Mounting Lessons

A small breath of awe escaped the zeta's slightly parted lips as he gazed at the rising sun. A cool breeze ruffled the zeta's soft, pink hair as he observed the waking valley below. Hooves trotting on the soft ground greeted Syri as Dyren and Geneth joined the zeta at the peak of the hill. Syri inclined his head in respect toward the two steeds as they came to a halt.

A gust of wind that blew from behind the zeta carried the faint forestry scent of the rho and alerted Syri of Brenton's arrival. Syri turned from the valley to see the rho breaking through the cluster of trees. A smile came to the zeta's face as Brenton approached him with two sets of reins in his hands. The rho was exhausted as he had just returned from hunting all night, but he refused the let it show as he walked up to the smiling zeta.

Brenton had agreed to give Syri riding lessons at sunrise upon his return from night hunts as it would allow him to reach home before noon, so he could care for Rosie during the day before setting off on his evening hunt. Syri was not aware the rho was coming directly from a long night of hunting and was secretly exhausted as Brenton's face was calm and bright. If Syri had known Brenton was sacrificing his sleep, the zeta would have sent the rho packing back to his home and insisted on the hunter catching his rest.

"Are you ready?" Brenton asked of the zeta as he reached the pink-haired.

A smile covered Syri's face as he nodded in response. The zeta's heart fluttered with excitement. He would soon be able to ride side-by-side with Jae.

"They are extremely well-behaved," Brenton commented on the two steed's patience and willingness to stay.

Syri's eyes were bright as he looked at Dyren and Geneth with awe. "They are special steeds, indeed."

Brenton bobbed his head up and down a few times in agreement as he readied the two sets of reins. Dyren jerked his head up slightly as he rho approached the steed with the first rein. 'It has been nigh over two decades since I have been reined.' The proud steed voiced in Syri's mind as he eyed the harness warily. Dyren did not allow just any person to harness him.

'Dyren.' A snort left Geneth's muzzle as the copper steed reminded the white beast of their promise to the zeta.

'Do not worry, Geneth. I shall be your rider.' Syri interjected in an attempt to assure the white steed as Brenton waited patiently for Dyren to lower his head.

Dyren released a huff before agreeing with Geneth's suggestion to not be a nuisance. 'Very well. He seems like a nice fellow.' The white beast closed his eyes once before lowering his snout and allowing Brenton to slip the harness over his head.

"Here, take this," Brenton told Syri as he offered the zeta the reins. Syri followed Brenton's request and took the strap in his hands. The zeta ran his thumb over the soft leather of the loop as the rho slid the second harness over Geneth's copper head. "Now, how to mount," the rho began once the two steeds were ready. Brenton turned to face the zeta as he continued, "It would be easier to mount with saddles, but I was not able to bring my saddle, so we will just have to make do."

The zeta listened intently as the rho went on to explain the mounting process. "Grab a tuft of mane with your left hand, take a step back, leap up, and swing your right leg up and over the horse's back as you jump. Let me show you." Syri watched carefully as Brenton demonstrated the saddle-less mount, leaving the zeta wide-eyed as he effortlessly swung himself onto Geneth's bare back.

"Woah," the zeta voiced quietly as the rho dismounted and walked up to him.

"Now, it's your turn." Brenton's hazel eyes glowed in the morning sun as he smiled down at the zeta tenderly. Syri nodded in response as he took the stance Brenton had showed him in preparation to mount. The zeta sucked in his breath as he ran through the steps and mounting scenario in his mind. After a short second, Syri took a step forward and prepared to leap up, but as soon as his right leg left the ground, the zeta realized he had not gained enough momentum to swing himself onto the horse.

"Woah, careful there," Brenton said as he caught the zeta by the waist. Syri let out a laugh as he found himself hanging off the side of the horse, his stomach being the only thing keeping him from falling to the ground. The zeta's legs dangled freely as the rho lifted him from off Dyren's back and set him on the ground. "Take it easy. We can go slowly," Brenton told the zeta as he set Syri down.

"Thank you," Syri said with slight embarrassment as he realized how comical he must have appeared.

"No worries," Brenton smiled softly as he made sure the zeta was alright. "Let's try again."

Syri nodded in agreement as he assumed the same starting pose and tried again. The rho was quick to catch the zeta before he fell on his back as his foot slipped on the soft grass. "That was a close one," Brenton said as he helped Syri back to his feet. "Let's do it again."

After three more attempts, the zeta was beginning to breathe hard from the jumping and activation of his seldom-used abdominal muscles. "Am I doing something wrong?" Syri inquired between breaths as he leaned against Dyren with his arms dangling by his side.

"No," Brenton shook his head. "It just takes practice. It took me a while to get my first bare-back mount, too. Don't worry, you're doing just fine," Brenton encouraged the tiring zeta. "Let's do it one more time. You're almost there."

"I didn't think it would be this hard," Syri let out in a quiet whine as he stood up straight and prepared for another attempt.

"This is one of the hardest parts. It will be smooth sailing once you get it," the rho assured the zeta as Syri grabbed ahold of Dyren's mane.

Syri took a deep breath as he readied himself. He appreciated Brenton's encouraging words and did not want to let the rho down after he had made so much effort to teach Syri how to mount, so the zeta was determined this would be the last attempt. He would succeed this time. "Okay, let's do this," Syri told himself as he entered the starting position.

Brenton held his breath as he watched the zeta take a step forward and hoist himself into the air. The rho was ready to catch the zeta; however, it was not needed as Syri successfully swung his leg over Dyren's back. The zeta let out a small whoop as he landed in riding position. Brenton smiled in congratulations as Syri took the reins in his hands and patted the steed's neck.

"Now what?" The zeta inquired as he turned to face the rho.

"Now," Brenton began as he walked over to Geneth. The rho paused his sentence as he mounted the copper steed. Brenton made sure Syri was balancing himself well before finishing, "We ride."