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The water was cool compared to the temperature outside, but it was hard to tell whether that was because they were in a cave or it was just the nature of the water. The water lapped around ankles and legs as the hermits brushed away the imaginary dust from the saddles into the surrounding water. Some other hermits were already seated on top of their nautilus’s and still others were dunking themselves into the cool water to prepare themselves for the race.
It was the final race of the Nautilus Racing League that Cub had put together for the hermits—the top eight racers waiting for the bell to ring so that they could leave the cave and begin setting up at the gates. Some of the other hermits were watching from the mountain just outside, waiting to cheer on their friends in what was bound to be a race for the history books.
It was down to the wire for who would win the league, though Pearl had a couple points lead that the others would have to fight hard against to beat. Pearl was gently washing the shell of her nautilus in anticipation of the bell that would cause her adrenaline to race even more.
Doc was busy smack talking Cleo, who dove into the water to avoid hearing the goat creeper hybrid. False and Ren were having a small side conversation, wishing each other good luck while also threatening to wipe the floor with the other. Xisuma was swimming with his nautilus, warming him up for the race ahead. Etho sat atop his nautilus with his eyes closed, breathing deeply while also seemingly ignoring the world or maybe he was just ignoring Bdubs’s trash talk echoing into the cave.
Cub, the genius coordinator of the event, was doing some final checks with Zed—who would be ringing the bells—and hadn’t even gotten into the water yet. It was unclear whether he would still try hard to win his own event or if he would just have fun.
Before long, Zed gave his final nods and flew to the gates, allowing Cub the time to reacquaint himself with his nautilus for only seconds before the bell rang. The hermits who weren’t on their nautilus mounted up, diving into the water while those already mounted were leaping over the containment fences and jetting to the starting line.
The anticipation climbed and the few hermits who came to watch were cheering along their friends. “And look at all of our absolutely stunning racers today! They will be racing for the…” Joe emceed for no one in particular, and the final racer got in their gate eagerly awaiting the starting bell. The air of competition rose as the nautilus’s became restless with their riders. With the excitement in the air, the competitors could tell it was going to be a good race.
When the anticipation peaked, Zed rang the bell again and the gates sprung open. All eight racers charged out of the gates and began racing with everything they had, and their friends on the sidelines whooped and hollered as some began taking off to watch the race from above while Zed raced to the finish line to call out the winner of the event. After all, everyone was dying to know who had the top shell.