It seemed that there was a trend developing in her life to always be somewhere at the right moment when things got interesting. Still in awe of the mysterious floating island Leeka couldn't help herself but visit again, if just to find out what new festivities were unraveling. And what a fair it was. The young appaloosa mare had joined the fringe of spectators watching the aerial race as best she could from the ground, not particularly cheering for anyone, but enjoying the spectacle nonetheless. It was still rather difficult to grasp the concept of a winged horse and Helovia seemed to have many of them; why even the Edge was lead by one of there number. This had been as close as she had ever been to one of their kind, however, and as they flew above Leeka couldn't help but be a little envious. What was it like to fly? It must be a kind liberation that couldn't be contained in a sentence, or so the mare mused, but what baffled her more was how, despite the cumbersome appliance of the extra appendages, they managed to be so graceful. I bet two-legged things wonder the same thing she thought, laughing inwardly at herself. Leeka tried to imagine what the muscles would feel like on her back and tested flexing a mental wing in her head, envisioning its great length and weight hanging off her side with mottled feathers stained after her own fashion, but the sensation was all wrong, clumsy even. Making a faint frown Leeka sighed, resigned to her ground-bound state, which was just fine in her books.

A sound caught her attention, notably the words equine blood, drawing her minty glazed sight to land upon the form of a...turtle? Leeka stared for a few moments, tilting her head ever so slightly and slowly while her jaw hanged limp in astonishment. Of all the things she'd seen so far, this was definably the weirdest. Stranger still was that it was addressing all those in attendance to start what looked to be another race, this time for the ground-bound types. Helovia, what a strange world you are indeed.

Gathering her feet Leeka made way toward the line of yellow dandelions, noting the presence of a few of her Worlds Edge kin, particularly Kahlua and Dragomir. This'll be fun. In her chest her heart began to beat faster, anticipating with baited breath the start of the race. She didn't so much know about the glory of all equine's but she wasn't about to go light on the competition, not even in the Queen's presence. The spark of competition was beginning to make her hotheaded and eager to prove her stuff. At the very least she could not end up in last place - that would be too embarrassing. Perhaps her goal should be to place in front of one of the strangers here; there was quite a number to pick from. Yes, a rival would diffidently up the stakes a bit but the turtle didn't give her much time to overlook the assembled group and make her mark before its voice rang out, beginning the race in a thunder of hooves. Her choice would have to be made on the fly.

Startled as much as surprised, Leeka leapt into a gallop, pushing so hard off her hindquarters she literally propelled herself into the air for a few feet before touching ground. Quickly, appaloosa mare established her stride, aiming to take a spot somewhere off the outside of the main pack to keep some space to herself. It wouldn't do her any good to be blocked in and the logic seemed to work in her favor as suddenly roots sprung from the ground, lacing the land with wooden tripwires. Unsteadily, she manages to leap and weave through the maze, not quite stumbling but losing some speed and gained ground in the process after a few clippings. Thinking herself clear Leeka tries to increase her speed and make ground, only to find her way cut off by mammoth trees. Trees of all things! The mare could only just skid around the bole of one wooden trunk and was so close she had just a fleeting moment to notice its texture before having to shy to the left to avoid the other.

Just where had that come from?! Was that part of the race? If so, why weren't they warned beforehand? Could it have been magic? Infuriated, Leeka glares at those around her, looking for a possible culprit. The cast is so alien to her it was impossible to tell who was to blame but whoever they were she was wholly set on not allowing them to win. If only she had her magic, the one seeped into her bloodline, the scales would be even, there may even had been retaliation, but her magic slumbered yet and so was useless. Still, despite all the mayhem there was one thing she managed to notice and that was the grey grulla stallion. Only he had seemed to have had no trouble with the roots, in fact, they had seemed to have sprung behind him in his wake. That was enough for her.

With determination Leeka's cool green eyes locked onto the distant form of the grulla stallion ahead as she crossed through the first ring.

She had found her rival.