Fire Side Dancer

[Josu_T]

Rahn laughed a bit at her complaint about waking up with an elbow in her side. He felt her get in closer. He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly. He watched people emerge from the other tents. Neither he nor Tora were in charge of breakfast. They would help with a later meal, so he stayed where he was. He was happy to have this morning time to spend with Tora. He caressed her arm softly and kissed her cheek again. He stayed silent, just enjoying the silence. No words were needed. He could tell her he loved her, but he was telling her through his actions, through his touch.

 

[Angeltears]

Smiling as Rahn kissed her cheek and stroked her arm she relaxed against him closing her eyes ignoring all the movements around her. Tora felt Rahn’s love for her and neither of them had to say anything to each other to share the love they had for each other. Tora turned her head slightly and nuzzled his neck and then rested her head once again on his shoulder. “Good morning you two,” Sol said as he came up beside them with Lia following beside him. The two of them sat next to Rahn and Tora opened her eyes and smiled at the two of them. “Morning,” she said.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn looked up as he saw Sol and Lia come toward them. He smiled at the pair. He liked them. They could really understand, at least somewhat, how he and Tora felt about each other. "Good morning you two. Come sit and join us. It is very relaxing." He leaned his head against Tora and kissed her softly. His hand continued to softly caress her. He was at peace. He really didn't want to have to get up and leave. He wished time could stop right then.

 

[Angeltears]

“I think we will, it does look relaxing,” Sol said wrapped his arm around Lia as they sat by Rahn and Tora. “How did you both sleep?” Tora asked after Rahn kissed her. “Alright, but you know what Ash is like he hogs the blankets.” Lia giggled, “That’s better than what happened in our tent,” then she stopped realising that she had spoken out loud. “Did she elbow you too?” Tora asked smiling. “No, she kicked me,” Lia said and both girls giggled. “What about you Rahn, how did you sleep?” Sol asked over the giggling.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn watched as Sol and Lia joined them in comfort. He simply listened as the others complained about their room mates and the girls giggled. He looked at Sol who asked how his night had been. He laughed. "It is always nice without room mates to bother you. I slept well." With a smile he kissed Tora's head and squeezed her lightly. He happened to glance up and see that the progress of breakfast was going well and that they would probably eat soon.

 

[Angeltears]

The two couples relaxed and soon breakfast was ready and they were all eating. Kara had eventually emerged from the tent making it just in time for breakfast and frowned at the look both Tora and Lia gave her when she said good morning. Then both girls started laughing again as they were handed there breakfast. Tora took some of hers and offered it to Rahn smiling at him. It would be a quick breakfast Kara’s father told them and then they would be back on the move.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled as he got his breakfast. He started to eat and watched as the girls laughed. When Tora offered him some of her food he ate it from her hand. After swallowing he kissed her, then offered her some of his own food. He wanted to enjoy the time as much as possible before they got going again. The ride would be nice, and he was looking forward to seeing the market, but he also loved to just be near Tora.

 

[Angeltears]

Smiling as she accepted what Rahn offered her. Then Tora continued to eat her breakfast it was good just spending time together and she every so often she would smile at him. Once she had finished eaten she kissed him on the cheek. Waiting until he was done then she would gather there plates. Looking around at the others of the group, she couldn’t help but smile as she say Ash and Tan eating together but it wasn’t her two brothers that made her smile it was the fact that Kara was sitting next to Tan and seemed involved in the conversation the three of them were having.

 

[Josu_T]

After breafast Rahn got up and smiled. He helped Tora with the dishes. Once they were dealt with he returned to his tent and finished packing everything up. He then quickly got Rain ready to go for the day. He made sure the horse was fed and watered and prepared for the trip. He then went to help Tora with Dancer. He smiled at the girl he loved and kissed her softly. He then started putting things into place on Dancer.

 

[Angeltears]

After breakfast and the clean up Tora worked set to getting Dancer ready. Giving Dancer water and food she collected everything that she had taken off the horse and then when he was finished she started putting things back on him. Smiling as she picked something up because she had seen Rahn coming over to her she kissed him back and then shook her head when he started to help her load Dancer. Soon they were done and ready all that they needed was everyone else to finish. A quick scan around and it looked like they would be moving soon.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn finished helping get everything on Dancer. He noticed it was almost time to go. He pulled Tora in for one last big kiss before going over to Rain. He hopped up onto the horse and moved toward Tora and Dancer. He stopped right next to her with a smile. He was ready to go. He was ok with the travel, but really looked forward to their final destination.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora was happy when they had Dancer ready and she smiled as Rahn kissed her before heading over to Rain. Climbing onto Dancers back she watched the others get onto their horses and Rahn and Rain joined her. Smiling at him she waited for Kara’s father to lead them and then they started the second part of their journey. The morning ride was quiet as some of the others were taking their time in waking up. At one point of their journey they were crossing a wide open space with long grass and Tora noticed that Dancer started to hesitate in her steps and seemed weary in crossing the open land. Looking to the other horses she frowned as Kara’s father called a halt. “It wasn’t this grassy last time we crossing this way. The village that used to be near here must have moved on as there heard used to keep the grasses under control here. What do you think?” he said looking at the others.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn didn't mind the silence of the ride. It was still a good time to spend with all of them. It seemed to be going quite well. When they got to the grassy area Rain started to act nervously. Rahn got the same feeling. It wasn't good. He didn't know what it was, but he just got a bad vibe from the place. When they stopped and Kara's father explained, Rahn got more nervous. He took out his weapons and got them ready, just in case. He looked over at the others. "I don't know about you and I don't know about this place, but I don't like it. What if the village that was here got attacked? I think we should ready our weapons and have all the women ride in the middle of our group for protection. We should be as careful as possible. I also think riding fast to get out of here as soon as possible might be a good option." Rahn looked at the older man and waited to see what he thought. Rahn didn't even like just standing there in one place.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora held Dancer still and looked around at the others around her and when she saw Rahn remove his weapons Tora reached back and retrieved her bow and arrows, slinging her quiver over her shoulder she readied herself for whatever they decided to do. Giving Rahn a look when he said that all the women should be riding in the middle, she didn’t want to be protected when the men of her life was at risk. Kara’s father nodded looking at Tan as the head of Tora’s family. Tan looked at the members of his family and then nodded as well. “Okay, lets get moving quickly but together,” The men positioned there horses around the women’s and making sure every one was ready they started out. Tora leaned over Dancer ready to ride fast. Kara’s father took the lead and Tan moved to the back and then with a flick of the reins they were all off heading across the grass.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn moved to the side of the group and looked at Tora. He hoped she would be ok, no matter what happened. He held his bow ready and had other weapons close at hand. He got Rain going right alongside the rest of the group. They went as fast as they could, taking the pace from the slowest horse. Rahn glanced backward to make sure the platform was holding up well. It seemed to be doing fine, even at the high speeds. That was good. He didn't want it to fall apart and lose everything there. He returned his eyes forward. He looked around, watching for anything that would be a threat to the group.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora found herself first next to Rahn but somehow ended up next to Kara who was in the middle of the riders and with Ash riding on the other side and behind her. Scanning the area as they rode she trusted Dancer to follow the other horses. Her bow was in one hand and the reins where in the other in case of trouble she knew she could let loose the reins and Dancer would keep running unless she signalled otherwise with her feet. Looking over she saw Rahn on the other side of Kara, but she didn’t let her eyes linger too long but return to the grass ahead and around them. Ahead of them the grass moved as if something was hiding in it. What ever it was it seemed to start to move through the grass and moving to cut them off. Then the grass seemed to part and there was a flash of something as split into two and moved to either side heading straight at the group of riders.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn watched the front and side carefully. He had his bow partially drawn and ready to fire at a moment's notice. When he saw the grass moving he watched that spot carefully. He saw it move to cut them off. When he saw it split he was sure now that it was most likely something dangerous. He did not need to see what it was to be confident it was attacking. He drew his bow back fully and shot an arrow at where the thing would be when the arrow arrived. He then looked to the side to look for any more movement. He didn't see any at the moment, but he kept his eyes open and watching.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora watched as what ever was in the grass headed towards them, she heard Kara gasp beside her as she must have seen them as well. Tora let loose her reins and reached back for an arrow when one arrow flew from beside her and the she saw another fly from the other side of the group. A cry rose from where the two arrows had flown too and Tora looked over at Rahn guessing it had been him on that side and glanced back at Ash who had fired on this side. It was when she saw movement coming from behind them angling towards Tan. “Tan,” she called out and grabbing the arrow and urging dancer to stop with her feet, Ash raced past her just so did most of the others but Tora focused on the direction of what ever it was moving within the grass. Letting lose the arrow she heard a cry go up as it hit something and she was happy to see the grass stop bending towards them. “Tora,” she heard some one call her name and she quickly scanned behind them and turned Dancer to join back with there group, her eyes scanning all around her now.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn was surprised when Tora decided to drop back. the moment she slowed he turned Rain around. He moved back to her as fast as possible. He watched as she dealt with more of the hidden enemy. He got next to her and yelled at her. "Tora! Stay with the group. There is safety in numbers." He got Rain behind Dancer and trying to urge the beasts to move faster to catch up with the group. His eyes watched everywhere. He did not worry about behind them since anything there would probably not catch them. Very few animals that he knew of could catch up with Rain, even fully loaded. Also, he thought that they were probably just dealing with some sort of tribe of people. So he was not worried about being caught since he saw no horses.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora realised that it had been Rahn who had called her name and she nodded her head as she rode past him and Rain. She wouldn’t bother to explain why she had done what she had done, that would come later, first they had to cross the grass. Tora glanced back at Rahn to make sure that he was staying with her then she focused in front. There was more movement through the grass all around them and Tora saw Kara’s father’s horse rear as something flew at it. The older man held on and he was lucky the horse didn’t lose balance with everything one it. Ash aimed at where the arrow had came from and saw the man hiding amongst the grass as he was taking aim again. Ash’s arrow flew taking out the man and every one picked up there pace for fear of being hit by an arrow.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn was glad when Tora was going fast again. He kept Rain sprinting. Fortunately the platform behind him was holding up better than even he had been expecting. He saw the arrow fly and was relieved when it didn't hit anyone. He fired at anything in the grass that even moved. He could see the forest on the other side of the fields approaching fast. That was good. They could use the trees for shelter.

((Going away for a week. I will be back on the 2nd.))

 

[Angeltears]

More arrows flew and they kept riding, Tora and her brothers we taking aim at those that where aiming at them. Tora saw the trees just ahead and with safety in site every on seemed to push that little bit faster. The arrows seemed to stop just as Kara’s father reached the safety of the trees next went her mother and eventually everyone before Tora vanished into the trees. Tora reached the trees and glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Rahn was still behind her and she followed the other a little deeper into the tree line away from the arrows.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn was relieved as everyone reached the trees safely. He followed right behind Tora. They got to a small clearing and Rahn leapt from his horse. He hid behind a tree and listened for the sound of any enemies approaching. When he didn't hear any that were getting close, he went over to the others. "What should we do now? We could just continue going, but what if those people go to attack out village? Should we try sending someone to warn everyone back home?"

 

[Angeltears]

Once every one stopped Tora pulled Dancer to a stop and turned him and aimed her bow in the direction had come from listening and watching. Ash had joined her but on foot he stood by Dancer watching, both of them watched Rahn as he seemed to be listening as well. When Rahn joined the others both Tora and Ash lowered there bows. Tora slipped off Dancer’s back and led him over to the group by the reins. Listening as Rahn spoke, she looked at the others as they considered it. “Even if they don’t move to attack the village, they will need to be warned as many make the journey to market travelling the same way we came,” Tan said looking at Kara’s father who nodded. “But we can’t just send one person back alone, in case they are attacked there is more chance of two people getting through,” Sol said. “I will go,” Tora said, surprising all of them. “Dancer and I are the fastest here, except that it for Rahn and Rain, you know that,” Tora said aiming the last part at Tan who was about to protest. “If I travel light with only what I really need then I will be able to make it back to the village in shorter time than it took us to get here.”

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn nodded at the comment that not only one could go back for safety reasons. Then He was completely shocked when Tora volunteered. He stared at her as she made her arguments. Rahn did not like it at all. He didn't want her to be in any danger. However her arguments were too good. He sighed. "If Tora is going, I am going with her. The rest of you can use my platforms to take our stuff with your horses and make it easier on them. Between the two of us we should be able to keep eachother safe. We will take one tent with us since it will probably take us longer than one day to catch back up with the rest of you, but two tents is unessecary weight. We can also take our weapons and some food and water, but everything else we can leave with you." Rahn looked at Tora, making sure that she was positive she wanted to be the one to go. If she had any doubt he would insist that she not go and that someone else went.