A Strider's Trial

[Hasoc Galewind]

3rd Day of Summer, 511 AV


His hand tentatively brushed against the soil where the tracks lay. The imprint of a horse hoof was evident, left here at least a day ago by the look of things. Normally, there was no telling whether this was a Cyphrus Strider's print or an average horse print, but there were hardly any other kind of horse wandering these parts. Not to mention Striders only show themselves to Drykas they themselves pick appropriate. But Hasoc could still pick up the scent it left in their first encounter; this print came from the same horse, he was sure of it.

Hasoc Galewind was both thrilled and annoyed of the challenge, made by a prideful horse no less. Well, he had nothing but a dream to go by, and that particular horse sure wasn't as willing to let him ride him like other Striders usually do when they find their rider. It seemed too proud to be simply spiteful towards him when he had never even seen the horse before.

The young Drykas had lost track of when he left home, but he knew it was at least two days since. Either way, he had spend so much time finding this wandering Strider that unless he planned carefully, he may never be able to claim it.

The tracks led to a stream, flowing to the north that the path led. Hasoc continued the monotonous pace, looking around for the Strider and at the same time a meal to eat. He made an effort to hunt at least one serpent or hare around, and to be sure to hide from any or all glassbeaks. They hunt in packs, and while he was confident to take down one, he felt he would be quickly devoured in his attempt to do so.

Hasoc's eyes squinted by the light. The sun was setting at an angle, and still no sign of the strider. At least he avoided the glassbeaks too. With the day almost over, Hasoc gripped the handle of his halberd with new priorities to make; find some food, make camp, blend in and sleep.

[Hasoc Galewind]

6th Day of Summer, 511 AV

In the deep fields of the Sea of Grass, a lone horse slowly trotted along. It was tall and strong, clad in a yellow coat of Palomino with golden locks for a mane and tail. The horse, a strider, trotted towards a stream to drink laps from, feeling safe from any predators around.

A brief rustle was heard from a distance. The strider glanced up with a grunt, but saw nothing but grass and dirt. With caution, the strider lowered its head to continue drinking.

A pair of blue eyes opened from the ground. Hasoc laid flat on his body covered head to toe in mud, and after several months of blending in with the smell and area, he tricked the strider. But that was the easy part. Now was the actual taming. Slowly, inch by inch, he crawled to the drinking horse from behind, and slowly rose up to jump it...

The horse's head jerked again, and Hasoc knew it was now or never.

With a battle cry, the Drykas lunged into the arms wide and slammed on the horse's back. He frantically scrambled to hold his neck even as he neighed and rose up to slip the man off. When that didn't work, the strider quickly galloped past the stream and circled around the fields to shake Hasoc off.

For Hasoc's effort, he didn't know what to expect with a proud strider not necessarily giving himself to him, so he improvised. He practiced riding horses before, even without harnesses, so he thought this would work. He didn't take to account the power and will of the horse, or how weak and tired he was spending days at end looking for it.

In the end, his strength gave off and Hasoc was thrown off the strider as it jumped in the air. The mud-covered man crashed to the ground, looking up to see the strider look back at him for a minute, before riding off again.

Hasoc wanted to tell himself maybe it was the wrong horse, but he KNEW it was the same one, and it wasn't satisfied with him just yet. He would try again, but not for a while. His food rations were low, and his spirit wasn't well enough to hunt. He needed supplies, probably tools as well, to try again.

With a course, in mind, Hasoc walked back to camp and back his things. He knew his travel in the Sea of Grass was particularly climbing west, towards Riverfall. He always wanted to visit there at least once, and now was no better time to travel there.

"Once I get him, things will be easier," Hasoc muttered to himself, and set off for Riverfall.