Almost Non-Stop

The first few hours of your race towards Rathkin was pretty devastating and took the longest amount of time mainly due to the horses which weren't acting the best due to the storm that was passing by overhead. The farther south you got though the less wind and rain there was and it only picked up faster and faster at that point. After a good six hours of traveling the storm itself was way north of you and the Sun was actually peaking out of the desert sky. It's amazing what cloud and rain will do to a desert as it was cold, dark and dreary and now it feels like hell on earth as the mid day sun was beating down on the top of your head.

You have to admit it did feel great to have the sun dry out your clothes though because riding on a wooden seat behind two horses galloping isn't the most comfortable way of travel, let alone being stuck in soaking wet clothes. You already feel an itch forming right under your buttock which is most likely going to rash up a bit. "Ughh.." you push yourself up and give your ass a good scratch. At that point you stay standing up at the horses gallop through the sandy trails to the south.

"How are things going back there, Zoe?!" you shout aloud at your Sunrider in the carriage behind.

A little window in the carriage opens up and Zoe's eyes peer out into the front, unfortunately all she can see is your ass in the viewing hole "Move your butt!" she laughs causing you to turn your head around and look at the small window Zoe was looking out of "Anyway, things are good!" she replies "Still asleep, still breathing, still dry as can be!"

"Well, here's the game plan." you begin "If it was up to me, I would just ride non-stop until we got to Rathkin but I know with all this heat these horses are definitely going to need a break. I'm guessing just like I've done before, we'll get to the Turth River and camp out there for the night." You didn't know if it was the greatest idea because so far the one night you stayed there, you learned so much about your High Commander Ashe and her family, yet the second time you stayed there you got ambushed by Bandits. You just hope this time, it'll be a nice easy going night to get some winks of sleep and allow the horses their much needed water and rest.

It made you think about Ashe and you really did miss her. Ever since you woke up from your **** state, Ashe and Rynlee left south a few days later to go help out with ever consistent war between Rathkin and Errian. She was always a person you could count on and would always give you her blunt opinion on anything. You actually wonder how she'll take the news of you dropping Hawk. You laugh as you believe she's going to kill you herself because you knew Ashe had a crush on the archer. You grew to really care for that red haired Sunrider and were now sad because you were originally going to meet up with her and Rynlee to bring more warriors and help against Errian but now, you're bypassing them completely to get back to Rathkin for Lexie. "Soon Ashe..." you grumble out.

"What was that?!" Zoe replies

"N-Nothing..."

"How about we change it up? Let me guide the horses, get you out of the Sun for a bit and you can watch over Lexie?" she questions. "Please please please? I can guide us! PLUS!" she screeches a little loud "It's not rainy out so I wanna be outside!"

"That's actually not a bad idea, I could use a little break just sitting and relaxing. Plus, I"m about to get burnt from this sun if I stay out here too much longer." you pull back on the reins for the horses which causes them to begin to slow down. "Now Zoe, all you do is follow this trail, okay?"

The window of the carriage closes as the side door opens up and Zoe immediately jumps out, she's decked out in her dark brown skin tight leather outfit that looks to be painted on her tone body. A long sleeved shirt with leather gloves that just covered the back of her hands and her pinky, ring and middle finger, keeping the entire palm open as well as her index and thumb. Her boots have belted straps that curled up her calves and ended just below her knees which could most likely easily deflect any type of slash. She also had those two Ulaks, Claire's two Ulaks tied around her waist. She must have stripped her normal clothes inside the carriage and changed sometime during the ride.

As she re-adjusts herself she brings her hand up to her face and so gracefully had most of her black locks tied back in a pony tail except for a few bangs which were curved down the side of her face. After giving a little hop on the ground she brushes a lone strand of her solid black hair behind her ear and then looks up at you. The sunlight was reflecting gorgeously in her eyes as her cheeks began to bunch up giving you a friendly smile.

You can't help but stare back at the High Commander before you, looking so dazzling, so... "Get a hold of yourself Darien..." you grumble to yourself as you shake your head and jump down from the carriage. "Up you go!" you smile before holding your hand out to help Zoe up on the seat you just left.

"Oh Darien!" Zoe situates herself on the seat "I know what I"m doing, yeah yeah yeah" she gives you a smile. "I'm a horse master! A horse whisperer! A horse horse!"

"A horse horse?" you question.

"Yeaaahh! A horse horse!" she smiles back at you "One with the horses!!!" she gives you a stern look like you should know what that means "Now in the carriage you go!!! Go go go!" she shoos you away. "Let the master take the...reins!!!" she pulls up the reins for the horses and holds them in her hand while she gives you a delightful smile.

With a extraordinarily long sigh "You're one of a kind, Zoe." you give her a smile before stepping up in the side door of the carriage.

As Zoe says some words and you hear the rope move, the carriage itself starts to speed forward. You sit there, looking at your sleeping Fiance, her breathing is so soft and her body looks so peaceful. You are grateful Karisi was able to mix up some herbs to dull the pain but also help Lexie sleep because from the amount of anguish she was in when you saw her awake you wouldn't wish that on anybody. It then made you think of your sister, think of Claire and how she was quite proficient in Alchemy. She made those healing salves that you and her soaked in after your first battle with one another. You also remember she learned a lot of those tips from Lady Bree herself. If push came to shove, you would reveal to Lady Bree who you are, in hopes she had a soft spot with Claire and would help you out just because of her.

Since your clothes were still a little damp you figure you would do what Zoe did, change into something else and throw on your battle armor. To be honest, if it gets cold tonight you'd much rather be in your sabre-toothed armor to keep you warm if needed, plus if anything would to come up, bandits, issues or something else, you'd be ready for it.