The Water Race [Depthstriders]

Some time would pass as the group of three explored the underwater cave system. Going up to catch a breath in any pocket of air they could find as they needed to. Ornaax would eventually call everyone over.

“Those who wish to participate in our day's underwater race step up! It will be a long one!” 

Paris, Hiroshima and Cairn would join in the lineup of course, the group not minding the challenge overall. Perhaps it would be fun even, this clan sure seemed like they enjoyed their games. This was a game all three could join into as well, no one would be left out.

“Everyone present that wants to participate? Good!” Ornaax would state before continuing on, “Now I want a clean race! No pushing, shoving or cheating! The paths are marked with fluorescent paint, may you choose the fastest one! There will be a reward at the end for those that get the fastest time!”

The three would take note of his rules for the race of course and the mention of the pathways. They would quietly discuss between them who would be taking which route. Paris, Hiroshima and Cairn knew they couldn't all be the winner of the whole thing, and they figured dividing and conquering would be the best to give at least one of them the chance to find the shortest path. That didn't necessarily mean the shortest was easiest of course.

After Ornaax got done with explaining more details about the race and what was to be expected. He would send them off to line up at the starting position, counting down from three, two, one and then GO! Before sending them off on their way. Swimming himself through a shortcut so he could be ready at the finish line to call it.

Threw would swim off the moment they heard “go” being said. Each swimming through a different lettered path. Cairn going through C, Paris through B and finally Hiroshima going through A. Each taking the chance that this strategy would let one of them win, after all they had no way of knowing which path was shorter nor harder to take. 

Hiroshima would have seemingly taken the longest route, bending and twisting quite often. Headians however would've followed him along in this route, threatening to over take him at every opportunity. The runner wouldn't have managed to keep in front of them all. Losing his place as the more experienced swimmers left him in their dust. The male still had some soreness in his limbs from his failure with the Brutes, which hasn't been helping him in this race.

Cairn would've picked a route that ended up being more difficult, having to squeeze through very narrow gaps in the rock. Though she would manage to beat a few of her fellow path competitors. Using her smallish frame to her advantage. Not keeping first place amongst this group. Their skill was just no match to her own, after all she had primarily hunted on land in her life back home.

Paris would have quite a few bends and turns along her path as well, though less seemingly taking her route. She managed to stick ahead of her route competition for most of the path. Though on occasion a competitor or two would over take her until she managed to catch up once more. It could have been her love of playing in the water and swimming in Vitalus lakes that helped her, or it could have been sheer luck. Regardless she seemed to fare better in her path through the caves.

Each path regardless of its length and difficulty was all underwater of course. Thus they each had to contend with some water currents to varying degrees. Hiroshima however getting the worst of them, and Paris and Cairn more easy going ones.

It would seem like ages until each of their pathways would converge once more. Though they wouldn't notice each other until the end. As Paris had come out of her path first, having to swim quite intently and quickly to overcome the headian on her heels. She wouldn't know until after she crossed the line if she had won or not, having to wait until Ornaax would make the call however. Which he wouldn't make until everyone else was through the finish line.

Cairn would be the next of the Laceworks to cross the line, and then near the end of the racers would come Hiroshima. The male would already seem well aware that he ‘lost’ not however saying anything to his sister and daughter at the end. 

Ornaax would seem to make the final tallies before he would ultimately announce Paris as the winner, followed by whatever Headians had come second and third. Granting Paris with some sort of trophy carved out of coral. The other two getting mere participation tokens to take with them. “Congratulations and good effort to our guests during our race!” He would give them each a pat on the back.