512 AV, 63rd of Fall. Endrykas. Midday
Erikal strode away from the Sunspear pavilion in some haste. Though by the shake of his shoulders and mirth that erupted from his throat, one could easily decipher whatever spurred his departure was not overly serious. Coincidentally, something was hurled his way and struck him on the shoulder. Erikal grunted, halted in his movement to bend over and pluck up the deadly missile. Turning back, he saw Jevasel's pretty little dark head poke out from the pavilion entrance, her eyes, slits, her mouth pursed for pouting.
You ass, she signed with a glare.
Erikal grinned and glanced down at the turnip. "At least this ass won't go hungry," he said with a sign of farewell and love before walking away. Erikal could of sworn he heard an angry cat-like shriek issue from behind him.
The sights and sounds of Endrykas enveloped the young man. He weaved his way past the maze of tents where Drykas families tended to daily chores. The delicious smells of cooked meat trailed out of tent flaps in wisps of smoke. The sounds of children yelling challenges to one another as they played games with play-sticks made him smile.
It brought to his mind his own childhood, which he was very much far removed from, (or so he thought with his 16 summers of wisdom) when he would match skill and strength with the other Sunspear boys. Sometimes pavilion rivalries would occur. In those cases, there was always the heightened intensity of doing honor to your pavilion or at least, not embarrassing yourself too badly. Rarely did such things get out of hand though, as Drykas were taught from an early age to respect one another and the various clans that made up their peoples.
Erikal could feel Zulrav's breath growing cooler with each passing day of Fall. It was a welcome change to the usual sweaty-hot and humid days. More than just the temperature, Erikal felt change on the wind. He could feel it in his bones that something fortuitous would happen to him somehow...
Lost in his own thoughts, he did not even realize how far he had wandered till he was leaning against a massively carved wooden post. He was at the Wind-Knotted gates! Something brushed his fingers, and he realized it was a ribbon fluttering lightly in the Fall breeze. There were many ribbons tied to either column. One male, the other female. All of them represented the sacred bond of rider and strider becoming one. A soft sigh escaped Erikal's lips. He wondered when his time would come.
His reverie was interrupted when he heard the shouts of men and the whinnies and snorts of a horse that was obviously not enjoying his rider's company. Erikal raced out of the gate and looked around. He noticed nothing but high grass and brush. Upon hearing another sound, this one a heavy thud followed swiftly by oath and laughter, Erikal pushed his way through the vegetation, toward the direction the commotion was coming...
To his amazement, the grass suddenly gave way, allowing his eyes to penetrate past into a clearing where two Drykas stood, exchanging chuckles. Another man dusted his leather breeches off with a sour look on his face. Another Drykas, gray-haired, watched the rest from his mounted position atop a dark mare.
The horsemen ringed the most magnificent horse Erikal had ever seen. Erikal's gasp of astonishment brought all eyes involved, peering his way. Even the powerful bay horse with the white diamond patch seemed to pause from its tantrums to gaze his way. Erikal cleared his throat, managed a sheepish smile and......waved.
Erikal strode away from the Sunspear pavilion in some haste. Though by the shake of his shoulders and mirth that erupted from his throat, one could easily decipher whatever spurred his departure was not overly serious. Coincidentally, something was hurled his way and struck him on the shoulder. Erikal grunted, halted in his movement to bend over and pluck up the deadly missile. Turning back, he saw Jevasel's pretty little dark head poke out from the pavilion entrance, her eyes, slits, her mouth pursed for pouting.
You ass, she signed with a glare.
Erikal grinned and glanced down at the turnip. "At least this ass won't go hungry," he said with a sign of farewell and love before walking away. Erikal could of sworn he heard an angry cat-like shriek issue from behind him.
The sights and sounds of Endrykas enveloped the young man. He weaved his way past the maze of tents where Drykas families tended to daily chores. The delicious smells of cooked meat trailed out of tent flaps in wisps of smoke. The sounds of children yelling challenges to one another as they played games with play-sticks made him smile.
It brought to his mind his own childhood, which he was very much far removed from, (or so he thought with his 16 summers of wisdom) when he would match skill and strength with the other Sunspear boys. Sometimes pavilion rivalries would occur. In those cases, there was always the heightened intensity of doing honor to your pavilion or at least, not embarrassing yourself too badly. Rarely did such things get out of hand though, as Drykas were taught from an early age to respect one another and the various clans that made up their peoples.
Erikal could feel Zulrav's breath growing cooler with each passing day of Fall. It was a welcome change to the usual sweaty-hot and humid days. More than just the temperature, Erikal felt change on the wind. He could feel it in his bones that something fortuitous would happen to him somehow...
Lost in his own thoughts, he did not even realize how far he had wandered till he was leaning against a massively carved wooden post. He was at the Wind-Knotted gates! Something brushed his fingers, and he realized it was a ribbon fluttering lightly in the Fall breeze. There were many ribbons tied to either column. One male, the other female. All of them represented the sacred bond of rider and strider becoming one. A soft sigh escaped Erikal's lips. He wondered when his time would come.
His reverie was interrupted when he heard the shouts of men and the whinnies and snorts of a horse that was obviously not enjoying his rider's company. Erikal raced out of the gate and looked around. He noticed nothing but high grass and brush. Upon hearing another sound, this one a heavy thud followed swiftly by oath and laughter, Erikal pushed his way through the vegetation, toward the direction the commotion was coming...
To his amazement, the grass suddenly gave way, allowing his eyes to penetrate past into a clearing where two Drykas stood, exchanging chuckles. Another man dusted his leather breeches off with a sour look on his face. Another Drykas, gray-haired, watched the rest from his mounted position atop a dark mare.
The horsemen ringed the most magnificent horse Erikal had ever seen. Erikal's gasp of astonishment brought all eyes involved, peering his way. Even the powerful bay horse with the white diamond patch seemed to pause from its tantrums to gaze his way. Erikal cleared his throat, managed a sheepish smile and......waved.
