1st of winter, 514 a.v.
almost noon
It wasn’t spectacularly cold, which was neither surprising nor something Shahar had expected. The dawn had seen the watchtowers flare again, and Morwen’s breath was obviously passing over the plains––but even under winter’s arrival, there was still the last bit of fall clinging desperately to whatever it could, resiliently kicking away the frost that had managed to form overnight.
The day had warmed as the sun rose higher. There wasn’t any real heat, though, but Cyphrus still managed to remain relatively cool without being bitingly cold, even coming close to being comfortable if one had long sleeves and a cloak.
Thankfully, long sleeves and a cloak were two things that Shahar was in good possession of. His cloak’s hem was a bit worn and tattered, of course, but the cloth about his shoulders and chest remained as thick and insulating as ever, leaving him quite at ease as he traipsed through the grasses that rattled and swayed with the oncoming brittleness that accompanied the new season.
At his side, for the first time away from the camp, was Tuka. She was full-grown now, at least in body, and her shoulder was now high enough for him to touch without bending. Her mind, however, remained active and agile, and every stray movement of their surroundings had her turning to look this way and that, and it was only through Shahar’s firm posture of stay that she kept from dashing off to investigate. Every shadow held something new, something the wanted to see––but Shahar’s influence on her was strong, and she remained beside him.
This was the season Shahar wanted to begin her training in earnest; Tuka had been raised around sign and Pavi, and so she understood the most basic of gestures and feelings, but anything more complicated than come, go or stay was utterly beyond her grasp. It was a combination of the first two that had her walking at his side.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to begin this, but he imagined that simply getting her used the the plains was a good place to start. Her experience outside of the camp’s immediate vicinity was severely lacking, and so today he had taken her into the open grasslands without any intention of proper hunting. This was for her, so she would become comfortable away from home and still be capable of obeying him.
Akaidras was following them at a small distance, tacked and ready to bear a rider if something happened to require a hasty escape. But Shahar was unsure of his ability to keep Tuka under control if he was on a horse, and so he let the stallion do as he wished for the most part. If something was wrong, one of the animals would alert him, but for now there was only the Sea of Grass.
If nothing went wrong, it should turn out to be a relatively relaxing outing.
almost noon
It wasn’t spectacularly cold, which was neither surprising nor something Shahar had expected. The dawn had seen the watchtowers flare again, and Morwen’s breath was obviously passing over the plains––but even under winter’s arrival, there was still the last bit of fall clinging desperately to whatever it could, resiliently kicking away the frost that had managed to form overnight.
The day had warmed as the sun rose higher. There wasn’t any real heat, though, but Cyphrus still managed to remain relatively cool without being bitingly cold, even coming close to being comfortable if one had long sleeves and a cloak.
Thankfully, long sleeves and a cloak were two things that Shahar was in good possession of. His cloak’s hem was a bit worn and tattered, of course, but the cloth about his shoulders and chest remained as thick and insulating as ever, leaving him quite at ease as he traipsed through the grasses that rattled and swayed with the oncoming brittleness that accompanied the new season.
At his side, for the first time away from the camp, was Tuka. She was full-grown now, at least in body, and her shoulder was now high enough for him to touch without bending. Her mind, however, remained active and agile, and every stray movement of their surroundings had her turning to look this way and that, and it was only through Shahar’s firm posture of stay that she kept from dashing off to investigate. Every shadow held something new, something the wanted to see––but Shahar’s influence on her was strong, and she remained beside him.
This was the season Shahar wanted to begin her training in earnest; Tuka had been raised around sign and Pavi, and so she understood the most basic of gestures and feelings, but anything more complicated than come, go or stay was utterly beyond her grasp. It was a combination of the first two that had her walking at his side.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to begin this, but he imagined that simply getting her used the the plains was a good place to start. Her experience outside of the camp’s immediate vicinity was severely lacking, and so today he had taken her into the open grasslands without any intention of proper hunting. This was for her, so she would become comfortable away from home and still be capable of obeying him.
Akaidras was following them at a small distance, tacked and ready to bear a rider if something happened to require a hasty escape. But Shahar was unsure of his ability to keep Tuka under control if he was on a horse, and so he let the stallion do as he wished for the most part. If something was wrong, one of the animals would alert him, but for now there was only the Sea of Grass.
If nothing went wrong, it should turn out to be a relatively relaxing outing.
