Chimera Ryder

Chapter 10 - Biggest Fan

Mrs. Juneberry prepared a large dinner for her family that night. Jessa sat quietly between Zinny's younger and older brothers. Zinny's brothers passed the buns and potatoes like they were performing a juggling act. The older brothers were by the end of the table, discussing politics with their father. The younger brothers sat on the other side, fighting over the desserts and skipping over their vegetables. The dining table was a mess, but this was how they show affection in this house. Jessa wanted to talk to Zinny, but even Zinny was too busy snatching food away from her brothers. Jessa had never seen Zinny this violent before! Zinny was always a well mannered young lady back in their school and very much a girly girl. Even in that one food fight they had, Zinny would only throw her cake on her classmates' shoes and not on their uniforms.

Jessa wanted to talk to Zinny because she needed to distract herself from tomorrow's race. She placed third overall, but her time was still behind two water riders. Now with the cliff gone, she and Ryder no longer had a competitive edge over the other riders. She didn't know what to do anymore.

"Jessalyn," said Mrs. Juneberry. "You should ask Sir Ironwood to join us next time."

"Oh... I don't know if he'd be interested--"

"Yeah. Don't bother," Mr. Juneberry interjected. "The magic users live differently up there. When I was up in the capital for my business trip, it was like a totally different world there. Frankly, I am surprised that the captain of the Ivory Wings would even consider a protege down here. Don't get me wrong. You're wonderful, and we all support our Ivory Wings."

Jessa didn't feel like correcting Mr. Juneberry. To her, Rand was just a very reclusive man. When he was training Jessa, he made Jessa's training his priority, and he never mentioned anything about his past. She tried to find out more about him in the library, but all they had there were his racing records, and none of him in the tabloids. Rand simply kept his private life private.

After dinner, Jessa joined Zinny in the room upstairs. They talked for a little bit before Zinny fell asleep in mid-sentence. Everyone in the house was drained from today's time trial. Jessa was tired, too, but she wasn't able to sleep. She had never slept in someone else's bed. Zinny's mattress was a bit too soft for her. Was this what her friends felt when they were staying in the dormitory? Did they feel this way every night? Was Ryder able to sleep in the barn? Was she nervous about tomorrow, too? Jessa decided to check on Ryder. She sat up and had her goggles set on lunar vision. She climbed out of the window and walked towards the barn.

The rawberries on the trees glinted under the moon. Jessa could see the reflection of the stars in the sea. She took off her goggles. The moon and the stars were enough to illuminate her path. She forgot she wasn't in the city anymore.

The calm waves splashed up against the cliff like a metronome. Ryder walked out of the barn to join Jessa. The barn wasn't locked, so Ryder was able to walk out by herself. Jessa leaned her head against Ryder's shoulder, and Ryder rested her chin on top of Jessa. The meadow outside the Juneberrys' estate moved gently to the breeze. Looking at the open sky and the boundless sea, Jessa felt better already.

***

All the townsmen gathered early today for the final tryout. Jessa tried to squeeze through the crowd with Ryder by her side. There were a lot more people today, but it seemed like the hype of her being the young bareback rider was yesterday's news. No one stopped her on her way to the resting pit. Maybe it was because she was short, and they didn't see her, but that didn't explain why they didn't notice Ryder. All the scouts and the managers from yesterday were gone, too. Maybe they realized without the cliff, Jessa and Ryder were just like everyone else.

Jessa found their resting pit on the far end of the tracks. Rand was already there, setting up their tent. He pushed Jessa into the tent to discuss their strategy for today.

"I don't know. Let's just play it by ear."

"No," said Rand. "You want to be a professional, you act professional. Figure out a plan so you have something to fall back on. I asked you to study your opponents. Did you do that?"

"Yes."

Jessa never really planned her runs before. The demonstration race at Demyan's meet-and-greet was completely improvised; even yesterday's time trial was unplanned. She was unable to focus on what Rand was saying because she was too distracted by Angro and his cerberus outside. Angro's cerberus was chewing on a big femur bone. It crushed the bone with its canine tooth, and all three hound heads fought over the bone pieces on the ground!

Ryder looked a bit jittery. Jessa kept petting Ryder, trying to calm her down. She kept reminding herself that physical assault on either the rider or the beast would result in an automatic disqualification. Jessa knew the rules would protect them, but that still didn't stop her hands from fidgeting.

Rand laid down the map and pulled Jessa's attention back momentarily. He suggested Jessa to take the longer path this time. He explained to her why Ryder should stay on land in this race; getting wet would only add unnecessary weight. Today's race was not only about speed but endurance as well. All the contestants had to finish five laps, and only the top four finishers would be considered for the Humble League. Without the cliff, the shortcut was simply not worth it.

Jessa didn't question Rand. She didn't bring up what happened to him in the last Wester Royal Cup. Rand took the long way home and ended up losing the race. But to his credit, he did finish the race.

"Sir Ironwood!" a familiar voice greeted them from outside of their tent.

Demyan, the former Dark Clouds rider, entered their tent and shook Rand's hand.

"Mr. Zvezdaov," Rand nodded.

"I heard your protege did well yesterday," said Demyan. "I didn't know bareback riding is what the kids are into these days. I just thought she forgot to bring her gear to my meet-and-greet."

"You're here to check out which fresh meat you want to devour this season?" Rand asked.

Demyan laughed. He didn't know Rand had a sense of humor. Then again, Rand was probably being serious. Demyan was the only rider in the Humble League who previously raced in the Prime League before. He claimed that he was only in it for the thrill, but the lack of competition here made him miss the Prime League even more. He didn't like the new riders in the Prime League right now. He criticized the younger generation for lacking leadership and teamwork. He specifically called out Kan Greengrove for being a weak captain for the Ivory Wings. He thought Rand was the better captain.

Rand did not join in on that conversation.

"This is why you're a true patriot," Demyan applauded. "Never say anything bad about your countrymen, just like Viktor."

Demyan turned, ready to leave. Then he remembered why he was here in the first place. He patted Jessa's helmet, congratulating her.

"Just because you're a fan of mine doesn't mean I will go easy on you in the future," he said.

He walked off, looking very proud. He thought he did a good thing by encouraging his fan.

Jessa lifted up her helmet, adjusting it back to its original position. Her eyes were still on Angro and his cerberus.

Rand rolled up the map and shook his head. "Can't believe you're a fan of his," Rand muttered.

Jessa turned to Rand!

"I'm not!"

"Then why were you at his meet-and-greet?" he asked.

Jessa continued to stare at Rand in disbelief.

Rand noticed the race marshal waving the final checkup flag.

"Never mind. Go," he said.

He pushed Jessa out of the tent. Ryder stretched her long back and followed Jessa. Jessa was still bothered by Rand's comment. She turned back!

"Why were you at his meet-and-greet?!"

Rand smirked. He knew Jessa was no longer distracted by Angro and his cerberus. Jessa had always been an emotional rider. Her emotions fueled her. Rand was the opposite.