Kyuden Shika

"You hear that?" He asked Yūdaina. The horse trotted, a bit quickly, but trotted. As they moved down the road it wasn't too rough. Not so jostling that Narumi wouldn't need to hold on for dear life unless she was an easy scare.

"The paths are long and straight, if I hadn't been half asleep coming through the first time I probably would have given them a proper run already."

Yūdaina snorted agreement.

She did not, in fact, scare easily but still there was a sharp intake of breath at the clip clop of the horse. If Narumi was uncomfortable with the mere presence of the Scorpion, it was surely mitigated by exploring a part of the forest she had not been to before.
"It was a rather hard journey here?" she inquired.

"hmm...I suppose some could say it was boring. It rained for two days at Beiden. It rained hard too, caused some landslides and travel was a bit difficult but Yudaina-san trusted my judgment and we got through, but nothing is as difficult for a Scorpion as passing through Shiro Matsu", he grumbled. "As if they didn't distrust us enough, there is also the fact that they attack us, some way, somehow, just about every summer. I think they think it's fun."

Yudaina trotted along.

"Though at least you know what to expect, they aren't Crane."

"I see. In regards to my own journey, nothing of note occurred as well. Another travel on the rivers, another passage of time, another stop at port to engage in diplomacy and commerce. The same affair as any other."

"Is it that boring? I mean, look where it's brought you", he said and gestured around the woods. He wasn't impressed himself totally, but he was supposed to offer things up in a situation like this, wasn't he?

"To you? Astride your valiant steed?" He can't see her brilliant smile at that.

Regardless of seeing it, he sat up a little and Yūdaina might have preened slightly.

"Well, then how about we turn the excitement up, just a touch", he said and looked over his shoulder at her. "I might aim to disappoint at times, but i think i can summon some courage for you."

The smile continued, and she held on closer. "So do you have anywhere in mind we might escape to, or is this more of a leisure cruise?"

"Let's see which it will be", he said and urged Yūdaina on. Knowing Narumi was holding on now, he didn't worry as much about her falling off. The horse's trot quickened and soon became a strong gallop. Yūdaina wanted to go faster, but he always did. "Ready?" He asked over the sound of hooves. This was the last warning, it would seem.

"If I fall off this horse, you'll come back for me, right? ...Right?" Narumi chuckled, beginning to grow somewhat nervous but keeping the facade of easiness up nonetheless.