Ask Raxus New Horizons

[Kalique Baize]

She took a mental note at the energy bow. If she'd stumble upon one somewhere, she'd take it home, because why not. She knew it would make him happy and they'd probably have a blast with it, so she settled on simply buying one instead if she wouldn't find one just like that. They weren't the most common item, but available on the market and she knew that flexibility with different weapons was always an advantage on top of the fun aspect.

She had felt his gaze on her, knowing she was surely not 100% accurate with how she held the bow, but even without the Force, it just worked. She was genuinely happy as the process of firing the arrow had come somewhat naturally, but she obviously couldn't help but smirk at his whistle.

Her smirk widened further and she gently kissed his cheek at his comment, however refraining from further distractions out of fairness reasons and watched attentively instead. His next arrow missed and while this gave her a chance to take the lead, she met his gaze again, offering a "perhaps you've just a little distracted" followed by a little wink.

Gods...she was incredibly attracted to him, too, even when he was about to lose in archery, but she forced herself not to linger on those thoughts right now and focused on the next shot. She took a deep breath again and calmed her mind before she knocked, aimed, and let go, the arrow skillfully hitting the next target just as precisely as before. "Here's your last chance..." she teased, hinting at how she was confident she'd hit the third, too. She was greatly amused and her heart was simply full.

@Raydo

18/20 ehehe

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He smiled as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "...Perhaps..." he replied. "It wouldn't be the first time you have used such tricks on me." he joked.

He watched as she lined up her next shot. There was a stark contrast to the fall sweater and skirt and the bow she seemed to wield quite naturally. It was a contrast that he was all too familiar, though. She shot her second shot, it striking as true as the first one did. "Are you sure you have never done this before?" he said with a raised eyebrow. Apples were not easy to hit, but she couldn't seem to miss. His only hope was to nail this next shot and then miss her next shot for a tie.

"Great shot." he admitted.

He took up the bow again as he prepared his last stand. He had done this a thousand times before; he just needed to relax and take in a slow breath. He slowly pulled the bowstring back but held the shot for just a little too long before he released. The shot slammed into the backstop, nowhere near an apple. Whether it was bad luck, poor skill, or fate, it just didn't seem like it was going to be his day.

He let out the breath he had been holding before glancing over to Kali. "Guess this contest is all you," he said with a wink. "You going to shoot your last shot?" he asked. It didn't matter, she had already won, but he did want to see if she could hit all three arrows. Regardless, he was proud of her, with maybe just a little annoyance on the surface at himself for the poor performance.

Roll: 2

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique felt like she simply understood the bow. It was a regular, handcrafted bow it seemed, no fancy tech or mechanics, and yet the knocking, aiming and drawing felt natural. After the second shot she felt more genuinely confident, but she knew Jon was a strong competitor.

"Tricks?" she repeated in feigned shock, shaking her head. "Unbelievable". She knew he was just teasing and she obviously played along, however her mind was already strategizing for the next move. The outcome was still open after all.

"I haven't...but thank you" even if he wasn't all happy with her doing so well in their little competition, she saw genuine pride reflected in his gaze, too. She loved making memories with him and this was yet another day she'd remember fondly.

"Your turn" she jutted her chin towards the remaining targets again and stepped back to let him. She literally half expected a strong comeback, but surprisingly, he missed once again. "Out of practice then" she gave him an encouraging smile even if she sensed her chance. Technically, she had already won, but she wanted to try something, not to show off, but simply because she thought it would be fun.

She reached for two arrows and knocked them, one above the other and double checked that no one was nearby. "I'll try hitting one with that" she announced as she drew the string back and focused. If one arrow would leave its trajectory, she was prepared to stop it with the Force, but as she aimed and closed one eye, she realized that with a slight calculation, perhaps hitting two apples at once wasn't impossible.

She thus adjusted her aim and shot, both arrows zoomed towards their target and pinned both apples right to the wall behind. "This..." had she subconsciously used the Force without even intending to do it? She was literally a little confused before actually pride washed over her. "I'm getting us a bow" she chuckled, her cheeks a little redder than before.

"I can't believe it" she muttered to him as the bystanders literally applauding as her maneuver had drawn a lot of unintentional attention. She threw Jon a grin as she put the bow down and reached for their Cider cups, handing him his.

@Raydo

Roll=20

 

[Jonathen Baize]

There was a slight pang of annoyance as she tried to encourage him. It wasn't directed at her and faded quickly, but he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in himself. "Heh.." he said, his face in a slight scowl. "Maybe.."

He crossed his arms as he stood to the side and watched her take her last shot. He knew it wasn't intentional, but the extra flair on her shot only poured salt into his wounded ego.

The crowd ate it up and cheered for the woman and the shot. There would surely be stories told about her for weeks to come.

"That was a hell of a shot..." he said, slightly stunned. He scratched at his beard as he pondered if she had actually lied to him about her experience. Shaking himself back into the moment, a grin returned a second later. "You never cease to amaze me," he said quietly, stepping up to her. "Guess we can add this to the list of things you need to train me in," he said with a slight shake of his head as he took the cup back from her.

He put an arm around them as they turned to walk away from the range. "So where to now?" he asked, turning them back towards the festival. There was music coming from further down the road as a small group of street performers played in a square.

Music

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was completely startled still as they continued walking. The crowd was just as baffled as the two of them, but Kalique decided she'd give bows a try soon enough. Despite the amazement about her spontaneous development of a new talent, she knew it was nagging at him.

The odds were never fair due to the Force, but they both knew there were countless of things he was simply better in. Still, his first shot had proven he was still a capable archer, what still surprised her was that he had lost focused after, and not wanting him to dwell on the disappointment, she wrapped an arm around him as he did the same and nuzzled her head against his shoulder.

"Thank you...we'll include that in the slingshot routine" in an attempt to lighten the mood, she softly reminded him of his slingshot mastery - fun fact: she had even packed it as it didn't take up a lot of space and the farm was a great place to toy around with it. She assumed Bandit would also love hunting the little stones as they soared through the air...

As they reached some kind of a town's square, her lips immediately curled into a smirk while gentle music filled the air. There was a group of children dancing, together with a few adults who slowly joined in. An idea immediately crossed her mind and she thus grabbed the hand that was wrapped around her with her free hand and gracefully twirled out of his embrace.

"Would you care for a dance?" she gently asked, figuring before they'd keep on taking a look around, they could also indulge in the lighthearted music for a moment. It was a catchy tune and the mood all around was great and somehow it reminded her a lot about their first night together on Endor. "This time it's not an Ewok asking you to join..." she couldn't help but chuckle as she expectantly met his gaze.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

It was hard to hold onto frustration here, next to the woman he loved. The mood of the whole town was jovial. He laughed at her comment as he shook his head and pulled her a little closer before continuing.

The air only grew more festive as they stepped into the square. The smells, the sounds, everything caused a wave of happiness to wash over him. He was glad they had come; his mind briefly drifted back to the paperwork that was no doubt piling up on his desk, but that faded as Kali twisted and spun away from him.

"I would be honored, my lady," he said with a grin and a slight bow. He twirled her before releasing her hand and dancing along to the music before they stepped back together, and he pulled her back towards him as he looked down into her emerald eyes. "Don't tell her, but you're my favorite dance partner," he said with a wink as they moved away again. The song came back to him, remembering to clap in unison with the others dancing.

The steps were quick and light as the festive music continued. Kali moved with a fluid grace that captivated him. Jon was not a bad dancer but looked clumsy compared to her.

 

[Kalique Baize]

It was the scent of apples of various forms (freshly cut from the fields, baked into sweet, crispy pastries and roasted versions) that lingered in the air - mixed together with other local delicacies and the jovial, festive and heart-warming mood, it made up for the perfect symphony of everything that briefly made Kalique forget about everything else.

The getaway had been much needed, but she couldn't have even imagined of refreshing and invigorating the trip already felt. She reciprocated his playful reply and bowed before she clasped his hand and let him lead her. She didn't know the exact dance, but all the practice she had been through during her childhood usually allowed her to adapt quickly and so she gratefully moved according to his leading.

It was impossible not to smile as they danced and the square slowly filled up with all kinds of locals and visitors who happened to move by. "I feel incredibly honored" she playfully replied to his remark as they kept dancing across the town square. Their drinks were safety stored on top of a table nearby, but the warmth of the cider still filled her from the inside.

As soon as the song faded out, all participants started applauding each other before the tunes slightly changed and she cheerfully met his light brown gaze again. "What about stopping by at the pies? I doubt there's anything left of your parents' contributions though...". She was certain they were having a great time here, too, but she was certain the pies were gone.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

While she didn't know the dance, she was an expert and followed along precisely. To those watching, it was like she had done this her entire life. The song continued for a moment longer before it finally faded.

"She better have saved us some..." he said, grabbing her hand and leading her to the area where the pies would be set up. "Come on, Its just a few streets over." As they drew closer, the smells only grew more vibrant and intense. Jon's stomach growled slightly as they started to pass tables where people had set up pies.

Soon, they came to the table his parents had set up. Sylvia beamed as she held up the prize ribbon. "Congrats!" Jon said excitedly as they approached. "Though I am not too surprised...She basically always wins." he said to Kali. "I do not..." his mother said, swatting at him but still smiling.

Kali would a tapping on her leg and turned to find a small girl had approached her. "uh...miss...could I...uhh.." she paused, looking back to her parents before finishing. "Could I take a picture with you?" she asked finally. The girl's father stepped up. "I am really sorry about this. She saw you at the archery field and has been talking about it ever since," he said. "We don't want to be a bother.." he finally added.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was excited to check on his parents, assuming that their pie hadn't only been eaten, but probably won the competition as well. "I hope so too...nothing compares to it" she agreed with him, giving him a warm smile. As they neared the stands, Kalique already spotted the ribbon from a distance.

"Ohh look at that! Congratulations!", even if she had only seen and smelt it so far, this wasn't a surprise and her smile just widened. She chuckled at the exchange between Syl and Jon, but before they could continue their conversation, something tapped her leg.

Not even having seen the girl approach, she was a little surprised, but as she asked for a photo, for a moment she thought it was because she was being recognized here. It made no sense as her face wasn't really known thanks to the armor, but her father soon elaborated on what this was about.

"Oh...of course we can take a photo!" she agreed with a warm smile, not hesitating a second before she squatted down next to her and waited for the father to take the picture. She was sure it would make the girl's day and so she was happy to brighten her day, even if it even made Kalique blush a little.

Once the photo was taken and the girl happily going her way, Kalique faced Jon again, her cheeks still somewhat blushed before she glanced over to his parents. "So I heard someone still has to throw some apples..."

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

The girl beamed as Kali knelt down. "When I grow up, I want to shoot a bow like you do!" she said enthusiastically. After the picture had been taken, the father thanked Kali and held out his hand towards the girl. "Alright, come on," he said. The girl sheepishly hugged Kali's side and then took ahold of her father's hand. The father gave Kali one last thankful smile, and then they turned to walk away.

"A fan club, huh?" Jon's mother said with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, she kicked my.." he was cut off by a glare from his mother. Around here, you just didn't use coarse language in front of your mother, no matter your age. The military had certainly built up habits but countered that. "Uh...beat me pretty good at archery," he said with a laugh.

Sylvia pulled a plate out with a lone piece of pie on it. "Sorry, we could only save one piece, but its big enough to share." Jon sat down and gestured to Kali to take the seat next to him before sliding her the plate. "Champs get the first bite," he said with a wink.

He waved off Kali's comment. "We have plenty of time!" he said as he relaxed back in his chair. He smiled at her. It was hard not to feel warm inside after just witnessing the scene that had just played out.

Sylvia sat down across from them as she waited for them to taste. "You know...you were pretty good back there with that little girl.." she said. The comment was innocent enough, but there was a question behind her eyes. "Mom..." Jon said, knowing exactly where she was headed with it. Sylvia raised a hand defensively. "Was just making a comment.." she said with a grin on her face.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was literally touched by her words. It was such a sweet, pure comment and it warmed her heart and she gently patted her back as the girl briefly hugged her side. "I'm sure you'll beat me in no time" she gave her an encouraging warm smile before she hurried away, back to her father's hand.

Kalique gave her a quick wave and was immediately reminded of Rhia. She was much older, yet there was an undeniable resemblance in terms of their enthusiasm that kept making her smile. Once she was back at her feet and wrapped an arm around Jon, she met his gaze with pure joy in her eyes before Sylvia joined the conversation again.

"Oh come on, I had luck" she gestured dismissively, wanting to play it down. Three shots had hit but that didn't mean she was truly that skilled with bows. Also, maybe this simply wasn't Jon's day in terms of his personal luck. Her eyes thoigh immediately lit back up as his mother handed them the plate of leftover cake.

"Ooh thank you! We were both hoping there was something left" she gratefully grinned at Sylvia before they sat down and she tried a bite. The perfectly made cake melted in her mouth, the apples still all juicy and sweet and perfectly matching the crispier dough "This is absolutely incredible...no wonder you won".

Kalique was briefly carried away by the amazing flavor of the pie before she slid the plate back to Jon, her emerald gaze however immediately flicking over to Sylvia. It wasn't just the comment, the universal language of hint dropping, but the way the innocent grin immediately followed.

"Well, wasn't she sweet?" she agreed with her, a smirk also tugging at her lips as she affectionately placed a hand on Jon's thigh. The implied question was obvious, and while they haven't made any concrete plans time wise, after all the years with the Squires, there was no doubt in Kalique she'd found a family with the love of her life, who was fortunately sitting right next to her.

As she met his gaze again, her heart was still completely full. She simply couldn't deny the previous interaction had reminded her of something she tended to forget with the constant pile of work. Someone approached Sylvia from the side, congratulating her on her cake, which was when Kalique whispered, "you'll make an incredible father...", to Jon. This, she had learned long time ago. Her hand slid towards his hand and she gently interlaced her fingers with his.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He waved off her attempt at being humble. "No, no...you shot two arrows almost simultaneously, and they both hit their targets. That isn't beginners luck, that's incredible," he said. "You're incredible.." he said once again. She was too humble sometimes. He understood the need for it in her professional life. Imperial Knights worked best when they were out of the spotlight. Today, though, she was a legend, and he wouldn't hear anything else.

"She was." Sylvia agreed, her grin widening, apparently pleased with her response. She was soon pulled away by another about her pies, and Jon's attention turned back towards Kali. He shot her an apologetic look. Jon had made it no secret that he wanted a family at some point, but they hadn't had much discussion around the topic. They were both busy, Kali more so, and he never wanted her to feel pressured. Besides, he loved the life they had built together.

His fingers intertwined with hers, his thumb slowly running over the top of her hand. Her comment sent a bit of chill down his spine. "Which is only about half as good as you would be at being a mother.." he replied.

"What was that?" Sylvian said, turning her attention back to the two of them as her fan left. "Nothing..I was just saying this pie is so good.." he said, taking another bite. That was a lie; it was one of the best things in the Galaxy as far as he was concerned. He gave Kali another smile, squeezing her hand gently.

"So what do you think so far?" he asked now that they had spent a couple of hours at the festival. He slid the plate back over to her.

 

[Kalique Baize]

For a moment, Kalique found herself daydreaming. She didn't see herself raising a family on Raxus, also not on Serenno. It would be here for sure. She loved Spintir and she couldn't think of a more amazing place for children to grow up in. She'd have to take a break and she willingly would, knowing that while sheer warmth and endless love had been something she had only rarely experienced as a child, she was ready to give exactly that to her own children.

The thoughts made her smile, and she knew there was nothing that would make his parents happier. The time dimensions were still up in the air, but his reply made her chuckle softly. She mouthed an 'I love you', but didn't get to say much more as Sylvia cut it, which made her wonder whether she had picked up their conversation. There was still a grin on her lips, so it was hard to tell.

Kalique happily took another fork, barely getting enough and already wondering whether they could bake some more tomorrow. "This festival is incredible...I've never seen anything more lovely". It was the truth, in a way, it was like a dream. "I can't believe we've never made it here before". Admittedly, they were usually busy, and catching harvest season like that was difficult, but she was incredibly happy it had worked this year. "Is it just like you remembered?" she curiously asked him as she slid the plate back to him, slightly tilting her head.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He smiled warmly back at Kali as his mother rejoined the conversation. While the conversation moved forward, his mind lingered on the possibilities the future held for them.

"Well, we should make more time for stuff like this." he said, leaning back in his chair a bit. They worked hard, too hard, probably. Time had begun to fly by, and months had quickly started to build into years. He had always loved his career, but this time with Kali, was something far more precious to him. "I thought you would like it."

When offered, he slid the plate back towards him and took another bite of the quickly disappearing slice of pie. "Well, some things are different," he said with a chuckle. He let out a breath. "Its different now, but in a good way....a great way." he added as he looked down at the table. "My dates never beat me in an archery competition, though..." he teased with another laugh.

They enjoyed the last remaining bites of pie. "Mom, perfection as always." he complimented her with a grin. "We should get going; this race isn't going to win itself," he said, standing and facing Kali, offering her his hand. "Shall we?" he asked, offering her a hand up.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Despite her hard-working nature, Kalique found herself agreeing with him. "I think so too...". Such getaways always refilled batteries in dire need of charge and she was always much more centered, much more herself...she also valued the precious time spent with him severely and they were not doing it enough, actually. Sylvia had a point too...they had also neglected their well being recently, too.

She listened intently as he talked about how it used to be, even if he didn't share too many details. A smirk crossed her lips again as he brought up archery again before she playfully rolled her eyes. "Apperently, they haven't done it right then", she cheekily remarked, softly teasing with a wink, before they shared the rest of the pie.

He suddenly got up and offered the hand, and at the mention of the race, she bit her lip. Right...there was still something. "Okay...I guess we dont have a choice" she admitted with playful reluctance as she accepted his hand and got up.

"Are young to watch?" she asked his parents, half hoping they wouldn't, even if it would surely make up for some fond core memories even if they failed...It would be fun regardless, and that was what mattered. She reached for his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, using it to calm herself as they started making their way over to the racing ground. "So we're really defending your family's name her, huh?" she asked him, already wondering who they'd be contesting with.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He pulled her to her feet. "Well, you certainly have a choice..." he said with a sigh. "But it is the duty of the Imperial Knights to help Imperial Citizens in need.." he said, tapping his chin. "...And I am an Imperial Citizen...and I am in need of a partner..." he said, glancing down at her. "So maybe not much of a choice?" he joked. Of course, she had a choice, but it would be fun.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. Can't let those Rolstens get the best of us." Sylvia said as she gently placed a hand on Kali's arm. The Rolstens were the closest thing their parents had to rivals. These things had always turned into small contests between them. "I just need to find my husband," she said, starting to look around. "Wherever he has gotten off to...." she said. "He is probably telling someone that stupid boar story..." she said with a shake of her hand before letting out a puff of air. "I'll see you both there," she said before disappearing into the crowd.

"I mean, in a sense..." he said with a chuckle and nudging her. "Can't let those other farmers say they got one over on the Baize's can we?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. It was obviously all in fun. He wondered why she was so concerned with the outcome. "Are you afraid if we lose, my parents will disown you?" he jokingly asked. "Becuase...that is a valid fear...." he said, nudging her again. It was obviously a joke. His parents adored Kali in every way. It obviously didn't matter.

He placed a hand under her chin and tilted her head slightly upwards. "Lets just have fun..." he finally said as he guided her towards the field.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Jon presented a mean argument that just made her chuckle more. "Of course you'd phrase it like that...But obviously I'll help the poor Citizen in need" she playfully patted his arm before she gave him a dutiful nod. "I knew I never had a chance in the first place..." she muttered under her breath so as if she'd say it to herself, but obviously she wanted him to hear. She was up for three challenge regardless but was already praying for this to work...

"There are no stairs involved, right?" she still asked after a moment, wanting to reassure herself, before Sylvia told them she needed to find Cal first. Kalique couldn't sense his familiar presence as she reached out with the Force, which meant that maybe her idea wasn't too far-fetched, perhaps he had wandered off to tell someone else. "Alright, see you in a bit!" Kalique gave her a warm smile that was followed by a wave, however, it slightly added pressure.

Rolstens...she had definitely heard that name before and she glanced up at Jon with a smirk. "So as the Rolstens lost the pie competition, it's all in for them, isn't it?". Of course they had to win against them...they had no other choice than go take this additonal victory too.

"Wooow you're not making it better!" she let out a sigh, but it was obviously still playful. Of course they'd have fun regardless, she was simply worried that her lack of experience and notorious clumsiness would make this difficult, but in the end she was already certain it would be fun like nothing else.

They stopped for a moment and he lifted her chin, which was when she softly replied, "Of course...we will". The walk over to the field wasn't very long and so as they reached it, the first competitors were already piling in. It seemed like they arrived right on time, but this meant they were already approached with the rope that would seal their three-legged fate.

They still had a few minutes and Kalique was already searching for his parents in the crowd, not wanting them to miss out on it. "Okay so do we have a tactic? Easy and careful or full speed?" she wanted to know, shooting him a smirk as they moved to the starting line.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

"No stairs. No boats. This competition was made for you."[/COLOR] he laughed.

It was a short, pleasant walk to the outskirts of the village where their race was taking place. Just outside the village was a large hill they would have to race down. People were already gathered. The area had been roped off. Down the hill, they were stretching out a ribbon to mark the finish line. To say there were a lot of falls would be an understatement, but traditions died hard here, and so they continued to race here because they always had.

Jon and Kali took their place as small lengths of rope started to be handed out to tie the racer's legs together. "We will need to move quick if we want to win.." He started to kneel down to secure their legs when someone called out to him.

"Is that Jonathan Baize?!" a man called out beside him. Jon looked over his shoulder to see Travis Rolsten and a woman approaching them. He stood as the man approached. Travis was nearly the same age as Jon but had stayed on world when Jon had left. In many ways, his life was what Jon's life could have been. "It is. Well I'll be damned..." he said, extending a hand. "I heard you were some big shot Imperial now.." he said somewhat dismissively. "Travis." Jon replied, extending a hand and shaking it. "I don't know about all of that.." Jon continued.

"So you came all this way to lose, I guess." Travis added, his voice was pleasant, but there was a venomous undertone to it. It sparked Jon's sense of competition. Normally, he was cool and collected, but this guy had always boiled his blood. He started to shoot back a reply but held his words. "I guess we will see...Travis this is Kalique Demici. Kali this is Travis Rolsten" he said, introducing them.

Travis nodded. "This is my wife, Brandi." he said, looking at his wife. Brandi gave Kali a smile that was just a little too big to be genuine. "I love that skirt..." she added in a way that dripped with fakeness.

Before they could speak further, the races were given the warning to head to the starting positions. "Good Luck, Rolsten" Jon said before turning back to Kali.

Jon knelt back down and quickly tied their legs together. "We really need to beat that guy.." Jon whispered so only Kali could hear. Off in the distance, Sylvia and Cal had taken up a spot where they were watching.

He gave the rope a good tug making sure it was secure. "You ready?" he asked, standing back up. He leaned over and kissed her as they were given a final warning about the race's start.

"ON YOUR MARK! GET SET! GO!" the announcer shouted as the starter pistol sounded. With their arms around each other, they started to move. If the ground had been flat, they would have had better luck, but this was a lot harder than Jon remembered. As they ran, they started to pick up speed.

Jon stepped into a small hole that he hadn't seen in the tall grass. He started to stumble, but Kali pulled hard and kept him upright. It had slowed them for sure, but they had pulled away from the mass of people already falling. Like it always seemed to, this would be a race between The Baizes and the Rolstens. Jon spared a quick look over. They were neck and neck with the other couple.

 

[Kalique Baize]

"Good..." Kalique was somewhat more confident about that, even if she playfully nudged him at the 'boat' part. He'd never let that slide...as her gaze fell onto the hill though, she immediately slowed down a tad and shot him an incredulous look. "But it's...downhill??". This would surely be something. "No...you know what? We'll make it". Optimism was surely the way to go.

She nodded at his remark, slowly beginning to center her mind. They were a great team, usually didn't even need words to understand each other and they trained together, too. Running in sync couldn't be too hard. They started getting ready as they were suddenly approached by a couple and Kalique could immediately tell there was something dishonest about them...

Having grew up in certain circles Kalique was however no stranger to keeping up appearances and so as their exchange started, there was a perfectly faked, polite smile on her lips. "Hey! Nice to meet you". Rolstens. So there they were. "Ohh why thank you".

They couldn't know she literally sensed lies, but internally, she found it quite amusing. Kalique saw it in Jon's gaze that this encounter just sparked his will to win further, and so the moment they hurried away to take their marks, she leaned in closer with a smirk and replied, "We'll kick their asses", before she reciprocated his kiss and nodded. They were ready.

The race started just a moment later and so they began racing. Staying in sync wasn't that hard at first, but the steepness of the hill and the uneven terrain made it a lot harder. Jon stumbled into a little hole after the first quarter and even if she was caught off guard, she managed to stabilize him in just the right moment.

They hurried onwards, but just another few meters later Jon's other, free leg would strive a spot of dap grass that would make him slide. Again, Kalique held on tightly and kept him upwards, but even if the Rolstens zoomed past in that exact moment, this was far from over.

Half the track was behind them, but Brandi and Travis were a little ahead, which, however, only fueled her further. "We've got this". The crowd was loudly cheering and tension was continously rising as they moved into the really heated phase - just one simple mistakes and the Rolstens would be seeing them from behind again.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

They were behind but not by much. They had to push themselves to catch up. Jon breathed heavily as he counted the steps for them so they could coordinate them.

Faster and faster they went before Kali faltered slightly, but given their momentum, it was all it took to send them head over heels as they rolled once and slid slightly. They would surely be sore in the morning, but for now, the adrenaline urged them onward.

It was over.

Or was it?

The Rolstens barely had to walk now to beat them, but they didn't know that Jon and Kali had fallen. So Travis yelled for them to run faster, causing them to fall hard.

"We are still in this!" he said, using his strength to haul both of them to their feet. By the time the Rolstens had untangled themselves enough to get back to their feet, Jon and Kali had caught back up.

"One, Two, One, Two" Jon called out as it came down to the wire. They reached the bottom of the hill, and the ground flattened out in the last 40 yards as they got into a sprinting match with their rivals.