He had to admit that he was weary by the time he reached Tale, janarim or no it was still a very long way. He had come miles and still all he saw was vast grassland and precious little else. What he wouldn't do for a fluffy feather mattress out of the wind. But he was made of strong stuff so onward he trod.

A drop in temperature made him pause. That was a bit odd, must be a front of weather moving in from Zena. Perhaps he had best postpone his trek there if weather was doing this in Tale which was still pretty southern all things considered. He could go back in spring if he chose, the point of this journey wasn't so much the destination but the travel itself. He could just as easily stay where it was warm.

"Well my lad, I suppose we had better make camp and a fire."

There was still some time before sundown and he didn't relish a night of shivering. He pitched his tent and padded the walls with grass for insulation. Then he built a fire and sent the janarim off to hunt while he made bacon and potatoes. A simple but delicious camp dinner. He was extra hungry with all of the travel and was mid way through devouring it when his janarim came back looking rather smug with feathers wreathing its face.

"Ran a fowl of dinner did ya?" He joked.

"Pull up a spot near the fire now and warm yourself."

He patted the ground in invitation. It was modest company but he didn't need much.
He knew he had a whole ranch full of people at home, for now he would enjoy the simplicity of travel.
Well fed and tired he put a bit more wood on the fire, patted his familiar and crawled into the tent for sleep.
Despite his exhaustion he found his sleep to be fitful and full of dreams that he did not understand and would not remember in the morning. He woke up occassionally to put wood on the fire and check on the janarim. Its size would protect it from this cold but he still cared about its comfort. Unfortunately there was not enough room in the tent for him and the critter but it was curled up happily beside the fire chewing on a bone it had found somewhere.

The blankets were soft and comforting. He couldn't help but miss Ny. Though their relationship hadn't really progressed all that much they did share a deep bond. He knew that she was the right one for him. The only one for him. She had a personality like a force of nature and she never backed down not even for her giant brothers or indeed him. He wanted to be the best man he could be for her. He held the blankets close about his shoulders and rubbed his feet together. The temperature continued to drop and he figured he might have to camp here for a day or two until the weather smartened up a bit. He had supplies and they could hunt. Tomorrow he would gather firewood as sparse at it was in Tale.

He made the plans he would need to stay for a few days, if on the third day it was still cold he would take the janarim and head back south. For now he supposed he might as well get comfortable. In the morning after breakfast he took out a novel and began to read. He hadn't done much of it so far on the trip and ever an optimist he had brought three books with him. This was preparation. Just in case he got stuck like he was not. It was cold enough he didn't want to ride, not cold enough for snow but best to be near the fire unless they were out hunting.

They had a fruitful hunt and he had enough meat for himself drying over the fire for a while while his friend did what he would with the rest of the carcass. Perhaps not what he was used to but it was a good experience for them both. The meat was lean and tasted like the air smelled here. Of grass and grassland herbs. It was quite flavourful and he was an instant fan.

He used the time to bond with his janarim. Brushing scales, grooming, feeding choice bits of liver from their kill. He would fondly remember this experience despite the cold for the rest of his days.
761