Completed Patience is a virtue (Ra'eesah)

[Nalik Fallingleaf]

Timestamp: Spring 50th 509AV

Nalik was smiling as he left The White Lily. He had not visited because he was injured, no. He had gone there because the night before he had planned to meet with Ra'eedah, a childhood friend. However there was only one flaw in their plan.

They had not confirmed when and where they would meet.

Nalik had spent the last half a bell visiting places she was likely to be, her family pavilion being the first, Healing tents of the Opel clan second, and then he had visited The Spit Fire and The Hunters Allegiance thinking she might have gone there looking for him.

And now he was back at The White Lily, starting the search from the beginning again.

The two had decided that they were going to venture into the sea of grass together, mainly for fun and time away from the busy city, but also to see if they could find a Strider for Ra'eesah.

Nalik was a little concerned about the fact that Ra'eesah was still not Windmarked. Not because he thought less of her for not being Windmarked. No that wasn't it. He had known her since he was around 10 years of age when he had been taken to her mother after he had fallen and badly sprained his ankle.

From that day the two had seen each other regularly and grown quite close.

No the reason he was concerned was because she was beginning to get frustrated and despondent, and Nalik hated seeing his friends upset. So of course the young man had rashly offered his help and the two had agreed that a trip into the plains would be good.

It was a warm spring day, the sun was high in the sky, and many of Endykas' citizens were outside enjoy the sun. As much as this was nice, it did make it harder to spot his friend and soon Nalik became weary of constantly looking through the crowd and found himself absentmindedly wandering back in the direction of his own pavilion.

He looked around, even poking his head into his tent to see if she was waiting for him.

Nothing.

He grabbed his rucksack and left.

Come on Ra'eesah were are you??

[Ra'eesah]

Ra’eesah hurried with her chores and kissed her mother goodbye. The day was a beautiful spring day and she was excited to spend time with Nalik. If she was lucky she would find her strider today. She had met Nalik when he was brought to her mother for healing. She had been just six years old. She had a healthy curiosity about everything and seeing someone near her age hurt she had to see what was going on. She had felt sorry for the boy and offered to share her sucker with him. She smiled at the memory as she grabbed her bag with some food and water as well as a few salves and herbs just in case there was an accident and someone got cut or bit by a snake. She could hear her mother’s voice in her head. “Be prepared.” They had become inseparable since then.

The young girl ran past her father waving at him. He yelled after her, “Ra’eesah be careful and don’t get your heart set!” Ra’eesah waved her arm and headed towards…..she stopped. She did not know where to meet him. They had never really decided. How could they have made that mistake she wondered and making a mental not for it to never happen again.

“Hmmmm, where would you be Nalik?” She went to the The White Lily but he was not there nor did she find him at The Spit Fire or The Hunter’s Allegiance. All three establishments when asked said he had been there earlier looking for her. She thanked them and left heading for his tent. She had met him there often enough. She sighed as she found it empty. She headed back towards the center of the Endrykas and up ahead she spotted a familiar figure.

Ra’eesah snuck up behind Nalik and jumped on his back surprising him. “Aha! I found you Nalik!” she said to him laughing. She slid down his back and smiled at him as he turned towards her. She hugged him tightly. Her eyes were twinkling and you could almost feel the excitement radiating from her. “I brought us something to eat and a lead in case I find my strider.” She looked at his wind-marks and smiled but she could not help but to feel little jealous.

Ra’eesah grabbed his hand as they headed towards the sea of grass and hopefully her strider.

[Nalik Fallingleaf]

Nalik walked away from his tent, back held in his arms. Inside was a little food, his hunting toolkit and dagger. On the outside he had tied his bow and quiver so that he could just pick his bag up and leave without worrying about forgetting anything.

He was just checking the knots were tight when something slammed into his back, and two unknown objects wrapped around his neck. He stumbled forwards slightly, but before he could react a little laugh echoed in his right ear, immediately putting him at ease.

He smiled as a familiar voice triumphantly declared that she had found him and slid softly from his back. He turned to face her, forgetting for the time the bag that had fallen out of his arms, a broad smile plastering his face.

"At last! I have been everywhere looking for you, i thought we would never get things started! That's great, I've got some food as well and some hunting supplies. You know me i'll take any opportunity i can to get some extra food."

He laughed out loud then basking in his friends exited mood, pleased that she was as happy as he was about their venture.

He just hoped she still would be happy at the end of the trip. Regardless of the outcome.

He pushed these unhappy thoughts from his mind, happy to be drawn into Ra'eesah's enthusiasm. She tugged at his wrist dragging him towards the sea and their adventure, he only just had time to grab his pack before the young female practically dragged him through the busy streets.

He shouldered his pack and took a few quick steps so that he was walking side by side with his companion. He felt comfortable in her company and this combined with Syna's warm light made him feel a inner calm he hadn't felt in a while.

As the started to leave the roaming city, tents starting to give way to a vast expanse of grass he turned to his friend, smile still tugging at his lips.

"So where did you want to start? We can't go too far from Endrykas, the further we go the more likely we are to come across predators such as glassbeaks. If we come across them it could get fairly emotional"

He chuckled at his own gross misstatement, a mixture of humor and fear as he thought about the creatures. He shrugged.

"Anyway I am sure we will be fine, but we just need to keep our wits. There's a little hill not far from here that we could go to first, we would have a good vantage point from their?"

[Ra'eesah]

Ra’eesah held her face to the sun, smiling as they headed out into the grassland. Nalik did have a very good point, the further they got the more predators they would most likely come across. She had heard stories of glassbeaks but as yet had seen one. She really did not know much about them truth be told due to over-protective parents. She had never been allowed to hunt on her own or go far past the tents unless she had one of the males from tribe with her. Sometimes being a female seemed to be a curse she reasoned.

The girl playfully pushed the boy as he talked about food. It seemed food was always on his mind but he was of the age where as her mother said a boy was unable to be filled. He always seemed to take advantage of snaring prey. It was one thing she liked about Nalik, he always thought ahead and was prepared. It was why her parents trusted her so much with him.

“Nalik, you are always honest with me, tell me the truth about glass beaks. I’ve been told they can kill you and hurt you terribly but I think my parents at times just told me that so I wouldn’t wander too far away.” She saw some fresh herbs growing in a patch and stopped to pick them. They would come in handy for helping to treat their older neighbors. She tucked them into her bag for safekeeping.

“You know this would be so much easier if we both had a horse to ride” she teased him. He had a beautiful strider but was always kind enough to walk with her places though at times she would ride behind him but she always got the impression the horse just did not like her. She looked and could see the hill in the distance and agreed that possibly they could spy a close herd from there.

“Since I have been an epic failure in finding a strider any suggestions on a different tactic than I’ve tried before?” She asked him remember the times where she had been bit, thrown off and kicked for her trouble. It was the reason she questioned her heritage at times, striders just seemed to not like her at all.

The pair was making good time and the hill was now only a few yards away when Ra’eesah heard a whiney. She looked at Nalik giving him a big grin and took off running for the hill, only to make it a few feet and trip and fall face first onto the dry ground. It knocked the wind from her making it impossible to move for a second. When she was able to breath she rolled over to look into the face of Nalik which was a mixture of concern and hiding a smile. She laughed at herself as the boy helped her up waiting for the teasing to commence. He was used to her clumsiness and he knew she would never take offense at his laughing. It was funny and if you couldn’t laugh about the silly things in life then life must be quite boring she reasoned.

Nalik helped her up and watched as she brushed herself off. Ra’eesah’s eyes twinkled merrily as she heard the whiney again. She grabbed her friend’s hand, pulling him along with her to the top of the hill. He had chosen well for below was a small herd of striders. They looked stately as they grazed. Tears formed in her eyes at the beauty of the site. Nature never seemed to disappoint her and she was always touched by its beauty.

[Nalik Fallingleaf]

The two made their way happily out into the grass sea, joking and teasing each other. Ra'eesah always seemed to bring the best out in Nalik and the young Man always seemed to wear a smile when around her.

She agreed with his statement about predators, but he paused knowing the signs of a question forming on her face. It was true, Nalik was always honest with Ra'eesah he found it very difficult to deny her anything. Sometimes this was not always a good thing, but he answered her question readily but somberly. It was his own parents that had warned him of the Glassbeaks, and more often than he would have liked stories of Hunters being killed filtered around the Spit Fire.

"No, unfortunately the tales about the Glassbeaks are not exaggerated. They are the ultimate predator. They will kill just for the sake of killing. They are usually between 7-8 foot tall, and every limb that have is designed for killing and causing maximum damage. They are fast, some faster even than our precious Striders. Their coloring has a translucent quality, that's why they have their name. They would almost be manageable if they didn't usually hunt in packs, that's why their appearance usually spells death to those unfortunate enough to run into them.

He had taken on a somber appearance, his mind throwing him unwanted images. But not even talk of killer predators seemed to detract from the excitement Ra'eesah was feeling, although she did seem to acknowledge the danger and agree with his statement. He noticed that she lent down to pick up a herb, something that Nalik was not familiar with, and he inquired as to what herb it was.

The two of them were making good progress to the hill, Ra'eesah agreeing that it would be a good place to start, but she still joked said that it would be quicker if they both had a Strider. Even though she joked Nalik new the upset she felt just thinking about it. He tried his best to be diplomatic, usually walking places with her rather than riding, but even at times when riding had been necessary he had given her a seat behind him on Rivain. But she just didn't seem to like taking passengers and Nalik thought it caused more upset than good so had stopped.

He almost smiled has is conclusion was verified when she asked him what she could try to do to help be chosen by a strider. NAlik had thought about this before,m trying to remember what he did to attract Rivains attention. The conclusion he ahd came to however was he didn't do anything. It just happened. But he couldn't really tell this to his friend for fear of making her truly despair.


Fortunately this time the question was rendered mute as the noises of horses attracted her attention and she was off. Running in the direction of the sound a huge grin on her face. However the grin did not last as she tripped and slammed into the ground. Nalik used to be concerned, and he still was a little, but he was used to her clumsiness and he knew she was resilient and 'bouncy'

He smiled slightly thinking about describing her as bouncy, but still ran over to her, just in time to see her roll onto her back and he looked down upon her with a slight smile that showed amusement but also questioned whether she was ok. They both found themselves looking up and smiling at each other. He was glad she was ok, and helped her up a grinning spreading from one side of his face to the other.

"Make sure you show the Striders you're grace. They will love that!" He chuckled and made a show of holding onto her shoulder as they walked up the hill exaggerating helping her to walk.

However when they crested the hill and was standing on the pinnacle bathing in Syna's light joviality was replaced by a sense of awe and wonder.

It was beautiful.

A herd of Striders were frolicking in the clearing just below them, mares and stallions alike along with a smattering of colt's and foals. Out of teh corner of his eye he saw Ra'eesah start to well up, tears tainting the outsides of her eyes obviously over powered by the scene and the emotion she felt towards finding her Strider.

Nalik felt a little helpless and worry starting to creep into his mind.

I can't force a Strider to bond with her. I can't even give her any tips, after all he didn't even think he did anything it just happened. What if this is just another failed attempt, another experience that will just damage her confidence and possibly their friendship. He really really did not want that.

He reached out and took her hand, turning his head to face her, a peaceful neutral look taking pride of place on his face trying to reining in his friends excitement slightly, trying not to get her hopes up.

Together they slowly made their way down to the horses, Nalik uttering a small prayer as they went.

Caiyha please let you're creatures be friendly and accept us amongst their numbers, we mean them now harm and just wish to spend some time with them. Thank you

[Ra'eesah]

Ra’eesah loved that she could be herself in front of Nalik. He was used to her clumsiness, her silliness, and her millions of questions. She could always count on him to tell her the truth. She knew he might not want to tell her about the glassbeaks but she knew he would. He just always seemed to know what it was she needed, what her moods were and when to say something and when to just be near. He always seemed to be there when she needed help, or a shoulder to cry on. She knew her parents were getting some ideas about their friendship. She was not entirely sure Nalik would be excited about that prospect but it was not an issue since she did not have her wind-marks yet. It was not a topic either of the pair had even discussed.

Holding the bunch of goldenseal root up for him she explained that it was good to fight internal infections and also to draw out infection. She explained that it helped to keep a person from getting sick so often. “It seems that the elderly in the tribe tend to do well with this, I’m not really sure why but I know she uses it with them. I guess it was some other less well-known things it can help a person with but that I am still learning. I honestly don’t know how mama can remember all of this.” He took it from her hand and examined it before handing it back to her.

As the pair stood on top the hill, each of their minds on the same thing Nalik took her hand. Ra’eesah squeezed it tight looking and him and smiled sweetly at him. “Thank you for coming with me today. Having a friend here that understands my heart helps me a lot.” She gazed out at the small herd of striders stretched out before them. They were beautiful. They held themselves so regal, so self-assured.

Ra’eesah sighed knowing the work would start now. She looked at Nalik; something had been worrying on her mind of late, “When you were looking for your strider, when you tried ones that were not yours or got near them, what did they do?” She looked back at the heard trying to see if any one specific horse was calling to her in anyway. Nothing but it was what she had expected. “It just seems that when I get near on they have such a violent reaction to me. I’ve been bit, kicked, tossed off their back, head butted and knocked down. Is that normal or is it just me?” She listened patiently to his answer and pondered on his words as she watched the young foals frolicking in the grass.

“You coming with me down there? Could be the most comical thing you’ll ever see!” she gently teased him.

[Nalik Fallingleaf]

Goldenseal. He looked down on it trying to remember its features so he could identify it in the future. He had always thought it would be useful to know more than 'is it edible' about the plaints that resided in the Sea of Grass, but when he was out here something else always seemed to catch his attention.

Ra'eesah was a good teacher though.

Syna's light was strong and warm at the top of the hill and both Drykas were bathed in her golden glow. He just hoped that Ciayha had heard him and that the Strider's would be receptive of the young girl holding into his hand.

They stood in silence, watching the beautiful scene below them, content with just being together and witnessing the beauty of Ciayha's creatures. It was a while before Ra'eesah broke the silence, looking up at him with her smile that always seemed to put him off guard.

"It's ok, you know i enjoy our trips just as much as you do. Besides I enjoy spending time with you. You're good to laugh at" He laughed out loud nudging her with his shoulder as he said it. "I'm joking! Its nice being with someone that just gets you for who you are. There's no pretending around you, you know me too well!"

He squeezed her hand as he said this, turning his attention back to the Stirders. He felt tension building in the air, knowing that she was going to go down and attempt to find a bond mate. He felt slightly nervous so he knew she must be, he didn't need the sigh and the worried questions to affirm it.

Her questions were full of worry and previous hurt. He let her pause as she gazed back at the Striders lo

nging thick in her gaze. He looked down on her, a slight sadness creeping over him.

What could he say to reassure her?

He turned her to face him as he responded, looking down into her eyes trying to be as honest as he could.

I have heard stories of Drykas getting violent reactions from striders. I don't think its hugely common, but its definitely not unheard off! Don't look like that silly, its not you. I was just lucky! Rivain came to be, i didn't go to her! I wasn't even intending to find horses, it just seemed like she found me. So yea I guess you know when you have found you're Strider, they make it very clear!"

He smiled at her, trying to look as reassuring as her and hide the worry that was currently gnawing at him. He laughed again and tugged her hand, leading her down the hill.

"Of course I am coming, i wouldn't miss it for anything!

Please, if none of these Strider's are Ra'eesah's please at least let them be friendly with her.

[Ra'eesah]

Ra’eesah smiled at Nalik as he tried to reassure her and let her know she was not the only one who had the problems with the Striders as she did. She loved how he always did his best to cheer her up or give her confidence at a task that she found difficult or unsure of. Her eyes twinkled at him as the pair headed down the hill together Ra’eesah holding his hand taking the strength he was giving her. They got the bottom of the hill. She looked at Nalik and smiled again, he was one of the few people on the planet that truly ever knew what was going inside of her. It was hard to hide her fears and emotions from him.

“Here it goes!” she exclaimed a little more jovial and self-assured than she felt at this moment. She slowly walked forward towards the herd, each movement slow and non-threatening. A colt scampered to his mother as she approached. She walked to one and petted his face and gently talked to him. “Hello boy, you are a beautiful stallion.” The horse whinnied and pushed her away with his head almost knocking her down. She laughed and moved a long look each horse over. They were all beautiful creatures. A horse approached her and allowed her to pet it, its curiosity apparent. She wondered could this be the one.

“My aren’t you a pretty girl?” The horse bowed which she thought odd but excitement built in her heart wondering if this was the one. She checked the horse over, petting her, exclaiming over her, getting to know the horse. She could feel the strength in her, her sides quivering with each breath. She asked permission of the horse if she could mount it and it seemed to give her its permission. Each movement she talked to the horse and what she was going to do before she did it. She made sure to always show the horse respect. Her excitement was now evident on her face as she mounted it. She could see Nalik at the edge of the herd waiting. She could tell by the look on his face he had just as much hope as she did. The horse stood there for a moment and slowly walked to the edge of the herd over to where a soft patch of overgrown grass awaited. The woman reached down to pet the horse’s neck and talk to her. She had started to breathe a sigh of relief thinking she had finally found her horse.

Ra’eesah looked at Nalik and smiled when the horse suddenly turned and started prancing, rearing up in the air. It did not take much to throw the small woman from her back. The strider turned and looked her with amusement in its eyes and cantered off to its mates. She laid there for a moment, the breath knocked from her lungs but as she was able to breathe again she sat up seeing Nalik running towards her with worry etched on his face. “I’m fine.” She waved at him as she stood and with determination went back into where the horses were. She got the feeling all the horses were laughing at her.

One by one Ra’eesah went from horse to horse and nothing. It was as if she was not standing before them or they pushed her away. She got the last one and sighed loudly. It was not here. She stood there for a moment with tears in her eyes. She was disappointed but it was nothing that she herself had not expected. She turned and walked back to Nalik. He held his arms out to her and she walked into them and let herself be held as the tears began to flow. He knew enough to just hold her and let her deal with her disappointment and then she would be ready to talk. His strong arms gave her strength and with him she never had to hide anything. The sobs slowed and finally came to a complete halt.

“Thank you” she whispered into his shoulder. Ra’eesah wiped at her eyes. “Next time! I’ll find it next time!”

[Nalik Fallingleaf]

It seemed to work, and she beamed at him as they made their way down to the bottom of the hill. They reached the bottom and stood their for a tic, watching the heard, tension building in the air.

He gave her hand a little squeeze as she tried her best to hide her anxiety from him with a little smile and a 'Here it goes!'. As hard as she tried, she couldn't hide the slight temor in her vice that betrayed her true emotions, and Naliks smiles wavered slightly when she turned away from him, his own nervousness gnawing at his insides.

Please be kind to her. Please

He watched her go, trying to read the reactions of the horses. A colt bolted to his mother. He winced as the first horse she spoke to did its best to head butt her.

That's ok, don't show fear. That's it laugh it off Ra'eesah, you're horse is out there. I hope

The next horse gave him hope. It approached her, and genuinely seemed interested in the young female. It did a queer move, almost seeming to bow to her, something that Nalik had never seen before. He found it strange. He didn't like strange, but he shrugged it off, hope building inside of him as Ra'eesah was allowed to examine and pet the Stallion.

Nalik smiled as she was allowed to mount him, and he even raised his hands in triumph when she took a quick happy glance at him. She was doing great. She was talking to him in a calm gentle voice, constantly reassuring him. He was even walking with her on his back! Ra'eesah turned and gave him another broad smile, warming his heart. He signed a quick 'great' and 'triumphant' in Pavi and watched the happy scene unfold.

This could be it. This could be her, oh.

All of a sudden the stallion turned on her, prancing and rearing until the young woman was thrown off his back. Nalik was moving before she fell, trying to get to her in time to prevent the fall, but his heart sank as she thudded into the ground, clearly landing hard. The horse just turned to look at her, and Nalik was sure gave her an amused mocking look before running off to the rest of the herd.

He was a couple of passes away from her when she rolled onto her front and pushed herself up, waving him away telling him she was fine. He stopped just short of her, sadness clear on his face, but let he slowly walk back to the rest of the heard.

He had to try harder and harder to hide the sadness on his face as one horse after the other shunned her attempts to get close. It was only when the last one turned away from her that she stopped and just stood still letting the wind blow gently through her hair. she turned then and started walking back to Nalik, tears fighting to be free of her eyes.

He had to hold back his own tears as she fell into his arms, her body convulsing in long heartfelt sobs.

He hated this part.

He felt so helpless, so useless. He couldn't force a Strider to bond with her. He couldn't do anything usefully really, all he could do was be a shoulder for her to cry on, a comfort amongst a sea of appointment's. He held her tightly in her arms, making a slight cooing sound as he ran a hand through the her hair at the back of her head, waiting for the emotional girl to cry herself out before she was ready to talk.

'Thank you. Next time! I’ll find it next time!', she finally whispered and the words forced a tear out of his own eye. She was so resilient. So brave, so full of hope and despair at the same time. He couldn't help but think if he was in her shoes he would have given up seasons ago.

He held on to her shoulders, stepping away from hair slightly so that he could look down on her and gave her a slight squeeze

"You did great Ra'eesah. You did nothing at all wrong, it is their loss. You are a better Drykas than I, I would have given up seasons ago, but you. You are so determined, so sure that you're bondmate is out there. We will find him or her Ra'eesah and when we do the wait will be worth it. Whichever Strider bonds with you will be the luckiest of all Cyphrus".

He lent forwards and kissed her on the forehead then stepped back taking her hand again.

"Come. Lets go back to the hill and have some food, you must be hungry I know i am! And before you say it, no i am not always hungry!"

He cracked a huge smile and stuck his tongue out at her as he said the last sentence, tugging her close and walking towards the top of the hill again, trying to mask the concern on his face with hope and happiness

[Ra'eesah]

Ra’eesah dried her tears. She smiled at his suggestion to go eat their lunches. Her fingers entwined in his as they walked back, her head down watching each step she took. Mentally she gave herself a pep talk and was quiet as they walked. Nalik knew she needed the time to mentally reset herself and put this disappointment behind her. It was something she was getting used too. It always hurt when it happened but she knew there would be another chance in the future. When she knew she could talk without crying she smiled up at the young man walking next to her. She leaned her head against his arm,

“Thank you Nalik. I think I would be lost without you.” She squeezed his arm and sighed. They continued to walk towards the top of the hill.

“I am hungry and yes you are always hungry. I swear there is nothing that fills that bottomless pit of yours.” Ra’eesah teased him as they neared the top of the hill and sat down to eat. The day was hot but for the girl she liked the heat of the summer. She took a bite of the bread and cheese she had brought with her and chewed slowly looking out at the herd of Striders.

“They’re beautiful aren’t they Nalik?” she commented. “One day I will find mine. Maybe mine hasn’t even been born yet!” She looked at windmarks, thinking how handsome he was with them and wondered if she would be beautiful when she got hers.

She smiled up at him watching him eat and started laughing. She laughed so hard she lay back in the grass, tears running from her eyes as she tried to stop laughing. She held her stomach to ease the hurt that was there because she was laughing so hard. Finally she got herself under control and turned on her said to look at him.

“You looked like some savage wolf destroying something eating your lunch.” Giggles erupted again but were quickly put under control. “You do amaze me my bottomless pitted friend. I pity the woman who is going to have to feed you for the rest of your life once you marry.” She teased him. “She will never get away from cooking for you!” She stuck her tongue out at him.

Ra’eesah lay on her back looking at the clouds. It was good to be this comfortable with someone, to feel so free, to be able to be completely yourself. She cherished her time with Nalik. It was rare to find a friendship like theirs.