[Austin Eventide]

Austin made sure his hat was on secure and hoisted his tack over one shoulder while holding the odd dart-spear in one hand. When the horn blew and the contest had begun, Austin ran as fast as he could considering the awkwardness of the tack he carried and made his way to the rather large elephant with the black paint on it. When he got a bit closer, he flung his tack to the side and spun around just in time to see another elephant charging toward him. He tried to jump out of the way yet glanced off of its leg and stumbled back toward where his tack lay. He was a bit disorientated when he looked up to see big number seven rearing back on its hind legs. His shoulder hurt pretty bad and would probably be severely bruised though it didn't feel broken. He had kept his grip on the dart-spear and jabbed up at the elephant. Unfortunately, Austin could not get a good shot and was forced to dive to the side as the animal's front feet crashed down merely inches from where he had been standing.

Scrambling back to his feet, Austin turned to see the elephant swing its head toward him; tusks and trunk coming right at him. "Oh my...." He uttered as the animal's trunk slammed into him. He flew several feet away and landed hard on the ground. He rolled onto his back, coughing and holding his side where the elephant had slammed him. He looked over at the elephant and smiled; blood leaking from bad split in his lip. Sticking out of the elephant's left front shoulder was the dart-spear. Slowly at first and then more rapidly, the elephant appeared to slow down and waver a bit. It lost its footing and sank to its knees as if falling into a drunken stupor of sorts.

Austin tried to pick himself up quickly while pain coursed through his body. He reached down and picked up his hat, dusted it off and put it back on. He then went over to his tack, hoisted it up and began trying to attach it to the now more docile elephant. It was much like tacking up a horse although a much bigger scale. When he got the tack on the best he could, Austin climbed up the animal's large back while using the straps of the saddle for support and climbed into the saddle. He kept hold of the spear which he had used to drug the beast as he may have need of it later. He waved his hat in the air and gave a victory cry and prepared himself for the next stage of the contest.