The cat trotted out of the way, not wanting to risk being stomped on, before sitting down. Setting her rock down, she held her head high, tail wrapped around her paws. This had been fun, she thought, very different from what she usually did.

One Gembound after another crossed the finish line, lastly a weird-looking thing with a skull on its head. What even was that? But she turned her attention, then, to the big white horse whose horn she still wanted, and it announced the winners. Naturally, she got second, and she sat up that bit higher with a purr.

"Congratulations," she purred to the other winners, before standing, trotting off to return to her shiny-filled den.

~exit Calypso~

Okay, that had been humiliating.

The Fossa groaned, low in his throat, and shook his head. Tail drooping, and head low, he didn't wait for the unicorn to announcing the winners--he already knew he was last, it was obvious, why would he stay to be humiliated further?--before walking away, intending to return to Monoceros and have a well deserved nap.

-exit Mongo-

Max still wasn't sure what was going on; he was just glad to be here!

He stood at the finish line, barking excitedly every time someone crossed it, tail wagging so hard his whole body followed suit. Bouncing from paw to paw, he kept dropping the stone, and had to stoop down to grab it.

Then the unicorn was talking, and Gembound kept saying "Congratulations!" so he joined in, woofing "Congratulations!" to various Gembounds, even though he wasn't sure why. Most of them hadn't won, either. But he stayed there until almost everyone else was gone, congratulating them on something they may not have won.

-exit Max-

Adderstrike continued to sob, mewling pitifully, as her broken tooth throbbed.

Oh, oh, that hurt! She had never been in so much pain before, it wasn't fair! Why did it hurt so much? The kitten sobbed pitifully, trying to get someone to help her, to make it stop hurting because she didn't know how to.

Wearing herself out, she curled into a tiny ball, still mewling quietly.

-exit Adderstrike, unless approached-

Jayberry licked her lips, looking up at the white woof, allowing her head to drop to the ground. "Probably," she muttered, wheezing. 'Fuck, this hurts.'

Whoever did this--she was sure it was the stag--she planned on making them die a slow death. Maybe drop them from a high height, too, somewhere where they would be unable to escape, left to lay there until they expired.

The she-wolf sat next to her, and Jayberry gave her a confused look. 'Why is she being so nice to me?' she had never experienced such a kindness by someone outside of her family--aside from Oliver, and she felt a pang of guilt at that. Her tail gave a slow tap, and she murmured, "Thank you." as she allowed her eyes to close.

What would happen, would happen.

-exit Jayberry-

The worm had caught its breath and it was hungry now, looking forward to getting back into Wilder's body where it could have a snack, and curl up and sleep where it was warm. It was just beginning to waddle around, looking for her when the worm heard its name called. It looked up with a surprised squelch. It recognized the voice as that of the judge host.

What are they calling for? it wondered at first, before pausing, straining to listen some more. Its eyes opened wide and it perked upright. Wait... I won!?

The worm let out a squeak of joy, and wriggled excitedly beforre trundling in a circle. It had no idea where Wilder was, but it sent out its consciousness in the hope that she was somewhere close. Miss Wilder, Miss Wilder! I won!

---

When I think.

@Wilder

Wilder had stayed to watch the obstacle course - she knew that it had meant a lot to Squick that they would be able to participate and she just had to see how they sould do. After all, it was Squick racing against a whole bunch of other much bigger creatures. And to her great surprise and delight, her friend had somehow placed third!

The kitten came bouncing out of the crowd, letting out cries of joy. "Squick! Yay Squick! I'm so proud!" She spotted the little worm squelching happily and she raced over, leaning her head down and purring loudly. That was amazing, Squick! You're awesome! I'm so proud of you!" She could see the little thing shivering and quickly leaned forward and licked the little worm so that it was settled in her mouth. She didn't swallow and cracked open her jaws in case they wanted to stay in the air, but if it tried to push back into her throat, she'd let it go down.

She pranced away, overjoyed that her friend had done so well in the competition, despite all the odds.

*exit

@Squick

Mercurius's next few moments were rather uneventful --- a fresh breath of air in the midst of a lot of things happening at once. Two felines, one considerably smaller than the other, crossed the line, hot on one another's tails. Then, as an odd monkey-like hybrid threw a temper tantrum at the rock pile... was that Pride's old, uh, stomach-friend? Hitchhiking like a bee on a tennis ball, indeed it was. Was that legal?

Apparently, yeah.

Squick was just using its surroundings, after all.

He watched silently and contentedly as Ayr spoke, rising to his feet and gently nudging Khloros awake. It was time to move. Mercy closed his eyes as he bowed his head. Moonlit eyes glanced sidelong at Pride, conspiratory but otherwise not the least bit confrontational, before he rumbled, "the quicker, the better."

Now, if his arthritis wouldn't flare up, that would be great.

;exit Mercy

The worm looked up as it felt, through vibrations in the soil, and heard the booming loudness of its friend's cheering. It squelched with glee, feeling itself lifted into the warm, damp, and homely inside of her mouth. It realized, yet again, how exhausted, and cold, and hungry it was, little legs aching and its mouth open with panting. How did the big hosts do this every day? Squick had no idea how, especially with no-one to feed and carry them.

But on this special occasion, Squick felt that it had been worth braving the cold and the hunger. And now, peaceful, proud and accomplished, it pushed itself to the back of Wilder's thoat and allowed itself to be swallowed.

--exit Squick--

---

When I think.