Dragons, Dystopians, and Denial

Elias nodded, but determination was sparkling in his eyes. He was going to learn how to ride Mellie, even though earlier today he was convinced horses were extinct.

He was just lucky Jerica was being patient with him. She was instructing him left and right, holding on to Mellie's lead rope and looking back every few seconds to make sure he was okay.

"How do you have balance?" he asked with deep focus. "I feel like, if she goes any faster, I'll go flying off."

He gripped the reins a little too tightly just thinking about that.

"I mean, you just gotta try to sit back into it," Jerica said, letting go of Mellie's bridle. She'd realized a few minutes before that Mellie was just following her around as it was, and this might give Elias a bit more confidence. "And it's all in the hips. You just lean into what they're trying to do."

She could tell Elias wasn't thrilled as she stepped away from Mellie, but he'd be okay.

"Pull up on the reins, gently to get her to stop," Jerica instructed, waiting until Elias did so. "Now watch. This -- Evan? -- is much higher strung. Watch how I keep my seat when I get on him."

Jerica climbed on top her horse, and, as before, he instantly reared onto his hind legs.

"Just lean forward into this," Jerica said, keeping her eyes on her horse but speaking to Elias. The horse bucked. "And back into this." The horse crow hopped. "And put an end to this nonsense by pulling his nose to your knee."

She pulled on the right rein so the horse spun a few times before coming to a stop with a snort.

She looked over and smiled a bit at the bewildered look on Elias's face.

"Don't worry," she said, reassuring. "Mellie won't do this. That's why I okayed her for you. But you just want to keep your seat, and you do that with your hips. Don't lean your body anywhere. Keep your back straight and your hips to counter the movement... and don't worry. We're just gonna walk for tonight. Get maybe two or three miles out of town then we can set up camp. Let's go."

Elias sighed, not knowing if he'll ever get good at riding horses. He had driven vehicles before, but a horse was much more complicated. It was frustrating to not know how to any of these things in her world, but he knew that if Jerica were to be transported to Earth under different circumstances, she'd likely be just as confused.

"It might take more than a few lessons," he said, slowly getting down from Mellie's back. He offered her a fake smile. "Thanks for being patient?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," Jerica answered, offering a tense smile in return. She was confused. "Why did you...?"

She took a deep breath, deciding on a new strategy. He seemed to be responding better when she went out of her way to be gentle. That was going to take some practice.

"There's always a learning curve with new things," she answered with another smile, hoping he'd find it reassuring. "I'm not expecting you to be good at riding -- or at fighting -- quickly by any means. So, we'll walk for tonight. But... on the horses?" She gestured at Mellie. "We bought them to ride? So... let's go?"

Elias smile faded and at first only blinked in response, then shook out of it and looked over at Mellie.

"Oh. Right," he said under his breath, patting her head. "I thought... Never mind."

He misunderstood Jerica when she said 'we will just walk for tonight'—but she meant on the horses. Not his brightest moment.

Elias clumsily go back on the saddle, almost sliding off completely, but catching himself just in time.

"Okay. Let's go," he said, then stared ahead with the reins in his hands. He awkwardly paused.

"Uhh... how do I get her to move, again?"

Jerica smiled. "Just squeeze your legs, gently."

She urged her own horse forward and clucked to Mellie as they passed, then slowed until Elias caught up.

"So, uh..." She started awkwardly, not sure what it was she actually wanted to say. "You don't seem like you like to talk much... but... we should probably try to get to know each other a bit? Yeah?"

She stretched her back and looked up at the star-speckled sky.

"So, do you wanna, like, go first?" she asked with a shrug. "Tell me about you?"

Elias raised a brow as he glanced over at Jerica, but still held on to Mellie to keep himself steady.

It was weird hearing those words from a teenager: "You don't seem like you like to talk much." If only she knew.

He was used to his comrades not talking to him, and he wouldn't talk back. They all had their cliques already, and he didn't really fit in anywhere. Not for friendship, anyways.

Well. It wasn't really any of her business, so there wasn't a point in correcting her.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, not really knowing where to start. It had been a long time since someone asked him out of curiosity to talk about himself so openly like this.

"I mean like..." Jerica hesitated.

She'd never really had friends before to know how this was supposed to work. She'd just always known about Rek and Derik since she knew them since she was born. And she found out about Akeno first by grilling him as her subordinate before they eventually became... whatever it is that they were.

What did she mean?

Usually, someone was getting talked at when it involved her. Either the Council was yelling at her -- or she was shouting orders to her subordinates.

What did Aerik start with?

She couldn't remember.

"I don't know, what's important to you? Family? Pets? Job?"

What was important to him? That was a great question. Elias wished he knew.

Family was important to him at some point. It still is, if he could reach out to them. It wasn't possible now, though, so why bother making it important?

He couldn't just say that though. Not without making it sound depressing.

"I did have a pet cat," he mused out loud. "A long time ago, a few years younger than you. I named him Smiles and he had a spotted eye."

He stared ahead, reminiscing about the woodsy cat in the woods he liked to feed and give ear scratches to.

"He seemed to think I was hungry since he always tried to give me mice."

"Aww, that's cute," Jerica said before she could stop herself. She sobered a bit. She got absurd about animals -- that wouldn't do in front of Elias. She needed to stay assertive. If he started thinking she was just some dumb girl he'd get careless and not listen, and that would get him killed.

She didn't have another question.

"I've never had a cat," she decided to ramble so that there wouldn't be an awkward silence. "But my horse Ranofer is good. He's really fast. And really sweet. My --" she cut herself off. "He was a gift from a long time ago, when I was just a kid. But he's my best friend."

Elias lightly smiled hearing Jerica exclaim that Smiles was cute, because he certainly was. It was also nice hearing her talk about her horse, Ranofer.

"I don't know a lot about horses, but I think some of them probably have cat personalities," he thought out loud, then realized it was kind of a dumb thing to say.

"Where is Ranofer now?" he asked, not pausing between the sentences. "Is that why you don't like Evan?"

"I mean, Evan is fine." Jerica felt strangely defensive. She patted Evan's shoulder. "He's a... perfectly adequate horse."

She sighed, thinking back to when she had a good horse instead.

"He's just not my horse," she continued, deflating a bit. "Ranofer is back in Atraya... I'm sure he's fine. He's just not... here."

Elias nodded, but he didn't quite understand. He never really felt possessive over anything. If anyone asked, he was always happy to help and share.

"I'm sure you miss him, then," he said. "Do you have plans to get him back?"

Jerica was silent.

How was she supposed to answer that question? How could she answer it? There was no quick way to explain why they'd been separated. Or why she couldn't go and get him if she wanted a prayer of getting away from Atraya again. Or answer whether she wanted to go back at all.

Is Ranofer worth it?

The question hit her hard. She loved him SO much. Of course, he was worth it... and yet... they were heading to Crevon, not to the city. I'd go get Ranofer if it was safe... Safe for who, she wasn't sure. This journey wouldn't be safe for Ranofer... going back to the city wouldn't be safe for her. It was best for everyone if she just dealt with Evan for now.

She realized the silence had stretched until it was awkward and cleared her throat. "Yeah, I'll get him back some day."

I hope to the gods.

Jerica paused for a long time despite it being a simple yes or no question. Something told him that her answer had a depth didn't quite understand, but he didn't want to prod further.

"I hope so too," Elias said in response.

There was another long silence, and he could feel Jerica tensing up because of it. Elias didn't mind comfortable silences, but it appeared Jerica didn't like it. He sighed, not wanting to make this more awkward than it needed to be, especially since they were going to be traveling a long time together.

"I also have a sister," he said. "Her name is Elise, but everyone called her Ellie. She's two years older than me. Very talented healer and wouldn't even hurt a fly. That's how kind and gentle she is."

Was. That was six years ago. He had no idea what she was like now.

He paused for a second, thinking about what to say next.

"It's been a while since I've seen her, though. I'm sure you miss Ranofer as much as I miss Ellie."