A flash of bright bay flickered across the Azumi Plains, black tassles whipping behind the flickering form. Sunlight danced across Rave's pelt as strong lean muscles rippled smoothly under her coat. Streaming behind her, Rave's ebony banner caught the brisk autumn breeze combing through the plains. Powerful pillars carried Rave's slender Arabian body, daggers digging into the cool earth and kicking up a fine trail of dust behind her as she galloped with ease.

Above her, bright azure sky hung untainted by clouds and a bright sun gracing the beautiful day. All around, Rave could see the tall grasses turning yellow and gold as the season came and went, whipping at her stockinged legs as they flashed through the sparse plains undergrowth. The horizon stretched on forever in every direction, only touched by the distant trees that marked the end of the plains. Other then that, Rave could swear the horizon went on forever. For her, that was a promising thing. It meant there were still places to run, things to explore and equines to meet.

Another sound broke the quiet of the plains however. Black-tipped auds flicked and firey brown eyes glanced around. Another equine seemed to be asking for a race, galloping up from behind or to the side somewhere. Rave cantered over a hill and looked around again in hopes of finding the one seeking a good race. If they wanted to race, she would race though Rave wouldn't be gentle just because the equine was smaller or heavier or anything. She would race like the wind no matter who it was foolishly asking to race her.

The whiny accompanying the hoof-falls of another made Rave smirk. So she'd been right. The newcomer was looking for a little race. Well that would be fun. Tossing her head to get her black forelock out of her eyes, Rave caught sight of the other, a mustang from his build. He was snowy white and when looking at him in the sunlight, Rave couldn't gaze too long lest she go blind. Shaking her head, Rave tossed her crown again and let out her own answering whiny. She would accept his challenge. There was a small creek coming up that would serve as their finish line.

Turning her dark brown gaze to the direction of the creek, Rave focused on it and her hoves flew. Black and white leg markings flashed as the tall grasses of the Azumi Plains whipped at her long limbs. Powerful muscles worked smoothly under her beautiful bay pelt. Rave's inky mess of mane and tail flew out behind her, catching the cool autumn winds that rushed over the plains, racing each other just as the horses did.

Rave was a good sport of course and didn't want to leave the stag in the dust but something told her he'd be able to keep up just fine. Unlike some he probably wasn't a slowpoke so she wasn't going to waste time giving him a lead if he had the strength to fight for it. Being a mare, naturally Rave was lighter. Lighter didn't mean better. Lighter meant less muscle mass in her legs and shoulders. What she did have was the advantage of hieght, longer legs and familiarity with the surroundings.

Rave was a little surprised to find that her challenger was an ivory stag. The ivory and the stag part really weren't all that surprising. What was surprising however, was that he was a little on the small side. Rave knew she was a little long-legged, standing 16 hands high. That made the stag about 14, maybe 15 hands high. That was the shocker. From what Rave could catch out of the corner of her eye, the stallion was a rough mountain pony or some kind of mountain horse. What he was doing out in the plains was a mystery to Rave but as long as he liked to run she didn't particularly care.

Extending her fluid stride, Rave galloped on, lost in the thunder of falling hooves. The wind whispered in her ears as they galloped toward the creek. Steadily the stream of liquid running through the Azumi Plains was getting closer. Muscles under Rave's bright bay coat bunched. The mare tossed her head a little and kicked off. She sailed over the creek, landing on the other bank and shooting forward a few feet before circling back to the water. Her hooves kicked up high as she pranced a little to slow her momentum and come to a smooth halt at the water, looking around to see what had become of her racing companion.

Rave's fiery brown eyes caught Cloud's staring. She tossed her head and snorted softly, black whip whisking around her hind legs and brushing her hindquarters. He didn't seem to be a sore looser though and that was good. While he was smaller, his hooves were probably harder and stronger then her own from growing possibly in mountainous regions whereas Rave had always been a plain-dweller and proud of it. Tossing her head again, Rave loped back to the stream with long fluid strides. Under her blood-toned coat the hard muscles rippled over her bones as her shoulders flexed.

Dipping her crown, she drank deep as the ivory stag spoke. Her black-tipped ears swerved forward and she raised her head. "Nice day indeed" Rave agreed, looking around at the vast Azumi Plains. Too bad it wasn't a challenge Rave thought idly. "Let me guess" Rave nickered, looking back at the stag. "You're a lead stallion somewhere looking for mares to rope into your herd?" Herds had never impressed Rave. She just wasn't that social. If that was why the stallion had raced her she would either kick him in the jaw or walk off.