What Is Your Secret?

Chapter 4: First Competition!

    After much training we finally were going to do our first competition! Kalinda had already won first place and while we rode, she took off! "Kalinda" I neighed and wanted to race after her but Gabriela kept me at a lope. I snorted but I did as she told me to do. I kept calling her name but she seemed to be in her own world as she kept running like she was running for her life. I got extremely worried when I saw them heading straight for a fence and thought Kalinda was going to do her signature sharp turns but she didn't, she did a very wide turn. Both me and Gabriela sighed in relief as the two came to a stop, giving us a chance to catch up. We finally caught up after a while and I was ready to lose it. "What were you thinking!" I had concern and anger mixed in my voice when I was intending concern to only be in my voice. I glared at her as I waited for an answer. " You could have thrown Bethany off" I snorted. "I wouldn't have gone that fast if I knew Bethany wasn't ready" she nickered in defense. I snorted as I shook my neck before adding "Still! You could have hurt Bethany!" Kalinda glared at me as I just narrowed my eyes at her. I didn't mean to seem angry, I just couldn't hold in my emotions. "I couldn't help it" she sighed. I was stunned. That was her only defense. I calmed myself dawn as she lowered her ears and looked towards the sky. "I just felt something telling me to run and Bethany was ready so I ran" she said calmly. I sighed as I looked away than towards her. "What did you get out of that run other than leaving me behind and getting yourself sweaty and out of breath" I snorted calmly so I wouldn't sound angry. I looked at her with my ears perked as she looked right back at me. "A taste of freedom" she answered surprising me in some way but at the same time I kind of understood. I keep forgetting every now and than that she was born in the wild, not captivity like me. 

      We walked back to the trailer after a few hours where Gabriela tacked me up in my show jumping gear after she got dressed herself. Bethany and Kalinda were teasing Gabriela about the outfit in a playful manner that Gabriela played along with. Towards the end of this teasing game Kalinda had snorted when Gabriela said she looked great in that ridiculous outfit. "You don't have a say in this Kalinda" she teased. Kalinda perked her ears before snorting again. All four of us laughed it off before it was time to jump. Gabriela mounted me as Bethany shouted "well, Let's go before we miss your run!" She turned Kalinda and had her start walking when I was side by side with her. We walked all the way to the building where the competition is being held. Once we arrived we found a spot where we could wait for my turn. Turns out, it was close to where Indigo and Gold was standing. I was shocked and unsure how to feel. I was over joyed that my sister had found a family member that she thought she'd never see again but something inside me had me worried that we would drift apart. I didn't want to lose her. Mother is already trying to prepare us for her passing since she keeps saying her time will come soon even though she still seems young. If mother passes, than Kalinda will be the only family I'll have.

     I was so caught up in my thoughts that I just about missed it when it was almost time for my run. "Up next is Gabriela Clearwater on Snowflake Revenge" one of the judges said into the microphone. Snowflake Revenge? Nice! "Show them a true champion" Kalinda encouraged as Bethany wished Gabriela good luck. Gabriela had us trot out of our waiting area then lope into the jump arena. I stayed at a perfect lope as we neared our first jump. As we neared it I found my jumping and landing point and felt Gabriela lean forward a little as I jumped this small jump. It was very easy. I held my head up as I loped around and towards the next jumps that I cleared without a problem. I kept my focus on the competition but I'm sure that I heard Bethany and Kalinda cheering us on whenever we cleared a jump. Bethany kept a good seat as we continued clearing all the jumps with ease. "Miss Gabriela is riding very smoothly and at a nice even pace" the judge complemented. I didn't pay attention to it and neither did Gabriela and kept our focus on the jumps. I didn't want to risk us losing this show cause I lost focus. We cleared each and every jump in good time and I started to lope than trot back to the waiting area where Bethany and Kalinda were waiting with smiles on their faces. "A very well performance by Gabriela Clearwater on Snowflake Revenge" the judge commented before the audience applauded. "Great job sis" Bethany cheered as we stopped beside them. "Amazing jumping!" Kalinda had a smile on her face as she looked into my eyes and I looked into her green eyes. "Thanks" I nickered with a smile. "I saw Bethany pull her phone out of her pocket and look at it before putting it back in her pocket as she looked at Gabriela. "Mom told us to stay and wait for the awards since there are only seven more contestants to go" she said and Gabriela nodded. 

     Kalinda and I were watching one of the last contestants when I heard someone say my name. "Snowflake." I perked my ears and looked over to my right to see Gold with her ears perked and her amber eyes looking at me. "Yes?" "You okay?" I nodded but she didn't seem convinced. "What's wrong" she asked as her voice was so soft. I was hesitant to answer but if I let someone else know of my concern it will feel lighter. "Well, I'm happy that Kalinda found a member of her family from her old herd but..." I trailed off as Gold kept her ears perked listening very carefully. "I'm worried that we may drift apart.." It hurt to admit it but as I thought I felt lighter for telling someone. The old palomino mare just smiled when I finally got it all out. "Sweetie, you are Kalinda's family that took her in when she had no one else. I see it as impossible for you two to drift apart seeing as you two are very close" she smiled. I thought about her words before I smiled myself. "You think we will stay family?" Gold nodded. "You two are inseprable and from all the years that I've known Indigo, who ever is Kalinda's family is his family" she said with a soft voice and smile. I felt lighter knowing this. "Thanks Gold" I nickered and she nodded before we both turned our attention back to the competition that was just about over. 

     I grew nervous as the awards were getting ready to be given out. "In Third place we have, Marissa Henderson on Thunderfoot!" The crowd gave a round of applause as a girl riding a black stallion with two white socks on his back legs walked out into the now clear jumping arena. She was given a yellow ribbon that was put on her stallions bridle before standing there waving. "Second place we have, Aryan King on Autumn Gen!" a teen boy rode out into the arena on a chestnut mare who had a blaze on her face and walked with grace. The judges gave him a red ribbon that was also placed on the mares bridle. "And finally, In first place we have" she took a pause as everyone grew silent. "Gabriela Clearwater on Snowflake Revenge!" The crowd roared in applause but the ones I heard the most was from Kalinda and Bethany. Kalinda let out an exieted neigh as Gabriela had me trot out of the waiting arena and over to the judges where she slowed me to a walk than had me stop. A navy blue ribbon was placed on my bridle and the crowd kept applauding. "Way to go girl" Gabriela praised as she hugged my neck. I nickered happily that we had won first place and that Gabriela was proud of me.