A tall boy from Class C stepped forward, his green outfit bright against his dark skin. His eyes narrowed.
"We will win!" he shouted back immediately. "You all are small! How can you win? Look at you! You have a ghost who wears a ribbon!"
Boo gasped loudly, placing both hands on his chest like he had just been personally attacked.
"SMALL?" he repeated. "We are not small! We are compact! Efficient! Space-saving!"
Felix closed his eyes.
"This is happening already. Before any event. Before the first race. We are already trash-talking."
Luna stepped forward slightly, her arms crossing over her chest. Her red headband was pulled tight, her ponytail swinging behind her.
"We are small," she said calmly, her voice steady, "but we are fast."
Kelpie nodded eagerly, water droplets spraying around him.
"And strong! Very strong! Water strong!"
Rocky lifted his small fist, his stone face serious.
"And steady. Stones are steady."
Sable leaned forward from behind Lucien.
