Flashback A Wrong Match (Kai and open)

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue 5th of Summer, 505 AV ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Within the Firetongue pavillion two children could be found. One was a seven year old girl, the other her fourteen year old brother. Said brother had long, light brown and slightly wavey hair. He was sat on the floor, sketching a handsome Strider he’d seen a few hours earlier with a stick in the dirt. He hummed to himself, smiling slightly. Their father had gone out as soon as the suns rays had peeked out over the horizon, waking with the dawn and setting out with his Strider. He’d had a glint in his eyes, saying he had a surprise for him. His heart was beating with excitement; there was rarely a time when his father would pay much attention to him, let alone get him a surprise. As one of the middle children, he tended to just be there. Not that it bothered him, but it made special events like this seem twice as appealing. The sound of hooves approached and Jez instantly looked up to the entrance of the tent he shared with his younger sister. He sprang to his feet when the hooves stopped, a wild snort sounding from behind the fabric. Curiously, he moved forward and brushed aside the entrance way to reveal his father. The man sat atop a proud horse, strong and sturdy and very loyal. The man and Strider were inseperable and worked as a perfect unit. Beside them was a much younger mare, fire in her eyes. She shook her head, pulling at the rein that his father held. “She may look mad now, but this fine mare is of the highest quality,” his father smiled, pushing the reins forward. Jez stepped forward, dipping his head in greeting to the fine mare. She was having none of it, stamping her feet and kicking out her hooves. Jez stepped back as his father dismounted, trying to soothe the mare. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (14 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Kai]

The other Firetongue child, the younger girl was Kai. A little girl with hair as dark as dirt and eyes as bright as the summer sky. Dressed in little more than a light shirt and trousers, she walked timidly to the source of the commotion. For commotion was always welcome in the world of little Kai Firetongue.

She was a gem of a child to her family. Her brothers and half siblings alike adored her, she brought pride to her parents for a clever child she was. And kind hearted also. Perhaps this kind heart was the reason for the abrupt calming of the young horse, as she raised her head and directed her ears to the muffled sound of the steps. Suddenly she seemed to have forgotten that she was on a leash and those soulful black eyes stared at Kai as if an invisible bond had suddenly built between them.

That lasted only for a moment after which the mare shook her main and neighed loudly, once again pulling at the rope.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The older brother glanced back at the tent as Kai appeared, though quickly swivelled around again when the snorting and stamping halted. The mare, previously feisty and kicking, was now stood almost peacefully. Confusion glazed over his expression, though a few seconds later the expensive creature resumed her tugging on the rope. “Come closer son,” their father gestured at Jez, “I have hand picked this Strider as I believe she and you will go well together.” Jez’s face had a look of disbelief on it; the mare didn’t seem particularly pleased to see him. He’d heard from stories and observed the older clan members as they interacted with their Striders, and had always assumed that he’d feel some sort of pull upon laying eyes on that special soul destined for him. This mare, whilst respected as any other Strider, struck no chord within him. Still, not one to disappoint he stepped forward and raised a hand to lay it on the mare’s nose in greeting. She shook her head in a quick movement and jolted away. The young teen chose not to become entwined in her dance, instead stepping back to address his father. “I don’t think she’s for me,” he spoke hesitantly, not wishing to see disappointment in the older man’s face. Obviously this had been thought over and a lot of money spent, yet where a bond wasn’t formed it couldn’t be forced. Jez sighed at the thought of still not having met his Strider; he was getting older each year and the Firetongue pavilion were known for bonding with a mare or stallion at relatively young ages. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (14 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Akilah Windsong]

Akilah felt like a very young ten as she tried to talk to the wind. Breathing and out, she walked not paying attention to where she was but only the direction the wind blew. Whistling high and low, she tried to attract the breeze's attention, tried to push air out of her in some appealing way.

Sure, this wasn't how her parents did it. Or half of her pavilion. Or even her extremely luck cousin who seems blessed for it. But they could already communicate with the breeze and she had no common starting ground with it.

Cajoling, she tried to talk to it in low whispers, for all the world looking like she was talking to herself. "Shhh, I can be a good friend, won't you come play with me? You already know me--we've met every day now. Please talk to me."

It wasn't working. It hadn't worked for the last ten days and she had a sinking feeling it never would. Maybe she wouldn't get it until she got her strider, or maybe even after then she'd have to go on a long quest.

Or, the worst, she would never be able to. She'd be a Windsong who never knew the Wind's Song.

It was disheartening. Almost walking into a Strider, she looked up to try to figure out where she was. Judging by the colours, she was in the Amethyst section, all the way on the other side of the city.

Ahead of her were two Striders, one mounted the other not. The latter was snorting and restless, fidgeting for some reason. Walking toward it (well, she could always return home that way, she reasoned with the breeze), Akilah craned her head slightly, stopping a little behind the horses so she wouldn't get caught staring.

"Oh, she's beautiful," she whispered. "I wonder who's her partner?"

[Kai]

Kai would have watched her father and brother converse if not something for something else catching her attention. A girl who nearly walked into her father's strider. And, similarly to a flame which was just extinguished, she disappeared from the place she was standing and appeared by the side of this girl. Great dark eyes staring at her with curiosity, for Kai wasn't a shy child at all. She would speak to everyone and anyone she encountered and her manner was utmost boisterous. "She'd to be my brother's strider." she spoke as an answer to the girl's solitary question. It didn't bother her that the girl wasn't addressing her,s he would talk anyway.

The mare raised her ears as if she was listening in her frantic dance. Rooting her hooves firmly in the dirt, she looked back, eyes at big as Kai's own now staring at the young Firetongue girl for another prolonged moment. The strider pulled on the lead, nearly ripping it from the Ankal's hands. She then proceeded to bob her neck up and down, letting the wind comb though her panelled main before looking back at Kai again. She would repeat this over and over again, taking sneaky peak at the girl, locking eyes with her as if she wanted the child to come closer.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The fourteen year old son of the Ankal hadn’t noticed the stranger who had just appeared on the scene; instead he was busy watching the mare with curiosity. He had always been fond of the fine horses the horse clans bred, taking every opportunity to learn something new about them. In fact, it was one of the only things you could be sure he’d do; he lived unpredictably, doing as he pleased so long as it didn’t harm members of the Firetongue pavilion. However, on the bonding of striders and Drykas he knew next to nothing. Of course, he knew that it was a special connection. Despite that, having never been bonded to one he couldn’t fully appreciate how a bond worked. Thus, he was confused at his father’s insistence that the expensive mare should become his. Perhaps the bond took time to work over, though this mare seemed stubborn in all regards and looked an effort to work with. He again tried to reach out his hand to pat the long face of the beautiful strider, yet this time her ears flicked back and he had only a moment to retract his hand from her aggressive attempt to bite him. He stumbled back, tripping over his feet but just managing to stay up right. With a laugh, he shook his head and raised his arms in resignation. “I mean no disrespect father,” he addressed the pavilion’s Ankal, “but I honestly don’t think this mare likes me.” One hand rubbed the back of his neck nervously, before he turned his head to seek out Kai. He was sure she’d been stood there a moment ago. He spotted her stood a little way back with a stranger, in conversation. The friendly teen raised a hand in greeting to the younger Drykas, offering a smile in greeting. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years (14 in flashback)|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Akilah Windsong]

"Huh?" Akilah started at the voice beside her, so intent on watching the horse that she hadn't noticed the other girl approach her. Looking down, she gave a sheepish grin when younger girl looked up with her. Her bright green eyes caught in the sun and she stared at them for second before explaining her reaction. "Sorry, didn't see you."

Looking back at the horse as she pranced, Akilah replied, "Your brother's lucky--she has a strong spirit."

A few more minutes and it became obvious that it wasn't just strong spirit the strider was displaying. Her ears flicked back, tail swishing rapidly back and forth as she moved her legs in small steps back and forth. The only small pockets of calm displayed was when her neck would turn slightly, her large eyes staring at the two girls, before snapping back at the person in front of her. A sudden movement forward and she could hear the sound of someone stumbling away in surprise.

It was the strangest dance Akilah had ever seen a horse make, and she was glad when it finished.

"Are you sure she's your brother's?" Akilah asked, looking down at the girl. The horse was looking at them now, long and steady and surprisingly calm. It wasn't too hard to follow the strider's line of sight and find it resting on the seven-year-old. "She seems calmer staring at you."

Looking back up, perplexed at this scene--picking a strider was a lot harder than she imagined. She never really thought of rejection before this moment, even though she knew it could happen. A small movement caught her eye. Behind the two horses, barely visible from her viewpoint, a boy stood. Older than her (taller too), he waved and she gave a small wave back.

This must be the brother she spoke of. This strider's future partner.

Looking back at the girl, at the horse much calmer than she was moments ago, Akilah had a sinking feeling just who's strider this might be.

[Akilah Windsong]

Her stomach grumbled, and Akilah knew it was almost lunch. Almost, hopefully, and not actually, because if she got home after lunch was served, there would be almost nothing left.

It must be nice to live in a small pavilion when it came to meals.

As for the siblings and the strider, this was a situation she didn't quite want to stay and watch the ending. While the strider was the one in the end to pick his/her partner, it was always embarrassing to not get picked. Especially if a younger sibling had a strider before you.

Looking back at the little girl, Akilah gestured at the mare once more. "I think she wants you. Maybe you should try bonding with her instead."

Then, turning, she waved goodbye to the girl. "I'm hungry, so I'm heading home now. Good luck!"

Seeing the brother, she gave him an awkward smile. As hard as it might be to find out that your chosen strider might not be yours, it must be even worse to have a stranger watching. "Good luck to you too."

Akilah started to run now, her stomach making all sorts of noises as she moved. Pumping her legs faster, she groaned at the hollow feeling in the pit of her body.

Next time she went exploring, she'd have to bring a snack with her.

[Jackalope]

Jez

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Recognizing When It Isn't a Match

Akilah

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
		Wishing to Understand the Wind
		Trying to Give Advice on Striders

Witty Remark Here

Not a lot to give here, hope you're happy with the lore! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.