Earlier that day, Elena had been surprised when Nate had absent-mindedly told her that she could have the day off. Although she admired the 'Varian for his kindness to others in healing, he had never spontaneously given her the day off to squander as she pleased. For a moment, she had been surprised and waited for him to tell her the punchline, but it had never arrived. After asking where she could go outside of New Alexandria, he had muttered something about 'Espur', and then wandered out the back silently. She would investigate what was wrong in the morning.
So, after taking the portal to Espur, she had no idea where to go and no transportation to use. It was times like these that she regretted not being able to fly, and with a small frown asked for directions to some form of stables. She had been graciously directed to a man on the outskirts of the town, who had loaned her a Landstrider on the condition that she returned him the following morning, and at an affordable price to. Mounting the creature, however, was a different story, and he helped her up with an 'oomph' and a chuckle at her as she adjusted to the slightly humped back. Fortunately, the animal was quite an easy ride, and responded dilligently to the basic commands she had been taught by the stable owner.
It would probably have been a good idea to obtain a map of sorts, but she was too eager to see something new, so she rode and kept checking that Espur was in sight. The day was rather pleasant for winter, the sun was shining brightly overhead and kept the frost at bay. She was wrapped up tightly in a nice coat, with a scarf pulled up under her chin, and a thick woollen jumper on underneath everything. Mittens on her hands prevented her freezing and being unable to guide the Taroch, much to her gratitude. The creature didn't seem to mind the weather, though.
After about an hour along the road, Elena and her new 'friend' had made a few miles of progress. They had followed a river, and now seemed about a good time to dismount and pull out the sandwiches she had made for her lunch at work, and to wake the little squirrel that was wrapped somewhere in her scarf. “Hey Ginger, hey buddy. You want some bread? Does the ickle baby want some bread? You do don't you?” She crooned a bit more at the squirrel, who took the bits of bread in his little claws and munched them in the sunlight. He seemed quite content to stay in her scarf, which was probably a good idea since he was so ickle. As Ginger ate, she tied up the Taroch and wiped away the snow from a fallen tree, and gently ran her head down the muzzle of the big creature.
Days off were the best.