Let the games begin (Anodyne)

[Deleted]

<sup>It was the first week of the new year, Year 12. Everyone seemed glad for a new start but the air was still gloomy. Aiden was still in the hospital although he complained that he was fine every day. Terror Smile was being treated and spent long hours in the specialized recovery pool. She wasn't allowed to walk, yet so instead she was housed in a special recovery stall in the vet centre on site. Hailey spent the mornings working horses and the rest of the day was spent with Smiles. She did not blame Aiden for her injury but somehow she felt the blame on her own shoulders. She could of scratched her easily but she felt that she was completely fit. She was wrong.

Hailey pulled her gaze from the grey mare, standing in her specialized stall, hesitantly. Her bloodshot eyes scrutinized the clock hanging on the wall. 4:30 AM. She let out a sigh and looked back at Smiles. She was standing in her stall, slightly raised off the ground by an equine sling. Around her left foreleg was a heavy duty bandage. Hailey yawned and got up from the stool she was sitting on. "Alright. Got to go start the day." She leaned over the rope stall guard and kissed the mare on the nose. "Be back later." She smiled and with one last glance at the mare, Hailey grabbed her jacket and headed out of the barn.

She walked out into the freezing, misty, morning and headed across the stable yard to the yearling barn. She welcomed the warmth and smell of warm bodies, gleefully. "Morning, boys." She grinned at the two colts. Furious By Nature trotted to the front of his stall and nickered a flirty hello. The black colt, Mourning Passion, hovered at the back of his stall. He snorted and stared at the newcomer before walking up to the front of his stall. Hailey walked up a stroked Mourn's neck before turning to view Furious who was trying to steal his owner's attention away from the other colt. Hailey grinned at the colt's behavior and walked up to him, scratching behind his ear. Furious whinnyed and started pacing eagerly. "Yeah, yeah. You ready for your first show?" While Hailey grabbed the colt's leather halter, Furious pawed at the ground anxious to start training.

Today, Hailey would be leading Furious out onto the track while riding one of the stable's lead ponies. Hailey slipped the colt's halter on before leading him out of his stall just to be safe. He had a reputation of charging out of his stall. Then again, he was unpredictable just like his sire. Furious didn't try to charge or do anything stupid. Or at least not in the barn. Hailey lead him back out into the mist and across the yard to the crossties and tied him up before heading off to go catch the lead pony.

When the pony was all saddled, Hailey grabbed Furious and hopped onto the chesnut gelding. Furious pricked his ears at the new method of training, his eyes were trained on the track in the distance. It would be his first time on the track and Hailey wanted to take it slow. The reddish bay colt seemed to have something else on his mind however. As they made their way to the track, Furious started to canter at the walking horse's side. Hailey stopped the gelding, so Furious instead just started to jig in place. He pinned his ears back at the gelding and snorted when Hailey moved them forward, breaking back into a trot. Hailey rolled her eyes but grinned at the same time. This colt was full of energy.

They stepped onto the dirt track and Furious By Nature let out a clarion call, challenging all who dare.


notes; for cav</sup>

[Cavallo]

<sub>Nick heard the doorbell ring..it was 5:30am and he had been simply sitting going over racing statistics with his cup of coffee. He looked up a little bit confused as he placed his papers down and got up to answer the door. He opened the door and there stood none other than Jeff Sanders.

Jeff was a man of moderate height with a stockier build. Nick Landing? Jeff held out his hand and Nick took it and shook it firmly opening the door wider for Jeff to enter.

Yes, it's me! Jeff..Jeff Sanders right? Jeff nodded and put his bags down in the foyer.

Well Jeff Welcome to Intrepid Racing! You can't believe how relieved I am that you're here...I'm starting to get old and the racing string is growing....we definitely needed a new jockey to come in.

Jeff smiled good naturedly and nodded. It's an honor really. When your dad back in Kentucky said you were looking I was flattered when he referred me to you.

Nick smiled, How about we just let you jump in? Sound good? Knowing your credentials...I have a colt that is prospecting this season and I think he fits right up your alley. What do you say we pony him out to the tracks for some exposure and behavior training?

Jeff smiled. Sounds great!

Don't worry about your stuff we'll get you settled in in no time. Follow me.

Nick grabbed his cup of coffee and headed out the door with Jeff close on his heels. They walked across the courtyard and over to the stable area...and then into the yearling barn. There were screams.

High shrilled and piercing, Anodyne and Samhain were having a screaming match across the barn.

DYE knock it off! Nick walked up to Anodyne's stall. The brooding bay's head tossed up, ears flattened. Dye is sired by Augusto...a killer horse that throws horses with killer racing styles. This is who will be your ride come Y13...so I really want the two of you to get a feel for each other this year. Dye had ceased his screaming and had backed up, auds now flicking forward as Nick and Jeff both stepped into his stall.

Here he is. Nick waved to the colt and let Jeff step closer to introduce his presence to the colt.

You okay with him? I'm going to go tack up Admirable....she won't let Dye get away with nonsense while you lead him around the track. Jeff nodded and stood staring at the bay colt while Nick went to go take up the mare.

Hey there boy...you're a calculating one aren't you...yes I can see you already measuring me up...Well...don't think I'm going to let you get away with murder... Maybe a bad choice of words...

Jeff heard Nick yell from outside and so Jeff turned half his body to reach out and get Dye's lead line hanging outside...he didn't trust the colt enough yet to turn his back on him.....today they would both test one another and respect and trust would be earned....

Well Dye you and I have to start somewhere. Jeff approached the colt, calmly and confidently. Dye simply stood still and eyed the man...but made no rash moves.

Good Boy. He clicked the lead line on and opened the stall door...calmly and stoically Dye followed. Samhain heard his rival exiting the barn and kicked his door with a thud, a piercing challenge ringing.

Jeff was quick to think and before Dye could react to the colt's vocal affront he had whisked him out the barn door..no harm done.

Nick smiled as he handed Jeff the reins of the intimidating Admirable.
She's a hot-blooded mare...but she'll keep Anodyne in check should he start acting up on the track....You have my cell...call me if you need anything.

Jeff nodded and swallowed. He knew that he held two very valuable horses in his hands...this was a test....he couldn't jack this up.

Here let me hold Dye while you mount Addie. Nick took Dye's lead line, the colt side stepped annoyed at being passed around, but soon settled as he watched Admirable and Jeff with keen eyes. Jeff finally found his seat and Addie tossed her head...she settled down a lot with age. In her younger days there would have been a bronco show...but now she decided her battles carefully...this wasn't one she really wanted to pursue and so accepted the man on her back with a huff. She snorted at the colt and eyed him...as though daring him to try and do something stupid. She clacked her teeth in warning at the yearling colt...Dye tossed his head as though disinterested in the mare and her antics.

OK. Ready now Nick. Nick gave the lead to Jeff and he gathered up his reins and clucked to the bay mare who quickly fell into the lead. Dye fought the tug, but was no match for the older mare and so fell in beside the mare with a fluid trot...

Jeff talked the whole way, the colt and mare listening to his words and voice inflections...getting accustomed to his voice. A few times Anodyne had tried to bolt on the way to the track, but Addie had efficiently cut the colt off and placed a good nip on his shoulder.

Dye had been furious and tossed his head, but then decided to just follow the mare and let her have her moment....while he plotted to get his later.

The track was beautiful. It was the first Jeff had laid eyes on it. Already he spotted another yearling being ponied about the track. He looked to be a vocal colt. Jeff halted the mare and Anodyne stopped head carried high beside them as they watched the other yearling.

Anodyne's eyes zeroed in on the bay yearling colt. He thought he owned this place...but that was only because he hadn't met him.

The piercing cry reached Dye's ears and he remained calm and stoic...refusing to even acknowledge the colt's cry.
Jeff looked down at the colt...almost expecting a temper tantrum....but was thrown off that he simply stood death glaring at the colt....he was up to something. Best to keep the colt moving...

He clucked to Admirable and off they went on the dirt track. Addie loved the dirt. Jeff could instantly tell...but Anodyne seemed unaffected...his eyes still locked on the bay colt and they were drawing closer.

Jeff's grip tightened on the lead line....nothing could happen to these horses...not on his watch his first day here....</sub>

[Deleted]

<sup>Hailey tightened her hold on Furious who was glaring at the other bay yearling colt. She narrowed her eyes trying to idenify them. She didn't know the jockey nor the horse he rode. All she could see was that the yearling still towered over the older mare who had to be at least 16.1hh. She could also see the same glare that Furious was putting on, reflecting in the giant colt's eyes. Hailey gritted her teeth and circled Furious to get his mind off the other colt and back on the track. Furious was not prepared to listen however and trained his eyes on the challenging colt. Hailey knew of and actually seen the colt's pure hate for other colts and stallions but she had never seen him act like this.

The large bay colt was nearing and Furious was getting more restless, snorting and pacing at the chestnut gelding's side. Hailey shot a quick glance at her colt's eyes and with one last jerk of the lead shank she yelled at him, "Don't you dare!" With one quick and fluent motion, Furious bolted away from the gelding and Hailey lost her grasp on his rope. She cursed beneath her breath and then set her gelding off at a full out gallop after him. Furious was barreling towards the other colt, heading down the stretch. As he passed the larger yearling he kicked out and let out another challenge. A challenge of speed and strength. Hailey whipped past charging after Furious, who's lead rope was whipping behind him freely. Damn it, Hailey thought to herself.</sup>

[Cavallo]

<sub>OH NO! Jeff immediately tried to tighten even more his grip on the large yearling colt as soon as he saw the other yearling rip free of his handler. But the lead line was suddenly sliding through his hands. He yelled in pain from the rope burn still attempting to get a grip on Anodyne, but failing.

A murderous look gleamed in the his eyes as he silently charged after the rival. Dirt flew, nares flared and pistons churned as Anodyne zeroed in on what he deemed as a fleeing coward. Nonetheless...he had no issues running down his prey.

The dirt flew towards his face from his opponents hooves...but he simply pinned his ears back and began to accelerate at an astonishing speed, closing the gap... he pulled alongside the colt, lunging to place a nip on his neck or shoulder, his footing grounded and secure as they both ran at a neck breaking speed...

He pulled his head back and continued to run alongside the colt waiting for him to get his jab in....

Jeff swore as the lady who owned the other colt flew by on her horse and he knew he would have to follow suite...Nick had said something about Anodyne's sire being a killer...he said a prayer that his son wasn't that badly natured...what would you say to your new boss.. Oh yes...your yearling colt needs to be put down now for killing another colt... Something told him that wouldn't go over to well..

Jeff kicked Admrable into action...she was irritated with the colt's antics and wanted nothing more than to catch up with these two prospect racers and show them how real racehorses acted on the tracks...

Dirt flew in a spray as Addie began to close in the dueling colts. Jeff looked over to the lady, a look of apology on his face...they weren't too far behind now the finish wire soon approaching. Jeff had seen Anodyne in the stall and on their brief ride over...He knew the colt wasn't a killer, but he also knew he simply couldn't stand over-dominant stallions and colts....The little display this rival yearling had made had really set Dye off... He watched in horror as he saw Dye attempt to rip one into the colt and pull back to running...

He simply couldn't believe how fast these two were going for yearlings...
He clucked again to Admirable, her eyes locked on the colts as she all to willingly kicked into another gear and began closing the remaining distance...a length now only separating them from the out of control yearlings...</sub>

[Deleted]

<sup>Furious pinned his ears at the fast accelerating colt. He snorted and dug in, accelerating to meet the other yearling's speed. He glared at the brute returning his murderous gaze. The colt then tried to lunge at Furious. He let out a screech and returned the blow, plowing his body into the other colt's. He then, somehow, even at this already neckbreaking speed, dug in and sped away from the challenger.

Hailey took the gelding to the outside, and asked him for his all, trying to cut off the two colts. The gelding couldn't get up beside the two yearlings though. Hailey's eyes widened at their speed. And they weren't even mature yet! Furious could sense every horse trying to catch up with him but the only one capable of challenging was the other yearling. He tried to pull away even more, but his speed was already past neckbreaking. Hailey could only think of catching one of them to slow down the other. She glanced over at the other guy, "Grab your horse and I'll grab mine." She dropped back to the rail, ready to pounce on the opprotunity to grab Furious.

She knew the colt hated other colts but she had never seen him have that look in his eyes.</sup>

[Cavallo]

<sub>Anodyne was a huge monster. The bay attempted to crash into him and he took the blow without a flinch...and then he ran away again...this colt truly was a coward in his eyes...to flee a real challenge.

He turned on the speed even more and placed a sharp nip on the colt's haunches...toying with the colt knowing he'd react in rage...but he didn't wait or pause.

He began to extend himself a little bit more and was once again alongside the colt with a murderous glare and a teasing glint...as if to say.. No matter where you run...I will catch you...

He let loose a feral bugal the first noise he'd ever made on the track as he began to toy with the colt yet again inching his lead...waiting for the colt to rally and play into his hands.

Jeff was off with Admirable. Addie was a retired G2 racehorse...and she had tons of speed to spare over these younger and still maturing colts. With ease she extended and swept past the two colts...Jeff didn't stop her.

They got a good three furlong lead on the ravenous colts. Jeff slowed Addie down and spun her on a dime to face the oncoming onslaught. Jeff glared at Dye and readied himself. They need ed a distraction...

Jeff kicked Addie and she reared violently in the colt's path as she let loose her own feral command.

The boys may hate each other...but they could never hate a mare.

Anodyne saw Addie ahead and swiftly, cut directly in front of his rival hoping to cause his opponent to eat dirt... before sliding to a halt and spinning, producing a rear of his own. He was a sheer picture of dominance and beauty in motion. His eyes locked on Addie and he briefly considered bolting, but could not and would not without seeing his foe's fate.

Jeff's heart nearly stopped as he watched Dye directly cut off the bay yearling...at this speed if he fell... He was able to breathe again when he saw the rival colt slide to a halt and lock onto Dye again who was rearing mid-air.

This was their chance. They were distracted and now was the time to grab them before they took off again.

Jeff spurred Addie on and they swooped by the now halted yearling rival towards Dye. Jeff leaped off of Addie and tucked and rolled landing next to Dye...who was landing from his rear. Iron daggers landed with a thud near where he had landed...he didn't have time to register the near injury and simply lunged for Dye's lead line.

Raw hands wrapped around the lead as he whistled to the black bay mare...Addie approached the colt ears flat as Jef mounted quickly before Dye could charge the colt again.

He quickly found his seat on the mare and used Addie as a shield between the two colts.

Anodyne suddenly screamed bloody murder at his cat-and-mouse game being interupted. His eyes flashed fire as he tried to pass the older mare, but she was having none of it and bit him hard.

Dye glared briefly at Addie, but suddenly ceased his crying and stood still as stone, hide glistening and shimmering in the sun.

Jeff turned then to see where the other handler was and if she'd managed to take advantage of his diversion...</sub>

[Deleted]

<sup>Furious was not fleeing nor was he a coward. Toying with the other yearling was what he was doing. He knew that he looked like a coward in such an arrogant over sized beast's eyes. He felt a sharp nip on his croup. His harks laid flat against his skull, but he would not become furious no matter how much the beastly creature toyed or angered him. Even with his bloodlines, he knew how to keep himself maintained which was more than he could say than some of his family members.

Furious paced himself, attempting to control himself and of course play a bit of mind trick on the other colt. He spotted the beast trying to extend himself to faster lengths and as Furious paced himself, the colt pulled alongside him. The beast shot him a murderous glare and a teasing glint. Furious returned the teasing glint, and if a horse could smirk, he would have.

The beast let out a beastly call or more like a growl. He started to gain a lead on Furious, extending even more. Furious still spotted the toying glint in the beast's eyes. Furious would not allow this ugly stud toy with him. He became alert, ready for anything. He spotted the man on the almost black mare charge past on the outside. His eyes trained on them and every couple seconds, he glanced at the beast. It was time he actually became strategic and prove his intelligence. There was a lot more in him than just a bit of speed and stamina.

Furious spotted the mare turn and rear about three furlongs in the distance. He and the beast were barreling faster and faster towards them and Furious was on the edge, prepared to swerve or avoid anything that needed avoiding. He was not prepared to barrel through a mare with an attitude. Suddenly, the beast swerved in front of Furious, nearly running him into the rail. Furious halted with the precision of a reining horse; he had been prepared for this. The beast spun and reared, believing that he was the essence of pure dominance and beauty. Furious snorted as if mocking him. In his eyes, this horse was just practically just an elephant in disguise. That's how overly sized and grotesque this thing was.

Furious glared his own teasing stare. He began to rear and show off what a real young stallion was until he felt a tug on his halter. Hailey was sitting on the heavily breathing gelding with his lead rope gripped in her hand. His glared at her before kicking out and trying to pull back from her. Hailey held on tight however. Furious looked over at the beast who was now captured by his own handler. He pinned his ears back and bared his teeth at the yearling, snorting. Hailey looked over at the other yearling's handler, "Sorry about that. I take the total blame for that. I don't think we've met... Do you work for someone?"</sup>

[Cavallo]

<sub>What a great first impression he must be making right now....wild colt...near injuries...out of control yearling...

Jeff swallowed partially in pain at the pulling the lead line was doing to his raw hands and partially in fear....would word get back to Nick? This was his first day for Pete's sake....his grip didn't waver though as he kept Anodyne in check. Addie eyed both colt's her body stood tense ready to spring into immediate action, under Jeff at the slightest moment.

He was glad Nick had recommended this mare. Keeping one eye on Dye, he finally replied and swallowed, summoning his courage to speak... he felt the writing on the wall...the shortest jockey job EVER!

I am so sorry too. I think there's mutual blame here. Is your colt okay?...

He hoped so...because if there were vet bills, Jeff knew Nick would take it out of his paycheck...

I'm Jeff Sanders. I literally just arrived today to work as a jockey for Nick Landing over at Intrepid Racing...

There is was out.....no blame shifting now.

ooc: sorry so short</sub>

[Deleted]

<sup>Hailey looked over Furious and nodded, "Don't worry, he's fine." She didn't want to discourage the newcomer. He seemed very nervous about the accident. Hailey, truelly felt it was her fault. I'm Jeff Sanders. I literally just arrived today to work as a jockey for Nick Landing over at Intrepid Racing... Hailey shook her head slighty, with small thought. What did Nick think he was doing having his new employees handling the yearlings on the first day? Hailey had met Nick at the Social before the Breeder's Cup. They had chatted about the press and Terror Smile but not much more... Just enough to say that they were pretty much aquaintances. "Oh, well I'm Hailey, owner of Triple Krown Racing. I know Nick. I'll make sure, he knows that it was my fault the whole incident happened." She smiled slightly hoping to take a bit of stress off of Jeff.

notes; so short</sup>