Evermire Riding Games

Cassandra led Metsäpalo up to where the race was spotting, smiling when she saw Ellah… Well, Harmony for the purposes of races and horse competitions. The tiefling had come a long way since their first ride, and Rapha was a familiar horse. It should make the cross country race Jeska was sponsoring a lot of fun. Provided Metsäpalo cooperated, that is.  

“You ready?” Cassandra adjusted his tack, her tone clearly that of a playful challenge.  

“Always.” Harmony returned with a smirk, making sure Rapha was settled as well. She was a pretty sporthorse. A nice mix of a black and grey. Relatively spirited too from Cassandra's understanding. “That your new one?” 

“One of them. His name’s Metsäpalo, and he’s an absolute monster at times.” 

“So, just your type?” Harmony huffed and regarded the bay roan Plainsrunner with a mix of appraisal and an understandable skepticism. 

“He has nice eyes.” Cass quipped with a chuckle before swinging up into the saddle. Metsäpalo danced under her, eyeing the trail in front of him with anticipation. She hadn’t taken him through the woods of Evermire yet, not really. And she hadn’t really ridden him alongside another horse yet either, so it would be a good test all round. “And he's fast, so you’d better be ready.” 

Harmony mounted Rapha and turned the dappled mare to face Cassandra and Metsäpalo. “Damn straight I am. Been looking forward to a rematch of sorts.” 

“Oh, is it going to be like that?” Cassandra laughed. “Should we bet on it?” 

“Sure. If I win, I get pick of an available horse from those stables of yours. You win, you get to pick a horse for me.” Harmony smirked. “What do you say?” 

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, letting Metsäpalo have enough lead to come up alongside. “You sure? I don’t see much of a loss for me in either scenario.” 

“I have expensive tastes.” 

“I don’t keep cheap horses.” 

Harmony shrugged, grinning. “Maybe I have one I’m eyeing, and you can’t tell me you wouldn’t love to saddle me with one of those beasts you prefer. The kind likely to try and murder me and anyone else dumb enough to displease them.” 

As if on cue Metsäpalo gave an impatient snort, a bit of flame sparking from him as he stomped his hoof. 

Rapha, not caring overmuch for the sudden appearance of fire, danced nervously, trying to put some distance between herself and the stallion, Harmony quickly regaining control. 

Cassandra laughed and patted his neck, pulling him just a little bit further away to appease the mare. No point starting the race with a horse bolting on them. It would hardly be sporting, and she tended to play fair in a race like this. “Alright, deal. Maybe I’ll give you this monster when I win.” 

“IF you win.” Harmony challenged, once again eyeing Metsäpalo as she soothed Rapha. 

“If, when…” *Cassandra shrugged, still smiling. She enjoyed the teifling’s company no matter what name they were going under, so she was truly looking forward to the ride. “Shall we? I hear there’s some good jumps on the route and I’m dying to take Metsäpalo over a few.” 

Harmony didn’t bother to answer, instead she shot Cassandra a shiteating grin and urged Rapha into motion, taking off down the wooded trail and onto the route. 

Not a bad form on the canter Cassandra thought as she smiled, pulling back a suddenly restless Metsäpalo. The horse had a fire for competition, which came as no surprise. She had no intention of letting Harmony win, but she didn’t want to test the two horses too close together right out of the gate. She wasn’t sure how either would react and wasn’t about to chance significant injuries for anyone involved. 

She waited until Rapha and Harmony were likely to be nearing the first jump and set Metsäpalo into motion. Not that she had to do much more than ease her grip on the reins for him to take off. He had a smooth stride, even and sure. The kind of horse who was a joy to ride when not trying to kill you. 

The trail was a little narrower than Metsäpalo was used to, but clear for the moment and she simply allowed him to settle into his gait. It didn’t take long for Rapha and Harmony to come into view, the winter woods allowing for more visibility, the gray of Rapha’s coat easy to spot as well as the teal of parts of Harmony’s outfit standing out against the woods. If anything, seeing the other horse drove Metsäpalo faster. The lead pair took the jump well, far better than the first time she’d seen them jump. Not that they couldn’t have done much worse. 

“No, not yet. I don’t want either of you spooking.” Cassandra forced him to slow just a little. Still closing the distance, but not bringing him hard yet. He made the jump a good distance behind them yet, landing with ease on the dirt of the trail and trying to bolt. Only Cassandra’s grip forced him into a slower pace. “You can canter, but you can’t have your full pace yet. That’s for later.” 

The first real turn in the trail was a blind corner into a creek bed. She had the advantage of hearing Harmony curse before the ground dropped into a creek. Fortunately the water was really low as Metsäpalo really hated water, but he took it well enough. He didn’t lose his footing, but he did make a reasonable attempt to toss her as his hooves hit the wet ground. 

Just as she got him back under control she caught Harmony glancing back. Even from the distance the pleased smirk was easy to read. 

Cassandra smiled in return and wheeled Metsäpalo back into pace. This time she let him gallop, working on closing what distance she’d lost in getting him back under control. He was going to make this race interesting whether she wanted it to be or not. 

‘Oh, much better.’ Cassandra thought as she watched Rapha and Harmony make the exit out of the creek bed. It wasn’t a hard climb, but a rider without sufficient experience might have lost control or given their horse too much leeway to take a risky speed or gait out. The pair ahead of her made it look relatively easy. 

Metsäpalo made the climb out easily enough, his muscles tensing almost as if he wanted to try jumping it. Not a good plan, and he listened at what felt like the last possible moment, but in the end they were out and he was racing to catch up with Harmony and Rapha. 

She allowed him to close the distance just a little more. Rapha was no slouch and he had to work for it, but Metsäpalo did well enough and she could feel him itching for the race. It came through in his muscles and a feeling of anticipation practically humming in the air around him. 

The path opened into a wider straightaway and Cass allowed him to come up alongside Rapha. “Having fun?” She called across. 

“Hell yeah!” came the immediate reply before Harmony pushed Rapha faster. 

Cass didn’t immediately signal for Metsäpalo to go faster as he took that moment to try and bite at Rapha, clearly displeased at the other horse pulling ahead. Instead, she pulled his reins, bringing his head almost to his neck as she turned him from Rapha. Rapha mercifully didn’t do anything more than dodge the bite. 

It did give Harmony a moment pause as she glanced back again, this time surprised, though she was more than quick enough to not give up her advantage. 

“Ei mahdollisuutta. You do that again and we’re going to have problems.” Cassandra said sharply. She didn’t hold him for long, but she held him long enough to give the other pair a good lead once again.  

Metsäpalo shot a gout of flame but when she eased the tension in the reins he didn’t immediately race for Rapha. Hopefully that meant he’d play nicer when she let him come up alongside again. If he could catch the mare that was. Now it was a real race and Cass found herself truly enjoying the challenge. 

The next obstacle was a series of logs which gave her just a bit of a chance to catch up more to Rapha. Metsäpalo took the logs a little faster than Cass would have preferred, stumbling on the last but recovering quickly. 

As he closed the distance on another straight away, Rapha decided to take preventative measures against any attempt at biting.This time the black and gray mare was done with his antics and kicked out at him, her hind legs clipping his shoulder and narrowly missing Cassandra. 

Harmony gave a startled shout and managed to pull Rapha to the side as Cassandra pulled Metsäpalo back and away from the pissed off mare ahead of them. Metsäpalo seemed more interested in fighting back, but there was no way in hell Cassandra was about to let him do so.

She looked over to see Harmony fighting to keep Rapha from doing much the same, the mare clearly uninterested in the race for the moment. Oh the joys of a spirited horse. 

Cassandra started laughing and finally managed to get Metsäpalo under control, though she held him back until Harmony was able to get Rapha better in line. She didn’t want either hurt. Not in a good natured race, and more a training exercise for Metsäpalo than not. 

“You would think this is funny,” Harmony said, annoyance clear in her voice as she got her horse under control, and turned to look at Cassandra. 

“Neither of us got kicked. Quite the mare you’ve got. Quick, lots of passion, not inclined to put up with shit.” Cassandra smirked, still laughing as she adjusted her grip on Metsäpalo’s reins without easing the pressure used to hold him relatively still. “Race isn’t over with, you know. Still three more jumps to go, and he’s ready to gallop. Think you can keep that lead you’ve got?” She eyed the space between them challengingly. 

Harmony smirked. “Damn straight I can.” And with that she turned Rapha back onto the trail and took off. 

This time Cassandra didn’t wait. She knew roughly where Rapha’s range was now and couldn’t probably keep Metsäpalo out of range if the stallion cooperated. The moment she eased the pressure on his reins, the Plainsrunner practically leapt forward, his golden eyes glowing with the drive for a good race. He’d have a good one as she’d pulled him back hard the last time, but it was good for him. The challenge might give him the hint that cooperating during training was a good idea. 

Metsäpalo’s gait was easy and quick as he cleared the first two jumps, barely breaking his speed at all. For a moment she considered training him more in jumping, but endurance and barrel racing was going to take almost all their focus at the moment. Jumping could be worked in if he started setting fires again, but for now he was occupied. Though given his behavior towards Rapha, she’d need to find him a good training and competition partner. 

The trail to the last jump was a wide stretch, Cassandra placing him further to the right to avoid Rapha’s hooves, and let the horse do what he did best. Metsäpalo closed the distance further, trying to come up on Rapha more directly. 

“You’re not a warhorse, Metsäpalo, and this isn’t combat.” Cassandra kept him on track as she watched Harmony and Rapha take the jump just ahead of them, close enough to get a good look at both their forms.  

She had a moment where she was worried for them, Rapha’s stride being just a little off for the angle they were going over the fence at. But Harmony mostly corrected it, and kept her seat. Seems the lessons were paying off after all, and Cass couldn’t help but be proud of the other demonkin. 

Metsäpalo gave a good effort in the last stretch of the race, but Cass could feel him starting to grow tired. Not a dangerous level of exhaustion but tired nonetheless. A fire that had burned itself out. It was a good test for them. She had a better idea what he could do, and while it wasn’t likely they would win now she knew where to pick up his training and where he could be pushed. 

Rapha and Harmony crossed the finish just a few steps ahead of them, Harmony turning and gave Cassandra a look that suggested she was really damned pleased with herself. And she had every right to be. It had been a damned good race. 

Cass grinned and slid down, walking Metsäpalo to let him cool down. “Nice job. Good catch on that last jump. Thought you were going to eat the dirt there for a minute.” 

Harmony huffed and dismounted, walking Rapha beside the pair. The two horses gave each other more than a few side eyes, Metsäpalo occasionally letting out a puff of flame or steam in annoyance at having lost, but Cassandra kept a firm grip on him. 

“Had it under control the entire time,” Harmony replied, shooting Cass a look. 

Cass smirked and pulled a pair of carrots out of her pocket and passed one to Harmony before leading them towards the water troughs. “Or at least not out of control.” 

“That either.” 

Cass chuckled at the flat tone in Harmony’s voice, allowing Metsäpalo to get a drink. “So, what kind of horse are you going to pick from the stables?” 

Rapha reluctantly joined him, shooting him a look that suggested she’d like to kick him again. Harmony moved her a little further away and shrugged. “You’ll have to wait and see.” 

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m looking forward to it. Rapha has some bite, but I want to see what you gravitate to. Should be fun to watch. Same with the trial rides.” Cass placed the second carrot into Harmony’s hand and started to lead Metsäpalo away. “Those will be fun too.”