The World of Rhune

Trei sat still on one of the highest limbs of the tree. His hair was an array of browns from as dark as chocolate to as golden as the rising sun. They were complemented well with the warm green eyes flecked with gold. He was tall for his age, seventeen, very limber, from a life among the trees, and his jutting jaw gave a proud and commanding look. The young prince was well known for his good looks and abilities but more often than not was unable to be found by any of the country of Andato, otherwise known as Terra dei Cavalli Volanti, or Land of the Flying Horses. Well named for the creatures that only resided here, the pegasus. Nearly impossible to find in the thick forest of the Cavalli Volanti they were only easy to see in the palace grounds, where a breeding stock was kept for the Andato army.

There! Trei saw the quiet movement of the foliage of the understory of the forest. He estimated it about a quarter mile away and he slowly slid his way to the trunk of the tree. Climbing like a squirrel, head towards the ground, he quickly reached only a height of about fifteen feet from whhich he dropped, extending his knees to absorb the shock of the landing, he landed on the balls of his feet. His light tread didn't disturb the leaves the cluttered the floor from the fall trees.

He headed in the direction at an easy lope and till he was a mere hundred feet from the spot. He ducked down beneath the high growing foliage and crept on his belly the rest of the way. As he neared the point he could hear the low breathing of the creatures and the muffled sound of there eating. Trei was well acquainted with knowledge of the flying horses and knew they were proud creatures. The only way to tame one was to mount them before the took off and stay upon its back until it lands. It was easier with the herd in the palace, where they were familiar with the humans and merely chose their rider. He paused and peered out from beneath the shrub in which he was hiding. Through the undergrowth he glimpsed the hooves of the mighty beasts, varying in color but all large in size compared to that of a regular horse. He estimated there to be around twelve, a large herd to be so close to the human civilizations.

He was trying to get a better look at the horses when what seemed to be the largest of the group came walking up to the shrub to nibble on the grass beside it. The snout of the creature came down a measly foot away from Trei's face, causing him to all but stop breathing. The animal was black as night, with no markings, and of an elegant stature. Not one so heavy as the Clydesdale horses that worked the fields but rather, lighter like that of the Arabian, though still large in size. The long mane of the creature trailed down its neck and swung by Trei's face. Then at the moment the horse tensed as if sensing Trei laying there.

It was only a second that it took Trei to make the decision it was now or never. Before the creature could let out a call to alert his herd, Trei was out of the bushes and had his arm around the flying horse's neck. The beast let out a scream and its fellows unfurled there humongous wings and with barely a running start took to the sky navigating through the canopy of trees. Trei clung on to the neck of the animal as it tried to extend its own wings, calling to his herd that circled above diving close to Trei but unable to come close enough with out hurting there brother. The beast finally got his wings extended and started at a gallop, Trei clinging to its neck. It pushed down its wings and rose higher, Trei swung his leg over its back but as he loosened his grip as he thought he was atop the beast, it dived unto a wide branch ushed hard with its front hooves and its back hooves swung around flinging Trei off. It let out a whinny as it climbed higher in the sky, reuniting with its family. Trei was hurled into the air, thirty feet above the ground and it several tree branches on the way down.

He stood shakily from the forest floor and leaned against the trees He touched his head to find blooding flowing freely from it as well as several parts over his person, he believed his left arm broken and was bruised everywhere. He was in horrible pain, and for a moment he blacked out, only to rise fifteen minutes later. He gritted his teeth and trudged towards his home in the palace, he was in partial shock, some from the extent of his injuries, but he couldn't help but feel a little proud. Only a handful of people had mastered a wild Cavalli Volanti, all years older then himself, but he must have become closer than most people ever do and he was determined to one day ride one of the creatures. So with a set jaw he headed home.