Zi'da 50th 719
Wald woke up slowly in his tent, there was a moment where he could not breath in the night. He looked to see the large feline Ari was almost laying completely over him. The Pardus seemed to have grown large over the arc, even his horns began to grow atop his head. Wald needed to move the massive paw in order to lift himself from the cat's grasp. The wings however would hit the man in the face, he seemed to move them in his sleep. Wald looked over to the corner of the camp, there was a tarp used to separate it for a small room. Perhaps Wald should of just slept there last night.
There was a slow groan, as the hunter finally got up from where he was sleeping. Rubbing the little tiredness from his face, he walked out of the insulation of his camp. Only to be meet with the blistering cold of Viden, his breath misted as his body adjusted to ignore the cold. Walking out Wald looked over something that had wound up inside his camp one day. It was a set of red armor meant for beasts, it was strange in the fact it could fit all his animals. The last to wear it was his donkey, and it still had the distinct look of the beast's outline. Maybe it was a sign that Wald should learn to ride his animals properly? He had only ever walked with them, but the two equine were always busy pulling and carrying items for him. Ylfa was far to small to carry Wald, and she was useful as a guard.
As Wald pondered what he could do, a sound of the flaps of his tent opening came from behind him. Turning he saw the large cat, Ari had grown a lot it would seem. Though not fully grown, he was well on his way to be very large. Right now though... Yea he could carry Wald without issue. The armor may be much for now, perhaps next season it could be used in such a way?
The man walked up to the feline who had woken up, Ari was already searching for a meal. Wald knelt down slightly to look the beast in the eyes, his hand moving through the thick fur of the cat. It was amazing just how fast animals grew, he could remember not to long ago when the creature was a kitten. There was a mooing coming from the cat, as it rubbed its head on Wald's hand. The hunter would move to grab the two horns, as he shook them slightly in a playful manner. Ari knew just what that meant, as he would put his paws on Wald's shoulders. Standing up, the cat was standing on two legs without struggle. Taking the opportunity, Wald began to scratch at the warm underbelly of the beast.
Wald gave a soft pat the the side of Ari, who proceeded to hop off the hunter. Wald looked over the animal for a moment, hand exploring the back of the creature. It was firm, he had gotten enough of a work out from flying around next to Wald. Though Wald knew better then to just jump onto the feline's back, he walked off to the snow. Digging away for a moment, he pulled out a pot from the cold. It was some meat he put aside to feed Ari later, this would serve well enough to help the cat get used to the idea.
Taking a piece of meat, Wald put it in his palm towards Ari. The cat coming fairly quickly for the start of the meal, he learned not to bite Wald's hand during this. As the Cat pressed his nose into the hunter's hand to get to the meal, Wald moved to the side of the animal, before placing another piece for the cat on the ground. It took a slow moment for Wald to move his legs over the cat, who was eating on the ground. A third piece would be given, just before Wald started to put weight on the cat. Ari was uncomfortable with the feeling at first, though slowly got used to it as a fourth piece of meat was provided to them.
Wald was no clearly sitting on Ari, the soft fur made things slightly comfortable to the man. Ari stood still for a bit, not really knowing what to do with himself. Taking a piece of meat, Wald would throw it forward. The cat would move fairly quickly to it, bringing Wald along for the ride. The cat was not a smooth ride, as Wald had to hold onto them. Due to how the cat would run, it would be a bumpy ride for a bit till Wald was used to the bounding motions.
It was time to work without the food, as Wald pointed forward for Ari to move. He would move more slowly, just causing a sideways motion on the hunter on his back. It was strange moving without walking for Wald, though he began to lean on the cat to get better balance. Giving a slight squeeze to his legs, he spurred the cat forward. It took a bit of coaxing though. Wald was trying to figure out just as much as the cat was. Hand would hold near the neck of the animal, as the body of the hunter spread its weight over the full body. He would begin to pull slightly to cause the cat to turn. It was rough, but the two had a bond since Ari was raised from near birth by the hunter. Though that did not mean much when it came to staying on the cat's back.
Wald's grip slipped for a moment, as he slid off into the snow face down. There was a grumbling sound given, as he lifted his snow covered face. Thank goodness no person was around to see that, or he may never hear the end of it. Getting up from the snow, Wald would shake off what did not melt. A soft whistle was given to Ari, though the cat was now distracted. The pot had stayed on the cat's back longer then Wald did, and now Ari was busy enjoying a meal from it. This may of been a slight failure, though now Wald knew he could in fact ride his feline companion.
The hunter would walk up to the feline, to get back on the animal. Like the old saying, if you fall off your giant cat, you get up and get back on that cat. This time it was much easier for Wald to mount the creature. Sitting down at first, the man would softly scratch at Ari's ears. Letting the feline gain more comfort from the man being on his back, it was key to let both of them get used to each other like this. Slowly Wald would lay back into the feline, as he was between the two wings of the large cat. Wald would point to the pot, as Ari lifted it with his mouth. It was time to try and return to the camp.
A soft squeeze was given as Ari began to move again, guided by soft pulls on the neck. Wald held on much tighter then before, as he tried to pick up the speed. It took a moment for Wald to get used to the motions of the feline, though soon he could feel himself moving with the curve of the spine. The large cat soon got into the camp, before he walked around it for a moment. Laying down gently on the ground near where the fire pit was. Wald got up from where he was, knowing more about just how to ride the animal.
Looking out, Ylfa had walked out of the camp. Wald looked at the wolf, as she tilted her head towards the hunter. "Why you have snow on you, Master?"
Wald paused for a moment, as he looked at his shirt. Clumps of snow still latched onto him from when he fell from Ari's back. "Oh, just had some fun with Ari. Must of gotten there when we were rough housing." Wald did not want to admit he fell off of the cat to Ylfa. That was something he would not hear the end of from anyone, even spirits.
There was a slight raise to Ylfa's brow, as Wald was a bad liar. Though Ylfa did not press the issue. She would simply look over to Ari, who had the pot of meat still. "I see you fed him already, Master. That is good, Master."
Giving a slow smile, Wald nodded. "He has gotten so big, since we first got him. I can not wait to see just how large he gets fully grown. It is some what of a pride thing for me now. I guess that is how parents feel, huh Ylfa?"
"I would not know, Master." Ylfa would reply coldly, as she was a spirit things were different for her birth to the world.
