Amu's Runner's Braid

Gonyaul was literally off in his on world as the other's discussed vital stratagems. It was his usual distracted self, instead of the uncharacteristic and dazed personality of late, focusing enthusiastically on things which seemed so unimportant to others. He had somehow gotten Amu to lay down and was concentrating on braiding the horse's long mane while continuing to speak as if the horse could understand him. He was now following up the highlights of their journey with how it made him feel and what he learned from it. The others would even occasionally hear him start singing; he had invented several a new song on his adventures that he was also sharing with Amu.

He was performing a running braid, whereby the braid starts with three small sections of hair near the crown of the head, which are then braided together toward the nape of the neck, gradually adding more hair to each section as it crosses in from the side into the center of the braid structure. The final result incorporates all of the hair into a smoothly woven pattern over the scalp and two ending braids that look a little like reigns. To make the braid really standout visually, the braiding goes under instead of over with each twist. It was creating a beautiful effect, especially with Amu's thick textured mane.

He began by gathering a big handful of hair at the poll, right behind the ears at the top of the neck. Next he segmented that bit of mane into three sections, about 1" wide each. Each strand was crossed under the other to form the beginning of the basic three stranded braid. Gonyaul was mindful to braid snugly, with even tension all the way down. The braid needed to be tight enough that the braid staid tidy, but loose enough to allow the neck of the horse to flex freely. Once his braid was started well, he started his handiwork down the mane, adding hair as he went; however, not every strand. He only added hair each time he plaited on the inside, closest to the crest of the mane. Once he got in his rhythm it was a quick process and he proceeded all the way down to the horse's withers. Finally at the end, Gonyaul took a torn piece of cloth and tied them securely around the ends.

Amu was enjoying the attention it seemed, as the horse seemed content enough to remain in place. Gonyaul then proceeded to the hindquarters and began working on the tail with a braid style to match. Occasionally Amu would listen to Gonyaul and then look around at the others present. It had the effect of looking like Gonyaul may have been talking about them ... occasionally one of their names could be made out amidst the Vauxian tongue ... and Amu was looking at them as if to think ~Oh really? Is that so? ... or ... they did what?"