Being a passenger was an entirely different experience from being a pilot, something Barrett came to appreciate in due time. Initially, he'd been borderline terrified—what if he lost his balance, what if he got trampled!—and he clung to her steadfast, not so unlike a baby baboon to its mother. He did attempt to exercise some restraint so she wouldn't pass out and send them careening off a cliff or something (as if the horse couldn't steer itself away from such obstacles... he had a wild imagination).
But over time, he seemed to acclimate to the rhythmic jostle of the horse's gallop and the hypnotic blur of the surrounding countryside as it flew past. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder and his grip loosened, though his arms stayed about her waist just in case they came upon a felled tree for Magic to hurtle (that always got the blood flowing again). Toward the end of their journey even this became less frightening, more exhilarating. Adrenaline was as potent a drug as any.
With the burden of navigation removed, his mind was free to wander. He thought of everything and nothing all at once; though he tried to pay attention to her route, he still found himself surprised when they arrived. He blinked as she addressed him and the 'boulders' they passed suddenly came into focus as buildings. Had he really been that out of it?
“Um, sure,” he agreed, disengaging himself from her at last. He wouldn't lie—it had been kind of nice having a convenient excuse to snuggle up to the violet-eyed fem. The girl wasn't much older than him, and her not-quite monochromatic, blue-tinted fur was unlike anything he'd seen before. Still, he'd been painfully careful about the placement of his hands the entire time, which made things awkward. They had just met, after all. And after the hunt... well, he was trying to be more careful.
The boy made to mimic her dismount, but something when terribly wrong. A high-pitched squeak sounded from his throat and he leaned against the animal, his legs splayed as if the horse was still between them. Had they solidified during their ride?! He did not see that coming.
He peered at Pixie imploringly, as if there was something she could do to help. Once he realised how amateur and unmanly this made him look, he glanced away and gently massaged the muscles with his palm. A few stretches further alleviated his discomfort, but when he went after her there was still a bit of “cowboy strut” in his gait. As invigorating and novel as the horse ride had been, maybe he'd find a different way home.
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