A small breath of awe escaped the zeta's slightly parted lips as he gazed at the rising sun. A cool breeze ruffled the zeta's soft, pink hair as he observed the waking valley below. Hooves trotting on the dry ground greeted Syri as Dyren and Geneth joined the zeta at the peak of the hill. Syri inclined his head in respect toward the two steeds as they came to a halt.

A gust of wind that blew from behind the zeta carried the faint forestry scent of the rho and alerted Syri of Brenton's arrival. Syri turned from the valley to see the rho breaking through the cluster of trees. A smile came to the zeta's face as Brenton approached him with two sets of reins in his hands. The rho was exhausted as he had just returned from hunting through the night, but he refused the let it show as he walked up to the smiling zeta.

Brenton had agreed to give Syri riding lessons at sunrise upon his return from night hunts as it would allow him to reach home before noon, so he could care for Rosie during the day before setting off on his evening hunt. Syri was not aware the rho was coming directly from a long night of hunting and was secretly exhausted as Brenton's face was calm and bright. If Syri had known Brenton was sacrificing his sleep, the zeta would have sent the rho packing back to his home and insisted on the hunter catching his rest.

"Are you ready?" Brenton asked of the zeta as he reached the pink-haired.

A smile covered Syri's face as he nodded in response. The zeta's heart fluttered with excitement. He would soon be able to ride side-by-side with Jae.

"They are extremely well-behaved," Brenton commented on the two steed's patience and willingness to stay.

Syri's eyes were bright as he looked at Dyren and Geneth with awe. "They are special steeds, indeed."

Brenton bobbed his head up and down a few times in agreement as he readied the two sets of reins. Dyren jerked his head up slightly as the rho approached him with the first set of reins. It has been nigh over two decades since I have been reined. The proud steed voiced in Syri's mind as he eyed the harness warily. Dyren did not allow just any person to harness him.

Dyren. A snort left Geneth's muzzle as the copper steed reminded the white beast of their promise to the zeta.

Do not worry, Geneth. I shall be your rider. Syri interjected in an attempt to assure the white steed as Brenton waited patiently for Dyren to lower his head.

Dyren released a huff before agreeing with Geneth's suggestion to not be a nuisance. Very well. He seems like a nice fellow. The white beast closed his eyes once before lowering his snout and allowing Brenton to slip the harness over his head.

"Here, take this," Brenton told Syri as he offered the zeta the reins. Syri followed Brenton's request and took the strap in his hands. The zeta ran his thumb over the soft leather of the loop as the rho slid the second harness over Geneth's copper head. "Now, how to mount," the rho began once the two steeds were ready. Brenton turned to face the zeta as he continued, "It would be easier to mount with saddles, but I was not able to bring mine, so we will just have to make do."

The zeta listened intently as the rho went on to explain the mounting process. "Grab a tuft of mane with your left hand, take a step back, leap up, and swing your right leg up and over the horse's back as you jump. Let me show you." Syri watched carefully as Brenton demonstrated the saddle-less mount, leaving the zeta wide-eyed as he effortlessly swung himself onto Geneth's bare back.

"Woah," the zeta voiced quietly as the rho dismounted and walked up to him.

"Now, it's your turn." Brenton's hazel eyes glowed in the morning sun as he smiled down at the zeta tenderly. Syri nodded in response as he took the stance Brenton had shown him in preparation to mount. The zeta sucked in his breath as he ran through the steps and mounting scenario in his mind. After a short second, Syri took a step forward and prepared to leap up, but as soon as his right leg left the ground, the zeta realized he had not gained enough momentum to swing himself onto the horse.

"Woah, careful there," Brenton said as he caught the zeta by the waist. Syri let out a laugh as he found himself hanging off the side of the horse, his stomach lying flat on the steed being the only thing keeping him from falling to the ground. The zeta's legs dangled freely as the rho lifted him off Dyren's back and set him on the ground. "Take it easy. We can go slowly," Brenton told the zeta as he set Syri down.

"Thank you," Syri said with slight embarrassment as he realized how comical he must have appeared.

"No worries," Brenton smiled softly as he made sure the zeta was alright. "Let's try again."

Syri nodded in agreement as he assumed the same starting pose and tried again. The rho was quick to catch the zeta before he fell on his back as Syri's foot slipped on the grass. "That was a close one," Brenton said as he helped Syri back to his feet. "Let's do it again."

After three more attempts, the zeta was beginning to breathe hard from the jumping and activation of his seldom-used abdominal muscles. "Am I doing something wrong?" Syri inquired between breaths as he leaned against Dyren with his arms dangling by his side.

"No," Brenton shook his head. "It just takes practice. It took me a while to get my first bare-back mount, too. Don't worry, you're doing just fine," Brenton encouraged the tiring zeta. "Let's do it one more time. You're almost there."

"I didn't think it would be this hard," Syri let out in a quiet whine as he stood up straight and prepared for another attempt.

"This is one of the hardest parts. It will be smooth sailing once you get it," the rho assured the zeta as Syri grabbed ahold of Dyren's mane.

Syri took a deep breath as he readied himself. He appreciated Brenton's encouraging words and did not want to let the rho down after he had made so much effort to teach Syri how to mount, so the zeta was determined this would be the last attempt. He would succeed this time. "Okay, let's do this," Syri told himself as he entered the starting position.

Brenton held his breath as he watched the zeta take a step forward and hoist himself into the air. The rho was ready to catch the zeta; however, it was not needed as Syri successfully swung his leg over Dyren's back. The zeta let out a small whoop as he landed in the riding position. Brenton smiled in congratulations as Syri took the reins in his hands and patted the steed's neck.

"Now what?" The zeta inquired as he turned to face the rho.

"Now," Brenton began as he walked over to Geneth. The rho paused his sentence as he mounted the copper steed. Brenton made sure Syri was balancing himself well before finishing, "We ride."

>>>>>>

"May the moon goddess be with you," Jae said to Team 2 who was standing before the eastern gate. It had been three days since the departure of Team 1; it was now time for Team 2 to depart for Black Moon. The five delegates bowed to their prince before shifting into their wolf forms. Jae and Yejin stood silently as they watched the team exit through the gate. Once the five had traveled a small distance, the gates were shut, and Jae and Yejin were yet again left alone in the courtyard.

"Any word from Estan?" Jae inquired of the alpha.

Yejin nodded as he replied, "We talk each morning and every night. Everything seems to be calm and safe." The prince remained silent when the alpha finished. Yejin let out a small breath as he looked at his friend, who was clearly waiting for something more, before adding, "Syri made a friend and is taking riding lessons."

The prince's heart skipped as he heard the zeta's name. "I'm glad he is doing well," the true blood stated as he started toward one of the entrances to the castle, however, Yejin's call stopped him.

"Jae," the alpha began. His voice was solemn and grave.

The prince turned in his tracks and faced his friend, knitting his brows as he waited for the alpha to continue.

"There is something that Estan won't tell me. Something happened when they had set out for Alia, but he refuses to tell me what it was." Yejin's eyes were filled with worry as he revealed the information to the prince. "Estan wakes up from nightmares nearly every night. I know he and Syri need to stay at the cabin until everything has been sorted out, but..." the alpha released a pent-up breath before continuing, "I'm afraid something bad happened to them." Jae remained silent as he processed the information. "I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry." Yejin let his gaze fall to the ground as he apologized to his prince.

"How bad?" Jae inquired after a moment. "How bad do you think it is?"

The alpha swallowed before answering, "Bad. Estan has never had this many nightmares back-to-back before."

The prince nodded his head as he accepted the alpha's response. Jae looked to the ground as his eyes grew hard. How dare someone touch a hair on his head! The prince's expression was grave as he spoke, "I am giving Alia a visit the moment the matter with the delegation team is settled." A growl accompanied the prince's decision as he sauntered back into the castle.

>>>>>>

"No! Get off! Don't touch me!" Syri's brows furrowed in fear as he cried in his sleep. The zeta's face and neck were coated with sweat, and his head turned from side to side as he clutched the blanket beneath him. "No!!" The zeta's eyes snapped open as he wrenched himself from the nightmare. Syri's chest rose and fell with pants as he caught his breath.

The zeta wiped his forehead as he swung his legs off the bed. It was not long until Syri was walking over the bridge and entered the cluster of trees leading to the rolling hills and valley below. The zeta released a long breath as he broke out of the trees and walked on the soft grass. Syri lifted his head to the sky as he reached the peak of the hill and closed his eyes. A soft night breeze ruffled the zeta's sweat-soaked hair and cooled the beads that coated the male's neck.

Syri lowered himself to sit on the ground after standing for a few moments. The zeta kept his eyes closed as he leaned back and lied on the grass, stretching his legs out before him. Whenever Syri would have a nightmare and could not sleep, he would go to the hill and lie beneath the stars and let the night lull him to sleep. The nightmares had become more frequent as the zeta had gone through another incident that could be thrown in the pile of terrifying memories from which the horrifying dreams could choose.

The zeta released a breath as his body relaxed. He suddenly missed the musky scent that used to engulf his senses. The prince's musk from the scenting was still lightly coated on the zeta, but it would be hard to distinguish unless one was right next to the zeta as it was wearing off. It had nearly been a month since the prince had scented the zeta.

Syri continued to lie on the hill until the first morning rays began to peak from below the horizon. The zeta turned his head to peer at the rising sun, a small smile coming onto his lips. It was time to ride!