Closed An Outing At Sea

[Ashka Windrunner]

40th of Spring, 14th Bell
Thunderherd Pavilion

Ashka stared at the small group of Striders in front of her, then at her brother Reyn, then back at the horses. Five of them. All five of them to be left in her care and delivered to the Deepstride Pavilion, whose camp was set bells away from Endrykas, out in the grasslands. One more time, she glanced at the man, swallowed back the knot that was forming in her throat, and let out a small sigh.

"You will be fine" Reyn smiled, signing confidence with his words. "You know those Striders well, and they know you. They will follow." His tone was reassuring, but a frown still joined the girl's brows.

"It's not losing them that I worry about, Reyn" she said with a tinge of worry in her voice. "The Grasses are treacherous. We should be more people to escort them." Dangers, no experience, fight shaped her concerns.

"I told you, little sister. A Watchman is going with you. The Deepstride are less than two bells of riding away. You just herd the Striders along, and you'll be back before sunset." The tone became more commanding as her brother spoke, leaving her no possibility to argue against him.

She sighted again, this time with compliance.

Understood, she motioned for him. The man nodded his approval and moved on to other tasks. Since their uncle had gone to Riverfall for the seasonal trading trip, Reyn was left in charge, and the list of chores seemed to never end, hence why he couldn't go with her.

The Drykas girl walked to her Strider and lifted a hand to pat the familiar face.
"You will help me, right ? To keep and deliver those beauties safe and sound. I need you." The words spoken affectionately seemed to find echo in Lako's posture, as he snuggled his nose against his Drykas' hand and next straightened his head high up, eyeing at the group they'll be leading soon.

She whispered a thanks in his ear and mounted, lifting herself on his back with a jump and the help of the yvas. Her calves pressing against his sides set the Strider in motion, and the pair made its way out of the Pavilion area, guiding the horses ahead of them.

They walked past the purple tents of the Amethyst Clan and along the blue canvas of the Sapphire branch of the city, Ashka encouraging her mount with the pressure of her legs and calling the Striders back into their course with whistles and clicks of the tongue. The beasts were well-trained, and smart; the redhead knew they wouldn't wander far off under her watch.

Soon their steps had lead them to the very end of the Diamond Clan encampment, the agreed meeting point. The Drykas sat up straight on her stallion and ordered the group to a halt with a soft, gentle voice. She looked around expectantly; Reyn had promised her a Watchmember as an escort, and her gaze searched the surroundings for the one who'll ride along through the Sea.

[Azmere]

Laughter erupted from the normally stoic man’s face. Azmere’s unscarred half had turned red beneath the tanned skin and a tiny bead of water formed at the outside corner of each eye. The man reached up and wiped away the tears brought on by the uproarious chuckle. When the Drykas had settled himself back to a state of amusement that allowed the rider to be more observant, the contrasting gaze fell upon the scowl cast by his pavilion mate and best friend, Lodai. The dark eyes burned with anger but it was short-lived.

“Maybe I’ll just start my own pavilion!” The huge hands signed a few words. Big Ankal. Champion. Better. “It can’t be that hard if you did it.” The anger turned to playfulness as the natural competitive streak revealed itself. Lodai flexed one of his giant arms and Azmere just shook his head. This was not the first time they had discussed- argued and Lodai suggested having his own pavilion. In truth, the scarred man knew many less qualified, less skilled individuals who had their own families to control. In the grand scheme of the things, the elder watchman knew that he would be lost without the big bear of a man at his side so he was grateful that no one supported Lodai’s bid for independence.

“Have you prepared for our ride?” Azmere turned in the yvas and used his knees to more Skylla over towards the open space in front of their camp. The eyes painted with stars looked up and what he saw caused his breath to catch in his throat. There was a fleet of clouds rolling across the sky like a herd of bison. Syna was above them so the tops were painted in pinks, yellows, reds and oranges. It was like the fluffy floating substance was on fire and it was absolutely beautiful. It was so vivid that Azmere took a few moments to absorb the painted array which was made all the more vibrant with the dark greys that coated the bottom of the puffs. The ankal whispered a silent prayer to the gods for all of their including the unintentional ones like the afternoon sky.

Skylla stirred beneath her ride with an anxious anticipation that jarred Azmere from his thoughts. The man turned to his companion who was double checking the contents of his yvas bags. Th archer did the same though he already knew that the leather satchels were full of the usual gear; rope, tinder, food, arrows, blankets and other useful items. The Sea of Grass was a very unpredictable place so it was common for the Drykas to carry a wide variety of tools and items. The azure and amber gaze watched patiently as his second made a second then third sweep of his belongings. The deep brown eyes looked up and boosted the head nod with a look of confidence. Azmere didn’t need anything else. “Let’s go be Watchmen.”

Azmere smiled his half smile at the Ra’athi. His hands signed a running joke –since no one rode as well as Azmere- Try to keep up. The ankal steered his mare over towards the greenway between pavilions then clicked his tongue against his teeth twice. A big grey canine came bounding along after the strider with the bone white face. The thundering hooves of Atavan, the big black stallion who carried Lodai, were close behind. Within a few chimes, they were at the end of the Diamond spoke where a small band of horses were gathered. As the duo rode up with the big dog, Grey, Azmere steered his young strider over to the one horse that had a rider. The red hair instantly made him think of Naiya but this girl was clearly not his friend. He had heard of the younger Windrunner especially since the ankal had been debating on beginning his own breeding program. When they were close, he signed the typical greeting then twisted his hips so that Skylla would come up alongside the woman’s strider.

“Ashka?” The gold and blue eyes locked onto the gaze of the young girl. “I’m Azmere. This is Lodai.” Watchmen. “Where are we headed?”

[Ashka Windrunner]

From afar, she had seen the duo of riders changing their course to ride up to her group. Two Watchmen instead of one ? She felt her tensed shoulder muscles relax a little. The more people out together, the safer. And the Luvanor galloping along seemed to belong to one of the Drykas. His sight brought her some more relief; the dog's heightened sense of smell would help them detect potential dangers much quicker.

As the men arrived closer, Ashka automatically signed a greeting, before she became aware of the strange appearance of the Drykas addressing her. Mounted on a grey filly, the tall man introduced himself as Azmere, and his giant companion as Lodai. As he steered his Strider closer, Ash could not help but let an expression of stupefaction take over her features. It could have been for the sight of the scar tissue covering half of his face, but among the Drykas people scars were common and accepted as part of each and everyone's personal history. Another one of his facial features appeared much more striking : the man's eyes was nothing like she had ever seen; the right one an azure blue with green and red stars whirling around the pupil, the left one entirely yellow, except for two circles of blue and purple in the center.

She lost her grey gaze in the colourful orbs for a tick, before realizing she was staring, and her cheek bones colored a light red. Quickly, she cast her eyes to the other man and signed a greeting his way as well. Hopefully the journey ahead would bring opportunities for the questions these eyes had raised in her mind.

The girl confirmed her identity with a nod and answered Azmere's question swiftly.
"Thank you both for coming - safe. We are heading to the Deepstride Pavilion, southwest from here, about two bells – riding. I know the way – simple, straight – but if needed their Ankal, Hylun, is at the Pavilion – web, call." Her hands danced naturally along her words as she tried to explain the task as briefly and clearly as possible. She hoped to have it done in less than a half-day and be back before nightfall.

Following these few words, the Drykas girl whistled a long and loud note, commanding the group of Striders to stop their grazing and walk. She pressed her legs around her own stallion's flanks and steered him forward at a steady pace. Turning backwards in her yvas, she then invited the Watchmen to follow, and guided the group away from the tents of Endrykas, and into the Sea of Grass.

The route was fairly simple; Ash recalled in her mind her brother's directions, as to not forget any details. All they had to do is ride straight through a flat patch of plain until they crossed a small stream, then follow Syna's course for another bell. An easy journey, if the Sea permitted it.

[Azmere]

Azmere returned the greeting he was given as did Lodai. The man whose shadow could hide a grassbear seemed a bit preoccupied with the small herd and barely responded. Azmere caught this quick transference from the corner of his gaze but said nothing. The ankal responded with a greeting of his weathered hands and a half smile which was a signature of the scarred watchman. He listened as Ashka gave her insight to their mission and nodded in agreeance. The young woman was optimistic and it was something that Azmere admired but he gave her one of those looks that young children often incur when they proclaim something naïve like “I’m going to be King of the world!”.

Azmere looked over to Lodai and tilted his head as if to ask an unspoken question. The big man looked over and stared a moment and then he nodded, his eyes acknowledging the silent transaction of information. Once this was done, Azmere lead Skylla over until the well-built rider was next to Ashka. He looked over and slowly led his Strider to match the woman’s pace but Lodai seemed to stay in his spot. Without being prompted, the Tavehk went into a brief explanation that sounded more like small talk in his informal baritone. “Lodai will join the web and run our route then catch up later. I’m Azmere Stormblood.” His big hands made the signs for ankal and diamond signifying his clan affiliation. “I’ve heard of the Deepstride pavilion. Is there a special occasion for the purchase?” Strong hunters. Valatia. Question.

The ankal regarded her coolly for a few moments in silence. He had noticed her staring during his approach with Lodai. The redhead even blushed a bit. This brought a slight smirk to the right side of his face. The large Luvanor who trotted easily next to his master made intelligent actions to avoid all of the horses but would occasionally whimper then hop up into the air for a pat on the head. Azmere treated it as if it were second nature by not even taking his eyes from the girl. The mocha mare with the star-speckled coat and bone face seemed to not mind so the entire ordeal appeared to be orchestrated but only lasted for a few rounds before the pointy ears of the dog perked and he disappeared into the higher grasses.

Azmere closed his eyes and felt the djed within himself. He beckoned it to the rings in his eyes and felt the increasingly familiar tingle which activated the colors of the world in his sight. The blue and gold gaze was revealed as his lids retracted and the woman next to her chaperone could now easily see the colored bursts twinkling with the magic within the man. He looked to his left and quickly found the silvery trail of his faithful companion, broken in parts but with longer ribbons than when he first started to see the paths. The dog was stalking something small like a rabbit so the scarred ankal decided to let well enough alone.

Next, Azmere turned to his right to show his ability’s marker to the young redhead. The ankal was not foolish nor naïve. He realized that his appearance was striking between his eyes and the many scars he presented. Showing off a bit was something he had learned to do over time as a way to put people at ease with his differences. It also opened up a chance for questions that the watchman could answer as a means to further reduce friction in certain social situations. Ashka was surrounded by a blaze of pink that seemed to accent her hair. The stoic face of the man was much more relaxed than normal but he wasn’t sure of the reason. The watchman had many questions about the breeding profession when it came to striders. He even had a notion to introduce Skylla to a bloodline but had to gather more information. A nice, long ride would make for the perfect chance to get some answers.

[Ashka Windrunner]

The man who introduced himself as an Ankal of the Diamond Clan brought his mount to Lako's level, and the stallion neighed suspiciously. Ashka chuckle and stroke the Strider's mane several times, coaxing the stubborn animal into accepting the other's presence. Azmere then explained to the young woman why the other Watchman, Lodai, had stayed behind; he was to scout the way and make sure no harm would come to them. Ashka signed her understanding, be safe, and tried to engage a casual conversation with the man whose appearance had astounded her before. Not staring into his multicoloured eyes proved a challenging task for the redhead, and not overwhelming him with a torrent of questions another one, but she kept her tone and expression as neutral as she could.

"From what I have been told, three of the mares will be for breeding – bloodline, strengthen – and you have guessed right for the two others – she pointed at a short buckskin mare and a red stallion with a large white star on his forehead – valatia. The second daughter is getting married soon - union, amethyst."

Ashka shifted in her yvas to find a more comfortable position onto Lako's back, and let the silence stretched a few chimes between them. The grasslands seemed to extend infinitely around the small group, meadow undulating like the surface of a lake under the caress of Zulrav's breath in an apparent peacefulness Ashka knew could hide many dangers. She cast her gaze onto her immediate surroundings, looking for a familiar marker in the land to help determine their position. Far away across acres of grassland she could see the shimmer of the rivulet they would have to cross later on the journey, and she felt the tensed muscles in her back loosen a little; they were heading in the right direction.

A rustling sound to her side made her head turn quickly, eyes and ears wide open, ready to face a threat, but they were only met with the sight of the large hunting dog who seemed to belong to Azmere, before he disappeared into the grasses. Ashka smiled and turned to her travel companion, but as she was about to comment on Luvanors' hunting abilities, the sight facing her left the girl speechless.

Azmere's eyes gleamed with bright, extraordinairy colours, striking againt his already contrasting gaze. Ashka's own eyes widen in bewilderment as she simply gaped and stared. What could cause such phenomenon ? Was it magic of a kind she never heard of ? The redhead's thoughts spun in confusion for a moment before she managed to recover her speech.
"What... What is happening to your eyes ?" she stuttered, uncertainty and concern mixing in her tone while her posture shaped her curiosity. "How do you... Can you control this ? I have never seen anything like this before !"
If the man agreed to it, her curiosity would finally be satisfied; she yearned to know more about the Watchman with fascinating eyes.

[Azmere]

Azmere nodded as Ashka confirmed his suspicions. The ankal was very familiar with the traditions of his people though there were some which he had not had occasion to take part such as valatia. Jasmine abandoned her father’s banner for her own reasons rather than wait for someone to rescue her from the situation. It was true to her character and removed the need for a valatia since the woman did not have to switch houses after her marriage –just mats. This thought brought a small smile to the ankal’s face; the crooked one that seemed to fit naturally against his immovable scar.

The young Drykas’ questions were expected and so the watchman went into brief explanations as he scoured the space around them while the djed was activated in his sight. The watchman lifted his hands to sign a name for the magic but then it dawned on him that he didn’t know anything about it other than how he had been able to use it thus far. The pause erased the smile from his face and left an expression of ponderance for a few ticks. With a slight shrug, the scarred man entered into his divulgence of information to the horse breeder. Strange magic. The twinkling eyes went sideways to chase the sound of padded feet quickening. Grey was blocking whatever trail his query left as silver lines of light seemed to swallow a softer color.

Azmere twisted his torso back to Ashka and continued with the explanation. “All creatures have djed.” He pointed to himself, to her and her strider then made a sweeping gesture with his left arm meant to encompass everything. His right index finger drew up and pointed at the twinkling stars in his eyes. “This lets me see that djed.” His hands then signed trails. “I can also see bits and pieces of where it has been.” The Drykas turned in his saddle to look back towards the Tent City. He used his trailing arm to draw a line in the air as if to trace the path they had taken so far. When he turned back, the man took one final look around for his canine friend. Grey was cutting a line through the green like a blade towards his master. There was a dark, earthy color that broke up the sash of silver. After a few ticks of watching, the dog appeared beside Skylla with a large jack rabbit in his jaws.

The ankal smiled and shifted his weight in the yvas. Azmere’s right hand caught the handle while his left extended and his body leaned down over the side of his strider. The mare veered somewhat but not much since Azmere applied downward pressure with his right leg to correct her course. When he had moved his center of gravity far enough to the left, he could almost scratch Grey’s ears. The dog was eager to share his catch with the human and bounded forward in a few large strides. The watchman swiped the first time and missed; fingertips just grazing the soft hide. One the hunter’s second leap, Azmere was better prepared and timed his reach perfectly. His fingers curled into the soft skin of the rabbit and gripped it tight. Using his right arm’s hold on the yvas and his right leg for balance, the Diamond clansman flexed both limbs as well as engaged the muscles along his torso. The combined effort allowed him to slowly right his body back into the yvas. His arm arched a bit next to his elbow and his hips protested the strange angle of exertion. After a few soft bounces on the ride, Drykas and strider resumed the harmonic rhythm and comfort was restored. Triumphantly, Azmere produced the dead animal the laid it across his yvas bag. He held his hand on it for a moment then decided to push down a bit until the meal wedged in and could not fall off under casual riding circumstances.

The watchman turned to his companion and gave her a soft half-smile then closed his eyes. The magic was starting to give him a headache. He focused on the feeling the ignited explosions gave him and mentally exhausted them, one by one. After nearly a chime of stillness and silence, Azmere opened his gaze to find everything back to normal. His weathered hands signed magic off. “It pains my skull if I use it too much.” The ankal smiled and motioned towards the redhead. “Aside from horses, what skills do you use?” Magic or not..

[Ruvya]

G R A D E

A S H K A

Rhetoric +1
Horsemanship +2
Riding: Horse +1
Leadership +1
Observation +2
Socialization +1

Horsemanship: Leading a herd
Horsemanship: Gain a horse's attention with a whistle
Leadership: Giving clear and concise instructions
Azmere Stormblood: Watchman with horrendous scars & fascinating eyes
Lako: Suspicious of other striders
Drykas Custom: Valatia

A Z M E R E

Leadership +1
Socialization +1
Rhetoric +1
Pathfinding +1

Lodai: Jests of being Ankal
Leadership: Sharing the best possible route of action with the team
Socialization: Showing off to lighten the mood
Drykas Custom: Valatia

If you have any questions about your grade, feel free to PM!