Pia helped Yijun kick out the fire and turn the ground. He gave her their cooking pot and plates and Pia took them to the stream to scrub.

Crouching beside the water, Pia looked down the stream to the tree she’d slept in the night before. It was odd to know that after so long alone she’d be with people again. Men, Pia thought. Yet, the idea didn’t scare her as much as maybe it should have. They hadn’t been unkind. If their words were true, they’d been the only ones searching for her—who had known she was missing. Strangely, that thought warmed a part of her heart, and she laughed at herself. Being touched for the care of strangers might’ve been the oddest thought she’d had that day.

Part of her was excited. Ruwe seemed to be the strongest martial artist she’d ever met. He still intimidated her, but Haojie and Yijun’s easygoing personalities helped soothe those fears.

A worm of curiosity wiggled its way through her, leaving a sick feeling behind. Who had made her think she failed her test? Had they wanted her to despair? What were they testing? Why!? Why had someone gutted her to the core so cruelly? Pia couldn’t ponder that one for long and shoved it from her mind.

“Pia,” had her turning her head, and she saw Yijun beckoning her back. Pia scooped up the pots and plates and hurried back.

The four of them walked out of the meadow together. She didn’t want to admit it but following behind the men made traversing the thick grasses much easier. Their heavier bodies pressed the grass down ahead of her, making each step easier to take. Yijun went first, followed by Haojie, Pia, and then Ruwe. Pia was certain Ruwe didn’t trust that she wasn’t going to run off at the first chance. Having him behind her was unnerving. Every so often she’d peek back, see that steely gaze, and yank her attention back to the front.

Putting one foot in front of the other, Pia followed quietly behind the men, wondering why they’d asked about horses if they were going to walk out of the meadows. Her answer came a few miles later, when Yijun and Haojie stepped out of the thick, tall grasses into shorter, softer grassland. Before her, rolling hills of grasslands unfurled as far as her eyes could see. Pia looked back over her shoulder, taking in the tall grasses that she’d spent days in. Had she been wandering through the same area without knowing it? Would she have ever found her way through that thicket?

Haojie held two fingers to his mouth and let out a long, wailing whistle.

“Where are we exactly?” Pia asked.

All she could see for miles was long stretches of rolling hills. In the very far distance, she could almost make out a mountain range.

“These,” Yijun said, pointing ahead, “are the Windswept Plains.” Then he thumbed behind them and said, “That was Highgrass.”

“I see where it gets its name,” Pia said dryly.

Yijun gave her a small grin. In the short time they’d been together, Pia was realizing that Haojie spoke three times as much as Yijun.

The ground shook beneath her feet and the sounds of thunder had her turning her head. A man on horseback came cantering down the hill, four horses behind him.

Pia watched with wonder to see them coming. The horses were fit and strong, muscles bunching and stretching with fluid ease. The scene lasted only moments but it was one she burned into her memory.

The man trotted right up to them, his black horse coming to a halt before them. The other horses followed his lead, coming to a rest behind the black horse. Pia was amazed with how well trained the horses were. The horses she’d seen in Dwelling had been tired cart horses, or the occasional wild-eyed merchant horse, side-stepping through town.

“I see you caught the wayward child,” the man said with a grin, looking at Pia.

Pia bristled at that but stayed quiet.

“Pia, this is Shun. He’ll be riding with us across part of Windswept,” Haojie said, introducing the man to her. “Shun, this is Pia,” and Pia appreciated the emphasis Haojie put on her name.

“You’ll have to get used to his bad smell quickly,” Yijun added, avoiding a kick from Shun as he passed by him to get to his horse.

Shun seemed to fit well with Yijun and Haojie, having the same laidback personality that the other men did. He had a pointy chin and a heart shaped face. Despite being comfortable in the saddle, Pia could tell he cared about his appearance. His clothing was well tailored and sported embroidered white clouds across the fabric of his robes.

Pia looked to Ruwe, wondering how such a cold, indifferent man could attract such easy-going men to his company. Ruwe was busy checking his horse, hands rubbing the broad, red face that butted against him.

The horses were already saddled and had their bridles strapped to the saddles. The three men quickly went about checking the girths and stirrups and putting on the bridles.

“Pia,” Haojie called to her.

She turned and saw Haojie leading a small brown horse to her. The horse was smaller than the other four and Pia was grateful for that. Just looking at the other four horses had her feeling intimidated. They were tall and powerful creatures. This littler one would be a shorter distance to fall from.

“This here is Tudou. He’ll be your mount to care for.”

Tudou had warm brown eyes and a red-brown mane that hung long over his face and neck. Pia reached out to rub between his eyes as she’d seen Ruwe do. Brown hair coated her hand quickly as he leaned into the rub, bobbing his head. Her lips quirked into a smile.

“Let’s get you up,” Haojie said, pushing her to the horse’s side.

With easy instructions Haojie showed her how to check the girth and adjust the stirrups. He pulled the stirrup up under Pia’s arm and then adjusted the leather straps that held it in place. He then explained how to place her foot in the stirrup and rise into the saddle. Pia did as instructed. Put her foot in the saddle, stepped up, and slid onto the broad back. She beamed at Haojie, unable to contain the feeling of joy it brought.

Haojie, knowing the feeling of being on a horse for the first time, smiled back at her. Pia rubbed Tudou’s neck and ruffled his thick mane. The horse flicked an ear back at her, then let out a heavy sigh, as if resigned to its fate.

Ruwe’s voice cut through the mood, “Haojie, meet us at the next camp.”

Pia looked over and was surprised to see the other three were already mounted and ready to leave. Ruwe looked her over, then gave a nod to Haojie, and rode off. Shun and Yijun gave a wave of farewell and followed after him.

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Tudou and Haojie’s horse watched them go but neither shifted a foot. Pia let out a sigh.

“Some Master,” Pia grumbled under her breath as she watched her ‘Master’ ride away.

Haojie pinched her thigh, and she winced.

“Sorry,” she said to him, willing to concede to Haojie at least.

For the next few minutes Haojie walked around the horse, pushing and pulling her legs into different positions. He explained how to use her calf to move or stop the horse, or her thigh to ask for forward motion. The feet, he said, were for balance but shouldn’t be relied on.

“Balance comes from your seat, your legs, and your belly.”

Next, his hands covered hers, moving her hands into different positions to steer the horse.

Pia hesitantly followed every instruction and soon was moving Tuduo, albeit slowly, around Haojie and his horse. Haojie gave her time to practice and gain her confidence. Only when Haojie deemed her ready to set off, did he mount his horse.

“What’s your horses name?” she asked.

Haojie’s horse was also brown, but his had white stocking legs and a white strip down his nose.

“This is Wine,” he told her with a sly grin. “A gift from Ruwe.”

“Why Wine?”

“I like wine,” he said simply, and moved Wine forward. Pia knew there was more to the story, but he wasn’t telling her.

The two started out at a walk. At first Pia’s balance was off. Either she leaned too far forward or too far back. Haojie called out suggestions, eyes carefully watching her. In a few minutes, she relaxed and found the balance to stay in rhythm with Tudou.

Seeing her improvement, Haojie quickly moved them to the next stage.

“Let’s try a faster pace. We’ll trot. When the horse moves, it’ll feel bouncy. Stand and sit using your stirrups,” Haojie told her. “First watch me.”

Haojie trotted a circle around her and Pia watched his legs and hands carefully. He stood and sat with every other beat of Wine’s movements. His hands stayed low and quiet, not pulling or holding on the horse’s face.

When it was Pia’s turn to try, she realized it wasn’t as easy as it looked. Tudou’s ears pinned to his neck as her butt smacked the saddle over and over again. Her legs quickly ached and her lungs burned.

Giving Haojie a wide-eyed look, Pia could barely manage to say, “It’s so much harder than it looks!”

Grinning, he gave her no rest, “Let’s keep at it. We’ll trot the rest of the way to catch up.”

Horrified, Pia’s mouth fell open, but she could do nothing but obey. Haojie nudged Wine forward and clucked at Tudou to follow. Tudou surged forward into a bouncier trot and Pia focused on staying on. The novelty of riding a horse quickly faded as her muscles ached and burned as she worked hard at maintaining her balance.

Grass passed her by in swirls of green. Pia regretted not being able to enjoy the scenery, but it was a fleeting thought. Sit, stand, up, down, sit, stand, up, down. Keeping a mental litany going was helping distract her from the fiery burn in her legs.

Pia curled her fingers in Tudou’s mane, letting the reins go slack in her fingers. Haojie effortlessly kept rhythm with Wine’s trot. Pia…was managing to stay atop the horse, at least. They went on and on, until Pia feared if they went any longer, she’d fall off and never move again. Haojie was relentless, not sparing her any break.

He moved them up a hill, instructing her to stand in her stirrups until the top. Pia’s legs shook and trembled, barely keeping her butt out of the saddle. At the top, finally, he slowed to a walk. Tudou fell into step beside Wine and the two horses’ sides heaved from the pace. Pia laid her face down against Tudou’s neck and let out a groan. Everything ached, from her toes to her eyes. It felt as if she’d been the one who just ran the last miles on foot. In fact, Pia was almost certain she’d rather have run it.

They continued to walk for the rest of the way, letting their horses cool down on the last stretch. Pia could have cried in relief to see their camp. Haojie dismounted easily and he gave her a grin as he loosened Wine’s girth.

Pia sat atop Tudou, feeling him shift his body and slump as he cocked a hind leg. She couldn’t even think about moving yet. Her tired eyes took in the camp scene. Yijun was cooking something over the fire while Shun laid on the ground head propped up on a bundle.

Ruwe was stringing a tent over a large tree limb and nailing the ends into the dirt. The sun was setting, casting long rays of shadow across the meadow. A wind rippled through the grass, almost seeming as if a long, invisible snake scuttled across the plain.

“When you get off, your legs will give out. Might be best to just let it happen,” Haojie told her, voice quiet at her knee.

Remembering his advice on dismounting from earlier, Pia dropped her stirrups, leaned forward with momentum, slid her leg over the back of the horse, and dismounted. As he had said, her legs gave way immediately, shaking like leaves in a breeze. Her butt smacked into the ground.

Pia heard laughter at the camp and her cheeks flushed crimson. A hand scooped under her arm and helped her stand.

“Thanks,” she muttered, turning to Tudou and loosening his girth.

The nod of approval Haojie gave her helped strengthen her and she followed him as he led Wine away. Saddles and bridles were removed and put aside. They brushed the horses and checked their feet for stones. He showed her how to check the legs for soreness or injury. Pia couldn’t squat for fear of collapsing, but she bent over and listened closely.

As they walked back to the camp, her legs trembled dangerously. The thought of sitting didn’t help. Her butt, thighs, calves, and feet felt as if she’d been walloped with zhang poles all day.

Tiredly, Pia eased herself into a sideways sitting position, wincing as it forced her thigh muscles closed.

“Sore?” Shun asked, eye cracked open to view her.

She nodded, lacking any energy to speak.

Yijun passed her a cup of tea which she took with gratitude. Sipping it before the fire lulled her into half sleep, eyes heavy and hanging.

“Pia,” Ruwe called, breaking her out of her stupor.

He was standing next to the tent, and when she looked, he waved her over. Awkwardly, Pia wobbled to her feet and went slowly over to him.

When she stood before him, he pointed at the ground.

“Horse stance.”

Mutely Pia stared at him uncomprehendingly.

Seeing her blank look, Ruwe put one hand on her shoulder, and lightly kicking her legs apart. His hands pushed her shoulders downwards, making her knees bend automatically. He pulled her hands out before her and turned them palms up.

All Pia could do was focus on keeping her quaking legs upright.

“Now, focus on pulling earth yi from the ground into your core. Let it settle into your body, sinking into your pores.”

It was a struggle. Earth yi always weighed her down. It wasn’t an element she practiced with often and her hold on it was slippery. Still, seeing the stern look on Ruwe’s face, she forced herself to draw it in. Instantly a weight descended on her, and she grunted. Sweat beaded on her forehead, dripping down her temple.

He watched her like a hawk, then placed his hand on her back, checking her yi. When he stepped back, he gave her a nod.

“Good. Now hold this for an hour,” he instructed.

Hold it for an hour. Why didn’t she just go pick up a mountain instead? Pia thought darkly. Already her legs threatened to buckle, and she teetered dangerously. A bright, lancing pain erupted on her side and Pia let out a yelp of pain. Her eyes went wide when she realized what had happened.

Ruwe returned the bamboo switch to his side.

“A little motivation,” he said, wiggling the switch.

He’d smacked her like a child! Even her thoughts sputtered as she tried to think of something hateful to call him. Gritting her teeth, she looked straight ahead.

Just hold it together and it’ll end.

Ten more times the bamboo landed on her sides. Every time it landed her grip on yi released. Legs and arms quaking, sweat pouring off her face, Pia had to dig deep to find it again. After what felt like hours, he finally let her stop. Her body collapsed on the cool grass, feeling wrung out and beaten like a rug.

Yijun called her to eat and it took sheer willpower to stand and return to the fire. Pia barely managed to eat a single bite of rabbit before passing out in exhaustion by the fire, bun still in hand.

So started her apprenticeship routine. For the first two weeks, Haojie would take her and Tudou during the day while the others rode ahead. He taught her to trot, then to canter, and then to gallop. Each gait left her feeling as if she’d barely survived. Saddle sores arrived in the first four days, but Yijun gave her a special salve that smelled like swamp mud and ash, and within a week, the sores faded away. At night, Ruwe forced her to do horse stance for a minimum of an hour. During the second week, it became two hours, and if they passed by a stream, Pia had to hold a bucket of water at the same time. With each new day, Ruwe brought her a new exercise or training method to practice.

Two weeks became three, and Pia began to adjust to the long hours and punishing sessions. Every day felt like a trial by fire, but her body responded, growing stronger as the days blurred together. Time seemed to drag by and pass in the blink of an eye. Two weeks became three, then one month turned into three. Each day, Pia woke, her muscles protesting against the demands placed on them, and fell asleep believing they would never recover. Yet, little by little, she strengthened and endured, until snow arrived, falling from the sky and covering the plains in a heavy, white blanket.