she's alluring (closed - Cav/Allure)

The sound of beating hooves behind them was a welcome reminder of the work they had to get done. Amber's face became a neutral mask of concentration while Krystal's focused instantly. The two moved their horses to the outside, obviously letting the faster horse have the rail. Amber glanced behind her to see who it was and nearly laughed out loud. This was her day! It was Nick and Allure! What a brilliant opportunity! Nearly cackling, Amber said to Krystal Look who it is - Nick and Alluring Assault. Krystal's face visibly paled at Amber's words. They haven't started working yet either. How very convenient... Krystal's face resembled the white color of clouds by now. You should go introduce yourself...now.

There was no disobeying that turn. Barely able to keep herself on Sill, Krystal accelerated into a canter and steered her mare to right alongside Allureand Nick. By order of Amber Black, I am to introduce myself and ask to work with you. I'm Krystal Yhate. This is Sillenia. Nice to meet you.

Sillenia pulled at the reins almost anxiously. She wanted to run, and this mare was going too slow for her. But Krystal had already planned to make this a light day for her. Sill had been raced intensively this year and was only going to race more next year. It was a good thing that the filly was strong and built like a colt. That made her able to take the load. Being a talented horse with a preference for both surfaces meant lots of races after all, and Sill thrived on it. It was also good that Sill was too headstrong to notice Krystal's anxious emotional state. First Jill, now this. The end of the year was not going well for Krystal Yhate.

The amused look on Nick's face was not enough to loosen her up. She could practically feel Amber's eyes on her back. You won't be disappointing her...quite the opposite actually. Though Sill here is full of energy, I'm under orders to go easy. We're supposed to work with Amber...but she's obviously having too much fun back there.

Amber's thoughts were flying high. She essentially lived on competition. You couldn't live around the racetrack for as long as she had without becoming infatuated with it. And when dealing with Nick Landing, an old rival, she was extra competitive. She treated him like she treated a Star Thoroughbreds rider - incredibly competitively. But she was perhaps a bit more friendly to him. She was finding him easy to get along with, and they had plotted some breeding deals lately. Overall, they had a fantastic relationship budding here. She's already in a semi-awkward position, actually. Sill beat Smiles in the Tropical Rainforest. Smiles' record says she doesn't lose to the same horse twice. We've got a record to disprove. Krystal quietly groaned at the reminder. Great. More pressure.

A little competitive? Nick, you should see how she is on a daily basis! There was this one time when we had this endurance race between Wildly Natural, Foolish Lad and Pegasus Wings over two miles on the turf. She was ridiculous beforehand!

Kiss responded happily to Allure's social nature. She nickered back, all the while Sillenia ignoring them. Kiss was more of a social creature, after all. She enjoyed being around other horses. With Sill, it depended on a number of factors, foremost among them how headstrong and eager to run she was as well as just who she was expected to socialize with. If it was a horse like Wild Kiss, who couldn't mind her own space - well, Sillenia wasn't going to socialize with that. But when Allure upped her pace, Sill's ears perked and she bolted a little bit, sliding into place alongside. Now that was a language she could speak.

Krystal hung tightly onto Sill as she bolted, caught briefly off guard. Behind them, Amber was guiding Kiss a safe distance away, almost lazy in her movements. Krystal briefly wondered if Amber was herding her and Sill after Allure and Nick in her eagerness to keep them working together. The manic light in her eyes and the lunacy of her grin suggested this, and Krystal quietly groaned and wondered whether to broach the subject. But for some reason, Amber did this for her. There's no escape Krystal - you're staying right there. Kiss is not much of a western cattle herder at all, but we can outclass your riding any day of the week! Krystal looked around for a brick wall to bang her head against and then remembered that she was riding and that it would be very hard to do that, given that she was cantering.

Nick....have you got any ideas for getting rid of Amber? Her words were a hushed whisper, likely carried back to Amber, but she bet that they weren't. She needed some ideas about what to do in this situation. She was really, really stuck.

Amber was indeed getting very suspicious - but for different reasons. She had seen Nick wink at Krystal and say something to her. The words were unfortunately carried away by the wind. She was about to consider nudging Kiss closer to see what was going on, but was afraid of Krystal running for it if she moved from her current position. Thus she merely narrowed her eyes. Was Nick flirting with her jockey? She couldn't have Krystal consorting with the enemy! Her thoughts essentially bordering on lunacy, Amber was about to yell ahead to Nick about messing with Krystal's brain. What else could he be doing but that? Krystal should know better than to plan escape!

Krystal's eyes shone nervously. She might decide to chase you instead...I'd be wary. She can just deal with me at her leisure! She gulped. But I'm ready for it...and we'll probably exit right behind you. Too bad Sill doesn't jump stuff or we'd jump the rail over there. Okay. Three....two....one! Krystal suddenly leaned forward and off Sillenia went like a shot. They were galloping fast, and Krystal could only hope that Nick timed his move at the right time.

Amber frowned and then screamed Hey! as Krystal and Sill galloped off. She prepared Kiss, who was already dying to go after the other horse and rider...

Amber was abruptly mad. What the hell? Why was Nick Landing blocking her exit? She caught a wink and a smile from him - so freaking smug! - before he bolted on Allure for the track exit. And then Amber didn't care about what the press was going to say about this. She wasn't taking this sitting down! NICK LANDING YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS! It had been a ploy, a trick! They were intentionally trying to get rid of her! She wasn't going to take this at a walk! She got Kiss going. Being a closer, of course, her acceleration wasn't fantastic, and the filly was slightly distracted - but dang it all, they needed to catch up! So they were off, and Nick and Allure were too far ahead!

They were just a length behind...just about to come up alongside! But the track rail! Amber furiously realized she couldn't risk Kiss's health and slowed the filly down. She stopped completely, and just glared, a bit playfully, in Nick's direction. This scenario will be far different after the Breeders Cup. Mark my words, you're eating Sill's dust! And Kiss's, too.

Meanwhile, Krystal and Sillenia had conveniently found an exit from the track over at the final turn and were taking it right now, making a beeline for the stable while Krystal smothered giggles with her left hand. They had actually ditched Amber! Though there would be hell to pay for this...