Wonder while I Wander (Flashback)

[Caehli Galesong]

" Not even in your dreams Rothyr! I promise you that I will take this race" she turned her torso poking his chest affirmatively. She then promptly lifted herself gently off Sungold and slid off. She landed in a thud on her feet beaming up at him."Let us meet at the Plains, there's enough space to go far out! Be careful though don't be fooled by those plainsprites " It was good to have healthy competition, in fact it made her blood boil.

She didn't have to go far for Din to find her.He wasn't far from their pavillion just munching on some grass. She always let him wander freely around just because he usually followed her around, they were rarely apart. He whinied joyfully before nuzzling his nose into her hair tenderly.This gold palomino stallion was large at eighteen hands , together they looked like an odd couple. It was amazing that she could even straddle him.

With out any visible communication or indication Caehli jumped on Din's back.Usually she rode Din bareback but on such a competition she would need to use his Yvas.Caehli quickly retreated to her pavillion for yvas and change of clothes.A pair of pants and a tight tunic. Which was an odd sight for a Drykas woman but Caehli wasn't going to go easy on anyone, she didn't like to lose.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

When Caehli was out of sight, Rothyr got to work. He found a good sized bag, roughly the size of him, that matched his skin color. He filled it with some potatoes and cabbages to give it weight, and stuffed hay that resembled his hair into the top. He thought about painting a happy face on it, but finding paint would take too much time, and he had to be quick to avoid getting caught. He removed his cloak, and hit the Rothyr-dummy under it on Windlass. The potatoes and cabbage would be light enough not to weigh him down so much, and he tied everything together with a strong string so hopefully it wouldn't come apart.

He hoped he didn't look to conspicuous, but he figured such a jest was worth the risk. He rode about the different pavilions looking for sober riders he knew enjoyed a race. He told them all, "There's a race in the grasslands tonight! Get your horses and meet us on the plains!" he said, "What are the stakes?" They would ask, to which he replied, "Bragging rights, the best prize of all!"

In the end, about five more riders showed up, and plenty of spectators. Races were a common sport amongst the horse-clans, and very popular. Particularly if a member of the Amethyst clan was participating. Now all that was needed was for his new companion to join them.

[Caehli Galesong]

After she was dressed in her new attire Caehli rode out to the plains. She was unfazed by the audience and only jested with the familiar faces in the crowd.Her competition however was different, all of them were older than her a young girl of fifteen . She wasn't exactly sure if they'd take her seriously and if that were the case she'd take advantage of their speculation and leave them in the dust.

The only one who would be hard competition would be Rothyr of course. He actually knew her better than the others and wouldn't let her get the best of him. She considered all the best possibilities of winning and only came up with one, try her damnest to win.

"Rothyr if you're feeling nervous you don't have to do this " she taunted "It's only a race after all" she said to him grinning like the cat that ate the canary. She was hoping in the very least she could unnerve him a little.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

"I already placed a bet against you. It would be foolish to back out now," He said, shrugging off her taunts, "I just hope I don't fall out of the saddle... I'm still breaking this one in, you see. But what better way to do so than with a race?"

He took his place next to her in the starting line with the other riders, and eagerly awaited the start of the race. He was ready to play his little prank on her, and hoped it would work. He would never let her live it down. He was glad she didn't take notice of the bundle on his saddle, that was a step in the right direction.

[Caehli Galesong]

"I hope you'll be used to your pockets feeling a lot lighter then!" she then set her sight forward. Din whinied in excitement, his hooves kicking up dirt from the plains. Caehli couldn't hide her genuine smile she felt most powerful on horseback.

She smirked at Rothyr beside her before setting her eyes on the Grasses before her. This was just the usual race, ride out to the forked tree about a seventy yards away and back. You also had to keep an eye out for a couple geysers and craters on the way there.Deadly obstacles and foes in the Sea of Grass. However Caehli wasn't concerned she knew the plains well.

One of the girls emerged from the crowds standing between the racers and smiled coyly. She untied the scarf from her waist and lifted in the air waving it tauntingly. The audience cried and cheered in anticipation of the race. A couple riders hooted and hollered too, Caehli being one of them. With a swift thwip of her arm the scarf snapped in the air in indication to start the race.Caehli didn't even think she just started riding.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

Rothyr started after Caehli, when the signal was given. The other riders started also, and before long Rothyr and Caehli were ahead of the others. He rode hard as he could, and only stayed just on her left. Seventy yards gave very little time to enact his plan, so at about halfway to the tree he sprung into action.

He let her get about a head's distance ahead of him, where she would have to turn her head to see him. He took his right leg out of the stirrup, and swung over to cling to the side of his horse, ducking where he could not be seen. He left the cloak on the Rothyr-Dummy he had made, believing it would add to the illusion, and yelled in distress, "Oh no! Caehli!"

With that, he tossed the Rothyr-dummy from the saddle, and ducked down, peeking under his horse's neck to see if his ploy worked. His aim was to make it look like he had been flung from the saddle, in an attempt to distract Caehli enough to let him get in the lead. A harmless little trick, more for fun than anything. He looked to his friend to see if the trick worked.

[Caehli Galesong]

Caehli was horror stricken when she saw Rothyr tumbling off his horse. When it came to falling off a horse you could never be to sure about the damage done until you hit the ground. Well when he laid unmoving on the ground face down, Caehli panicked. Hadn't he said something earlier about his saddle? She pulled up on her yvas and Din reared up in confusion. Once he turned round Caehli trotted over to Rothyr until about half way realizing that it was a dummy. When Sungold made her way around the bend of the tree she caught sight of him hanging on the side of Sungold.

"You cheating blighter!" She screamed before chasing after him. She launched herself the rest of the way around the tree fork. The other riders were gaining on her but truthfully she saw red and didn't give a damn about winning at this point. She only wanted to strangle Rothyr in humiliation and frustration. She was on his tail catching up to him at alarming speed but he had won the race by now. Not that it mattered now she just wanted to kick the ever loving poo out of the man for scaring her so badly.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

He saw her take the bait as he rounded the tree. The ruse worked like he thought it would, and her reaction was priceless. He could barely make out the look on her face, and in retrospect he felt bad for scaring her, but there, in that moment, was nothing but hilarity. He righted himself in the saddle, laughing, and laughed all the way back to the starting position. His sides hurt by that time, and tears welled up in his eyes. He could barely breathe. He didn't see Caehli closing in on him like a shark to a bloody seal. His back was turned as she closed in, completely vulnerable.

[Caehli Galesong]

He was laughing at her! The stupid dumb jerk, she thought he could have been hurt! Caehli was so angry she was irrational.While Din was in mid gait she jumped off of him and marched straight to Rothyr. She took off her boot and threw it at the Rothyr, it soundly hit the back of his head.

She then started punching his thigh because it was the only thing in reach.
"You. stupid. fool. I. thought. you. were. hurt!You. scared. me. out. of. my wits" she declared between angry punches. She wished that he was on the ground so she could slap him silly.
"You're lucky I didn't decide to bring my quiver and bow cause you would be a dead man right now" she declared. The audience was very amused by their quarrel soft merry chuckles emitting from them.

With that Caehli stomped off muttering and cursing under breath. She wasn't sure if she was angry about losing or upset that Rothy scared her so. Maybe it was both. Though she did not want to think of herself as a sore loser. So she put it from her mind and continued cursing Rothyr's name softly.

[Rothyr Windbourne]

Rothyr rubbed the back of his head where the boot had hit, watching her storm off. She was a Drykas, there was no doubting that after such a display. He had it coming though, his mean little prank had scared her senseless, and he was touched she had been so worried about him. What a sweet girl, this Caehli.

He dismounted, and petted Sungold briefly before starting after her. On the way, he ran into the man with which he had wagered, and took a small, folded piece of cloth from him. The man commented on the race and the trick he had played, to which Rothyr responded, "It was but a hunter's trick, friend," with a laugh, and clapped him on the shoulder, "You'll have to look elsewhere for a saddle, it seems I'll be keeping mine!" He started off after Caehli again, laughing.

"Caehli!" He called after the girl, little cloth in his hand, "I have something for you!"