Asleep I went to turn over only for my entire body freeze in pain. Any move I made just shot pain thru my body in waves. And of course rta was on time knocking on the door lightly.
"It is time to get up keila, I know you are hurting but the pain will subside once you meditate." I tried my best not to show I was crying, having to take a minute before saying a word tears fell anyway.
"I am fine.. and al..alright be there in a minute." Covering my mouth yelling out in pain, muffled by my hand. Hearing him leave his footsteps could be heard down the hall, forcing myself onto my feet. "Come on Keila suck it up.."
Managing to put my clothes on, having to take up extra time to button my shirt. Fingers trembled almost numb only worsening my temper. Exiting my room tying an uneven knott, I didn't bother brushing my hair instead putting it up in a ribbon. Letting the headband drop over onto my head in place, I really didn't give a damn if I looked bad or not. Plopping to my knees next to rtas who didn't even look, I noticed there was no fruit left for me. I didnt bother asking, instead I went straight into my meditation. Exhaling a deep breath it didn't take me long to find my inner peace, the weightlessness feel was what I needed. Dulling the pain immensily, soon a small smile could be seen.
Three hours had went by feeling like seconds, rtas stretched his elbow gently pushed me. Hesitant I came back to myself, the pain was still dull but there. My father used to tell me this saying if I hurt myself and I cried, he would kneel down and whisper "Pain is what reminds you, that you are alive."
Getting onto my feet I was ready to do the fighting stances with rtas but instead, he had placed his robe on. Exiting the courtyard heading towards the backyard, I followed hurrying to catch up. Heading towards the stables shiku stood turning her large head towards our direction neighing in greeting. She was already equiped with bridle and saddle I was excited that we were going to go for a ride.
"Are we really going on another ride?" Hurrying towards shiku hugging her nose, her ears shifted forward enjoying my company just as much as I enjoyed hers.
"Bring shiku in the yard." He stood a good distance away from both of us, with his arms crossed.
Confused I nodded grasping the side of her bridle she kept her head lowered more then she was comfortable allowing me too lead her out of the stable. Passing over a small strip of stone walkway hearing the soothing sound of her hooves, it was one of my favorite sounds. Stopping in front of rtas he nodded towards shiku. "Give her the command lie down."
I stared at him for a moment thinking he was crazy, like she was some pet but I turned towards her giving her some space. "Lie down Shiku." She snorted standing for a second then lowered her massive body knees first, her rump followed after. She had literally laid down curled up she stayed chewing on her bit boredly. I laughed going up to her hugging her head, she was still big even when she laid on the ground but easier to get to. "Good girl shiku. Amazing rtas."
"Today I thought I would teach you to ride. And you will ride, if you fall then you get right back up and try again." Rtas wasn't joking either the way his voice sounded and his eyes read. I nodded swallowing, looking back into shiku's large black soft eyes I felt I could trust her. She wouldn't hurt me not on purpose.
"What do I do first?" Asking bravely even though I was about to choke up.
"Get on her back, but do not move. Just pet her get yourself used to sitting on her helps gain trust consciously."
Not wanting to waste time raising my left leg swinging it over her back til I was sitting on the saddle alittle cockeyed but that was because it followed the shape of her current form. Watching her head she simply turned her head watching me, her ears swivled facing my direction listening. Biting my lip it felt good, and safe now ground level I nothing to be afraid of. Leaning my body forward I began to rub her neck, combing her mane with my fingers.
"Up Shiku." Rtas quickly called out, shiku's head tossed up raising the front of her body onto her hooves followed by her rear. I hang on for dear life around her neck, I wasn't going to let go either.
"Why didn't you just tell me!" I called out.
"Because you were taking too long." Rtas had a satisfied grin keeping his arms crossed tightly, he wasn't going to budge from his spot. "You are fine sit up."
"Says you!" Glaring towards rtas his stare became a glare as well.
"Do it."
"Alright, alright..'' Slowly I began to let go of shiku's neck, my back arched as I sat up slowly ready to quickly grip onto her if I was gonna fall. Looking around, I didn't feel as scared as I was when I first had gotten on her. "Your right, I am not afraid."
"You get it, about time. Keep your balance we will start slow. Remember what I told you before follow her movements with your body. Flexibility and balance is key to a successful ride. Squeeze her sides with your legs."
Grasping the reins, sitting up straight giving her sides a squeeze she started in a walk. Figuring out the steering by how sensitive she was to the pull on each side. Keeping her walking in a large circle around rtas. "Switch."
Forcing her to turn around she obeyed walking around in a circle in the opposite direction. I was having a good time now smiling the entire time. "Rtas when can I go faster?"
"When you are ready, just give her another squeeze." Rtas watched only moving his head to follow our movements.
Squeezing again she tossed her head willingly started in a trot, it took me awhile to figure out how to balance myself. Each step forcing your feet into the stirrups resting your bum onto the saddle then quickly back up repeating. Again turning her around in a different direction learning to lean in the turns so you wouldn't fall off. I was laughing now giving her another squeeze she began a slow canter, the entire fron of her body would raise and lower. Making it easier to place your feet against the stirrups like a rocking motion you could easily keep balance.
By the time it hit 2 pm I was already galloping with shiku, hitting sharp turns. Even learning her commands to jump and back up. And shiku, was enjoying herself the entire time always keeping her ears forward prancing each time. "Very good you are a rider now. Lets put it to the test, by this time rtas had went inside the stable to retrieve tao.
"Well look at you little one your riding a horse!" Levy applauded laughing out loud, waving to me. I smiled waving back turning shiku showing levy what I could do.
"I'm doing it!" I screamed hearing hooves pounding towards us, shiku reared up as tao was like a flash running passed us. "Hey watch yourself!"
"Your too slow!" Rtas and tao were already way ahead.
"Not so fast!" She kicked shiku's sides gently imediatly she was in a full run, leaning forward she was catching up quickly. Now side by side rtas and I stared at each other starting our race, encouraging shiku to run as fast as she could. Like she had turbo she had a boost of speed tao becoming upset, losing his rythm but quickly kicked in overdrive as well catching up. Dirt and mudd flew from behind the beasts, turning them they both jumped the same time, tao starting to pass us.
The speed these animals could conger up was amazing, this was way more fun then some ride on a vehicle. Reaching the hill where the cherry blossom tree stood, both zigzaged in different directions passing one another over and over again. Till the race ended for now, nostrils flared, they both sounded like frieght trains from breathing heavily. Sliding off we gave the horses a rest while I sat leaning back against the cherry blossom tree. Rtas stood arms crossed watching over his home.
"Thank you for teaching me how to ride.. It means alot to me."
Rtas turned his attention towards keila. "You are welcome."
Few hours passed the sun was setting, standing back up feeling pain in my thighs. Rtas noticed grinning, jumping over tao's rear he now sat in the saddle waiting. Sticking my tongue out at him, pulling myself up as I swung my left leg over her back now sitting on her back. Turning our horses around we trotted towards home, I hated silence so I started up a conversation.
"Hey Rtas what do you plan on doing when you graduate from college?"
Rta stared over in my direction for a minute or tswo before looking straight ahead. "Well, my father hoped for me to become a fleet commander."
"But what do YOU want to do tho?" Silence again as he thought or felt it was silly. The silence broken by the small repeating thuds of the horses hitting against the ground. I decided maybe he didn't want to tell me so I just shut my mouth, until he finally spoke.
"I want to become apart of the special -ops, leading my own squad. Uggoy hiding behind us sangheili, by doing that uggoy chances in warfare is increased. And I would be the only squad captain to ever do such."
I nodded having a satisfied smirk, realizing we were becoming good friends. Later our conversation went to the future to our favorite foods. His was a sangheili flower cookie, made by a special flower close to the lilly family with no name. The nectar giving the cookies a different taste.
As for my favorite I didn't have one, I loved all foods but having a weak stomach for anything spicey. Having put the horses inside the stable, we headed inside we split up for now. I went to bathe I always cleaned up before dinner, relaxing in the bath running my hands down my legs trying to soothe how sore I felt. I groaned wanting to cry from the pain, instead dunking myself under the water resurfacing only leaving my mouth under the water. I yelled bubbles escaped popping once breaking the surface. A way for me to releive myself, I knew tomorrow we would start training again.
Levy came to let me know dinner was ready. "Alright levy I will get out now."
He nodded leaving the room closing the door after, standing up letting the water drain off my exhausted body the water drops that fell trickled across the surface of the water and onto the granite that surrounded the bath itself. Cool air began to brush against my nude body actually giving some comfort in a way. Dressed in my night robe, making my way into the dining room everyone sat waiting patiently telling funny stories amongst one another.
"Ah, there she is now everyone can dig in as they say." Cato giggled trying to hold back but failed.
Sitting down onto my own pillow next to levy, the first thing I went for was the water.
Dinner went well I was so full, falling asleep at the table. Levy nudged my arm shooting my head up quickly waking up once more, having to excuse myself from the table I needed rest. Going to my bedroom I rested ontop of the covers falling asleep imediatly.