To Live is to Run

[Naiya]

Rue

Rue smiled, gesturing her pleasure at the company. "It's not far, and if we go back into the city here, we can get there even more quickly, but it's probably best to walk." Rue only gave herself a moment to gaze at the horse and consider Silverrain's offer. It had been a while since she had ridden outside of traveling with her pavilion, but if she was honest with herself there was no need to be mounted.

"It's just beyond here I think." Rue said as they topped the rise that she had crossed not too long ago with a stranger's horse in tow. As they approached the pavilion a boy ran out to meet them.

"You're that girl from before, you caught Tangle for me when she got loose. My name is Evan, ma'am, what can I do for you?"

Rue smiled, gesturing to her companions, "We would like to visit your horses if you've got the time to let us?" A proud smile broke across his face.

"We've always time to show off our horses. They are just beyond here if you'll follow me?"

Nightsong

[Silverrain]

Silverrain followed Rue and the boy through the camp, leaving Bramble to wait at the outskirts and graze. She had to admit she was rather excited to see some new horses. The idea of keeping multiple horses, of breeding and caring for them, had always intrigued her. Not enough to make her want to pursue it, but enough for her to think of it in a romantic light now and then. Maybe she'd marry into Amethyst clan, a swarthy horse-keeper. Her thoughts got away from her and she daydreamed a bit, nearly walking into Rue. She pulled herself back to reality and stopped abruptly so as not to collide with the other woman, hoping that she hadn't noticed.

Blinking quickly, Silverrain listened to make sure she hadn't missed any conversation that was expected to participate in. Her eyes darted from sight to sight, noting the design of the pavilion, it looked familiar to her. Probably work she had seen from another Ruby Clan.

There were a few rather nice looking young men in the area, and Silverrain couldn't help but grin. She wasn't...boy-crazy, but she enjoyed looking at them, that was certain. Once she had stopped stressing (overly much) about being wed, it had become a fun thing to know that she was unattached and could look all she liked. For a moment she even forgot that their purpose here was the horses.

And then she remembered. She sauntered up next to Rue and leaned in to ask "Are you going to get a horse?"

[Naiya]

Rue

Was she going to get a horse? It was a good question, logical and the obvious conclusion. If you'd never met her father. "Oh no," Her hands signed surprise and secrecy as her voice dropped so not to be overheard by Evan, "If I bought a horse from another pavilion my father, my ankal, would have a fit. Evan owes me a favor, so I just wanted to visit with the horses, I figure it would make everyone happy." Rue gave the girl a smile.

she turned to face front again as the sound of horses reached her ears, she moved her hands in a sign of excitement as Evan called to them "It's just around here." They turned behind the pavilion and were greeted with the sight of a corral full of horses who seemed excited to have company.

One horse in particular stood out, a deep red blood bay with a cream mane, who reared up above the other horses. He whinnied loudly as he dropped back towards the earth and Rue felt a pull in her heart. "He's beautiful." She said, hands signing joy and awe.

"He's been acting strangely since you were here last, ma'am, you'll have to excuse his behavior, really he's a good horse." He said as he rushed forward to calm the colt.

Nightsong

[Silverrain]

Silverrain's breath caught at the sight of the horses, and for a moment she forgot what Rue had said. She grinned impishly of a sudden, noting the reaction of one horse in particular and then Rue's action in turn.

"Ankal or not, today you are getting a horse."

She recognized that look on Rue's face, had felt it twice before. A pang hit her heart as she remembered the horse whose name she had taken. Silverrain had been gorgeous. Beautiful to look at, well-mannered, quiet. She was so much more fit for the name than the girl who now bore it. But she bore it proudly.

And then came Bramble, an equally beautiful horse, but different. Bramble was less easy-going, more vocal and less willing to be pushed around. A few times Silverrain had found herself thrown to the ground with a huffy Bramble snorting down at her. It never hurt more than the occasional bruise, but it got the mare's point across.

Silverrain's attention was brought back to the present and she spoke up a bit louder. "Evan, what's he called? Can we see him?"

She only half-waited for an answer, moving forward and motioning for Rue to follow.

[Naiya]

Rue

"Ankal or not, today you are getting a horse."

The words bounced around in her head, not quite making sense. Her head was too full of the horse before her. He was amazing with soft stockings on his legs and a startlingly white blaze on his face. Silverrain moved ahead of her, waving for her to follow snapping Rue out of her reverie.

Ahead of them both Evan was trying to calm the colt, but the creature would have none of it. "He's a little wound up right now, it might be best you visited some other horses." Young and embarrassed by the horses behavior, Evan was oblivious to what was happening.

The horse was paying Evan no attention, straining his ears towards Rue, he seemed to be feeling the same pull Rue was feeling.

When Rue ducked through the fence holding the horses, the bay broke away from Evan and raced towards her through the corral.

He stood before her and stomping his foot as Evan shouted a warning. He shook himself, snorting at his handler as if to say he was being foolish. Rue had remained still, unafraid that the horse would trample her as he approached, but now she reached out towards him, offering her hand for him to scent. He calmed rapidly as he smelled her, bobbing his head up and down softly as Rue moved to inspect him. Up close she could see the striping in the color on his legs and patches of the same bright white that marked his face in his creamy mane. He was big, already as tall as she was at the shoulder, making him close to 17 hands.

"Hey there fella." she murmured as she reached his face once again, patting him softly on his cheek. Evan approached them carefully finally answering silverrain's question "We call him 'big red', it's funny because he is only three and already so tall, he's got at least another year of growing. He seems to have calmed down now, what did you- oh. Oh!" Things seemed to click into place as he saw the two of them together. "He's your- your his- woah."

Nightsong

[Silverrain]

Silverrain leaned against the fence of the corral, her elbows on the rails. A lazy grin played on her lips as she watched Rue and 'Big Red' get to know one another. When Evan caught on, she winked at the boy. "It looks like we'll be taking someone to get her windmarks."

She was pleased for Rue. This type of bond was a beautiful feeling, it was what it meant to be Drykas. She ached mildly, briefly, for Bramble, wanting to feel that connection as she observed it. She also absently wondered what Rue would get as her windmarks. The wondering took her mind to a new place, remembering getting her set of windmarks, and then the continuation of them. Her fingers pressed gently to her ribs as she remembered the pleasant ache, the proud pain.

She sighed softly, in nostalgia. Giving Rue another moment, she pushed off from the fence and approached. With an impish grin, she asked, "So what was that about your Ankal?"

[Naiya]

Rue

"I can't buy him." She answered Silverrain but answered her thoughts as well. "My Ankal would be beside himself with anger. Spending that kind of money.." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Can I come visit him?" She asked Evan, turning her worried look to him as she wrapped her arm around the strider's neck.

"What? Hold on... I need to speak with my Ankal.." He turned towards his pavilion as he spoke, running off and leaving the two girls with the horses. To Rue it was like a part of her that had been missing was standing beside her and she knew he would have to stay here apart from her. "What am I going to do?" She asked Silverrain, dreading the coming night and her imminent departure.

The strider 'big red' neighed uneasily, and Rue reached out to him mindlessly. "It's okay, we'll figure it out."

Nightsong

[Silverrain]

"Do you want me to pretend to be a Zith raider and steal him away? Then I can deliver him to you and you can name him something inconspicuous like 'large blood' or something and no one would be the wiser." Her gestures indicated that she was ribbing gently and she smiled faintly. She set a comforting hand on Rue's shoulder. "Evan seems pretty fascinated with this whole thing. Maybe he can work out a good trade?"

Silverrain considered what she might be able to do to help, but she knew she didn't have enough means to put much of a dent into the matter, really. And then there was the issue of Rue's father, the larger issue being he was also an Ankal. Silverrain was always thankful that she hadn't been born the child of an Ankal, she was content being a niece. Leaders always had a hard line to walk and often their families were required to walk it as well, if only for example's sake. Even if they somehow managed to get the Strider, Rue would have gone against the will of her Ankal. That was trouble in and of itself, but more so if you happened to be one of the ones held to a higher standard.

"Do you think your father would be pleased that you earned your windmarks? It makes you a valid Drykas now, full, complete. What parent doesn't want that in their child? Who cares where the horse came from, this is a big deal. I'm sure he'd understand."

[Naiya]

Rue

My windmarks. Finally a Drykas full. Yes, I think it will be alright.." Or, she thought, no worse than anything else I've done.

Rue smiled at the thought, a strider of her own, finally! And her windmarks, what would she have done? And where? She was thrilled by the thoughts, her father couldn't possibly fault her for this, could he?

Evan returned to them with a grin plastered across his face. "My father says we can work out a trade, something that will allow you to take your strider to his rightful home. Consider it a debt paid." His grin widened even more as he spoke and Rue signed her excitement and thanks.
"If you'd like, you can look at the other horses, Ma'am, while Miss Nightsong and I discuss business?" He extended the offer to Silverrain so she would not feel obligated to watch as the three, man woman and strider, spoke.

In the end, the trade cost very little for Rue, instead of dealing in Mezas they traded the horse for Rue's work. She offered new dresses or free embroidery for any that wanted it within his pavilion. In exchange she would receive the strider. It was a simple trade, but it was a good one for all involved.

Her strider stood by paitently until the deal had been struck, then as if sensing the end of the serious business, he stuck his nose in the middle of Rue's back and pushed her with a snort, tired of being ignored. Rue felt a zing of excitement move through her as she reached out to the boy, running a hand through his long mane. She blew softly into his nose, and he bounced his head up and down. Rue was practically bouncing with her excitement.

"Silver!" She called, the nickname going unnoticed in her joy, "I've got a strider... But I don't think big red is the right name for him, I'm sure there must be one that fits him better out there."

Nightsong

[Silverrain]

Silverrain smiled broadly and left the three to their business. She wandered among the horses, touching flanks and noses and manes. She paused now and then, considering Bramble and considering if she'd ever find a mate for her strider. It wasn't necessarily that she wanted to breed the mare, but she wondered if Bramble ever got lonely. If she ever wanted to have a mate and a colt of her own, a family of her own. Perhaps the Drykas was projecting her own wishes, her own hopes and dreams, but she did wonder. She wanted what was best for the horse, even if she wasn't entirely sure what that was yet.

Besides, Bramble could have beautiful babies.

"Silver" The nickname made her smile and she turned, returning to Rue. "I've got a strider... But I don't think big red is the right name for him, I'm sure there must be one that fits him better out there."

"Spend some time with him. Ride. Do you have a yvas? Are you ok riding bareback? The best way to find his name is to get to know him." Silverrain smiled at her new friend.

Friend. The word felt good. And it felt good watching the girl, the woman, now a full Drykas, go through all the wonderment of bonding.