#baronyofthesilverwolf

And Gwen's mistakes might be in being a bit too cautious, oddly

The Thane watches her for a bit, then nods. “Give her a little more rein. You’re good to worry, but we’d not put you on a horse that would falter. Trust your mount, and... try to relax.”

Adam’s mare gives a whinny and speeds up as he presses in on her sides, breaking into a gallop! She is approaching Snowthorn and Wildfire now at speed.

Adam crouches lower along her neck to avoid being jettisoned.

Oh, she knows this. Leaning forward, the docile mare takes off. She is speed, she is grace, she will leave those stallions in her dust! The gentle Lobelia speeds past the other two and down the path!

Gwen nods at this.

Adam is caught between glory and a desperate desire NOT to come unhorsed on this night, at this place, in front of these people. He may not have a strong sense of fear, but he has no desire for humiliation either.

Snort.

Wildfire rears - or he would, if the hand on his reins would allow it. Eyes rolling at Snowthorn.

"Hell..."

Not being able to rear, he bucks instead - he doesn’t get much air with the heavy troll on him. Mare! MARE!

Dagmar keeps her seat, though!

It's a fight to keep her seat, but she clamps on like a burr.

D'Lorean turns to help Dagmar rather than show boat , nimbly assisting

"Hold it... hold... steady..."

She manages to flash a little smile at the satyress, of gratitude.

Now that the mare is gone, Wildfire doesn’t seem as bothered and trots alongside Snowthorn.

"I think Adam is showing off..." a pause "Right?"

Fickle as his name!

"I think he lost control, so we should catch up... Dame Danica! I don't know this boy well enough yet to go haring off after Adam to play hero. Can your lady catch up to him?"

Adam’s horse is swift and she is fast outpacing the others, down the trail, which as a natural woodland path, is not straight, but curves out of sight.

Sylvi watches Adam take off. "I don't know the trails," she says to Colton. "Especially not in the dark. I'd go after him, but...."

Danica looks up and curses. “Delorean, keep to the trail. Gwen, with me!” And she kicks her stallion into a gallop.

Gwen rides as hard as she can, not sure the right person (Her) is helping but she moves on

D'Lorean guides the others

“Brego, follow.” She calls to the stallion. His nostrils flare and he unfailingly takes the correct fork after the mare, without having to stop and check the path for hoof prints.

As they approach, Danica calls to Gwen, “Ride up alongside and if she doesn’t slow, I’ll need you go grab the reins and slow them down - gently!”

Danica puts on her Sargent voice and calls, “Loosen your grip and sit UP!”

His horse is puffing now, breath steaming from her nostrils creating an otherworldly look in the cool night air, but she does not slow as long as he keeps up the pressure.

Dagmar trots after the others, but lets Gwen and Danica take the lead.

The horses nicker softly in conversation. Snorts and ear flicks, quite the gossips.

Adam is vaguely aware of shouting behind him, and isn't really surprised.

Sylvi bites her lip and checks for something in one of her pockets before following along.

Gwen tries to pick up the speed to ride along side

D'Lorean keeps on the trail

“SIT UP!” She commands again, Danica inwardly cursing, and rides to one side, trying to pass him so that Brego’s bulk blocks her path.

How do you stop?? Adam thinks furiously Pull back? He tries it, not yanking but smoothly.

"WOAH!" Not a command as much as surprise as Danica appears and tries to body check his horse with hers. He sits up, still pulling back.

Sylvi says quietly to Colton, "I going to try to catch up a bit. If he fell, he'll need some healing." And she urges Bandersnatch forward.

Gwen matches speed and tries to calm the horse he's on

Adam’s saving grace is that he did NOT haul back on the reigns at at run. His mare may have reared and thrown him! He is ungraceful, but he did the right motion, and with Gwen’s hand steadying him, and Brego blocking, the mare slows down until she is walking, puffing for breath.

"Easy... easy.."

Adam is panting as well.

"WOW! THAT WAS WICKED!!!"

“Apprentice? Explain, please.” Danica comes to his side as well now. “Keep walking, she needs to cool down.”

Dagmar and D'lorean are likely the first of the rest to catch up. WIldfire is on short reins lest he get over-excited again. The troll eyes Adam with annoyance.

Her voice is stern.

"Explain? I mean... that was awesome! She's -fast-."

"That was foolhardy and dangerous."

Sylvi catches up, relieved to see Adam's still atop the horse.

Danica looks back to the knights. “The fault is mine. Lobelia is an easy mount, but obedient to a fault. A novice would have been better on Bandersnatch or perhaps one of the dun geldings.” She apologizes.