Closed Seeking the Tall Grasses (Shahar)

[Waisana]

19th Summer 514AV

Finding herbs was becoming a bit of a problem, the healer had to admit. Yes, there were some herbs in close vicinity to the city but they weren't in an abundance and she couldn't risk picking them all, or else she'd have to look further afield for all of her herbs. That didn't mean that she couldn't look further afield now and bring back some harder to acquire herbs while waiting for the ones nearer to home to replenish. Such a thing was only possible if she was willing to venture out into the Sea of Grass and for that she would need a guide and a protector of sorts. Someone who could stop her from becoming prey but who knew of things like water sources and some knowledge of herbs out in the Sea. There were a number of people who could act as protectors. Hunters mainly, the ones who had the most experience out in the Sea. It would mean taking up valuable hunting time but perhaps opportunities would arise out in the grass. Not all hunters had knowledge of herbs though, water sources perhaps, yes as animals would look for water but they wouldn't necessarily know of the plants out in the Sea.

So the girl had asked around. Luckily for her she'd been told of a man who not only knew something of herbs but was also interested in bringing people out into the Sea of Grass as a guide. She had been pointed in this man, Shahar's general direction, towards where a number of hunters' pavilions were. Asking when she was in the right area would yield helpful results - the man apparently better known outside the healing tents - bringing her straight to his side. At least, the girl assumed that it was him. He was tall, towering over her and it was a feature that had been emphasised when she had asked about him. It was silly really but she was nervous about checking to see for certain. She could simply ask if it was he and receive a response in the affirmative or the negative. If it was a negative then there would be no harm done and she could continue her search but yet the query didn't escape her immediately.

If he glanced in her direction, he would see someone wracked with nervousness, the emotion writ large upon her face and obvious in her fidgety movements. Sweaty palms were pressed against her thighs and rubbed down the material of her trousers, a newly dried hand reaching to tuck a loose strand of hair into her braid before she finally mustered the nerve to speak.

"Hello!" The greeting was loud, louder than necessary and devoid of any signing. It was Pavi that could be used when someone wasn't looking at you, when you needed to gain their attention. When she had it, the healer would ask what she needed to ask. "Are you Shahar Dawnwhisper? I was told I could find him here. I seek his knowledge and guidance out in the Sea. Are you he?" Her signs betrayed her uncertainty and offered a general apology that would hopefully cover her interruption and her mistake over identity if it was not the right man.

[Colt]

It was an in-between time that found Shahar sitting at his camp, a few minutes after breakfast but before there was any pressing need to start anything else. In that regard, Shahar didn’t have much of a plan––at least, none that differed from the normal, open routine of hunting what he could before the sun reached her zenith and drove the grasslands into heat-drugged lethargy, and that was the sort of thing that could change easily enough. And it was for this reason that Shahar could be found just outside his camp, facing Endrykas where the sun wouldn’t get in his eyes and sharpening his javelins. It was a small and simple duty, because he knew that if his knife bit too deep into the wood then the weapon’s performance would suffer for it, and so he did his duty with small, gentle strokes that required little effort or thought.

It was a combination of direction and mindlessness that allowed Shahar to catch sight of the young woman making her way between the tents. She was alone, not even a strider to carry her, and she was heading out of the city. He paused in his work. What was she thinking?

No, he realized with a jolt. She was heading towards his camp.

That got his attention. Shahar put down his weapon and tilted his head as she covered ground at a brisk walk. As she neared, he realized that her posture was nervous, something that put Shahar on edge without thought.

She was a young woman, surely not very far past marrying age. Her hair was unusually blonde, all wrapped up in braids and ribbons and beads. White beads, he saw as she came closer. Then she was of the Opal Clan? Shahar was even more baffled.

She wiped her hand on her leg and moved a strand of hair, nervousness more apparent than ever.

“Hello!” she shouted.

Greeting?

“Are you Shahar Dawnwhisper? I was told I could find him here. I seek his knowledge and guidance out in the Sea. Are you he?”

She was somewhat apprehensive about her words, as her body told him, and she gave an open-ended apology as she finished. Shahar nodded.

Affirmation, he signed. You seeking? What seek? Grass open familiar, where?

[Waisana]

The girl had seen his edginess and it had only increased her nervousness. It was only as she considered it as she awaited his answer that her own body language might have put him on edge. She was so open, so easy to read. The nervousness as she approached... he'd apparently picked up on it. The teen bit her lip, concentrating on relaxing the rest of her body language. There was no need to be feeling anxious. It was irrational and so she should calm herself. It was something that was easier said than done. The man was intimidating after all, especially with that knife in hand.

His short replies didn't help her attempt at a calm demeanour however. She wasn't sure what way to take his words, his body language not giving away much where tone was concerned. Was he being curt with her, sharp? Or was he just incredibly concise, to the point? Waisana didn't know and so she kept her posture neutral as she set about replying, not wanting to give off any signals to anger him, or confuse him, or anything else that would negatively affect whatever mood he was in. She knew that this was Shahar, that was one positive at least in this bad beginning.

"Herbs. You know about them? How to find them? Out there?" the healer asked, waving a hand in the general direction outside the city. Perhaps he would require some sort of assurances from her that it would be worth his while. The girl considered it quickly. What had she been thinking about offering him? Hunting opportunities? That wasn't much of an incentive. Knowledge? Would he like to learn more about herbs? She could help him with that but other than that, what was there. "You can hunt out there. I can teach you. About herbs, I mean," the girl offered. Her tone was desperate. Her gestures becoming almost pleading. He sounded like he was the most experienced person that she was going to find who was willing to do this. Unless what she'd heard about him had been exaggerated or was incorrect. Hopefully he was the man she was after and he was willing to take the job.

[Colt]

“Herbs,” she said. “You know about them? How to find them?” She gestured to the open plains beyond his camp. “Out there?"

Shahar considered her question. He was certainly no skilled herbalist, but he knew which plants were safe to eat. He even knew plants that had medicinal properties, although he didn’t know what exactly those properties were. But plants were not all that different from animals; they ate sun and drank water, some liked shade and some didn’t, and they even stayed in the same place so he didn’t have to worry about losing them if it took awhile to track them down.

Affirmative, he signed. Knowledge, small but useful. I, recognition, shapes, growing-places.

She paused, apparently deliberating over her next words.

“You hunt out there,” she finally said.

Shahar tilted his head and refrained from replying, thinking that such a fact would have been a moot point by now.

“I can teach you. About herbs, I mean.”

That got Shahar’s attention, his posture snapping into one of curiosity.

Agreement, he said. In another moment the knife was back in its sheath and the javelin returned to its brothers. The hunter stood, hoisting his quiver onto his back. Activity when, readiness, now? He would have preferred to bring along Akaidras, but the horse was currently untacked and it would take a bit to get an yvas on him. She didn’t appear to have a strider of her own, but even so, even one of them on horseback could give them an edge over potential threats.

More needed, horse, preparation.

[Waisana]

The claims about this man seemed to be somewhat true. He could recognise herbs and where they grew but she didn't know how far that recognition went. Maybe his knowledge was superior to her own or maybe it was very basic at best. She'd lean more towards the latter as he wasn't a healer or herbalist but a hunter... or something. The teen had been told that he didn't have a real clan although she didn't fully understand that. How could someone be clanless if they weren't an outsider? He seemed to comfortable among them to be an outsider but perhaps he'd been amongst them awhile. She didn't know but she supposed that it didn't matter. It was important, didn't have any bearing on their business together. Her own clan would be obvious however, even if his was not.

As for payment, he seemed very interested in her offer of providing herbal knowledge. He seemed very eager so her previous assumption was probably right. Well that settled what she owed him then. Hopefully she could help him out in that respect. Her own knowledge was still somewhat limited but perhaps he might have information that she didn't and vice versa. If that was the case then this partnership could be very beneficial. The healer smiled with relief, nodding her agreement. It seemed settled. All she'd have to do was get Drusine, get her tack on and pack some supplies and she'd be all set. The other would just have to be informed of that.

"Now is good. I'll get my Strider," the girl told him, signing quickly for him to wait and signalling that she wouldn't be long. The healer turned around and walked away quickly, restraining herself to a walk rather than a run which was her inclination. She didn't want to leave him waiting for long and so she needed to hurry but there was no need to rush that much. She'd get there when she got there and it was still warm enough that running wasn't really an option, at least not if she didn't want to overheat. A brisk walk had sweat beading on her forehead all the same, her clothes left sticking slightly to her skin as she returned to her pavilion.

She clicked softly in greeting to the Strider who came close for a nose rub. She told the horse to wait as she ducked into the tent to collect supplies. Her water skin and some food went into the yvas bags although there was still room for herbs. She emerged carrying her gear and immediately encountered a happy, and eager, horse. The enthusiasm of the beast almost had her on the ground as she almost ran into the healer in her rush to be gotten ready for riding. Waisana calmed the horse down eventually, making soothing noises until the mare could wait a little more patiently, conscious all the while of just how much time was being spent. It was her own fault though. She didn't bring the Strider out as often as she should, it was no wonder that Drusine was giddy. At least this time the animal would benefit from her workaholic mindset.

White cloth was thrown over the horse's back, positioned for her comfort against the rub of the yvas. The mare had quietened down now, perhaps realising that she'd only be a hindrance if she got overexcited again. It was just a question of how intelligent the animal was. Meeting the beast's eye as she finished securing the tack and began to attach the yvas bags, she decided that Drusine was too intelligent. Once she had everything attached and ready to go, she began to guide the beast to the nearest part of the city's edge rather than directly to where she'd found Shahar. It made more sense to her to loop around rather than bring the horse through the city.

A few steps back, a short run and a jump put her in a position to mount the horse's back. Gripping the yvas, she used her momentum to help lift her swung her left leg across the horse's back, seating herself more comfortably as she readied herself so as not to fall off. Holding on with her legs as well as her hands, the Drykas girl gave a whistle and nudged the horse's flanks with her feet. The Strider began to move, first at a walk and then at a trot as she urged the horse on. There was no point moving faster yet as she had no idea how far they were going to go and she didn't want to tax her Strider too early.

Bringing the horse around the city probably took longer than if they'd just gone through but it felt somehow nicer to ride to her destination. Sure, she had to correct the horse's direction with a nudge and a pull every so often as she just wanted to run out into the Sea but she got there in the end all the same. Right up to where she'd left Shahar in fact. Drusine was brought to a stop as the girl called a greeting to her guide.

"I come bearing... horse," she told him, grinning. "You ready?" Her body was all eager anticipation.

[Colt]

“Now is good. I’ll get my Strider.” She gave a quick signal for wait, which Shahar did until she had turned and vanished between the tents. Then he was moving, turning back to his camp for his own horse.

Akaidras was a few yards away from the opposite edge of the camp, grazing peacefully with Drelah and Dainellas. The stallion looked up at his rider’s approach, and after a moment’s deliberation he abandoned his grass and came when Shahar asked him to. Shahar scratched him at the base of his neck, where he liked it the most, and then made his way over to the travois that housed the horse equipment. He brushed Akaidras’ back quickly and efficiently, knowing that there wasn’t time for a full effort. All he needed was to clean the place where the yvas would sit so that dirt and grit didn’t rub into Akaidras’ back and make him sore. Akaidras pushed at Shahar’s shoulder for more once the hunter had finished the job to his satisfaction, even after being given no time, hurried as an explanation.

The yvas pad came on next, pulled up to the withers and adjusted symmetrically before the leather not-quite-a-saddle was lain upon it. The girth strap was tightened, the breast collar set stable and the yvas bags tied on. After a quick, firm shake to make sure everything was in place, Shahar vaulted into onto Akaidras’ back.

The stallion shifted to compensate for the weight and force of movement that his rider had mounted with, but in a moment the two had settled to each other. Akaidras pranced in place, already looking to run; he hadn’t yet been ridden today, and he didn’t want to just wait with Shahar on his back. It took no small amount of soothing words and pats to keep the horse in place, but it wasn’t long that they had to wait.

It was a pinto mare that finally bore the young woman to them, though from around the edges of the city as oppose to from within it, and Shahar urged Akaidras to meet them. The stallion surged forward with such power that Shahar had to lean back in an attempt to restrain him from exploding into a full gallop, which left them at something between a trot and a jagged canter as they returned to the spot that Shahar and the Opal woman had spoken at before. Akaidras picked up his feet, switched leads, whinnied, switched leads again––he wanted to run.

Shahar gave an embarrassed apology as his Strider continued to dance in place, whickering excitedly at the young woman’s own mount.

Readiness, Shahar signed. Time to go?

[Waisana]

It seemed that Waisana wasn't the only one with an overexcited horse. When Shahar rode out to meet her on his own Strider, a stunning black bay stallion, it was nothing short of a miracle that he managed to stop the animal from charging out of the city. She could see the way the muscles rippled in the beast's legs as power surged through them. It would have been galloping if Shahar hadn't managed to slow the beast down. The desire to keep moving prevailed once it was stopped, dancing upon the spot in such a giddy manner that he had Waisana's own Strider dancing too. She didn't know why the man felt the need to apologise, her own horse was acting up as well and it wasn't like it was hard to see.

"Eager," she giggled nervously, trying to urge her horse back a step or two with a few nudges of her feet. Instead the mare nickered and took a step closer to the stallion. There was a lot of horse communication going on, she assumed. There was ear movements and head movements and goodness knew what else that the healer couldn't interpret. She assumed that the two horses liked each other but she couldn't be certain; she didn't speak horse. "Time to go."

With difficulty (as the horse was reluctant), Waisana coaxed the Strider into turning around to point in a direction that would lead them outside the city. She had no idea what way they were going to be heading in but she was both nervous and excited by the prospect of the trip. The Sea of Grass was a dangerous place with so many predators lurking in the most unlikely places. At the same time, there was also something exhilarating about just going out there, not exactly alone but without the safety that greater numbers brought. Going for a proper ride would be good as well, something that both horse and rider could appreciate. There was the added bonus that she wasn't being taken away from her work but rather to it if her collecting went well anyway. The heat was sure to have taken its toll however and so it might not be a fruitful trip.

Soon the horizon would be shimmering with heat and so it was better to get going sooner rather than later. Her head turned, allowing her to see her guide as she put a question to him. "So... which way?" the teen asked, all eagerness and curiosity.

[Colt]

Akaidras, for his own part, seemed quite excited at the prospect of running with another horse; the last time he had done so had been the ride with Hope and Dainellas, and Dainellas was a slow-moving mare anyway. The stallion seemed to think that this mare would prove more interesting, and made this known by trying to sidle up to her even as his rider made him exercise restraint.

“Eager,” said the Opal clanswoman.

Sheepish agreement.

“Time to go.”

Yes, perhaps that would do something to calm down their horses. The two of them turned their Striders to face away from the city, which caused Akaidras to dance once more in charged anticipation.

“So… which way?” she asked.

Shahar blinked at her. Inquiry, two of us, what looking for?

After a moment, he tried to think of where he would look if he was looking for dinner seasonings; Endrykas was still moving north, so if the two of them went farther north than the city then they would enjoy mostly untouched spoils, as well as a position closer to the sea. Of course, it would also be more dangerous. While water levels had been slowly sinking, Shahar knew of a pond that would probably still have water, and therefore herbs, but there was also an increased possibility of challengers for that water. Of course, he didn’t know exactly what they were looking for; the pond would be the best place if she wanted cattails, but probably not the best if she wanted sage.

[Waisana]

Shahar swung his horse around as well but he made no move to go anywhere, instead questioning her about what it was she wanted. The healer looked at him blankly for a few moments. She hadn't told him what exactly she wanted from him, had she? The only thing that she'd asked him for was his guidance. She hadn't thought about what she wanted either. There was nothing specific that she wanted. There was no particular herb that she desired. All Waisana wanted was for them to find herbs that were not readily available around the city at the moment. It was a bit vague but it was what the Opal wanted.

"Herbs that aren't here. Ones that aren't rowing near the city. Anything useful," the girl explained, smiling sheepishly. "Not helpful, is it? What herbs do you know of and do you know where to find them?" The teen regarded the plain spread out in front of her. If they were going to find anything of interest then they'd have to find herbs that weren't in an area that the city had depleted. There was no point going ahead of the city as they'd only be taking from future stocks. Waisana needed to take from a stock that was seldom harvested, herbs that were not often taken. Where would that be though?

She considered the route that the tent city took, always moving in a circular route that was unchanging. If they went around then they never entered the centre of the grass. Surely there would be a bountiful supply out there. At the same time it would be more dangerous as well. "Will we go into the middle? Where the city doesn't go? Nobody picks out there. There would be lots of herbs. How does that sound? Good? Dangerous?" the healer asked eagerly, bouncing on the yvas at the prospect of relatively untouched spoils. Her excitement sent the wrong message to her mare who set off in the direction that she was pointed in, quickly accelerating into a canter. The abrupt and unexpected movement elicited a shriek from the healer, wailing the horse's name and throwing her arms around the beast's neck in an effort to stop herself from falling off its back. She slid sideways quickly, ending up in a precarious position. Her knees gripped the animal, allowing her to stay on for long enough until her pulling at the horse's neck and cries brought Drusine to a halt.

Grip finally faltering, the healer dropped heavily into the Sea of Grass, pains shooting up her legs as she landed. Wincing, Waisana glanced in the direction of the city and found that it had shrunk in her line of vision. Details were no longer as easy to pick out and she could just make out figures moving about their business. The horse had made a good run for it. Her eyes searched for Shahar and his stallion, cheeks burning crimson as she imagined how stupidly incompetent she must have seemed. It had been a total failure of riding skills on her part. It had also been extremely embarrassing. If he could still bring himself to lead her out into the Sea of Grass then she'd be surprised.

[Colt]

"Herbs that aren't here,” she said. “Ones that aren't growing near the city. Anything useful.” She smiled at him. "Not helpful, is it? What herbs do you know of and do you know where to find them?"

“Sage, chulaka, cattails.” Others. More specific?

"Will we go into the middle? Where the city doesn't go? Nobody picks out there. There would be lots of herbs. How does that sound? Good? Dangerous?"

Shahar’s hands were poised for a reply, but he was unable to make one as the woman’s Strider picked up on the all-around excitement and burst into motion. Akaidras didn’t need any urging to launch after them, and Shahar became suddenly distracted with controlling his own horse.

Akaidras struck the ground with rapid and vicious hooves, devouring distance with something that became a gallop within moments. Shahar laced his fist through the Strider’s mane and adjusted his seat so as to remain where he was, and only then could he focus on actually directing the horse; he sat up and leaned back, and though he was unable to stop the animal he was able to bring the two of them to a quick lope. It gave him enough leeway to look for the Opal woman, at least––enough for him to see her as she teetered precariously on her horse, and then lose her grip entirely and tumble to the ground.

Shahar leaned in, altering Akaidras’ course and swinging them towards the fallen woman. When they closed in he leaned back farther, bringing the horse to a trot and then to an impatient walk.

Concern, he signed. Any harm?