Nervous Obstacle

“Do I have to?” Ember paced nervously, watching as Ms. Sinclair held Lovely’s reins and spoiled the mare with apple slices. 

“No.” Cass checked Lovely’s saddle, not even looking towards Ember. 

“Okay, but you paid our entry fee and I really feel like we should ride. Plus, it's just an obstacle course and we ride crosscountry all the time. It isn’t going to be that different.” Ember looked to Cass for confirmation. 

“You’re right, it's not.” Cass still doesn’t look over, instead brushing a bit of dirt from one of Lovely’s white birdcatcher spots. 

“Aren’t you going to tell me to just suck it up and do it?” Ember demanded, red eyes flashing with annoyance. “It would be a lot easier if you did.” 

“I’m aware.” Cass finally looks over, amused yellow eyes meeting Ember’s red ones. “But it’s your choice. Either you want to ride or you don’t.” 

Ember frowned, moving to take Lovely’s reins from Cass. “After how I performed in the archery part, I don’t want to embarrass myself again.” 

“Then don’t ride.” Cass shrugged. 

“Okay, but I know we can do better in the obstacle course. And you said it was a lot like crosscountry. Maybe even easier. Less jumps, not as much planning?” Ember looked at Cass, still hoping for reassurance. Instead, all she found were yellow eyes still watching her with mild amusement. 

“You’re not going to answer me, are you?” Ember stroked Lovely’s nose, trying to calm themselves down. The mare shared none of the elf’s nerves, her dark curly tail swatting away a few flies lazily. 

Cass just smirked, fangs flashing for the briefest of moments. 

“Please, can you just tell me to do it?” Ember practically pleaded, the anger vanishing to nerves yet again. “Or at least tell me I can’t fail Lovely. She’s worked so hard, and I want to do her proud. And you because, well, I have her because of you….” 

“Ember, either talk yourself into it or talk yourself out of it. I will not be determining this for you,” Cass replied firmly. 

Ember tightened their grip on Lovely’s reins for a moment, the mare nuzzling her affectionately in the direction of the obstacle course. 

“Or you could listen to Lovely. It seems she has an opinion on the matter.” Cass patted the mare’s side and turned to walk towards the stands. 

Ember wanted to argue, to grab at Cass’s red riding tunic, but Lovely it seemed had the sense to catch the hem of Ember’s own simple brown tunic before the elf could make such a poor decision. Cass wasn’t a fan of having her space invaded by others under any circumstances, and Ember had probably already pushed the demonkins' patience. 

“I’m being silly, aren’t I?” Ember looked at Lovely, repeating Cass’s process of checking the tack. They knew there hadn’t been any sabotage, but they still needed something to do with their hands. 

Lovely tossed her head, nodding and gently bumping Ember closer to the course before stomping their front hooves demandingly. Their small white socks ended up covered in a fine layer of dust from the force of it, but the mare seemed unconcerned. 

“You just want another bath when this is done, don’t you?” Ember laughed and swung up in the saddle, their decision finally made. 

Lovely nodded, already making for the starting line without so much as an instruction having been given. Whatever nerves Ember had felt began to vanish as they settled into the saddle. Lovely seemed to be sharing her confidence and for the moment Ember shook off their less than stellar performance at the archery course. 

Ember’s nerves struck again as soon as they heard their names announced, but Lovely had no such qualms as she raced forward onto the course. 

The mare had no issues with the first jumps, being used to far harder fare at both Halloway and Thorn Rose. It was a good thing too as it took that first set for Ember to really master their nerves. 

Admittedly the rest of the course was a blur as well. Lovely took the barrel racing pumpkins quickly, almost missing a lead change because Ember didn’t signal it until the very last minute. Still, they pulled it off. 

The ghosts and scarecrows along the way designed to throw the horses or riders were no issues. Ember and Lovely breezed past them and over the jumps and around the haybales, only slowing a time or two to avoid running into something. Lovely was agile but not quite as good in tight spaces as other horses. 

Even catching the rings on the spear wasn’t too bad, though Ember missed several of them. They’d have to practice that at some point, they thought as they patted Lovely’s side reassuringly. It was a largely new task for both of them after all. 

The apples in the water almost distracted Lovely, but by then Ember was paying enough attention they managed to keep the mare from going for a swim to get them. It was rather lucky given the temptation of both the water and the apples was probably significant for the black pearl mare. It was two of her favorite things after all. 

Still, Lovely took the jump with only a minor hesitation and a longing look back at the apples. 

“I’ll get you all the apple slices you want later!” Ember laughed as they guided Lovely towards the last series of jumps. They couldn’t quite tell the distance between them, but that at least was something they were familiar with. Cass had made the pair practice over and over again until they could adjust to just about anything on a jump. 

Lovely stumbled a little on the last jump, the sheets of the ghosts holding up the posts distracting her at the last minute, but Ember was able to adjust things just enough they kept their footing. 

From there it was simply a race to the finish line. As they crossed, Ember caught sight of Ms. Sinclair in the stands. The demonkin seemed pleased, or at least as pleased as she ever did. However, for the moment, Ember found they didn’t care. The adrenaline was too high from having not made a complete fool of themselves, and from the way Lovely was moving the mare felt the same.