56 Summer 499 AV
sometime before the 9th bell
fringes of the Proudspear Pavillion
sometime before the 9th bell
fringes of the Proudspear Pavillion
Although the day had long been in full swing, Toraq had yet to leave his Pavillion. He would have normally been gone at daybreak, riding out with Syna's light to assist his uncle in checking traps or venturing to the Emerald Clan to handle business matters with those at the Spitfire. Today, however, was different. Today was all about his Strider, Varras, and he had spent the morning grooming and going over last minute training exercises with the young stallion to get him ready for this very special occasion. Today would be the day they finally got to ride together.
Toraq had been anticipating this day ever since he and Varras had bonded. Having only been a yearling at the time, the horse had been too young to ride and the Drykas had found it difficult to wait. Yet wait he did, pouring time and effort into ensuring Varras got the adequate training necessary to get him ready to be ridden, working with Thrash and Maximus at the Moonstone Pavillion. Now, bursting with excitement, he was close to tripping over his own feet as he hefted his yvas up and onto a shoulder - body tensing and shifting under the weight - and then carried it across the Proudspear Pavillion's grounds towards where he had left the young Strider to graze...
...But the horse was nowhere to be found.
Pausing long enough to shift the yvas from his shoulder down to his chest and eventually getting it to hang from his left forearm with the ends resting against the ground, his eyes scanned the bit of open space before him where various Striders of the Proudspear Pavillion's herd congregated, near-black eyes narrowing in concentration. But then something nudged his elbow.
After a small start, he twisted around to see that it was Varras, the horse having chosen to follow him around rather than remaining where it had been, and the Strider gave a snuffle as it craned its head forward to sniff at the yvas still in his hands. Grinning widely enough for his dimples to pit his cheeks, he reached his free hand out to run over the young stallion's muzzle, pushing his face away playfully as his words tumbled out on a chuckle, "You sneak." His hand snaked under the Strider's chin, then, giving the young horse a scratch before angling its dark-masked face upwards as he gripped its chin.
"Are you as excited as I am?" The inquiry seemed to fall on deaf ears, Varras more interested in the bit of equipment the Drykas still held, but Toraq didn't mind. He had little doubt his energy was enough to give the Strider an idea that something was up, so he merely moved his hand to rub and pat the horse's neck while leaning his forehead playfully against the Strider's own. Sharing a breath with the beast, he uttered gently, "Semekhe trewal.." A blessed day, indeed, as far as the Drykas was concerned.
"Come," he mumbled, signing the word to the Strider more clearly than he spoke it, before taking a step back, pivoting around to return to the fringes of the camp. Varras followed, head lowered and stride steady and calm, not yet matching Toraq's own hurried pace. Turning back around to meet the Strider, he the guided the horse next to him so he could begin fitting the yvas onto the stallion's back.
This was no new thing for the young horse. Kelna had emphasised the need to get the Strider used to the contraption well before he even thought to be ridden so Toraq had been diligent about the task. Now-a-days, the Strider merely found the piece of equipment curious but no longer a thing to be wary of and accepted the weight as Toraq lowered it down and around the horse's withers.
With the yvas in place, Toraq offered the horse a few reassuring pats before lowering to a knee to secure it. "Hold still." he grunted to the young Strider before him as he pulled and tugged at the straps of Varras' yvas, feeling the horse sway as Varras took a tentative step forward. With a determined sniff, Toraq fastened them under the Strider's chest and only rose back to his feet after checking to make sure they held snug and secure, going so far as to give the handle nearest him a bodily yank. Varras protested with a stomp of his back hoof and flick of his tail and Toraq merely offered a few assuring clicks of his tongue before smoothing his hand down the horses' neck in approval.
Now was the time.
Toraq had been anticipating this day ever since he and Varras had bonded. Having only been a yearling at the time, the horse had been too young to ride and the Drykas had found it difficult to wait. Yet wait he did, pouring time and effort into ensuring Varras got the adequate training necessary to get him ready to be ridden, working with Thrash and Maximus at the Moonstone Pavillion. Now, bursting with excitement, he was close to tripping over his own feet as he hefted his yvas up and onto a shoulder - body tensing and shifting under the weight - and then carried it across the Proudspear Pavillion's grounds towards where he had left the young Strider to graze...
...But the horse was nowhere to be found.
Pausing long enough to shift the yvas from his shoulder down to his chest and eventually getting it to hang from his left forearm with the ends resting against the ground, his eyes scanned the bit of open space before him where various Striders of the Proudspear Pavillion's herd congregated, near-black eyes narrowing in concentration. But then something nudged his elbow.
After a small start, he twisted around to see that it was Varras, the horse having chosen to follow him around rather than remaining where it had been, and the Strider gave a snuffle as it craned its head forward to sniff at the yvas still in his hands. Grinning widely enough for his dimples to pit his cheeks, he reached his free hand out to run over the young stallion's muzzle, pushing his face away playfully as his words tumbled out on a chuckle, "You sneak." His hand snaked under the Strider's chin, then, giving the young horse a scratch before angling its dark-masked face upwards as he gripped its chin.
"Are you as excited as I am?" The inquiry seemed to fall on deaf ears, Varras more interested in the bit of equipment the Drykas still held, but Toraq didn't mind. He had little doubt his energy was enough to give the Strider an idea that something was up, so he merely moved his hand to rub and pat the horse's neck while leaning his forehead playfully against the Strider's own. Sharing a breath with the beast, he uttered gently, "Semekhe trewal.." A blessed day, indeed, as far as the Drykas was concerned.
"Come," he mumbled, signing the word to the Strider more clearly than he spoke it, before taking a step back, pivoting around to return to the fringes of the camp. Varras followed, head lowered and stride steady and calm, not yet matching Toraq's own hurried pace. Turning back around to meet the Strider, he the guided the horse next to him so he could begin fitting the yvas onto the stallion's back.
This was no new thing for the young horse. Kelna had emphasised the need to get the Strider used to the contraption well before he even thought to be ridden so Toraq had been diligent about the task. Now-a-days, the Strider merely found the piece of equipment curious but no longer a thing to be wary of and accepted the weight as Toraq lowered it down and around the horse's withers.
With the yvas in place, Toraq offered the horse a few reassuring pats before lowering to a knee to secure it. "Hold still." he grunted to the young Strider before him as he pulled and tugged at the straps of Varras' yvas, feeling the horse sway as Varras took a tentative step forward. With a determined sniff, Toraq fastened them under the Strider's chest and only rose back to his feet after checking to make sure they held snug and secure, going so far as to give the handle nearest him a bodily yank. Varras protested with a stomp of his back hoof and flick of his tail and Toraq merely offered a few assuring clicks of his tongue before smoothing his hand down the horses' neck in approval.
Now was the time.
