. It worked and they finished. They got their clue and Willowshine told Jayfeather about the pit stop and they made their way over there. Autumnsplash says, "You are team 6. Good job".
Stay tuned for part 6 of this leg (sorry it is so long) for the second half of the teams to complete the Detour. Please vote! This will probably be your last chance. Thanks.