Snow
My hands trembled. A haggard breath escaped me in the form of a small cloud. Pure snow. The sky was a blistering white as I lay face up in the snow, staring at the heavy clouds above. Pain throbbed. My left elbow stung dully from the impact of falling off my horse. I sighed heavily and another cloud floated lazily in front of me. "Need a hand, Ash?" A figure eclipsed the white sky and spoke to me in a low voice. "You saw that, huh?" I chuckled, embarrassed at my fumble. "Hey, it happens." The figure offered me a hand. "The Ultimate Jockey, Ashley Westbridge, is still only human, right?" "Oh hush, Silva. I don't care about that title stuff." Silva Prower, one of my closest friends, helped me up as I dusted myself off of the light snow that piled on in my fall. Known as a racecar driver, which parallels my own hobby of horse racing, people have said we're two peas in a pod, birds of a feather. I was inclined to agree since he's one of the few people who have been able to keep up with my competitive spirit. We were both intense racers of our own right which apparently earned us something called an 'Ultimate Title'. However, regardless of our unique traits and the praise it garnered, this whole 'Ultimate Jockey' business had me on edge. Silva leaned on the fence nearby as I whistled for my horse who got some distance away while I was lying on the ground. "I'm glad you finally got an Ultimate title. You work and play hard when it comes to racing so it's well deserved." Silva patted me on the back and I responded with a sigh. "Yeah, but what all does it mean anyway? I didn't get any award or anything... Just a fancy letter in a fancy envelope." I kicked at a patch of snow and pouted. I whistled again and waited for my horse to jauntily trot back to me. "Now I'm self-conscious about just racing for fun..." "Hyperion seems to still be having fun." He pointed at the paint horse that bumped my shoulder from behind upon returning. Hyperion has been my partner in crime for as long as I can remember. My father was a horse rancher so I've been around horses all my life, but not one as intense as Hyperion. I had an instant connection with him when I first got on him- he did all he could to buck me off the instant I climbed on but I clung with all my strength which seemed to earn his respect. He's a fickle one, alright... "Sure. You're not an Ultimate Racecar Driver are you? Since you know what Hyperion is thinking, you must actually be an Ultimate Animal Whisperer." I smiled at Silva sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. Getting back on Hyperion, I scanned the horizon. There was snow as far as the eye could see, with my cottage on the East and the sun setting behind heavy clouds in the West. "Hey..." I breathed out an inquisitive huff that drifted in the cold air. "What are we going to do about the earthquakes?" Silva sighed and looked blankly up towards the sky. "You actually believe it?" "Well, why wouldn't I...? I mean, for heaven's sake, our friends w-were..." I shivered. The autumn air didn't bring the chill upon me, but rather a single thought that pervaded my mind. Lately there were strange earthquakes and tremors that tore through the earth, destroying homes and... peoples' lives. I was scared. News reports have been recording towns surrounding my area- Farmborough, Meare, Burnham-on-Sea, and now Locking...? It was too strange to be a coincidence. Weston-super-Mare was just a ways away from Locking. What if... "Ash!" Silva snapped me from my reverie. He looked at me and huffed. "It's just a coincidence is all. What are the odds of earthquakes travelling?" "I mean, historically the epicentres have been enclosing this area..." "You've got to be kidding me. I'll believe it when I see it." Silva leaned back on the fence and crossed his arms defiantly. "There's got to be something more going on that is being covered up by news channels... and I want to get to the bottom of it." "No! There's no way you're going to an earthquake site! The city officials wouldn't dare let us out of town anyway!" "And isn't that strange to you?! Why won't they let us evacuate instead of trapping us here?" I glared at Silva, but I had no answer. In truth, it was a little strange, certainly, but it was still frightening... "Silva... I just want you to be safe is all. You're very important to me." Staring down at Hyperion, my concern escaped my lips- a wispy trail of air drifting into nothingness. Silva's face was stern. He was justifiably skeptical about the strange situation the disasters had brought, but he still challenged the validity of it regardless. "I just don't want to hand ourselves over to an unknown fate." Silva clenched his fist. "To be in control of our future... we clearly have the ability to do so with our talents. I don't want to lose control just because someone or something is giving us a pat on the back and a free meal card." I let out a weak sigh. "I understand that, but something like natural disasters can spin peoples' lives out of control in the blink of an eye... I don't want to take a chance on losing you out of recklessness. That's why I think we ought to allow ourselves to accept the offer this Preservation Project is giving us." Silva shot me a piercing look before turning around. "I suppose if you want to throw your life into the hands of the unknown, then that's your choice." "Silva! how could you say that?!" "I'm sorry, but this conversation is over." Silva's back remained racing me as he made his decision. He followed the fence back toward town, trudging across the snowy terrain. A low dark cloud rumbled and rolled lazily over the sky. A pain throbbed. I reached into my jacket pocket and drew out the letter I received announcing my Ultimate Talent.
I read the short letter over and over again. It was straightforward in giving me the Ultimate Jockey title but it didn't say much else as to what I was in for... Another sheet was enclosed in the envelope. It was a rather bare letter with a distinct watermark in the bottom corner.
Ultimate. The title of Ultimate is a title given to people who super-excel in a certain field of expertise. The discussion of selecting the few talented people is a highly contested subject among many judges and scouts who turn over the various aspects and nuances of said fields of expertise to properly delegate whoever holds the title. However... Ashley Westbridge ...Based on your outstanding record of races and wins, your talents have been regarded as what is proven time and time again to be of Ultimate levels. Your win percentage tops even the world's best by 10%. At such a young age, your dedication to your sport has received the attention of many, and you have thus been lauded as the Ultimate Jockey. Take some time to reflect on your newfound title, as it is something you have proven to rise above the rest to receive. With your talents, we hope you will join us in changing the world. All the best, Preservation Project Group
At the bottom of the letter I had written in my own name and talent.
Preservation Project Group We are a group that seeks to protect Ultimate students from harm, whether it be natural disasters or life-threatening danger, we endeavour to give the talented and skilled students of the world the shelter and freedom they rightfully deserve. If you have received this along with your Ultimate title letter, you are entitled to join us in changing the world, one student at a time. If you are interested, print and sign your name, as well as your talent. Enclose this letter in the additional auto-addressed envelope to mail it back to our group.
Ashley Westbridge "Ultimate Jockey" However... after this conversation- after hearing how reckless Silva was in charging forward into the future with no plan- I took the opportunity to amend the letter by adding an additional haphazard line and name below mine.Ashley Westbridge "Ultimate Jockey" Silva Prower "Ultimate Racecar Driver" "Silva... I'm sorry for going behind your back like this, but it's really for your own safety." A whispered breath slipped out. But regardless of the promise of safety... Changing the world? What all could a Jockey and Racecar Driver do to change the world, anyway? Hyperion restlessly stomped around. "Alright, alright... let's go home." I pulled the reins and directed him to the stables. "I know you're feeling fussy now, but Echo is coming to visit next month. You like Echo, right?" Hyperion whinnied and his rushed canter eased into a trot as we made our way home.
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