22ND OF SUMMER, 513 AV
As Jack strode out onto the sea of grass on Danny's back, it took him a couple of minutes to really take it all in. It hadn't gotten any more beautiful since he started staying in Riverfall, but it was still just such an amazing sight. Green, for as far as you could ever hope to see. Green all the way to Sylira. And a ways beyond still. Rolling hills and endless grass, broken only by the majestic Blue Vein, the most brilliant body of water Jack had ever seen inland. The only thing that ever came close would be the lake on which Ravok was built. But of course, Ravok was there, and that did a mighty good job of ruining everything as far as he was concerned.
"Well Danny, old friend, here we are." As he spoke, Danny began to walk slowly forward, on the path leading north, away from the city, his deep brown hide glistening in the sunlight. It was obvious that he was glad to be out and about. Sensing this, a smile grew on Jack's face and he leaned closer to Danny's ear to speak. "Nice to be out of that stable again, eh?" No sooner had the words escaped Jack's mouth than Danny apparently decided it was time for Jack to become a master rider. He reared up on his hind legs and let out an enthusiastic cry and for a moment resembled one of his wild kin. Jack, fearing now for his life more than he had since the last time he was in Sunberth, wrapped himself around Danny's neck and held on as best he could. Upon returning to the ground, Danny immediately broke into an unrestrained gallop, going faster than Jack had ever gone.
Try as he might, it only took about 5 seconds for the novice status of Jack's riding skills to show, and he literally flew from Danny's back, landing hard on his own back in the grass behind him. Craning his neck, he watched as Danny simply kept on galloping forward, going at least a few hundred more feet without him, before turning and NOT coming back, but now galloping in very large circles around Jack. Jack slowly pulled himself to his feet, cursing at the horse under his breath and rubbing his very sore back. He could faintly hear laughter and at first thought it was simply an effect of getting thrown from a horse, but eventually realized he was indeed being mocked by passersby. He turned and saw them, distant but visible, standing near the city gates. Nearly everyone who was coming and going at this point had joined in and it seemed to Jack that the entire city of Riverfall was intent on making sport of his suffering.