Chapter Text
There's a certain kind of silence before everything takes off. The only sound is the purring of engines, the hum of idle machinery waiting for the start. No one breathes, no one blinks, no one dares to move. The eyes of the riders trained ahead waiting for the signal. The eyes of spectators trained on the riders, waiting for the take off.
Silent prayers sent by both groups.
A wish for victory.
Please let me be the one to win.
A prayer for epic crashes.
I have 200 on someone breaking an arm. Don’t let me down.
A hope for their favoured rider winning.
I hope my rider wins. I need this. Please.
It’s a feeling that few get to experience in life, Wednesday couldn’t even begin to imagine Life without it. The way the bike under her roared to life like a dragon, how it settled into a rumbling hum as it waited to be let free. Growing up she had known the thrill of torture, electric shock, the cut of a blade, and blunt force trauma of a hammer. She still loved those. But this, the thrill of a race, of hurdling over the road or through a forest on a hunk of metal and plastic that could crash and kill her without a moment's notice?
Wednesday would never be able to live without this new sense of excitement.
Noting not a single item was out of place as she checked her gear , she checked her helmet one last time. Helmet on and face hidden? Check. This was always her first and last step before the race began. By keeping her identity a secret, the idea of knowing no one knew who she was, gave her an opportunity to be different from how she was typically. With the added thrill of someone possibly finding out. Who would ever expect her to take place in something involving other people? They always expected her to be sitting at her desk typing. Just because she didn’t like interacting with others didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to bend a little to partake of something so… Exhilarating.
The races had been going on at Nevermore University for years, as far as anyone could remember really. Her father had competed in them when he attended as well, her mother cheering him on from the sidelines. The duty of preparing the races was done by Seniors, the eldest of the School. When they graduated they passed it off to the next year's Seniors to keep the custom going.
It was the second most sacred club in Nevermore. The first being the Nightshades, the children of Nevermore Legacies.
A majority of the races happened on the roads that went through Jericho and the forest surrounding it. Hundreds of miles of roads, weaving through lush forest, over rivers, around lakes, and through the handful of tunnels to be found in the area. Bikes crashing sending riders flying through the air or into other riders had happened on more than one occasion. Others happened amidst the forest itself, over mud, through water, and more. The possibility of crashing into trees had a lot of potential there, as well as falling into the lakes and rivers should the track be close to them. No one had drowned… yet. Even with a few head on collisions with trees there had been no deaths.
Recently they had even added mountain bikes into the mix of races, trading an engine for pure physical ability. A few were interested in those types, and were slowly gaining popularity; especially among the furs(Werewolves) and Fangs(Vampires). Two of the more physically inclined of the Outcast species found at Nevermore.
There was nothing about the races Wednesday didn’t like, every part of it filled her with a rush.
“Heeeey, Little Bird!” A very peppy, energetic blonde called out as she skipped over towards the black clad rider.
And there she was, the overly happy Enid in her race suit and overly bright helmet who made it a point every race to try and talk to her. An added bonus of being part of the races. Getting to mess with her bubbly werewolf of a roommate, who had no idea it was her. Dowsing herself in the smell of coffee grounds kept her scent hidden, in addition to the oils, lubricant and gasoline in the air. She intended for the friendly blonde to discover who she was when she wanted, and not a moment sooner.
“ Tu belleza es como siempre cegadora, Fenrir. Y no es pajarito sino Cuervo, pendeja hermosa.” (Your beauty is blinding as always, Fenrir. Also, it’s not Little Bird it is Raven, you beautiful dumbass.)
She made it a point to talk only in Spanish while she remained at the race sites. Another way of making sure that no one figured out it was her. Otherwise Enid, or as she was known in the races; Fenrir would never let her hear the end of it. But also, because she enjoyed teasing her. She dreamed of the reaction the wolf would have when she learned her friend, her roommate, was none other than her biggest rival in the races. Oh how she longed for the day she’d get to see that expression on the girl's face, she could almost taste it.
Pouting Fenrir stopped right beside the bike, close enough that if she leaned forward even an inch, she’d be pressed against her rival's side. “Aw, come on. You have to speak something other than Spanish. I think my roommate is getting tired of me asking her for translations. Can’t you say one thing to me? I wanna be friends! Please!” Her pout was adorable, the way she stuck her bottom lip out more than necessary to try and play on your emotions. Even if she did it without meaning to, she was the definition of a puppy dog.
“ Ya somos amigas, loba dicharachera.” (We already are friends, you bubbly wolf.) She would never admit that to her face. The Gods themselves would have to descend from the heavens.
“I really wish I knew what you were saying. Do you attend Nevermore or are you one of the Outcasts who lives in Jericho?”
“ Vivimos en la misma habitación.” (We live in the same dorm room.)
“I bet you do speak English, and you pretend not to just to mess with me don’t you.”
Finally turning her head to look at Fenrir , “ Eres tan lista y tan estúpida a la vez.” (You are so smart, yet so stupid.)
“Hey! You finally looked at me. We’re getting somewhere now. So, does this mean we’re friends now?”
“ Amistad no es exactamente lo que tengo en mente. Preferiría el tipo de relación en la que estás debajo mía chillando mi nombre hasta altas horas de la madrugada.” (Friendship isn’t exactly what I have in mind. I’d prefer the sort of relationship that has you underneath me screaming my name into the late hours of the night.) It was true. She wanted nothing more than to hold the girl in her arms, to shower her in love and praise.
“That is the longest sentence you have ever said to me, I’m pretty sure… so I’m taking that as a yes.” Fenrir giggled as she clasped her hands behind her back, “Admit it, you like me right?”
“ Quiero besarte hasta que tengas que aprender a respirar de nuevo a un nivel fundamental.” (I want to kiss you until breathing is something you must relearn on a fundamental level. ) Cuervo faced forward once more, gripping the handles of her bike . She had no hesitation in what she said to Fenrir here. A majority of the students at Nevermore University spoke Greek or very bad Latin, and of course English. And she was the one the werewolf asked for translations the following day. So she could tell her whatever she wanted, the possibilities were endless. “ Ahora vuelve a subir a tu moto mi loba, la carrera está a punto de empezar.” (Now get back to your bike, the race is going to start, my wolf. ) She motioned with her head towards Yoko who was giving the signal the race was about to begin.
Fenrir grumbles as she turns walking back over to her bike, “I’ll get you to talk to me one of these days! You’ll see, we’ll be best friends yet!”
Oh Enid, if only you knew.
Off to her left Fenrir's dirt bike is started, as Yoko walks up the right side of the beginning stretch just a ways with a rainbow flag in hand and a smile on her face. “ALRIGHT LOSERS! Cuervo vs Fenrir! Both rivals are currently tied at 34-34! This is a tie breaker! Haven’t had one in a few months with Cuervos winning streak in her own races, that Fenrir wasn’t able to be a part of! The track is the forest of Jericho! There may be jumps, trees, mud, and water! Don’t be afraid to get dirty ladies! We love a good wet t-shirt contest here!”
That statement brought about a wave of cheers from the crowd.
The vampire grinned at the reaction to her statement, “Don’t forget while there are no rules except play fair, don’t do anything too dirty that could cause death. I don’t want to explain to Weems why one of her students is dead by getting impaled on a tree. And we have the lovely fangs in bat form in the air with their little go pros on for an aerial view of the race.” Overhead the screeching of bats can be heard as the fangs signal their position. “The riders themselves have their personal ones on for those who want to watch on their channels for that point of view. They don’t give commentary though, no mics on them. Now then. RACERS ARE YOU READY?! ”
Both she and Fenrir rev their engines signalling they are.
And then there it is. That loud silence. The rev of engines, the hum of machinery ready to take off. No one breathes, no one blinks, no one dares to move. The eyes of the riders trained ahead waiting for the signal.
Breathe In.
Yoko raises the flag above her head, eyes flicking between both racers, for a moment there is absolute silence. A perfect stillness to the world as Cuervo leans forward ever so slightly.
Breathe out.
The flag drops. The two racers take off with barely a second missed. Rear wheels tear into slightly damp earth, chunks of grass and dirt flying up behind them as bikes lurch forward. Gaining traction as they cover the bare stretch of the track between the starting point and the beginning of the forest where the majority of the race will take place. Fenrir falls behind a few feet as Cuervo tears forward like a bat out of hell, barreling towards the tree line with utmost intent on winning, or so it seems.
While she does enjoy victory, the lingering possibility of injury or potential death appeals more to the raven. Winning was just an added bonus. With the additional bonus of getting to hear Fenrir complaining about her for the next two weeks.
The tree line rushes up within moments, thin trunks creating obstacles to be weaved between. Cuervo pushes forward with no hesitation as Fenrir weaves between the slender trunks just behind her. The first corner approaches.
Cuervo hugs the right side of the track, avoiding the cluster of trees in the middle as she moves to round the bend. Unfortunately, she didn’t expect the small bunch of trees right as the path began to narrow. As she weaves quickly to the right than the left, Fenrir uses that moment to take a lead. Cutting in front of the black clad rider to enter the thin stretch of the path first. The barrier set up to let the riders know where the path ends and begins, is brushing against their pants with how thin the space is.
The path angles downward as Fenrir ducks under a low hanging branch, pushing forward to squeeze past two large white containers that have been set close to the path to narrow it even more before opening just a tad wider afterwards. Cuervo pushes past the containers, the back of her bike clipping one, causing her to slow. She recovers quickly to stay on Fenrir's tail, not letting the wolf get too big of a gap ahead.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Quick turn after turn, a low branch, a small tree in the middle of the path causing one rider to veer left as the other went right, another dip, taking them lower into the forest.
The cheers of the crowd at the start are all but gone now. The bats above them weave in and out of the trees doing their best to keep their cameras trained on the riders, everyone back at the start, and those gathered at the finish line watching intently.
Many have money bet on this race. The pot was split down the middle. Half on Fenrir , the wolf rider always did better in the forest than the raven. Half on Cuervo, she had a tendency to come in first just when it looked like her defeat was all but guaranteed. Some swore she must be able to see the future with how she pulled some of those wins out of nowhere.
As the path dips down, Fenrir speeds up her bike hitting a few wet patches that cause her to wobble a bit before she recovers and pushes forward. A slight stretch ahead allows the blonde to gain a slight lead. As she glances back over her shoulder, expecting to see the darker rider a ways behind, she’s instead surprised to find Cuervo barely a foot behind.
Little bird. Little bird. Keep chasing me too close and you may get hurt.
The stretch turns into another series of sharp turns before coming to a small bridge that goes over one of the many smaller streams of Jericho's Forest. Fenrir launches over it with ease, Cuervo right behind getting a tiny bit of air as she hits it at the right angle.
A smile tugging at the corner of her lips, Cuervo revs her engine as she gets closer to Fenrir’s bike. The chase was part of the fun for her. Always keeping close to the wolf, yet never passing her right away. Every time Fenrir fell for the same trick, the outcome never changed. The first time Fenrir would slip up and make a mistake, Cuervo took advantage of it to gain the lead.
After crossing the small bridge the track changes angles, now going uphill. Loose leaves coupled with damp earth make it difficult to dig in completely, the climb is consistent. Once again small trees litter the track causing them both to weave between them. One wrong move could send either rider tumbling backwards into the collection of trees behind them.
Fenrir keeps to the left as Cuervo hugs the right, dirt flying up behind both. A few times the Raven tries to push ahead, not for real, but merely to make the wolf panic. Fenrir cuts in front of her then back out, then back in front to keep her back.
Predictable, mia lupa.
The track angles down once again, Fenrir going faster to keep the raven at bay wobbles on her bike as she brakes slightly to keep from smashing into the quickly approaching trees. The leaves being kicked up behind Fenrir smack into Cuervo’s helmet as the blonde rider hugs the right once more as another turn approaches quickly.
Cuervo hugs the side she’s chosen in an attempt to create some distance from the wolf's incessant swerving, cutting to the left when Fenrir moves to the right. Though as the two go over a small hill in the decline at the same time, Fenrir’s back wheel pops up from the ground, sending the wolf tumbling into the dirt. But in an act of athleticism only capable by a werewolf Fenrir lets her back slam into the ground as she rolls with her bike pressing down onto her. And as the back wheel makes contact with the ground uses a hand to push herself forward and up righting herself.
Ah, watching you show off that strength never fails to make me love you even more, Enid.
The blonde rider struggles for a moment to get traction again, though by some stroke of luck this is happening in a thin part of the track, Cuervo having no choice but to trail behind the struggling girl before her wheels finally bite into the ground once again. Though, the small bit of luck Fenrir had fails ahead, as it changes to a wide turn to the right. Fenrir on the left has no choice but to grit her teeth as Cuervo shoots past her cutting in sharply on the right, leg brushing against the white plastic border of the track.
Pushing up the new incline Cuervo glares at the Nevermore student who is stationed at this point of the track, motioning with their arm to point the riders in the correct direction. Due to the terrain using a simple border wasn’t quite possible, so the students themselves took it upon themselves to direct everyone.
Moving to the right she frowns in frustration as her bike struggles up the wet dirt here, loose leaves and twigs making it difficult to find traction.
I hate these parts of the tracks.
Standing just outside the white border cheering are a collection of students, some had been at the start line and had run to get to this point wanting to be at the main points of the race to cheer the two on in person. Cuervo found it annoying, the screams of good luck, and demands of victory. She wasn’t here to win for their sake, she was here for the thrill of the race, the way the blood pumped through her veins when it came to a particularly dangerous part of the trail.
Squeezing between two trees she was forced to the right closer to the barrier, some students reaching out to try and touch her. They failed as she moved back to the left away from them. Turning as she found a bit of solid ground, riding the incline at an angle as she moved up it at a pace slower than she would have liked. She could hear Fenrir behind her as the wolf let out a cheer of her own, matching the energy of the crowd, causing those gathered to get even louder.
I wonder if they could shatter glass with this level of volume .
The ground begins to level out slightly, loose leaves still in abundance, yet the dirt gets slightly drier, allowing tires to dig in easier. Lurching forward Cuervo whips quickly to the right then the left, back to the right as she avoids hitting two students acting as a makeshift border.
Finally the stretch ends as the incline evens out into more level ground, for a few feet it’s smooth riding, aside from the intense eyes burning holes in her back from the wolf riding her ass.
Keep staring at me like that, and I may just give you the gift of a kiss if you win, my wolf.
Then the brief calm ends as trees once again close in on the track, roots protruding from the ground causing her bike to jump every few feet as she flies over them. Hugging the left as the track turns yet again, she sees a brief glimpse of colour to her right as Fenrir tries to pass; but fails as Cuervo enters another thin stretch of track first.
Allow me to guide you for a while, my wolf, I won’t disappoint. You showed me your strength. Allow me to show you what I can do.
For a few moments the two riders are on top of a thin mountain edge, either side a sheer drop into the forest below. A small handful of students standing on the very edge as they shoot past. Neither bother to slow down, despite the danger that could befall them. A perk of being an Outcast, regeneration from injuries that are not life threatening, though they could leave some nice scars. Up ahead she can see the turn in the track approaching, dropping into a steep stair like decline.
Cuervo at the lead hits her brakes instantly, using the momentum to push her bike from the ground as she hits the top of the descent, tires spinning in the air as she sails forward. Time seems to slow as her right leg stretches out, foot hitting the tree that threatens to ruin her bike; twisting her body and bike at the same time. With a grunt she pushes off the tree sending her and her bike flying off to the left. The same direction the trail turns. She manoeuvres her bike what little she needs to as her wheels hit the ground once again.
Why slow down to go down, when I can fly.
The crowd watching in the area cheers, air seeming to vibrate with the intensity of it. For a moment she swears she can even hear the shouts echoing all the way from the starting line.
Well if the displays impressed the masses that much, I can only imagine how much Enid enjoyed it.
The path from here becomes more technical, sharp turns with steep descent made to challenge the control the rider has on their bike. Most would take their time to navigate the uneven terrain. But if she did that, where was the thrill of crashing?
Let’s test what lady luck has in the cards for me today.
With a burst of speed she gains distance from Fenrir . The path ahead goes right. She leans sharply to her right as she arrives. Knee brushing against the ground just barely as she digs her foot into damp earth, wheels spinning rapidly. Dirt thrown behind her as if it was raining arrows. As her bike moves forward, she pushes back up as she rides into the short straight path in front of her.
Maybe I should thank Xavier for showing me that move… no I wouldn't want it to go to his head.
Little did she know in the crowd at the finish line, Xavier shouted loud enough for people to look at him like he was crazy as he pointed at the screen, “HELL YEAH! I TAUGHT HER TO DO THAT!”
Someone deeper in the crowd booed him telling him to shut up so they could focus on the race.
A disgruntled shout behind Cuervo tells the raven that Fenrir had been covered in the mud and dirt she’d stirred up.
Dirty little puppy.
Apparently, that lit a fire under Fenrir as the pink clad rider rode up the rocks to Cuervo’s right, jumping off of them as she sailed over the raven, landing heavily on the path just in front of her.
A smirk tugged at Cuervo’s lips as she followed behind, it never failed to impress her when Fenrir did something new. She was typically one to play it safe; though the girl was a werewolf, she didn’t like getting hurt.
How I await the day when you embrace that feral nature of yours.
She follows behind Fenrir as the track turns a sharp left before going back up, leaves now traded for rock as they climb over the natural obstacle course. For a short while the two riders weave between small trees and bounce over rocks as they cross each other’s path. In this area they are alone aside from the bats above them following with their cameras.
Cuervo for a moment forgot it was a race as Fenrir came up beside her, for a moment they were side by side lined up perfectly. There was no sound, not even the bikes underneath them could break this moment.
That was until she decided to choose violence.
Sticking her leg out she kicked the side of Fenrir’s bike with a smirk as the pink rider swerved off to the right from the unexpected attack. Her wheel turned sharply as she was sent spilling into the scattered rocks and leaves. Fenrir stood up shouting after her as she recovered, but Cuervo didn’t stay to listen.
Using the advantage she continued forward, the group of spectators who had witnessed it cheering as she made the wide turn to the next section of the track. The small rock wall ahead of her is the gateway to the next area. Taking a deep breath she shot forward in a burst of speed. Front wheel popping up as she launched herself up onto the wall, yet miscalculated her landing area.
As her front wheel hit wet rock it slipped to the left as the bike fell to the right dropping her onto rough stone. She made no noise of frustration, irritated with her own mistake as she pulled her bike back up, remounting the beast as she moved back to the spot that was the best start to get over the wall.
Fenrir was already in the spot, smiling under her helmet as she watched the raven come back to try again. Chuckling she called out, “Nice try Little Bird!” Before launching forward herself to get over the wall. The wolf cleared it with ease, where Cuervo had failed. Thankfully, the second time was the charm, as she cleared the wall, pushing the speed of the dirt bike to the limit as she surged forward to catch up with the now leading Fenrir.
For a minute the path is rocky, until it comes to the first checkpoint, the crowd watching as she stops briefly at the top of the muddy rise, before letting her bike glide down the wet hill. Sliding to a brief stop to keep from slamming into a tree, then straightening out back onto the path ahead.
Now there is a small stream to her right and to her left a road, filled with students who cheer as she flies by. No trees to slow her progress for this stretch, just wet mud as the rain begins to sprinkle down on them.
I suppose Yoko will be getting that wet t-shirt contest she wanted.
A sharp stop comes up as she lets the wheels spin in the mud, turning her bike all the way to the right, inching forward on the wooden planks set up at the edge of an embankment. She drops five feet into the very shallow stream below, grunting with the force of the bike handle knocking into her chest.
Enid must be far ahead… dammit.
She has to stop and back up slightly then turn to the left taking off as she enters the tunnel the stream flows through, above her the cement of the bridge's underside just barely scratches against the top of her helmet. One perk to being shorter than most riders. The tunnel goes for 20 feet before opening up, a turn to the left has her climbing back up the embankment, nearly falling back at the top as her front wheel raises up into the air. A foot finding contact with the ground allows her to bring it back down, before going left into an open stretch just wide enough to fit her and the bike.
The path goes back down into the forest away from the road, trees stretching up towards the night sky as she pushes forward gaining speed. Weaving to the right, then the left, back to the right as she avoids tree after tree. Fenrir couldn't, there was no way she had reached the end already, not with how safe the wolf liked to play it.
As she arrived at a serpentine part of the track she let out a sigh of relief as she spotted the bright pink suit of Fenrir just a short ways ahead. Chuckling as she leaned forward to duck under a low hanging branch.
You never change it up do you, come now, make it exciting for me.
Fenrir disappears from view as they round a bend farther ahead. Cuervo turns her attention back to the track in front of her, following it down, along a slight cliff edge that overlooks a warehouse of some sort. As she turns left to another expanse of flat narrow track she spots a flash of pink ahead once again. Lurching forward she takes off after it like her life depends on it, taking the shortest possible path along the trail as she closes distance. Yet for all her speed Fenrir continues to remain just out of reach, disappearing from view the moment Cuervo catches sight of her again.
The next 2 minutes are spent alone as she tears along. The stream to her right once again, a wall of trees to her left blocking her view of what is to come. A sharp swerve left takes her back into the trees, another right after as she avoids a tree right in the centre of the path. She hugs the right, then the left weaving through the line of trees the path is set along. As she reaches the top of the small hill of trees she sees grass ahead, and the pink body suit of Fenrir once again within her sight.
Fenrir, never one to push herself to the brink, takes it as easy as possible with the ever looming threat of Cuervo gaining on her, avoiding stumps and fallen trees as she continues forward, refusing to glance back and lose her nerve. Every time they have a tie the wolf makes some stupid mistake that gives the raven the advantage in the end, leading to her victory. She refused to let it happen again.
As the Forest comes up once again, she decides to reign in her fear of injury and take a page from Cuervos book. Pushing her dirt bike forward with a burst of speed she enters the next section with utmost confidence. This part makes it feel as if she’s riding on the back of a very big snake, for a moment the trail bends left, right, back to the left, before ending on the right sending them up yet ANOTHER incline.
I swear I’m going to throttle Yoko, she knows these sections are annoying as hell!
Cuervo feels a swell of pride in her chest as she watches Fenrir push forward, throwing caution to the wind as she weaves through the path.
Hm, seems I’m finally starting to get under your skin. What mistake will you make this time?
She watches Fenrir reach the top of the rise, certain the wolf has this victory in the palm of her hand, and then watches her fall.
Cuervo regrets their question instantly as the dirt bike falls on top of the blonde wolf, pinning them to the ground. Having already been in the process of climbing to the top right behind her, the raven has no choice but to keep going. Turning her bike at the last moment to avoid driving over the struggling blonde. Though she hits the same spot that had given Fenrir trouble as well, eyes widening as she begins to tip back as well.
Yet, a hand belonging to the race staff grabbing the front of her jacket keeps her from falling onto the wolf. She’s pulled forward back onto the bike that now has both wheels on the ground. Grabbing the handles she gives a quick look back to see the students hauling the bike off Fenrir.
Good. She’s okay.
While Cuervo was content to get hurt, she did hate to see her wolf get injured. For the first time, she found herself thankful that Yoko took certain precautions for the race. Though she’d never say that to the vampire.
Shaking her head she took off, barreling down the track with the sound of Fenrir’s bike firing up behind her; she’s not out of the race yet.
From this point the most difficult parts of the race are behind them, or so Cuervo thinks. Usually the last leg of the track is even, and all about speed. Who can get to the end fastest. She ducks as a fallen log hangs over the path, sitting back up she continues on, once again falling into the rhythm of weaving back and forth between the sea of trees that litters the path. The end is near, she can feel it.
A hill ahead prompts her to pick up speed, Fenrir behind her doing the same as they both head towards it. Cuervo climbs the hill with ease, ducking instantly as the bridge they had gone over in the beginning of the race nearly threatens to decapitate her. As she focuses forward the white tape bordering the track changes to orange, a signal to the racers that this is the last leg. The end is in fact closing in, though not right away.
Smooth ground stretches out before her, and of course more fucking trees , did Yoko pick the section of the forest that had the most trees possible? She knew that the woman enjoyed tormenting them when it came to the tiebreaker races, but this was getting annoying. She’d rather ride through the river than this.
Okay, is someone here a mind reader?
Though it wasn’t a river, it was a stream that became a part of the track next. A quick turn down to the right, and Cuervo was riding through water; Fenrir hot on her heels. Navigating through the array of small slippery rocks was difficult, though not annoying. It also helped to clean the collection of mud off of her tires as she moved through the shallow waters. Just in time as the path turned up to the right, climbing for a moment, before turning back down to lead them into the stream once more. It lasted but a second this time, as the stream ended turning into a wide rock bed they were forced to climb with wet tires. Wheels spinning as they both dug in, cresting the top at the same time.
The Forest path came to an end there, turning into a legitimate path used by trucks going to and from the warehouse they had gone past earlier. The wide berth of the road allowed both riders to increase their speed, the crowds lining the path becoming a blur as both pushed their machines to the limit of speed.
This was it. This was the final stretch, the climax of their battle. From here, whoever could go fastest, whoever could reach the finish line first would be the winner. Just as before they fell instep side by side, front wheels lining up as the path slightly turned right, both moving in sync; before it turned back to the left, straightening out.
Ahead the crowd was jumping up and down cheering them on. Some were shouting for Cuervo to push ahead, to win. Other’s screamed for Fenrir to push herself, to come out on top.
Cuervo was almost certain that her rival may win this one as the blonde gained a slight lead as she let up on the throttle ever so slightly, just an inch, until the blonde's front wheel hit a stump in the track that both riders had failed to spot.
Fenrir’s front tire hit it dead on, the back wheel leaving the ground as the blonde rider was thrown over the handlebars and onto the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her lungs. Her bike flew over her, carried by the speed she had been going, slamming into the ground as it flipped multiple times before crashing into a tree as the crowd jumped back to avoid getting crushed.
All the while Cuervo sped over the finish line, sliding to a stop as she looked back at the wolf laying on the ground and the smoking dirt bike at the base of a tree.
Well shit Enid I was going to let you win.
Yoko sent the crew to help out Enid as she walked over to Cuervo smiling as she held up her hands shouting, “AND CUERVO TAKES THE WIN! Be sure to get your money, for those of you who placed bets! Clean up your trash! And get the fuck to bed! Thanks for coming! Same day, same time in two weeks!”
Cheers go up as the crowd disperses. Originally when the races had begun parties had been held afterwards, but now years later; the parties were held when races fell close to holidays. It made them more special when they were not so frequent.
As Yoko turned to speak to Cuervo to congratulate them on their win she sighed as the black clad rider was nowhere in sight, “She came. She saw. She conquered. She left. What a fucking ghost.” Or at least that’s what she thought when she turned to look in Enid’s direction, only to see Cuervo standing beside the crying pink mess. “Well well look at the lesbians getting along. Good for them.”
Typically Cuervo wasn’t one to stay after the race was over, mingling was not something she enjoyed. But given that Enid had crashed right at the end of the race, she felt compelled to at least make sure she was alright. In the time it took her to put her bike away and go to her crying rival, Enid had been hauled to her feet after the crew made sure she hadn’t broken anything.
“ Admitiré que verte sufrir de esta manera no es lo que más me gusta en el mundo. Prefiero ser la que te lo cause. Con amor claro. (I will admit that this kind of suffering of yours is not the one I enjoy the most. I prefer to be the one inflicting it. With love of course.)” Reaching up she flicked a chunk of mud off the blonde 's shoulder, “ Aunque verte cubierta de barro de pies a cabeza, es extrañamente satisfactorio. (Though seeing you covered head to toe in mud is oddly satisfying.)”
Enid glared down at her as she wiped tears from her eyes, “If you came to make fun of me don’t. Just go away.” She kicked at the ground huffing, “I was so close!”
Looking at Enid for a moment Cuervo had what she would later call a moment of insanity, or as some others called it, a lack of self control in the presence of someone you love. Reaching up she undid the clasp of her helmet pushing it up just enough to uncover her mouth, face still hidden, as she stood on her tiptoes, to place a kiss on Enid’s cheek. “You did good, Little Wolf.” Her voice a whisper barely audible over the still ongoing cheers of the crowd, though to Enid’s heightened hearing it was crystal clear. Stepping back she pulled her helmet back down, turned on her heel and walked away.
Enid stood there for a solid 10 seconds as her brain tried and failed to process what had just happened before finally snapping back to reality as she called out, “It’s Fenrir! Oh wait… ah I see what you did there Little Bird.” Then it clicked, “Wait.. she kissed my cheek.. and she spoke. Holy shit. Yoko’s not gonna believe this.”
Returning to the spot she had stored her bike, Wednesday grabbed her bag before hopping onto the machine and leaving the race area. Heading to the warehouse that was tucked away in the forest they had rode by in the middle of the race. Her warehouse. Pulling up to the door she entered the code, waiting a moment as the door lifted up before pushing her bike in, and hitting the button to shut the door.
Ten minutes later she had hidden the bike away, and changed into her usual clothing. Black jeans, black boots, black shirt, and of course her signature black jacket. Her wardrobe had only two colours, and even then it was usually only black, sometimes white.
After changing she pulled out her day to day bike , which she used to get around; intending to head to the dorm. Getting back to their room before Enid made it back was always the last leg of the race for Wednesday, a challenge only she knew about.
As she walked through the door to their dorm she fully expected the lights to still be off, yet as lights greeted her she frowned to find that wasn’t the case. Laughter filtering through the air as Enid’s voice met her ears, “I know! It was crazy! Yoko said that the stump wasn’t supposed to be there.”
Enid had been streaming the races long before she was a rider in them. It was an in the thick of it type of stream where she gave commentary and got opinions of spectators in the crowd during the actual race. While she didn’t have a very big following, she enjoyed it, it gave her something to look forward to every two weeks. And once she began competing in the races herself she decided to keep it up, changing the live commentary aspect for a Q&A stream after the race. Thoughts on the track, what she could have done differently. Plus she painted her nails during it which added some of her own colourful flare to the broadcast.
Two different crowds watched the streams, and somehow they got along. Their mutual joy in making fun of the wolf something they all agreed on. They did it all in good fun though, anytime someone tried to step over the line and turn it into legit bullying that person got banned instantly by her array of mods.
“Someone overlooked it, but oh well. Half the job is keeping an eye on the track for the unexpected.” Frowning as the chat begins to fly too fast for her to read all of it, making out only a few comments here and there. “What’s going on? Why are you all freaking out?”
BEHIND YOU
YOU’RE BEING HAUNTED YO
Enids dead rest in peace
Gg
Rip
Cya in the afterlife
Why is the creepy dead girl from the ring hot
is it weird if f i say im attracted to this level of horror
Turning around her eyes widened in surprise, “Weds! I was wondering where you were. You’re usually reading when I get back.”
“I was at the library.” A short answer. Give little and nothing more. Classic Wednesday answer.
“Oh. Are you heading to bed? I can end the stream here. I don’t want to bother you.”
Wednesday approached her silently, dark eyes staring at her intently, “Not quite yet. You’re free to entertain the masses for longer if you wish. I heard you took a fall. Your bike?”
“Ah, yeah. It’s wrecked. Not completely, it can be fixed… I just have to find someone to do the repairs. Well, money first then repairs. No dirt races for me for a while.” Enid glances at the chat frowning, “That’s my roommate. She’s usually hidden away by the time I start talking to you all after the race. She’s a very private person so stop poking around cause I won’t give you anything.”
Who is she
Tell us
Speak yee wolf
Why havnt we seen ehr befre
Where ya been hiding her blondy
Wednesday was not one to share much about herself. She had been rooming with Enid for a little over two years now, and had given little to nothing about herself. At least nothing of importance. “I may know someone who can assist you.” Wednesday reached out grasping the blonde’s chin as she tilted her head back, looking at the bruise already fading along her jaw, “You went past a warehouse in the forest did you not?” Her thumb brushed against the bruise lightly before letting Enid go. Taking a step back as she turned around heading to her side of the room, “Take your bike there when you get a chance. Don’t worry about the cost.”
“What? Weds! What do you mean?” Enid called out, but her roomie already had headphones in place to block out the noise of Enid’s late night talking. “Well shiz… “ Turning back to the chat she said, “Well, guess I’m going to a creepy warehouse in the forest tomorrow. Wish me luck. I’m gonna end the stream here so I can make sure my will is updated.” With that she ended the stream, bringing the talk to a close. “Night folks. Stay weird!”
Listening as Enid ended the stream Wednesday smirked watching as the girl walked across the colourful side of the dorm room to flop down on the bed that looked as if a rainbow had thrown up on it. Taking her headphones off she set them to the side, “So, any translations for tonight, or did your little bird ignore you as per usual?”
No answer was given aside from the soft snoring now coming from the blonde, the events of the evening finally catching up to her. Standing up Wednesday walked over to Enid’s bed to pull a blanket over the sleeping girl as she leaned down, lips brushing against her temple, “Sleep well, mia lupa. ” A soft kiss placed on the blonde’s temple before retreating back to her own bed.