Page 199 of Knotting the Firefighters

Between them.

Literally between them.

Physical manifestation of pack dynamics.

The music builds toward a crescendo—tempo increasing, complexity escalating, final push that separates serious competitors from casual participants.

This is it.

Final sequence.

Everything we've practiced converges into a singular moment.

My body moves without conscious thought—feet executing patterns, arms flowing through choreography, core maintaining balance through increasingly athletic movements.

Muscle memory.

Pure muscle memory from hours of practice.

When did we practice this much?

How did I not notice how much time we've spent together?

Calder and Aidric match every step—three individuals moving as a unified entity, demonstrating coordination that only emerges through extensive time together or natural compatibility so profound it transcends normal limitations.

We're good.

Actually, genuinely good.

Not just competent but impressive.

The final notes approach—music building to a climax that demands a spectacular finish, something memorable that will distinguish us from remaining competitors.

Final spin.

All or nothing.

Commit completely or fail spectacularly.

I launch into a turn with full force—momentum carrying me through a rotation that's probably too ambitious given the limited space and number of people on the floor.

Too fast.

Spinning too fast.

Going to lose balance and face-plant in front of the entire town.

Strong hands catch me mid-rotation—Aidric on one side, Calder on the other, coordinated intercept that prevents catastrophic failure while creating a dramatic visual that makes the crowd lose their collective minds.

Saved.

Caught perfectly.

Like we choreographed this instead of improvising a rescue.

The buzzer sounds—an electronic signal cutting through music, announcing the competition conclusion.

The three of us freeze in position—me suspended between them, their hands securing my waist, the tableau creating an image that's simultaneously athletic and intimate and absolutely intentional in its symbolism.