The sun peeked over the horizon, its morning beams turning the morning dew into tiny sparkling rainbows. A patch of flattened grass still remained where the massive bear had been dragged, the blood that had once smeared the ground having been washed away by a light rain the previous evening.
Standing by the side of the town hall stables, a young British man took a deep whiff of the morning air.
"Ahh, the air is so fresh here. Don't you agree, Apperot?"
Edol tossed a saddle over the back of his new companion.
The young stallion snorted and shoot its head, already having grown tired of the Brit over the last week.
According to Weiss, the horse's coloring was quite rare, stating that it was born of a high-quality line. The horse was mostly black in color, with just a patch of pure snow white near its rump. A rare SnowCap appaloosa.
Edol didn't really care about the rarity, but he was certainly overjoyed with his new mount.
"Good horsey! Here, have another carrot!"
Edol pulled a large orange tuber from a bag hung over the horse's back, bringing it up in front of Apperot's face.
"Open up!"
The horse's eyes glared at Edol, a look of disgust contained in their murky brown depths.
"Tasty carrot! Look, here's how you eat it!"
Edol pulled the carrot away and placed it up against his own mouth, lifting his lips slowly.
"Look, you open your mouth a bit, then take a bite!"
Edol's teeth snapped down, crunching into the tip of the carrot and breaking a chunk off.
"Shee? Ish tashtey!"
Edol spoke while chewing, then lifted the carrot back up to Apperot's mouth. The pure, unadulterated disgust in the horse's eyes was only magnified. Unfortunately, it didn't really have a way out. Edol just kept pressing the carrot against its teeth, trying to force it in.
A small voice spoke in the horse's mind, urging it to make a break for it.
"Apperot! I know you love carrots, just eat it!"
Kick him first, then run for the hills. This was a much better idea.
Edol's hand suddenly fell away, and the carrot hanging limply from his fingers.
'Apperot doesn't like carrots… Why?! I thought all horses were supposed to love carrots! My dreams have been crushed. Danu is dead.'
Apperot turned its head toward Edol, observing the newfound depression on his visage. Somehow, the horse felt a bit bad. It wasn't regret. Rather, something more like… pity. Yes. If this idiot was this sad about a horse refusing to eat a carrot, what would happen if something worse happened to the boy?
Apperot decided to delay his escape and stretched his head forward.
Crunch!
"Eh? Apperot, you're eating the carrot! Good horse! I'll get another bag full of them for you for the trip!"
The horse's lips curled at the idea of having to go through this experience again, but he dutifully continued munching on the carrot. At least the boy was smiling now.
~
Shortly after Apperot finished his carrot, a few more people arrived at the stables, all of them walking forward to greet the Brit.
"Morning, Edol!"
Willow, Nes, and Weiss all greeted Edol before a middle-aged hunter stepped forward. Edol had seen him briefly a few times at the town dinners but hadn't spoken with the man before.
"Edol, right? 'Names Pierre. Are ya ready to have a sore ass?"
"Ahhh… no?"
Pierre started chuckling, and Weiss slapped her hand against the back of the man's head.
"Cough, sorry. I heard you haven't ridden a horse much before this week, so riding for a full day will leave some sores. I was speaking with Nes the other day and heard the two of you are heading down to Edain. I've gotta make the trip down there too, my idiot kid managed to get himself arrested and now expects me to bail him out."
Pierre lugged his bags over to where his horse had been resting while Weiss and Nes helped Willow bring her supplies over to Pepper.
It wasn't long before all three of the travelers were ready to depart. Despite spending just over a week with the girl, Weiss seemed just as attached as Nes was, pulling her into a hug before Willow could mount her horse.
"Willow, I'm hoping the best for your father's health. He is a wise man, and if anyone could escape from the attack, it would be him. Still, if it turns out he didn't make it…"
Weiss gripped Willow's hand in her own, her fingers stroking the girl's hand in a relaxing manner.
"Quickly gather your siblings and bring them up here. If there is some enemy targeting your father, they might aim for you kids next. Your family is always welcome here, and they will be safe for as long as they stay."
Willow nodded and slowly pulled away. "Mm. I'll keep that in mind. Dad will be fine, though!"
While Weiss was chatting with Willow, Nes walked over to Edol, his eyes observing the large eagle perched on the boy's shoulder. Their plan from the other day had gone swimmingly, with Willow quickly buying their story of what she really saw.
"Kid. Be careful on your journeys, and never let your bird use multiple elements anywhere someone might notice again. You have a lot of skill with those daggers, it would be a shame for you to mess up and get killed before you have a chance to grow."
Nes glanced back over to where Willow was climbing up into Pepper's saddle, and his eyes turned a bit somber.
"Weiss and I are afraid of what Willow will probably find in Miaan. Her father was never the sort of man to leave his kids out in the open. There's no way he would be sitting in hiding, leaving them to scramble around searching for him. She's still too young… and she's already the oldest one of Eddie's kids. If, in the future, she asks for your help, please lend a hand in her time of need."