clash and conflict (Sunfrost)

[Snowflake]

MARISSA STAR AND SUNSET CRUSADE

Sarah snorted with laughter at something Stella had muttered to her in Silverianna's stall. Marissa glanced over at them and they were both looking at her. What? She asked, hating to be left out of anything. Sarah and Stella looked at each other, grinning. Henna Turath has been trashing you again in the jockey room. Sarah responded, looking highly amused. Marissa rolled her eyes, a grin spreading across her face. What did she say this time? Marissa asked, presuming it was the usual. She and Sunset Crusade had beaten Henna and Flashy Wings in last weekend's Starry Night Stakes. Henna had left the track straight faced, but no doubt had a tantrum out of the public eye.

Oh, you know, just that you're an arrogant, attention seeking, evil witch. Stella said, bursting into another fit of laughter. Silverianna snorted loudly, bobbing her head, as though she was also giggling. Sunset Crusade mouthed Marissa's hair, leaving some slobber. Yuck! Thanks Cruzie boy. Marissa exclaimed, wiping it off onto his neck. She's just sour because she can't beat us, even on a horse half bred by us. Marissa said, grinning again. Okay, so, Flashy Wings had beaten them a few times. But not when it really counted. Like in the Kentucky Derby, or the Breeder's Cup Classic. Marissa grinned even more widely at the thought.

She's going to be out on the track with Flashy Wings in about fifteen minutes. Sarah said, overly casually. Marissa looked up at her in surprise. She was now standing outside of Cruze's stall, feigning innocence. How do you know that? Marissa asked suspiciously, glancing at Stella, whose face mirrored her own. I went to see Amber this morning and their schedule was tacked up on the wall. Sarah replied, grinning again. Eyebrows raised, Marissa considered 'accidentally' running into Flashy Wings and Henna on the track. Should race them. Stella said, also grinning again.

Marissa didn't respond, turning to look at Sunset Crusade's big beautiful face. What do you think, Cruzie boy? Do you want to show Flashy Wings again how you beat him? She asked him, stroking his nose. He sighed loudly and bobbed his head, his eyes twinkling. That was a yes.. Marissa said, grinning. Okay, let's get tacked up and get out there.

***

Ten minutes later, Marissa and Sunset Crusade were beginning their warm up on the dirt, waiting inconspicuously for Henna and Flashy Wings to appear. Silverianna warmed up with them, but she and Stella would leave once the enemy turned up. Sarah watched from the rail. Any minute now.

ooc: Hope what Henna said was okay with you xD

[S u N f r O s t ~]

Stop thinking about it...stop thinking about it....ugh!

Such was the tone of Henna's thoughts as she paraded Flash onto the dirt track. They were accompanied by Amber Black, who looked charmingly inquisitive, glancing around and grinning as though there was something going on that Henna didn't know about. But Henna was too busy fuming to care a whole lot. Flash's win streak had come to an end in the Starry Night Stakes last week. They had lost to that darn Sunset Crusade. Henna didn't think she could dislike the colt more, and naturally her dislike of the colt transitioned over to dislike of the rider. She disliked Cruze so much that she almost rejected Amber's offer to ride Battle Wings, also by Akuma Battlecry, just because she looked so much like him. Then again, Battle was Dara's filly, and she rode all of her distant siblings. So she would ride her.

Her thoughts changed as a wide smirk suddenly grew on Amber's face. All right, you know what you're doing. Feel free to run Flash hard, he can take it today. Try to not kill anybody? And then Amber trotted off, heading for a specific spot on the rail. Henna looked over and could have sworn she saw Amber making a beeline for Sarah Star. And if Sarah Star was here...Henna scanned the track and nearly turned around when she saw Sunset Crusade and the ever glorious Marissa Star up top. But she didn't. That'd be showing weakness. Instead, she affixed a completely neutral expression to her face, turned Flash the correct way on the track so that his butt was facing Cruze's face and went trotting off prettily as she could. This must be how Amber feels when she sees Nick Landing after an IRS victory!

Amber had reached Sarah and was smirking. I could've sworn you were looking a bit too innocently at something this morning. This must be your fault? She settled her elbows on the rail, still watching Henna, smirking as she did so.