A Rider Comes To FEB

[Stryke Opaleye]

The metal chinking on the horses reins clinked and tinkled as Olaf trotted down the road. Astride the warmblood rode an otter. Stryke narrowed her odd colored eye slightly as she peered into the sun struck road ahead. She had heard of Fort Emerald Bay and was anxious to be at the entrance of the structure. The otter adjusted her seat in the saddle a bit and squeezed Olaf gently.

"Come on boy, let's be there already..." She spoke in soft words to her horse, urging him forward. The three beat rythem of his canter thudded into the dirt road. The otter plied the reins in her paws, gathering the horse underneath herself. His power rocked into his haunches leaving his front legs free and light. The otter leaned slightly forward, feeling the horse's flaxen mane run through her paws as they held the reins.

The two continued on this way for a while until the shape of FEB loomed in the distance. Stryke slowed her mount to a walk then, gethering her wits about her for her arrival. She reached behind her, checking her saddle packs were in order. Coiled at her side was her trusted whip, Bandello. In a frog at the front of the saddle rested her half length halbard. The metal end of the weapon glinted in the sun's dying rays.

Soon they were at the main gates. Stryke reined Olaf to a stop. The horse snorted once and then stood, square and still. A small amount of dust rose around the pair as Stryke called out.

"Lo! Anybeast there? We wish to gain entrance!"

She reached down and patted Olaf's neck fondly. "Wonder if anybeast is home..."

[Moontouch Icebrink]

‘The sun feels wonderful,’ Moontouch thinks, sprawled out across theramparts, baking under the rays of the fiery orb in the sky and looking quite happy about it, unwilling to move for anyone. That had been quite apparent to several who had passed by her, or more like over her since they had to step around her unmoving body. The black otter’s lips had curled into a mischevious smirk every time, eyes closed but ears still good enough to know what is going on about her. She had resisted the wicked little giggle of prankish glee, though, as though that would help her retain some of her professionalism and the image of her as a ship’s captain.

She even drifts off into a light nap after a little while, snoring quietly and blissfully aware of the peace interweaved in the blanket of warmth. Moon is not sure what she was dreaming about, though she knows she was, only recalling a faint idea that it had been a good one as disappointment soils the jovialty of her heart as she is pulled from slumber. Ice blue eyes open to squint up at the sky, still a little disoriented, and trying to figure out what had exactly disturbed her. She sits up on her elbows, looking about to notice no one being about on the wall with her, so what could have...

The otter’s ear twitches slightly at the faint sound of a voice talking on the ground below (Stryke to Olaf), not clearly hearing what is being said but judging that it’s on the opposite side of the gates. She springs to her feet and spins deftly with her rudder on the wall floor for balance in the act. Paws placed strongly on the solid stone, she leans over the edge, head peeking between the battlement gaps and looking over to search quickly for the source of the voice. And low and behold, her ears had not deceived her and she spots the disturber of her rest, though she’s not at all sour about it.

“Halloooo!” she calls, raising one paw up and out to gain the fellow otter’s attention, giving it a short shake to make sure the job is done. “Visitor, are we?” she shouts, an amiable tone in her booming voice (they always said she had a voice that could carry), her face split into a wide grin though the guest might not be able to quite see it even if it can be heard in her voice. When she is sure she has been seen, she pulls her paw back to rest it at a space with the other, standing on tip-toes now to see better.
~Moontouch

(OOC: Sorry to have kept you waiting!)

[Stryke Opaleye]

"Halloooo! Visitor, are we?"

Stryke's eyes traveled up to where the voice had issued from. She could make out the figure of an otter between the battlements. Raising a paw she hailed the female.

"Lo! Aye, we're visitors. We'd like admittance if possible?"

The otter lowered her paw and patted Olaf's muscular neck. The big horse pawed the earth a bit and chomped at his bit. Olaf had never been one for standing around. As if in testament to this fact his then began to jig on the spot. Stryke lowered her voice to converse with her mount.

"Steady there mate. Don't want them to think they're letting a wild beast though the gates. Calm yerself eh?"

The otter raised her eyes again and spoke clearly.

"The name's Stryke Opaleye, a traveler and visitor to yer fine gates!"

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Moontouch grins so much her eyes squint shut for a moment as she nods her head once with curtness. She opens her eyes again to peer down at the visitor with amusement in her eyes. She is in such a very good mood today. “You’re not here to overthrow the joint, I hope,” she throws down before disappearing with a laugh, hurtling herself down with pent up energy and skipping down, down the spiraling steps by twos until she reaches ground level. Bursting into the Gatehouse, she works the mechanism that opens the gates, sweat beading on her forehead. She opens them just enough for Stryke and her horse to walk in with ease.

And she walks forth from there to greet the new pair, feeling very much relaxed and it showing in her posture. “Welcome to good ol’ Fort Emerald Bay,” she announces with gusto, sweeping an arm out to indicate the grounds stretching out before them. “You can stable your horse over thattaway,” she adds helpfully as she gestures in the direction of the area designated for Equines and related activities. It reminds her that she had to attend to Estella before the day is out.
~Moontouch

(OOC: Sorry it’s short.)

[Stryke Opaleye]

Stryke found herself smiling as the otter on the ramparts disappeared. Well, beasts seemed nice enough at this place. She squeezed Olaf's sides gently with her legs to steady him as they waited for the gates to open. The big warmblood had a tendency to jig in place if left standing for too long.

Eventually the gates were opened. Stryke eased Olaf forward and horse walked through into the grounds of Fort Emerald Bay.

Welcome to good ol’ Fort Emerald Bay!

"Why thank you. Seems a nice enough spot doesn't it Olaf me lad?"

She patted her horses neck and smiled down to Moontouch.

"My thanks to you for allowing us entry. Oh, what do you go by if you don't mind me askin'?"

She waited for a response from the friendly otter before heading for the stables.