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Canis Major (Part One)
Original article written by Andy Gol posted 11 years 2 weeks agoThis is not Daybreak. Daybreak is a quality article written by the Steward which includes every participant in one way or another. This is a silly story in which I TRY to include many, but don't nearly get to everyone. It's also a work of pure fiction.
This year's version is slightly darker than previous years, though I don't think it's any worse than a Pixar/Disney movie in terms of adult content. That said, if you are not enjoying it, it may not be for you!
This story will be broken into three or four parts and then I will have 4 SC preview articles as well unless I go mad before then.
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CANIS MAJOR
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Dave M. steps away from the party to call his wife and check on the kids. The cool, crisp Kentucky air is being illuminated by a handful of track lights that the Louisville Downs higher ups have left on for the revelers.
"Hey honey. Yeah, it's still going strong. I don't think anyone has even left yet, not that it matters, though. I bet they can hear the music back at the hotel! Actually, Steph L. did get escorted back for...well, it's not important. You know how SHE is."
A large tent has been set up on the infield grass to act as a makeshift party area. The 34th running of the Steward's Cup looms a mere 12 hours away, but it isn't evident as the liquor flows and the music blares.
"God, I wish I brought her...had I just known how well she'd finish the year..." Dave continues. "But it's good for me to come over and get a taste of the festivities. Next year..."
Dave stops his thought process as he notices a large shadow pass quickly across the shed next to him. He spins around suddenly, but nothing is there.
"No...No...I'm still here...it's just....no, it's nothing. I thought I saw something but it must have been my imagination. Or maybe I need to slow down with the whiskey!" he says.
At this point, Dave darts his eyes all around. As he shuffles about, his feet kick up some dirt. While the area he was standing in is lit, darkness plunges a mere 10 feet away behind a grandstand area. Dave sees a red light coming from the blackness and he casually strolls towards it.
"Huh...there's something weird going on....I dunno. There's some red..."
As Dave gets closer to the object, he stops talking into the phone, though he continues to hold it next to his mouth.
"That's not a light..." he says to himself.
The red gleam isn't a light at all. It's an eye and it glows like the dying embers of a campfire.
".....Vold....Voldy?" said Dave as his voice trembles. "Are you....how did...."
The shrouded figure snorts and releases a cloud of condensed water vapor all around, though the effect looks more like smoke. Dave drops the phone and sprints away. The phone hits the dirt, a large hoof pounds mere inches away, and three sounds simultaneously occur. One is a scream that comes from a female voice out of the discarded phone's speaker and continues for a minute. The second is a guttural, beastly snarl. The final sound comes from Dave but it is cut short quickly.
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***Earlier That Day***
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Mary Weather arrives at Louisville Downs before anyone other than the Steward. She isn’t tired and actually appears quite energetic considering the sun is still two hours from making its appearance. She is dressed in her usual track outfit, turtleneck, blazer, and cap. She also has a whistle around her neck. The renowned trainer smirks blankly as she and the Steward exchange glances. Mary Weather walks briskly to the eastern-most stables, which are padlocked. She reaches into her right pocket and pulls out a medium length, slender, brass-colored key. She fumbles with the lock for a few seconds before successfully tripping the shackle. Mary Weather tosses the lock on the ground and begins to open the large wooden door. She stops and rethinks. She stoops down, grabs the lock, brushes the dirt off and slides it into her pocket along with the key.
Once inside, she closes the door behind her. Most of the horses are asleep, but wake with a jolt. Just as it seems a commotion is breaking out, the trainer blows into her whistle, though the sound it produces is much lower than a standard whistle. The horses immediately calm down. Some even cower back in their stalls.
“That’s good then,” Mary Weather says to herself.
She sits down at a desk in the middle of the room. She pulls out a tablet computer and taps away at it with her fingers. An hour goes by without much noise at all other than the shuffling of hooves on hay and the occasional whinny. The slender woman in the middle of the room stands up and makes her rounds, stopping at each stall for a few moments.
In the middle of her work, Mary Weather hears the door creak open behind her. She swings around with her arms behind her back.
“Who’s there?!” Mary Weather yells.
“Erin?” says Erin S. “I want to see how Fancy was doing...”
Mary Weather looks angry but quickly transforms her face into that of a kind, delicate woman.
“Of course, dear. I wasn’t expecting anyone for another hour or so. She’s doing well today. No trouble overnight at all.” says Mary Weather.
“I just couldn’t wait. Did she get enough sleep? Has she eaten? Did she do her business?” Erin asks.
“She’s fine. She’s doing fine. Now give me a few minutes to finish up and you can lavish her with all the attention she can handle.” Mary Weather retorts with just a hint of condescension.
Erin thinks to object, but opts not to. She slips back outside and leans against the structure. Alysse P. and Matty D. walk over and peer inside.
“She’s almost done. She doesn’t want to be bothered yet.” Erin says.
“What?” asked Alysse.
“I dunno. I went in and she was acting all weird” says Erin. “She wanted to be left alone until she was finished with her rounds.”
“That’s a lot of bull-”
“Alysse!” Matt says, cutting his fellow competitor off. “The staff has been forced to take on extra duties with all the cutbacks going on. She’s probably nervous about doing all the checks and wants some space.”
The two women aren’t convinced, but they settle in for another few minutes of waiting.
“I heard she and Hacklu are having an affair.” says Alysse.
“What about Anita?!” Erin asks as Mary Weather emerges from the stables.
“Anita....who?” Mary Weather says, seething.
“Anita....uhhhh” Erin stammers.
“Anita...see my horse!” says Matt with a grin as Mary Weather scoffs and storms off.
“Great save, Matty.” Alysse says sarcastically. “Maybe she won’t murder your horse now.”
The three enter the building, which contains all of the dirt routers running the next day. Erin finds FANCY HER KISS content as ever. Matty checks on SAN DIEGO PADRE and Alysse starts baby-talking to HARRY POTTER.
“Who’s the best wittle wizard horse?! YOU ARE! YOU ARE!” says Alysse.
Ten minutes and a lot of ‘YOU ARE’s’ later, the three decide grab a bite to eat. As they leave, Erin notices an empty stall.
“Hey, where’s Voldemort?”
“Who cares?” asks Alysse. “He’s evil anyway.”
“Maybe Susie took him out before anyone got here.” says Matty.
“Yeah, I guess that’s possible...” says Erin.