The sun had only just started to rise over the desert when the silhouette of their racing partners flew into view, not that Meiron had actually spotted them, he was too busy glaring at Ray as she sat on her haunches, gripping him in her front talons; given he was in his cat form…. his ears laid flat as his tail twitched; nearby a falcon ruffled its feathers, warming itself up, soon it would take to the air, riding on the warm thermals of the desert as it hunted. “You’re so cute like this, but… wont it make it harder to grip on?” Ray asked her head lifting as a wing did to beckon the slowly descending pair, the dragons dark pelt more at home in the night that the day. “Yes, but this makes the race more even, now if you’re quite done, put me down.” Meiron responded, the tone quite sharp… Ray grinned…. so tempted to continue… but relented, gently placing the cat on the gradually warming sands, truthfully she was more curious about the ‘fair’ part, so remained still as Meiron leapt up onto her back, and then her head, the falcon mantled its wings as the wyvern landed, before taking to the air, the early morning perfect for hunting.
Ray blinked as she realized what Meiron had meant, Infinitesimal had all the appearance of a storm or dark dragon, from the wyvern body to her markings, but her rider… was a cat…. a pretty cat at that. “Thank you for agreeing to race.” Merion said, amusement clear in his voice from the slight startlement he spotted on Dawn’s feline face, Ray stretched her neck out, gently touching Infinitesimal snout with her own, a greeting. “Figure this would help even the playing field, and its a challenge, i’ve not tried racing in this form before.” He continued, licking a paw before pointing into the distance. “Figure first one around that mountain and back is the winner.” It sounded simple enough… apart from the navy cat was fully aware that sandstorms were common in this region of the desert, something Ray had never flown through… but would help the storm hybrid she was racing, a perfect balance to the fact that Ray was suited to the desert terrain. He watched as Infinity and Dawn peered in the direction, before the wyvern sidled close, the other cat sticking a paw out, straight faced.. Meiron returned the gesture… a paw shake between cats. This would be interesting.
The two dragons stood side by side, their bodies tense as both waited for the signal for the race to begin, Dawn slipping her paws into the harness Infinity wore, her focus on the vast desert ahead, Meiron, had no such apparel, generally non of his dragons wore any sort of equipment…. though at least Ray had a mane he could grip….. “GO” he shouted mentally.
Both females surged forward, Infinitesimal surging straight into the air, her wyvern body far more adapted to the open air, immediately she surged forward taking the lead as she rode the warming thermals, much as the falcon was doing. Ray though started running over the desert sands, warming up for she was as much fire as earth, and…. she had another plan, one that Meiron had just suggested. Whilst she was slower than the airborne dragon at present, she was also touching the earth, and at the moment, there were stones and boulders she could use…. a green glow surrounded her as she pulled on her magic, the earthen weapons floating for a moment before she ‘threw’ them at Infinitesimal, continuing the volley as the other female sought to dodge them, she flared her wings, leaping into the air and climbing rapidly, before diving picking up speed and surging past the other pair as they dodged the last of the magic imbued missiles.
Infinitesimal shook herself angling her body to chase down the other female as the yellow ocean continued to extends in all directions,Dawn peering over her dragons shoulder spotted a haze in the distance, a sandstorm?. If they could just reach it… but for now her mind went in another direction. Magic ….well… two could play at that game, desert terrain or not.
Meiron’s ears twitched as Ray continued to eat the distance, he’d already spotted the sandstorm up ahead, and he knew Ray had, a slight… nervousness to her…. but his focus was on the pair behind them…. they hadn’t tried to overtake them yet, and in pure speed alone he assumed both dames were of a similar speed…. Instinct kicked in, “Drop.” Ray didn’t hesitate, folding her wings and dropping… just as several ice spears went hurtling past were she had just been. Not thinking, she surged upwards, dodging another volley, and was lost in the sandstorm as it covered them, she felt the moving earth drift over her, familiar… and yet not, and sensed Infinitesimal surge past. Oh this was far from over… Gliding through the sandstorm she pulled on her magic again… but this time her earth magic met a resistance… storm magic, the other dragoness also using her magic to counter Ray’s own attempts. Well… at least the sandstorm wouldn’t hinder her any further, the magics neutralized between the pair. Now… it was up to speed and stamina…… and only one could win.
Far beyond the reach of the sandstorm, the falcon soared, sharp eyes scanning the desert below, part of him aware of the racing dragons but his focus was on his own hunt….
WC: 926
Terrain: Earth
Featuring Meiron & Reirsyphys racing against @hawkweeds Dawn & Infinitesimal