A Stride in the Right Direction (Lariat)

[Laria]

Immediately she could tell that the correct signal had been given. For a brief moment, the girl marvelled at how responsive the horse was. She suspected that any normal horse would need a much bigger prompt that what she had just given. She felt the horses muscles release their tension, even through the thick leather yvas she was seated on. She suddenly realized just how powerful this creature was. She jolted forwards, unused to the sudden surge of speed, and her grip tightened as she willed herself to stay on the horses back. Laria was thankful that the women moved, for she had no intention of letting anyone else get hurt. Though she had a feeling that the Strider wouldn’t either. As the horse sped up an irrational wave of panic hit her. Things usually slowed before impact, but not this time. She jerked forward again as they slammed into the man, and she heard the unmistakeable crunch of bone. The horse continued for perhaps a pace before it turned back and stopped. Eyes wide, the girl stared at the crumpled figure on the ground. She met his gaze, his eyes full of hatred. She paused, waiting for the recognition to hit him. And when it did, she watched as he scrambled backward. But what she wasn’t expecting was three members of the watch to appear. She looked down at the horse, still standing strong, bold as anything, and then over to the man, now whining to the others. In one swift move, Laria dismounted and led the mare to them. The man wearing the Topaz colours had asked her a question, and she would answer it honestly. Not like the grovelling man on the floor. “What happened, Sir, was the Strider here just trampled this man.” There was no point in lying about it. There had even been witnesses. But she would not end there. “I do believe that the Strider had reason though. This horse is not mine. It led me to this man before it ran him down. I think that it belongs to a woman, now fighting for her life in a tent of the Opal clan.” She paused then, looking over for the man’s reaction. “I doubt actually, if she is still alive right now. This blood,” she motioned to her clothing, which was still covered in the crimson stuff. “is hers. The horse and I carried her to the healers after I found her in her torn up tent. I followed a bloody trail left by him.” She pointed venomously at the greasy-haired individual. “And that knife there,” again she pointed, this time at the bloodied knife he had dropped. “Is his.” She was silent after that. She was right, and the man knew it. She could ask the healer to verify it, she could even show them the ruined and bloody tent. In fact, Laria had not laid a hand on the man. She had been riding the Strider, that much was true, but it was not hers, and Striders never obey strangers.

[Lariat]

A deep set scowl set into his features as the Topaz watchman looked from the woman to the begging man even more emphasized with the grimaces the others wore at looking upon the blood pattering the young woman's shirt. No one liked dealing with such unpleasantness but such was their job, but even after a brief whispering between the group they where uncertain yet if the man was guilty or not. Then the Topaz clansman urged his horse forward, dividing the area between the woman and greasy haired man further, and then looking at the both of them, each in their turn. " All that we have heard has been taken into account, and should the woman live; her testimony will be taken into account as well. For the moment though I am going to have to ask the both of you to accompany us back to our camp for questioning while we see if anyone knew either of you and could place you where you say you where " he said his eyes scanning from her back to the greasy haired man who was now sweating profusely. He didn't seem to like what the man offered, his eyes darting nervously about, and reflexively the watchman put a hand on the hilt of his sword.

The man struggled to his feet, before looking at the watchman solemnly nodding his head in agreement, and making a move to shuffle towards the men who would take the both of them into custody. Just as soon as he was behind to topaz watchman though, he produced a dagger from within his shirt, and stabbed it into the hide of the horse, sending it far away into a gallop. He then made a stumbling run backwards tripping over a tent and falling into the jumble of cloth, extracting himself on the other side and continuing to run. An arrow caught him in his lone remaining good leg, bringing him down to the ground once and for all, two of the watchmen moving to pick him up none too kindly, and working their way to the outskirt of Endrykas. The topaz watchman who had reclaimed hold on his horse quickly from practice trotted towards the woman, his horse coming easily to a stop but still in much discomfort. " Regrets milady for not believing you, I'll be at the Opal tents on the morrow to more seal things up here " he said and with that nudged his horse on, trotting off to the camp they had mentioned. Behind her, the strider nudged her, pushing its nose against her hair, and breathing against her. For once it didn't know what to do next, the motion more acting as if it was asking her what to do.

[Laria]

Laria was practically holding her breath while she waited from the reactions of the watch members. She tried her best to keep her expression smooth, neutral as they murmured between each other. She took an involuntary step backward when the Topaz clan member separated her and the greasy-haired man with his horse. They didn’t trust her. She knew it. Worry crept into her eyes. There were no nerved though, not like the other man. He screamed nervousness. Laria nodded slowly at the watchman, unable to find her voice. Her day was not getting better. Nobody in her Pavilion knew where she was. Laria herself hadn’t exactly planned on following a bloody trail to a destroyed tent. She almost didn’t see what happened next. There was a flurry of movement resulting in the watchman’s horse taking off in a panicked run. She saw the dagger, identical to the one the man had dropped earlier and she realized what had just happened. Eyes widened and she stepped back in fear. Laria watched as the man tried to run for it, visibly jumping as an arrow took him in the leg. She spun round as the Topaz clanmember approached her. She was on the verge of panic, but she managed to nod at his words. “I uh, yes. Okay.” As things calmed and the watchmen started to return order to the area, she felt a pressure on her head. The Strider had stepped up behind her. Laria turned to face it, leaning lightly against its side for a moment. After perhaps a chime she straightened up, looking at the Strider. “Well… I suppose we should go and see how your owner is doing.” She pressed lightly against its shoulder in a gesture to turn around, and she then proceeded to walk back to the Opal healer’s tent. When the pair arrived, she would enquire after the woman, praying she was still breathing.

[Lariat]

The horse nodded as it understood what she said, but instead of following her immediately, he walked in front of her, barring her path and meeting her eyes. It seemed to reach out at her then, as if it wanted to tell her something but couldn't find a way to express that. It gestured its head to the ground, the bloodstained patch of dirt easily in view, and then bumped her with its head, before shaking it side to side briskly. That was the end of its outburst, and after that it found itself content to let her lead it along to the opal tents, it muscles relaxed and seeming content after the act of vengeance. Outside of the two large tents, people moved back and forth, busy getting some odd piece of equipment, or talking to either the watchmen that had arrived, or the man and woman dressed in green emerald, tears streaking their faces. A large strider sat outside of the medicine tent, painting quite a sullen picture, and adding on to the depth of what had occurred combined with the serious faces of the healers. Even to an outside eye, it would be clear what had happened here. Someone had died, most likely the woman recently brought in was that very person.

The same man that Laria had encountered when she brought the woman here approached her now, distress plainly written on his face. " The woman you had brought died, there wasn't much we could do for her besides ease the pain [/b" he said, managing through some miracle to keep his voice steady as he watched her, taking in deep breaths himself. "[b] The watch arrived not too long ago and told us you helped catch her killer, thank you for that. Her parents and strider are over there now, I'm sure they'd like to see you for themselves, just for a bit of solace you know? " he continued measured, adjusting his freshly donned on tunic as he spoke, the only evidence of his nervous fidgeting. The strider by her side decided to walk forward now, nudging her shoulder to do the same, making his way to the family standing just outside the entrance into the tent.

[Laria]

Laria found the motions of the Strider curious. She wasn’t all that sure what it was trying to tell her, but she had a feeling it was something to do with the dark patch of ground nearby. Perhaps it was merely a signal of its satisfaction now that the man who had hurt its owner was dealt with? Either way, it didn’t last long, and was following her back through the tents as if nothing had ever happened. As the pair neared the tent of the Opal healer from before, Laria sensed that something wasn’t right. A sense of… oppression hung in the air around the tents, and she noticed a few things that she would rather not have done. Tears on the cheeks of a few people and a restless strider. The signs all pointed to one thing, and Laria suspected that the healer now approaching was going to confirm it. She sucked in a breath as he started to speak. Of course, with wounds like she had the chances had been slim, but Laria had been hopeful all the same. A stiff nod was given at his thanks, and she glanced over to where he had motioned. She mumbled a thank you to the healer and turned in the direction of the woman’s parents, taking a few steps forward at a nudge from the Strider. As Laria approached the woman’s parents, she realised for the second time that she was still covered in crimson blood. It had dried somewhat, slightly changing in colour, but it was still obvious what the stains were. She stopped a few paces away and nodded to the couple. “I’m so sorry.”

[Lariat]

Tears stained cheeks all around, some faces flush after crying so much. The faces of the man and woman looked grayish, their bronze skin gone pale when they learned of their daughter's death. A flicker of recognition crossed the man's features as he caught sight of Laria. " Your the woman who found Adjija " he said in a solomn tone, his once proud and strong voice broken by the news of his daughter's death. He slowly extended a trembling hand to clasp her arm with his, the familiar action being all his body could allow him to do. His wife bore no such bonds to ceremony, embracing Laria wordlessly and breaking into a violent sobbing, her body trembling like a leaf in the win.

Head buried in Laria's shoulder, she cried until it seemed she could cry no more, her hands knotting themselves in the bloodstained fabrics of the white cotton tunic. Slowly to woman's hands unwound themselves from the tunic and a hand drifted up to hold Laria's face and gently kissed her cheek. " Thank you.. For doing what you did... " she said softly before drawing away to stand beside her husband, her raven black curls now a little more messed up than they had been before.

The couple then departed back into the tent for one last look at their late daughter, leaving Laria to stand alone save for the strider behind her. The mare seemed more at peace now, more free in it's movements but remained steadfast at Laria's side. Even when the girl moved to get away from the camp, the strider followed her, silently conceding to her ability to lead. It would move beside her if she needed protection from a careless horse, and lower it's head when she looked to weary to take another step. The horse would not leave her side unless commanded to, and even then would stick close by in case of need. A bond had been forged, one of trust, and the strider mare would do everything it could to ensure the woman's safety.

[Laria]

It was evident that the couple had taken the news badly, as of course she knew they would have done. The woman in particular seemed almost on the verge of collapse, and Laria’s heart wrenched at the sight. A nod was given at the words of the father. She would rather not have heard the dead woman’s name, for it made Laria feel worse. She sucked in a breath and gently laid her other hand over his in a gesture of sympathy. The woman took her very much by surprise. She blinked and glanced at the man, unsure what to do with the sobbing woman now clinging to her tunic. She awkwardly patter her shoulder till the grip on her clothing relented, and her eyes met those of the grieving woman. No words came to her till the couple had turned, then her voice was barely a whisper; so quiet that they wouldn’t hear her at all. “I wish I could have done more…” Laria began to walk, heading back to her own Pavilion. It took her a few moments to realise that the strider mare was still following her. She stopped and turned, facing the horse. “What are you doing hmm? Your family is back there.” She reached up and stroked its face, looking right into the mare’s eyes. Something tugged inside of her then, like a ribbon pulling her closer to the horse. It took her very much by surprise and her eyes widened slightly. Something had shifted without her realising it. She felt connected to the horse and not in the usual emotional way. It was like the mare and herself were one being; she could practically feel its need to protect her resonating in her own human mind. She took a moment to process it before she flung her arms round the striders neck and buried her face in its shoulder. She let herself cry, bringing up all the tangled emotion from the day. Beneath the pain of having the woman die and the shock of finding her, there was a simple feeling of happiness. Laria had been accepted by a strider. The mare was hers and hers alone, and now her family would be proud of her. Perhaps things would finally start to get better.

[Lariat]

Laria

Experience:

Rhetoric: 4 xp
Socialization: 2 xp
Riding (Horse): 2 xp


Lores:

A blood smeared clue
Chasing to the crime
Doing the right thing
Bringing a woman to aid
Following a strider to a murderer
Tangled with the Watch
Finding your own two feet
Consoling a family with loss
Bonding with your first strider

Comments
A great thread with you Laria, you are inspiring, and a great rider. I very much enjoyed it, and deeply sorry this took me so long to grade. If you have any questions just send me a pm!