Face Your Fears PG-13

Axia nodded,"Of course." She was excited, despite his warning.

Malruse lead her quickly away from the spot. "Well,you know my name. But not my history. I have seen the world,in all its ugliness. Starvation,murder,stealing. Everything waits for a single soul that is naive about them to wander the streets. When I was young,I always had wanted to see the world,and at 13,I got my wish. Although,it came in a horrible package. My parents died in a fire. Whether the fire was on purpose or not."

Axia was shocked, but she nodded. She kept up with him.

"Anything could await that pretty face,"Malruse reach a finger as if to stroke her cheek,then pointed,"Just outside those gates."

Axia blushed as he ran his finger her check, and closed her eyes. She opened them again,"I can defend myself, Malruse. I never thought I'd have to, but my bow is still on my horse's saddle. would it be any use?"

"It might. I can also protect you,and I will if any danger comes near. If you wish it,you need gear. Food,and clothes. My pack is always packed up and with me. We may leave as soon as you wish."Malruse replied quietly. He knew she would go one way or another,so better to be with her,then let her go out alone.

Axia looked at the sky, and back at Malruse,"He's grazing right now. I had a pack hidden in his stall...incase I ever decided to run away. I can be back in an hour."

Malruse nodded,"Better I come with you,in case the nanny shows up......"

Axia grinned, but turned, and headed for the pasture. She spied her bay stallion, Golden Lust, grazing in the field. She slipped past the stable hands, and into the stable. Looking back, and forth, she jumped the stall door. She grabbed her small pack, and swung it to her side. She pushed another haybale aside, and grabbed her quiver, and hung it over her back. Pulling her shawl over her head like a hood, she grabbed Lust's tack, and called the horse on the side of the field. As put the bridle on, and lead him back to Malruse, worked on the saddle as she went.

Malruse had his eye on the wildest horse in there. A black stallion 17 hands high. The horse,surprisingly,was acting as gentle as a lamb,and Malruse stroked his velvety nose softly. Then he noticed Axia coming back towards him,and he grinned."It all right if I take this one?" He read the name plate on the horse's door,'Bucephalus.' It read. "Like Drnan The Great's horse...."He muttered,and stroked the stallion's forehead quietly.

Axia looked at the horse, then the name plate. She shuttered, thinking of who the horse was,"That's my father's horse's only colt. He has a lot of worth on it. But it would get them of our trail."

Malruse grinned,"Nice." The bridle and saddle were sitting,slung over the half side of the stall wall. He went in,and quickly tacked him up."C'mon Bue."He murmured,then turned to Axia,"So,you ready?"

Axia finished with the latch on the saddle, and swung into it,"Yup."

Malruse vaulted into the saddle,and looked slightly down at Axia. Bucephalus pranced,ready to go. Malruse had to hold him back,but the stallion listened,and quieted down slightly. He chomped on the bit,and shook his head,watching Golden Lust to see if they were going to gallop.


((ooc:Is your horse's name Golden Lust or Golden Dust?))

ooc: Lust

Axia pointed to a old, over-grown trail,"That leads out. No one uses it, it hasn't been used in years. Shall we dare it?"

Malruse looked down at Bue,he seemed up for it."Sure. Can you handle it?"He asked her.

Axia grinned,"How do you think I found out about it?" Axia turned Lust into a gallop, and he surged forward. The bay leapt through the brush, and down the overgrown pathway.

Malruse held Bue back for a moment,then finally let the horse go. He had experience riding him,although he wouldnt say that aloud in front of Axia. The black stallion soared over the underbrush,and came down,surprisingly light,on his feet as he galloped over the shrubby terrain.

Axia said,"About ten miles in, there is a brook. It's too fast or wide for the horses to cross, or us to swim across. But by the time we get half way there, my father will be after us. I now a secert path across, but we'll have to hurry. Do you trust me?" Axia looked at Malruse, her face half hidden behind Lust's golden mane as it flew.

"Completely."Malruse nodded,and turned Bue after her as they thundered along.

Axia grinned, and pushed Lust one. The stallion leapt forward, easily carring his rider's weight. Axia heard the brook, but also, distantly, the falling hooves of pursuit. The babbling of the water grew. She turn Lust now down a steeper part of the woods. The harsh rock was too much, or so it seemed. The loose rock tumbled away, and Axia lead her horse down a thin path. It lead down behind the the gravel hill, to a releif at the end of the rapids. Axia lead the bay horse swiftly, and carefully. One miss step could break the horses' legs, and send them tumbling down.

Malruse felt Bue falter,but stolen rides on the horse had taught him trust in the boy. So Bue carried one,after a brief hesitation. Malruse lead him after Axia,Malruse almost slipped once,but he clung to the horse's neck,and struggled back onto the path.

Axia felt the slope slighten. She called over her shoulder in a hushed tone,"We're nearing the bottom. The rocks are bigger here, but the path it wider. Try and keep the noise down as low as you can. It echoes, and I'm not the only one who knows this path." She motioned to the riders above them as they searched the bank. She lead Lust swiftly down, but with even more care than before.

Malruse lead Bue at a careful pace. His body language letting the horse know it was urgent to stay quiet.

Axia watched the grass in the area started to increase. She felt the slope decrease, and then flatten. She smiled; they were off that path. She steered Lust towards the water. There was a shallow part where the current was slow, and ahead the forest thickened. She preshed Lust on for the final stretch, and into the cover of the woods.