[Mkguild] Cheeters Never Win (REVISED) in text

[coal train]

Cheeters Never Win

 

By Coal Train

 

(c) 2008 Coal Train

 

October 707 Cristos
Reckoning

______________________________________________________________________

 

            The day =
was quite nice, and the sweltering heat of summer
had faded. The signs of fall were beginning to make themselves known. It wa=
sn't
cold but neither was it exceptionally warm, and the Cheetah had decided to =
do a
little exercising on this fine day.

 

 

            He knew =
he really shouldn=92t overexert himself. That
morning he had woken with a wheeze in his lungs and with great concern he h=
ad
found the alchemist, Pascal. She had told him that it was just a cold and to
take a potion she=92d had on hand. =93But take it easy when you take this s=
tuff.=94
She had said. =93It has =91side effects=92 with animal morphs under stress.=
=94 Heh, He
felt wonderful, and he doubted a little exercise would hurt.

 

 

            It was w=
ell into morning when the spotted cat came upon
the training grounds. The crisp air filled his lungs. The leaves of the tre=
es,
just then beginning to change color with the season, radiated their colorful
palette in the clear morning sunlight. He looked about to see who was on the
fields that morning.

 

            =


            The fiel=
ds were not crowded yet, most people electing to
instead share this time with family and friends. The Autumnal equinox had b=
een
a few weeks past, so most folks that weren't charged with full time defense=
 of
the keep were out working the crops, harvesting the staples that would sust=
ain
Metamor through the winter. There were however, a few folks about, most of =
whom
stealth did not know well.

 

            =


            One face=
 that caught his attention was that of a rabbit.
It would strike most people as odd that a rabbit would be practicing the ar=
ts
of war, much less be a warrior himself. However, stealth knew that, this be=
ing
Metamor, anything was possible. =


 

 

            The rabb=
it was largely dark brown in color, with spots of
off white beginning to show, evidently he was shedding his summer pelt alre=
ady
and the winter coloration was making itself known. He stood only about four
feet high, not counting his ears, and weighed probably less than a hundred
pounds.  His right ear was adorned with
a colorful assortment of rings, while his left ear was torn, but not so bad=
ly
that it was evident at first glance from a distance. He wore a simple tunic,
the color of which approximated that of his natural fur. While long enough =
to
satisfy the requirements of modesty, it was not so tight as to interfere wi=
th
movement of his lower body. He had no weapons or armor with him so stealth
deduced that he was about to do some running or perhaps calisthenics. Steal=
th
had seen this Rabbit around, but had never had a chance to meet him. The cat
was planning to head that way anyway, so, that infamous feline curiosity ha=
ving
been piqued, he walked in the direction of the Lapin Keeper.

 

            =


            Cathal h=
ad noticed the arrival of the spotted cat, but
chose to largely ignore it. That is until it started walking in his directi=
on.
The feline, obviously male, stood a little over five and a half feet tall, =
on
plantigrade legs, tawny yellow fur broken in places with dark brown spots. =
He
wore loose fitting cotton trousers of a dark shade of green, cut just below=
 the
knees and a simple faded brown sleeveless top. =


 

 

The
rabbit was mildly jealous of the cat. His own physique made wearing trouser=
s of
almost any type problematic during Physical activity. Thus he long ago star=
ted
wearing only his tunic for such activities. It tended to make him a little
self-conscious sometimes, but it was better than going naked, or living with
the discomfort of chafing his fur every other day. It was just another exam=
ple
of the hardships a warrior faces as a rabbit.

 

 

            =93Greet=
ings oh spotted feline.=94 He said, =93How might
assistance you?=94 =


 

 

            =93Hey,=
=94 the cat responded, =93I just noticed you look like
you were going to do a little running, and was wondering if you would like a
running partner.=94

 

 

            The rabb=
it thought it over for a bit, looking the cat up
and down. He had a lithe figure, not an ounce of fat on him. No doubt he was
quite fast, but was he nimble? =93Actually I was planning on doing a few la=
ps
through the obstacle course today before I have to report for patrols. You=
=92re
welcome to join me if you wish.=94 His mouth quirked into a lop-sided smile=
 that
Stealth had trouble not laughing at. For a warrior this Rabbit was adorably
cute.

 

 

 

            =93Sure,=
 why not? I have today off, and I have nothing
better to do.=94 So together they headed to the obstacle course, exchanging
introductions and pleasantries along the way.

 

 

            The obst=
acle course was a fairly simple affair. It
consisted of six events. The start line was also the finish line. First was=
 a
mad dash to the bell, once a contestant hits this bell he turns slightly le=
ft
into a tunnel only about thirty inches wide. Once through the tunnel he then
turns right and goes through a maze of tripwires. Stationed every two feet
apart in a grid pattern and placed about two feet from the ground, these
tripwires are famous for, well tripping people up. After that is yet another
challenge; that being the Rope Bridge. There are five ropes spread between =
two
crossbars. One is supposed to go from one end to the other as quickly as
possible without touching the ground. After finishing that stage, one turns
right again and must negotiate a set of posts placed in the ground every th=
ree
feet. You have to zig and zag through these posts; failure to go through an=
y of
these posts correctly disqualifies the contestant. Then you hit the bell ag=
ain
and make another mad dash to the finish line.

 

 

            The mad =
dashes are fifty feet each and all the obstacles
are twenty-five feet each. There are lanes for up to five contestants, but
rarely are they all used. The total effect is the shape of a diamond with a
string at the bottom. It had been nicknamed the Kite Course. It had been ar=
ound
since well before the three gates battle, so had been made for human physiq=
ue. =


 

 

Cathal
had fond memories of that course. He had tested himself against it a few ti=
mes
during his year enlistment after completing his training with Master Swords=
man
Bentley. It was a year that, in retrospect he wished he had taken the time =
to
enjoy more. But at the time he=92d had other, more pressing matters in mind.
Though it is almost obsolete, the Kite is maintained anyway as wholly two
thirds of the keeps residents are still human, though half of them of a sma=
ller
stature. And often, an animal morph tries his mettle against it as well.

 

 

            A small =
crowd of spectators had gathered to watch the
show as Cathal explained all this to his new spotted companion while taking=
 him
on a walk through. He explained the rules such as they were and how the var=
ious
obstacles are best approached. He also explained than there had been a few
exceptions made for the altered forms of the animal morphs, and Cathal knew
them all and used what exceptions he could to full effect. However, Stealth=
 was
sized just right that they probably wouldn=92t help him out any. =


 

 

=93The
general rules are pretty simple.=94 He said. =93No weapons, no Magic, no fu=
ll morph
and no =91taur forms. Anthro-forms only. Get through the course as fast as =
you
can without killing or disqualifying yourself and first one across the fini=
sh
line wins.=94

 

 

 

            =93I don=
=92t think that looks so hard.=94 The cheetah said. =93I
bet I could probably beat you at this.=94 It was an idle statement, but the=
 cat
had no idea what he was getting himself into. Otherwise he wouldn=92t be bo=
asting
so boldly. He had been training with the scouts, and perhaps thought a litt=
le
much of himself. After all, He is a cheetah, and cheetahs are built for spe=
ed,
but he underestimated the rabbit beside him.

 

 

            =93Ill t=
ake that bet.=94 The rabbit said without the
slightest hesitation, =93say a drink at the Mule?=94

 

 

            He thoug=
ht about it for a few seconds. =93Okay, you=92re on.
Though I=92ll take something non-alcoholic.=94 The cheetah responded with h=
is own
grin, which is far more menacing than the rabbits own.

 

 

            So toget=
her they took up positions at the starting line.
Cathal looked around briefly and reached down to pick something up. =93We s=
tart
as soon as the bell rings.=94 He said.

 

 

            =93Okay,=
 who=92s going to ring it?=94 Stealth was about to say,
but he was cut short when Cathal threw a small stone at the bell. He barely=
 had
time to get ready before the peel of the bell could be heard and they were =
both
off like bolts. =


 

 

            Like a b=
at out of one of the greater hells, Stealth left
the rabbit in his dust. After hitting the bell he bolted into the tunnel wi=
th
barely a pause. Cathal came up a sad twelve seconds behind him, almost seem=
ing
to not try. He then went to all fours; as his default form is close enough =
to
full morph for him to be perfectly comfortable doing this. And bolted throu=
gh
the tunnel without slowing at all.

 

 

            At the o=
ther end of the tunnel Cathal came out and was
mildly surprised to find the cat about a quarter along the Rope Bridge alre=
ady.
He had underestimated the feline. Not bothering with hopping through the
tripwires at all, as they are just too high for him, he simply scurried ben=
eath
the wires, ears flat against his back and almost flew to the other end of t=
he
obstacle. All the while dodging the occasional support post here and there.=
 His
tunic got snagged on a few lines, but In only a few seconds he was through,=
 or
rather under the wires and climbing to the rope.

 

 

            This is =
where Cathal really shone. Stealth was already
nearly two thirds across when Cathal started to climb to his rope. But he
didn=92t stop at the rope, as you might expect. Instead he climbed up onto =
the
crossbar. With practiced ease he lifted his hind paws up and dug his claws =
into
the wood. He then thrust those powerful hind legs out with enough force to =
shake
the whole crossbar. This sent the rabbit flying through the air some thirty
feet. He made a less than perfect landing a little outside of his lane, but=
 was
on his feet again and running like the rabbit he is a full second before the
cat could even get off the rope.

 

            ********=
*****

 

            =93Heh,=
=94 Stealth was thinking to himself, =93Looks like I'm
gonna beat that rabbit, easy.=94 He was already two thirds through the third
obstacle and the rabbit was only then making his way through the tripwires.=
 The
cat was already salivating at the idea of his free drink. It had been a long
time since he=92d been able to afford a nice tall glass of Grape Juice. It =
was a
rarity in the northern kingdoms that was usually reserved for the nobility,=
 and
was just then coming into season. In only another month the season for the
juice would pass, and it would be wine or nothing, the timing could have be=
en
no more perfect for this little bet.

 

 

            Then sud=
denly the rope he was shimmying along shook
violently. With a start, he looked down along the rope to see the rabbit
literally flying towards him. Well not towards him but over him. And over t=
he
crossbar still some few feet before him. The rabbit landed, and with seemin=
gly
unnatural speed was off on the fifth stage.

 

 

            It only =
took a moment for the cat to get over his shock,
and with a snarl of rage he pushed himself to the crossbar and, sinking his
claws into the wood, he pulled himself bodily off of the bridge. Evidently =
he
had underestimated the rabbit as well.

 

            ********=
*****

 

            Cathal w=
as then in his element. Rabbits are built after
all for sharp turns, dodging through obstructions and deceptive movements. =
The
posts between himself and the finish line represented little challenge to h=
im.
So he made excellent time dodging to and fro, even throwing in a few acroba=
tics
here and there. =


 

 

            He spare=
d a look back to the cat that was now following
him. The poor guy was struggling to zig and zag through the posts. He had i=
t in
him to be a very good competitor, but he needed a little work. He seemed so
agitated that he was bouncing himself off more posts than not. Cathal idly
though he should give him a few pointers over that drink.

 

            =


            The bell=
 rang at the impact of his hind paw as he flew
by. He didn=92t even slow down to deliver the blow. Then Cathal put on a li=
ttle
more speed. This last mad dash was going to make or break the cat, and Cath=
al
didn=92t intend to loose if he could help it. =


 

            ********=
******

 

            Stealth =
was taken aback slightly when he came to the
posts in the ground. He negotiated the things, but he scrapped more of them
with his sides than he was comfortable with. That blasted rabbit was doing
back-flips. As if this were nothing to him. Stealth was sure the fuzz-ball =
was
just showing off, and that made him even madder. Being beaten in any race is
bad enough for the cat; but being beaten so soundly that his opponent has t=
ime
for acrobatics? That could not be allowed to happen. =


 

 

            =93You a=
re NOT faster than me blast you.=94 He wanted to
scream. Then, suddenly, his desire to win overtook his better judgment and
sense of fair play. Without fully realizing it he morphed into his faster f=
orm,
that being full cheetah. He ziged, and zaged through the last few posts with
astonishing grace, and bolted after the rabbit. His trousers fell to the gr=
ound
behind him, forgotten. He snarled his rage as the rabbit looked back at him.
=93I'll catch you yet blast you.=94 Was what he had intended to say.

 

 

 

            ********=
****

 

            It was n=
ow an all but sure win for the rabbit, as was
usual. It would indeed be a rare thing that someone could beat him on the K=
ite
the first time out. He had to admit though; the cat was a better challenger
than he had anticipated. He looked back briefly as he approached the finish
line to see how far ahead he still was. Much to his surprise he was not very
far ahead at all. And the full morph feline behind him had that hunters foc=
us
that such felines are famous for.

 

 

            Then the=
 cat let out a predatory cry that instilled the
deepest fear in his heart. =93He=92s gone tharn.=94 The rabbit thought to h=
imself even
as he bolted for all he was worth. =93If he catches me now, I'm cheetah cho=
w.=94

 

 

            Crossing=
 the finish line only a half second before the
cat, he quickly bolted left, then he bolted left again, giving himself prec=
ious
seconds. The cat, then about ten paces behind him, Cathal ran for all he was
worth, which is to say nearly, but not quite as fast as the cat behind him.

 

 

            Over a s=
mall stream Cathal jumped, Stealth hot at his
heels. He bolted left again, and was almost caught by the cats=92 claws. Bu=
t he
gained a precious few seconds and noticed a tree up ahead. Thinking fast he
headed straight for the tree, taking from his legs all the speed they would
give. Still, the cat behind him was inching closer and closer every second.=
 The
timing couldn=92t have been better though as just as the cat was about to s=
wipe
his hind paws out from under him the rabbit jumped up. He flipped through t=
he
air and landed about five feet up the trunk. His hind paws impacting the ba=
rk
of the tree at the equivalent of about a hundred paces a minute. =


 

            =


            Damn but=
 did it hurt. He had to have strained something
at the very least, but he paid the pain no heed at all as he felt the tree
shudder. Whether from his own impact or that of the cat chasing him, he was=
n=92t
about to find out. Kicking out as hard as he could, he hit the ground about
twenty paces away and within a scant few seconds the rabbit was nowhere to =
be
seen.

 

            ********=
****

 

            Stealths=
 focus went from =93catch up to the rabbit.=94 To
=93catch the rabbit.=94 It was a difference of but two words to the rationa=
l mind.
But stealth was under stress, and on Pascals Cold medicine. His mind wasn=
=92t
completely rational at the time. The look of fear in the eyes of his query =
was
all it took to send his barely controlled mind over the edge of oblivion. He
was going to show that rabbit who was the fastest cat in town once and for =
all.

 

 

            Already =
more than a little warm and fuzzy from the
obstacle course the cheetah was only a few feet from his target when the
fuzz-ball suddenly bolted to the left and followed it up with another quick
left. Tearing rents in the lawn beneath his paws, dirt and grass flying in =
all
directions, the cat somehow managed to maintain his pursuit, though he lost=
 a
little ground.

 

 

            Just as =
he was about to catch the bugger again the rabbit
leapt in the air over a stream, the cat just barreled through it, water
splashing everywhere. The cold water shocked him, but it also refreshed him=
 as
well, cooling his overheated body. The rabbit faltered briefly when he land=
ed
and that was almost enough for stealth to catch him, but all he got was a t=
uft
of fur for his troubles. And once again they were off.

 

 

            Finally =
the little fuzz-ball seemed to be getting tired,
no longer was he bolting and doing fancy acrobatics. He was going instead i=
n a
relatively dead straight run. And was losing ground to the cat fast. Just w=
hen
victory was almost within his claws though, that blasted rabbit pulled yet
another stunt. This time he jumped up and began to rebound off a tree. But =
that
was all Stealth knew as he ran headlong into that same tree, and blackness =
took
him.

 

            ********=
*****

 

             Th=
e next thing
Stealth knew was having a bucket of water splashed on him. He came to with a
start only to be told to stay still and don=92t shift.

 

 

            =93You h=
ear me kid?=94 The voice was familiar, but through
the pounding in his head, he couldn=92t quite make it out. So he opened his=
 eyes
instead. And that hurt almost as much.

 

 

            =91Oh, g=
reat gods, my head hurts.=92 he thought to himself.
It was George, the patrol master. He had a look of both concern and irritat=
ion
upon his face. =91What happened? Did I get run over by a dragon or somethin=
g=92

 

 

            =93Don=
=92t move, just let us take care of you. You might have
really hurt yourself with that little stunt. You=92re lucky to still be ali=
ve.=94
It was the time of year when some of the keepers started having problems wi=
th
colds and flues. George would=92ve bet garrets to round-cakes that the cat =
had
taken some of Pascals cold and allergy potion. His behavior was consistent =
with
the famous side effects. If the stuff weren=92t so blasted effective, the D=
uke
would have banned it last winter when she first developed it. His suspicions
were confirmed with a quick whiff of the cats breath. The Jackal just shook=
 his
head.

 

 

            More qui=
ckly than the cat was aware what was happening he
was laid out on a stretcher and on his way to the infirmary. =93You two tak=
e care
of him, and tell Coe what happened, and that it=92s another cold potion inc=
ident.
I'll look for Cathal=94 the Jackal instructed the two aids that are carryin=
g him.
At the mention of the Rabbits name Stealth recalled what had happened, and =
was
afraid, because he could not remember the ending. =


 

 

            George w=
as not unaware of his sudden alarm. =93Don=92t worry
too much lad, he was long gone before we got to you.=94 Then he removed fro=
m one
of his many pockets a tuft of brown fur that had been found by the stream. =
=93But
I am sure he wasn=92t too happy with how close to him you got.=94 =


 

 

            He got t=
hat stern look to his eyes, the one that could
wilt a rose at peak bloom. =93I've been watching you two since you showed u=
p at
the Kite. Let me give you a garret=92s worth of free advise son, cheaters n=
ever
win against the likes of Cathal. He=91s a contender with a big Ego. And he=
=91s one
hell of a warrior. I wouldn=91t go trying to kill him if I were you. Also, =
any
potion of Pascal=92s must be used with great care. When she says =91take it=
 easy on
this stuff=92 she means it. I don=92t care how good you feel.=94 With that =
George
left to hunt down Cathal and find out how the rabbit fared.

 

 

            =


 




      =

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