Early morning of the 50th of Fall 517
The light of Syna was dust red against the dried grasses of the land. Colors of orange streaked the morning sky as the sunrise began to take shape. It was fall now. That meant the days were growing shorter and shorter, the nights longer and longer. It did not matter, however, if it was day or night to the land; the earth remained warm beneath the soles of those who walked upon it. All creatures thirsted for water that hardly fell, and hungered for food that was getting scarcer by the chime. The seasons had been cruel this year. All knew that the plains were suffering because of it and when the plans suffered, the Drykas suffered.
Taurina wondered to herself if it was like this anywhere else in the world. Was it just here that Morwen had decided to abandon? Was it just here where Syna shone so harshly? Was it just here where rains did not fall? She remembered her first season in Endrykas, just a year before, there had been such rain. So many storms that she had grown to fear them. Now.. now she feared that the storms would never come again. That the Drykas would be left to toil and break until not even the mercy of the gods could save them. Oh what she would give for the rains to start to pour and not cease until every dried river bed was made full. What she would give now to see her people and their home well nourished once more.
There was no certainty that what she was doing to try to help was worth it. That what she was doing would ever amount to anything or even be worth the time she was spending on it. There was possibility, but she still struggled so very much. Still, she had gotten it into her head that she was not going to go back to that walahk for help. She was going to do it on her own or not at all. His help had been help she had not wanted. Needed, but not wanted. He had shown her limits. Reminded her of the consequences of going too far. His teaching had not been the same as how Aoren taught her. His ways were far rougher, his words course. Taurina did not want to need him again. She was going to try to make sure of it that she did not need him again.
A low sigh was blown slowly from within Taurina as she gazed out at all that surrounded her. She was out separated from the tent city, but could see it well enough. Get back to it quickly if the need arose. There had been warnings of going out anywhere alone. The animals of the sea of grass were desperate and more daring than they ought to have been. The strangeness of the seasons had affected them all it seemed. Taurina knew she needed to be careful. Knew that she was not very skilled in anything that might save her. Even running would be hard for her. Her novice riding skills made even just gripping hard and urging Starfire forward dangerous and risky.
Taurina had left the pavilion when Leth was still high in the night sky. She had just gone for a ride really. A product of not being able to sleep and feeling too confined within the canvas walls of the pavilion. She was not much for adventure or daring quests, but she had been restless as of late. The plight of her people, her family, weighed heavy upon her soul. She wished that she could take from them their worries and burdens. She wished she could wipe away the sadness and misery. It was not because she was an especially caring person, she was not. At least, that was what she told herself and projected to all those who took the time to notice. Inside one might find that she cared a great deal more than she admitted to even herself. Especially for those she had let into her heart.
It was wise never to stray too far from the pavilions, always stay within reach of someone stronger and more knowing. The Eth was not looking to get herself hurt or put herself in the reach of danger. She did not wish upon her family more worry or grief than what already clouded their thoughts. She had just needed to get out of the pavilion. Ride as fast and as hard as she dared so that her own mind might be cleared. So that sleep might come. It would not. Sleep had not come easy since before her day out with Jasmine no matter which skin she wore. It did not matter how fast, how hard, or for how long she rode; when head hit the bedroll, a thousand thoughts alit so that her mind might never rest.
Taurina had practiced the magic out in the sea of grass within the shadow of the Diamond clan. Just a little really. A ball of res curled into a marble in her palm that she played with. She was getting good at changing the res ball from gel to liquid to gas. The gas was the newest form she had tried, leaving solid for last. Somehow gas was easier than liquid. It was easier to focus on breath than it was to focus on blood. Taurina could feel breath. She could feel it being sucked in and blow out. She could feel the expansion of her diaphragm, hear the hollow sound that echoed throughout her chest. She could connect with it, visualize it, and loose it just as easily as she gained it.
The practice never went for long. She feared letting herself be pushed too hard. Feared letting the overgiving come and take hold of her. Especially when she was far from home and her family did not know where she was, let alone what she was doing. She would have told them, at least where she was going, but she had seen none awake when she left. To wake one of them seemed cruel. So she had left them to sleep, hopefully being blessed with sweet dreams, and promised in a whisper that she would be back with the sunrise. She was keeping that promise, heading back now as she gripped hold of yvas and mane in her hands as Starfire guided them home. They did not go very fast, but faster than they would have during the first two seasons of their bond. They were getting better. Growing to be more of a pair, a true team, that fell in sync with one another. It was truly a beautiful thing.
Beams of golden morning light were beginning to brighten brown grasses as the white stallion and his Drykas rider reached their home. Taurina brought Starfire into a walk and then a stop when they reached the other horses. She patted his side and whispered sweet murmurs of praise before dismounting. Hands worked quickly to remove the yvas and rub him down, gentle words continuing to pour out from her as she worked. In these moments, he was her everything and she allowed him to know it.
When she was finished, Taurina brushed a kiss upon the white strider’s cheek before gathering up the yvas and walking towards the pavilion. She should have wished for sleep. A few bells to do nothing but dream, but the ride had not tired her as she had wished it to. She was wide awake and knew well enough that trying to sleep would be futile. She needed something else to occupy her hands, her thoughts. Something else to do so that she did not just sit and dwell on all the thoughts that plagued her. Another low sigh was released as she dropped her yvas down to the ground where the others were kept. How she wished she could let everything go just as easily as the yvas had dropped from her hands. Unfortunately, life was not so easy.
Common | Pavi | 'Thoughts'
