She had traded most of her goats for the supplies they needed for their journey. The rest she gifted to young headers, they were all grateful and wished her well. It was harder than she had imagined to leave the heard behind, and even the mountain itself. The goats and the mountain wind had always been her constant companions... 

Yet, she had been defeated in a duel, so, it seemed the goddess willed it that her life change. Now she shared the wilderness with a woman...

... and [i]horses[/i].

They rode the horses. It took her some time to get used to the beasts. She concluded that they were inferior to goats in every way. Save if the contest was one of speed across flat-lands. Which, apparently, the rest of the world was made from. So, was ones strength only relevant to particular abilities? Or was it fair to judge, as the Dan did, upon the things that mattered most?

As she questioned her own deffenitions of 'strength' (something the goddess apparently encouraged her to do) she let the forest slide by in silence. It was the best way to experience nature, in silence and deep thought. 

She decided finally, that if it came to a real fight, the goats would triumph.

Yet, she could not begrudge her steed it's own nature. So she stroked her mane affectionately and lead her around a rotting log (that the goats would have easily hopped over!). She had been walking beside her horse for some time now. The pace was a bit slower, but the girl felt more comfortable that way. It was necessary anyhow, as the horses needed rest (they had far less endurance than the goats!)

Naira followed Gabriel the victorious, Gabriel followed the map that had been drawn by their broken swords and the goddess's breath. They did not know where they were headed, nor what they might find. Though, at this particular moment, Naira was ahead of Gabriel.

She squinted and peered ahead. "I think I see something ahead... there." She pointed with her sword, her new sword. This had been given to her that fateful day her life had changed. Both women had their pick, of course, the previous owners of the swords were honored by the goddess herself to admit their weapon to another. Naira chose a fine sturdy blade with animals painted into the hilt in orange. Naira was unsure exactly which animals were drawn, they curled around one another and big each others legs and tails, they created an intricate knot, you could not tell who was winning or loosing in their quarrel.