Fire Side Dancer

[Angeltears]

"Beginners luck will only get you so far," Tan said though he smiled over at Rahn. "I think they are going to give it all they got and if what I have seem of you and what I have heard are any thing to go by then I think that we might have a challange on our hands." Tora looked up at her brother, "You going to compete Tan," Tora asked. "Of course, I am not going to let these three have all the fun," Tan said.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled at Tan. "Well, I have beginners luck and I'm hoping that I have some natural skill. I'll try to do my best to give you and everyone else a good challenge. Now, who knows how good I will actually be. I just hope I don't fall on my face during the first game. That would not be very good at all." He laughed a little, but really hoped he did not make a fool of himself.

 

[Angeltears]

Tan laughed, "If you did you wouldn't be the first one too, or the last." Then Tan remembered some thing looking down at Tora who was listening it the exchange between Rahn and Tan. "I just remembered, we where suprosed to have practice today. Is it okay if we leave it till tomorrow Tora." Tora looked at him shocked she had forgotten about the practice as well. "Thats okay tomorrow will be fine." Then Tora looked to Rahn and said with a smile, "My brothers are teaching me to defend myself."

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn grinned as Tan said he would not be the first or last to fall on his face the first time playing the games. He was then a bit confused until Tora explained that she was learning to defend herself. He smiled, and nodded. "That is nice. What are they teaching you to use? Or are they teaching you weaponless combat?"

 

[Angeltears]

"Tan is teaching me to use a knife, Ash is teaching me the bow and Sol is teaching me weaponless defence." Tora said smiling. "Well we can't be there for her always and we agreed that it would be better that she knew how to protect herself." Tan set his plate aside and Tora picked it up. "I will be back in a second," she said as she stood up and went to set the plates with the others, leaving Tan and Rahn alone together.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled. It seemed Tora was learning a lot. That impressed him. He nodded at Tan's reasoning for their lessons with her. As tora got up he gave her one more smile and then turned back to Tan. "She must be a good sister. You and your brothers look like you care about her a lot."

 

[Angeltears]

Tan nodded, "Yeah she's a good sister, the three of us would do anything for her and we don't want to see her hurt by anything." Tan then sighed, "But she is a strong headed thing with a soft heart and has a habit of hiding and living in her own little world." Tan laughed "but I know that she would do anything to protect us as much as we would her."

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn listened to Tan talk of his sister. He could definitely tell that he and his brothers liked to protect her from things. One of those things would definitely be other men. He was not quite sure why they protected her from other men. It could be to avoid her getting hurt emotionally or even physically, but he also felt it might be because they did not want to lose her. He would not let that happen once he won them over. He would make sure she got to spend time with her brothers. "I wish I had siblings, alas, my mother got banished from the village when she was pregnant with me. I never learned why though."

 

[Angeltears]

"Banished," Tan raised an eyebrow at Rahn. "Very few people get banished from this village, well thats as far as I know any way. Maybe the elders would know why she was banished. Thats if you want to know why?" Tan said, "Any way siblings arn't always that good, they can be pains when the mood takes them. If you ever feel you need a brother you can borrow one of mine." Tan laughed.

Tora looked over at hearing her brother laugh she had been stopped by one of ther cousins and was chatting with her. "It looks like those two are getting along okay," her cousin remarked following Tora's gaze. "That new guys actually quite handsome, don't you think Tora?" Tora looked at her cousin and nodded slightly. She wanted to tell her cousin to look else where but she knew she couldn't so she changed the topic.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn knew that his mother had been a rare case where someone was banished. All he knew was that it had something to do with love. She would not explain any farther. He had his guesses, but he did not yet know enough about the customs of the village. Then he wondered about something. Tora's brothers seemed to all be older than him by at least a little. "Tan, are you and your brothers not courting women? From what I understand, men start looking for women at about my age. Yet, none of you seem to spend much time with any women other than your sister, or do I just not see it?" He hoped he was not being impolite, but it seemed a little strange to him.

 

[Angeltears]

Tan smiled at Rahn, "Well, Sol is currently courting some one but her family has yet to return from there travels, they should be back any day more I think. As for Ash, well he is more interested in flirting and showing off at the momment and isn't serious about any one just yet." Then Tan rubbed his neck looking a little embarrised, "And I have been to busy look after the family and just havn't found any one just yet."

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn was happy when Tan didn't get annoyed with him. He smiled at Tan when he looked embarrased. "Hey, don't worry about it. You will probably find someone. There are probably many girls interested in you. You should keep an eye out during the games for any girls who come to watch you and cheer you on. then watch at the fire when you play your music. If any of those girls are still there, I think they might be interested. My mother taught me a little about women. From what she said, I figure that if a girl spends time watching you, she is probably interested. You could also ask your sister about what the other girls say about you. My mother also taught me that girls like to talk to eachother a lot."

 

[Angeltears]

Tan listened to his advise and took it in, releived that Rahn didn't make fun of him about not having some one. It was one thing that he had hidden from the other, the fact that he some times felt unhappy that he was alone while his saw others with some one. "You mother sounded like a smart woman. So what about you have you seen any one in the village you like or have you already started courting some one?"

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled at the compliment of his mother. Then Tan asked the question that made Rahn pause for a split second before he laughed a little. It was a little forced, but he hoped Tan would not pick up on it. He smiled and laughed again, more convincingly this time. I've only been around for a few days. The only female I've ever really been around is my mother. I wouldn't even know how to go about courting girl." He was glad with the words that had come out of his mouth. He had not lied, and he had also avoided talking about his time with Tora the previous day.

 

[Angeltears]

"Fair enough, but you should take your mothers advise and keep an eye out, especially today." Tan said just as Tora returned. "What are you telling him to keep an eye out for?" Tora asked curious on what advise was being handed out by either men. Tan smiled up at his sister, "secret males business." Tora looked from Tan to Rahn and then shook her head "I will never understand males." "Whats there to understand, we are what we are!" Ash said as the two brothers and some of the men joind them.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn nodded to Tan and smiled. Then suddenly Tora returned. Rahn smiled at her and noticed Ash and some other men walking toward them. Rahn laughed a little at Ash's comment and tried to look to see what they had with them that would be used in the games. He did not see anything specific, so he just asked. "So, what game will we play first? I'm ready to cash in on some beginners luck."

 

[Angeltears]

"Eager isn't he," Sol, said stepping up next to Ash, Ash nodded. "The first shall be the horse race," Ash said as Tan stood up and dusted himself off. "The aim is to see who can ride to the other side of the meadow and back the fastest. One of the men not compting have already gone out to mark the return point of the race. So we had better not keep him waiting." With this most of the men started towards the stable tent.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn grinned as they explained the game. A horse race. Couldn't be simpler. He knew that with his horse Rain, he should be able to beat the others, or at least get close. He followed the group to the stables and whistled for his horse. The magnificent beast trotted out of the stable since somone had already untied the horses of the men who would be racing. as Rain exited the stable he quickly grabbed his saddle and stripped it of anyything unneccesary. He prepared the horse and hopped up on his back as soon as he had him prepared. He sat atop Rain and waited for the rest of the men to be ready. He tried not to grin to much. He was fairly confident that his riding ability would help him win. Since he had tamed Rain he had rode him every day. It seemed to keep the horse calmer if Rahn payed attention to him. He guessed that these horses were not ridden every day. Even if they had he did not think that during those rides they had chased deer through the forest or run from predators like Rahn had during some of his rides with Rain.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora had followed the men and saw the growing crowd around where the race would begin. While the others were gathering ther horses she slipped into the stables and went to see Dancer her own horse, she patted the horses nose and smiled at her. Dancer seemed eager seeing all the other horses leaving she wanted to go too especially when she saw that Bow, Loco and Char, Tora's brothers hourses, where out of there stalls. "It's okay, I promise I will take you for a ride tomorrow, for today let the boys run." With that she left the stables and heading between the riders she walked past each of her brother and wished them good luck and thne as she passed Rahn she gave him a quick smile and whispered him luck. Then she went and joined the crowd to watch the race.

With the men all mounted they gathered to where would be the starting line. One of the women who would announce the start to the race waved a flag looking out over the meadow. There on the other side was a man on a horse he waved his own flag and the women turned to the racers. "Okay now it's the first one to the end of the meadow and back. Every one ready, good." Holding a different flag up she waved it and shouted "GO"

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled at Tora as she wished him luck. He then followed the group of men to the start line of the race. He was a bit dissapointed to hear it was only a short race. He knew that if they went longer he would have an even better chance of winning. He still felt confident about the short race though. He leaned over his horse and whispered soft, encouracing words to Rain. The horse snorted and stamped his hoof, telling Rahn he was ready to go. He smiled and sat up for the start to look a little inexperienced.

The woman with the flag made sure they were all ready to go. She then lifted it, reminded them of the course, stepped to the side, and yelled go, waving the flag. Rahn immediately started Rain into a gallop at a high speed, but not at full speed yet. He looked to one side and saw some men still in line with him as they started to move into a tighter line to prepare for the turn at the end of the meadow. he glanced to the other side and also saw a few other men also still in line with him. As they approached the turn Rahn stayed a little out to the side, rather than get caught in the crowd trying to take the inside line. It also meant Rain could go faster around the corner, even though it was a few meters extra to run. Out of the corner he was a little behind a few men leading the pack, but Rain was not yet going full speed.

 

[Angeltears]

As soon as the flag was waved the three brothers urged there horses on. Ash on Loco taking the lead of the three brothers running in line with a couple of the other men and Rahn. Tan and Sol both stayed back slightly behind the others waiting for the turn, both of them not pusheing there horses as fast as they could. Once group reachs the turn swing around the man on the horse, who is keeping his own horse under his control. Ash gets stuck in amongst the other riders trying to turn in such a large group. Tan and Sol smile at each other as they skirt the pack and urge the horses on into full speed. There are only a few now that have broken away from the pack and all of them are heading towards the finishe line, the two brothers included and Tan notices that Rahn is also there.

Tora is standing at the front of the crowd cheering as the men are heading back in there direction.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn sees Tan and Sol still in the lead group and he starts to become more serious with the race. He leaned down over his horse to cut wind resistance and urged Rain on. He whispered in the horse's ear and felt him speed up immediately. Rahn was now catching the lead rider with half the meadow left to go. As the riders approached the finish Rahn caught the leader and was neck and neck with him. With his eyes locked onto the finish line he rode hard. He whispered in Rain's ear. "Wolf". Rain's wild instincts took over and he reared for a moment. Rahn knew this would happen and held on tight to the horse. However, when Rain reared the other horses next to him also reacted, their instincts taking over. Rahn did not look over to see what happened, he just set Rain into a full sprint over the last stretch of grass to the finish.

 

[Angeltears]

Ash was still behind and Sol was slowly falling behind just keeping behind Tan. Tan saw Rahn pass him and ran head to head with two of the other men that was in the lead. Tan urged Bow on faster, trailing the two leaders. Then suddenly the horses a little infront of him reared and Tan held tight on to the reins trying to keep control of Bow, Tan had trained with Bow sinse he was a foal and it only took a second for Tan to regain control. Then he saw Rahn break ahead of the other two as they tried to get control of there horses. "Come Bow," Tan whispered bending over in his saddle, flying past the other two riders as one of them fell off his horse. Tan knew he couldn't beat Rahn but he would at least make it close.

Tora gasped as she saw Rahn's and the other horses rear, her heart beat fast as she saw Rahn hold on and then regain control and head to the finish line, with Tan now closeing in on him. Moving closer to the finish line she waited to see who won, still cheering..

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn knew he was in the lead, but he glanced back to see if anyone was close. He saw Tan trailing him, but keeping it close. Rahn Then decided not to be a show off at all by winning the race. He whispered to Rain to slow just a little. the change in speed would be barely noticeable to anyone. It was just enough so that as they approached the finish line, Tan was able to pass him at the last moment to win.

 

[Angeltears]

As Tan pulled closer to Rahn drewing up to his side he glanced side ways for a second and then focused on the finish line. Tora watched knowing that either way she would be happy for who one. Holding her breath she watched as at the last minute Tan passed Rahn and shot over the finishe line with Rahn behind. Tora cheered and headed over to where both Tan and Rahn where, as the others crossed the finish line. "Congratualtions Tan" her voice was joined by others. Tan looked over at Rahn and smiled, "Good race."