But something told me that it wouldn't last

The flickering flames of the campfire danced against the night, illuminating the faces of Rice, Darius, and their three new companions. The air was filled with laughter, a stark contrast to the tension that had defined their initial meeting. Verrik, the leader of the group, a rugged man with piercing eyes and a wiry frame, leaned back against a rock, the flicker of a smile gracing his usually stern face. Beside him sat Morana, a broad-shouldered woman whose laughter was deep and contagious, and Slynn, a lanky, sharp-featured man who couldn't seem to stop grinning.

"Man," Rice said between bites of roasted rabbit, waving a drumstick in the air, "I thought you guys were going to kill me when you jumped us."

Verrik chuckled, a low, gravelly sound. "We would've, too, if you hadn't told us you were running from the Stonehoof tribe."

Morana let out a hearty laugh, "Yeah, an enemy of that fat bastard Gastrar? always a friend."

Slynn leaned forward, his grin sharp as a blade. "We're escapees, same as you lot. Got out a few months ago. Been hiding out here, figuring out how to get the rest of our people out."

Darius nodded solemnly, poking at the fire with a stick. "We're supposed to make weapons for them," he said, his voice heavy. "If we don't… well, we'll lose someone important to us."

Rice asked

"Are there any other tribes or groups nearby we can call for help?"

Verrik exchanged a glance with Morana and Slynn before shaking his head. "Some of the other captives belong to distant tribes, about a dozen tribes or so. If we could get word to them, I'm sure they'd come to our aid and fight. But…"

"But?" Rice prompted.

"They're far, and they travel around" Verrik said, his voice grim. "they are at least weeks away on foot and we don't even know where they are. We wouldn't survive the trip, nor would we make it in time."

Rice fell silent, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare moment of deep thought. The conversation around the fire faded into the background as he stood, muttering something about needing fresh air. Wandering away from the camp, he shoved his hands into his pockets, kicking at a stray rock as he mulled over their options.

"Come on, Rice, think," he muttered to himself. "What would someone like Ryden do in a situation like this?"

As he crested a small hill, a low snort caught his attention. His eyes widened as he spotted a herd of wild horses, their sleek forms moving gracefully under the moonlight. The group was large—easily a few dozen—and they grazed calmly in a small valley below.

A grin spread across Rice's face, slowly growing until it was almost devilish. The faint sound of throat singing and the thunder of a distant cavalry charge seemed to echo in the back of his mind. "Horses," he whispered. "That's it. That's how we find those tribes in time."

Descending into the valley, Rice scanned the herd, his eyes locking onto a massive black stallion that stood apart from the rest. The horse's mane flowed like silk, and its intelligent eyes glinted with a wild challenge.

"Alright, big guy," Rice murmured, approaching slowly, his hands raised in a show of peace. "Let's be friends, yeah?"

The stallion snorted, pawing at the ground as it eyed him warily. Rice stopped a few feet away, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a carrot he'd saved from Pillaris. "Look what I've got for you," he said, his voice soft and coaxing.

The horse sniffed the air, its ears flicking forward. Tentatively, it stepped closer, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its coat. Rice extended the carrot, holding his breath as the stallion stretched its neck forward.

When the horse finally took the treat from his hand, Rice grinned. "See? Told you we could be friends."

Over the next few hours, Rice worked tirelessly to gain the stallion's trust. He brushed its coat with handfuls of grass, spoke to it in soothing tones, and even fetched water with the help of a wandering water spirit he managed to charm into assisting.

"Thanks, buddy," Rice said as the spirit created a shimmering stream nearby. The horse drank deeply, its tension slowly melting away.

By the time the sun began to rise, the stallion stood calmly beside Rice, its head lowered as he gently ran a hand along its neck.

The rest of the herd followed the stallion's lead, their wariness fading as Rice offered them more treats and guided them back toward the camp. By the time he returned, leading the entire herd, he was grinning ear to ear.

Darius, Verrik, Morana, and Slynn all stared, slack-jawed, as Rice strode into view, the massive black stallion at his side.

Rice spread his arms dramatically. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have horses! Let's find those tribes."

Great Achievement!

Rice has have introduced horseback riding to GAIA.

Effects:

Increased travel speed and mobility for all inhabitants.Strategic advantage in combat and scouting missions.Significant boost to trade efficiency and long-distance communication.

As soon as the herd of horses came into view, Verrik's face paled. He instinctively raised his weapon, gripping it tightly as his sharp eyes darted between the massive creatures. Slynn, normally smug and confident, took several hurried steps back, his spear held in a shaky grip. Meanwhile, Morana, known for her gruff demeanor and unshakable courage, let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched squeal, her wide eyes glued to the black stallion leading the herd.

"Why," Verrik hissed, his voice cracking slightly, "did you bring a group of monsters here?"

Rice blinked in confusion, looking from Verrik to the horses, then back again. "Monsters? These guys?" He laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Nonono, these are some of the most gentle, caring creatures you'll ever meet. Just give them food, water, a place to rest, and the respect any normal individual deserves, and they'll carry your butt anywhere it needs to go. In this case, it's to find that coalition of tribes."

Darius, intrigued by the idea, approached a brown horse grazing near the edge of the herd. The animal's ears flicked toward him, watching his movements with mild curiosity.

"How'd you do it?" Darius asked, glancing over his shoulder at Rice.

Rice shrugged casually. "Back on Earth, I had some experience. But honestly? These guys are way calmer than the ones I worked with back there. Maybe they're less spooked here, or maybe it's the effect of my title. Either way, just give them food. Everyone loves food."

Darius chuckled at that. "Who doesn't?"

Following Rice's advice, Darius held out a carrot and let the horse sniff it. The animal stepped forward cautiously, taking the treat with a gentle nudge of its nose. With patience and care, Darius began stroking the horse's neck, his large hands steady and reassuring. After a few minutes, he looped a makeshift bridle over the horse's head and carefully climbed onto its back.

Under Rice's guidance, Darius urged the horse into a slow trot. The animal responded easily, its hooves thudding rhythmically against the ground. Darius let out a small laugh, his face lighting up.

"Don't forget," Rice called, grinning, "lots of food as thanks!"

Darius nodded, his confidence growing as he directed the horse in wide circles.

"Who's Next?"

Rice turned back to Verrik, Morana, and Slynn, who were still frozen in varying states of unease. He clapped his hands together, his grin mischievous. "Alright, who's next?"

Verrik squared his shoulders, trying to mask his obvious nerves as he approached a dappled gray horse. He held out a carrot, his arm stiff as a board. Every time the horse so much as twitched, Verrik flinched and stepped back, muttering under his breath.

"Come on, Verrik," Rice teased. "You're acting like it's a dragon or something."

Verrik glared at him but didn't respond, focusing all his energy on inching closer to the animal. The horse, apparently fed up with the whole charade, stepped forward and snatched the carrot right out of Verrik's hand.

Verrik froze, staring at his still-intact fingers in stunned disbelief. "It… didn't bite me."

Rice snorted. "Of course it didn't. They're not carnivores, man."

Morana, emboldened by Verrik's success, approached a chestnut mare with cautious optimism. She extended a handful of carrots, speaking softly as she tried to coax the horse closer.

The mare, however, had other ideas. Without warning, it ducked its head under Morana's legs and flipped her onto its back with surprising agility.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Morana screamed as the horse bolted, galloping across the plains with her clinging desperately to its neck.

Rice laughed listening as Morana's screams became more and more distant"I think she's got the hang of it!" he wheezed.

Slynn, meanwhile, was being harassed by a small group of curious ponies. They nudged and prodded at him, their noses eagerly seeking the carrots in his hands.

"Hey—back off!" Slynn protested, waving his arms as he tried to keep the treats out of reach. The ponies, undeterred, followed him persistently, their playful energy matching his growing exasperation.

Eventually, one particularly bold pony managed to snag a carrot from his grip, chomping on it happily as Slynn stared in defeat.

After much trial and error, Verrik, Morana, and Slynn finally began to get the hang of it. Verrik, though still jumpy, managed to mount his horse and guide it in a straight line without panicking. Morana's initial terror gave way to exhilaration, and she whooped loudly as she urged her mare into a steady gallop. Slynn, despite his earlier troubles, sat confidently atop a sturdy pony, his usual smirk returning as he began to enjoy the experience.

Rice watched them with pride, leaning against his black stallion. "See?" he said, spreading his arms. "Told you they weren't monsters."