#xasher

The race had been short, but Jude still felt damp with sweat by the time he’d dismounted Xanthos. Satyr’s who cared for the stable were right there to collect the stallion. They removed his bit and saddle, and there was a rewarding treat waiting for the pegasi for putting up with such simple training. Jude’s leather gloved hand ran through his curls as he panted and wrung both arms over the wooden fencing. When he noticed Asher was dismounted as well, he shook his head, feeling embarrassed suddenly. “Y... you did great. After that turn we were toast.” He chuckled, but it still seemed half hearted.

"I heard you kicked a lot of ass back there. ‘just disappointed we never had the chance to fight together again.” The win made for a clear boost in morale around camp, and it didn’t hurt to share this sense of victory again with Asher. Not that Snow was suggesting anything... “Are you doing okay, Ash?”

The trial location looked entirely different once they walked back outside. No more thorny vines, just pure paradise. Corey was ready to head back too the hotel though. Bask in their accomplishment for one more night. He hadn’t left Asher’s side since losing Jasper for a spell. Stopping his friend with a small tug, Corey extended one of the sunflower’s he managed to cut down. “Here, I’d like you to have this.” He smiled. These sunflower’s were the healthiest and most beautiful he’d ever seen, but his eyes remained on Ash all along. After a moment, Apollo’s son lent forward to kiss Asher gently. His heart finally feeling better, with all this behind them and the sun still shining. “Thank you... for helping me back there. I learned a lot from it...”

The victory was sweet. Relief washed down Snow’s back the moment he returned to his demigod form to find the whole team elated and also astonished by his little trick. There was so much more coiling in Snow’s gut after being so intimately in touch with true wild nature. It had worked... they’d kicked ass. The only tension seeming to remain being that with Asher as they spent the night before curious of what the other was about. Waiting for all of that to come to the forefront.

“Oh, hey!” Corinth exclaimed as he saw a familiar ass not so far. He was just on his way to Jasper’s party, thrilled to cross paths with his best friend along the way. Before things got too crazy. With a light jog, Corey caught up with him in no time. For once, his smile gleamed despite his twin’s preferred hour of day reigning supreme. “Ash, you look amazing.” He gawked followed by a brisk chuckle. “’you really had these... ‘clothes’ hidden away somewhere this whole time?”

“Why the hell would you even have to ask that, Snow? You’re probably one of the best people I know.”

“So, what’ll your poison be tonight?” Corinth asked while gliding his fingers over a gleaming row of bottles, though the hardy barrels filled with the special Ambrosia were mere steps from them. It seemed the magic elixir was the draw for this party, but as ever Corey was hesitant to lose himself to the amber nectar. It was as if right when he got to a place in his life where he was comfortable to do so the rug once more had been pulled from under his feet. However, a small part of him was curious to taste this specialty ambrosia. “If you want the strong, home wrecker shit you have to get in line apparently.”