#tribby

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“Where do all of these books keep coming from…” Akrahan says with a look of shock as another mysterious book emerges from his pack. This one is bound in leather and is significantly heavier than the last. Turning to the first page a title is revealed ‘Through Storms and Death’ 

Well, surely this won’t be a romance.

The book involves a chance encounter between Akrahan and a tall and imposing Goliath warrior named Swift-Killer. Akrahan joins the Goliath’s quest for revenge, traveling the world to avenge Swift-Killer's tribe. Most of the book is actually… not very romantic. It's dramatic, sure, but much of the romance comes from this fictionalized version of Akrahan trying to get Swift-Killer's attention.

“I’m not some school boy anymore, this writer clearly has no idea what their doing…” 

It’s a dramatic tale with plenty of death, and fight scenes, Swift-Killer changes his name later on, it’s all very poignant. There might have been one smooch scene toward the end, but smut this book is not.

Akrahan tosses the book back into the abyss it came from. 

“...”

“...”

“... I would never date anyone taller than me.”

Last weekend. Well what can I say that justifies the wonderful experience I was able to have with this golden pony, my best mate. Odie and I completed our first 40 km “training” endurance ride in 4 hours and 54 minutes, averaging about 10 kms/hour. Surrounded by (majority) gorgeous Arabians, the chunky QH was a little out of place, and I was in awe of these gorgeous dainty-faced dancers. But Odie felt in his element! Striding alongside our enduro besties (‘Ali’ - the horse chiro and her beast ‘Tribute’) we powered along through the dark, the fog, into the sunrise and got back just in time to beat the heat. Could not fault my unicorn, for a horse that has very little work ethic (would rather eat to the point of explosion than do anything physical) he felt like he was in his element. The buzz I had after we finished, the oxytocin oozing from my pores for my love of this horse, immeasurable. He is so precious to me, I have so much trust for him.

What’s difficult is that I’ve been bitten by the endurance bug. The people, they feel like my horse people. They are kind and generous, they care so deeply for these athletes. And I’m in a pickle. I love Odie more than I think I will ever love any horse, but above 40 kms, I don’t think his physique would cope. And I don’t want to risk his soundness (he actually pulled up a but lame - head bobbie - the day later in a front leg in the trot but he was buzzing and it might have been the float journey). I have access to an Arab who did some endurance (he’s 16 now...) but I cannot commit to riding two horses, and Odie needs to be in work because he lives in a smaller paddock and will get bored or he becomes overweight in a big paddock. So I’m in a pickle, there is a sport I’m dying to dive head first into, and then there is my best friend who can only take it so far.