Flashback Just another hunt? Or something more?

[Asher Nightrunner]

Fall 16th, 513 AV

The morning was still young as Syna climbed into the sky. Asher has awoken from his nights slumber and was itching to get away from the tent for a bit. He grabbed his bow and quiver and made his way out of the Tent. Karne stood outside eating some of the grass. He looked up and snorted. Asher took it as a good morning, and walked over to pat his strider. Karne pushed his head into Asher's shoulder, pushing him back ever so slightly after Asher had brushed his hand along his neck. "Well lets get going then" he signed, turning and walking towards the tent of his friend, Jaye. Karne followed behind as Asher greeted those who were awake and active. It was warm, with a slight breeze in the air. Moring were his favorite time of day. Everything was calm and peaceful. It was enjoyable to just be able to relax and thing. He sighed and rolled his neck, popping it. He wondered if Jaye would come with him? Or if she would accept the fact that he wanted to leave. That he was going to leave. He had told her of his plan long ago but he didn't think she actually believed him. Well she would find out sooner or later. But for now he would focus on his hunt and plan his future later.

[Jaye]

Jaye had been up for several hours already that morning. Morning was her favorite time of the day as well but rather, for the noise instead of the silence. As the day lengthened everything began to hum with noise and soon that noise blended together until it was no longer noise. During the morning however, every sound was crisp. The sound of her birds as they flitted from her hair to the tent was amplified. Usually barely recognizable as a rustle she could hear the flick of their feathers as they were released from the shearing sound of their beaks as they preened. Jaye was one of the few Drykas that wore a dress constantly but she loved the way it freed her legs and was easily removed when she desired to shift and as she slipped the silk over her head she couldn't help but smile as it touched her dun skin, deepened from the summer sun. Freckles were born over her shoulders and collarbone, like little Syna kisses. The day was warm, she could feel it permeating the thin walls of the tent and her only thought that day was to escape before her father appeared so she could lounge in the diminishing heat for the day. As she emerged from the tent she walked directly into Asher. "Oh!" She exclaimed surprised and took a step back lowering her arms as she finished securing braided bun to left side of the nape of her neck. Several of her Jade Jays were settling on her shoulders and Ashers curiously nibbling over their clothes in search of seeds and grain. "Quick! Come on!" She yelped as she heard her father rustling in his sheets behind her. Grabbing Ashers arm she yanked him into the shadows behind her tent, cast by the rising sun. Holding a finger to her lips she waited until her father had risen and readied and begun to look around for her. Half muttering, half chuckling the man left the tent and go about his work. Since turning one Jaye had more and more frequently tried to evade the work he would enlist her to do. No longer as enthralled as when she was a child. He took it as simple rebellion and often chuckled at her choices which frustrated the growing girl to no end.

[Asher Nightrunner]

He was bumped into as Jaye had emerged from her tent. Her pet birds landing on his shoulders and picking at his clothes. "I have no se-" he went to say as he was quickly pulled and hushed by the young female he called his friend. He stood there, blinking at her. It was normal for her to drag him places, but the shushing was one thing he had never gotten used to. When she finally removed her finger he sighed. "Why do you do that?" he signed. She drove him crazy sometimes, there was always something about her that just made him laugh. "Im going hunting" he signed slowly walking back towards Karne. "Just figured I'd let you know incase I don't show up tonight" he said. He brushed his hand down Karnes sides, pushing the dirt off of him. He knew she would ask to come along, she always did. But he wondered if she could handle herself. He had never seen her use a weapon, or even fight aside from their play fighting.

Did he really mind though? A light breeze blue through the camp, causing his quiver to shake slightly. The arrows clicking together. Of course not, he enjoyed his friends company. He sighed and turned back towards her, waiting for the inevitable. Though she probably wouldn't even ask, she'd strip and shift or mount up on Karne. Did she ever really listen to him? He wondered. He had just aged another year not two days ago. A lot of male's his age were set up to be married or courting a female or two. But he was so focused on his goal. To become the greatest Leatherworker in the world and nothing would stop him. Not even Jaye, he doubted she took him seriously in that aspect. That he was more then willing to leave the city that he was born to. Willing to leave his family behind, and travel with Karne to a land he didn't know. A place he only heard rumors of and he planned to go there and strive. He wondered if she had thought about traveling with him? She did say she wanted to become a war mount. He smiled, her quest was so different from his, yet they were friends and had been for as long as she'd been alive. He smiled, thinking about their adventures together.

[Jaye]

"Why do you do that?" he signed, making Jaye roll her large eyes. Unquestionably friends despite their many differences Jaye never wondered at their differences. Never contemplated the reasons or motivations for their continued friendship, they simply were and are, and that was good enough for her. Thus, she never asked him why he did anything, she never really cared why. If he did something she found incomprehensible she ignored the action and moved onto the next moment. Perhaps it was shortsighted, or the symptom of being a Kelvic, but motivations were not friendships miza. "I'm going hunting. Just figured I'd let you know in case I don't show up tonight" Asher announced once she had allowed him to rise from their hiding place. "Great! Let's go!" She replied instantly. As usual she simply ignored the I'm and additional sentence that so obviously indicated he intended to go solo. It wasn't done with fore thought or malice ever, she simply didn't think it his right to go without her, or to refuse her her desires. If she had known the constant conversation echoing inside her friends head she would have been alarmed and surprised. She never questioned whether he listened to her, she assumed he did. She never questioned her own desires, she knew them well enough and was entitled to change them on a moments whim with no guilt. So when he brushed the dirt off the back of Karne Jaye immediately assumed the gesture was for her and grinned appreciatively. Thanks," She murmured grabbing a fistful of mane in her left hand she awkwardly hauled herself a top the Strider. Being a horse, she rarely rode and it was obvious in the way her legs awkwardly hung down his sides and her body twisted to navigate the tall cliff that was his side. Jumping straight up she grasped his withers and wrapped the other arm over the bridge of his back. Wiggling against his side she slowly worked her way up until she lay on her stomach across Karnes back and was able to swing into place. Rather proud of herself for her feat she grinned down at Asher, "You're like a pregnant Zibri, all eyes and so slow...." She teased when he didn't immediately move to mount the horse. Staring back at him Jaye tilted her head perplexed, I told him I was ready...what is he doing just staring... she wondered. As the lead mare of their trio she had the right to choose when and where they went. They were both stallions, one certainly couldn't expect a stallion to lead a herd. Though they had their uses as protectors they were prone to bursts of outrage and hormonal spats. Besides, the protector and the leader were two different roles that should never overlap. Should the protector die the herd would then be without a leader and should a battle begin the leader could not adequately lead while in the heat of battle. It all was very clear to Jaye and she began to frown with irritation at his disobedience. "Did you pack already?" She queried, trying to snap him out of his daydreaming with an important question. The Strider wasn't laden with the neccesary tools to brave The Grass and though they wouldn't go far, once they were beyond the edges of the camp the world became a different place. The webbing that sprawled over the thick maze of grass was like a baby blanket draped over her shoulders, comforting in its permanent and unyielding presence. She couldn't imagine how Asher managed to endure The Grass without it. Ashers duty as protector would become all the more pertinent once they stepped into The Grass and Jaye couldn't help but wonder if he took his role seriously enough. There were times he spoke of leaving but Jaye could imagine no noble stallion that would ever leave its herd willingly. As a herbivore Jaye rarely hunted. Though she had gone with her father on short hunting trips, checking traps, and other minor duties she had a lack luster attitude about the whole thing. Preferring to forage, Jaye always brought along her fathers baskets with the hope she would find something delicious. Even Asher couldn't deny the effort was work one of her fathers pies. The thought make her mouth fill with saliva and she felt a delicious shiver travel down her back.

[Asher Nightrunner]

"Lets go" he mocked her, rolling his eyes. "You are so predictable" he said with a smile. He watched as she mounted it in her awkward manor. "For a Drykas, you sure are bad at riding Striders" he said, with a sly little smile. He enjoyed teasing her. He had since she was able to speak, her reactions were always funny to him. The way she did things was so different from her own, she acted on instinct much like the Strider he rode. She was free and willing to take risk to make a name for herself.

She stood tall with pride, even though she was an awkward child. Then again, what child wasn't awkward when they are first brought into the world. "I am not pregnant" he said only hearing half of her taunt. He paused looking up at her as she asked if he had packed. "No, I had not because I figured you would come with me. So it be better for you to come back with me and pack. That way I don't forget anything and you don't tease me about it later" he said. He climbed up on Karne with a lot more ease then Jaye had. He was used to mounting and dismounting Karne. His legs had gotten used to the full shape of his Strider.

The powerful body that had set beneath him. The one he entrusted with his life. He turned with Karne back towards his tent and slowly trotted towards it. "Bless Caiytha for the glorious morning and Syna for the warm light that she provides" he sighed. He turned his face towards Jaye. "So what did your father want you to do this morning?" he asked. He pretty much knew the answer but it was fun to ask anyway. "If you want to be a warmount shouldn't you work hard?" he teased, looking forward again with a childish smile on his face.

They had soon arrived back at his tent. He dismounted offering his hand to Jaye, to help her. With their hands still entwined, he pulled her into the tent. He walked over to a pair of saddle bags that had been resting on the floor. He grabbed his bow, and fishing gear. He looked at her with a stupid smile on his face. "Maybe we'll do a little fishing" he said. Once he had everything packed he took Jaye's hand again, pulling her along back to Karne. He threw the saddle bag over Karne, as he remounted. He reached out his hand towards Jaye. "Well come on then" he said.

[Jaye]

Jaye ignored her friends taunts and gazed out over the glistening green fronds, "Yes...bless Caiyha indeed." She murmured to herself. The fresh green grass and peaking sun already gracing their Striders shoulders. Though he belonged completely and utterly to Asher she felt a possessive flicker in the herd. The stallion was as much hers as Asher was. Though her herd was small, she was proud of them. She had noticed Asher growing more distant of late, it wasn't in his tone but in his eyes, the way he stared at the horizon had changed. It wasn't the look of longing beauty that had once been there but had become a challenge. A challenge that scared her. He couldn't....He wouldn't... She thought, take my entire herd from me....could he? As they dismounted, his hand encapsulating her own she felt her chest calm under the touch. Like any startled yearling words did little to soothe the clamour but a touch...a touch was a thousand words. As the saddle bags were hoisted onto the Strider Jaye leaned up fastening the ties that kept it attached. Leaning down, she reached underneath to fasten the loose girth that kept the bags from bouncing against the horses flank and carefully attached the small leather band between the two girths. Though she had no experience with the discomfort of ill-attached saddle bags she could imagine it. "Wait. The baskets. I'll go grab them." She trotted back to her fathers tent heaving out the wide and shallow baskets. Placing them on either side of the horse in small circular frames she ran over the set up once more to assure nothing would come loose. The baskets were shallow but wide, idyllic for the broad grasslands. If they were too long they would interrupt the horses stride and get caught up in the long grass. Meanwhile, width didn't matter since there were few collections of trees that demanded a narrow entry. Finally ready, Jaye reached out to clasp Ashers hand and hoisted herself onto Karnes back. "Ready." She murmured wrapping her arms around him tightly. She hated this part.

[Asher Nightrunner]

He smiled as Karne walked off towards the edge of the camp. "I don't understand how you don't enjoy riding" he asked as they bounced along as little as Karne could managed bouncing them. He enjoyed the feeling of her arms wrapped around him. The feeling that he belonged within their little group had always made him smile. But soon he would tear it all apart, he would leave for Syliras to chase his dream. A small frown spread across his face, did he regret that decision? He wanted to stay with Jaye but he couldn't ignore his dream. The thing that pushed him forward every day. One that filled him with pride and happiness. Or so he though. Maybe it was Jaye who filled him with happiness. Being near her always made him smile, and he enjoyed hearing her voice. No matter what craziness she spoke of.

He sighed the questions filling his head now. He needed to focus of the task at hand. They were here to hunt right? "What do you think about me wanting to leave" he asked. Her answer wouldn't change his decision but he had to know. Would she hate him? the wind blew, a howling gust pushing the tall grass like it was a large body of water. Karne stepped through it, he was in his own little world as the two were talking. He stopped dismounting Karne when they were a distance from the camp. He turned towards Jaye, grabbing her by the waist he pulled her off of Karne. He held her close to him for a moment before releasing her and going to retrieve his bow.

[Jaye]

The question knocked her off guard, it was as if he had read her mind. "I-I.." She hesitated for once thinking through what she had to say carefully. I think it's incredibly selfish? I think it's unnecessary? All of the above...Is this the chance to rant about the choice or is a short blunt answer a better approach? She wondered to herself chewing her lower lip and curling her toes pensively.

"I think...it's selfish. You have a family, friends, everything. It's all here. Your Strider was born here. His energy comes from the web around us. Taking him away, is like taking him away from the food of his soul. You are betraying me, and your Strider and, without being melodramatic, Endrykas." She began, speaking slowly and carefully. It wasn't her nature to be careful with what she said but the brewing anger and hurt in her breast demanded that she speak slowly to keep from either yelling or crying, or both.

I hope this hurts him. I hope this hurts him as much as his threatening to leave hurts me. "I think if you leave...you shouldn't expect to ever come back." She added carefully watching his face for signs of emotion, "Because none of us will want you..." She murmured quietly holding him tighter reflexively.

"What you want, you can achieve here. We are the Drykas, we can do anything Syliras can do." She voiced patriotically, annoyed that he would think Endrykas so incapable that he must go elsewhere to achieve his deepest desires and dreams. Gently he hoisted her from Karne's back, much to her appreciation, as the long ride had frozen her legs around his large barrel.

Wincing she stretched her legs awkwardly, leaning over to grab her toes. "ow-ow-ow..." She muttered under her breath whimpering as her body strained. Reaching out she gently touched Karne's nose as he nuzzled her shoulder affectionately. Watching over her as a foal when her father couldn't Karne was as much a father figure as her own and she respected him deeply.

Not wanting to be forced to speak any further she drew her dress over her body and off. Tentatively she paced over the rough grass and stuffed it into one of the baskets. Her skin matched Karne's coat almost perfectly and as she pressed against his fur to place the dress out of harms way she blended in, only her dark chestnut hair giving her away since his matching tail began a foot over.

Undoing her long sandals they quickly joined her dress followed by her hair clasp. Her arm brushed Ashers as he reached for his bow making her heart tense and squeeze with anxiety and pain. Turning away from him, she shifted quickly. Her equine face was far less expressive leaving her safe to weep internally without his knowing, and this she did internal tears trickling over the shape of her soul and running along the lines of her Djed.

.

[Asher Nightrunner]

Her words stung like a thousand needles piercing his skin. It burned his soul, the truth in her words. It was selfish. To leave it all behind all that he had been born with, all that had been given to him. "If I stay then how will I know Im the best? I need to know what is out there. If there is someone who can teach me things I cant learn here. I love my home, I do. But sometimes you have to give up what you love and take a chance" he said. "You wouldn't want me back?" he asked. His voice empty, he tried to hide the pain.

He finished unstrapping his bow and turned towards her naked body. The sudden change surprised him, he had forgotten that she had to strip to change. He looked away a mix of emotions filling his heart. "How can you know that if you've never been there?" he said looking at the ground. "And you want to be a war mount! How do you expect to do that here? We have no war." he said. The pain in his voice evident.

"Maybe I shouldn't come back. It would seem to be the best" he mumbled under his breath. She obviously didn't want to talk any longer as she changed into her other form. Asher gripped his bow tightly, he walked along the sea of grass. He searched for any sign of an animal, the original reason why he wanted to come out here. He notched an arrow into his bow, ready to strike at the first sight of movement.

Karne walked along side Jaye, brushing up against her in an attempt to comfort her. The older strider could feel her emotion after the argument. He would follow Asher to Syliras if he chose to go.

A few chimes went by as the three walked around. He couldn't focus of the hunt, there was to much on his mind now. "You speak as if I want to leave you. Like I haven't thought about asking you to come with me." he said. Before going silent one again. He didn't speak but his muscles were tight, tensing up as his mind went over everything. His body just screamed I don't want to leave you, but I cant stay here.

[Jaye]

"If I stay then how will I know I'm the best? I need to know what is out there. If there is someone who can teach me things I can't learn here. I love my home, I do. But sometimes you have to give up what you love and take a chance." The pleading in his voice tore at Jayes conscience but she continued her barrage regardless.

"Shouldn't you become the best among the Drykas first then, learn all you can here before you leave? You are leaving too early...and I don't understand why...No. You should never give up what you love. Love is the most important and precious thing there is." Though she knew that what she said was cliche she believed it with all her heart. Though many thought the Drykas a vicious and loud people everything they did was driven by Love. Love of their Striders, their family, their home.

"You wouldn't want me back?" He asked her making her frown and turn to meet his eyes for the first and only time during their conversation. "No." She replied firmly even though everything in her screamed yes. She turned firmly away from him, heart racing with adrenaline as the emotional conversation escalated.

"How can you know that if you've never been there?" He retaliated after her patriotic comment. "I know because I love my people." She replied defiantly her voice dripping with accusation. Did he not love his people? How could he know that Syliras was WORTH giving everything up for?

"And you want to be a war mount! How do you expect to do that here? We have no war."

"Are you blind Asher? Every day is a war here. Every day people die, Every day the Grass claims more...everyday there is the risk of plague, of people invading land that belongs to us alone. If nowhere else, this is the place a war horse belongs." She retorted, the snarl in her voice uncanny coming from one who sounded so like a horse most days.

Asher had moved away once she had changed much to relief and she sidled off several feet nuzzling Karne in her misery. Perhaps he would stay with her? She gazed up at the older stallion longingly though in her heart she knew a Strider would always go with his match. Despite how wrong it was, she thought vehemently.

The presence of the older horse soothed her and soon she rejoined her friend eyes and ears listening to the horizon. "You speak as if I want to leave you. Like I haven't thought about asking you to come with me." He murmured but Jaye ignored him indignantly, She could never leave her home.

Snorting she felt the deep throbbing scent of animal. It didn't have the familiar scent of Glassbeaks or Wolf, but nor did it have the familiar scent of horse or rabbit. Ahead... she thought and took a few steps to the left, Karne following at her shoulder. As they moved toward the horizon at a pace Asher could match Jaye stopped at the top of a gentle slope.

Before them was a small herd of Gazelle, babes pressed against their mothers sides large and furry with several months growth. Gathering around a small watering hole they moved about easily under Synas arms, each on careful alert as all prey were. Inhaling deeply Jaye closed her eyes memorizing the scent; deep and rusty, like worn metal with a sugary snap tinge at the end that made her nose itch. Gazelle were fast and Jaye doubted they would catch anything, regardless she looked to Asher. Perhaps it is best he get out his frustrations now as opposed to later when our senses are demanded by the night.

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