Evening of Thera
Fifth Cycle of Kalendryas
Season of Winter
After a long day at work, Aydyn had thrown together a pack of her belongings--a change of clothing, enough bread to get her through a brightening, a flask of water and dish for the alicats, along with a large chicken that could be split into breakfast and lunch for the two winged felines--and departed the city to spend an evening and part of the next brightening in the wilderness. Some might consider her daft for daring such, given her limited number of skills for defense, but she needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for just one night.
Aydyn rode Adagio out of the city as the suns were setting. Tucked in a small basket strapped to her saddle were the alicats, who whined occasionally about the cold, though it did keep the still and huddled within the wicker basket for warmth. She rode northeast, back in the direction of the woods she had passed along on her way to Mystique from Acumin. Once a small distance from the city--she wanted to keep the walls in sight--she dismounted along the edge of the trees and tied Adagio to the trunk of a slender tree. She hated to leave the alicats unattended, but hoped they'd stay in the safety of their basket as she searched for bits of wood.
Tugging at the gloves on her hands, as if hoping to keep out the cold, Aydyn ducked beneath a low hanging branch and began a hunt for enough sticks to create a decent fire for the evening.