Here it is! My series of one-shots for Race, Mush, and Blink. I know I'm horrible about updating Tigress, but I don't know... it just feels... dead. I'm sorryyyyyy! :(

Anyway, I hope you like this. It is the first of many to come. PS - If you aren't Christian, you won't like some of the one-shots to come. Be warned.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Except the horses. Good for me.)

I could only remember bits and pieces.

"Move out of the way, kid!"

Firm hands shoving me out of the way.

Falling over a railing.

Dropping twelve feet to the ground.

Landing on hard dirt.

Hearing the pounding of hooves approaching.

Shocked screams.

I opened my eyes and my heart leapt into my throat as I saw ten horses galloping full speed ahead, straight towards me. Putting two and two together…. I think I got pushed into the track.

My head and heart were pounding and my arm was numb with pain as I backed into the wall, trembling with fright. People were shouting, trying to reach me and pull me to safety, but the wall was just too high. I don't want to die like this. But if I had stayed at Dad's, I was gonna die worse.

Finally the horses reached me and screeched to a halt. They skittered and jumped around nervously, wondering what this mysterious creature that set foot on their track was. But my heart really stopped when Hades stepped forward. Hades had a reputation for being the giant black horse that is the fastest and cruelest equine ever to enter the world. He has killed other horses before and probably wouldn't hesitate to rip apart an 11-year-old human who dared invade his territory. I held my breath and stood completely still as he approached me, head down, ears pointed back. The entire track fell silent, for all anyone could do was watch and hope. Even Hades' jockey had no control over the jet-black horse.

But then, of course, the unexpected happened.

Hades dropped to his knees and peered straight into my eyes. For a second I thought he might bite them out, but… he didn't. Instead, he gently nuzzled my face and nickered. Cautiously and slowly I stood, tentatively stroking his velvety nose. Another horse made a move to come close to me, but Hades whipped around and snapped at the horse with his powerful jaws. Hades turned back to face me and softly nudged my shoulder.

I was in complete shock. This evil horse had spared, even befriended, an eleven-year-old who had intruded on his turf. Something like this was unheard of in the world of racing. Why, just last month a girl was trampled after falling into a racetrack in California.

Hades finally trotted off and crossed the finish line nonchalantly.

A jockey dismounted his horse, and without a word, led me out of the stone-silent arena.

Afterward, life went on. I went back to sleeping in the alleys and begging for food. Barely getting by. Skipping meals for day on end. Then one day, three weeks after the incident, all that changed.

"Hey, kid!"

I ignored the voice and continued walking. He probably wasn't talking to me anyway.

"Hey! Wait up!" A boy about thirteen years old trotted up to me and rested a hand on my shoulder. I could tell by his cap and the newspapers in his hand that he was a newsboy.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I scoffed, pulling away from his hand.

"I'm Jack Kelly, but you can call me Cowboy. I was just wondering if you were that fella who fell in the track three weeks ago?"

I shot him a distrustful look, but answered. "Yeah, that's me. What about it?"

Jack smiled, and I softened up a little. I think I can trust this guy. "That made for great headlines. Anyway, word has it that you don't have any place to go."

"That's right…" I replied tentatively.

"Well, we have an extra bunk at the Lodging House, so if you want to become a newsie, we'd be happy to have ya. Newsies make about a quarter a day, which I'm guessing you could use."

Happiness surged inside me. Finally, there was a way out!

Ecstatically, I agreed and Jack led me to the 'LH'.

"So, what's your name?"

"Anthony Higgins."

"Well, that won't do. You gotta have a nickname to be a newsie, just in case you get in trouble with the bulls." Jack explained.

"What's the bulls?" I inquired, confused.

Jack stared at me for a second, before laughing. "It's the police."

"Oh…" I muttered.

"Hey, what about Racetrack?" Jack said enthusiastically.

"Huh?"

"As your nickname. Since you seem to have past experiences with the racetrack."

I pondered this for a moment. "Yeah… I think I like it!" I exclaimed, smiling for the first time in six years.

As I entered the LH and was introduced to the other newsies, I realized something.

I wasn't going to die.

REVIEW! PLEASE! I GET DEPRESSED WHEN NO ONE REVIEWS!

The next one-shot is Mush's story of how he came to be a newsie. Then Blink's story of how he became a newsie. Do you see a pattern? ;)

Luv u all, Clove :)