To explore this world

Orin Takekuro · 10-02-2011, 02:25 PM

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All welcome!!

Leaving Cercatori d'Arte had been hard, but at least this time she knew she would be going back. This time it was not an impromptu flee for safety that had her traveling outside of d'Arte's borders, rather it was a trip that had been planned carefully, with an itinerary and purpose for each stop. She'd picked the most docile of d'Arte's communal mares, a cream and tan paint so unimaginatively named Spot, to accompany her on her journey. The horse was adorned with all the proper trimmings; bridle, saddle, and bags, and Orin had thrown an old deerskin pelt over the saddle to cushion the ride a bit more. The mare loped along at a leisurely speed but was making good enough time through the wilderness, so Orin was pacified and rarely bothered to try to hurry the thing along. After all, she was a novice rider indeed, and might not do too well on the back of a galloping horse.

Orin surveyed the afternoon sky and concluded that they were only an hour and a half off time. As she neared Crimson Dreams many clues tipped her off that she was near her first destination – the maintenance of the land before her improved tenfold, tracks were evident nearby as one didn't need to hide their movements throughout their own homeland, and clear scent markers began to trickle into even Orin's dull sense of smell. She smiled softly, patting the mare on the shoulder.

“I think we made it, friend,” she was doing her best to stay in the mare's good graces. They were to spend the next two weeks together traveling, and it would be horrible to be on the animal's bad side. But she'd done a good job buttering her up with treats and a little bonding time before they left, and she suspected that this docile little mare would give her no problems. Suspected... or just hoped really hard.

The hooves clopped on the packed earth as they covered the final stretch, soon coming to the point where they should stop or else they'd be trespassing. Orin knew times were tough for the pack right now – that was partially why she was calling – and that to trespass now would be a grievous offense. She pulled back on the reigns gently, but the horse kept moving. “Hey, hey, whoa,” she chattered softly, wanting to panic but trying to keep her voice low and soothing. “Stop. Stop I say!” She gave the reigns another tug, this time holding much more firmly but trying not to jerk the mare's head, and not letting the slack fall back until the animal slowed.

She sighed with relief when the last hoof-beat fell and then realized that they had, indeed, come to a halt. She patted the mare's neck again, cooing praise to her for a few seconds before straightening up and looking around. As she hoped, she'd come up to the lands near the northeastern borders – staying as far from AniWayan territory as possible – and from here she could see a plain-like land with a great mansion off in the distance. She had never been to this land and didn't know if that was a place of importance or just an abandoned building, but hoped for the best.

She lifted her face to the sky and let her wolf-song carry out over the lands. I am here, Dreamers, it seemed to say, I would like to visit, in not so many words. The somber howl lasted for several long seconds before dying, and Orin took another breath and sang again.

#600

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