Kyuden Shika

That brought a laugh from the Moto.

Well, hopefully she knows how to keep you sane. Or at least how to keep you content in your madness." she offered.

Why the fuck are we at odds with these people? "You know, it makes a lot more sense... and I think we could be happy on the road, at least for a while..." Another quick turn with the branches weaving so close you could touch them. "Ah, it's the 'for a time' that's brining you back, huh? You would g...

"Well, cheer up Shiba-san. Only a few days left before you know if you'll be paired with her, or if you need to sling her over the back of a pony and ride off with her into the sunset." she offered with a laugh.

"That's a proud Moto tradition after all."

Bayarmaa glanced back.

"Really? That's all? You've met no one at the miai to call you back to it?" she asked, curious.

Bayarmaa laughed as the trio whipped around a corner.

"So...what's stopping you? Grab one of those bitty ponies you folks like to ride...heck, just run as fast as you can for as long as you can. Go swim in the rivers, go climb a tree. What's chaining you to the kyuden?" she asked.

Raizo had actually been on a Rokugani pony before, so he had a reasonable handle on how to stay on. This was a whole new level of speed and size, though. "Name's Shiba Raizo. Nice meeting you. And I think everyone gets wound up too tight. Just a question of what over. In my case, I don't take confi...

He looked at her hand- then took it. "Don't think we've met. Sure you trust me on your horse?" A strong arm lifted Raizo up behind the Unicorn. "Pretty sure either of us could take you, Shiba-san. Besides, I'm no frog, and you're no scorpion." she said dismissing the notion. "We haven't met, but I'...

The tea house. The dojo, The inn. The theater. The tea house. The dojo. The sake bar. The market. Raizo took a cleansing breath... to keep from screaming aloud and jumping up and down. He pondered literally climbing the walls, then decided the Shika would probably take issue with that. This place i...

"You'd be without a student to give riding lessons to," he said with a wink. Since she hadn't let go of his hand quite yet and there weren't many people around as far as he could tell at a glance, he stepped a bit closer. "Hopefully you don't lose too many people to Persik's appetite." She didn't p...

Bayarmaa laughed at that.

"Who knows what would happen? Perhaps they'd find you so appealing they'd continue until there was nothing left of you, and then where would I be?" she joked.

Lion eating horses were just stories after all.