I'm in shock. Literally. I can't believe I'm competing in the Race. I can't believe I'm standing here, on this stage, with a shaky smile frozen on my face. I can't believe it, even though this is what I've trained for my whole life.

     The last name is called, and the crowd erupts into cheers. I look around at the other Racers: some are soaking up the applause, raising their arms to get the crowd yelling louder. Some, like me, are standing terrified, looking shocked and frozen and so scared.

     I catch Jamie's eye from across the stage. Sommers. Not a noble last name, but not one associated with scandal. He looks back out at the audience, and I follow his gaze to a middle-aged woman holding the young girl from earlier. They're looking up at him, both happy and sad, as he gives them a small wave. I feel a pang of sadness go through me, though I don't know whether it's because I wish I had someone in the crowd to cheer for me, or if it's because I feel bad that Jamie does - and has to leave them behind.

*****

     The rules for the Race are simple. The hundred Racers are split into two groups of fifty, and the fastest twenty people become Hunters.

     Group One is comprised of the returning Hunters and some experienced Racers, and Group Two is mostly newbies, plus the rest of the Racers who have been chosen less times than those in the first group. Each group is dropped in the "forest", a specially designed course that mirrors the woods beyond the castle. The course is courtesy of the faery, who enchants the large open spaces and fills them with trees, rivers, and animals.

     You can't be killed in the Race, unlike the Hunt, but injury is still possible thanks to the predators roaming around. Alliances are common, though backstabbing runs just as rampant. And most of all, the newbies are at a severe disadvantage, since it's unlikely for them to ally with people so quickly, and the veterans have their allies already. Plus, veterans know what to expect already.

     But thankfully, I have information on my side. My father was a Hunter up until he got sick, and even after that he continued to train me. Before the Vial was lost, the Race and the Hunt really were just ceremonial sporting events. Now, there's a new sense of urgency. My father was a Hunter for thirty years, including over twenty-five after the vial was lost, and entered the Race two years before he was even a Hunter. His tips ring through my mind - "Make sure to grab an ally", and "Always steer clear of clearings and caves" - and I look up at the stars with a small smile.

     I did it, Dad. I'm in the Race. I can do this, right? I can make you proud?

     And I can practically hear his voice, his laughter booming as he patted me on the arm. You've already made me proud, Katie-bell. Now go out there and show them what you've got.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written December 3 and January 4, 2024

Word count: 517

{i'm baaaaaack!! (with another 500 word chapter but shhh)}