A/N: Hey! So as I said, early chapter today! I did my best to write as much as possible but I am very limited for time today, so this is quite short and it's just a very lighthearted little piece that made me smile a bit writing :) I'm sorry for the shortened update but I promise that tomorrow you are going to get a really nice long chapter to make it up to you guys! :) Love you all, and please leave me a review if you get a minute to xx
Clarke, Octavia and Lincoln didn't end up joining them but Clarke sent a message to let Lexa know that a few of her people had arrived seeking medical attention and the three of them had stayed to help because the handful of Trikru weren't fluent in gonasleng.
Lexa thanked the messenger before dismissing him, disappointed that her girlfriend wouldn't be joining them until the evening but glad that her people had regained enough trust in the Skaikru and in Abby in particular, to come to them for help. Although, she was aware that without her presence in the camp they would probably not had the courage to show up at Arcadia.
"Cal, have you ever rode a horse?" Lexa asked curiously, pretty sure that she already knew the answer. She was proven right when he shook his head no, "Well then how about we go on a ride this afternoon, every young warrior needs to learn how to ride."
The boy practically ran from the lunch hall, practically dragging along Ontari who just followed him, chuckling in amusement. Lexa and Raven followed, watching the two of them with matching grins.
"I don't know how well I will do with riding." Raven started, attempting to back out pointing to her leg in explanation, worried about putting unnecessary strain on her leg.
Lexa smiled at her, "Don't worry Raven, we will ride slowly today and you can use Clarke's horse. It is trained to follow mine unless otherwise commanded so you won't have to work as hard to get it to obey you as you would with another steed."
Raven nodded thankfully, "Ok then, let's do this."
When they got to the rough stables that had been erected to shelter the horses, they found that Ontari was already done saddling up hers and Lexa's and was halfway through doing Clarke's, correctly assuming that that was the most logical choice for Raven to ride. All the while, Cal was beside her babbling excitedly, until Ontari buckled the last section on Clarke's saddle and then caught the boy round the waist to throw him up onto her horse.
Suddenly he was silent, clinging to the saddle and going white as a sheet when he realized how high up he actually was sitting on the Azgeda war horse that were specially bred to be huge to intimidate opposing armies.
Lexa laughed at his face as she led Clarke's horse out to help Raven climb up before swinging onto her own, settling comfortably before clicking her tongue to get the animals to move towards the front gate.
Ontari leaned on the edge of the saddle to look up at Cal seriously, "Ok, I'm going to climb up behind you now ok? And then we are going to follow out Raven and Lexa."
Cal shook his head quickly, "I'm going to fall! It's too high." He sounded panicked and Ontari leaned up on her tip toes to wrap an arm around him, "I swear to you that you won't fall ok?"
Quickly, she used a section of fence as a boost up to swing her leg over the saddle, sitting behind him so she could wrap a strong arm around his waist to keep him in place, "See, you can't fall."
She waited until he relaxed and then nudged at the horses side gently to get her moving to meet Lexa and Raven at the front gate, walking slowly to avoid spooking Cal who was slowly relaxing back against her chest. He was gripping Ontari's arm tightly to stay in place, refusing to release the death grip but nodding quickly that he wanted to keep going when Lexa asked him.
Once the gate was open, they surged forwards, driving the horses up to a quick trot. Hearing a yell from Cal, Ontari slowed for a moment before realizing that it was one of excitement. With a grin she looked to Lexa who nodded towards the trees. Leaving Lexa and Raven to walk along side the tree line, Ontari suddenly cut sideways into the forest, weaving in and out of the trees as Cal relaxed and released his grip, laughing happily every time she abruptly changed their direction.
They kept going for almost an hour, running multiple laps around the outskirts of the camp as Raven and Lexa kept their slower steady pace, before finally pulling out of the forest and slowing right down to walk along side them.
"Enjoying yourself Cal?" Raven asked cheerfully, as the kid grinned and wriggled slightly to face them better, his cheeks flushed bright pink from the wind.
"Yeah! Ontari didn't let me fall!" He grinned happily, cuddling up to Ontari happily on the horse who grinned as she pulled him close, turning her horse to begin the short journey back to Arcadia.