Once outside, Oryani considered her options. She could... practice with her bow, or try some riding. She picked the latter, feeling more like a wander than anything else. She felt like... moving, and though she certainly moved her bow with her arms, it was nothing compared to riding Khal. Moving up to her Strider, she smiled as his head raised. The stallion sniffed her in search of some form of treat, before allowing the Chatakwe woman to rub his forehead. After a moment of happy reunion, she quickly saddled him and mounted up.
Once on the horse's back, she felt much more comfortable. The Darkeye Pavilion wasn't too far from the city's edge... where she was headed. With a simple nudge of her heels, she sent the Strider off, his hooves picking their way slowly through the tent city. Instead of holding onto the grip like she usually might, Oryani wrapped her fingers in Khal's thick mane, loving the simple feel and texture of the long hairs. She used her knees to stay upright most of the time, keeping her balanced on the stallion's back as he moved.
She greeted one or two people she knew as they passed, but soon enough... she had reached the open grass. Taking a sigh of relief, and relaxing, the woman kicked the horse's strong chest once, and they began moving at a trot. With the quicker speed, she had to move up and down in the saddle, using mostly her thighs for strength. They moved in a line more parallel to the city's edge than perpendicular, meaning that she wouldn't stray too far from the safety of the rest of the Drykas. However, once she felt she was far enough not to make a mess if she screwed up, the Darkeye leaned low on her Strider's neck and tangled her fingers deeper into his mane.
With another, even harder, kick, she set the horse off at a gallop, Khal's long legs taking big strides through the grass. Of course, this was probably the slowest he could actually keep up the gait, and nowhere near the incredible speeds a Strider like himself could truly reach in the Sea. Oryani clung on tightly, using her arms and legs to hold tightly onto the horse's body. The ride was bumpy and slightly uneven, but by grabbing on for dear life she managed to keep a relatively decent seat. Soon enough, once she was comfortable, she was able to push herself into an upright position, though still had as tight a grip as before.
For a moment, she savored the wind in her hair, the feeling of speed... and laughed. All thoughts of Kat and Kalikar were gone in with the moment, and she simply enjoyed the pure... riding.
Once on the horse's back, she felt much more comfortable. The Darkeye Pavilion wasn't too far from the city's edge... where she was headed. With a simple nudge of her heels, she sent the Strider off, his hooves picking their way slowly through the tent city. Instead of holding onto the grip like she usually might, Oryani wrapped her fingers in Khal's thick mane, loving the simple feel and texture of the long hairs. She used her knees to stay upright most of the time, keeping her balanced on the stallion's back as he moved.
She greeted one or two people she knew as they passed, but soon enough... she had reached the open grass. Taking a sigh of relief, and relaxing, the woman kicked the horse's strong chest once, and they began moving at a trot. With the quicker speed, she had to move up and down in the saddle, using mostly her thighs for strength. They moved in a line more parallel to the city's edge than perpendicular, meaning that she wouldn't stray too far from the safety of the rest of the Drykas. However, once she felt she was far enough not to make a mess if she screwed up, the Darkeye leaned low on her Strider's neck and tangled her fingers deeper into his mane.
With another, even harder, kick, she set the horse off at a gallop, Khal's long legs taking big strides through the grass. Of course, this was probably the slowest he could actually keep up the gait, and nowhere near the incredible speeds a Strider like himself could truly reach in the Sea. Oryani clung on tightly, using her arms and legs to hold tightly onto the horse's body. The ride was bumpy and slightly uneven, but by grabbing on for dear life she managed to keep a relatively decent seat. Soon enough, once she was comfortable, she was able to push herself into an upright position, though still had as tight a grip as before.
For a moment, she savored the wind in her hair, the feeling of speed... and laughed. All thoughts of Kat and Kalikar were gone in with the moment, and she simply enjoyed the pure... riding.
