[Tawnleaf]-Of Blood, Sweat and Windsteppers

[Katerynn Gil'dae]

TS-Mid Aperitus

ooc: This thread was orgionally inspired by the write up about the tawnleaf in the player guide wherein it mentioned mustangs roaming wild. However, that part was written before the lore article on allerian horses. *face palm* I'm changing mustang to windstepper to fit the lore.

IC:


It was still dark when Katerynn left the beautiful cheb that was the Gil'dae home. The Spring air had the kiss of Winter this early in the morning. The young Gil'dae could see her breath as she rode atop Argo her favorite Windstepper out of those that were in her care. They weren't hers. They were the legions but she loved and cared for them all the same. Argo held a special place in her heart but she wasn't hers and it really did make a difference. Every time she wanted to take Argo out she had to get permission. Her request to purchase Argo had been denied since she was such a fine horse. Every time Katerynn had to leave her in the legions stables a tightness gripped her chest for she was being seperated from her best friend. Though there was no immediate reason for it, there was always a chance that Argo would be chosen for breeding or moved to another unit. Katerynn needed her own steed. One which she could grow attached to without the constant worry of separation.

Any other elf would have gone and bought themselves a fine steed in the city. Katerynn even had the option of asking for a horse from her aunt who was the head of her house. But no, Katerynn was determined this brightening to acquire, more like wrangle, her own horse.

Argo's hooves traversed the Tawnleaf with familiarity. It wasn't the first time they had ridden together here. Argo leaped over the occasional log and forted several streams as they made their way to the edge of the Tawnleaf where the mystical woods kissed the Arakmat desert. On occasion, Katerynns squad got orders to patrol around this area. It was beautiful really to watch the woods temper off into plains that eventually turned brown and then to sand as the land went from life to grit. Wild dogs and foxes roamed here and would threaten her patrols camp on occasion when food was scarce. On Inwes' very first patrol, she had, had her rations snatched by an overly brave fox. The rest of the squad had a good laugh at the poor druids expense when she tried to chase the fox clear across their camp to no avail. Katerynn had shared her rations with Inwe that darkening and that had been the start of their friendship and the birth of feelings which Katerynn still had no idea what to do with.

Katerynn shook such thoughts from her head. She needed to focus on the task at hand. There was another animal whom occasionally graced the very edges of the Tawnleaf that the young Gil'dae was much more interested in. Wild windsteppers would grace these plains with their thundering hooves. Katerynn had seen them before from before and she had been captivated by their beauty. If duty hadn't of kept her from it, she would have chased after them then. But now she had no other distractions or tasks to steal her attention away from her goal. One of those windsteppers would be hers this brightening. Of coarse, there was a chance that they weren't here but it was Spring. The grass was fresh, the flowers new and the weather perfect.

Katerynn emerged from the denser parts of the Tawnleaf onto the expanse that was not forest nor desert. Foliage was scattered here and it was mostly open space and perfect for horses to run. She brought Argo to a halt then and took a moment to partake of her water flask. Katerynn was prepared for the cool weather. She wore her fur lined winter cloak, her simple tunic and an old pair of breeches along with her boots. She planned on getting dirty and didn't want to ruin her uniform. Her sword was fastened to her saddle at her left side by the saddle horn. Her quiver was fastened at her right side along with her bow. It was always better to be safe than sorry especially when alone. Her camping gear was also properly packed around her saddle as if she were on a short patrol. The silvered eyed elf hoped she would return home with her prize by the end of the brightening but just incase luck wasn't on her side she was prepared to spend the night out here.

The Knight-Sargent had two brightenings till she had to report back and she hoped her excursion here wouldn't be in vain. It was time that she had a horse of her own and what better way to aquire one than to wrangle him or her from the wild with ones bare hands? Had she done this before? No. Did she really have an idea how besides getting on one of the windsteppers backs? No. Could she get killed? Yes. Youth had convinced her otherwise, rashness told her she could do it and her determination forced her to try.

Katerynn put the waterskin back into the saddlebag that it had come from and fastened it shut before she moved a random strand of blond hair that had come loose from the tight braid that traveled down the back of her skull and back. Silvery eyes closed as she took a deep breath of the cool air. The first sun kissed the horizon when her eyes opened. With a loud "YA!" Katerynn stirred Argo into motion as she galloped to meet the sunrise while her eyes scanned the area for any signs of wild horses.