Thread: Vinland (Jokerama og JanÅgeSolstad)

I had never heard a white-man speak. I had only heard mockery of their language - that it was ugly, harsh, and unkindly sound. But to me, language was language. It didn't matter what it sounded like - it had to have meaning and beauty it in somehow. I had found myself suddenly overwhelmed with this mysterious pale-faced human before me. Curiosity - the biggest flaws of man-kind as told by my father - was deadly to the beholder. But I found myself infatuated, and incredible curious. I wanted to learn more than anything, and I had grown bored with my own existence. I craved adventure something new. Perhaps I could find that with you. As you rose your finger to yourself and spoke, I could do nothing but smile. The smile grew to take over my face. I looked down in sudden embarrassment as I tried to contain my excitement. You speak, and you had even given me a name. Still beaming from ear to ear, I did not respond. I did not even have the courtesy to introduce myself. No, instead, I whistled once more - this time the call was different. And like the first time, out came another wild mustang . This stallion was large, all black, and muscular from head to toe. Not the type of animal you would want charging toward you. Oddly enough, this horse was did not have any markings, nor any sort of riding apparatus. It was bare-back, and free of any decorations. This black beauty... this was my horse. And I only rode her free . Prancing onto the back of the stallion, I stood tall and proud on my befriended mammal and kept watch on you. I gave a slow and gentle nod, acknowledging your introduction, before I raised my hand to smack the arse of the horse you had mounted. The white horse, covered in tribal paint, set off towards the distance. Releasing a sort of howling sound from my mouth, I kicked the sides of my stallion and took off after you. My stallion, bearing much greater strength and speed, raced past your steed. Kwatoko, who was with the other men dismantling and gathering the bodies of the fresh kills, lifted his arms up and yelled in disapproval. We had only taken two horses from the camp to this journey, and now, the two horses were gone - hogged by myself and the most-unwanted traveler. Completely ignoring the profanity he cried out, I let out a victorious yelp and held out my hands high up in the air. This was a symbol for freedom. Because I was free. Free from anyone's control. The white painted steed followed my stallion automatically - without requiring any sort of direction from the rider. This was how trained my animals were they were under my command and my command only. I had set off to a trail into the woods - I was leading us back to the camp. I had left the other members of my clan to do as I ordered with the bodies. Surely, they would return to camp on foot, but it wouldn't be until nightfall. It was a rather short journey by horse-back - but it wasn't short of beauty. The grass was as green as could be, the trees smelt of pine, and the air was crisp. This land was mostly untouched - it strived on nature alone for we lived off the land... it did not live off of us. I led us soon out of the woods to an open field with canyons up ahead. I slowed my horse to a soft gallop as we entered a sliver of space between two canyons. The space was tight and rocky, requiring the steeds to move slow and with caution. It was almost as if I was leading us to death - the space was cramped, dark, and this passage did not seem to lead to anything habitable. But it did. After a few minutes of rocky path, there was an opening at the end - a beam of light. As I pulled my horse through the opening with the light - there lie, beyond that point, and unbelievable sight . The small passage had lead us to an open land, and just ahead, a river as clear and fresh as air. A couple miles ahead, near the edge of the river, was the small temporary camp of my clan. There were cone-shaped tents - teepees - 5 of them huddled in a circle around a fire pit. There were also several other horses that were tied to trees during our time away. As we approached the camp, I hopped off my stallion and let her roam free. I turned to you and motioned with my hand for you to come to follow me. Come. I did not wait for you to dismount before I made my way to the edge of the river. I crouched down and knelt at the water, taking a puddle of it in my hands before taking a drink. I glanced at you over my shoulder, water-in-palm, and explained. Water. Drink. I brought the water to my mouth once mother and drank it in. The water was fresh, clean, and it glittered in the sunlight. You must drink to get better... to heal. Do you... understand? I looked over at your frame - surely you had been mistreated, perhaps even tortured. I wondered when was the last time you drank or even ate.