[d=crimson]((OOC:[/d] Tagging Lani, Elias and Lucas.[d=crimson]))[/d]
The warmth of Fawn's body curled up against her hip was a blessing as Piper, reigns in hand, nervously steered the rented cart around a bend in the river. This was her first day on the road, her first trip ever into the "wilds" of Elysia all alone, and her first attempt to drive a cart. Naturally, she was nervous as heck.
Fortunately, she'd taken the time to ask the Espurian stabler's opinion. He'd convinced her to rent a landstrider instead of a horse or pony, saying they were friendlier and easier to handle. It cost extra but he'd also picked out a taroch that already knew the route well and that could pretty much drive itself - a big plus for someone who'd never even ridden in a cart before, let alone steered one.
She probably should have just hired the taroch and ridden it, but her last riding venture hadn't ended so well for her thighs and the saddles for landstriders looked... unnerving. The stabler had assured her they were safe and far more comfortable than horse saddles but she'd lost her nerve. Besides, she wasn't sure exactly how many gems she could get hold of in Kyriake; depending on just how "reasonable" their prices were, she'd try to stock up plenty so she didn't have to make this trip again any time soon. Plus, she'd heard that a weaver up there was making some spectacular silks that she'd like to try for her bears (perhaps a new line of geisha bears or something?), so it wouldn't hurt to have the extra space.
So far, so good. She was actually starting to enjoy the ride. The seat wasn't luxurious but she'd had the forethought to buy a couple of cushions that made the ride that much more comfortable, along with a soft fleece that was draped over her stockinged legs to keep them warm (though she hadn't thought to wear her only pair of jeans). Comet certainly seemed to like it, anyway. Along with her suitcase, which she'd bought especially for the trip, he was sitting in the back of the cart with his tongue lolling out and acting for all the world like a king sitting on his throne.
Except her carefully laid-out plan scheduling rest-stops in the villages along the way seemed to have a kink in it; it was already getting dark and there wasn't a building in sight.
The warmth of Fawn's body curled up against her hip was a blessing as Piper, reigns in hand, nervously steered the rented cart around a bend in the river. This was her first day on the road, her first trip ever into the "wilds" of Elysia all alone, and her first attempt to drive a cart. Naturally, she was nervous as heck.
Fortunately, she'd taken the time to ask the Espurian stabler's opinion. He'd convinced her to rent a landstrider instead of a horse or pony, saying they were friendlier and easier to handle. It cost extra but he'd also picked out a taroch that already knew the route well and that could pretty much drive itself - a big plus for someone who'd never even ridden in a cart before, let alone steered one.
She probably should have just hired the taroch and ridden it, but her last riding venture hadn't ended so well for her thighs and the saddles for landstriders looked... unnerving. The stabler had assured her they were safe and far more comfortable than horse saddles but she'd lost her nerve. Besides, she wasn't sure exactly how many gems she could get hold of in Kyriake; depending on just how "reasonable" their prices were, she'd try to stock up plenty so she didn't have to make this trip again any time soon. Plus, she'd heard that a weaver up there was making some spectacular silks that she'd like to try for her bears (perhaps a new line of geisha bears or something?), so it wouldn't hurt to have the extra space.
So far, so good. She was actually starting to enjoy the ride. The seat wasn't luxurious but she'd had the forethought to buy a couple of cushions that made the ride that much more comfortable, along with a soft fleece that was draped over her stockinged legs to keep them warm (though she hadn't thought to wear her only pair of jeans). Comet certainly seemed to like it, anyway. Along with her suitcase, which she'd bought especially for the trip, he was sitting in the back of the cart with his tongue lolling out and acting for all the world like a king sitting on his throne.
Except her carefully laid-out plan scheduling rest-stops in the villages along the way seemed to have a kink in it; it was already getting dark and there wasn't a building in sight.