Hunting the Unknown (Day 5, EM)

[Matsu Kogo]

She shakes her head. "None of note. I was stuck for a brief time away from my yurt, but eventually was able to return."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Good." he smiled. "It was a big storm. The ground is pretty soaked. It should make tracking easier."

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods. "Do you like to hunt any animal in particular?" She smiles a bit. "I would not mind having Noburu chomp a few of those weasels from the other day. "

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Deer." he answered. "But, I doubt we'll find any nearby. Hopefully we can find some of those weasels."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I had heard the deer had largely been hunted out. Hopefully they will return soon." She smiles. "Did they bite you badly?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"They drew blood. But, it would have been much worse if I hadn't worn my armor." he answered. "Fortunatelt, Usagi-sama was able to tend my wounds."

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods. "I had heard she was a capable healer. She has many capacities that one. Matsu Nintoku and I spent a morning practiciing juijitsu with her. With the right training, I suspect she could be formidable."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I think she underestimates herself." he nodded. "How fast does Noboru-san run?"

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods. "I suspect so as well. Even for an unseasoned warrior, she packs quite a punch." She rubs her side gingerly where the bruise has almost healed. "Noburu is swift. I suspect she would have no difficulty keeping up with your horse. I am slightly less swift, but my endurance improved on the trip from Lion lands. If you do not stay at a gallop or a canter, I suspect we can stay relatively close."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"We'll have better luck if we get further away from the water." he explained. "But, there's no reason for you to run. You could ride with me, if you wished. Just for a few miles, until we find a game trail."

[Matsu Kogo]

She thinks about it a moment. "All right. That would be quicker." She looks at the horse. "May I have the stirrup from you a moment, so I may mount? I think that should be all I need."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Alright." He helped her up, getting them both into a comfortable position.

[Matsu Kogo]

She settles in behind him, gripping his sides carefully, but securely enough. She clicks her fingers at Noburu and indicates a distance with her fingers, so that the lion will give the horse a bit of room. "We are ready."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Then, we go." He clicked his tongue and prompted Sarangerel into a trot. The horse soon increased speed into a gallop, though Kemuri kept him from going too fast. They had to watch for prey, after all.

[Matsu Kogo]

She held on tightly, enjoying the fierce motion of the air. If she kept any memory of this time, it would be of galloping. A pleased laugh rang out from her, the first of the morning. Perhaps this is how Shinjo Monkhbaatar keeps his equilibrium. Whenever anything is too awful, he gallops it out! She moved well with the horse now, her training having helped.