[Day 3 - Late Afternoon] Good Fortune and Cheer

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Hai." He nodded. "Admittedly, the Otaku and their stress have a much stronger bond. But, the rest of us are very close to our mounts."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

So the Otaku are about their horses but everyone is also about their horses. Got it. "I could only wonder how much work and devotion you've put into your steed to build that sort of connection. Do you personally care for your horse...talk to it even?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Absolutely." he nodded. "Sarangerel has been a part of my life for years. I groom him and tend to his needs. He takes care of me, in his own ways. And, he's a good listener."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"When you're on the long path to the next destination, I suppose your horse is always the closest person you've got by your side. I could only imagine the number of things your horse could recount about you, if he could speak!"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"It is probably best that he can't then." he chuckled. "What would you ask him if he could?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

Hotaru glanced off for a moment, not mentioning that she could talk to horses, in fact. She chuckled with him and gave a shrug. "I suppose I could as him what was his favourite place or trail, or even hunt. It would be interesting to see if your opinions lined up together, as honoured companions."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"You are welcome to speak with him, whenever you wish." he offered.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Oh! Maybe that's something I could consider in my spare time. No need to interrupt his important duty of your acting steed. Does he spend his time at the stables when he's not rescuing you from bears?" She said as she tilted left and right, trying to catch a glimpse to see if a horse was around the shrine if Kemuri parked him somewhere.

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Hai." He laughed. "He spends most of his time there, though I try to take him riding as often as I can."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Hopefully riding is something I pick up on, eventually. I spoke to Seppun Hideo-sama and I think we were thinking about the possibility that horses might be a trend around the Empire. Your mounts and your kin have been a great source of fascination to the Empire, as I'm sure you know!" She laughed at that obvious note.

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I was actually surprised to hear that they aren't something most samurai have." he said. "But, if you wish to have more practice riding, I would be willing to assist you."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

Hotaru might have accepted riding lessons later tonight, which she would have known if she consulted the oracle with that specific question. However, the options seemed open to her right now and she saw a good reason to diversify. "Oooh, if Shinjo-san could be so generous with his time, I don't see why such a thing can't happen. Thank you very much!"

She dipped slightly to show her enthusiastic thanks.

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He smiled. "It is my pleasure, Bayushi-sama. Just find me whenever you wish to ride. I'll introduce you to Sarangerel."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Well! Maybe we can meet again in a few days?" She smiled openly at the idea of riding a horse. "I think I'll go around the Unicorn camp asking for the skilled storyteller and the slayer of bears, your name might pop up easily enough, ne?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Maybe." he laughed. "I should be easy enough to find, Bayushi-sama. We'll go riding in a few days."