Eight-year-old Rider grunted, his small frame straining against the wooden wagon piled high with firewood. The wheels groaned, digging into the dirt path, moving agonizingly slowly despite every ounce of his young might. Ahead, a steep, unforgiving hill loomed, its incline seeming to mock his meager strength. Rider swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. "How am I supposed to get this home in time now?" he muttered to himself, digging his heels in, pushing with all his might. The wagon, however, remained stubbornly immobile, refusing to budge an inch.
Meanwhile, seven-year-old Bianca and her mother were walking home, their conversation light, their footsteps leisurely. Bianca, her head a tangle of curious braids, turned her head to the left, her bright eyes catching sight of the struggling boy and the overloaded wagon. "Hey, Mom, what do you think that kid is doing?" she asked, a small frown creasing her brow. "He can't push that thing all on his own."
Her mother, a kind smile on her face, gently squeezed Bianca's hand. "It's none of our business, baby. That's Rider, the son of Dran. The Dran that everybody knows."
Bianca's frown deepened. "I thought you said Dran is dead," she challenged, recalling past conversations.
Her mother nodded, her smile fading slightly. "Yes, he is. It's Aingo that's taking care of Rider now, not Dran. So this might be Rider's training." She pointed towards the struggling boy.
Bianca looked back at Rider, her concern growing. "Well, this training is too difficult. He's still a kid."
Her mother's smile returned, a knowing glint in her eyes. "If you want to help out, I'm not stopping you. But make sure that you come back home in time. I believe you know where our house is from here."
Bianca's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. She nodded vigorously, then, without another word, she was off, rushing towards Rider.
Rider, still red-faced and panting from his fruitless efforts, didn't sense her approach. He was startled when a small voice, surprisingly clear, spoke from directly behind him. "Do you need help?"
He yelped, startled, spinning around to face her. He hadn't expected anyone, and he hadn't felt footsteps. "How did you…?" he began, confusion warring with frustration. He quickly dismissed the thought. "Forget it. Who are you, anyway?" he asked, still pushing at the wagon, albeit half-heartedly.
Bianca's smile brightened. "Hi! I'm Bianca Karl. I'm from around here."
Rider frowned, exasperated. "I didn't say you could introduce yourself!"
Bianca's smile faltered, replaced by a confused pout. "But you said 'who are you'..."
Rider immediately replied, his voice rising in irritation, "Yeah, like 'I don't know you and...'. You know what? Just, why are you here?"
Bianca's smile returned, undeterred by his gruffness. "I came to help you, silly!"
Rider stared at her, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Really? And how do you intend to help me? You're like, way smaller than me."
Bianca's brow furrowed. "You're mean! At least I came to help you."
Rider sighed, the anger draining from him, replaced by exhaustion and a twinge of guilt. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just so tired and angry right now. I shouldn't be taking it out on you. Hi, I'm Rider Black."
Bianca's smile exploded back onto her face. "Okay, Black! Let's go!"
Rider frowned again. "Please don't call me 'Black.' 'Rider' is just fine." Bianca nodded, seemingly unbothered, then turned her attention to the wagon. She circled it, her young mind already analyzing the problem. "There's so much way to move this wagon without actually using much strength," she mused aloud, taking a moment to think. Then, her eyes lit up as an idea clicked. "I got an idea!" she declared, and before Rider could ask, she dashed off, leaving him standing by the immovable wagon.
"Great," Rider mumbled to himself, resignation settling over him. "Her plan was leaving me behind. How original." He returned to his fruitless efforts, pushing the wagon with renewed, though futile, determination.
Minutes later, just as Rider was about to give up entirely, Bianca reappeared, breathless, a large, thick rubber band, impossibly long and sturdy, clutched in her hands. "I'm here!" she announced, beaming.
Rider turned, his eyes widening at the sight of the peculiar item. "Hey, what is that for?" he asked, curiosity momentarily overriding his exhaustion.
"You'll see," Bianca responded cryptically. She ran to a sturdy, well-rooted tree near the top of the hill, tying one end of the massive rubber band securely around its trunk. Then, she raced to a heavy, immovable stone pillar on the opposite side of the path, a relic from an older construction, and tied the other end around it, stretching the band taut across the path. She then carefully positioned the main body of the stretched rubber band behind the wagon.
She looked at Rider, her eyes sparkling with mischievous excitement. "Come on, help me pull!"
Rider looked confused. "Aren't we supposed to be pushing?"
"Just trust me!" Bianca insisted, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Hesitantly, Rider placed his hands on the back of the wagon. Together, they began to pull it backward, stretching the thick rubber band even further, the tension building with every inch. They pulled as far as they possibly could, the rubber band groaning under the strain.
"What now?" Rider asked, his muscles aching from the effort.
"Well, just let it go!" Bianca chirped, immediately releasing her hands from the wagon. She didn't give Rider a warning, no countdown, no signal to let go at the same time.
Rider's hands were still on the wagon. He wasn't strong enough to hold it against the immense recoil. The compressed energy of the massive rubber band unleashed itself with astonishing force, snapping forward. The wagon, and Rider with it, were sent flying over the hill. Rider screamed, a mixture of fear and surprise, as the wagon shot forward, clearing the incline with ease, and then some, before landing with a bumpy thud somewhere in the distance. Bianca clapped her hands, giggling, delighted with her unconventional solution as the runs after rider.
Their story had just begun, two contrasting personalities bound together by an accidental meeting and an unexpected, ingenious collaboration.