Akenna could feel the earth beneath his chest begin to tremble. For as long as he could remember he had awoken to the hooves of striders, striking the ground. Creating some unheard symphony that signaled those within Endrykas that the night has passed. He sat upright, blinking into the dimly lit area around him while bringing his arms up to his face. After a brief series of inhales, Akenna rose to his feet. He muttered as he moved about the cramped area. Despite the lack of illumination he maneuvered without incident, picking up and tossing aside various belongings. He reasoned there was at least a bell before Shyna had made her climb into the sky. Thus he would be able to ride without anyone stopping him.
Akenna tossed aside a pelted flap and stepped into the circular gathering area of the Pavillion. As he suspected the other inhabitants were still fast asleep in their respective areas. He knew the Ankal disliked his leaving without first consulting him and took up a brisk pace.
Akenna was well on his way toward the rear of the Pavillion when an apparition came trotting out of the forest. A huge lump moving on four thick legs, that proved to be a strider carrying a younger man. He had seen it first out of the tail of his eye, and mindful of danger gripped the pail of water he had been carrying.
Soon he recognized the visitor to be solitary, likely another early riser on his way into the center of the city. He pretended not to notice the rider, and continued circling the Pavillion. The loud breathing of several large beasts met his ears before he saw them. As his footsteps drew near the closest strider raised it's head and eyed him. An aging colt that he took great care in avoiding. The Ankal disliked his strider being disturbed; A lesson Akenna had learned harshly in his youth.
He made his way to the second to smallest of the horses. A nut-brown mare. Jiro's soft impatient snort assured him he had been the first visitor since the day prior. He set the pail before the horse and rested a hand on her shoulder as she began to drink. As Akenna began to attach several pouches to the Yvas around Jiro he heard the familiar thuds of hooves approaching him.
It must have been the rider he had spotted earlier who followed him for whatever reason. Sure enough moments later both horse, and rider trotted into full view.
He grunted for Akenna's before speaking in a gruff voice. "Up early as well?" He asked the obvious while, motioning up to the still darkened sky.
"I have a few things to do that can't wait." Was the annoyed, and impatient reply from the younger man