The pup whined, flattening her ears at the feel of her throbbing chin, and pushed herself to her paws, bracing herself and shaking her fur, trying to shake off the sparks.

Naturally, of course, she darted forward, only to slip on the same damn hairball with a pained yelp.

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'I'm doing this!' the hybrid laughed breathlessly, "I'm doing this!"

She dug in her claws, braced herself and continued to jump, spreading and flapping her mauled, useless wings, cape flaring around her, and if it were possible her beak would have been spread into a wide, gleeful grin.
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The snake was able to find a way through the fire without catching themselves, and anyone who touched it on fire. It would have caused a chain reaction through the entire course everywhere the snake had touched. Surely some would have thought about it and had a way to extinguish such fires? They didn't know. Either way, they skidded to a stop (if a snake could even do that) when they came across the tall... Cliff. Thing. Well. They didn't know how they were supposed to climb that thing.

Sniffles would try though!! Goop snake had to at least try!!

the   thorn produces delicate roses
sharp

One more try. Or two. Or three.

After shaking off her singed claws, Sharp was raring to get back through. The bigger gembound were jumping through without a problem, and she wanted to do that! She wanted to get first place! Scratch that, the place even higher than first! Zeroth place?

Either way, she needed to get past this dumb fire. The lizard skittered up and down her quarter, looking for a small spot to squeeze through. There! Another gap in the kindling. Sharp tucked in her scales, sharply exhaled, and sped forwards as fast she could.

... And once again was faced with terrifying flames as she jumped back in alarm.

♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

As soon as the ruby reached the climbing part of the race, it threw itself forward, confidence in how it had been doing previously bolstering its jump...a little too much. As soon as it grabbed for the wall, it made to leap for the next hold and it immediately lost its balance, grip slipping and releasing, sending it tumbling back down to the ground. It yelped with surprise and landed heavily, knocking the wind out of its lungs.

Huckleberry paused at the base of the rock wall and hesitated for a moment. He was sure he wouldn't be allowed the fly up this obstacle, but he wasn't well suited for climbing. But, well...he might as well get going. Gathering himself, he jumped forward, scrabbling at the footholds with his front claws and pushing off with his hooves, scrambling clumsily up the obstacles, almost slipping off a few times, but managing to make it all the way over.

Tupu had made it through the hairballs. She still didn't see the gembound she heard. But she was content, surrounded by others. That is, until she saw a massive wall of fire. Tupu bleated, stopping. But others were jumping through. Nervous, the antelope fidgeted. Her hooves scraped the ice. From some deep hidden reserve, she found courage. Tupu leapt. The flames licked at her skin, but at the speed she was going, she didn't catch. The antelope landed on the other side, and galloped ahead.

Kalama continued screeching, the fire at her back burning. enveloping her skin. It was way worse than the prickle of any char she'd cast. And then, cool. Chill enveloping her. She sighed, collapsing to the ground. Enjoying the sensation as the ice cooled her burns. Then she realized it was someone helping her. Not snow. The chicken rose with bared teeth and flapping wings.

"I dont need you help--I'm fine!" Kalama snapped. Not Dread, but it reminded her of him. And that annoyed her. Kalama shook herself out, trying to act as if she hadn't nearly burned to death a minute ago. Right. Round two. She could make fire, she shouldn't have to fear it. The chicken crouched. She was gonna fly through. She saw a bird smaller than her do it. She could do it too.

Kalama leapt. Her wings were ungainly. Weak for her body. She felt the flames burn her, but she powered through it, eyes shut. Her talons touched down on the other side, and the chicken was off again.
think "speak"

Predictably though, nobody came. He heard Madhukar crowing that he needed help, but nobody seemed to notice and Svartis was all the way over at the fire section. Tahi whined pitifully as he noticed another participant being ushered away -- yeah, that seemed like a good idea. "I really need help," he rasped. "I don't think I can play anymore."



/ exit tahi

Whew! No more fire! That was good, right?

He only paused a moment before leaping at the stone wall, scrabbling for whatever foothold he could reach.

He got small ways up the wall before he reached for a foothold and his paw slipped. He let out a panicked yelp, trying to keep himself from falling, but to no avail. He landed at the bottom of the wall with a third and a small whine.