Isle of the Faeries

Friends at the Finish Line

      "Talking to Torren over there, seems to think he's going to win the race. I was setting him straight," he grinned, "And who is this little lady here?" he asks noticing Bree with a look of intense interest in his eyes.

      "Breena Rowan," she tells him quietly.

      "Thomas Dunkin at your service," he sticks his hand out to shake, "but our friend over here calls me Dunkin."

      She grabs his hand to shake, "Nice to meet you Dunkin," she laughs.

      "Dunkin why don't you take Bree to the spectator area," I suggest tensely wanting to get them out of the way before the race starts.

      As they went over to the relatively safe area Bree muttering something about finding her brother I rub out the runes in the dirt. Cinis is restless and more distracted than usual, I braid an extra white cloth into his mane in beside the usual red one. I do not know why he did not attack Bree but it is a puzzle for another time I need both of our minds on the race. I swing up feeling my mind clear and my body settles with the familiar feeling of Cinis under me and his weight in my hands.

      We make it to the line up between a palomino mare and Torren's mare, Cinis is twitchier than usual but as soon as the bell sounds his hooves are eating up the dirt. This is where I feel at home, the wind carding my hair and singing in my ears, the chilly air biting my cheeks and stinging my eyes and Cinis running full speed beneath me. 'Only missing the splashy little mare and her rider trotting along the beach,' a little voice adds but I push it away in favor of finding a way around the wildly weaving Aughisky in front of us.

      When we turn for the stretch home Cinis starts to drift, I twist the cloth braided strips of mane between my fingers as I try to hold him straight. But although we are gaining on Torren and his mare and the other two horses in front of us I doubt we'll be able to pull off this run. That is until there is the flash of metal and Torren's saddle slips to the right dumping him on the ground, he rolls into the fall and Cinis manages to jump over him. Torren's mare panics and flies to the left crashing into the rider who cut the girth in the first place. I tuck myself even closer against to his neck giving him his head and whispering in his ear. He blows by the remaining Aughisky in front of us streaking across the finish line wining the fifth race of this Tráth.

     It hits me as we cross that this is the first time I've had friends waiting for me at the finish line.

Breena

      I weave through the crowd trying to find Declan, Dunkin stays on my heels chattering lightly about the Magic of the island and how amazing it is, "So how long have you lived on the island?" he asks

      "All my life," I tell him peering around us.

      "How long have you known our Kean Donoghue?" he asks as we find our way to the rope railing.

      "Not long, about a month and a half now, we ride on the same beach," cheering breaks out within the crowd and I turn my attention to the cliffs.

      Four horses streak towards us; I can make out Cinis and Kean at the back of the pack, Cinis is the largest of the group and his light coat glints in the moonlight, Kean sits astride him blending seamlessly into his mount. I can't exactly make out what happened as one of the riders falls and his horse crashes into another and they tangle running blind for the edge of the cliffs. I turn my attention back to Kean as a roar of approval rises from the crowd, Cinis appears to be gliding over the turf, his hooves eat up the ground breathtakingly fast, Kean's hands are up by Cinis's ears giving him his head as they thunder by their last opponent. They lead by more than ten strides by the time they cross the line.

      Kean pulls Cinis into circles to slow him and bring him under control; I let out a whoop at his victory. I duck beneath the barrier jogging over to where Kean is dismounting to congratulate him, though it is my first Race I have a feeling I am now hooked. Dunkin follows me like the puppy dog his personality resemble, the island had gotten into his blood, I will be surprised if he leaves.

      "You did it, you won" I exclaim.

      He laughs, "I've got a good horse," Cinis still excited from the race blows and prances in place.

      Without really thinking about it I leap to hug him, he hesitates a moment before wrapping an arm around me. When he winces slightly I break away remembering his shoulder, we don't meet each other's eye after, a bit of color rises to his cheeks and I can feel hot blood staining my cheeks as well.

      He clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck, "I better," he motions to Cinis, "walk him out." He claps his hand of Dunkin's shoulder, "Can you grab his cooler?" Dunkin nods with a small smirk and follows him.

      A hand clamps down on my shoulder, I turn and it's Declan, "What are you doing here?" he asks looking ticked off.

      I feel the excitement and giddiness drain out of me leaving annoyance in its place, "Looking for you," I snap.

      He raises an eye brow, "So who was that," he points over my shoulder to where Kean is throwing a red cooler over Cinis's twitching flanks.

      "A friend," I tell him, "Kean Donoghue, we ride together, you met him when I had that concussion."

      He looks thoughtful for a moment, "Why don't you invite him to dinner tomorrow night, I'll be home early and I swing by the butcher on the way home and get some good chicken or something."

      "Okay," I say slowly a brow cocked in disbelief.

      He nods, "Meet me at the truck when you're done I need to collect my winnings from the bet."

      I nod in answer and start my way over to Kean making sure to give the sweat lathered Aughiskys plenty of room. I tap his good shoulder, "I found my brother so I'm going to be heading home," I chew on my lip, "but my brother wants you to come for dinner tomorrow if you'd like."

      He turns and squints at me for a moment chewing on his bottom lip, "Yeah, I'll see if I can make it."

      "Alright then I might see you tomorrow then, congratulations on your win," I tell him turning to Dunkin "Bye Dunkin, I'm sure I'll see you again sometime."

      He grins ear to ear and winked at me, "I'm certain we will, I'll be at Allard's for at least the next six months."

      I smile back at him and pick my way to the truck by the glow of its headlights and the rumble of its engine.