Chapter 7 - The Race

The thundering of heavy legs on solid ground was all Valor could hear after the announcer started the race. The racers had exploded out of the starting gate, all pushing themselves at breakneck speeds to reach the front of the pack, in order to set the pace and steer clear of the immediate danger. The larger packs that naturally form in these races are the most dangerous place to be in because every team is fighting tooth and nail to break free and catch up to the leader. Thanks to Diargo's short legs, the duo was quickly falling behind the main pack.

"They're a lot faster than I thought they would be buddy!" Valor said, watching the body of racers slowly increasing the distance between them.

Diargo was running as fast as he could on four legs, his knuckles slamming into the ground as he galloped across the dirt ground, large clouds of steam blowing from his nostrils as he heaved air in and out of his chest.

"Because I'm not… designed to run like this… short distances maybe, but… not like this! I was made… to rule the jungles of Trykoori" Diargo struggled to get his thoughts across, his attention was more focused on moving his legs.

If Valor's heart wasn't pounding out of this chest from the adrenaline of the race, he would have rolled his eyes, Diargo didn't go very long before mentioning Trykoori.

"I didn't want to implement this so early, but it looks like we have no choice."

Diargo's relief flooded Valor's mind as he said this, if they waited any longer the pack would be almost impossible to catch up to. Already the group in front of them couldn't be seen. They were far enough ahead that the dust cloud they kicked up was shielding them from view.

"IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE OVERESTIMATED THE ROOKIE AND HIS RACER, THEY ARE QUICKLY FALLING BEHIND. BUT WOULD YOU LOOK AT THOSE SHORT LEGS GO!"

Through the visor in his helmet, Valor could just make out the outline of a large shape hurtling towards them through the dust cloud. Valor's eyes widen in realization and he started to scream aloud to Diargo.

"NOW DIARGO, NOW,"

It wasn't Valor's voice that triggered Diargo's response, but the panic in Valor's mind. As he started to prepare his galden, he saw it: a massive shape flying through the dusty air. Diargo leapt at just the right moment, his powerful legs just barely clearing over the mass. Time seemed to slow down as Valor peered over Diargo's shoulder. It was a giant mammal, twice the size of Diargo, its body covered in tough grey skin, completely hairless. It had five massive horns protruded out of its skull. Its fat body was gouged and bloody, and as Diargo seemed to float through the air, Valor caught a glance of the lifeless eyes flying underneath them. Time resumed its normal speed as Diargo's feet collided with a pillar, sending the pair hurtling further across the sky. Valor glanced back and could see the lifeless body of the racer still rolling and bouncing across the dirt ground.

"HOLY SHIT" Valor screamed to his friend.

Diargo could smell the fear and death in the air as they slowly started to gain on the group, the dead racer that narrowly missed them was only the first. A primal bloodlust was starting to burn in his belly. Though he could also feel Valor's nervousness flooding into his mind. Air whipped around Valor's head as they flew through the sky, from the height they were at, Valor could see the pack and even the two teams that were in the lead. They were nearing the first turn which was a narrow chasm surrounded by two massive stone walls.

"Do you see that?" Valor asked, Diargo started to fall back down to the ground, before another pillar launched them back into the sky.

"Yeah I do, it's going to be a tight squeeze"

"We can't be caught in the pack near at that chasm, it will be blood bath." Valor replied.

A few seconds later, and they had completely caught up with the pack. The pillars were keeping the two of them at a consistent height above the rest. Though not high enough to be completely out of harm's way. Diargo's next pillar brought them to almost the middle of the back and for a second Diargo and Valor seemed to float twenty feet above the tops of their heads. Valor could see many of the riders looking up at shock.

Valor felt the rapid build of galden as Diargo started to form another pillar, "wait a minute- "he tried to rush out.

It was too late, another pillar erupted through the ground, right underneath the feet of a massive reptile. The pillar struck the creature's chest with such force that Valor could hear the cracking of ribs over the pounding feet of the pack. The pillar carried the lizard through the air, its bright emerald scales flashing in the Kypeeran sun, the Racer let out a high-pitched and vibrating screech, clutching to the pillar with all it's might. Diargo's body twisted in the air, trying to avoid the Racer that was now hurtling towards them on top of the pillar. Valor caught a glimpse at the lizard's rider. A gangly man whose skin was darker than Diargo's black fur, his long limbs held two curved blades. The panic in the man's eyes was all Valor could see before they collided. Diargo's heavy body smashed into the snakelike lizard. For a split-second Valor could hear a loud scream and then nothing but cracking bones. The bodies they had collided with pushed them off course and they started to fall, but the ape twisted his body in midair to grab hold of the stone pillar. For a couple seconds they slid, and Diargo bared his teeth in pain as his hands slid down the stone. Moments later the two were close enough to the ground that they could leap off safely.

Valor felt numb, the man's scream ringing in his ears. The cracking of bones had been so loud that for just a moment it was all he could hear.

"valor pull it together, I need you."

Valor could hear Diargo as a distant echo, He looked back and could see the pillar still jutting out of the sky, a towering monument erected in honor of their kill. The green body of the lizard hung limp from the tip of the pillar. It's long neck and tail draped over the top, dripping blood.

Diargo grunted in frustration, he couldn't do this alone, Valor's shock was like a fog in his own brain, and he struggled to focus. There was another separation between them and the other racers, but he was closing the distance as fast as he could. He started to use smaller pillars, relying more on the power of his legs. It gave him more freedom in his decisions, but the timing was difficult to get a hold of. Regardless, Diargo was able to close the distance between him and the rest. Causing the stragglers to shift their attention to him and Valor.

"VALOR"

The intensity of Diargo's voice was like a jerk in Valor's mind, and the fog started to lift. Instantaneously a black shafted arrow sprouted from Valor's shoulder, the barbed arrowhead buried itself deep in Valor's flesh, imbedding itself into the bone. The power behind the arrow was enough to drive Valor from his seat. Before the boy could even cry out, he could feel himself being lifted into the air, just as Diargo leapt from another pillar. The Trykoori felt his rider's weight lift from his shoulders the same time he heard the cry of pain and shock. He twisted his upper body as fast as he could and grabbed the human. His big hand closing around the boy's ankle.

"DIARGO HELP- "

Diargo swung his arm down, whipping his friends' body through the air. For a moment the top of the helmet bounced and scraped along the rocky ground. He continued the swing, eventually flipping Valor in the air so he landed right side up on his back.

Valor positioned himself more comfortable back on Diargo's shoulders, his mind swimming from the event that just took place. He was only off of Diargo's shoulders for a fraction of a second, but it felt like hours, his racer had reacted with such an unnatural speed. Diargo's acrobatics did not go unnoticed, and the crowd erupted at the sight of the giant gorilla flipping Valor through the air.

"Did you really just flip me through the air, that was insane."

Diargo's chest was heaving from exertion and excitement, the galden was flowing powerfully, and he could the lifeblood flooding every muscle. "I'm aware."

The rider who shot the arrow cursed out loud and turned back around to face the track in front of him, narrowly dodging an upper hand slash of a sword from another Rider.

"I'd kiss the back of your hairy head, but I don't think I can even move with this arrow in my arm," The burning was starting to intensify, and with every small movement of his arm, he could feel the arrowhead carving a larger incision in his bone.

Diargo replied, "Thank the arrow for me."