Bitter Skies

Horse: DWR Jaggernaut 432
Rider: Arabella (Ari)
Event: Giant Nordanner Birthday Event
Class: Earth, Ocean and Sky Endurance; Sky

Training Image: [link]
Earth: [link]
Ocean: [link]

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_{Suggested theme music; [link]}

Fear is a motivator stronger than determination, but either can buoy the other.

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Ari held her breath as they blew past the cave-riddled cliff face. Jager had not taken well to the sky and it would be a miracle if they made it through here without at least one scare. She leaned down over the stallion's neck and whispered in his twitching ear.
Moments later bats burst from one of the caves and exploded past Jager's face. Ari nearly screamed, tangling her hands further in the reins, knowing to her bones that this was it, there was no way Jager wouldn't plummet from fear.
She closed her eyes against the rushing wind, but the expected plunge didn't come. They still flew steady, though his flanks heaved under her. Gasping with relief she eased her grip and hurried him on, racing for the distant shore.

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The hardest of the three pieces to complete, and the one I started first. I had it in my head all along that Jager wouldn't take well to the air, and yet somehow the picture still came out soft and happy.
Okay mind, whatever you say |D

_{Refs:
Horse and rider: [link]
Wings: [link]
Background: [link] [link]}