It was hard for the little one to see, but some subconscious compass must have guided it as it waddled on its way, weighed heavily down by the rock now sitting in its belly. Blurred shapes bounded ahead of it as the first hosts finished and won. It trundled, squelching quietly to itself as it found its way to the rock as quickly, and as strongly, as it could.

It took some time, but it finally made out the glow, growing steadily larger. It hauled itself up to the boulder, raised itself up onto hindmost set of legs and then gently placed its forepaws on the rock. Then it turned back, taking a moment to catch its breath as it struggled to pick out the finish line. It was almost there! It had almost done it. It squeaked with glee and began the final trundle to the end.

---

When I think.

The stag's ears flicked back as Mercurius' voice reached into his mind. Was it his imagination, or was there a faint urgency to the thoughts..?

He saw Kera rushing off from the race course, but he wasn't sure what it was the wolf was doing. It was in the same direction as Jayberry; had she seen her? But the stag tore himself away, after a moment, turning to pace back toward the judging station.

I would never, he sent the thought back to Mercurius, dry, totally void of emotion. The "tone" of the thought held the openly-offered possibility that it was a lie, blatantly-stated, but it was clear he would not outright claim that "yes, I threw a Gembound toward the cave roof in the middle of the obstacle course." His mind beneath the words, however, held the obvious adrenaline and cold and flickering rage.

When he reached Mercurius his gait was stiff and his gaze cold--not directed at the lion, but at what had just happened. He peered at his friend, all precise politeness and class, waiting for Mercurius to finish with the judging, and address him.

"Take your time; I trust that everything... else, is all right?" he said, aloud. He could tell that something was wrong, but he had no desire to disrupt the event further.