Closed Seizing Opportunity

[Eleret]

Winter 8, 512 AV morning The day was cool, but not unreasonably so; the sky above overcast, with little more than a vague brightness in its component grays to indicate the position of the ascending sun. Eleret had bundled up against the brisk atmosphere, with cloak and scarf -- though the little horse she rode was quite warm, all told. Maybe she didn't need the layers just now after all. She and Sybel had separated from the group they were traveling with, temporarily, and left the road behind as well. Between the gray overcast and the sparse forest around them, Eleret couldn't pick out anything she recognized as a landmark. Not that there was anything in this part of the world she'd seen more than once before, to begin with. For the moment, the Konti was focused on practicing her control of her steed; it was the rider's job to direct, after all, so it was a skill she needed to have. The little painted mare paced forward at an easy walk, fallen leaves crunching noisily beneath each hoof. Eleret tugged on the reins, and Skye swerved left, turning through a corner imagined around a tree trunk. She let the horse walk on a short distance, then pulled the other way, directing her to turn right. The horse turned partway and then stopped short, snorting softly and flicking her ears back at her rider -- that silly person who seemed set on walking her into a bush. "Sorry," Eleret murmured at the pinto. When Skye seemed fully prepared to wait until the novice rider figured out what to do about the obstacle, she directed the horse to go left around the shrub. Once the mare had a course she deemed acceptable, the Konti decided to leave off meddling for a while, glancing over her shoulder towards Sybel instead. "We are meeting where, again?"

[Sybel]

Eplah pranced along the rear as her rider kept a watchful eye. Setting out in the morning had been the safest strategy. Eleret was no fighter, so it was imperative that Sybel watched the flank. As they rode, the woman drew her cloak in tightly while her alternative hand absently fingered the hilt of her blade. With a keen gaze she scanned the horizon. Scrubby brush fringed skeletal trees. There hadn’t been many signs of life since they’d departed from the caravan, but all in all… That was a good thing. The winter wasn’t a time for activity in the wild. Anything to the contrary would have been unsettling.

With amusement her eyes fell on Ellie. She was assessing a particularly large piece of foliage standing in her path, much to the exasperation of her spirited little steed. The beast folded its ears back in distress. "Sorry," she breathed, assessing the issue. After a few moment she settled on navigating around the thing, and they resumed the their stroll through the spiny wilderness. Satisfied with letting the horse handle its own business, she glanced back at the Benshira. "We are meeting where, again?" Eleret was getting better with her Common, she had to admit.

”We’re off to get lost so we can then find our way back. It’s good practice since we’re not actually lost,” she trailed. ”We’re meeting a bit further out.” Quietly, she went over the landmarks they’d passed. There were a few simple strategies for getting your bearings in the wood. They walked along the leaf-strewn ground a little further. ”If you’re bored we can start telling riddles again.” The offering was meant only somewhat seriously. The last riddle contest had ended outrageously. Most of the woman’s riddles were bawdy and set her pale counterpart’s cheeks to blooming – a fact she hadn’t been aware of prior.

After a few moments, Sybel pulled in her sleek mare. ”This should do.” They were adequately engulfed in forest. It wasn’t much of a forest, but it’d do. The visibility didn’t make for many hiding spots. ”So, the first thing I will say is… If you get lost – do not panic.” Bel said this gravely, launching right into the lesson. ”Fear is your greatest enemy. I have no doubt you can remain calm. Just don’t let your nerves get the best of you.” She gave a reassuring little smile. ”In your case, you’d only ever be separated from the larger group. It’s better to stay in one place and allow them to search for you. If both parties search for one another, you may end up chasing your tail and expending valuable energy. I learned this pretty early on while traveling with caravans.” She’d almost lost her life in the process, and then almost become a Navikak breeder. Ovek had been kind on that day.

”The next thing…” Her voice was interrupted by the slight shifting of leaves. Suspiciously, her eyes darted to the side.