MagiStream

Nick snorted at the way the deer responded to him. "Well, I haven't ridden many horses, either," he countered, managing to find his balance on the deer, unsure of where to put his hands. Obviously not on the horns...but there was no mane, like a horse, and obviously no saddle.

"Just hold onto the back of his neck." said Alina, showing him where to put his hands. "And hold on with your knees so you don't fall off, like riding a horse bareback."

"All right," Nick chuckled nervously. "Just...don't go too fast, all right? I'll go flying off." But he followed her instructions, taking a deep breath to brace himself.

Alina couldn't help but to laugh a little as they started off, moving at a light trot. Even though she'd only know him a short time, she hadn't seen him this nervous before, in fact she didn't even think he could be that nervous.

Nick chuckled a bit in response to Alina's laughter, asking, "Do I look that ridiculous?" as he struggled to keep his balance on the deer's bony back. Ride it like a horse... Except horses were broader, and he felt less like he'd collapse the legs of a horse.

"Just a little," she admitted. "You look like you're afraid it'll send you flying any minute."

Nick chuckled. "That's because I am," he confessed as the deer nimbly navigated the undergrowth. "I've never been very good at riding things. Honestly, horses seem to hate me. I don't know if it's that they know I'm nervous around them, or if I make them nervous, or...whatever."

"Well, I guess we'll have to get you to learn how to ride," she said. "And find a horse that isn't scared of you."
The deer almost seemed to fly as they moved nimbly through the woods, barely slowed by their passengers. As they neared the town Alina felt a shiver roll down her spine as she felt the faint, recognizable traces of an energy. "We're definitely close," she said as the deer began to slow.

Nick nodded, and as they rode, he slowly became more accustomed to the deer's gait, and the time passed before he really knew what was going on. Soon they were drawing close to the town, and at Alina's comment he asked a bit worriedly, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said with a smile, albeit a slightly forced one. There was something about what she could feel, it was familiar to be sure, and while she felt partly drawn in the direction it was coming from she also got a very nervous feeling at once. It was, quite confusing. It was as if there were two energies that she could feel, one she was drawn to and one that she wanted to run from.