abraxaslogs | [Open] A Star In Hand Lit His Way

[ Ciri sweeps into the room with conviction, ready to pull Rinwell out from whatever corner she might be sulking in, hands on her hips and jaw set. Maybe it's unkind to think of it that way, but it's been bothering her the last couple of days how unhappy Rinwell has seemed, how she doesn't want to go out while the whole city's strung up with lights and silly inventions. A distraction is in order. For both of them. ]

Rinwell! Get your boots and coat on. We're going out.

[ It's funny how fast Rinwell's curiousity and budding excitement for a new holiday had been scuppered so quickly by the Free Cities being their magic-phobic selves.

Well, perhaps "phobic" isn't the correct term, but less than two days in and the girl had a less than favourable impression of events, and after a week, she's only left the apartment to take care of Roach and fetch any food on request.

She'd object to sulking, however. She does NOT sulk! (she totally sulks). ]

Huh? [hoot? bird and girl look up from her book] We are? Where are we going?

[ To her credit, she does at least set the book aside and reach for her shoes; her coat, lazily cast over the back of a chair, is a bit threadbare, but Rinwell's lived in cold climes most of her life - "winter" here is anything but. ]

For a ride.

[ Ciri declares, decisively. While she waits for Rinwell, she ducks into the kitchen, grabbing a cloth to begin wrapping a loaf of bread into, some hard cheese and fruit. She grabs some carrots too; those are for the horses. ]

I've already gotten Poppy for you.

[ Though Jaskier hasn't actually purchased her, he's grown fond of a chestnut paint mare from one of the nearby stables, where they'd rented plenty of horses before Ciri had finally bought one of her own. Jaskier still asks for Poppy when she's available though, and lately, Ciri's been doing the same for Rinwell to practice. The pinto is smaller than Roach, with a mild, easy temperament that makes her perfect for a beginner. And Ciri would never put Rinwell on her own newly-acquired Nixie; Ciri likes a challenge and a steed with spirit, but she'd rather not have Rinwell bucked off in the middle of a lesson just because the moody gray mare decides she's done for the day.

So Poppy it is. Ciri ushers Rinwell toward the door once they're both ready. ]

The horses are at the stable. I've left Poppy untacked for you to practice.

[ It doesn't take much more than that to have Rinwell all but spring into action at the promise of a riding lesson. Poppy is a sweet natured horse, and between her and Roach, the mageling is well on her way to loving these animals almost as much as she loves Owls.

(Hootle's supremacy will never be threatened.)

Once ready, she's by the door waiting for Ciri. Habit has her book carried at her hip; now that she's found one, she's loathe to go far without her weapon even if it does draw some curious looks from time to time. ]

Okay! Does she need to be groomed, or should I just check her feet before saddling up?

[ She might need help with some of the straps, particularly as Poppy enjoys testing how tight she can cinch the girth, but Rinwell's feeling pretty confident today. ]

No need to groom her, but you should always check her feet before riding.

[ Ciri will help Rinwell with the straps and anything else she needs, but for the most part, she hangs back and lets the girl take care of it herself. She doesn't step in unless Rinwell asks questions, and offers an encouraging smile once they're all tacked up and ready to go.

They're out by the city gates soon enough, where Ciri leads them out and onto the road on the side leading to Aquila. It's a well-traveled main road catering to merchant wagons and visitors of all sorts, and around the festival, it is quite busy.

Ciri rides close, keeping a tight, stern grip on Nixie's reins. She's more aggressive toward humans than other horses, but Ciri knows better than to give her leeway to push boundaries. ]

Road's crowded, isn't it? What say you we ride off the beaten path a bit?

It will be more difficult. Think you can handle it?

[ Ciri smirks. A challenge. ]

I haven't forgotten.

[ A promise as much to herself as Ciri, since Rinwell does want to do well with these lessons. They may well end up being important sooner rather than later. She does have some questions when preparing the bridle, mostly about fixing the straps to rest comfortably, and the saddle ends up a little too far back on the first try, but all round, not a bad effort for a beginner learning the ropes.

If she's nervous once up on horseback, she doesn't show it immediately beyond the giddy smile that gets shown to Ciri whenever the older girl looks over to her. She doesn't panic that Ciri might get too far ahead: Poppy is almost unflappable and follows Nixie with little in the way of complaint, which is good since she's a little stiff in the saddle to start, mindful of the crowds. Only once they're past the gates does she find herself beginning to relax more - usually, others might be the opposite, but Ciri's laying down a challenge. ]

Yes. [brown eyes are bright, and there's a hoot of encouragement before a certain white owlet settles in her hood; it isn't as big as the one from back home, but it does the job here] I'm game! Besides, I'll never learn how if I never try!

[ Ciri's smile widens into a grin. ]

That's what I like to hear.

We'll ride for the hills. Don't let Poppy get complacent. She'll follow the road half-asleep if you let her. Keep reminding her who's in charge.

C'mon. Follow me.

[ And with that, Ciri urges her mare off the wagon road and into a bouncy trot, looking back over her shoulder to make sure Rinwell is following. Nixie wants to go faster, but Poppy might resist speeding up at first. Ciri keeps an eye on the girl to make sure she doesn't fall behind, but otherwise does not provide other instruction or slow down, only making sure Nixie doesn't try to take off like she desires. ]

Okay, Ciri!

[ The instructions are easier said than done, of course. Off go Ciri and Nixie, and Poppy's ears perk up, mare happy to follow when directed. It still takes a bit of pressure, both in seat and legs; Rinwell's not about to sit on horseback flapping her legs uselessly - that had been day one, much to her embarrassment. She's come quite a ways since then! ]

C'mon, Poppy, let's show her what we can do!

[ Attempt to snatch at some of the side grass, is apparently it. But Rinwell's been getting wise to that, and while it takes a bit to get going, she's soon bouncing after the older girl at a springy trot.

Getting into the rhythm of posting correctly for the pony's strides is something she's still not used to, but it's clear she's been paying attention as the two finally catch up to the spritely mare and her rider. ]

[ Ciri keeps an eye on her without providing further instruction or correction, waiting for Rinwell to figure it out. And she does. Ciri grins over her shoulder, a mischievous flash of teeth, and then -- as they approach one of the slowly rising hills off the main road -- she nudges her heels into Nixie's flanks. The mare takes off, lurching straight into a gallop up the hill.

Ciri only reins her in a little bit, making sure she doesn't leave Rinwell completely behind, as she shouts over her shoulder: ]

Keep up!

[ Nothing better to work off frustration than going real fast. She's sure Rinwell can handle it. ]

[ Keep up?? Rinwell's eyes widen as Ciri is suddenly bounding ahead, and Poppy's ears prick immediately forward, wuffling faintly as her head comes up. She may be much more laid back than the witcher's fiery grey, but even this mare enjoys a good run.

Rinwell can't help but feel a little nervous - but excited, too. Jaskier had ridden their ride at a canter when she'd gone practicing magic, and that..that had been so much faster than she expected. ]

C'mon, girl! [she squeezes against her sides hard, and-- welp, OFF goes Poppy! Not quite a rocket, but much faster than she was expecting!] O-oh!!

[ She doesn't fall forward onto the mare's neck from the sudden change in pace, but there's definitely a hand grasping in her mane, holding on tight as her mount moves after Ciri. It's so quick! ]

[ Ciri laughs, watching Rinwell's eyes go wide as she fumbles. ]

Don't pull on her mane or the reins! Keep a steady grip. If you yank back, she might stop too fast, and you won't like that.

[ She's going to have to teach Rinwell how to fall off a horse, come to think of it. It's an important skill. Even if the girl might not enjoy the lesson. ]

Keep your body low and move with her.

[ Nixie wants to keep running ahead, but Ciri makes her turn, circling back around to ride back and behind Rinwell in a loop, coming up on her other side. She grins, windswept. ]

Fun, right?

[ There's no immediate verbal answer to Ciri's coaching, Rinwell's face scrunched somewhere between intense concentration and very evident hints of joy blossoming as she starts to get a real feel for speed. She will absolutely not like a hard stop, but Rinwell is not considering that right now - not when she's almost flying.

That's what this rush feels like, not unlike the updraft that her tornadoes sometimes carry her along on, but with the added sense of movement and weight below her.

(Could this have been something everyone knew back home, once upon a time?)

'Fun, right?' ]

Yes..! [breathlessly enthusiastic, as she keeps low as instructed; if one hand remains with a grip on mane length, well, babby is still learning.] R-really fun!

Good! That's what I like to hear.

[ Ciri laughs too as they crest the hill, and she tugs on her horse's reins a little, urging Nixie to slow. She doesn't instruct Rinwell, watching to see what she does. ]

You get good at this, and I'll start challenging you to a proper race. We can bet on it. Winner doesn't have to wash dishes.

[ Ciri slows and Rinwell does not, though Poppy is certainly aware she's no longer being raced alongside with. (Poppy might be lazy at times, but even a pony enjoys a good canter from time to time.)

It's only as they clear the hill crest and are starting the downward slope that Rinwell realises she's leaving her friend behind, and sits up and back, trying to use her weight as she was taught rather than haul back on the reins to slow her mount.

It works, sort of. ]

Woahhh, woahhh, w-woooah!!

[ The last 'woah' is a lot less steady as the mare obeys but also veers a bit sideways with the command, and the sudden drop to trot has that bouncy gait returning. Hopefully Ciri won't laugh too long as Rinwell finds herself falling forward on the mare's neck, unable to adapt to posting in time, and is left clinging to Poppy's mane for dear life before mare helpfully stops. ]

[ No such luck. Of course Ciri laughs, loud and unabashed, but not unkind. When Poppy finally stops, Ciri guides her mare beside her still giggling, giving Rinwell a wide grin. ]

Almost had it. Solid try, but you won't beat me yet.

[ She nods over to the next hill, the desert covered in rolling mounds like like it, covered in large rocks and green-gray shrubs. The sand is too hard packed to be slippery, though; the horses are able to run just fine.

Ciri smirks, squeezing her heels against Nixie's flanks. ]

C'mon. Let's go again.

[Open] A Star In Hand Lit His Way

during the festival of enlightenment.

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