We streak across snow-thick skies.

Lulah is ahead, but only just.

We are gaining.

We will beat her.

Elidi knows the route,

Barely needs my direction.

But I guide her onwards anyway,

Our movements in sync.

My hands on her feathered neck urger her forwards.

Faster.

Wild winds whip through the air

Beneath my mask, they cannot touch my skin,

But they surge against my hood,

Desperate to pull it down.

To expose my secret to the skies.

We are approaching the finish line already.

If it dropped here, everyone would see dark

hair against white clouds.

My chest tightens.

I could win this race but lose my right to fly.

I release my breath in a hiss.

I have to hide, here where I feel most myself.

We pull closer,

until barely a wing-span separates us.

If Elidi and I can maintain our speed,

we will win.

Lulah directs her mount towards the ground.

We dip into our own descent, but another gust

tugs at my hood, pulling it back.

My hands fly up on instinct,

my need to protect my identity too strong to ignore.

As my hands leave Elidi's flank she pulls up,

thinking I am signalling for her to stop.

We slow, just a fraction,

while I tug my hood forwards against the wind.

Then my right hand is back on Elidi's neck,

My song clear and true.

Too late.

We are moments behind, but it doesn't matter.

Lulah's mount has touched the ground.

She has won.

{I'm sorry for the really long break on this! I'm going to try to update as often as I can. Please vote/comment to let me know if you're still reading and what you think of this chapter.}