Gwennol rolled up the hide tent, lashing it tight with leather straps leaning it against a tree. She slung on her bag, picking up her staff before whistling for Cysgod to begin her morning foraging. The sound of thundering hooves were heard suddenly and she turned, her long hair whipping around as she held her staff. A heavy dark chestnut horse galloped towards her, the hulking like rider glimpsed as it pounded towards her through the trees. It was nearly abreast of the young woman who tensed to dart out of its path and turned to run. She had not taken a few steps when a hand reached down and grabbed her from her robes, hauling her on top of the horse. Gwennol kicked her feet, bouncing against the steed as it moved and she started to scream. When she looked up, she spotted the familiar bear helm and the dark eyes beneath it. Grabbing the mane of the horse, she scrambled to get her leg over the withers, his arm wrapping around her waist to hold her securely against the bulk of his body.
"Pren?!" she turned to look back at him, surprise and delight in her eyes. "Where did you find this beast?"
Pren reached around her to be able to hold onto the mane, grinning slightly at her the horse slowing to a trot. "A friend gifted it."
Gwennol clung to the horse, squirming to adjust to the position, "It is a handsome gift. Such a sturdy creature." She turned her head to look back at him, "Then we're leaving?"
Pren pulled the horse to a stop before he nodded at her. "If you need anything, now is your chance to say."
Gwennol looked back, "The tent is there at the camp and the food supplies but I've got my bag and staff."
Pren shrugged, replying, WWe do not need a tent. The food. That is useful."
Pren slid off the back of the horse, heading over to the bag of food before he slung it over his shoulder. Looking and acting healthier, his arm mobile once more after the couple of weeks of healing. He climbed back on and once again put his arms around her to get to the mane.
Gwennol looked up at him, "Of course we need a tent, what if it rains?" As he got off she made herself more comfortable, stroking the thickly muscled neck of the steed. She was unused to riding and unsure of what made a well bred horse but this one seemed large and lively, more than capable of carrying both of them.
"If it rains, we sleep under a tree." Pren looked to her, tilting his head slightly to the side as if asking if she is ready.
Gwennol sighed and shook her head, "Trust me a tent will come in handy, sometimes there are places without trees or the wind blows the rain sideways." She huffed a breath when he ignored her and she said, "If that happens, I expect you to find a solution. I won't sleep soaking wet." She looked back at up at him, her freckled face set with a stubborn expression.
Pren said simply, "Of course I will find a way. I am Pren."
That made her chuckle to herself, leaning back slightly when the horse moved forward, "Even if you must shield me with your body?"
He nodded, his bear helm tilting forward as he met her gaze briefly and then the started out. The green hills of Breeland passed by in a blur, the trees waving their summer foliage as the big horse cantered along easily, chunks of damp turf flying up from the heavy hooves. Pren pressed not towards the Vale of Andrath that the Greenway lay but through Far Chetwood and into the Weatherhills.
