Puck makes her way to the officials to get her colors. However, they insist that there are none left for her and then ignore her when she tries to argue. She spots Gabe, who comes over and tries as well, but the officials refuse to acknowledge them. Puck decides that she will race without them.

Sean prepares for the race, feeling more “alive” than he ever has before. As he makes his way to Puck, Mutt calls out to him. He warns Sean that he “know[s] what [he] care[s] about” (356).

Meanwhile, Puck sits atop Dove at the starting gate. Peg comes to her, instructs her to get down, and then pulls out the mare goddess costume. She places it under the saddle so that it hangs off the back of Dove—where Puck’s colors would have gone. She instructs Puck to “show them who” she is (357). Puck spots Sean several horses away, watching her. The capaill uisce are restless around her as the official prepares to start the race.

The race begins. Puck stays near the ocean, but she is immediately pressed on all sides by capaill. One bites Dove, and then something cuts Puck’s thigh. She ignores it, desperately searching for a way to break free from the pack. When a capall goes down to her right, killing its rider, Puck pushes farther into the ocean and then darts through a hole in the pack. She emerges and finds Sean riding just behind the leaders.

Meanwhile, Sean searches desperately for Puck, debating how long he can hang in the back. However, she then emerges from the pack, riding up alongside him and matching his pace. As riders continue to fall, the race reaches the halfway point. Sean looks ahead and sees Privett in the lead alongside a rider named Blackwell. Just behind them is Mutt. Sean sees a chance to pull ahead, thinking about how he could win, but instead, he stays by Puck’s side. However, he then sees that Mutt is intentionally dropping back to them.

Mutt uses Skata to bite down on Dove’s neck as Puck scrambles to stay on the horse. She reaches out and grabs Skata’s ear, twisting it and forcing her to let go. At the same time, Sean and Corr slam into Skata. Puck hesitates, but Sean urges her to ride forward, so Puck urges Dove to full speed. Skata and Corr struggle against each other until Mutt pulls out a knife. He stabs Skata, sending him crashing into Corr.

Puck quickly gains ground on Blackwell. When his capall is distracted by the ocean, Puck pushes past him, leaving only Privett ahead of her. She decides that she needs to push Privett’s capall toward the ocean, but this will involve getting close to him. She thinks of Peg and Sean urging her on and then realizes that she needs to be brave. She urges Dove forward.

Simultaneously, Sean struggles to hold on to Corr. He realizes that they are going to fall into the ocean with Mutt and Skata on top of them. He tries to position himself so that, when they fall, he will be able to roll free and not be crushed. As they hit the water, he sees only red around him.

Puck pulls ahead of Privett at the last moment and wins the race. The crowd roars around her, and officials come up to her, but she searches desperately for Sean. She spots Corr by the ocean and runs to him. She sees a lifeless form in the water next to him. She realizes that she will never recover if Sean is dead. However, the form then moves, and Sean emerges from the ocean. He asks if Puck won, but she feels guilty that Sean didn’t finish. He goes to Corr, grateful that Corr stood by his side and ensured that no other capaill came near when Sean was in the ocean. He then sees that Corr’s leg is broken; he takes off the saddle and consoles him. Puck is heartbroken, thinking how “cruel” the gods are.

For the next few hours, Puck is celebrated as the champion. However, she can’t stop thinking about Sean. As the day ends, she learns that a makeshift stable has been built for Corr, as he can’t make it back to Malvern’s. Puck spots Sean sitting outside it and goes toward him but stops when she sees Holly coaxing Sean up. Sean and Puck make eye contact before Puck leaves.

On the walk home, Puck considers their winnings. She knows that she has enough for the house but will be short of buying Corr. However, Finn then excitedly joins her, producing a pile of money that he won betting on Puck.

The next day, Puck goes to Malvern’s home. He opens the door, and she brushes past him into the sitting room. She accepts tea from him, asking it to be made with butter and salt, as he requested it in her home. She tells him that she wants three things. The first is to pay for the house, the second is to work for him, and the third is to buy Corr for Sean. Malvern accepts the first two but argues that Sean lost, so he cannot sell her Corr. However, Puck points out that Corr is now useless to him and that keeping him would only serve to “torment” Sean. Malvern considers and then agrees, insisting that she still pay full price. Puck leaves the money on the table and walks out.

Sean takes Corr down to the ocean. Because Corr will never fully heal, he is adamant that Corr should return to the ocean, where he can be happy. He removes his bandages and then releases him, turning away because he can’t bear to see him enter the ocean. As Sean makes his way back up the beach, he spots Puck and Holly looking down at him. However, they then turn their eyes to the ocean. Sean hears Corr call out and then turns back. Corr stands at the edge of the ocean and wails repeatedly. He tests his injured leg and then starts up the beach toward Sean.