When the name of the first event was announced by the presenter, some voices rose in the locker room. Some seemed happy that it was the race that was chosen, others a little less. But in any case, a large majority knew what awaited them.
And that was not the case of Shuu and Arun, who had landed here without knowing anything about the competition.
"As in previous editions, the Meerkat Race is a speed race between all the teams. First and foremost a speed test - only the first six teams to reach the finish line will be qualified for the next trial." The presenter continued to explain the rules of the competition, which Shuu seemed to listen attentively.
Arun was clearly less serene, especially seeing the stature of some of their opponents. Certainly all of them were in reality small meerkats. But in their current form, they were humanoids much larger and muscular than the veterinarian for some. The young man who was not used to being very athletic was starting to get a bit nervous... After all, when it was a race, meerkats were more than fast animals.
"However, the speed of the participants is not the only thing that will decide their victory... Many obstacles will stand in their way ! And the most difficult of all, will be their competitors." At this announcement, many of the people behind the scenes posted a surprised face. Obviously, it was not a usual rule.
"And yes, this year, all shots are allowed to reach victory, so if you prefer to knock out your competitors rather than run faster than they do, you have the right to do so." Finished the presenter in a dismal tone that did not announce anything good. All the confidence of the vet had now left him, and the fear was hurting his stomach.
How could he compete with such monsters ? He no longer had the advantage of the species... And his partner Shuu was even smaller than him. They had no chance of winning the race.
Arun approached the meerkat and put a hand on his shoulder. He did not want him to end up hurt by his fault... After all, it was because of the vet if they had landed here.
"Shuu, listen, I think it would be better not to participate in-"
"Don't participate ? Are you kidding ? That race sounds great !" The enthusiasm and motivation in the boy's eyes surprised Arun. Was that the unconsciousness of youth ? Was he already so old ?
"Are you sure ? Look at our opponents a bit..." Arun said uncertainly, feeling the dark looks of the other participants. He clearly did not have the same courage as his partner...
"Of course, don't worry. It's not because they're bigger or muscular that we don't have a chance to win." The meerkat smiled at Arun with a mischievous look.
"After all, he said everything was allowed, no ?" Arun did not know what to think of the boy's reaction. Did he have a plan?
The vet sighed. Now that he was there, he could not really go back anyway... The Meerkat Race was going to start from one moment to the next.
The same girl who had led them to the scene moments earlier went backstage. The audience was excited to watch the race and that was heard.
"The Meerkat Race is going to start in a short time. Please go down the hall behind the scenes and position yourself on the starting line !" A door opened at the back of the room in which the 24 competitors were standing, and the first rushed into it without waiting.
Arun wondered what the setting was going to look like. They had been indoors since they had arrived in the world of pets, and to tell the truth, he had never seen the outdoors. Even the first time he had come with Astera, he had found himself in the Bird Temple.
Shuu walked down the narrow corridor before him, and the vet went into in the last ones. Everything was dark, until it came out a few dozen meters further on the course where the race was going to take place, actually outdoors.
The sky was bright blue and a great sun reigned. The temperature had also increased greatly, almost catching up with that of the savannah of the other world. As for the course, it was a sandy track which he did not see the end. If there were to be obstacles, they were far from finished...
Shuu approached Arun and motioned for him to bend over to whisper something to him.
"As soon as the start is given, run straight and don't stop. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the scrum from the beginning, since attacking other competitors is allowed. Run, we will find ourselves further. " Arun nodded following the boy's instructions. He was right, if they could avoid being shot down on the starting line, that would be a good thing.
"Take place !" The presenter's voice echoed through speakers arranged around the start line, a simple band of green cloth laid on the sandy floor. The track was bounded by fences but it was wide enough to accommodate the 24 aligned competitors.
Shuu positioned himself quickly, crouching down and resting his hands on the ground, ready to go at the first signal. Arun who had no knowledge of the race since he had never practiced, simply imitated the position of his partner by observing that of his opponents.
The vet closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. His heart was beating fast, and he was probably panicking a bit. How not to be so while participating in a race in which he could be flattened by any of his opponents ?
Shuu seemed more focused, his eyes on the track that lay before them. The boy's excitement and enthusiasm had given way to imperturbable calm. Arun swallowed trying to put himself in the same state of mind. He knew what to do : run.
"Ready ?" The presenter's voice echoed through the speakers as he prepared to give the start.
And it was finally the sound of a gong that announced the beginning of the race. Shuu did not lose a moment and propelled himself forward with a force that Arun would never have suspected. In a few seconds he was already far ahead.
The vet had more difficulties and had almost fell while trying to propel himself too. Several other meerkats were around him, running too.
The young man tried to look behind to find there the famous scrum awaited by Shuu. Indeed, several participants were already on the ground, defeated by other meerkats whose size did not have anything to envy the professional athletes human.
'Run, run, run ! Don't look behind!' Thought Arun to motivate himself. He was far from being in the lead, but he was doing his best to run faster than he had ever run in his life.
However it was not enough.
He could not compete with the majority of other meerkats and found himself further and further away from others. At least, his partner seemed fast enough to have taken the lead of the race...
Suddenly one of the men running near him suddenly fell to the ground. Without having had time to understand what had happened, Arun felt himself being squeezed and crashed into the sand, undergoing a violent thrust.
"The race is over for you, little guy." A serious voice overhung the vet who tried to get up and saw the one who had made him fall.
A meerkat almost two meters tall stood behind him, a grim smile on his face. Unlike Shuu's, his fur was not uniformly brown, but multiple black spots spread here and there.
He was clearly one of those who chose to shoot the other participants rather than win the race. And Arun who had not been fast enough was caught by this killer.
"Give up the race and I won't need to hurt you." Threatened the meerkat that smelled of the vet's fear.
Arun did not know at all how he would get out of this situation without scratches, this time.