Loves path (D11 EA)

[Ide Amaya]

"I have but few things to gather, and you?" Her breath is rising as anxiety grips her.

[Seppun Hideo]

"packed already, we can collect as we go" Hideo said confidently "the sooner the better. Are you ready?"

[Ide Amaya]

A single tear spills over and she squeezes his hand desperately. "I am ready."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo brought his hand up, wiping the tear away. "My love, why do you cry?"

[Ide Amaya]

She traps his hand and holds it to her cheek, "because I am frightened, my love."

[Seppun Hideo]

"Amaya...as long as we are together, we can do anything. As long as I have you to inspire me, I can move mountains. We have resource I can source that can help us. I won't allow you to suffer if I can prevent it" he pulls her to him "I love you."

[Ide Amaya]

She shivers in his arms, "I love you, Hideo-san, and I trust you. But we shouldn't delay another moment."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo nodded, giving her a kiss before stepping back. "Show me to our new friend my love."

[Ide Amaya]

She, unashamedly, takes his hand and leads him amongst the the large stable-yurts to the gaijin riding horse she'd been introduced to early that morning. The stallion's white mane and tail sparkled like new-fallen snow. His dark grey coat was dappled with pale stars, and there were only a few white splotches on his pinto coat.

She points, "take that saddle, you shall have to ride behind me for today," and she moves to take a bridle hanging from a peg.

[Seppun Hideo]

Normally, Hideo might a comment about riding behind her. For now though, he was deadly serious, only nodding and going to collect the saddle, helping with the setup of the saddle quietly

[Ide Amaya]

She takes the saddle, her jaw firmly set as she fixes him with eyes turned dark as thunderheads. "Collect your things.
In my yurt you will find my furoshiki and kogo. Bring them. I'll have Tokma saddled by then."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo nodded, leaning in to give Amaya one final kiss. "I will return as quick as I can." with that he hurried off, to collect everything from their yurts.

[Ide Amaya]

She spreads the saddle blanket over Tokma's back and places the saddle. She cinches it, firmly, and gives the mount a reassuring pat. She adjusts the stirrups shorter. When Tokma is bridled, she straps a pair of saddlebags over the stallion's withers, instead of behind the saddle, and leads the horse and leads him outside to wait.

[Seppun Hideo]

It takes a long while for Hideo to return, but he eventually does so with the supplies he could carry.

[Ide Amaya]

Her eyes meet his, and she waits until he is close. "Once I'm in the saddle, mount up behind me. Sit as close to the saddle as you comfortably can. You won't have stirrups to help your posture, but try to keep your heels down as if you did. Don't squeeze your thighs, it will confuse Tomka, just hold on to me and trust that we will not let you fall. Do you understand?"