Closed Horse's and a Viper (Viper)

[Ginchoeri]

Twenty Fifth of Fall 512 AV

Gin was a little more happy then normal, as was apparent by the slight skip in her step and the smile on her face. Though the smile was barely visible through the hood of her red cloak. She always had it on, to hide her hair, so briliantly white it was what earned her her name. She had woken up not to long ago, the sun barely up in the sky. The early morning chill giving her a welcome bite on her skin. She had let herself shiver, and then she had decided that she wanted to visit the stables and see the horses. She liked to whisper to them and pet their muzzles. Probably because it was what she liked her parents to do for her.

She passed tent after tent, pavilion after pavilion, until she could tell she was getting close. She forced herself to walk calmly towards the stables. She did not want her cloak hood to fall off, though it was this early, it seemed there were plenty of people out and about. Bustling through the moving city, starting their days early, probably so they can start the things they really wanted to do earlier in the evening.

Gin found herself stopped when she heard a frustrated voice and a horses huffs and puffs and snorts. She turned slightly in the still partly dark morning to see what looked like a man, and a horse. There was obviously something wrong, from the distance she was at she could not really tell what the problem was, but being her, she wanted to know.

She walked over to the man and the horse, as the man continued to try to do something with his horse. She smiled, chuckled quietly and then cleared her throat loud enough that the man who was on the other side of the horse. When she knew she'd gotten his attention she asked, "Would it be much of a bother if I asked you what the problem is?" She smiled at him to show that she was being sincere in her attempt to help.

They were not to far from the stalls, so she wondered if he was about to take his Strider out for a ride. It was starting to get light enough out that it would not be completely suicidal, but still it kind of surprised her.

[Viper]

"Oh c'mmon Aeyon! Give it a rest will ya." Dismounting from his strider, he maintains a firm grip on the reigns and move towards it's head. The horse winnies a bit as it sidesteps to get a better look at its rider. Viper grabs the bridle, bringing the horses muzzle lower. With the other hand, he gently pats the side of its jaw and let's out a sigh. "You can be quite hopeless sometimes, ya know that buddy." Suddenly the sound of another persons voice breaks the quiet of the early morning.

"Would it be much of a bother if I asked you what the problem is?"

Turning toward the yound lady, he smiled and let out a small chuckle. "Oh well I appreciate the help. But there really is no "problem"...per se. Ya see my friend here is a bit of a porker!" He says grinning as he eyes his horse once again. Turning back toward the lady he continues in a friendly tone. "I made the mistake one time of giving him a carrot along with his regular morning feed before going out for a ride. And now on the not so rare occasion, he'll give me a hard time until he gets his carrot."

Another small laugh escapes him as he reaches into his pack and pulls out a carrot. Looking to his strider, he brings the item to its mouth. Aeyon, let out a satisfied neigh as it finished the carrot happily. "See what I mean...porker!" With a shake of his head he turned back to the woman. "So what brings you out and about so early in the morning if ya don't mind my askin'?"

[Ginchoeri]

Upon really seeing the man she was slightly surprised, his hair was paler then others of the Drykas blood, but she could tell he was Drykas, it was hard to miss his build and stature as he stood next to his horse. But when he told her what was going on, immediatly she started shaking with laughter, trying to hold it back as he told the story. Carrots? Really, that was all? When he said that his horse was a porker for a second time she started cracking up, she could not hold it back. She was glad for the laughter though, she really did need it, she had been wallowing in her past two nights ago after her nightmares woke her.

She took a moment to pull herself back together, she took a deep breath and realized he had asked her a question about why she was out. She smiled and took another deep breath, trying to keep calm as she clutched her harp to her chest, which her open cloak revealed that she was wearing her normal blue dress. Her blue eyes looked straight at him as she stepped closer to the horse, gently placing her hand on its neck.

"I like to come here to the stables some mornings and whisper with the horses and greet them. They... bring a calm in me.. that no other creature has been able to do. I feel safest with them, because we share something no other could possibly share, well not that I have run into of course." she rambled on, and then she realized what she was doing. "Oh... dear, I have rambled on, my words must bore you. I must appoligize." Her hand moved up the Aeyon's pelt slowly, right up behind his ears and scratched a bit.

"You have a good horse here, I can tell he is a great friend to you, though you should not let him push you around like that." She smirked up at the man she did not know, "cause the moment you let him, was the moment you started to always bring a carrot with you to morning rides. He can smell it you know, the carrot I mean, that is why he refused to move until you gave him a treat. Also, always giving him carrots for treats can be bad for him, change it up every once in a while, give him an apple or some wild berries, he would be just as happy with those." she chuckled and gave the man a wide grin.

"Oh! Where are my manners? I have not introduced myself!" she said with a sudden realization that she had made a habbit of waiting to tell people her name. "I am Ginchoeri, but you can just call me Gin. I have been told more than a few times that it rolls off the tounge better for most Drykas. I just like it cause it has always been my nickname and it is short."

[Viper]

He had a friendly smile gracing his face as she spoke and stroked Aeyon's neck. An eyebrow raised as she spoke so passionately about her love of horses. Curious he thought, as he made note of her physical features. He was close to his horse as well, but she seemed to feel something even deeper. Perhaps time would tell what this was. For now, he would simply listen, and maybe look for clues as they talked.

Upon her claim that her words must have been boring him, he held his hand up and shook his head. "No not at all. I doubt you will find a Drykas just about anywhere that doesn't feel similarly." When her comment about changing up the treats came around his smile widened somewhat. "Oh ya, I've done that, and he'll take them. But his favorite is definitely carrots. Still he doesn't get them that often." Turning back toward his horse he jokes, "I'd go broke in a season if I let you eat as many treats as ya wanted. Isn't that right Aeyon?"

With a shake of his head, he turns back to the woman who then introduced herself as Gin. He held out his hand to shake and replied, "Gin. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Viper." Stroking the side of Aeyon's neck after shaking her hand, he asked, "So whereabouts are you from Gin? Where do you call home?" He could tell she was obviously not Drykas. Neither her name, nor clothing were something of the norm in Drykas culture.

[Ginchoeri]

Gin smiled as she shook his hand her sweet laugh filling the morning air again. "Viper huh? Interesting name," she said thinking it must be a nickname but did not ask. She knew names were a touchy subject so she left it at that. When he asked about where she came from she frowned and looked down. "I do not... really know.... I... somewhere from the north? For a while now, Endrykas has been my home, my only home. But, I feel safe here, so... I guess it is good yes?" she looked back up at him, failing at her attempt to smile again a she thought of her travels here and the hardships she had faced.

She leaned into Aeyon's pelt for comfort, her cloak hood shifting to reveal a few strands of white hair. One hand still clutching her harp in its cover over her chest. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sent of this loyal creature. It was comforting to her and she turned her body to look at Viper, guessing she looked like a freak acting so close to an animal she barely knew. She was just glad Aeyon was not being skiddish.

She smiled a bit. "See what I mean, horses unlike me, are sturdy creature most of the time, I find consolation in that, that simplest of things. Aeyon right? He has the strong smell of the Sea of Grass and recent travel, and of course a little bit of you is there as well." she smiled, and then again realized she must sound weird again. Of course she was decidedly avoiding giving Viper to much of her past at once. One thing at a time she thought.

She sighed and wondered if she should at least tell him what she was, so he could make a little more sense of the things she said. She thought about it hard, and when she found the answer she liked best she decided she would execute it that way. She would wait till he asked her what she was, if he did not oh well, maybe they would meet again and she would tell him then.

[Viper]

His smile faded some when he noticed how emotional she got at the mention of where home is. Touchy subjuct he figured, he thought it best to just leave the subject alone. At least Aeyon seemed to be a bit of a comfort to her. Though that brought about its own host of questions. Why did she seem to so easily attach to any number of nearby horses? Even Drykas don't normally bond with their horses this quickly...unless...she...

Suddenly he noticed the glimmer of a few strands of white hair slipping out from beneath her red cloak. She did not look old at all, so she could not have that color hair from old age. Course most people thought he was older than he looked because of his paler than normal blonde hair Interesting the small clues that kept coming out. Speaking up finally to answer her last comments he said, "Oh I understand about finding happiness or consolation in the little things. It's why Aeyon and I go for these morning rides. Something peaceful and calming about the Sea of Grass in the early morning as the sun begins to rise." As he spoke, his own tone grew a little more serious. His emerald green eyes showed a man that too had seen and been through much.

Brandishing a smile once more though, he tone decidedly became more cheerful once again. "Tell ya what. I usually go riding for an hour or two. Care to join us and see for yourself what I mean?"

[Ginchoeri]

She strangely did not feel threatend by his more serious tone. More like she felt more meaning from the words because of it. She refused to look away from his eyes, which were constantly changing with emotion. Beautiful green eyes that seemed to want to captivate her and tell her their story. When he suggested they go out riding together however, she frowned again.

"I ... have no clue about how to ride a horse.." she confessed, "I... never had the need." she new this would greatly confuse the man. How could a horse lover not know how to ride one. Well.. in her case it made sense, but only if you knew what she was. "Though I have gone out, just outside the city borders to view the pleasures you speak of." It was not exactly a lie, but it was not exactly a truth either, she just ommited the part where she stripped and became a horse. She blushed at the thought.

She fidgeted a bit, she was getting nervous without really knowing why. She did not like it and looked around a bit seeing if it was something she was sensing but not seeing, though if that were the case Aeyon would be getting nervous too, and he was not at all. No instead, Aeyon seemed to notice her unease and nibbled at her shoulder and head.

Gin laughed, her smile lighting up her face as she patted Aeyon's muzzle sweetly. "Thank you Aeyon, but I think I am okay," she kissed his nose sweetly and did what most people dared not to do, she looked into the horse's eyes. She continued to pet him, moving her hand to the under side of his muzzle. "Yeah," she whispered, "you are a good one, even if you have a knack for eating carrots like a rabbit." Aeyon nudged her, forcing her to take a small step backwards. She giggled again. "Yeah yeah, you are welcome."

The way she handled Aeyon with knowing wisdom was astounding, Viper would probably notice, like she had the spirit of horse residing in her. At least, that is how it would be said if one did not know Gin was a horse kelvic. Most shocking was that when she had looked straight in Aeyon's eyes he did not get skittish and or freak out on her, he had stayed calm. Most people know, or well, are told to never look into an animals eyes, for it could end in catastrophy. In the case of a normal person doing this with a horse, using Aeyon as an example, Aeyon might have reared back and kicked out if Gin was not what she was. But Aeyon, was surprisingly calm.

[Viper]

The moment she frowned, he wondered if he had been to forward. He didn't mean anything by it, but rather was just trying to be friendly. But when she admitted she didn't know how to ride, a confused and doubtful expression appeared on his face. How could someone travel these dangerous lands and not know how to ride? Surely she didn't walk. His earlier suspicion began to enter his mind again. He pondered if she was in fact a Kelvic of some kind. Bird maybe...actually wait, that wouldn't make any sense. If she was a Kelvic horse however, that would definitely answer a few questions.

Such as her high fondness in horses without actually knowing how to ride, her white hair, and also her ability to warm up to Aeyon so quickly, going so far as to look him in the eyes. Especially since he wasn't usually so quick to trust. With a low chuckle, he smiles. "Looks like Aeyon like you. That's different. He doesn't usually warm up to strangers so quickly." It seemed to him as though she wished to keep a few things to herself. Although curious about her somewhat strange behavior and the reasoning behind it, he wouldn't push her into saying anything she didn't want to. Especially since it wasn't his business anyway.

Turning toward the direction of the rising sun for a moment, he then looks back to Gin. "Well Gin. I'm afraid we must be off. The sun is rising quickly. Sorry you won't be able to join us." Somehow he suspected he would be seeing her again soon anyway. Pulling the reigns a bit to break Aeyon away he smirks and eyes him firmly, yet still jokingly. "Alright ya old smoothy. Stop hittin' on the pretty lady and let's get goin'. No more excuses." Mounting up onto his strider, he turns back to Gin, lowering his head slightly in a small bow toward her. "Gin, once again it was great meetin' ya. I hope you have a pleasant day."

With that, he gently nudges Aeyons sides with his heels and begins to trot off into the Sea of Grass...

[Ginchoeri]

Gin giggled at him, "Aeyon just knows that I know more about his kind then most people realize." She was loosening up a bit, to this kind man with a vicious name. She was warming up to him easier then most, though she was always kind with those she met. There is only ever a rare occasion when she is rude to someone purposefully. But with Viper she had absolutely no reason to feel that way.

She kind of froze when Viper said he was leaving. She enjoyed his company and wanted to talk more, but how, as a horse she could not talk but she could travel with him. But, she felt, conversation was what she needed with this man, and he was determined to go out on a ride. Like his life depended on it. She smiled at the joke, and at the compliment she blushed slightly.

He was already on the horse and on his way, she had to act quick. She spoke frantically and quite loudly, "Could you teach me?!" she jumped at her own voice, she was not so used to being so loud, she was normally way less foreward as well. But she knew she had gotted his attention cause he had stopped Aeyon or.. if it was not him Aeyon stopped himself.

She quickly padded up next to Viper, "I... I mean if you do not mind, could you teach me how to ride? Or.. at least.. we could ride double, I could ride behind you if you would think it more proper. I.. just thought.. I guess what I am saying is.. I would rather not be alone with no one to talk to." She was obviously flustered. She had no really clue how to ask for this simple thing. It would be helpful to know how to ride someday, if she was trapped and could not change into a horse herself. She had no idea why she had not thought of it herself. Of course to any normal person this could also be seen as a desperate call for attention, which is never the case for her, she is not one who seeks attention most times.

[Viper]

Her quick call out to him caught him by surprise, and he jerked back on the reigns. Turning back to her, he slowly brought Aeyon about so he would be facing her once more.A somewhat confused smile appeared on his face as he eyed the young lady, trying to make heads or tails of her. She was definitely a spirited little thing, he'd give her that.

Pulling back on the reigns once more, he brought Aeyn to a stop next to her as he pondered the request. Looking down, he leans over a bit to speak to his horse. "What say you Aeyon? Would you mind if the lady came along with us for the ride?" Viper let out a small laugh as the horse neighed happily. "Very well, you're welcome to join us. I'm not sure actually teaching you to ride would be very safe out on the Sea of Grass, but ya. You're definitely welcome to come along. I'll warn ya though, we don't move slow out there!" He finished with a small wink.

He pulled off his two swords from his back and lashed them the side of his saddle. Once secured he held out a hand to help her on up so as to sit behind him. Once she was up, he waited till she was ready before heading on out. As they past the last pavillion and nothing but open field lay stretched out before them as far as the eye could see, he couldn't help but smile. The crisp fall air was a welcome feeling. And the early morning time just as the sun was rising always filled him with a feeling as though he could do anything in the world.

(play this song at this point... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WzJUb4Su54 )

Lifting his mask to cover the lower half of his face from the cold air, he placed a hand on hers which were wrapped around him. "Hold on tight!" He said playfully. And with that, he nudged Aeyons sides a little more forcefully causing him to run. With not a second to spare, they were off into the open wild.

As they rode, wild birds would periodically spring from the hiding places in the grass and break for the open sky. It wasn't long before beams of sunlight broke through the cloud cover, illuminating the great prarie he so proudly called home. The energy within him only rose higher and higher the faster they went, any and all worries melting away from the exhilerating beauty that was Cyphrus.