Ninjagaësia

The Storm

That morning, they packed up and headed back down the road. This time, Misako ordered her son to stay on the ground. Him appearing seemingly out of nowhere would raise too many questions. Lloyd was put out for about an hour upon learning he had to stay on the ground, but gradually lightened up while chatting.

It was almost evening by the time they arrived, the Anora flowing between them and the small, haphazard village. Granted, it was larger than Carvahall, but also far more disorderly.

As they approached the bridge, a short, fat man stepped out of a bush off to the side, planting his feet and grinning with a face full of rotted teeth.
"You c'n stop right there. This's my bridge. Gotta pay t-" His face abruptly went slack as Cole crossed his arms behind Lloyd, Jay stepping forward angrily only for Misako to stop him. Nya just glared coldly.

"Y- I- neve'mind." The man mumbled, stepping aside with a pale face. Nya continued to glare as they started across, though Misako abruptly tripped, catching herself on the man's arm.
"Careful!" Lloyd hissed nervously, the stranger backing away from him as he grabbed her arm to help her across.
"Sorry." The older woman apologized as they quickly left.

"What was that about??" Jay questioned when they were out of earshot.
"It looked like he was about to rip us off." Nya muttered.
"Did we just intimidate the guy?" Cole asked.
"He was looking at me funny." Lloyd noted uneasily.

They all stiffened as a howl of loss echoed from the bridge.
"Is he okay?!" Jay half turned in alarm.
"He's fine." Misako assured quickly, putting something in her bag. Lloyd shot her a questioning look as she continued. "Just a fool discovering karma."

She then grabbed the shoulder of a boy running out of an alleyway. "Do you know where we could buy some horses, dear?"
The child blinked at them, eyes wide before he pointed at a barn across town.
"Thank you!" She tossed a coin over before heading in that direction.

They instinctively huddled around Lloyd as they made their way to the barn with doors that were wide open. There was a strong-armed man brushing a particular white horse, waving them over when he spotted them.
"That's a stunning stallion." Misako remarked as they drew closer.

"That he is. His name's Snowfire. Mine's Haberth." The man greeted, shaking their hands one by one, briefly hesitating at Lloyd. When they didn't offer their own names, he moved on. "Can I help you?"

Misako nodded, explaining. "We need five horses each with a full set of tack. We need them to be quick and hardy, as we'll be traveling a lot."
Haberth frowned thoughtfully, glancing at Snowfire.
"I don't have many animals like that, and the ones I do aren't cheap." Snowfire shuffled in place, ears pointed back as it eyed Lloyd, Haberth soothing the horse.
"Price is no concern, I'll take the best you can offer." Misako convinced him.

The man nodded, tying Snowfire to a stall and getting to work with pulling down supplies from a nearby wall. Soon there were five separate piles, and he was walking across the stalls to bring out some horses. A light bay, a grayish roan, dappled gray, liver chestnut and a palomino.

Misako hummed thoughtfully at the offered steeds, settling her hand on the bay after letting it sniff her. Haberth was listing off the traits of each horse as she nodded along thoughtfully.
"I'm not quite so sure about that one." She finally pointed out the palomino.
"She is very well behaved." Haberth argued lightly.

"..How much for Snowfire?" She asked.
"I'd rather not sell him." He started, though Lloyd started tuning him out, cautiously reaching for the bay colored horse. It shied away, nostrils flaring and eyes wide. He impulsively reached out with his thoughts like he had when addressing Fírnen or even one of his friends across Carvahall over the past few months.