The summer races

You and Zephyr had been training hard, showering together and had a few more nights of fun. You had also gone on a few non-training dates and made your relationship official. She had met your parents and been round for dinner. You had dinner at her place and talked more to her mother. You found out her father had a grey coat colour and was called Brolga. That was all the information Zephyr or her mother seemed important to share about him. According to Zephyr, the fact she hadn't turned grey like her father meant he must be a heterozygous grey, and she had inherited his recessive gene. You loved how smart and passionate she was about biology.

The day of the big summer race had come. Your parents had come to support and watch. Jorn had put on a flowery top, the first time you had seen her with clothes on, having only ever seen her at home.

Thanks to your training with Zephyr, you finished your race in record time, collecting the gold.

"Well done." Your mother praised you as she met you at the finish line.

"Good job, son." Your father added.

"You ran well for a human." Jorn added. "My Zephyr is only about halfway through, although she is only competing against a cowtaur, a cervitaur (deer centaur), and some kind of shapeshifter. There are not many taurs in this area; I guess the shapeshifter chose the race with the least competitors to have better chances. However, she is not going to beat my baby."

You worked your way over to the taur category finish line. You saw Zephyr coming down the home streach. She was followed closely behind by another centaur, you assumed was the shapeshifter. She had long red hair and a roan body.

They were neck and neck for a moment but you watched as Zephyr locked eyes with you. Seeing you waiting for her at the finish line gave her the motivation she needed to get one last burst of speed. She cantered across the finish line a whole body-length ahead of the shapeshifter. She ran up to you lifting you into the air as she pulled you into a hug. She held you by her warm, sweaty body. You kissed, and someone took a photo.

The next day, Zephyr came over. An article had been written about you. Two young competitors spurred on to get gold in their respective categories by the love you shared for each other. The article came with a photo of the two of you kissing at the finish, along with the official photos of the two of you receiving your gold medals.