Pavi/Grassland Sign ,
Common,
Nari
It was Spring in my seventeenth year when I finally bonded with a Strider. My Pavilion were excited for me and my Clan pleased to officially welcome me. My windmarks, fresh down my back, were worth every moment of pain. The connection to my Strider was unlike anything I had experienced, as it continues to be even now. I knew they were a sacred breed, considered people more than those who had yet to receive windmarks, but had never truly understood it until the moment I had seen Wind. Meeting the three year old stallion was a moment I would never forget. However, this memory is not the only one to stick with me.
Wind is a feisty creature, bred for the fire within him. He was meant for The Watch, to be a fast steed in case of emergency. However, he had been too stubborn, the personality of a beast that refused to be tamed by anyone. My bond to the Strider was new, still settling, and it took two weeks to develop enough for Wind to allow tack to be placed on him. The day I first tacked up the stallion was one of those memories that would stick with me.
“Morning, Wind,” I had greeted him with a yawn, approaching the stallion with a brand new pad and yvas in my arms. Said stallion snorted, ears forward, as he stared at the tack wearily. I had smiled, dumping the tack to the side. Without it on hand I was able to approach the Strider, resting a hand on the stallion’s neck. “I don’t want to force you into being ridden,” I had told him, “Your previous owners told me you were a good steed once you respected your rider, but I don’t want your respect; I want your trust. Let’s just keep getting used to each other before we try with the tack again, yeah?”
Wind had blinked and flicked his ear, nudging at my shoulder with his nose. He rested there for a few moments, and I took joy in being so close to my newly bonded Strider. I couldn’t help the grin on my face at the connection. I could see now why so many placed their bonded Striders above their own family. After travelling together, I too ended up favouring him over many people. A few moments later, Wind retreated. Disappointed, I watched, only to see that Wind was trotting over to where I had placed the yvas. The horse nickered, scraping at the ground with his front hoof.
I remember moving over slowly, confused. “What is it Wind?” The stallion seemed to roll his eyes, snorting in annoyance, and bent to pick at the fabric pad with his lips, yanking it in my direction. I bent to pick it up, turning the purple material over in his hands. It had been a gift from my uncle, my Pavilion’s Ankal, in the Clan’s colours, and would protect my Strider from the rubbing of the leather yvas. “Are you ready to let me tack you up?” I asked hopefully.
When Wind didn’t respond, I carefully moved the pad to his back. I saw my Strider watching as it was placed gently over his back and wither. Wind’s skin rippled, a sign he was ready to flee at any moment, but the horse stayed in placed. I backed away a step when the pad was in place, admiring the look of my bonded in my Clan’s colours. “Can I put on the yvas too?” I asked, taking the lack of a response or fleeing as acceptance. Slowly I bent to pick up the tack, stepping back in place beside the stallion.
“Easy, Wind,” I hushed as the horse shivered. I lifted the thick piece of leather over the stallion’s shoulder, atop the pad, carefully brushing aside the long mane so it wouldn’t get caught. I ducked to grab the underneath of the strap from the other side of the stallion’s stomach, pulling it toward myself and hooking it up to attach to the rings nearest to me. I then attached the chest strap in three places, underneath and on either side of the main yvas strap. I stepped back, almost not believing that Wind finally trusted me enough to allow this. I laugh now, thinking about my disbelief and knowing the inevitability of our bond’s strength.
Wind trotted away a little distance, almost showing off his equipment. I remember admiring how the colours of my Pavilion, decorating the pad and chest strap, looked against the stallion. Eventually I added knotwork and coloured threads to different parts of it, telling tales of our adventures together, and will continue to do so until the end. At the time I was pleased with the appearance, my stallion stunning. I was taken from my thoughts by Wind nickering, turning side on and staring at me. “Huh?” I had questioned, walking over to him. Wind flicked his tail and stamped his foot impatiently. I blinked a few times, unsure, but decided to take a risk.
“Are you letting me ride you?” I remember asking hopefully. I would quickly learn how to recognise Wind asking me to ride him, but at this early stage we had yet to learn to read each other properly. I put my hands on the pad, leaning weight onto the stallion’s back as a test. When Wind didn’t move, I pushed myself up, swinging my leg over so that in one fluid movement I was astride my stallion. I grinned, stroking lovingly down Wind’s neck. “How about we go for a run?”
The Heart of Nature Soothes the Heart of Man More Than Any Woman Can
by Jez Firetongue on February 21st, 2017, 3:35 am 
