Quest [Unforgiving] Take a Walk on the Wild Side

[Harrier]

Fall 10-12, 513

It was a perfect day to start a hunt! It was too bad few had answered his announcement, Phaurd knowing it to be their loss that they chose not to participate. The only one who had answered was a petite little thing by the name of Alori; she was an Avora huntress, apparently, but the survivalist would see how much bone she could back that claim with.

As it was, the man stood in front of his lodge with arms crossed and two Dek and a Chiet nearby. A sturdy looking mountain pony had been tethered to the wall and was being carefully saddled with supplies for the trip. A day's worth of water which could be refilled during the trip, a large pot and castiron skillet, a coffee pot and eatery enough for nine, his own bedroll and his three helpers were secured to the back. Hanging from the sides, rope hung along with some climbing gear and special boots with sharp points on the bottom in the event they ran across any ice in the mountains. Last of all a freshly slaughtered goat hung over the donkey's shoulders, the sweet meat smelling ripe and ready for eating that night, wrapped in special leaves designed to preserve what was in it.

His notice had told participants to bring the hunters fee of 40 pinions along with any gear they currently possessed for hunting. Those who did not have the supplies would be offered it at a discounted rate:

• Hunting Knife
• Short bow
• Quiver of arrows (x20)
• Mountain goat wool blanket
• Tanning slurry

Now, it was simply a waiting game. The rest of the supplies would be able to be obtained during the trip itself. There had been rumors of a vercerem in the area that the leopard had been spotted, as well as a strange weasel who had an affinity for following the scouts.

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[Alori Sai]

Alori headed to the lodge ready for the hunt of a lifetime. Until now the tiny Avora had mostly hunted squirrels and rabbits, with the occasional elk or cow from time to time. But this was something so much more, and the hunter in her couldn't pass up the challenge. There were many creatures in the unforgiving that went unseen by most in the city and this was one of them. A rare sighting of a Snowshoe leopard and any hunter who called themselves by that name would surely heed the call.

Or so she thought.

When the teen arrived at the lodge, she figured that she must have come early. There was no one else around save for Phaurd and three other people. The idea that no one else had shown was furthermost from her mind, and the teen stepped forward carrying her backpack with her. Inside she had a few rations, apples, two knives, her last trap and her quiver filled with arrows. The little huntress carried her bow strapped across her shoulder for easy use. She already had most of what she needed for the trip, but she didn't have a Mountain goat wool blanket, or a Tanning slurry.

Somehow in her rush to prepare Alori seemed to have forgotten to purchase them the last time she visited the market. Luckily Phaurd had the items there and she would buy them from him before they set off. The girl wore her hair in a single ponytail and tucked the legs of her Bryda into her tall boots to keep herself from getting caught, or hung by anything. She wore her raven colored Katinu with the hood half way off the back of her head as it was pinned against her backpack and the fluffy ponytail at the back of her head.

Alori smiled brightly, hazel eyes beaming with excitement and hope. It was going to be a fun day and a memory that she would have for a long time, she could just see it. But for now she would wait..and wait....and wait.

"So um..how many others are we expecting? Oh, and I'd like to buy a blanket and slurry from you if you have more?"

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[Kovac]

The prospect of bagging a snow leopard was too tempting for the half-bred hunter and he had intended on joining Phaurd's hunt when the announcement was first posted. But the furor over preparing for Winter, gathering as much game as possible for the food stores, and spending time with Lavira had crowded the elite hunt from his mind.

At the last moment, Kovac realized the hunt date was upon him. He hastily gathered his gear, though it was ready most of the time, since he had been going out on hunts frequently. He still needed a lift to Thunder Bay, but the Avora was able to hitch an eagle ride with Lavira and Mohya and make it to Water Reach just in time.

Kovac made his way to Phaurd's, his pack strapped to his back, loaded with gear. Waterskin, composite shortbow and quiver were also slung from his back, as well as his talon sword. Hanging from his belt was his hunting knife. His Katinu was opened, hood down, winter boots covered his feet and sontav wrapped both wrists. He did forget to pack a blanket, but Kovac knew he could pick one up at the shop. Tanning slurry was on the equipment list as well, of which Kovac had none, and it would have to be purchased on-site as well.

Approaching the lodge, Kovac saw Phaurd standing out front, friendly visage as usual. The assembled group was small, considering that three of them looked like support staff. One lone hunter stood among them. Alori. A smile crept across Kovac's face as she saw the petite huntress. He came up behind his friend as she posed her questions.

"I need a blanket and slurry too..." Kovac added flashing a grin to Alori before looking up to Phaurd and giving him a respectful nod. "I hope I am still able to join the hunt." He added with a smile.

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[Harrier]

Phaurd was just about to reply to Alori when Kovac came onto the scene, a delighted smile gracing the rough and tumble features of the wilderness expert. He was glad to have others to share in this little adventure with.

The slurry was a homemade mix of deer brains and ash, ideal for on-the-spot tanning while they were out hunting. They could set up a rig at the camp and while hides were going through the process, they could continue on their hunt. "Alright, 3 silver for the blankets and 1 for the slurry." He'd let them both pay up before continuing.

"There's a boat waiting for us at the docks to ferry us to the shore near the mountain the cat's been spotted at. It's a few bells ride but the bay is calm right now so it shouldn't be too trying. Gather up your gear and let's get down there. Once we reach the shore, I'll be taking the lead. The trail has been carefully marked though it is far from an easy climb. Watch for the white sashes on the trees and white ash painting on the stones."

With all of that said and done, he led the way to the medium sized boat waiting for them, let the group get on, then helped pull the complacent pony aboard. Now that they were all settled in, they could begin!

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The boat ride was uneventful, Phaurd talking lightly and merrily to the pair of last season's hunting. The sun was a few bells up from the horizon now when the shore they would be mooring was neared, the boat scraping the bottom before grinding to a halt on the land itself. It would take another ten to twenty chimes to get everything unloaded and camp set up, Alori and Kovac let to do as they please during this period since the team Phaurd had brought with him would do most of this work.

After camp was raised, he came back to the two, fists on his hips and grin upon his face. "If we're ready, let's get going. Now, there is lots of small game in the area, but we're here mostly for the snowshoe. One of my scouts has reported sighting a few ground porcupine near the camp shore as well as a high number of weasels, so make sure your gear remains tightly closed up during this trip when not in camp. As we get closer to where the big cat is, keep your eyes peeled for kougara. While none have been reported, the sneaky wretches are common in this range."

Unbeknownst to the group, something was watching them from the shrubs. It was small and well concealed, making no noticable movement to attract attention. As Phaurd finished his speech, though, and called the hunters onwards to the marked trail, the little watcher disappeared back into the undergrowth, only a single print left in the mud.

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[Alori Sai]

Alori spun around when she heard the familiar voice. She had hoped that more would show, and having Kovac along just made things interesting. They had challenged each other after all, on and off the dance floor. Now was the time to see if the snarky hunter could back up his bold words. "Hey. So you're coming too? Awesome." she smiled, holding up a single hand to offer him a high five.

Stepping forward, the little huntress removed the correct amount of pinions from her bag and took the items that she had just purchased. As she walked by, she gave the mongrel a teasing glare. The teen parted her lips slightly, as if she was about to say something witty, but simply turned around and sat down to place the items inside her backpack.

From here, it was just a wait until Phaurd was ready to lead them, and they would be off. During that small amount of time, she went through her backpack again and made sure that she had all of the items that she would need while they were out. Once he was ready, she slipped her pack back on and headed off with the rest.

Alori knew of Phaurd's lodge and the services he provided, but she had never come to the Bay to see him. Still, it was interesting to hear his stories about his hunting experience. The Avora always took mental notes when she heard from hunters more experienced than she. It was one of the ways she learned what do and what not to do while out in the field.

During their down time, Alori sat back and relaxed, before standing again to give herself a good stretch. The teen took a moment to tease Kovac again and remind him that their challenge was still good, and once Phaurd was ready to continue, she slipped her quiver and bow over her shoulder, as well as pocketing her hunting knife and slipping her hand into her archer's glove.

"The first one to make a kill, gets a favor from the other. Deal?"

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[Kovac]

OOCAgain, my apologies for the delay!

The half-bred hunter liked the make-up of the hunting party. Having it lead by Phaurd, of course, was a treat, the famed hunter one of the few Kovac looked up to. And then, having Alori as a hunting partner was a pleasure. They had become friends, of a sort, and the playful young huntress was enjoyable company.

Kovac too, settled up for the purchase of the blanket and slurry, readied his gear and joined the group down to the shore. Kovac did remain mostly silent on the boat ride. Though he had no troubles riding the back of an Endal's eagle, the motion of the small vessel on the sea was a bit disconcerting to his stomach, and he focused more on steadying his constitution than casual conversation. But the unsettled feeling soon passed once the boat was beached and the left it behind.

While the Phaurd's team set up camp, Kovac took the opportunity to once again inspect the composite short bow, ensure the string was supple and without fray, and examine his arrows. The gear he would not be taking into the field was securely strapped shut.

Kovac snarked with Alori, the boasting challenges made the night they met bantered about again, now that the opportunity to actually put their bragging to the test had arisen. A wide smile beamed at the young hunter as she sweetened the challenge. "Yes, its a deal!" Kovac held out his hand to seal the contest with Alori. The definition of 'favor' had been left open, allowing the mongrel to devise some wonderful means to humiliate the teen when she lost. In a good-natured way, of course.

Tugging at his sontav and shouldering his gear and arms, Kovac nodded to Phaurd's admonition and following behind the hunt leader. Kovac did spot the small print in the soft earth, pausing a moment to look closer. The Avora was uncertain of what made the mark, knowing Lavira could identify it had she been with them. Phaurd had mentioned weasel, which would be about the same size, though there were a few types of small mammals could have left it he supposed. Shrugging, Kovac quickened his step to join the others.

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[Harrier]

For the first two bells thereafter, it was simply a hiking game. The group had left the donkey and Dek at camp and the rest ventured into the neighboring woods, following a seemingly nondescript gametrail that wove through some dense young-growth pines. It was a steady uphill climb on top of that with jutting rocks slowly beginning to make their appearance. The hike itself was done in silence in order to keep from scaring any possible game, though Phaurd would occasionally point out different things along the way ("You see those four leafers? They're good brewing and mixing with some mint to make a pain relieving tea. And that over there is wormwood. Haha, no, it's not toxic; it just has this funny knack for attracting nightcrawlers. Sometimes the dern things even glow; good eating too.").

The comfort of the day began to turn balmy and soon the uphill climb became much more steep until the group was forced to stop. Ahead of them was a good hundred foot drop into the bottom of a small canyon that moved from the Bay, inland, away from Wind Reach. Below, a small, churning river frothed and beat at jagged rocks that peaked from amid the blue, glacier fed water. Just a little to the right of where they came out at, a small rope-bridge had been stretched across the gap.

"Alright everyone, line up. Lightest in the middle, heaviest pair in the back and front." Phaurd would take the lead, waiting for everyone to line up. "The bridge is slick so one hand on the ropes at all time. If you fall, well...it's not a pretty ending. Alori, you're duckling in the middle. Kovac, take the tail." He spoke judging their sizes for himself. Kovac was the second largest in the group so it only made sense. It would give them the best dispersion of weight for crossing.

In the brushes nearby, a pair of eyes peeked out once again, but otherwise did not move from its hiding spot. It made no noise, only stared curiously at them, particularly Kovac. The man's bow had caught the creatures attention, but was he dangerous? Unknown, the thing would have to be careful! It turned and disappeared for a moment once more, only a bit of white fur and the paw print left behind.

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[Alori Sai]

Alori followed along and listened as Phaurd led and gave direction. The teen took mental notes of what he said, finding it all worth the time to put it into memory. As one might expect of a new hunter, she didn't know a lot about herbs and plant life. But what she was learning now, would be of use to her in the future.

The little huntress glanced at Kovac a few times, curious if he was taking it all in as she was, or if the snarky hunter was already an expert. The walk was mostly silent besides Phaurd's guidance, but Alori continued to exchange looks with Kovac through out. He was the only other person to show for the trip, and the only person she knew there also. When they stopped at the small rope-bridge, she looked around and below them.

It was a very long drop, with a stream of water coursing around rocks at the bottom. It was a scary sight and yet it was also a beauty of nature. Alori pushed her way passed Kovac after Phaurd gave them instructions on how to enter the bridge. The mischievous teen glanced over her shoulder quickly, before turning back and heading across. "Be careful..."

Alori figured that he would probably check her out, if he hadn't been already, but she didn't mind. There was something exciting and attractive about her new body, and she was liking the attention that it got her. Lightly stepping onto the bridge, she quickly grasp the rope to level herself off as she moved.

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[Kovac]

The trek out from camp was enjoyable for Kovac. The company was to his liking, having the famed hunter Phaurd practically to himself, shared only with his good friend Alori. Kovac felt relieved of the role of mentor or lead, as he often took on during hunts. Instead, he walked in Phaurd's shadow, learning from the tidbits of information the wizened Inartan imparted to the younger hunters. Kovac returned Alori's occasional glances, his smile wide and almost child-like, with an infrequent wry grin.

Reaching the cliffside, Kovac marveled at the raw Kalean landscape, ever-present but always revered for its harsh beauty. Then they came upon the rope bridge. The half-breed had not crossed one before, not of this length, and he cast a more sober glance to his teenage companion when Phaurd gave his directions and admonishments. But he managed a smile as Alori passed and bid him to be careful, before following Phaurd onto the bridge, who seemed quite at ease in the shifting rope structure.

Alori was right, knowing Kovac, and he enjoyed a brief examination of her youthful form from behind before tightening the straps of his pack and stepping out onto the bridge. The Avora looked down into the gorge as one hand held onto the rope 'rail'. It was breathtaking, and thrilling, but his balance began to wane and he quickly looked up again to Alori ahead of him as he carefully followed, step after careful step.

[Harrier]

There was always something breathtaking about the realm that the Inarta called home. The mountains were as beautiful as they were unforgiving, as daunting as they were inspiring. Even these little nooks in the towering 'scape were beatific.

As they crossed, Phaurd called over his shoulder to them, talking about the churning froth below and the bridge they crossed currently. "I have to take this down before the last fall storm usually or it would get washed away or torn apart by the winter weather. See the braids? There's a couple of Dek twins I hire to keep the bridge in tip top shape. Coincidentally, their father was a Drykas. I've heard tell the horsemen are fantastic weavers of cloth and hair; I wonder if those two get their skill from him. Alas, they're a wee bit slow in the head or I'm certain they'd have been apprenticed."

They reached the midway point on the bridge, Phaurd coming to a crawl as he navigated the narrow braid beneath their feet, warning them of some fray. "There's some fishermen, too, who will come out here after spring-thaw to where the stream delta's into the Storm Sea. It's too dangerous to try and manage the stream itself, but it's not needed. Wherever the source is, it washes some fine gems down there. Most of them have been polished by the rapids en route and come out spit-shine clear. One of the men bragged about it a few years back that he'd found one the size of an eagle eye, hah!"

Ahead of the group, something came a shuffling out of the wood beyond the ravine. A low clicking could be heard before the shape became apparent. It was exceptionally rare to come across a ground porcupine. The large, quilled-rodent stood nearly two feet off the ground, its long body coated in quills, the sleek sway sweeping backwards until its rump was covered in up to eighteen inch spines that dared the fool to touch them. Inarta liked the quills of a ground-porcupine, once the toxin in them had degraded enough, for decoration, often sanding the outside and then carefully blunting the tip so that they could be woven into hair. Sometimes, the quills would be used for writing in the enclave, the larger ones hollowed out a little more and filled with ink before stoppered and the tip cut to allow for what amounted to a special pen.

The hefty creature was snuffling at the ground near the end of the birdge, one clawed foot digging for food before it turned and began to lumber on. Phaurd had stopped them during this, looking back questioningly to the pair to see if either wanted to try for a shot here on the bridge. It would be dangerous, but if they chose not to, tracking the animal wouldn't be hard once it moved on. Ground porcupine were known for their slowness, afterall. The problem, however, was just that: they were very slow and would not immediately flee from a threat. If they tried to scare it, it could shoot the quills. If they tried to wait it out, it could be bells before the damn thing moved on.

However, something moving along the bridge behind the pair would likely decide for them...

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