[Chr24] Sled Dogs

The area was loud.  Humans and 'Bucks alike are cheering as the groups walk up to the starting line.  A fresh bed of snow lay on the ground, untouched.  Not that it would last for long.

"This is.. something else" Zana gave a nervous chuckle as she looked around at the crowds that had gathered.

Aeris stepped forward and looked around before taking a deep breath in, the cold air almost freezing her throat.  Zana shook her head slightly, "You're not scared?"  Aeris gave a grin, shaking her head.  Zana turned her attention back to where Moonie and Luna were standing as they were taking in the scenery.  It wasn't very often they would even think to enter a competition like this.  But here they were.  They'd been entered into the competition and were soon called forward to get prepared for the race.  Luna and Moonie took the front, Aeris and Zana in the back as Moonie's Gingerbread Shoon floated around the group.  The group wasn't the strongest, but they were agile and fast.  They figured that because they were all together, the combined strength of them all should be enough to drag along the sled.

"This will be fun!"

Aeris gave a small nod as she assured both herself and the others.  The group stretched carefully before they heard an announcement that it would be starting soon.

The next few minutes were near silence for the group as all they could do was focus on what was to come.  Suddenly, it came.  The sound of a gunshot released into the air as their ears began to ring.  They wasted no time and began to run, quickly getting ahead of a few others.  They were even sure they heard someone falling into the snow.  Still, they ran.  It was actually quite fun, quite freeing.  Adrenaline was quick to kick in as they all ran in almost complete synchrony.  They raced through the snow, eventually finding their way to the forest, having to run around the gnarled roots almost sticking out of the snow.  The tall trees were almost blurred, their vision only being able to focus on what was in front of them, and not around them.  As they neared the end of the forest, they saw the nearly completely white scenery ahead as it was a hill with the snow having fallen more.  There were only two groups ahead of theirs, and they weren't going to give up so easily.

They finally were able to escape the wooded area.  The only thing left was the uphill.  They hoped that the others would be getting tired by now, allowing for them to pass.  As they began uphill, however, it was harder than they had originally thought.  Their quick steps had begun to slow as they soon realized it would take a lot more strength to pull up the sled.  Still, they pushed forward.  Shuu, Moonie's Gingerbread shoon, soon flew past, turning and looking at the group as it seemingly cheered for them to keep going.  It was almost like they could hear him calling to them "You can do it!  You only have a little ways to go!"  And admittedly, it seemed to work.  With a newly found burst of energy, they began once more to pick up the pace.  It didn't take much longer for them to finally reach the peak, being able to rush and finish in fourth place.

As they crossed the finish line, they couldn't help but collapse, letting out heaving sighs as they tried to collect themselves after such a race.  They didn't do as bad as they had originally thought they would against 'bucks literally made for it, and were proud of their place, even if it wasn't one that would be mentioned.  What mattered to them is that they finished in a better position than they had originally thought.  Still, Aeris gave one final huff and pushed herself to stand up, "We should try that again next year."

"Not a chance!"

She couldn't help but let out a laugh as the others were quick to complain about her eagerness to do it again.