SPC - Mountains and Molehills

Tsillah smiled as she returned to de Luna after her work with Nakshila. Curious about the tan queen she would be riding for the day, and eager to get started. When she arrived she found the cat already out in one of the pens, and set to work getting to know her. To say the two queens were night and day wuld be an understatement; where as the black feline had been proud and demanding Abyss was sweet and compliant. She found herself wondering at the cat's mental state as she stared off into 'space' several times during their introductions, however. Finding the queen would stare at nothing for several minutes as they worked, then seemed to 'wake' again. It was certainly an odd quirk, but the girl pushed it to the back of her mind for the time being. There was no telling what the cat might be getting transfixed with after all. Anything from a particular color to something scurrying about, perhaps even something Abyss could hear rather than actually seeing it could have been to blame, realistically, and aside from the odd quirk the cat was a perfect angel to work with. Helpful and quick to drop into any gait Tsillah asked of her, all in all there was little she could have asked the cat to give her farther than she already offered.
The girl nodded faintly as they circled again, learning the queen's habits and her gaits as the morning crept over them. Soon enough the time had come for them to head toward Elsevier, and she lead the cat toward the Gardens with time to spare. The last few tests had taught her a bit, and she'd signed them up to avoid the midday heat for these. The schedule would also allow Abyss a rest between the two runs, which she figured was all to the good, really. It was another odd set-up and though, and they headed to the Endurance track to start the day's testing.
The sky was clear and the heat was already starting to filter over the island as the pair set out for the first run. Making her immensely glad they wouldn't face the afternoon blaze, but she focused on the present quickly as they reached the first jumps. Abyss easily clearing the short obstacles as they moved, and earning an appreciative pat from her rider in return. Making for the first water crossing without incident. About halfway across though one of her moments cropped up, the cat transfixed by something in the water, and the girl had to give her a good nudge to get her to snap out of her trance. Once she did however Abyss was quick to make up for lost time, and she was fairly certain their little daze could go practically unnoticed so far as their times were concerned. Rubbing the cat's ears as they moved somewhere shady to wait out the heat. All told she was pleased with the time, and hoped that de Luna's owners would be also.

As the afternoon wore on the two watched several other pairs traverse the course, the girl making sure Abyss had plenty to drink and rested up for the coming race. Rousing her as the sun began to sink and heading toward the Junior track to tack up.
The clouds were a fiery display as they moved into the box, hanging low and striping the sky with their layers. One particularly dense band seemed to be a solid wall as it pulled toward them. She wondered if like the others it would break up or if it boded a storm tonight. Pulling her helmet on and mounting up with her usual shake- out to steady herself. No matter how many times she did it the races always got her heart pounding, and she wasn't sure if she liked or loathed the sensation. On one hand the exhilaration was outstanding, on the other was coming down from the adrenaline rush, hands shaking and sweaty and senses all strewn out. Still she supposed it was part of the game either way, and she dared to hope she was getting better as a jockey; though she really had little confidence in the fact. She'd have to ask Garth sometime, the thought made her snort and her muscles relaxed faintly. Then the gate burst open and they were out on the track, dirt flying as claws dug in and tail whipping behind them as Abyss turned and sped up farther still. Clearing the other side of the line almost before she knew it, and Tsillah snorted again. The cat zoned out on occasion, yes, but in reality she supposed she did a bit as well. The shedu were fast, but there was no way they went as fast as it seemed in the moment, and a glance at the clock confirmed the fact. They had another test to complete however, and the girl dismounted once more to strip their tack down again. Murmuring praise to the queen as she worked and swapping from reins to a lead and halter as the sky darkened.

Fireworks again filled the air as the two made their way toward the Korung ring, Tsillah supplying Emma and Tiberiu with her usual grin and nod as they went over the details of the day. She was becoming a common sight at the facility, and found the fact surprisingly easy to get accustomed to. Rubbing Abyss' ears as the vet took her measurements and looked her over for the preliminaries. Tiberiu's attention on another pair still in the ring, the cat seeming to have a purple shine to its coat and the fact made the girl do a double-take. After a moment she focused back on her own mount, still wondering if the coloration had been a trick of the light or not.
As the other pair headed into the clinic the fireworks started once more, and the girl glanced skyward, more than slightly amused to see Abyss seemed all but oblivious to the ruckus, glancing up and giving herself a shake before focusing on Tiberiu with a purr and a nuzzle. "Hey, no buttering up the judges, they might call us for it!" the woman mock- scolded, itching her ears as she urged her to a stacked position so the man could do his work. Offering him a sly grin and a wink as she caught his chuckle at their antics, then sobering and turning her attention back to the task at hand. Glad for Abyss' almost ethereal qualities as they moved into her gaits. The queen all but floating along with a little spring in her step that enhanced every motion until it seemed the cat was practically dancing and she couldn't help but imagine her as a dressage mount. She would be gorgeous in the role, or at least that was her humble opinion. She had no real idea what de Luna would be training her in when push came to shove. She had little doubt the queen would do well in it however, and smiled as the cat flowed into an energetic trot, paws flashing quickly beneath her as they circled the ring again. Her pale coat painted vibrant hues as the fireworks crackled overhead; shifting smothly to rich reds and flickering blues, green and vibrant gold before the next explosion flared white and she was tan again.
Finally Tiberiu seemed satisfied and she reached up to give the cat another rub- down; whispering to her and letting her relax a moment before they needed to head off to the clinic. As they moved off she felt the nerves returning again, wondering if there could be something wrong with the cat medically that Emma might find. She hoped there wasn't, and even if there was it clearly wasn't overly detrimental, but still she found the thoughts turning in her mind. She was a renowned worrier, always turning the worse case scenario over in her mind; on one hand it allowed her to plan for the worst, on the other...
She swallowed thickly as the time seemed to drag on, licking her lips only to roll her eyes as she realized her tongue was dry too. Glancing back at the clock to assure herself the check- up wasn't taking any longer than usual; it was just her nerves getting to her. Heaving a sigh she stood, moving over to the water cooler and making herself a glass as she tried to force her mind to stop tearing itself apart. After everything was said and done she was going to get herself a large glass of tea and figure a way to get her head to be bloody well quiet. Her eyes drifted shut and she heaved another sigh, there was nothing wrong, Emma was taking the same time as usual, and Abyss had done well today.  She just needed to stop thinking so hard about things, especially things that were out of her control. Mountains and molehills, she reminded herself, blinking as the doors opened and the Scotswoman led the cat out with a nod and a smile. She was worrying for nothing.