New Beginnings

[T'arkidohitha Rain]

31st Summer 516

Outside Riverfall, well hidden by a patch of trees, Rain lay on Emblem, twirling a wilted mooneye. Her posessions were neatly arranged between two convenient rocks, ready for whatever journey she would undertake. The question was, what would be her next move be? She and Emblem understood each other well enough, and he was comfortable in this new place, eager to explore it further. Rain, true herself, was uncertain. The Akalak could always discover what she was, and the threat of being captured hung over her head. Emblem knew how fragile she was, even if she would never admit or show it, and placed it upon himself to calm her and protect her, as she did for him.

Emblem was a strange horse. Rain had stumbled upon him during her wanderings when she was about a year old. He was an escaped leopardbred of unknown origin enjoying his freedom in the woods of Falyndar when a strange creature approached him. He had never seen the likes of it in his life, though there was not much to been seen throughout the life he had. He didn't sense antything catlike about it, with its long brown neck and striped hindquarters it was impossible to be catlike. His instincts told him to run, but the creature seemed young, lost, and helpless. He tried communicating, and surprisingly succeeded. Most ungulates have an understanding of each other's general concept. She changed in response to his gesture, and before him stood a young girl, seeming about 7 in human years. she had nothing on her, and she approached him. This made him nervous but something about her made him wait for her to touch him; she didn't. She stood in front of him, looking into his eyes, peering into his soul, before changing back and browsing beside him. They have never left each other's side since then, and she gradually bonded with him. Unexpected as it was, he enjoyed her presence.

Now, two years later, she was fully grown, 20 years old if a human were to gauge her. Emblem's back was home for her human form, her tent and other clothing merely serving as protection for the both of them in the event of bad weather and protection of her identity in the presence of other races. On the move Emblem would carry everything for her, wearing his tack because this was the norm for working horses, to disguise their companionship.

Throwing the flower to a side, she jumped off. Emblem realized her decision. She would observe the city through okapi eyes from here for a few more days before going in. She covered her possessions and changed.

Emblem sighed, the outskirts and wilderness of any area was dangerous, and he was growing worried as her mind was running through many things, making her less alert than usual.