This chapter was done with the help of Krisstilts as Shoshanah, since that's her character in the RPG.
A Farewell in Memory
Continued...
In the morning he got ready early, letting her sleep in until breakfast was done. He was wearing a golden, silk shirt with a gyrphon on the front and back, oriental style. His pants were also golden silk. He made his usual rounds and got the group ready for his trip to the border. Once told breakfast was ready he went and knocked on her door. She jumped out of bed going to the door in her nightgown, wondering what time it was. She opened the door slowly, rubbing her eyes slightly. "Breakfast is ready. It's in the dining room. You don't have to come right now, you can sleep some more if you like." His eyes looking at her face and nowhere else. She smiled slightly, noting that he was making an effort to be gentlemanly. "I will be out in a moment." "I'll wait for you in the dining room then" He walked off down the hall to the dining room.
She went over to where her usual dress lay crumpled on the floor, quickly changing back into to it, smoothing out the wrinkles in the black fabric. Simply putting it back on could be considered ironing it, so she then quickly made her way to the dining room. As she got there she ran a hand through her hair entering slowly and going to where she had sat the day before. Then table was filled with breakfast items eggs in all sorts of styles, omelets, smoked and salted ham, pancakes, waffles, hash browns, as well as many other things including juices. "Pick what you want." He smiled. He waited till last to get his. She dished up some hash brown and even got some apple juice, but she wasn't a very big breakfast person, so that was all. Now that everyone else had gone. He got his breakfast. Though normally the alpha eats first he let his pack eat first at times. He got some ham, cinnamon waffles, bacon, hash browns and orange juice. Then sat down to eat. Making sure the others ate with some manners before he began eating. Finishing before most others she just kind of sat there, looking around herself again. He finished soon after. Getting up and walking over to her he said. "If you are done, we can get started. It will take at least 2 hours to reach the boarder." She only smiled, nodding as she set her napkin down on her plate and got up slowly. "Shall we?" "Yes, my team is already ready to go." He held out his arm for her. "They wait outside for us." She took his arm for probably the last time and allowed herself to be escorted out to where the team waited. The team was ready outside with some horses; they were bearing arms and were dressed similar to what knights would be. He lead her over to her horse, his own walked over to him and nudged his arm. "I would prefer if you ride on horse M'lady" "Horses and I don't really get along, I would much rather just use my own cloud." She said through her teeth, truth was she was afraid of horses, she never felt in control while riding them. "I assure you this horse is nothing to be afraid of." He could smell fear so he knew the problem. "You will be in control, this is the most docile and responsive horse we have. You and her will get along just fine" She just frowned a little, slowly and warily getting onto the horse as she mumbled under her breath. He smiled and hopped up on his own horse. He was the only one who rode bareback on the group. All the other team members, 5 people, were on their mounts now. He looked over to her "Ready?" "As I will ever be" "Let's go men" he leaned forward and his horse started walking. The others would follow after Sho. She silently thanked any god who was listening that they were just walking as she followed after him, putting a small amount of pressure on the horse's side to get it moving. His men followed behind her now. He dropped back to beside her on the left. "The terrain is rough up ahead we will walk the horse though it but after we pass though we can have them gallop. That way we will make good time to the boarder, it'll take about 2 hours." "Wow, I can't wait." She said her voice full of sarcasm, as she looked rather uncomfortable sitting on top of the horse. He looked over at her raising a brow. "Why don't you like horses Shoshanah?" "No real reason, I just don't." She didn't look at him as she said since she wasn't a very good liar, but she didn't exactly want to admit it. "There's a reason I'm sure but I won't push the issue. Tis your choice to keep it to your self." His horse neighed loudly and snorted, hers neighed back but not as loud "Streger behave your self and leave Desert Rose alone." She flinched slightly at the interaction of the horses before looking down at hers again. "Nice name..." He looked over at her "She earned it awhile back. Down worry about these two, your mare won't do much more then talk. And I will make sure Streger behaves." "Thanks for that, though that was a little bit more info than I needed" He tilted his head "Not exactly sure what you mean." "Never mind, don't worry about that." Maybe he hadn't meant what she thought he did, didn't really matter anyway. "If it clears anything up, Streger made a pass and Desert Rose told him to get lost, basically" He was still confused. "Yeah, that is what I thought." They now passed through some rock terrain; the horses didn't have too much difficulty though. "I'm surprised you didn't ask why I'm the only one riding bareback" "I didn't really think it was that important." She said as she paid a great deal of attention to where the horse stepped. He chuckled, letting his horse choose its own footing. "It might be interesting to you." "Do you have some sort of connection with the horse or something?" "Yes. I don't ride him I ride with him. I trust him with my life just as he trusts me with his. He has never failed me and he always knows what I want him to do. I ride bareback because I think a saddle and a bridal is constricting, it makes it seem like I control him. I don't wish to control him, He and I work together as a team, and he is my friend." "Then why do you allow your team to ride with saddle and bridle?" "I allow it cause they don't have the same feeling about horses I do. They see them as dumb animals. I see them as friends, and smart living creatures who keep there wisdom to themselves most of the time. I am the only one who understands what the horses say of all my pack members. Streger though he may be a horse is the equivalent of a brother to me. The others do not understand this and call me crazy" He looked over at her for a moment. "They can think and do as they will, as long as they don't hurt the horses." She only nodded, she could definitely understand that. In her travels she had met many who possessed a certain connection to animals. "Do you think me crazy Shoshanah?" "No, actually I find it quite true. And I especially understand the 'others thinking you crazy' part." They had now passed through the rough area and were on a flat plain. "Lets speed it up now." He leaned forward and his horse went to a full gallop. "Do you have a connection with animals as well Shoshanah?" "No, that I almost have the same connection to fire. Though it is a little different." As the horse took off she managed to say that before holding on for dear life as she began to not look very well. "Fire is not something I like that well, however I find it interesting how you can control it." His horses galloped beside hers again. "Are you going to be ok?" "Just peachy." Was all she said sarcasm practically dripping from her words, not looking at him as she closed her eyes. "If you feel to sick we could slow down to a walk again. It will just take longer to get to the boarder that way. I will leave the decision with you, but it might help is you try leaning down and moving with your horse." He looked over a little worried "No, I will be just fine, I just don't want to have to watch." "You're going to trust your horse to know the way then?" "Not like I could do anything when it is going this quickly anyway." "This isn't that fast. I guess you should be glad you didn't ride on my back. At full speed I'm twice as fast as these horses. I just can't go as long as a horse as full speed." "Yeah, do you think there wasn't a reason I didn't want to?" They came to a forest after about and hour and a half and the horses slowed to a walk again. "Not much longer now" She opened eyes as she noticed the change in the gait and smiled a little. "Feeling better are we?" he chuckled lightly. As they went along the path in the forest. "Slightly, though I still don't like riding on horses." Desert Rose neighed at her now, bobbing her head up and down. Avilik raised a brow then laughed lightly "Would you like to know what your mare said?" "Only if she isn't insulting my intelligence level." He chuckled "She said you would like horses if you could learn to relax and trust them. She thinks your fear holds you back for being the great rider that you are. She can sense fear just as I can." "That is good for her, someday maybe I will have enough sense to listen to a horse." Her horse bucked slightly, but not enough to affect her. "Momentai Desert Rose" he rubbed her neck gently. "Watch how you say things Shoshanah." She looked a little startled but just stuck her tongue out at the horse, not that it could see her. He shook his head. "Your acting like a child. And I wouldn't insult your horse, it's not wise." "My apologies your highness." She said with only a hint of sarcasm as she wondered if he actually possessed a sense of humor. He just chuckled and gave her a wolf grin, his fangs showing in the process. "You're a fiery one I will say that" "Yeah, well it comes with being a fire Genasi I suppose." "I guess so. I remember I met an earth mage, I suppose she was a Genasi too. But that was along time ago." "Not all mages that are attached to the elements are Genasi. We have a special connection to a specific element, being able to not only control it," before she went on she snapped her fingers sure to keep it away from the horse as a small flame appeared in her palm, "but to create it as well." "She was a Genasi then cause she could create rock and earth in her hands." He looked a bit uncomfortable with her holding that fire in her hand. She closed her fist the flame extinguishing. "About how much longer, would you say?" "About 5 minutes. Did you put the fire out cause you noticed my dislike of it?" "That, and there is really no use for it at the moment." "I would have though you would have flamed me by now" he said mocking and jokingly. "I save that for those I hate, though I make no promises that the room I stayed in isn't booby trapped" She said as she winked at him, though her expression didn't really betray if she was joking or not. He made a low growl "I will have to be careful then. I hate fire." He winked back at her. "Ouch..." "Hey you would too if you were me. I was basically burnt alive by a village of humans once. They thought I was dead and cut me down threw me into the river afterwards. If it wasn't for my regeneration I wouldn't have recovered." "Yes, I suppose so, I sometimes wonder what it feels like to be burned, and everyone seems to react so badly to it." "Shoshanah that's because it's very painful." "So I have been told." He thought for a moment. "Have you ever gotten a cut and then put alcohol on it?" "No, I sear shut all my cuts." "Well if you want to know how it ever feel the best comparison is to put alcohol on a deep cut. Then times that pain by at least a hundred and you'll know what the pain I went through from that fire" he looked at her as all the horses came to a stop. "This is the boarder" he dismounted now. She quickly dropped off the horse, though she did give it a loving pat, whispering a thanks so that no one else could hear. Shaking out her legs a little, she walked over to where Avilik was. Avilik was giving a small pack by a team member. He held it out to Shoshanah. "This will help you along with your journey I hope." She looked at him for a moment, taking it and slinging it over her shoulder. One of the members walked up and bowed to her. He then held out something wrapped in a cloth to her. He was the guard of the artillery room. She smiled a little as she took that as well, looking it over. "What is it?" "Open it and find out miss Shoshanah. It is my gift to you." he bowed to her. She just smiled again, unwrapping the gift to reveal the pair of sais she had seen while in there. Her mouth just kind of dropped open a little before she remembered to close it and just managed to get out a thank you as she curtsied slightly. "They are beautiful." Avilik chuckled from where he was. "Your welcome Miss Shoshanah." The guard bowed and went back to his place. Avilik smiled. "I wish you the best on your journey. And may the Gods protect you my friend" He saluted her the wolf way, hitting his chest and bowing. She just curtsied, not really sure what else to do. "You as well." Avilik held out his hand in the same manner as had to his brother. "Live free" he looking straight into her eyes now. She grabbed his wrist as she looked at him. He waited for her to say her part of the handshake. She looked at him for a moment before she remembered she was supposed to complete it. "Die well?" She said a little tentatively not quite sure if that was right. He nodded and smiled at her shaking her hand then releasing. "So are we finally friends Shoshanah?" She smiled a little, as she just winked at him and began to walk off. He smiled and waved. The guard also waving, her horse and Avilik's rearing up and neighing. Shoshanah just turned around, running back over to him and hugging him a little as she just whispered, "Thank you for everything." Before waving to everyone and heading off again. He was surprised she hugged him but hugged her back. And waved to her as she took her leave, smiling.
END FLASH BACK
::Maybe she will let me stay with her for a little while. We are friends after all:: He had now made up his mind and got up. It was mid day now and he now took off towards the last town she was heading to when he saw her last. Asking around when he got there. He followed her trail, riding his horse Stregar. Stregar was a very large Clydesdale who was pure black with golden eyes, odd for a horse but he was a very special horse. He finally learned she was in Rivera and after getting a map he set off toward her. Plotting how he would earn a living in that city as he went.