Eritopia

A Turning Tide

Bear awoke to the sound of clattering hooves. A group of horsemen surrounded him, their breath steaming in the chilly morning air.

He was sure it was another dream. But as he rubbed sleepy eyes he saw Anja and Calypso stirring. Then, walking through the legs of one of the horses, a familiar figure appeared.

'Van,' Bear exclaimed. 'You came back!'

'I have indeed, Bear, as I promised I would. Only this time I bring help.'

'Help? Who are these creatures - horses ridden by people!'

'These creatures, as you call them, are an advance group of the Black Riders. This is their leader, Berithon.'

One of the Riders moved forward and dismounted. He crouched next to Van. 'We have travelled a long way, and are so glad to have found you,' he said. 'Van has told us a lot about your struggles.'

'Really.' Bear propped himself on an elbow and puffed out his chest. 'Well we almost never made it through those marshes. When Van had gone, and it wasn't the first time, we knew we had to keep moving. It was freezing, and wet, and at times I thought...but never mind that. Anya, Calypso, see who is here!'

The deer and the monkey were soon with them. 'It's so exciting,' Anya said after Bear explained it to her.

'For you, maybe. To me it was inevitable,' Calypso asserted and he began to groom her while she stretched her legs.

'Riders, how wonderful,' she was saying.

Van and Berithon moved off to consult with the other horsemen, who had all dismounted. There were twelve of them, Bear counted, and he watched as the horses cropped grass while the men talked.

'Do you know of them, then? These Riders?' He asked Anya.

'I have heard of them. Rider and horse in perfect synchrony. But they rarely venture into our world.'

'They go everywhere, do everything together,' Calypso added.

'But where do they come from?'

'Over the Mountains. They only appear in moments of great crisis.'

'They fought on the side of animals in the One War.'

'So they are here to fight again?'

'Undoubtedly,' Anya concluded.

Bear forgot his weariness, and his spirts soared to see these strange creatures. Liberated from its rider, one of the horses came over. Bear stood up and was surprised when it spoke to him.

'Are you the bear who taught the wolf?' It asked.

The dialect was strange but Bear understood it. 'Why yes, do you have any news of him?'

'We have seen him, over in the pass between the Crystal Mountains. High on a crest, surrounded by rabbits.'

'Rabbits?' Calypso cried. 'Good grief!'

'Was he well?' Bear asked.

'From a distance, all seemed well. We heard he is with friends, from the City. I thought we would stop for them, but are orders were to find you. The others will attend to him.'

'What others?'

'We are part of a much larger group.'

'What are you here for?' Bear asked, but the horse went off, recalled by its rider.

The low mist was clearing now. Van was still in earnest discussion with Berithon. News of Not-Bear thrilled Bear. He looked across the plains to the distant peaks. Seen on the side of a mountain! Who knew what adventures Not-Bear was having?