Awakening The Epidemic of Flight

[Sam]

Horses Key to Flight, Rude Awakening, and Epidemic
Jockeys/Others Sam Lettington on Roo (Rude Awakening), Jake on Keegan (Key to Flight), Sandra Crow on Virus (Epidemic), and Ipo Gladstones just hanging out and making smart comments lol
Point of View Will change so check the italicized name.
Purpose Work out for Spring Cup

Jake
Keegan was still as much of a pain as ever. He was apparently obsessed with Ipo today. He kept yanking my arms out of my socket to try and mess with her hair. The silly little colt wouldn't even give me the time of day!

And guess who thought it was funny?
That's right. The evil little gremlin herself: Ipo.

Ugh! I said as my arms were pulled nearly out of their joints. So glad I was wearing leather gloves today. Keegan! Stop it you freak! As I suspected, he ignore me.

Ipo just laughed from her perch on the fence. You're just jealous, she said in a sing-song voice.

Of what? I countered. A crazy stalker pony?

I got a stalker and you don't, she said in the same childish tone. She jumped off her seat on the fence and strolled over to me. Instantly, Keegan had his nose in the mess that she called her hair. She smiled and reached over to push him away until she froze and suddenly she socked me in the arm.

Ow! I protested, rubbing my sore arm. What was that for? Ok, so normally I deserved it but I didn't do anything that time!

Green one! Ipo said with a mischievous grin.

What are you- I paused to peer up when I heard a car door slamming. Low and behold, there was a green punch buggy. I looked down at Ipo with a look of awe until I shook it off. You're a freak, you know that right?

Fear my awesome might! I never saw such an evil grin on someone before.

I was about to come up with ever so witty response but then I noticed who came out of that car. She had striking blond hair and light blue eyes- nearly as light as Ipo's (but her's were nearly white). I stared for a moment until the girl gave me a look that said plainly 'what the hell are you looking at?'.

Yup! I knew her! It was that girl Ace flew by my first day. She didn't look so pleased to see me though... I hope she didn't take it personally or anything...

What are you staring at? Ipo said, noting my sudden silence.

No one, I said and began to drag Keegan to the barn- though he protested strongly and insisted that there was something worth investigating in Ipo's hair.

Oh really? Ipo replied, catching up to me in two sure steps. I wasn't sure how she never ran into anything. She was utterly blind but walked around with no cane or guide dog. I asked her plenty of times and she would just grin and gave me a 'I got super powers' or a 'Woah! I'm blind? Since when?' (Though that one was typically after I said 'you're was blind, so how do you see where you are going?') response.

I was about to reply when I came to the entrance of the barn. It was dark inside with no lights on. I blinked into the darkness. I mean I knew it was early but not so early as to the feeders not already feed and all.

Man! It's pitch black in there! I can't see a thing! I complained.

Oh no! Whatever will we do? Ipo replied in utter sarcasm.

I flashed her an apologetic smile. Sorry! But help me find a light switch, will ya'?

Ipo just laughed and turned to the opposite wall. Keegan followed and with a sigh of defeat just laid the lead rope over his withers. I trusted he wouldn't go anywhere with Ipo there.

I ran my hand across the opposite side of the wall but found no light little box or level. Just dust and a few cobwebs.

Suddenly the lights blared on. I blinked my eyes into the light, letting them adjust. Take it you found it, I said as I walked over to Keegan and Ipo.

Wasn't me, she replied as I grabbed Keegan's lead rope and dragged him away from Ipo's hair.

I glanced down the aisle to see the blond with a bay filly, looking utterly uncaring. I guess it was her, I nearly whispered, but I knew Ipo's sensitive ears caught my words.

The woman gave me a sneer before turning and heading towards the cross ties. With a shrug, I followed. Keegan was now too busy looking into each and every stall to try and act up.

Soon the colt was cross tied and I pulled off his blanket, getting a few static shocks in the process. With a curry comb, I started to scrap the dirt off his coat that he had collected the night before. Every now and then he would lift his hoof and paw. Of course I would correct him but minutes later he seemed to forget and did it all over again.

Sam soon came in with Roo. A filly had only the displeasure of meeting a few times when I got stuck on feeding duties. To say the least, she was simply, downright rude.

Sandra was just finishing up with her own half blind filly, Virus. She seemed to have fallen a sleep at the cross ties. Lucky, I thought as I turned back to Keegan who danced in the cross ties before freezing and chewing on the cross tie.


Sandra
Not only do I get stuck in a workout race with that Jake dude but I also must be in the cross tie next to him. At least he's not trying to talk to me or be friendly. I guess my Don't - Think - We - Are - Or - Ever - Could - Be - Friends glare worked.

I should use it more.

Soon enough though, we were out on the track. Virus still hadn't shown any kind of emotion since I rode her. But looking at Roo and Keegan, I'm kind of glad of that. She's uncaring but she's not stupid.

After a brief workout we were finally getting ready at the ten furlong maker. Sam had decided to leave a gate their for all the horses since most of the horses were racing in the Spring Cup.

I suppose that was smart to do but it'll get in the way of the other horses- though it was only two.


Sam
I hadn't ridden Roo in quite a while. She was just as bossy and just plain rude as ever.

Speaking of rude- Jake and Sandra definitely weren't friends. I'm not sure why Sandra doesn't like Jake. She never even talked to him as far as I know. But either way, it better not mess with the race.

Virus was the first to enter the gate stall. She didn't seem to care - like usual - and simply walked in without a fuss.

Keegan was another matter. He edged towards it then bulked and backed away. He snorted and danced- refusing to get too close to the iron 'monster'. Soon the staff members grew tired of this. They placed a blindfold over his eyes and wheeled him around a few times then lead him in. As soon as the back was closed the blind fold came off. Keegan looked utterly confused as to how he ended up in the gate stall.

Roo was last. She pinned her ears at the staff members. They didn't retreat though. With two behind her with their arms locked around her rump and two at her head, she was lead in, though she did nearly kick one staff member.

I nodded to a staff member and grabbed mane, getting ready for the filly to fly out from under me.

The bell rang loudly and the gates opened and all three horses sprung out. Roo to the front and Keegan followed close behind. Virus was fine to linger in the back and hugging the rail.

The club house turn came up fast. Roo swung slightly to the outside and Keegan mindlessly followed. Virus hugged deep to the rail- so close in fact that Sandra's foot nearly hitting the railing. The half blind pair gained a bit of distance on us but she didn't try and get any more.

The back stretch was relatively uneventful.

Keegan started to edge up on Roo however. My black filly pinned her ears and sharply cut him off. Keegan settled back again but galloped on her heels. Virus still watched from behind, content with her position for the moment.

The final turn came up. Again Roo swung wide around the turn and pinned ears when Keegan began to focus and cut closer to the rail. With a few strides, he slid in between Roo and the rail.

Virus began to pick up her pace. Slowly the filly was galloping on Keegan's heels, trying to make the colt choke and sprint too early. I could tell that the gray colt wanted to but Jake held him back- though the jockey wasn't experienced, he did know what was good and what was bad.

Soon the stretch opened up. Virus managed to slip between Keegan and the rail. All three horses started to lay on the speed. Keegan was the first to get his speed up. He took the lead by several strides before Roo raced up to catch him.

Virus was lagging for nearly a furlong before a sudden burst of speed and dark filly was gaining on Roo and Keegan. It was nearly scary seeing such determination. The wire was coming up fast and I had no doubt that Virus would catch up to us in time.

Soon she was neck and neck with Keegan and Roo who were having a speed duel but were losing fuel. Virus couldn't seem to muster any more speed though. I could tell that the filly was refusing to simply give up or lose. Her half-blind jockey turned her head to the side to watch the horses beside her as well as the upcoming wire.

I gave Roo a pop on her shoulder then one more on her rump. She simply pinned her ears and dug in a bit more but just couldn't get past the two other horses.

Keegan too tried to speed past the two fillies he was sandwiched between but he couldn't keep his nose in front.

Soon the wire was over us and the winner was undetermined. Nonetheless, I was proud of my horses. They certainly had the heart and speed needed for racing.

Word Count 1,748