"Aaaaah!"
Normally in a situation like this, it would be Neimi shrieking and Colm running to her aid. She would cry that she had lost something or torn her skirt or bruised her knee, he'd groan and tease before he helped her like he always did.
This time, though, it was a surprised Neimi who found Colm pressed up against a tree, glaring fearfully as he tried to fend someone, or something off.
"S-stay back!"
And Neimi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Your horse is trying to kill me!" Colm groaned. "I didn't even do anything! Shoot, Neimi, why'd you have to pick the calvalry option when you used the Orion's Bolt anyway? It's not like you need to use a sword, the bow's your specialty!"
"Oh, Colm..." She sighed, taking hold of the horse's reigns and gently pulling her back. "Come on, girl. It's okay..."
"All I did was walk past her...okay, maybe I stepped on a twig, but how was I supposed to know she spooked easily?" Colm wiped the sweat from his forehead and straightened his clothes. "Even weirder is you coming to my rescue for once!"
"I know," Neimi giggled. "Listen, Colm, she's really a very sweet, docile creature...I'm sure she didn't mean any true harm, she was just scared. Right, girl? You know Colm isn't going to hurt you."
The horse moved forward to sniff warily at the thief, then jerked back towards her rider. Colm shrugged.
"See? She hates me!"
"She just needs to get to know you," Neimi said. "Come, let's go for a ride. It's a beautiful day and the Freilan troops haven't seen a single enemy since last night."
"All right, but if she throws me..."
"She won't." Neimi mounted the horse, and a reluctant Colm mounted behind her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. "You ready?"
Colm nestled his head in the crook of her neck, smiling.
"You know, this isn't half-bad!"
"I'll take that as a yes," Neimi laughed as her mare began to amble across the field.