Bring out the animals [Day 2, early evening]

[Shinjo Akil]

"Well, we will see," he grinned, then clicked twice. It was only a jog by Setem's standards, but just enough to be faster than an inexperienced rider would be used to. At the least, Setem was well trained, and wasn't going to easily let Kogo fall

[Matsu Kogo]

"Well, we will see," he grinned, then clicked twice. It was only a jog by Setem's standards, but just enough to be faster than an inexperienced rider would be used to. At the least, Setem was well trained, and wasn't going to easily let Kogo fall

Kogo quickly adjusted her posture to the new position and reveled in a bit more speed. Her cheeks brightened, but with excitement. "You have excellent communication with Setem, Shinjo-sama. He knew exactly what you wanted of him." She smiled at him and then focused on the activity for a moment. "I can just barely sense on the edge of my understanding the feeling that must come over you when he is at full speed. It must be like riding the wind."

[Shinjo Akil]

He nodded. He wasn't going to try and yell while the horse was jogging, it would have taken Kogo's attention away from where it needed to be. After a lap around, three clicks of his tongue settled the horse.

[Matsu Kogo]

He nodded. He wasn't going to try and yell while the horse was jogging, it would have taken Kogo's attention away from where it needed to be. After a lap around, three clicks of his tongue settled the horse.

Kogo notes his focus and respected it. When the horse slowed she said, "Thank you Shinjo-sama. I greatly enjoyed that."

[Shinjo Akil]

His hands reached behind him, and he nodded. "I am glad you enjoyed yourself, Matsu-sama. Was it as you imagined?"

[Matsu Kogo]

His hands reached behind him, and he nodded. "I am glad you enjoyed yourself, Matsu-sama. Was it as you imagined?"

She smiles. "A little better perhaps. I had not factored in the effect of the wind on one's face. I felt a mad urge to go faster and faster, to see what it felt like." She shakes her head. "My longings outstrip my capacities, unfortunately."

[Shinjo Akil]

"Hmmm," he considered, "it is almost a shame that expectations prevent me from simply riding the horse with you so I can control his speed." And, well, his stomach still giving him fits.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Hmmm," he considered, "it is almost a shame that expectations prevent me from simply riding the horse with you so I can control his speed." And, well, his stomach still giving him fits.

She smiles at him. "That is a shame. But perhaps, when I learn more, we could ride together sometime. I expect there is much I could learn from you." She strokes Setem's mane and speaks softly. "I thank you for your kindness Setem, in letting such an untutored one as myself be taught by you. After speaking these words, she says, "Shall I come down and we can walk for a time?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"I think that would be pleasant indeed. You won't hear argument from Setem about going out to ride more," he smirked, then nodded at the offer of walking for a while longer. "That sounds downright pleasant, Matsu-sama."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I think that would be pleasant indeed. You won't hear argument from Setem about going out to ride more," he smirked, then nodded at the offer of walking for a while longer. "That sounds downright pleasant, Matsu-sama."

She smiles and then dismounts, mostly gracefully. She pats Setem's side after she dismounts. "So how do you find the lands your people return to? To your liking? Different than you imagined?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"it's nicer than the sands," he stated with all confidence. "I... Didn't know what to expect when we came here, truth be told. But what I have come to find has been greatly fascinating."

[Matsu Kogo]

"it's nicer than the sands," he stated with all confidence. "I... Didn't know what to expect when we came here, truth be told. But what I have come to find has been greatly fascinating."

She chuckles a bit behind a hand. "From the little I have heard of the sands, most things are nicer than the sands, Shinjo-sama." She listened intently. "I cannot imagine what it must be like. To have heard stories of a place, know that one's ancestors came from there and then to return. But I am glad you are fascinated by your ancestor's old home. Though I suspect some will be confused or upset, I suspect others will return the fascination towards your clan and its ways."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I would rather them be fascinated than disgusted," he nodded and sighed, "not all of the Unicorn are as excited about integrating as I am, unfortunately. Which will lead to misunderstandings, then conflict."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I would rather them be fascinated than disgusted," he nodded and sighed, "not all of the Unicorn are as excited about integrating as I am, unfortunately. Which will lead to misunderstandings, then conflict."

She nods. "It is true. It seems a sort of senseless conflict as well. It is not as though we expect all members of the same family to be exactly the same. If one chooses to be a shugenja and the other a bushi, well then, the family has strengthened its knowledge. It seems short sighted to turn away from another, just because they do not do things in the way as one has always done." She laughs. "Surely, no new schools of training would be formed with such an attitude."

[Shinjo Akil]

"Undoubtedly not," he sighed, "unfortunately, people have a tendency to be..." he considered his words, "set in their ways. Even for all of the Unicorn's experiences, some still have an unfortunate tendency to be somewhat set in their ways," he sighed. "I am glad, though, that the people I have met so far have been very understanding."