Washed Ashore Part 12

Kai and Elana entered the cottage greeted immediately by Calli.

"Sorry we took so long girl." Elana said to the dog kneeling down to pet her head. Kai smiled and stroked the dog's back as she began to sniff her owner unsure of the unusual scent. Glancing at the clock Elana took note of the time. "It's later than I thought, Lydia's husband should arrive soon to pick us up..." Her eyes widened as she realized how they would be traveling.

"What's wrong?" Kai asked noticing her worried look. "I just realized that Godric would ride his horse and would bring a second for me to ride."

Kai tilted his head to the side. "What is a horse and what do you mean by ride?" Elana sighed closing her eyes. "I don't think I could describe a horse very well at least with how they look. But they are very large four legged animals that are herbivores. We have domesticated them so we can sit on their backs to travel long distances, they docile creatures that are easily scared." She paused collecting her thoughts. "You can ride with me... I'll show you how to mount and you will sit behind me."

He listened carefully trying his hardest to picture the creature in his mind, he had heard stories of animals humans sat on top of but had never seen one. "Sit behind you?" He questioned after a few moments of silence passed.

She nodded. "Yes, don't worry I'll show you. But I must warn you, I know you have very strong legs... so please do not grip too much or else the horse might take off." Kai blinked. "What do you mean by take off?"

"Well essentially move faster and they run out of control; which I know I could handle but I fear you'd lose your balance and fall off." She put her hand to her temples. "Then I'd probably fall off as well, so it is very important that you just hold onto me for balance." Kai nodded, as strange thudding sounds were heard approaching the cottage. "What's that sound?" He asked looking around for the source of the sound.

"He must be here." Elana said walking to the window and looked out as two horses approached, one was a dapple gray and the other a deep chestnut. She could see a man mounted on the chestnut as he rode closer to the cottage. "Let's go." She said with a smile then turned to leave and glanced at the dog who had curled up on the floor. "Come on Calli!" She said to the dog who jumped to her feet and started barking excited to be going somewhere with her owner. Elana opened the door and walked outside, Kai and Calli following behind her. Kai shut the door behind himself and walked over to stand next to Elana. He gasped in awe seeing two large creatures approaching. "Are those horses?" She nodded in response then raised her arm and waved.

The man reined the two horses in front of Elana and Kai. "Good afternoon, Elana." The man said with a smile and looked over at Kai who had stepped behind Elana having become alarmed by the size of the animals. "This must be Kai." The man said dismounting, he walked over to Kai and offered his hand. "I'm Godric, Lydia's husband." Kai stepped out from behind Elana and shook Godric's hand. "Pleased to meet you." He said using the phrase Elana had taught him.

"Are you ready to go?" Godric questioned. "Yes." Elana took a few steps toward the dapple grey and noticed that Kai seemed to be frozen in place. "Kai, it's okay they won't hurt you." She said offering her hand to encourage him to come closer. He slowly walked toward her and took her hand, his eyes not leaving the grey creature that stood before him.

"This is Twister." Elana said leading Kai closer to the grey horse. "It's okay hold out your hand and pet her neck just like you pet Calli." She reached out her hand and stroked the horse's neck showing the merman that nothing bad would happen if he did so. He slowly stepped closer and stretched his hand closer to the filly, his fingers brushed her fur and he immediately pulled away expecting the horse to turn violent. Twister turned her head and snorted at Kai and nudged his hand with her muzzle, causing Kai to jump. "Ahh! What is it doing?" He gasped.

Elana and Godric laughed, "She just wants you to pet her, lad!" The older man replied. "Twister is one of my best behaved fillies." He said proudly. "Now pet her before she knocks you over looking for attention." He said as the filly nudged Kai a second time. "Alright." Kai replied nervously and reached out the pet Twister's forehead, the filly snorted and lowered her head as she relaxed. Kai smiled recognizing that the creature truly meant no harm to him. "That wasn't so bad. Now let's mount up so we can reach my home before sundown." Godric said as he handed Twister's reins to Elana.

Elana pulled the stirrups down and tossed the reins over the filly's head. "Kai, this strip of leather that has this iron circle." She began to explain holding the stirrup iron. I want you to when you are ready to place your left foot in it. Then do a small jump and swing your right leg over Twisters other side." He listened trying to picture how such a feat was done. "Like this..." Elana placed her foot in the stirrup iron and in one motion swung her right leg over the horse and sat carefully in the saddle. She adjusted her skirt and noticed the confused expression on the merman's face. "Godric, maybe it would be best if you gave him a leg up." She suggested the man nodded and walked over. "Now Kai do what Elana just explained but instead I want you to bend your left leg, I will grab it and help push you up onto Twister's back." The merman nodded and bent his left leg, Godric grabbed a hold of his knee.

"When I say now I want you to push off your right leg and I will help you onto Twister's back. When you get up sit down with one leg on each side and try to center yourself." Kai nodded. "Alright... now!" Godric grunted and pushed the merman onto the horse's back. With a lot of effort Kai managed to get onto the horse's back, and center himself without knocking Elana off. Godric walked back to his own horse and mounted when he was certain the boy would not fall off.

"Grab onto my waist." Elana instructed, Kai lightly placed his hands on her waist. "Lets go." She said squeezing Twister's side telling the filly to walk forward. "AH!" Kai gasped and threw his arms around Elana tightly from the shock of the sudden movement. "Kai! That's too tight!"

"Sorry." He apologized and loosened his grip. "Just relax." She said trying to reasure him.

Soon Kai did relax after he started to understand the horse's movement, and that he wasn't going to fall off. "How are you doing Kai?" Godric asked noticing the young man no longer looked terrified. "A little better, it is more comfortable than I thought." He said leaning his head against Elana's back causing her to blush. Godric laughed as Elana turned a brighter shade of red, he urged his horse into a trot. Elana sighed relieved that Godric was now ahead of them, Kai shifted closer to Elana and placed his chin against her shoulder. "We are almost there." She said quietly.

Kai nodded then moved one of his hands from her waist and gently turned her head so he could claim her lips. She kissed him back briefly before turning away to turn her attention to the trail they were traveling down. He smiled placing his head back on her shoulder and gently squeezed her waist. After a few minutes of silence a small farmhouse was seen in the distance. "We're here." Godric said as he stopped his horse and waited for Elana to catch up.