Choices and Consequences

Wind Rider

Dawn is cresting the horizon and causing the sky to explode with roseate hues when Xue picked her way among the tents littering the spring hunting campsite.  The huge campsite is already beginning to hum with activity.  Xue wanted a few minutes to herself before the day began.  She continued to wave her way through the rest of the  camp until she came to the gentle rise in the land as the steppe met the tree line that borders the free flowing river nearby.  Xue rushed up then down the grassy slope to the stoney bank of the river.  She is glad that the river is empty of other people.  She quickly pulled her hair up into a top bun and tied it with a red ribbon.  Then she quickly pulled her robes off leaving just her slip on and, carefully wading into the deep part of the river until she was shoulder deep.  She submerged herself to the neck and closed her eyes letting the crystal clear cool water soothe her senses. 

Today is the first day of the spring hunt.  Her family has joined the Imperial Hunt and at 15 years old, her father has allowed her to participate. At her young age, she is already an accomplished rider, archer and possesses great sword skills.  She was born a princess but raised as a warrior.  The emperor has declared that the hunter who hunted the most prey will become a commander of one of the cavalries.  Xue believed that she had a good chance at winning.  Xue stood and made her way to the river bank.  She dried herself using the towel she brought with her and got dressed. 

A wild neigh pulled her attention to the tree line.   A palomino stallion pranced to sight.  Xue stared at the horse.  He is magnificent! His coat, mane and tail were brilliantly blond, it looked gold.  Suddenly the palomino stallion reared, turned and galloped full speed away from the river.  Xue excitedly scrambled up the riverbank to catch where the stallion had run to.  But, sadly, it was nowhere in sight by the time she got to the trees.  "I like that horse.  I wish it was mine".

Xue studied the rolling grassland ahead of her.  She could see a group of gazelles half a li to her right whilst a saker falcon is circling overhead.  Xue has a number of kills already.  She is deciding whether to pursue the gazelles when a flash of gold catches her attention.  The palomino has moved into view.  It is moving slowly as it feeds.  Her father told her that it is a wild horse that has been seen in the area but no one has managed to catch and tame it yet.  She decided that she will be the one to tame this horse!  She slowly inched her horse closer.  The horse suddenly galloped in full speed away from her.  Xue leaned forward and urged her horse to follow.  Her horse leaped forward into a smooth, effortless gallop.

Xue prepared her lasso, the throwing rope she's been mastering since she was a child.  The wind whistled past her cheeks as her horse stride lengthened.  As they speed across the steppe it seemed to Xue that they were flying over an ocean of emeralds.  They are gaining on the palomino.  Xue threw the lasso straight on its neck and her horse slowed and pulled back.  Xue leaped on the back of the palomino and she let it run and buck until it had grown tired.  It had taken several hours judging from the lengthening shadows in the grassland.  Although her muscles and backside are sore, she is happy to have won her horse whom she decided to call "wind rider."