Racing Stripes (Fable)

The day of the race finally approached,
as the jockeys mounted their rides;
adrenaline plummeted high.
Seven contestants fled from the
starting gate with flashing speed,
finding freedom beneath their racing hoofs.
Unexpected laughter drowned out
any commentating, as it echoed loudly
through the spectating crowd.
For before their eyes, ran six
bay horses, and a zebra that
that was lagging behind.
Judgement loomed in the minds
of obstinate people, as they
deemed this zebra to be a joke.
But this faithful zebra ignored
the comments of non-believers
as he only knew what he had been taught -
to run and never look back.

The rider of the zebra began to
regret his choice; his choice
of taking a chance on something
that only he believed in.
Quickly leaping from the customised saddle,
he abandoned the zebra, landing harshly
on the track, with an injury of broken pride.
This jockey watched on as the race
progressed, and his ride continued
to flee from his sight towards the
horses in the distance.
The zebra found speed through determination
which bellowed through his strong body
and galloped through his loyal feet,
and soon he caught up with the others.
The audience gasped in disbelief as
the black and white stripes merged into
a blur, and crossed that finish line.
The zebra stood tall and proud
as he always knew he would be the winner -
no matter who won the race.

And his rider stayed silent
with a fake smile spread across his face,
but painful tears inside his heart,
for he knew better than to follow strangers in a crowd,
and doubt what he had always believed in.

Saffie
22

*Written for Chelsey's Survival contest.