Well another week, new chapter. Own nothing, but oc's. Enjoy.
Chapter Eight Of Men and Strange Cloaks
Ayria woke up as she began to start toward the mountain as she stared at it. Seemed like an awful long way up, but Pebbles was ready. He already had his nose rubbing in the dirt in excitement it seemed. The mountain was looming but it was easy when they found the little paths that game would take. Da talked about the paths, because of the way he and tulan would have to go hunting once the winter spell came.
Ayria shook her head she was tiered already as Pebbles snorted as she rubbed her eyes. She didn't want to set out anytime soon as she rolled off the stiff ground. She rubbed her feet with a hand, as she re tightened the boots again. The air was going to be colder, as she dug out the blue tunic she had taken her, with the brown cloak instead wrapping around her shoulders. She needed to blend in with the back round, the black would make her stick out and the night wouldn't always shield her.
Tulan had told her that, that's why he and Da always wore green or brown to stay away from the wolves, just blend in where they couldn't see you.
Pebbles shook his head again, as she straightened out his blanket and worked on his saddle. His belly was getting smaller, and tighter as she had to tigtten the girth, now almost to the last rung just to make it stay on. His legs were getting stronger too, by the looks of it, as his neck was beginging to have muscles too. The stones would clip his hooves though as she glanced at them worried. Da always did anything on the horses if it needed to be done.
"Right Pebbles." Ayria nodded as she fitted the last of her bag. Apples was sound asleep ,in her bag, wrapped still in the fur, he must be warm sniff smoke kept coming up his nose. She almost wanted to keep the bag open in case he accidently caught it on fire.
'Here we go." She told him, as he started off happily at a trot. The climb u the mountain wasn't that hard, at first as she picked the narrow game trails, and began to climb up the side. The mounatain side wasn't to rocky to begin with, as Pebbles picked his way further and further up as he had to lift his nose now, he couldn't keep it down. He kept tossing his head in a way as took make his hair out of the way. The paths were rough, but Pebbles seemed to know exactly where he wanted to go.
"Yah neva stop makin me surprised." She shook her head aat him but Pebbles swished his little tail, and climbed and climbed and climbed. There were far above where the grass was, but a few sparse trees, tiny in comparison to any forest still manage to spring up. Then nothing, by the time the sun hung high in the sky Pebbles was picking along the ledge. Ayria focused on his mane, and the leather reigns tight enough for her hands to grow pale. Pebbles gave a snort, asking her why she didn't trust him.
She watched as he quickly turned and led her away from the edge. It was better now, as Pebbles kept to the middle of the path now, where the rocks rose steadily on each side, but as they traveled up and down. His hoof muffled under the sand and grint, unless they reached the stones and then they were clip, clop all the way up and down. She couldn't think of any good songs to sing, she didn't think there were any. They traveled until the sun was beginning to set. There was no where to lead Pebbles off to, no grass, where they were so she dragged him as far up as she could where the ground would be at least level. Pebbles whuffed at the dirt and stones, licking it once, but finding it tasted just like earth. She undid the bag where Apples was sleeping as he hopped out, and she dug out three apples. She lay them down in front of him as he munched the first one, as she undid the saddle.
She laid it on the side, as she undid the bags aswell. She dug out the blanket, as her feet were still warm. She sat down, pulling the bag towards her as she found more dry meat and a large hunk of bread. It was dry, but not to hard to force down. The waterskin piled in her lap, it was still half full. She was sure she had heard water somewhere down by the land. She would find it tommorow. Pebbles seemed alright, he was a study pony, never seemed to need much to drink.
She didn't want a fire tonight, just something to keep them warm, as she stood up. She found a few dry twigs not from on the plane face of rock. She held them under her arm, as she paced back to pebbles. She laid them down on the ground as she then went to find stones to lie around in a circle next. Apples was sitting on the back of Pebbles, as he hopped down. He stood with his two front legs on the sotnes as he gave a great snort and fire tumbled out in a steady stream.
He looked very proud, giving her that toothy grin as the fire crackled and soon began to eat all the twigs. Ayria sighed, as she went to find bigge sticks. She found part of a tree branch that must have ben swept in a storm, a couple of other much smaller branches, and a another smaller pile of twigs . The fire had all but eaten her first sticks, as she laid the log on first, and added the others next. Apples gave her another grin as he jumped from the back of pebbles and scampered away across the stones.
Pebbles was working on the second apple, as Ayria picked up her dry meat and the bread, as she pulled the waterskin in the lap. She ate slowly, as the sun seemed to pause in the sky. She could see the edge of the forest and the tops of the trees. The mountain stretched on and on and on, but she could see the end in the distance. They wouldn't have to follow it all the way, the old woman's map had showed her she didn't need to do that.
"Neva though we'd be so far." She told pebbles, as he snorted, "Neva thought we'd so far-Ma is goanna be mad."
Pebbles snorted.
"Can't believe its takin us this long tah get one letta-" Ayria told him, "I don't eva want tah do this eva gain."
Pebbles nickered as if he thought that was rather funny. Ayria listend to the night, she could hear things in the dark though, after the sun went down. Men moving around, somewhere in the distance and She liked to think it was the wagons wheels were turning.
"Captain. Your orders sir."
Ayria awoke to the sun and men's voices, just below where she and Pebbles were as she tried to listen to their hushed voices, like they were telling secrets. They had strange ways of talking, nothing she could hear. Pebbles shook his mane, but didn't move. Ayria rustled slowly, but they were far above where the men were standing she knew that. She crawled on her belly peering down behind a large part of the rock as she peered down at them. They dressed in rough looking clothes, and heavy green cloaks, with splotches of grey and brown.
Their heads were covered, but some had beards marking them about 30 winters by her guess, maybe a little older. Apples suddenly dug his claw in her back as she cringed, as he stepped quickly onto her head peering over with his tail running down the length of her back.
They stopped talking to the one they had called captain turning to each other in small groups. The captain snapped them attetion as he held a long piece of paper in his hands.
"We're looking for this man. Let no one pass." He started.
Apples snorted, as Ayria gasped as a few of the rock slid loose. Only one of the men behind the glanced up at her. She tried to sheidl against the rock, as Apples crand his neck. He only smiled like a cat at the pair of them nodding.
"Anyone sir?" The man asked as he glanced back up where she lay on her stomach. She gave a small wave back.
"Anyone soilder." The captain nodded as he disappeared from her sight. The man lingered for a moment staring at her before he nodded and followed the captain's suit. None of the other soilders seemed to even look at where she was, grumbling about something she couldn't hear. She leaned a little closer.
"Nothing out ere." One began with a brown blotch on his back, something sewen into it a symbol that looked like a circle with little swirls around it.
The one who had looked up at her, answerd,'There will be."
"How dah you know?" The one with the brown cloak began crossing his arms. Their voices boomed over the mountains as Ayria wanted to cover her ears but she wanted to hear.
"Oh well the stray travler always gives some fun."
"Easy fah yah to say."
"Yah." A third joined in, "We heard you were moved from tower guard-after that accident. You've been out ere longer than the rest of us."
"The captain said we needed to move."
"Oh. Maybe he'll tell his majesty otherwise. That wouldn't beh nice."
"No. Lord Farmair would not be pleased." He began,glancing to where she lay one more time. He looked like eh was going to say something else, but he instead just turned back saying, "Now come on. Move out."
"Yes sir." The other two muttered as they lowered their voices.
Ayria watched until her stomach began to ache as she scooched back slowly. The men didn't seem to do anything but stand around, and maybe come near the base edge.
She saddled Pebbles quickly, and he seemed all the more happy to set off, so the moment she sat down on the saddle he was on a trot. Apples trotted beside them, his snout was traced with grey dust. Ayria wondered if he had gotten into something, when he was hunting, but the smoke was coming up in plumes from his nose. He kept giving her silly grins, as he jumped around on the rocks, in front of Pebbles who had to keep lifting his head.
He snorted saying stay out from undereneath stupid lizard.
Apples only snapped his jaws showing off his teeth, saying you couldn't stomp me if I laid under your hoof, stupid pony.
"Get along. Get along. We gots a long way tah go, an yah need to be nice tah each other." Ayria shook her head as Apples scrambled again, "Yah were doin' just fine two days."
Ayria sighed as she relaxed her grip on Pebbles leather bridle, as he swished his tail with a quick flick. They dripped down the side of the mountain as Pebbles was forced in the middle of the path again. The mountains were growing higher on either side as they seemed to sink down, down, down. Apples flicked his tail as he climbed the stone walls running up along the top. It was cool down here, as the shadows cast upon Pebbles as he plodded along nicely now.
"That ah boy." She told him. He seemed to want to get oout of the stone valley rather quickly, as he almost broke into a canter, as his hoofbeats pounded on Ayria's ears. She wanted him to be silent, but there was no way to make it happen here as she had to trust that no one could hear them down here.
Apples clambered down the walls again, as he lept to her and Pebbles didn't seem to mind as he clambered back on to the back of the saddle, nestling against her beck. He was making her warm as she sittred in the saddle. Pebbles tossed his head, looking up at for once quickly before dropping his nose. Apples seemed to do the same as Ayria followe.
Its going to rain, Pebbles snorted as he flicked his ears back. Pony's Ayria understood it had a third sense about these sort of things.
They thought it was rain, she was sure it was just overcast, but if it was going to be rain they were going to need to find high ground for the night, and shelter. Apples grinned at her happily from the walls, as they grew higher and higer. There was a loud brey, as Pebbles stumbled back as Aytia leaned back on the saddle. The rocks began to slide loose from both side of the walls as he tried to pace back faster, but they rolled down knocking against each other. A few small ones began to knock against his legs as he neighed louder as Ayria tired to get a handle on his reigns. When he wanted to the pony could be strong as he whipped his head around almost tossing her off as he justled the bags.
"Pebbles!" She tried to keep him steady, but he wasn't having it, as he turned her around knocking her off the saddle, as a huge rock came tubmlign down, slamming into both of them, as Ayria scrambled to make sure she wasn't pinned. Pebbles whinned again, as he stomped down on the ground.
Apples hopped down to the rubble, as Ayria glanced at the pile. It wasn't very big at all. The ways Pebbles had startled though she thought something worse was off in the distance. Whatever ever the horse had been screaming about had made Pebbles scared enough even without the rocks.
She had heared stories from Da of snow coming down off the mountains, burying people and horses alive but these were just rocks which he said could be just as bad. A hosre could pick its way up if it need to though and Pebbles never let snow or rocks stop him before.
They would just have to go carefully.
Pebbles snorted calming himself as he pawed at the rocks, slamming his hooves on them. He was chewing the bit a little rough though, as Ayria pulled herself up stumbling over to him. He waved his head and flicked his ears, as she waited for him to calm down. Apples scampered over to the pair of them as he ducked inside his usual bag no doubt curling up in her cloak.
The bags where still all on pebbles thankfully as well as she checked all the straps anyways, Da had been wise in teaching her knots. Pebbles snorted shaking his head at the pile and the rock that now lay harmless on the side. She tested climbing back on his saddle, but he nodded his head and flicked his ears saying he was ready again as they started out.
The path around the rocks wasn't very hard at all, as Pebbles as he picked his way across falling down the otherside, as Ayria had to lean way back in the saddle as he picked his way down as well. She thought he was going to slip, but he was sturdy as he dropped down to the bottom path. He flicked his tail once, and carried on.
Ayria noticed though he was starting to trip even when the road was flat. She sighed, as she opened the bag where Apples was sleeping. He popped his head out instead looking at her.
"We need tah find shelter. Dah yah know where it be?" She ask as the dragon blew another puff of smoke looking annoyed as it jumped to the ground and scampered along. She guessed he would come back when and if he found something for them. She didn't think a dragon would like to be in the rain. She didn't.
She thought she heard another neigh, but not as run as loud as before, it was if the horse had calmed down from whatever was scaring it. She wondered why the rocks had slid, but Da had said mountains had ears to, and they tended to react to who was in or near them as if they could get rid of them.
Pebbles carried on, but he was going at a sluggish pace. Ayria realized she would need to walk soon just to get the weight of his back and off his legs. She hoped it was nothing to serious, they werne't near anyone that could help him. If his leg had broken they may have been in worse shape. Da said there was little hope for a horse that broke its leg. The sun hung high in the sky now, making cool shadows where they walked thankfully.
Pebbles head was drooping lower than usual, and Ayria realized they needed to find a place to rest soon. The mountain walls seemed to lessen though, like the day before she began to see where the game was traveling up and around in their well worn paths. She guided pebbles slowly over to the narrow walk. He picked it carefully, tripping once or twice as he rocked her back and forth.
I'm fine, he kept telling her as he snorted shaking his mane, I'm just fine. Nothing is wrong.
She tightended her grip on the bridle reigns, but Pebbles seemed to be very determined about where he was going, and how he was going to get there. His ears were pricked forward, like he could hear something she couldn't. The path steadily rose, brining them up from the floor, until they reached a wide self ledge. The ground became flat and even, stretching out, and down again.
She wondered where apples had gotten to, as pebbles turned her away from where they had been climbing, as he started across the flat plato. He picked up his own pace, as he tripped again in his rush, as Ayria bounced with him. She wobbled in the saddle and had to trust that he wouldn't drop her and them by accident. He was whufffing at the ground now, as there was a loud neigh. Ayria glanced but she didn't see a horse.
Pebbles was almost to a canter as he carried them along. The rocks were disappearing now as well there was sand and grit not just stone. She smelled something familiar, as the rock walls grew high again as they descdended lower. There was grass she could see it just beyond the drop. She realized they must have found a valley, where the rain gathered when it wasn't running through the mountain. Pebbles looked quite happy, as he led them around a long bend.
Down, down, down to the very floor as Ayria slipped off of him when they reached the bottom. She took off his halter and bridle first as his lips were beginning to foam. Then she took of his saddle and the blanket that was covered in his sweat. The bags she dumped in a pile as Pebbles took hapipily off to the sound of water. She followed almost running after him.
There were a few trees here at well, tall pine trees with long stretching branches. The grass was greener than the valley had been, as if it hadn't seen a human in it for avery long time. Da talked about that sometimes, that there were places people hadn't been. Pebbles led them all across the way refusing to stop for grass as the sound of water got louder and louder. He was at full canter as he plunged himself into the water hole.
Ayria glanced up as a steady stream of water flowed from high above. It churned into the blue water, as Pebbles was already neck deep swimming round and round in a circle, as if he was chasing himself. Ayria was more careful picking her way down to the shallow edge of the pool. She slipped it off her nice poots, the pants and the tunic throwing the cloak to the ground as she ran after pebbles to the water. He welcomed her snorting as she swam out to where he was paddling about.
The water was freezing, as she dunked her head under before surfacing once more taking a deep breath of air as she paused to drink some of it as well. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was as she kept drinking and drinking. She shook her head as she swam back to the edge using the wide stroke Byrm had shown her in the summer. She shook off, as she grabbed the pants and tunic next.
She dumped them into the water as she waited rubbing them with her hands. At home on washing day Ma had something in a bar that made everything clean, but the water was doing just as good a job. She held the soaking wet pair as she made her way for shore. She looked back at Pebbles who was making his way to shore, his coat, mane and tail soaked.
"Pebbles I be back ova by dah pack. Don't go ah wanderin!" She called to him as he neighed in return. She tucked the clothes under her arm as she paused grabbing her boots as she made her way back from the valley. She wondered if Apples was going to be able to find them, as she panted across the grass. She needed to find a place to dry her clothes as well, since there were no lines here, and if any animals were about she didn't want them getting them.
She paused by the game path Pebbles had taken to get down to the valley. The sun was still hitting it as she spread out the tunic first, and then the pants. They would hopefully dry by the time they set out again. Pebbles would need time to rest his leg and they still had enough of stores to keep them happy. She heard something scraping down the sides, as she peered up to see Apples.
"Ello. Did yah find something?"
The dragon only jumped into the pile of bags, curling inside the leather one as Ayria sighed. She had heard Da tell stories, that sometimes if you asked the river for shelter it would lead you to were you could spend the night safely. Ma always said it was a tall tale, but Ayria liked to think she could.
She wandered back over to the river and its pool as she wandered in again Pebbles was on the edge of the sandy bank as he kept putting his muzzle in to drink. Her feet soon didn't touch the bottom, as she passed where she and Pebbles had splashed about forcing heself deeper so that it came up to her neck now. It dunked the edge of her hair as she stretched out her arms like Ma had shown her, and then her legs.
She didn't hit the water hard, you had to let it glide you instead. She swam for the side of the bank as she neared where the stream was pouring in from above, making the water foam like an angry hrose at the mouth. She touched the rocky bank with a hand as she clawed her way now. The water was must to deep for her to try and touch with the bottom of her feet, as she forced her head to stay above, her hand starting to slip as her fingers couldn't grasp the rocks here The water pounded in her ears, as she opened her eyes seeing where there was a break in the stream. Ma always said it was like a heavy drape of fabric, that you simply crawled under neath of to reach the otherside.
She came up gasping as she struggled for the ledge, but the water was shallow here, as if there was a wall. She crawled the rest of the way up, her feet touching each slimy rock. Some dug into her foot run as she had to step back, before reaching out her hands to blindly feel her way. There was no light except what came from the outside of the sun reflecting back into the water. She waited in the cold as her eyes slowly adjusted back to the dark. There was a ledge farther back, as she continued forward, the stones became more dry until she could feel nothing but rough rock.
The ceiling was high as well, almost as tall as Da, she mused to herself, as she moved forward. The walls began to rise in on themselves, becoming higher and higher and kept going back. She paced at the cave grew darker and darker, sticking her hands out in front of her. Then she felt the wall again as she turned her back arund and saw the curtain of water. She began to walk back counting each step as she did until there were 36 steps in all. Then she counted how wide the mouth of the cave was, but there was more than enough room for Pebbles and Apples.
She clambered back into the water, as she dove under the curtain swimming back to the edge.
Pebbles was grazing up off the bank, as a tall brown horse stood neck and neck with him. Ayria had to rub her eyes as she blinked shaking her wet head. She went for the edge of the bank, clambering up. The hore was real though.
Don't mind her, Pebbles told his friend with another snort, she's alright.
The tall horse glanced at her with a mouth full of grass, as it chomped slowly.
She's short, he seemed to snort back to Pebbles who shook his mane and neighed in return, but it was more like a laugh to her.
It was a very ncie looking horse, with legs that were both thick and skinny at the same time. Tulan said if a horse had legs that were in the middle it probably was used for all sorts of stuff, like jumping logs or riding cross to another village. She approached it slowly, but Pebbles seemed to welcome their company.
He turend to face her, staring down with a long head and a white stripe on his forheard. He tossed his head again shaking out his mane and his bridle as he chomped on the bit. Ayria came closer as she reached a hand out very carefully, but he was quick to turn his head and nudge it. He let out a quiet and friendly neigh.
"Hello!" She smield at him, "Yah such ah pretty horse yah ah! Look at yah fancy saddles and blankets! Yah such ah big horse tah."
He looked proud as he tossed his head.
Ayria wondered where he had come from as he had his own saddle and blanket. Both looked worn, but nice with real metal straps and buckles. There were decroations on the saddle that from where she was standing looked like vines. He wore a thick leather bridle with two heavy bit pieces in his mouth , that looked like they pulled when ever someone tried to ride him.
He had a very long ginger colored tail and a darker mane with the same ginger specks, and a white stripe leading up his front right leg. He was very pretty, but his hooves looked like he had been used for riding hard across the land.
She could see that the bridle was starting to wear on his skin meaning he had been wearing it to long with no one to loosen it. She reached for his head, as he responded by lowering his neck very slowly. His eyes were glancing at Pebbles who snorted.
"Don't yah worry. Tulan taught meh how tah do it." Ayria told him, as he glanced at her, "What? I can't ride yah, but Tulan used tah hold meh with Sir Ed."
She undid the two straps by his head and the one under his chin, as she had to stand on her tip toes to lift it off over his ears. He lowered his head further so it almost reached the ground as she could stand on her feet normally again. She slipped it off as she dropped it to the ground as he smacked his jaw.
She glanced at the saddle, but he was to big for her to reach up like she did with the bridle.
"I can't get it off of yah." She told him as he glanced back.
Pebbles gave a snort as he plodded around lying in the grass. The bigger horse followed suit, as he lay himself down folding his massive legs under his front. Ayria was free to go to his open side, and reach under his belly for the strap. She had to shift the saddle and all its packs to reach it. Her fingers grasped the belt, as she undid the clasp and simply rolled the saddle off. The packs followed thankfully, she didn't want to have to try and put them back on him.
She lifted off his blanket to as he suddenly stood back up as she scrambled out of the way. He gave a great shake of his whole body as Pebbles stood up as well. Together they headed for the pool, as the great big horse took the water with ease while Pebbles had to plod beside him stretching out his short little legs where the big horse hardly stood knee deep. He gave a loud neigh as if laughing at Pebbles who snorted heading back for shallow water, as the big horse swam all the way to the water curtain.
She supposed he needed a name, but she didn't know what he would be called ,or where and if he had a rider still.
"Have fun. Pebbles yah better be nice." She told him as she dragged the saddle and bridle together.
It didn't matter, she decided. What mattered was making the cave somewhere safe, in case the weather turned worse. She would need to get the packs in some how without everything getting wet, how to lead both of the horses, and find a way to make a fire for them to be warm. Pebbles might not like a fire, but they needed one if they were going to keep warm.
She set about exploring their valley, checking by the few trees. There were more than enough fallen branches as she began to pile them up. Tulan had shown her in the winter months, how to make them stacked so they would be easy to move. She had a good three piles as she nodded to herself. She gathered her own packs first next, bringing them over to the big horses. She paced the edge of the watering hole, but there seemed to be a shallow bit, where she could avoid having to swim under the curtain.
It took her until the sun hung almost down in the sky to move all the packs and the saddles inside. She tripped and slipped on the rocks plenty of times, but she always managed to keep her balance to make it out without getting soaked once more. She gathered a pile of the wood next carrying it to the cave. She had laid the saddles and bridles to the back away from Apples.
The packs she had placed on top of a large rock that sat by the wall of the cave where if the horses had to join them wouldn't get into them.
She set the wood up first as best she could in the dark. She would grab Apples in a little while to see if he would blow his fire onto the wood and make her have heat and light. She scrambled into the black tunic and her wool pants, as she realized she was growing colder in the cave. She didn't bother with her boots yet, she had to check on the horses one last time.
She came back out, but Pebbles and his friend where in the middle of the field. She was sure if Pebbbles was scared they would run around or hide under the trees. The sky was still clear as she looked though, and the valley was large, so there might still be cover for the pair of them she hadn't seen.
She went back to her cave, as she dug Apples out, who roused quietly blinking at her with his tiny golden eyes. They had changed color she noticed since he had come out of the egg, he seemed to be growing a bit bigger too, just his talons were longer, and his tail stretched out. He grinned at her, as he jumped from her arms. He leaned back on his haunches, letting out a stream of fire at the wood. It crackled to life, burning steady as he turned back to her.
He looked rather proud of his creation. He had never been able to blow that much fire before, it usually came in quiet spurts. She pulled on her boots now, as she reached for Ern's gifted cloak. She hesitated, but after running naked for most of the day, a chill was setting in. She wrapped it around quietly, as she was sudddnely flilled with warmth she hadn't known. It seeped down in her bowns as she smiled.
Apples paced back to where she was huddled against the wall. He snapped at her, apparently not feeling the need to go hunting for the momenet. She dug out three strips of meat dropping them on the floors as he dove, devouring them within minutes. He flicked his tail as he scampered to the edge of the cave. There was a plop, as Ayria realized he had jumped in the water.
She ran to the edge of the cave, but Apples was safely swimming around in the pool, as his little legs stretched out and his tail propelled him forward. He was quite the natural like some sort of duck as he dissapered away.
"Bye Apples!" she called after him, "Be safe yah hear! Tell Pebbles don't go runnin' off."
There was a steady steam from the dragon, as he disappeared. Ayria settled in front of her fire a she grabbed the bag near her chest. She dug out bread and an apples for herself. She settled on the cave floor, putting the bag the witch had given her under her head. She curled up away from the fire, as she wrapped the cloak around her.
Warm, she yawned, she was very, very warm for once.
The neigh of the horses rocked her to sleep very quickly.
Ayria awoke stiffly. She had spent three moons in the cave. She had explored every inch of the valley as Pebbles wandered quietly with his friend. His leg seemed to be doing much better, and he seemed less tiered. His friend who she still hadn't named took to her rather quickly, rubbing his nose when she came to pet the pair of them. He seemed to be a friendly horse, or maybe Pebbles had explained who they were to him.
She wanted to get back on the road. They still had stores, but the letter was calling to her. She was starting to have dreams, waking up in the middle of the night to see the dead man spirit staring over her. He never said anything, just reaching for her necklace and everytime she turned to run he disappeared slinking back into the water. There was no sign of him in the morning either. She wanted to be rid of the cave sooner than later, but she couldn't move till Pebbles leg got better and there was no way she was riding the big horse.
There were other dreams, dreams of men wearing masks and carrying long cruel daggers always trying to hit her and pebbles. They were always chasing them through the woods where the trees were so thick you could hardly walk without running into one head on.
She tired to ignore them, but she couldn't. They seemed to be telling her the same thing, she needed to leave the valley. She had made up her mind, now that her blue tunic was good and dry with her brown cloak that she could afford to leave the valley for a while. Apples she left in charge of the horses as he refused that order, jumping onto her back and then her shoulder. She told herself, that she would not wander farther than she could reach than the sun hung high in the sky.
Apples curled around her shoulders as she wished she could wear Ern's warm cloak, but she had hidden it back in the pack n the cave for safe keeping. She hoped the horses wouldn't follow her.
But there was so much grass and clover she doubted they would be interested in leaving the valley ever again.
"Here we go Apples." She nodded to him, as she paced down the ridge from where the had climbed up following the game trail along the flat bit of the mountain. It seemed to twist into the ground though, meeting its match where a higher mountain reached way up to the sky. She paced down again to the floor of it, as Apples jumped into a pile of something grey sticking his mouth into it. He was busy lapping up the sparkling dust as Ayria stared.
He snorted a great fume of smoke before pacing along ahead of her as she paced along to follow him instead. She wondered if Dragon's where supposed to eat dirt, they hadn't tell her when she got him, They paced down the edge of the mountains as the rocks disappeared and became after awhile with some dry grass with even hader ground. Apples snorted as he turned running back up her arms.
"Apples. We need tah get before dah night falls." She warned him as he wrapped himself around. They walked until they came to hills that rose up from the ground, forming steeply on either side as they followed first in the valley and then paced around the edge of the place. Ayria glanced around as the mountains and the clouds were rolling high and fast. It had rained, twice in two days but always missing the valley floor, just passing off the walls and into the stream. The Cave stayed dry despite the river's best efforts to flood
Apples kept telling her to hurry, by the way he slithered along the ground pausing and glancing back at her. Ayria was running now, as she followed him to some dense brittle bushes. The sun was high in the sky as her legs began to ache from trying to keep up with Apples.
The dragon paused though and hurried back to her, crawling up to her shoulders as he wrapped his tail around her neck. He peered out as if looking for something, the way he gave a little snort as Ayria fell to the ground. She was to used to being carried by Pebbles. His leg was doing better though, and if she walked him soemtimes then his leg should give him no trouble.
She got up when Apples nudge her ear, as she stumbled forward starting the climb back up the hill. It was going to be a long time till the sun went down, and the mountain path where they had come from was starting to fade into the distance with each step she took. Ayria ran on now, keeping her arms up by her chest, as her cloak flapped with her. The sun may have been out but there was a bitter wind blowing.
There was nothing out here, as she paced a little further, heading to where they could be in cover safely. The hill wasn't very big, but Ayria felt that they were a bit safer. The mountain were much farther off in the distance, but she could still see them. They would just turn around when the sun began to head for the ground. She wished she had brought some food.
She dug her knees into her chest as she stared at the ground. There seemed to be no rain in this place, or had only fallen in the mountains. The pebbles began to dance, and then the bigger rocks. The whole ground was shaking she realized as she stood back up. She ran to the edge of the hill, peering out from the dead bushes, as Apples perched on her head. There was nothing.
Then in the distance she could hear the scream of a horse as she lost her footing tumbling down to the bottom of the hill. She hit every rock, every stick, every patch of dirt on her way down before she rolled back up. The horse was even nearer now and it looked scary. It was huge, bigger than any horse she had seen with hooves that much have been the size of a melon. It had a tail that almost dragged in the dirt and even longer mane.
It's saddle was stained back and it had all silver bits and pieces on its bridle and from where she sat she could see them glint in the sun. On its back it carried a strangely dressed rider, who hid in the fold of his own black coat. There was a sword at his side though, she could see it resting against his tigh. No even Da had a sword that big.
Ayria wanted to run back up to the hill, but the black horse saw her first screaming at her caring less for its rider, who suddenly had to clung to its bridle looking for who it had seen. Ayria felt herself gasp, as Apples jaws around her arm brought her back to the moment.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" She hissed at him as she got back on her feet as he clung his little talons into her arm sending her running her back up the hill.
"He must have come this way." A second man joined the rider in black on top his own stallion, "Well come on we have to find him before their men."
He was on a spotted horse wearing a dark green cloak. His face was hidden but his horse seemed to be able to be much calmer. He was wearing nice clothes though, that didn't look like he was just traveling. There was the heavy leather plate on his chest for fighting and his own set of daggers that were wrapped on his waist. No sword that she could see.
The black horse tossed its head and the spotted horse moved out of the way. It was searching for her, Ayria knew it, as it screamed out again turning its head to the hill. Following each step she took as it lunged to go after her, but its rider held it back.
"Stop. Stop." He told it, reinging it back in, "We'll search the Area here first. I'll take the south pass, you start up there. If he was hiding-then we'll find his tracks."
'Alright." As the second man brough his horse to the base of hill as she climbed faster, stumbling through the bursh and the sticks. She was almost on her belly as she began to crawl around in the dirt. He left his horse who snorted at the dirt, as he climbed up himself. Apples was on her head, as she winced at his talons sank into her arm. He looked ready to bite the man's leg.
He passed them though heading up past them without a second glance as she sighed quietly to herself. She waited until his footsteps paced away as she stood up herself burhsing off all the dead twigs. She should turn back and head towards where Pebbles would be waiting, but now she had to worry about two men. She set up, where the man had headed but he was no where to be seen as she sighed shaking her head. There was more bushes as they headed towards them in case they needed to duck inside quickly again. She thought she heard someone coming, but she couldn't see anyone near where they were sitting.
She tried not to think to much about it, Men were always doing strange things. Da said if she didn't have anything to do with it, then it was best to ignore it. Apples was perched on her neck, as he swung his head around to the left and right. He was breathing fast, he couldn't relax like he was waiting for something. His talon where hurting even though she had on layers around her neck he was finding a way to dig into her flesh.
Ayria tried to listen herself, but her brothers were always better at it. They could know when someone was coming down a path, or where a horse had been, or if a wolf was going to be out hunting. Da said they just were good for hearing things, but Ayria didn't think that at all. They must have been with the earth, always able to hear what it was trying to say. She felt her legs begin to go numb from sitting for so long, but she was afraid to go back down the path. She couldn't run that fast from a horse.
Apples seemed to tense one more time as Ayria raised her head, she heard it to as she began to stand leaning forward on her legs to run. She was on step to late, as someone wrapped their hands around her waist lifting her up off the ground even as she set out to run. Apples was faster , she left her neck and there was a man's cry as he almost dropped her. Ayria twisted around in their grip trying to get to the ground, as Apple slithered back around her neck opening his outh to breath a bit of fire, when there was the pounding of men's boots.
"He can't have gotten far."
"Yah startin' tah sound like dah captain."
"I'll sound more like him if we loose him. Now come on."
Ayria twisted and turned around finally as the man was wearing a very worn and dirty cloak. His face like most men around here, was hidden in the folds of the cloak, but he had a scruffy looking beard, a jagged nose and two very large eyes that were narrowed on her. He seemed to argue with himself as he cocked his head to the left and right like Da would do in the market when he had to decide between two Apples merchants. The boots were getting closwer though, as he flung her up over her shoulder like she was nothing more than potatoes. Apples had taken his side,sitting on his hsoulder, as he moved closer by his neck blowing fumes into the air.
"Tell your Lizard to stop sending a signal to where we are." The man growled at her as Apples responded by biting his ear, "Ow! Damn! Damn!"
"Apples." Ayria hissed at him, "Where we be going? And who are yah?"
"Doesn't matter." He answered, "And back to my horse."
"Where's yah horse?"
"Right where I found your pony."
"How'd yah know I had a pony?" Ayria asked as her face was starting to go numb from hitting his shoulder.
"Where I tracked you coming out from." He answered with another growl as he jostled her, shifting his arm once. Ayria could see his big footprints, she wondered if he had a sword as well. Every man she had seen so far seemed to have a sword to. She wondered if he was a ranger. He didn't wear a mask, that she imaginged like the one's Ern had told her.
"Why they be lookin' fah yah?"
"Girl, if you don't be quiet I am going to make sure you can't talk for a mo-" He began as Apples quickly chomped into his neck again, "Alright. Alright."
"Apples." Ayria glanced at the dragon as he snorted. He was just like her brothers. They were big on proving themselves. She was sure they had been walking all morning and it was close to the afternoon, but each step he took the farther away the men and horses became. She wondered if they were traveling together or apart, if he was the one they were looking for, and why he didn't want to be found.
They never had anyone who was being search for on the farm. Da talked sometimes of someone stealing a goat, but no one ever ran from stealing a goat. They just argued about who's goat it was. Men were strange out here in the land Ayria realized, they all wore cloaks for one, always wore knives, and rode horses everywhere.
"Do yah have ah family?" She began as the sun was beginning to dissapear.
"No." He answered.
"Why are yah out here?" She asked again.
"Because I like the wood."
"But don't yah need money?"
'I find work where I can girl." He was almost growling at her.
"Why do you growl?' She asked again, "Are yah hungry? Mah Da growls when he's hungry."
"No." His voice dropped as he seemed annoyed again.
"Why do all yah men where fancy clothes an cloaks? Don't seem no good for going bout-" She began, "To heavy, and what if be gettin' dirty."
"Then we have spares girl." He answered, "What are you doing all alone in the woods anyways?"
"Gots a letter to deliver." She nodded once.
He asked her more questions about where she was from, and how long she had been traveling, how old she was. She spoke of her brothers, her ma and da. She told him about Pebble's leg and how they were going up the mountains to hide from the men. That Ern had told her about Rangers, which he laughed at.
He told her he wasn't running, just avoiding people. He told her that he was heading to Rohan if she could keep up she could follow him to the border. He told her she was to young to be traveling on her own with just a pony. He asked her what she was carrying, but Ayria refused to tell him anymore about her letter.
The horses were grazing quietly where there began to be grass again. They had left most of the dirt and bushes behind, as Pebbles greeted her with a loud neigh. The man waved at him setting her down again, as she stumbled over to him. He snorted asking where she had been and why she had let a strange man near him.
"Sorry Pebbles. There were other horses, and strange men." Ayria shrugged at him. The sun had begun to hang lower in the sky, as she climbed into his saddle. The big horse nodded at her, as his rider climbed in. He seemed more than happy to canter away as Ayria followed. They headed up more hills that rolled gently. They didn't stop even as the dark came down around them. The man kept on traveling, as his horse began to gallop. Pebbles followed at a canter, but he couldn't bring himself to lift his head.
The big horse was shooting dust behind him as his rider seemed to urge him on. Soon the night was all around them as Pebbles refused to cease even for the moment. He was going to follow the big horse until his leg tripped again. Ayria leaned up on the saddle trying to give him less weight on his back, but his head sank lower into the ground till he was almost dragging his nose in the dirt with each step.
His canter flattered, as he moved to a trot.
Then he had to slow to a walk.
Ayria tried to keep up to even spur him to follow, but Pebbles was to tiered as he finally sank to the grass and refused to move. She thought about calling after the strange man, but she just pushed pebbles up the hill instead as he reluntcantly climbed with her. The moon was high in the sky, when she let him lie down. She didn't even bother with his saddle, as she laid her head down on his belly. Apples plopped down on her head as she closed her eyes.
She was sleep in a few moments.
And yet again a new adventure awaits
