A Pleasant Ride (Elisse)

[Jaelyn Baroth]

Once Elisse was settled on the saddle in front of Jaelyn she carefully slipped her arms underneath Elisse's and took hold of the reigns. With a gentle nudge of her feet she started the horse walking at a light pace, and guided it out of the stables and towards the training fields of Windmount Stables.

"What do you want to do, if you do not mind me asking?" Jaelyn spoke softly, so her voice wasn't too loud in Elisse's ears, "Do you want to go and learn of the different races in person?" she hesitantly guessed.

As the horse stepped out of the stables and into Syna's light Jaelyn took a deep breath of the air, as always enjoying time out in open air, but paused briefly as she caught scent of what could only be Elisse. It was a pleasant smell, not the typical scents of earth, sweat, and, for lack of a better word, masculinity she often got when in close proximity to a fellow Squire. It was even... rather appealing.

Clearing away such distracting thoughts with a faint shake of her head Jaelyn spoke softly once again to Elisse, "Do you know your emergency dismounts already? Those are usually one of the best things to make sure you know first."

[Elisse]

Elisse gripped the front of the saddle so that she could keep her balance as she the horse started to move. She could feel the rhythmic motions of it's muscles beneath her, and noted how Jaelyn was holding the reins. The woman's voice was quiet in her ear, and she considered the question for a moment before answering. "That would be something I would like to do, yes. Although I am a little dubious about the possibilities of meeting some of the races." She paused as thoughts of Zith's and Nuit's entered her mind. "But I would love to visit Mura, and perhaps Avanthal." The Konti were the race she was most curious about. She glanced round them as they enetered the training fields. It was a place she had never seen before, so she carefully observed the spacious environment. Her head moved in a shake as she responded to Jaelyn's second query. "No, I'm afraid I don't."

[Jaelyn Baroth]

"That sounds like it will be quite the adventure," Jaelyn smiled softly at the thought, "I have heard a bit of Mura before, and it has sounded like a very beautiful place to see."

To be honest Jaelyn couldn't imagine leaving her home to explore the world. Syliras was her life, and as pretty as some other places sounded they couldn't compare to the love she had for her home. Not that she would begrudge anyone who wanted to go somewhere else.

"Well, then now is a good time to learn," Jaelyn said softly as she gave a click of her tongue and pulled lightly on the reigns to stop the horse, "It is one of the first things they taught us here. First you get your feet out of your stirrups, and then lean forward and hug the bottom of the horse's neck," Jaelyn leaned forward, pressing against Elisse's back lightly, and patted the spot on the horse she meant, "Once you've got a good hold you kick up and over like dismounting, but with more push so you swing up and over smoothly, and then land on your feet."

Realizing her instructions might not be terribly clear Jaelyn gave a soft, faintly nervous laugh, "Maybe it would be good if I demonstrated it, or would you like to go ahead and try?" if Elisse said she wanted to try Jaelyn was ready to slide off of the horse to give the young woman room to practice.

[Elisse]

She nodded. That was precisely one of the reasons she wanted to visit Mura. The other one was obviously to meet the Konti. While she was sure there were a few in Syliras, she had yet to see any and besides, you can't get a feel for the place's culture from books. Elisse listened very carefully as the woman explained emergency dismounting to her. It sounded simple enough, but she had a feeling that wasn't the case when it came to putting it into action. She tried to picture the correct movements in her head, but she was having a little difficulty piecing the steps together. "Yes, if you don't mind would you show me?" Elisse dismounted the horse, being careful not to knock the animal or Jaelyn. She moved a little way back; close enough so she could see every movement clearly, but far enough away so that she wouldn't be hit.

[Jaelyn Baroth]

Jaelyn nodded at Elisse's request, and then leaned back to allow the young woman to get off more easily. Once Elisse was on the ground Jaelyn slid forward in the saddle, placing her feet in the stirrups, and took up a normal riding position, "Like this," Jalyn said with a soft smile.

Draping the reigns over the saddle horn she then leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the horses strong neck. Watching to make sure Elisse was paying attention Jaelyn then kicked her feet free of the stirrups, letting them dangle for a moment so she was sure she wasn't going too fast. Then, using her leg that was facing Elisse, she swung her foot forward, and then back with a strong motion. Combined with her leaning to the side the kick like motion helped her rotate off the saddle, and, with the support of her arms around the horse's neck, she swung back down to land softly on the ground next to the horse.

"There," she smiled softly again as she walked over to Elisse, "How about you give it a try now? We will start with you just doing it while the horse is standing, and then once you are comfortable with it we can move on to doing it while he is moving."