They didn't think she could do it. She didn't think she could do it. She was a somewhat experienced rider but this competition included more than just riding. "You can do this," Vya told her, the only one who believed in her at the moment. Lovely didn't answer her dragon companion, only tightened her grip in her mane.

This competition was Vya's idea once she'd learned about it after they arrived in this place. It was a race of sorts, between any kind of mount and their rider. That could mean horse, gryphon, dragon, or any other kind of creature. Like an oozing ball of slime. Maybe if it was a bunch of oozing balls of slime they'd have a good chance, Lovely thought.

If it had only been a race Lovely would be more confident of victory- but this particular race included certain obstacles for the pair, as well as obstacles for the mount and rider individually. Lovely was an experienced rider but she was blind. She just wasn't sure she could keep up in a competition such as this one.

But Vya had been so excited to join this race Lovely couldn't refuse, especially since Vya did so much for her. So there she was, leaning close to Vya's neck, her fingers tangled in her long mane. The previous buzzing noise of crowds had dwindled away until it became quiet. She could hear the breathing of other creatures on either side of her, all of them waiting eagerly for the signal to start.

And then there it came, the crack of a pistol, or this dimension's equivalent. The earlier quiet was filled with the stampeding sound of feet pounding the ground in a run. Lovely moved with Vya as she took off. She could smell the dust being kicked up all around them, and the breathing sounds from earlier became heavier and louder.

Vya was running at top speed but her voice was low and calm as she warned Lovely of upcoming obstacles, such as jumps, sharp turns, and ducks. Her dragon friend felt strong and powerful beneath her, and she handled these obstacles skillfully.

But then there came the warning of more difficult challenges ahead. "You're gonna have to jump off and run up a ramp and then jump back on," Vya explained. "The ramp isn't high, and it's straight. We just need to time it right."

Lovely tightened her grip even more in Vya's mane. The dragon must have felt it, as she continued, "You can do this. I'll catch you." Vya really believed she could do it. "Okay," Lovely agreed quietly, steeling herself for the upcoming obstacle.

She felt Vya begin to slow down a bit before calling, "Now, to the left!" Lovely swung off her back and only stumbled a little on connection with the ground. She began running, the ground beneath her gradually inclining. She could hear others beside her, behind her, in front of her, but she ignored them and just continued on forward.

It wasn't long before she could hear Vya's voice again, calling, "I'm here Lovely! I'll catch you!" Lovely zoned in on the sound of her voice and kept going; she had full trust in her friend. Using the sound of others as they ran and jumped she predicted where the edge of the ramp was, and when she got to it she hesitated for only a moment before jumping.

She landed ungracefully on Vya's back, both legs on one side, and she began to tip over. Her hands grasped the air in search of her mane, and then she was steadied and pushed upright again by Vya's strong tail. Lovely could feel her start to slow again. "Keep going, don't slow down! I'm good!" she exclaimed, and Vya sped back up.

With one arm looped around Vya's tail Lovely managed to properly postion herself on her back and grab her mane again, leaning down along her neck. "What's next?" she asked. Maybe they could do this after all.

Vya guided Lovely through several more obstacles, and they managed to finish the race with only a small amount of fumbling and hesitation. "We did it," Lovely said breathlessly once Vya started slowing down after crossing the finish line. "I knew we could," Vya replied cheerfully.

Soon there came a voice over a loudspeaker announcing the winners; Lovely and Vya had won second place. "Second place!" Lovely exclaimed enthusiastically. "We did better than I thought we would!" Then, curious, she asked, "Who beat us? Who won the race."

Vya answered matter of factly, with a hint of admiration, "An oozing ball of slime."

(Related drawing of mine: https://www.deviantart.com/gegetato/art/Together-1198942510 )