Step by Step

John had awoken earlier than he did and sneaked out of the wall with his horse. He had been thinking a lot lately and right now he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He was riding in the wild, alone this time. Maybe he would meet Naerys if he was lucky? It wasn't so easy back at the wall, with the last fight against the white walkers and the problems with recruiting new members. He almost was starting to be desperate, but he couldn't show that to people. He heard a hawk cry in the distance, and if he remembered correctly, that hawk belonged to Naerys. He followed the sound.

Naerys was out in the wilds again though this time taking "a day off" so she was mostly enjoying some fresh air while searching for some fire wood as well as animal tracks to hunt in case she´d find some. After some time however she sat down beneath a tree with Minah above her at the top of the tree while Naerys herself was making some new arrows. Regarding all the fights in the recent past she had lost not only a few and gods knew she surely would need a lot of them. When she was has just finished 10 arrows her hawk suddenly began to cry out lout, making her jump up quickly and ready her bow. Luckily the cry seemed to turn out as a rather informing one and also not that long after even Naerys was able to see that at least a living human was coming closer and no wight or worse.

John smiled as he rode closer, it was indeed Naerys with her hawk and making some new arrows. Understandable with all their fights together against the white walkers and the wights the last few weeks. "We meet again," he said smilingly. He didn't deny it, but right now seeing Naerys made him happy.

Naerys immediately put away her bow and smiled back at John as soon as she recognized him. In case neither white walker nor wights would show up she was sure this really would be a lucky day for her. With some crows though she could with anyways, at least while John was there for sure. "Seems like you just can't get enough from me can you?" She replied joking.

"Or maybe you can't get enough of me?" he said with a teasing smile. He got down of the horse, walking closer to her. "I just needed to get away for a bit!" he said. All the thinking lately almost gave him a headache.

"Obviously. What can I say, your just too tempting." She replied moving closer as well. " I see. Well I guess you crows are only human as well after all. How is going at your wall though now that you have lost members again, not to mention the news about the white walker appearances."

"You might say that it's a big mess at the wall right now!" Ever since the last fight against the white walkers, the new recruits had been frightened a bit and it didn't help much either when some had tried desert the wall and he and the others had to follow them and take them back. He rubbed his eyes with one hand, he hadn't slept so well lately with so much to do.

She took his hands in hers when she was close enough, lifting them up until they were just in front of her chest and gave him a smirk. "You should be careful with your words out here crow. You can never know what is hiding in these woods, just around us though I can promise you that I don´t have any intension to use that information against you and your kind." She replied with her caring tease before she let their hands move down again though still holding hands with John. "Well anyways, I´m sure you will be able to take care of it. I think you just need a distraction every now and then to regain some power and spirit. How about you stay a little with me today? Is there anything you want to do in particular?"

If only we had dragons, then the problem with the white walkers would've been solved! John thought. With their fire, the white walkers would die easily. But there weren't many dragons around Westeros and the dragons were their own masters, doing whatever they wanted. John nodded to Naerys, spending time with her didn't sound so bad. He could always make a very good excuse for being away for a while to the other members. "We could take a ride," he said smirking. "Just without a fight against the white walkers!"

She chuckled. "Aaaaah I see. You´re seeking for an opportunity to have me close enough for some fondling you lusty crow. But you could teach me how to ride on my own though."

"Oh, you caught me!" John joked, pretending that he pouted. He raised his eyebrow. Teach her how to ride a horse? Well, why not? He leaded her toward his horse, holding her hand toward it's mule. "It's more easier when the horse know the person. Both horse and rider need to know and trust each other."

"Why do I have the feeling that in the next step you are going to tell me i should kiss your horse?" She joked back stroking it´s mouth after the horse had some time to get smell and agree on her.

"It's only small girls and some noble ladies who do that!" John said laughing. He then helped Naerys getting up in the saddle and in a good sitting position and showed her how to hold the reins. Holding a part of the reins, he made the horse start to walk in a little circle. It was always best to start carefully.

"Of couuuuuuuuuuuurse." She replied while he had helped her getting on the horse. Even though she was warned, the horse starting to move still took enough by suprise that she had to hold onto the saddle quite strongly. After all she still was used over years only to travel by her own two feet. After they had made a few steps though she chuckled. "It´s really like you are sitting in a boat on wild waters, only that your legs move with the water."

"You'll get used to it," John said smiling. "But you must also tell when your legs is starting to hurt, or else you'll feel like you won't be able to walk for days!" John chuckled.

"Unable to walk for days eh? Oh that brings back memories." Naerys said smirking wickedly. "Well at least I have a caring teacher don´t I?"

"You do, but don't tell others about it," he said joking. He let go of the reins, allowing Naerys to try by herself for a bit. He stayed nearby of course, just in case if something happened.

"Of course not! As if I´d like to spend even less time with you. Tze." She replied back with a smirk. Now that she was actually riding alone, her expression turned far more serious. Relieved that so far everything seemed to be good she let out a sigh before she remembered an important thing John had forgotten to tell her. "By the way, hoooooooow do I make it stop though?"

John grinned. How could he forget to teach her how to stop it? "Just pull the reins, not very hard." He hurried a bit just to be sure that she had everything under control. And also to make sure that she didn't fell of the horse.

"Are you sure it´s going to stop just by some gentle pulling? Well if you say so ~ What´s its name though?" She replied back.

"Thunderstruck!" It was one of the youngest stableboys who had named the horse when it came to the wall. But it was a fitting name, it was grey and had black mane. And at it's forehead it had a white part which almost looked like lightning.

She chuckled. "Thunderstruck eh? Interesting name but I like it." Petting it´s neck she turned to John. "How many horses do you have at the wall and do they belong to everyone of your crows or does everyone have it´s own?"

"Like thirty forty horses, but not everyone have their own. Only them, like myself have their own." Sure, everyone had to share the horses by riding, but that was how it was.

"Ah I see. Well I have to say it surely is very usefull. ... But I have to admit you really have to get used to it." She said moving around in the saddle trying to find a better pose which of course failed. Now that she started to feel her behind in a way she surely didn´t want to she tried to make the horse stop just like John told her which ... failed. "Eh John I could use a little help here."

John had to use all of his self control to not laugh, chuckling he hurried to their side and made Thunderstruck stop. "Need any help to get of?" he asked, still chuckling. It was obvious in her face that it started to hurt.