Race With the Wind

Chapter 49

I breathe slowly and calmly. Sarah squeezes her legs against my sides. She wraps her fingers around my mane. I feel my heart thumping in my chest. I feel my adrenaline rise. I stare at the raised flag. I slow everything down. By the time I see the flag move down slightly and line drop slightly, I'm off along with the other horses. The herd charging with power and carefulness down to the first jump. The horses bump into me and shove me. I keep my balance. The first jump approaches and I feel Sarah's soft hand through the connection of the reins. She gives me a squeeze of encouragement with her heels and I leap over the jump sliding my legs along the branches. I land perfectly. Sarah still on board. "Beautiful jump from all the horses, as they clear the starting fence!", the commentator shouts. I stay in the middle of the herd, avoiding from being boxed in. A horse bumps into me and trip slightly. Sarah brings my head back up and I keep galloping. I feel a shadow cover the light from my face and I see Bold Runner galloping alongside me. I'm boxed in. "I'll keep them off your back", he smiles. I smile back thanking him. "The Sky Princess leads the herd, along with The Railway Girl in second and The Furious in third", The commentator says. I have to get up there, I think to myself.

I clear the next jumps with Bold Runner. A few horses fell at them jumps. From falling on their necks to refusals to crashing into other horses when they land. We enter the first corner of the track. Sarah still visible on my back. I take a leap and clear the jump. I notice as I land the horse in front of me is falling to the ground. The black horse falls to the ground and rolls. I manoeuvre my hooves to land just centimetres away from crushing his skull. His head in between my front hooves. I bring my hindlegs forward as much as possible still avoiding to crush him. I continue to gallop stunned. How the heck did I do that. Sarah gives me a scratch on my wither. "It's okay girl", she whispers. Bold Runner still has me boxed in. "I thought you were done there", he said worryingly. I look at him terrified. Trying to find words. "The Sky Princess still leads the herd, but it looks like another favourite Dwstination S is struggling to keep herself alive", the commentator says. I frown. I don't want to die now. Of corse Im struggling. We all are. I continue to jump. We enter the next corner. I stick close to the railing. I need to get to second place where it's safer to jump. I need to get out of the herd. I grunt, getting Sarahs attention. I prick my ears forward to tell her. She has to understand. She looks forward. She scratches my wither,"Keep energy girl, soon", she whispers. I grunt to tell her I understand. I notice Everest is now beside Bold Runner. We jump the next jump in tune with eachother. We all smile at eachother as we approach the next jump.

Leona's P.O.V.

I stare at Scooter and Sarah horrified. She almost fell but is okay. The big black horse beside her seems to be a friend. They aren't looking good with only nineteen horses left. No wait, eighteen, one just fell and is okay. He got back up and is running with the herd with no jockey. They jump the last jump on the backstretch and they now have one more corner. Scooter cleared every jump with ease. She cleared twelve so far. Sarah is holding her back though. She keeps Scooter on an even canter-gallop stride. They round the corner and approach the next jump. They all take-off and the big black horse beside Scooter goes down.

Scooter's P.O.V

"Scooter!", Bold Runner shouts. "No!", I shout as Bold Runner goes down. The horse in front of him fell and Bold Runner was to concentrated on me. He and his jockey went down on top of the other horse and jockey. Everest moves over to my side. "No!", she shouts also. "Scooter I can't leave him. Please, Scooter, stay safe", she says. "No don't go Everest! I can't to this without you or him!", I say. Everest and I hop over the next jump. "Scooter, just gallop. Go! Now! I believe you will do this!", Everest says. We approach the next and as I take-off Everest refuses the jump. Her jockey not happy, but he pats her. "Cold Morning is out of the race!", I hear the commentator say. I clear over the jumps called The Chair and The Water Jump, alone. I remember Sarah's plan. I grunt. She smiles. "Here we come Miranda", she says as she gives a little rein. I put my head down and speed up. I manoeuvre my way around all the horses. I hear the horses though complimenting me. I gallop by a dapple grey gelding,"Go get her", he says. I smile back. All the horses don't want to go near The Sky Princess. She is dangerous. I take a breath and leap. "Would you look at this! Destination S has passed out The Railway Girl and is approaching The Furious!", He says through the microphone as the herd gallops by the stands. The crowd screaming. Cheering the horses and jockeyed on. Sarah keeps her concentration. We gallop by the stands gate where Leona is standing behind. She fist pumps the air. "Go Scooter!", she shouts over the crowd. My ears lay down on my neck as I gallop faster. I gallop by The Furious. "Watch that horse. She tried to take me down", he says to me. He starts to slow down. "Thank you sir", I say. "Unbelievable! Destination S is back and is alive!", the commentator says excited. I approach The Sky Princess. "Hello!", I say as I gallop beside her. "You! I thought you were dead, like we planned", she says coldly. "I'm too young to die", I say smirking. We jump over the first jump again. We have one more lap. One more. I can do this. The Sky Princess pins her ears back. The two of us leave a huge gap between us and the herd. Ten lengths big. The other horses have no hope. "Never thought I'd see you hear, Sarah", Miranda says as we clear the next jump. Sarah keeps on looking ahead. I notice that both I and the Sky Princess are panting and hyperventilating. We are both covered in sweat. "The two leading horses are neck and neck as they jump over Becher's Brook", the commentator says. We round the corner at tremendous speeds. The ambulance trying to keep up. The two of us like thunder and as fast as lightning as we jump the next two jumps. I have to get to side of the railing, I think to myself. I start to slow my pace down. Sarah urges me on, but I ignore her. I close in on the railing and wait for the last jump to come near. I'm going to push her out of my way. This will be risky.