06.Nov.19, 07:35 PM
Aederyn slowed her pace as she neared the crest of the little hill, allowing the spongy moss-covered trace to cushion her strides and absorb the impact of her feet. Her muscles ached dully, an indicator of the long hours she’d been running. Dawn was coming; the sky was showing slightly greener along the eastern horizon and the shadows played tricks on her eyes. She would reach the station before sunrise, though. Her legs ached with her exertion, but not enough to rightly be called fatigue. She would make it in plenty of time and still in good health. She allowed herself to slow to a walking pace and finally stop as the crest leveled out, shaking out her tired joints and taking in the subtly brightening path ahead. A change in the pre-dawn sky caught her attention, and she watched them as they glided down to where she imagined the Weyr rested in the mountain range on the horizon, a smile playing across her thin lips. Dragons! Too far away to see their colors, but judging by their size she guessed they were either still fairly young or just blues and greens. She could be wrong, though. She was no expert on dragons by any stretch of the imagination. Above her, Rudi chirruped in question before diving down to herd her forward. Aederyn playfully swatted at his brown tail as she pulled her waterskin from where it was strapped against her thigh, swishing and spitting her first small mouthful and swallowing the next. Another few small sips and she put it back, the crisp morning air sending a slight chill down her back. She’d been too idle for too long and the sweat was cooling on her skin. No matter, she would warm up again soon. She patted the message pouch where it rested at the small of her back before lifting her knees into the lope every runner prided themselves on. She could carry this mile-eating pace for days, she sometimes felt. Another hour would do for now, though.
She allowed her mind to wander back to the sight of the dragons, how they blinked into the air from Between, and how gracefully they drifted to their Weyr…she was always hopeful that a run would take her to a Weyr. She loved the feeling she got from being in the presence of those amazing creatures. Sensing the turn her thoughts were taking, Rudi dove at her, chittering plaintively. Aederyn mentally showered him with love and praise, nearly losing her step as her focus flipped to the little brown. She made a mental note to save him a small meatroll from the next station. He did love those things…The sky brightened and she quickened her pace, the trace widening ahead of her as it turned to run parallel to the road.
She allowed her mind to wander back to the sight of the dragons, how they blinked into the air from Between, and how gracefully they drifted to their Weyr…she was always hopeful that a run would take her to a Weyr. She loved the feeling she got from being in the presence of those amazing creatures. Sensing the turn her thoughts were taking, Rudi dove at her, chittering plaintively. Aederyn mentally showered him with love and praise, nearly losing her step as her focus flipped to the little brown. She made a mental note to save him a small meatroll from the next station. He did love those things…The sky brightened and she quickened her pace, the trace widening ahead of her as it turned to run parallel to the road.