The World of Rhune

“Hannah you must understand that we want this for you,” Hannah rolled her eyes beneath her curtain of golden hair. ‘I get it, mother. I’ll go, okay, I don’t care anymore,” Hannah always spoke frankly with her mother, though most didn’t her being the queen and all. “It will be good for you. Traveling the world will allow you to understand better when you rule Cancri,” her mother said. Hannah was the picture of her mother, only younger, and many said that her beauty may rival her mother’s when she ages.

They both had the extremely straight, blonde hair, though Hannah’s was much longer than her mother’s now, and layered bangs framed her face. Their body was tone from their life in the jungle and well tanned from the sun. The eyes of the people of Cancri would be startling to any one, given to their brightness, a fact that came with the catlike ability to see in the dark, however, the amber eyes were startling in their own country as well. They had a freeing affect, one that seemed trusting and allowed people to feel comfortable in their presence. They were of a slim build though and though considered average height in their own country, they would probably be shorter in most others, Hannah being only five feet two inches, and her mother only two inches taller. They were also incredibly limber from the days in the tree but that was common in the populace of Cancri.

“Who will I be going with?” Hannah asked, flicking her hair out of her face now. “Well the standard issue of guards of course, and Amir to, but your first stop will probably be the royal city of Andato. So I was thinking if Prince del Sol would like to continue with you it would be nice. Besides he could probably give you an excellent view of Andato.” Hannah feigned annoyance at this but she was actually quite excited. Being allies of Andato she had heard much about it and about the Prince, she couldn’t help but be intrigued. He was her own age, seventeen, and apparently quite good looking and a master with the Cavalli Volanti. They had their own small herd as a gift from Andato but Hannah had never mastered riding one, she preferred to stay with her own mount, a Kucing Hutan, or Jungle Cat. Jungle cats were just that, the wild cats found in the jungle. One usually earned a mount at the age of seventeen, a coming of age ceremony, if you could do it, but Hannah had mastered hers at eleven. They lived incredibly long lives, sometimes outliving their masters, and they came in several different coats. They were incredibly hard to master and usually a person only master’s one in a lifetime. Hannah’s own mount was smaller and had a coat and build similar to a jaguar. “I suppose that may be fun, at least Amir is being forced to go to. I’ll go,” Hannah said. “Good, because I have already sent a messenger to ask the royal family,” Her mom smiled gaily, it was no discreet fact that her mother was leaning towards a marriage with young Prince, though she had never voiced it, not even to the Prince’s parents, not yet at least.

“Only you mom,” Hannah said as she strode out of the chamber. As she entered the hall she nearly bumped into her brother, Amir. Like herself he had blonde hair, that hung over his ears, and unlike herself, startling blue eyes. He was also unusually tall for being Cancrisian, standing at six feet exactly. “You’re going on a trip with me,” Hannah said as took a step back from her brother. “I know that, unlike you I’m informed because I’m much older,” He said smartly. “Only a year,” Hannah rolled her eyes, “Besides I think it will be fun. We leave for the ship tomorrow.” It was a couple hours ride to the large bay that served as a safe haven for the armada as well as other ships. “C’mon let’s go for a ride,” Amir said as he started on his way. “I know we’re going to Andato first but where after that?” Hannah asked as they walked. “Well we’re skipping Septyni, and I think we next go to four (sorry can’t remember can you send all the names to me?),” He said, creasing his eyebrows in thought. “Why are we skipping Septyni?” “Well since we’ve already been there so many times, it won’t really be necessary,” Amir replied openly. “I don’t get that, out country is even that great of allies with Septyni and we’re practically best friends with Andato and we’ve been to Septyni several times and not once to Andato,” Hannah complained. “That’s because it is so much easier to get to Septyni by river and theirs those two chains of mountains dividing us and Andato, that’s why we’re sailing,” informed Amir.

They entered the shattered sunlight under the jungle trees as they exited the palace. Out here it was so much more lively, even more so when you entered the actual jungle. Hannah summoned a servant standing nearby and told them to get the saddles. The two both let out several note whistles, each unique, as they waited. The Jungle Cats would respond to only one whistle, one unique to their master as they created it. Soon two cats came loping up from different directions. The Jungle Cats were never caged and allowed to roam freely as they chose. The servant as well as another servant came bustling up, each carrying a saddle, bridle, and reins. Amir’s saddle was much larger, given his own size and that of his cat, being closer to the size of a giant tiger and dwarfing Hannah’s own cat, but each suited its rider. Amir strapped on the large black saddle, both English comparatively to a horse’s saddle, since the cats did a lot of jumping, not to mention climbing. Hannah slid her own small, golden saddle into placed and strapped on the bridle and reins as Amir did the same. The bridles were different than that of a horse. They were not used to steer the animal, which was down with the knees or toes, but for the rider to hold on easier, so they did not enter the cat’s mouth, which was necessary for when the cat was required to bite, which was often when hunting or in a fight. The leather was strapped around the upper snout, so as to give the jaw maximum biting range, and around the two ears, this part similar to a horses, with reins attached.

The two mounted and turned their cats towards the wild jungle. “I’ll race you to the meadow,” Hannah edged. “You’re on,” Amir grinned and urged his cat to move. Amir’s cat was bigger and probably was faster on open ground, but in the jungle nothing could compete with the agility of the leopard like Jungle Cats. They would flit through the trees, not even slowing where other, larger cats would practically have to stop. Hannah urged her own into a fast lope and they were soon dodging through the jungle trees.