Just Another Day

Many obstacles had certainly been placed for the runners. There was very little smooth track to run on, a furlong at most. Where the smooth dirt ended began a series of bolders and rubble which required the runners to be alert and to jump from rock to rock, and under a few logs placed atop the rocks. A few scraped elbows and knees were earned here.

Beyond this were the stump holes, and they had been laced with thorns. One wrong step and a leg would be ensnared to the knee or higher, and would likely require assistance to be removed.

With a sharp cry, one of the runners fell. Khan of the Blade clan was unfortunate enough to become tangled in a stray thorn vine, and was left behind as he removed it from his upper leg. He was cursing solidly and aggressively brushed off any help from the cervitaurs. Undeterred, he resumed the race, ignoring the blood trickling down his leg.

To their relief, the next stretch was through trees and dodging ferns and bushes. All went well until they came to a sizable body of water lined with craggy rocks and thick weeds. It could either be swam through or gone around as flying was not permitted in a foot race. Some decided to swim and some decided to evade. This was the slowest part and the sun was starting to get high in the sky by the time all had made their way past this obstacle.

"How are we supposed to know how they're doing?" Muso huffed.

They were becoming rather tired by the time they cleared the trees, and the final stretch toward the finish line lay ahead. With renewed vigor, they gave it their all.