[Thunder Bay] The Fast and the Pacifist. (Una)

by **Bay'Lin La** on April 18th, 2014, 9:40 am

26th Day of Spring, 514 AV.
Midday/12th Bell

A distinct frown dragged down against his lips, fingers curling around the reigns in his palms as he glanced to the Charodae around him with a sense of judgement, glares tugging at his features like weapons. No words had been exchanged between him and the others. It wasn't that he meant to be late. Not that he'd meant to arrive any earlier than when the meeting was supposed to begin, but he had slowed his swim for too long in getting ready to join the Seahorse races beneath the waters of Thunder Bay.

In all honesty, it was his sister May'lin's fault for pushing him into the race when participants were being jostled together, gathered from the few underwater dwellers around, for the fun contest. And knowing as he did how long and annoying she could get, he begrudgingly agreed to race. He glanced over to her where she swam suspended in the waters, floating absently next to some other Charodae and Knoti.

Whether it was accidental or not, even he didn't know, but it was noticeable that a smile tugged at his grumpy lips once he glanced forward to ready himself to race. He had always loved the seahorse races when he was a child, watching the riders glide through the water. He didn't mind being pushed into the race, but he did have 'issues' to work out with the whole 'being social' thing.

"Ready!" It was a word spoken brashly in the underwater language of Char by a female holding staff. The four Charodae riders all seemed to focus. "Go!" The female yelled and swung the staff. At the yell, Baylin pulled at his reins, his feet within stirrups shifted so that his heels barely grazed against the sides of his aquatic seahorse mount, named Anyalsi. Baylin tightened his legs to hug against his seahorses body which caused Anyalsi to propel forward into a light canter. He was clearly the least talented in terms of riding as the other riders blew past Baylin in full canters. Their horses gliding through the water as Baylin barely remained on their tails.

The race follows a short, straight course as they all hurried towards a dangling chain that held an anchor coming from a floating Svefra ship above. The riders in front of him each clustered in a group in front of him in a desperate spree for the head position. Baylin wanted no part of it as he let his legs tighten to grip against the seahorses sides. He lifted the reigns, the special bridle grazing against Anyalsi's pectoral fin to slow her speed, tilt her head down, and make her air bladder compress to cause her to plummet further into the water. "Make haste, Anyalsi!" His voice was brash as the group raced above his head, trying to pass them from beneath.

The race was far from over as they all had to circle round the chain then head back to where the race had began where the crowd of on lookers formed the finish line... Baylin now wanted to win.

by **Una Tanta** on April 18th, 2014, 10:21 am

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Though Una loved living in the lakes that touched the heavens in the days that followed she yearned to rush freely through the water. Descending the long Sanikas Road Una had splashed into the water with girlish glee. She had spent the previous day staying far away from home and avoiding anywhere her sisters or parents may be. Running her fingers over familiar coral and exploring location she fondly remembered as a child, that night she wiggled to sleep happiness her warm blanket.

The next day she had gone back to Flutter Cove. She had spent her first night in Wind Reach with Sav. Though she hadn't spent much time with the young Konti as a child the woman was always pleasant and welcoming and Una had welcomed her easily. She had slept on the floor of the horses stables that night.

Coming back to thank the Konti for her hospitality Una was distracted by the cheers of several Charoda. Blanching for fear her family may be close by Una almost bolted. But the familiar the sound of snorting Seahorses drew her closer as memories of her own childhood horse crept into her conscious.

Wedging her way amongst the crowd, one eye peeled for her family Una watched the race begin. The familiar building excitement starting in the pit of her stomach despite herself. Races were a frequent and thrilling part of the Charoda community. Almost everyone had horses growing up, even if they lost interest with time.

Una spotted the familiar Konti at the other end of the small crowd and waved slightly. Too distracted by the races Sav didn't respond to Unas dismay. However, other than with people Una was a remarkably patient person for her young age and turned to watch the races proceed.

Many of the Charoda racers this time were young girls and boys. In amongst the group was a grown man riding a large yellow seahorse. He was several heads taller than the rest of the group and Una giggled to herself as they easily outpaced him at the beginning of the race. Tentacles curling in upon themselves with excitement the sheen of bubbles from the wiggling seahorses masking the riders placements for the moment. With everyone else she strained to see around the bubbles. Winners always won a little bauble from every loser, it was a great way to add to ones own horde.

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by **Bay'Lin La** on June 12th, 2014, 12:43 am

Oh, how he had missed this. Baylin adjust his grip to keep proper control of the reigns to match the seahorses movements by angling his elbows, his elbows sway opening during Anyalsi's forward propulsion when she lashed out with her tail and straightened out her body, and close his elbows during her tails retraction pause afterward. He sat in the saddle with a straightened back to remain stable during the ride. What had began as a friendly race had quickly changed into an aggressive charge as the group rounded the anchor chain, then switched to an all out serious competition.

However, as the younger crowd pushed their seahorses to their limits during the initial charge, Baylin was the last to round the chain with a drastically lessened speed. "Catch your wind Anyalsi, we are not done yet."

Baylin then relaxed his hips to shift his upper body slightly forward. The shift of weight put pressure onto the front of his horse as a sign for Anyalsi to speed up. He kept his hands up, lifting his elbows into a position that ran parallel to Anyalsi' mouth as he spurred her onward. The horse and rider dashed through the water as they entered into a quickened canter. The group of younger riders were directly suddenly directly above him. With a sly, enthralling smile he welcomed the water flowing through his head tendrils as his own dorsal fin sliced through it in a long absent display of glee.

The younger Charodae had pushed their mounts too hard during the initial sprint. It left Baylin with a slight advantage as they all raced towards the finish. He shifted the reigns as he stood slightly in the stir ups to lift from the saddle slightly, he pulled the lightened the tension on the reins as a sign for her to fill her air bladder and rise up towards the surface. Baylin cut off the lead racer, stealing the lead for himself as they neared the finish. He remained in front of the fastest rider, deciding to keep a speed that left the Charoda behind him frustratingly close to his horses tail.

He glanced over his shoulder to see the rider behind him begin to move deeper into the dept of the water. "No you don't" The words hardly whispered as he mimicked the other riders strategy. The result ended with Baylin still in the lead and the other racer on his tail.

In a single moment his fate was balanced on the edge of a knife. It only needed him to be fractionally in the right place, Anyalsi to be a second faster than the rest, the moment to be perfect. In the time it took to try to put himself in the right place, Baylin was aware of three things: one, that the beat of Anyalsi dorsal fin was slowing; two, that the riders behind him were still inching ever forward above him, and three, that he was now looking at Maylin, who remained at the finish line, his eyes locked on her.

She was doing something. Why was she flailing her arms? It was something he suddenly found fascinating. He was brought back to the present when the people around started shouting at him . He zoomed past the crowed of people with curious thoughts on the mind. It was only then that he glanced backwards to notice that he had finished the race. He tugged at the reigns to slow the horse to a slow halt, then pulled to the right to turn Anyalsi around to head back to the crowd. Baylin had won.

by **Raien Ironarm Pitrius** on July 20th, 2014, 11:53 pm

XP Award!

Una Tanta :

Baylin :

Additional Comments :

Closed [Thunder Bay] The Fast and the Pacifist. (Una)