The Red Hand Move North

Gonyaul was awoken before the sun had risen by Tiponi calling him outside his tent. He moved to the entrance and opened the flap. They greeted each other with a cute bashfulness before Tiponi got right to the point; time was of the essence.

The caribou herd that they were following northward was on the move and the tribe needed to move with it. Gonyaul exited the tent and did indeed noticed everyone seemed to be up, and like an orchestrated bee hive, was efficiently packing up the entire camp.

Since the rest of her family could manage without her, Tiponi easily convinced her mother to let her come help Gonyaul. She had even brought an Odsier saddle, plus harness, to attach to Amu so that the tent could be transported. It was fairly easy for Gonyaul to figure out what she meant and what she was there to help him with based on the context.

This time around Tiponi and Gonyaul worked together in taking the tent apart in reverse order. She was ever present to provide instruction and help him figure things out. While it was business, she made it a special moment with her affirmations both physical and verbal. There was this look that she had already perfected that could make Gonyaul’s heart do involuntary gymnastics.

Once everything was taken down, which did not take more than thirty minutes due to the tent being smaller than the rest and because Gonyaul didn’t own anything else, she showed Gonyaul how to strap everything into the Odsier carrying harness. Gonyaul was once again amazed at the innovative things he kept running into in life.

Once all packed up, they joined the rest of the leaving Red Hand like a trail of ants. Both walking alongside Amu at the moment, she led them to her family that was also already ready to move out.

Gonyaul admired how effective their process was for packing up and traveling. He noticed they left probably the most minimal footprint in the landscape he could imagine. It was like they respected the world so much that they were always mindful to be good stewards and kind to it. Perhaps that was a form of worship to Erewhon he thought.

The Odsier were expert horse riders and most proficient at ambulation, whether slow or fast over mind boggling distances; known for their stamina. The women and children traveled along the interior with the packed camp and supplies, while the men rode around the periphery armed for battle. It was like a snake traveling through the tall grasses, and the warriors were the outer skin thought Gonyaul.

Tiponi stayed with Gonyaul, though her family was within view at all times. She wanted to see him ride, after all that could be a deal breaker for her father. She soon discovered that Gonyaul was not very good at all, much to her dismay. She reminded herself that he wasn’t Odsier and kindly encouraged him to make a few changes.

Tiponi had him get down and traded places with him on top of Amu. First things first, she got rid of the saddle. She was uncannily amazing on horseback and Gonyaul was shocked with how nimbly she got up there with only one arm. She began teaching. Showing how Gonyaul’s legs were in the wrong position, his turnout from the hips was not present and his heels were not down at the right angle. She demonstrated how to better hold the mane in his hands and where he should position his weight. She also performed how your body works and moves with the horses motion, not just sitting still.

With only one arm she had developed terrific rhythm and balance on top of horses, needing more than those with two. Gonyaul’s virgin mind couldn’t help but notice how her hips undulated and grinded into the horses powerful back so confidently. Tiponi noticed from her higher vantage point his gaze, blush and tent he erected while walking on the ground. She couldn’t help but mess with him and subtlety did a little extra flare.

She traded places with him again. And assisted his learning curve from the ground as he rode. He was getting it slowly, but they had time on their hands to keep practicing.