Rue
Early evening of the 62nd Day of Summer, 153 AV
"We will meet three and a half bells before the sun rises. Here, outside Hunter's Rest." The man, Ezra, told her. Rue nodded her head, she would do as he asked because she knew he was doing her a favor taking her along on his hunt. She had very little experience, and there was a risk that she would ruin his hunt in some way, being too loud, too slow, too green.
"I'll be here." She told him, signing her excitement and thanks.
"Good. Bring your strider, he seems a sound enough mount."
63rd Day of Summer, 513 AV
It was early in the morning, earlier even than she usually woke. The morning was cool still from the night. She dressed quickly, adding her daggers as usual, but skipping her purple sash and removing her jewelry, even the charms from her hair. She grabbed her backpack -adding her waterskin to it's depths- her bow and her quiver. She was ready. She moved through the pavilion silently, carrying her boots so her steps would be softer, she did not want to wake anyone.
Outside was refreshing, a soft breeze blowing between the gaps of the tent city, it was a good sign for the day. She laced up her boots, and headed for the corral. "Wildfire." She called softly as she picked up her yvas, there was no answering greeting. She put her things down, grabbing the bucket of grooming tools as she climbed through the fence. "Wildfire, wake up, we're leaving." She nudged the boy with her hip and he snorted at her as he stirred.
She picked out a curry comb, one with soft fingers to protect his skin. She offered it to hi first, letting him discern that it was nothing to be scared of before she began to groom him. She moved as quickly as she could while still being through, brushing against the grain of the hair to loosen the dirt and loose hair caught underneath. As she brushed she checked for ticks and scratches on his body, careful to feel where she could not see. When she was done she dropped the comb back in the bucket, grabbing a firm brush to chase away the dirt she had loosened. The short strokes ended with a flick of the brush to toss the dirt into the air, it smoothed the hair and removed the dirt. She was careful to use this brush on his legs as well, removing the dirt packed against his joints.
Wildfire was still while she worked, until she offered him the soft brush, he butted his face against it, excited to have the dirt and hair that tickled his face removed. She sighed it seemed none of her training thus far had cured hi of this. "Be still you silly boy." She chided, brushing his forehead with a quick back and forth motion. She moved quickly to his cheeks and his chin before brushing his body with long fast strokes that flattened the hair and made it shine.
Finally she picked his feet patting him on the shoulder as she finished, tossing the grooming things back in the bucket.
Wildfire enjoyed being groomed, it was why she had woken extra early, but he still would not be happy to be working so long before dawn. It was a sort of bribe, or compensation for waking him so early in the morning. She hung the bucket back where she had found it and grabbed her yvas.
"Come on, let's go." She held up the yvas ready to place it over his head and he stomped his foot, throwing his head up where she could not reach him and giving her a wicked look.
"Come on, I know it's early, but this will be fun." She told him, "We are going hunting." When he still kept his head raised high above her she rolled her eyes at him, reaching down to scoop up a handful of grass. "Here Wildfire." She droned, waiting for him to reach down for her offering, when he did she quickly slipped the yvas over his head.
"That wasn't so bad was it." He snorted at her, and she laughed softly. "Come on." She tilted her head towards the gate and he followed her, knowing he was beat.
She gathered her things, attaching only her quiver to the yvas and keeping the rest of the gear on her. That would change when she rode, but for now she would walk beside her friend.
They arrived outside the Hunter's Den with time to spare. She played with Wildfire, touching him on the shoulder or the nose to have him move away from her touch, he would sometimes return the favor, pushing her with his nose and nearly knocking her over. It was a good distraction to pass the time, but once the half bell neared, Rue sobered and stood beside her horse, trying to look worthy of the gift being given to her by the hunter who would be taking her with him.
The half bell came and went. Three bells before sunrise and the man still had not appeared. She waited for an entire bell to pass before her hope faded. It seemed that Ezra was not coming.
"We will meet three and a half bells before the sun rises. Here, outside Hunter's Rest." The man, Ezra, told her. Rue nodded her head, she would do as he asked because she knew he was doing her a favor taking her along on his hunt. She had very little experience, and there was a risk that she would ruin his hunt in some way, being too loud, too slow, too green.
"I'll be here." She told him, signing her excitement and thanks.
"Good. Bring your strider, he seems a sound enough mount."
63rd Day of Summer, 513 AV
It was early in the morning, earlier even than she usually woke. The morning was cool still from the night. She dressed quickly, adding her daggers as usual, but skipping her purple sash and removing her jewelry, even the charms from her hair. She grabbed her backpack -adding her waterskin to it's depths- her bow and her quiver. She was ready. She moved through the pavilion silently, carrying her boots so her steps would be softer, she did not want to wake anyone.
Outside was refreshing, a soft breeze blowing between the gaps of the tent city, it was a good sign for the day. She laced up her boots, and headed for the corral. "Wildfire." She called softly as she picked up her yvas, there was no answering greeting. She put her things down, grabbing the bucket of grooming tools as she climbed through the fence. "Wildfire, wake up, we're leaving." She nudged the boy with her hip and he snorted at her as he stirred.
She picked out a curry comb, one with soft fingers to protect his skin. She offered it to hi first, letting him discern that it was nothing to be scared of before she began to groom him. She moved as quickly as she could while still being through, brushing against the grain of the hair to loosen the dirt and loose hair caught underneath. As she brushed she checked for ticks and scratches on his body, careful to feel where she could not see. When she was done she dropped the comb back in the bucket, grabbing a firm brush to chase away the dirt she had loosened. The short strokes ended with a flick of the brush to toss the dirt into the air, it smoothed the hair and removed the dirt. She was careful to use this brush on his legs as well, removing the dirt packed against his joints.
Wildfire was still while she worked, until she offered him the soft brush, he butted his face against it, excited to have the dirt and hair that tickled his face removed. She sighed it seemed none of her training thus far had cured hi of this. "Be still you silly boy." She chided, brushing his forehead with a quick back and forth motion. She moved quickly to his cheeks and his chin before brushing his body with long fast strokes that flattened the hair and made it shine.
Finally she picked his feet patting him on the shoulder as she finished, tossing the grooming things back in the bucket.
Wildfire enjoyed being groomed, it was why she had woken extra early, but he still would not be happy to be working so long before dawn. It was a sort of bribe, or compensation for waking him so early in the morning. She hung the bucket back where she had found it and grabbed her yvas.
"Come on, let's go." She held up the yvas ready to place it over his head and he stomped his foot, throwing his head up where she could not reach him and giving her a wicked look.
"Come on, I know it's early, but this will be fun." She told him, "We are going hunting." When he still kept his head raised high above her she rolled her eyes at him, reaching down to scoop up a handful of grass. "Here Wildfire." She droned, waiting for him to reach down for her offering, when he did she quickly slipped the yvas over his head.
"That wasn't so bad was it." He snorted at her, and she laughed softly. "Come on." She tilted her head towards the gate and he followed her, knowing he was beat.
She gathered her things, attaching only her quiver to the yvas and keeping the rest of the gear on her. That would change when she rode, but for now she would walk beside her friend.
They arrived outside the Hunter's Den with time to spare. She played with Wildfire, touching him on the shoulder or the nose to have him move away from her touch, he would sometimes return the favor, pushing her with his nose and nearly knocking her over. It was a good distraction to pass the time, but once the half bell neared, Rue sobered and stood beside her horse, trying to look worthy of the gift being given to her by the hunter who would be taking her with him.
The half bell came and went. Three bells before sunrise and the man still had not appeared. She waited for an entire bell to pass before her hope faded. It seemed that Ezra was not coming.
Nightsong
