New Beginnings (Sama'el, Denen)

[Lariat]

The crack of the barrel drew many eyes in the direction just in time to see the water wash over the ball of flame and the majority of the remnants, extinguishing the blaze in a burst of glory that echoed throughout the camp. Some other men rushed up to help with the fire with bucket in hand, and splashed the water accordingly over the parts of the tent still smoking with flame until even that was gone, and many of them could get to work on salvaging what they could from the tent used to stable the horses.

The strider Denen rescued neighed towards Denen, before turning around and following where Hek lead, a good distance away from the now miniscule flames, where they could eat grass in the clean air, and stay safe for the moment. Hek soon returned to the group when one of his own took his place in watching out for the horses and made his way to Denen, and Sam, his face a mask of relief, and confusion. " It was well that you thought fast as you did Watchman, and the same for your friend as well " Hek signed, a grateful smile coming to his lips, and yet still his brow furrowed with worry, something that did not change even as his first wife came over to him.

" I only wonder how the fire even started. This could have been so much worse, but thankfully you two where here " he added and sighed.

Around the spot where the fire first started was a blackened circle, much of the oil having melted into the very ground, and leaving it devoid of grass or anything else, the blast having left it also clear of any clues. For now though the camp was safe and secure, and more relieved than worried, Hek patted Sama'el on the shoulder. " I suppose it doesn't matter since everyone is ok " he signed quickly before glancing over his shoulder to make sure the rest of the camp was keeping busy with the work that now needed to be done.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el's almond-shaped eyes were wide with pain, staring at Denen's as he kept all noise tightly bottled within him in order not to keen with pain in front of Hek and his pavilion. Men of the Watch were made of the sternest stuff. His eyes prickled with tears he would not shed, but he shook his head, which ached something fierce, but he was mentally whole. Denen would see that his hands were made whole again. "Glad I could be of use, Ankal," he said through gritted teeth. The things he did to make friends and start a herd... "I might not be able to feed myself for a while now, though," he added, his humor just a touch desperate. He hoped Denen could manage the burns. Elsewise he would never become a competent marksman. He rocked back onto his feet, crouching with his muddy hands held before him. Denen would tell him whether the cool mud were best or if he needed to wash them off for salves and the like, but he had taken his actions to avert disaster and now he waited for those better suited to make the next decisions to do so. "If you give me a moment to recover, I could find out on the Web..." Such a specific, simple search for information wouldn't overtax his mind, he hoped. When they returned home for the night, though, he would likely ask Denen for milk of the poppy to help him sleep with this pain like a lover rather than what kept him from his rest, which was the best healer.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen saw the tears, whether Sam wished him to or not, and he reached up to cup his cheek for a single moment. But he let it drop, allowing for it to seem like nothing more than a concerned moment between friends. He was, however, fighting with his own nerves. To help Sam remain in control of himself, he'd have to do the same. Be the silent support. He lifted his eyes to Hek, gave a weak smile and moved a bit so that he could help Sam up to his feet. After all, he didn't have any major injuries to speak of. The hands worried him. Fortunately, they were within his capacity. He simply hoped he'd have the supplies to tend to the pain that would come with it. His blue eyes danced. He savored opportunities to tend to Sam. It was, after all, the only way he had to repay him for the kindness he showed. For the time being, the mud was the best thing for Sam, though Denen knew it'd have to be washed off soon. He needed to get Sam home, so that he could tend to him properly. Give him something for the pain he was in, and try to figure out how to keep him from petching around with his hands until they were better. His brows furrowed at Sam's offer. "Do you think that's a good idea?" He protested. He was worried that Sam might over-exert himself, and then, gods forbid, end up too tired to even ride home. "There are few people around. Perhaps the Ankal could send a rider or two to see what they can find." He looked to Hek almost pleadingly, his concern for his friend written across his young, dirty face.

[Lariat]

Hek gave a slight bow of gratitude but quickly signed. " There is no need to tax yourself anymore than you have to; I have sent some of my own out to investigate the web. You've done enough work to be thanked for. " He shifted a bit where he stood, adjusting his weight from his right to left, trying to rid himself of the stress that had settled on his shoulders, but no respite came, but distraction did, in form of his second wife, Nallia. " The horses have been seen to, and luckily none of them were harmed or injured themselves during the fire. Thanks for stopping the fire Sama'el, and thank you Denen, for getting the strider to safety " she said, alternating between the three men, her voice surprisingly calm and measured, despite what had just happened.

" I know you took some pain getting rid of that fire watchman, so we can meet tomorrow early in the morning to continue with our business if you need the rest. My appetite has flown me, so I think I will pass on dinner, but you are welcome to help yourself to food, drink, and a bed if it pleases you " he signed slowly, while watching for Denen's own signs as well.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

He smiled tightly to Denen, and nodded. To Hek, he nodded as well, trying not to roll his eyes at himself in his wish to do favors for the man in return for better deals on horseflesh. In his pain and desire to help, he had forgotten that all Ankals were initiated into the Web as weavers in order that they might tie their pavilions in and make use of it. Of course, those Web Mages in the Watch tended to be more skilled, but his gesture was taken as a gesture most likely. "You're welcome, of course," he said, as it behooved any proper guest to aid their hosts in such crises. Hospitality was important among the Drykas. He sighed, though, when the business was closed for the day. He had come with such high hopes for studding Horse and possibly coming away with a juvenile Seme or two. But at least they were building a relationship. "If you are not going to eat, I think it were best we returned home. Denen is a fine healer and will want to look at my hands, I'm sure. And I had better rest if we are going to speak in the morning. When I make fire, I often get headaches still." He chuckled ruefully. "So good night until tomorrow, Ankal. I thank you for your hospitality." He whistled and Dohaina came trotting up to them, Horse following her lead. At his command, the golden mare knelt so he could mount without his hands, which were held up before him, the cool mud slowly drying. He could feel the heat in his hands rising and knew it were best indeed they got home soon so Denen could take care of him and Hek's pavilion wouldn't hear him moan in pain.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen nodded in silent agreement, eager to get home and get Sam tended to. He would feel much better once he was treating the injuries and could see improvement. He watched Dohaina draw near, leading Horse with her, and his blue eyes turned in the direction of the Strider he'd saved earlier. He gave a soft sigh, imagining he might not get the chance to see him again, and moved to make sure Sam was settled securely on Dohaina's back before he turned to look at Horse. His nose wrinkled a moment, before he reached up to grab a handful of mane. "Thank you for your hospitality, Ankal Fleetrunner," he signed. "I am glad we were able to help."

[Lariat]

" Thanks be to your understanding, I did not foresee the night going this way. Be sure that we will be more than ready to accept you in the morning " Hek signed back, seeing the pair off before turning into his own tent. There was much work to be done.

In the morning, as the appointed hour approached, the Fleetrunner pavilion’s grounds buzzed with activity. Men, and women moved to make sure the horses where well fed, and plenty of water was available for them, while his wives to extra care to clean the horses, making sure they were comfortable and also looked their best. The movements of the people around camp arrayed the camp in much the same way as before except new posts had been erected closer to the largest pavilion, the need to keep them away from the herd being the same, but now under the addition of another pair of watchful eyes looking over them, to make sure no more such fires occurred. Two young semes also stood separated from the two groups of horses, on Hek's wives attending to them now with their full attention, brushing out the burrs in their fur, after running water over them to cool them off.

Even the nameless strider seemed to know what was going on for he was proving to be quite the handful for the man brushing him, often stepping to the side out of reach, or bumping into the young drykas. Nallia merely giggled at this further encouraging the young horse’s antics. He was indeed a handful and surely would give Denen a good run when they arrived in the morning. Frankly the strider just openly revealed what Hek, and they all felt, a anxiousness of the pairs approach, a good chance to further promote their name with starting relations with the young would be Ankal. The night had gone less than favored, and Hek was eager to fix that, not wanting to be known as someone who almost let his pavilion burn to the ground. Sama'el would help with that, and he wouldn't busy the young drykas with the formalities this time, being the fact that they had already covered it the previous day. Upon hearing a steady beat of hooves, Hek and Nallia would move to the front of the camp, more than ready to greet the two men. " Ho their watchman, I take it the rest did you some good? " Hek signed when he was close enough to see.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

When they returned on the morrow, Dohaina wore no bridle. She didn't really need one the way he rode her, but it was a precaution when riding circuit on the Sea of Grass. He guided her with his legs and his voice when necessary while his bandaged hands rested on his thighs. Denen had done a good job, giving him a draught that morning that eased the pain without making him loopy, and the salve under the bandages felt cool and tingly, proof that it was working, according to the healer. "Ho, Ankal," he called his face turned slightly toward Denen so he could read his lips, because otherwise his injuries had made him a mute where his deaf friend was concerned. He nodded to Nallia, too. "I think I'll live. Thanks to Denen." He smiled at his young companion, who was again sitting astride Horse. Sam was happy to share, happy his two friends got along so well, though he knew it was not the same as a Strider. He hoped that Dohaina's first foal would choose Denen, but that would be some time from now, after all. Hek seemed like a good man, and Sam was glad to befriend him. Perhaps between his bit of fireworks the night previous and Horse's stud fees, he would be able to purchase one of Hek's horses. If he could only get one, he would just hope it was a pregnant mare.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Sam was tended to, and Denen was relieved when he finally drifted into sleep. He'd awakened every hour to check on him, and while he was tired now as a result, he believed it to be well worth it. Sam would mend, given a little time. The injuries weren't as severe as they'd seemed the night before, but he made a mental note to do what he could to be sure he could treat them at any given time. He rode with him now, never letting his eyes leave Sam for long. He blushed at the compliment he was paid, and ducked his head in greeting to the Ankal. A quick smile was flashed in return to Sam, before he moved to dismount. His eyes cast about anxiously for Strider he'd met the day before.

[Lariat]

"All is well then I suppose. We still have business to contend to if my mind serves me correctly. I pray your injuries didn't take from your mind the two Semes we spoke of the previous day. “He signed finishing with a friendly smile while waving to a pair of his cousins to see to the two men's horses. He had wasted too much of the young man's time as is, or so he felt, what with the fiasco the night before, and in order to make amends for that he felt he needed to advance things before something else could turn up and further postpone their business. Besides that obvious reason, he had taken notice to Sama'el's wind runner, and reports from his Nallia assured him it would be good to negotiate something with Sama'el about using that horse to enhance his own stock. It would of course be factored into the new price he had come to for the pair of Semes but there was no need to tell the man that just yet. Always it proved a wiser course of action for them to try and use their negotiation skills on you first that you might better a fair cost to benefit the pavilion. Of course this time was different, and he would be tempted to give the watchman an easier go of things for his valiant effort.

Across the camp, the no-name strider called out loudly, neighing into the wind at the notice of the approaching man he recognized. He seemed rather excited to see the other drykas, more noticeable by the fact when he tugged at the rope securing him to the post. The poorly tied twine slipped free on the second tug, and the strider half ran half trotted across the camp towards Denen before he was stopped by Nallia and guided in a calmer manner to where the two men were talking, the woman stroking the striders cheek in an effort to calm the excitable horse. Calm as it could, but its eyes locked on Denen it walked towards him with the woman beside it, nudging him hard on the shoulder until he paid attention to him. " He has been quite excitable this morning, I think he missed you. " She signed to Denen, a bright smile on her face.