Var & Ellah's Calamity - Part II
Var and Ellah's Calamity - Part II
As they make their way along another straightaway, the tiefling glances over her shoulder briefly, looking amused at Cleo gaining some ground on them.
"Heads up," she calls out, and a few paces later, she and Rapha have jumped a mid-sized fallen tree in the path.
"On my mark, Cleo," he mutters.
Holding himself slightly off the seat, Var tightens his grip on the reins, urging Cleo to maintain their pace. When they are a breath away from the log he gives Cleo a tab with his heels and a sharp click of the tongue.
Cleo slows her pace a bit at the sight of the log, a bit doubtful of the situation, but seems to respond well to Var's words, taking it as confirmation that is both aware and attempting to tackle the situation. She seems to tense and pause just before he cues her to jump, perhaps not fully trusting him, and takes the jump practically in slow motion, offering an unnecessarily high leap over the obstacles. She lands it a little clumsily, but in a way that makes Var hopeful that with time and practice they'd get used to each other enough that this wouldn't be a consistent problem.
"Umph," Var grunts, right knee protesting at the rough landing. He readjusts himself in the saddle, giving the mare a quick pat.
"Good, now let's take the next one straight and true." He catches Cleo's bright blue eye with his own, "Or are you going to let Rapha see you stumbling over a small log?”
Var clicks again, urging the mare to catch up.
"Thanks for the heads up!" Var calls ahead, breathing heavily but tone hinting at excitement as they gain ground.
Cleo lets out a small huff at the idea she'd ever be caught in a compromised position. With Var righted, she takes off at an increased speed.
Ahead of them, Ellah had let up on Rapha's pacing to make sure the other two had made it over the obstacle. Now with that confirmation, she nudges Rapha on, racing up a small incline and back down again to another wide straightaway.
As they reach the bottom of the slope Var notices the open path ahead.
"Come, this is our chance to catch up. Just stay out of kicking range, and not just Rapha's," Var says in a hushed tone.
Cleo picks up her pace, moving from canter to gallop, going after Rapha. The pair manages to pull up almost alongside the tiefling and her mount. Ellah turns to grin at them, her eyes twinkling, and Rapha seems just as pleased to be engaging in the game. Ellah winks at Var before giving Rapha a firm tap with her heels, causing the mare to take off at an even faster pace, pulling ahead once more as the path narrows again.
The trail heads down a winding incline, which Ellah and her mount take at break-neck speed, Rapha using the loose dirt seemingly to her advantage. Cleo approaches the path with cautious, yet precise steps, only stumbling once and only losing a little bit of speed. Her dressage training had certainly taught her excellent body awareness at the very least.
As Cleo pulls up to Rapha's side Var grins at Ellah, triumph in his eyes.
"Damn," he spits out between ragged breaths, as the pair gain the lead again.
Approaching the winding trail, Var holds himself firm and tall in the saddle, trusting to Cleo's training and intuition. It pays off as she moves smoothly over the loose ground, her steps quick and nimble, save for a loose stone in the dirt catching them both off guard.
At the bottom of the hill is a small drop into a dry creek bed, only about a foot high. Ellah takes Rapha off the edge skillfully and has the horse slow slightly to watch for any dumps before she moves further along the rocky stretch of path.
"Tsk! Tsk!" Var clicks to Cleo, drawing on her reins enough to keep her off Rapha's tail. He tries to keep her back a few strides, but keeping pace so Var can observe Ellah's movements, and try to match their rhythm.
Seeing Var and Cleo take the embankment successfully, Ellah sets Rapha into a quick trot to lead the way down the creek bed.
"How do you like her so far?" The tiefling calls over her shoulder.
"She listens well, now that she is getting used to me,” Var replies, nudging Cleo up closer to Rapha. "Her steps are lighter than I am used to, precise, she seems to make easy work of these trails. I think we can work together."
He pauses, riding silent, but looking as if he wants to say something.
"Eukharistéō!" he barks out after a few moments, looking a little abashed. "Thank you, for not... just thank you."
He pulls his hood down a bit more over his face before straightening in the saddle.
Rapha startles a little at Var's outburst, while Cleo just flicks an ear at him. Ellah raises an eyebrow as she studies him a moment.
"You are a bizarrely formal person. No wonder you and Siveria get along.”
Var's flush deepens.
"We understand each other,” he says sheepishly, clearly uncomfortable. His form falters as he speaks. Cleo gives a grunt of disapproval.
"Well that's a terrifying thought," Ellah notes. "And thankfully none of my business.”
Twitching slightly, Var pulls himself back to form, seeming to cool a little as they ride on.
"Are there any notes or concerns you have for my riding so far?" Var replies, clearly trying to change the subject.
"Well, you haven't hit the ground or cued anything weird from her, so I think you're doing just fine. As a warning, she will bite at your boots if your form gets too bad," Ellah tells him, looking amused.
"Then it's good I am not in sandals,” Var chuckles, rubbing the side of Cleo's neck in a quick friendly gesture. "You did well in training her. I don't think we will have any issues, at least getting back to Evermire. You will have to teach me these 'cues' next time.”
"There's a possibility that can be arranged," She tells him. “I take it you're ready to head back to the stables?”
Var grins, but there is a tension in his smile and his right leg seems to quiver slightly.
"Yes, let's head back. I need to get as many miles in while there is light.”
"Mm," Ellah hums, then gives Rapha a quick kick and takes off as she had done before.
Var takes a deep breath before sitting up tall and digging in his heels into the stirrups motioning Cleo to follow after.
"I may ask to borrow one of your stable hands, for a few moments, when we return,” Var comments as he pulls up behind the leading pair. "You will get them back whole, but my leg could use proper healing and my... talents require a volunteer." He flicks his eyes at Ellah, caution in his tone.
Ellah glances over her shoulder at him.
"I could just heal you," she offers. "Then you wouldn't have to scare the stable hands any more than you already have.”
Var does not say anything for a few moments, pursing his lips in concentration. Finally he speaks.
"I can be amenable to that."
Tilting his head looking at Ellah: "Your energy seems compatible with mine. It's not like the magic from that pretty elf boy from town. His was uncomfortable.”
Ellah laughs and pulls up to the side of the creek bed, then dismounts.
"You undead?”
"I don't think so,” *he answers, holding fingers to his neck, checking for a pulse. "My heart still beats.”
He lowers himself gently to the ground taking care to land on his left side
"Then why would the magic bother you? Healing is healing."
She steps away from the horses slightly, not wanting to spook them with her magic.
Var follows, patting Cleo as he moves away.
"Their touch felt very... intense," he explains, frowning. "I'm honestly not sure, I had not felt that before. It stirred something deep in me."
He shakes himself a little before kneeling in front of Ellah. "I am ready.”
"Again, you are weirdly formal," Ellah quips. "It's your leg right?"
She hovers her right hand over the injury, while she places her left on her chest. She closes her eyes and takes a breath, whispering something just under her breath. She grimaces slightly, tensing as she casts, then twists her right hand. Var feels the magic pull at and weave together his wounds, painful at first, but relief soon following their mending. She completes the somatic component of the spell by bringing her hands together and opening her eyes. She raises an eyebrow at him, an amused smirk playing on her lips.
"There. Was that more to your sensibilities?" She asks in a teasing tone.
"Yes and yes," He replies, flexing out his right leg, clenching his jaw, trying to ignore the obvious pain coming from the limb. He stiffens as she draws close, clearly warry at Ellahs proximity. As her words echo into him he spasms, the magic arcing through the torn fibers of his muscles. As the convulsions stop, a wave of relief washes over his expression as his shoulders relax.
"I am grateful." Var breaths out, standing up tall and stretching the restored limb. "That felt... normal, for healing at least.”
"Did it, now?" She says, giving him a thinly veiled look of concern. “That's considered markedly abnormal healing where I'm from, though you won't ever hear me complain about it. We all have our own talents, after all."
She moves away from him and back to Rapha, mounting back up and pulling the mare's head away from the bush she's currently gnawing on.
"Speaking of talents, you mentioned your skills that I could call upon. What would those be?”
"Any healing magic feels... odd to me, has for many years," he remarks, hopping into Cleo's saddle with new vigor bringing her around to follow after Rapha.
"I have learned a few things during my time here on the mortal plane; Bounty hunting was my day to day while in Darivell but I did a lot of second-story work as well but I am less good at snatching items,” he states, a sad smile on his lips. "Teslyn used to say my fingers were too thick for picking pockets or fussing with locks."
Glancing down the smile turns to a frown before he continues.
"I can fight, if needed, or I can offer a type of healing and if one does not mind the discomfort. And if I can find some materials I have been taking up an old craft from my homeland, a type of enchanting.”
Ellah urges Rapha forward, away from the bush, which the mare glances at longingly before complying. Rapha lets out a huff before beginning down the creek bed at a walk, flicking her tail in agitation. Ellah listens to Var speak with a thoughtful expression.
"Hm. What kind of enchanting?”
"I am still fresh to it but I can create minor things, a ward against injury, or make an item that would heal a broken limb," he answers. as he does he leans down to give Cleo a quick rub and a gentle word for staying on task.
"That requires certain ingredients that I am still working on getting from Krophia, though I should come into some in the next few weeks. For now I can write up a scroll or two depending on how busy the day has been. I did study Water based spells while in Darivell as well as more formal magics. Though I specialize in more shadowy spells and curses, that I learned at a young age.”
"Noted. You usually end up this banged up after an altercation?”
His hand flicks to the bundle strapped to the back of the saddle for an instant before answering.
"Not usually," Var mutters. "I have been less careful as of late, rushing into things. Things have been a little chaotic since the Olumyeri festival. Now though..." he glances back at the bundle, "I am better equipped to handle trouble.”
She glances at him, her mouth twitching upwards into a light smirk, then gives Rapha a firm nudge with her heels to set her off at a canter again, pulling a hard left a few paces down the creek to take her up an incline where the trail curves back towards the stables.
Var gives Cleo a click and a prod this his heels, turning her out of the creek bed and up the slope. Following Ellah and Rapha up the trail.
Rapha slows down consistently on the incline, while Cleo seems to have a lot more strength than speed training in comparison. The horses reach the top of the incline at the same time and Ellah grins as she sets her horse along the path at speed. This half of the trail is narrower and winds through the trees in a way that requires more precision from the mounts.
Feeling renewed from his healing, Var takes the rise in elevation with ease, holding steady in the saddle and letting Cleo find her footing. As the group meets at the top of the rise he gives Ellah a smirk, seeming pleased at keeping pace. Var returns her grin with one of his own before digging his heels in and urging Cleo to match their stride.
With a bit of extra urging, Ellah sets Rapha off at a quick canter, occasionally transitioning into a full gallop at some of the more reasonable straightaways. Rapha seems downright pleased at the chase that ensues, happy to throw herself between the trees at Ellah's command. Var gets the distinct feeling that this is a well practiced activity for the pair. While Cleo isn't quite as fast, she seems determined to complete the task with her usual precision, leaving Var hit with fewer twigs than Ellah and cutting a more exacting path in some spots.
Var stays upright and tall in the saddle, trying to resist the urge to bob and weave from the sharp branches flying by, trusting Cleo's steps. He only uses gentle tugs when needing to weave through gaps in the forest, keeping his eyes focused ahead. As the pick up speed along a straight path, Var can be heard cursing as he dips under the shaggy limb of a wide cedar, emerging with a small cut along his upper lip.
Ellah glances backwards at his cursing, but doesn't otherwise react, using the moment to instead urge Rapha into a gallop, pulling just a bit further ahead as the path widens along a straightaway once more.
"Remember, I am a bit taller than your usual rider," Var mutters to Cleo, wiping the blood off his lip. As he sees Rapha shoot ahead, Var stands slightly out of the saddle, straightening forward and urging the mare into a gallop.
Harmony leads Rapha around another bend and shoots out of the treeline along the fenced pasture of Thorn Rose Stables. She rounds the bend around the edge of the fence and back towards the gate. This time, she doesn't bother to open it; she simply slows the mare down to a canter and has her jump it, pulling her into a tight circle to the side of the courtyard path to let the horse run out her momentum.
Var presses hard for Cleo to match Rapha's speed, catching a face full of dust as they get too close around the last turn. He slows Cleo to a canter, clearing his eyes as Harmony and Rapha soar over the gate.
“Trust my cue this time. We've got this," He says, gripping the reins.
Var brings Cleo up to the gate in a quick canter. Just as the gate is within reach he snaps his heels to Cleo's sides.
Cleo manages the jump better than the last time, but does manage to clip the gate a little with her back hoof. Still, she sticks the landing; she probably just needs more practice.
Var lands on the other side, triumph in his eyes.
"Solid jump, girl, still some to work on. I imagine we'll get the chance soon," He praises, patting her on the shoulder. He guides Cleo to a halt next to Rapha
"You are hard to catch," Var prods, seeming winded after the long ride. "Any notes for me?”
"That's the idea," Ellah tells him with a grin. "You're not too bad yourself. Cleo will fix your posture. She's your pick, then?”
"I think we match well enough, she can be a bit stiff, but well apparently so can I,” Var answers with an appraising look at Cleo. "Though, there is one thing; how does she handle in a fight? I don't need a warhorse mind you, just one that wont throw me if we run into... trouble.”
"She was Ca-" Harmony clears her throat.
"She was Ms. Sinclair's before mine, so there's a good chance she's had a bit of combat training. She also bites people she doesn't like. You'll probably be fine."
Harmony gives Rapha's neck a pat and dismounts, handing her off to a stable hand to tack down.
"I will keep that in mind, Miss Harmony," he says with hint of a smile.
Var hops down, gesturing at one of the workers.
“Bring me a saddle bag with enough oats for a few days ride and something sweet for Cleo's hard work,” Var requests, calling over his shoulder in a flat tone.
He walks over to Ellah pulling Cleo behind.
"Should be enough to get back... home," He says.
"Great. Then I'll see you in a week to discuss that favor you owe me," Harmony says cheerfully, wearing a sly grin. "I've horses to tend to. Safe travels~.”
Var's mouth opens, his eyes growing distant, pondering how this will impact him. He ignores the groom as they tie down a saddle bag full of feed to Cleo. He blinks, coming to when the groom hands him a small bag of sliced apples.
"I am looking forward to it, I think we can cause quite the calamity,” Var chuckles back at Ellah. "Érrhōso, Miss Harmony."
Gesturing with two fingers to his forehead before pointing them at Ellah, seeming to offer a farewell. Hopping back into Cleo's saddle, he motions for the groom to open the gate. He palms a handful of apple slices for the mare, thanking her for the effort so far.
Var moves Cleo into a steady walk as they ride out of the courtyard picking up the pace to a canter as they cross onto the road.
Var and 'Harmony' take a ride through the woods and get to know each other better.
RP Text Entry. XP previously counted.
Submitted By GaslightGatekeepGirlboss
Submitted: 4 months ago ・
Last Updated: 4 months ago