Boundless Limits {B.Durran}

14

There's something freeing to the way the wind whips past her, flinging her loose, untied hair behind her. The sound of hooves eating the ground, as creatures in the trees scatter into the undergrowth of the forest she races through.

Tierney leans over her horse's neck, sitting out of the saddle she balances on the stirrups. Her body moves perfectly with the stead beneath her, weaving down the trail. Horseback riding is a skill Aodh implemented young, claiming the understanding will help them in the seat of a dragon, Tierney can't complain. 

Light flashes ahead and a grin penetrates her expression as she breaks from the forest and into the open plains at the back of their property. Tierney sits back in the saddle, slowing her horse she cooes him to a stop.

"Good boy!" The woman compliments, giving him a hearty pat on his sweat-coated neck. They're here first. Loosening her posture she turns in the saddle to look back at the trail, waiting for the moment he'd emerge.

Mere seconds later, the black-haired man moves from the woodland trail at a gallop, his posture the same as hers. Leaning low over his horse's neck and standing in the stirrups, he picks up his head as he breaks the edge and his expression falls when his eyes land on her.

He sits back in the saddle, slowing his horse as he pulls to stand next to his sister. "I told you my way was faster," Tierney tells him, watching his deep green irises, the same colour as hers and Aodh's, roll. "Don't be such a sore loser, Dai," she teases.

Daithi shakes his head while subtly flipping her his middle finger, "I'm not a sore loser. You got a head start by flicking a branch into my face."

He turns his head away from her, surveying the landscape— it's a large plain, with woods behind them and mountains in front. They're monstrously huge but appear barely larger than her hand from how far away they are. 

They're about north-west of Aretia and south-west of Ruel, well and truly within the Tyrrendor province. And days away from the nearest city, however, small villages are surrounding them. 

"That was hilarious, I didn't think that'd work," Tierney admits with a laugh as her eyes are drawn to the sky. They examine the lone hawk, scouting the plains for something to prey on. "But it did, so I believe I am just majorly talented."

"I bet someone could see your ego from Aretia," Daithi comments and Tiereny shoots him an annoyed look before looking back at the hawk as another comes into view, this one larger than the first.

Tierney opens her mouth to respond, but an eery voice echoes throughout the space, making her pause. "Wake up." It urges and Tierney furrows her brow, glancing side to side cautiously she turns to Daithi.

"Did you hear that?" She questions, facing her older brother who turns to her, his features scrunched up into a state of confusion. "That voice." She clarifies, hoping it will help him understand, respond.

"No?" His answer sounds like a question and he peers concerned at her conflicted look. "Are you okay?"

Tierney looks around once more before nodding, "Yeah, forget it, must've been my mind playing tricks on me." She responds, turning her attention back to the sky, she notices the smaller hawk had— what looked to be— a rabbit in its talons.

"Looks like it made a successful hunt," Daithi remarks, following her gaze.

"Yeah," She agrees, her eyes following it as the larger hawk notices the smaller one. Tierney swallows thickly as the large hawk angles toward the smaller. "Daithi..."

"Wake up!" The voice demands again and Tierney promptly ignores it, after all, Daithi can't hear it. She must have a concussion or something from her fall off the obstacle course earlier that day.