Completed Hunting Off Frustrations

[Caesi Starguide]

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49th Spring 516 AV
Late Morning--Early Afternoon

Hunting Off Frustrations

The weather out on the Sea of Grass today was nice, compared to the rains and swampy mess the Drykas had to deal with previously. Yesterday the Watch went on high alert, asking Ankals not to take out justice on their own. Thefts and vigilantism had all but shaken up the Clans, as many things have gone messing, fingers were being pointed, and Caesi just needed to get away from it all and hunt to ease her mind. She left Nu behind at her tent, hoping he would provide some type of protection from any theft, although that would be a surprise if he did actually do something other then wag his tail and wait to be spoiled by a stranger.

Caesi sighed, she needed to commit more time to train Nu. If he was not trained properly he would be seen as useless to her Pavilion and her Pa would make her get rid of him. He expected the dog to work just like they worked, to have a purpose and meaning. She did not necessarily blame her Pa for thinking such, Caesi did not agree however and let it known to the man, who did not appreciate it. So here she was, out on the Sea of Grass, away from the Pavilion and all the drama it was currently dealing with.

Pyxis was with her, walking beside her as she sulked. Caesi knew it was her fault the pup was not trained much, since she did adore his behaviorism and the cute way he would sleep with her at night. Caesi kicked a stone softly, knowing that she would have to train the pup, and soon. If Nu's personality shifted, it was something she would have to deal with. Caesi stopped her walking, the Strider stopping as well, and she leaned on Pyxis draping her left arm around her, “I will always have you though.” Caesi said on a whisper, the horse shaking her head and snorting, then reaching around nipping playfully at Caesi letting her know that she was not going anywhere. Caesi laughed and patted the sweet mare. She looked down at the ground, the grass was slightly bare in this area and she saw something she had missed earlier during her reverie.

Bending her knees, she squatted down to examine the imprint. The ground was damp so it left a clear indentation of an animal track. The track was wide and rounded, with a claw print in the back. Caesi frowned slightly, running her finger into the deep grooves of the track, whatever had made the track weighed a good bit, though the size of the animal may have been medium, she was not sure. The tips of the track were blunt, so there were no front claws to the animal. Caesi put her hands on her hip and turned to Pyxis, “Follow?” She asked the Strider and the Mare nodded, encouraging her to try and track the animal. Caesi smiled and adjusted the quiver across her back, bringing her Shortbow down from Py she kept it close to her body as she went back to examining the tracks.

It appeared the tracks were heading to the right, so she followed them until she came back to tall grass. Tracking the animal would become harder in the grass as the tracks could be hard to see, perhaps only partial prints would be present. Caesi crouched into a stalking position, so she could still shoot her bow, but examine the ground as well. She let her senses stretch out, keeping her ears to the grass as her eyes scanned the ground. She found a few more prints, the animal seemed to veer off to the left, so she followed them. It was hard to determine where the creature was going since it kept being indecisive itself. Caesi rose up, swiping small beads of perspiration from her forehead.

She was not good at tracking things, she imagined someone who was more proficient would have a better chance at it. Pyxis neighed softly, Caesi knew the horse was thirsty, so it was time to find a stream or some type of water source. Letting out a breath, she mounted Py and scanned the area.

Trees were nearby, really close by actually, and even perhaps the animal she was tracking would be there for a drink as well. Hopeful Caesi leaned down, “Approach with caution.” She told her Strider as she knocked an arrow on her bow and Py started to walk slowly towards the small pond ahead, that had a few sparse trees around it.

| Thoughts |

[Caesi Starguide]

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Caesi dismounted Py, leaving her behind as she stalked closer to the little body of water, keeping low and rolling her feet so she did not make much noise. Zulrav sighed, a soft breeze cooling her skin, Semele responded as the blades of grass seemed to hum a song for Zulrav. The huntress kept her eyes and ears open, bringing an arrow forth to nock when it was time. Adrenaline started to rush through her as she drew closer to the small body of water, making her heart beat pick up as she scanned the area.

Unfortunately what she suspected as a wild boar was no where to be seen, the animal tracks she followed, must not have veered off in this direction. Caesi gave a disappointed sigh, as she saw no boar at the watering hole. However, there were trees, so although the boar she was tracking was not here and she tracked it wrong, there could be other smaller animals she could hunt. Keeping low she approached the tree line, scanning the area closer with her teal-green eyes, looking for something that needed a drink of water or was foraging in the damp earth around the water for food.

Near the small pond there was a Grassland Quail, pecking and scratching at the ground. It was behind the taller blades of grass, thinking it was well hidden from any predators. It appeared to be eating a snail that it had found, as it pecked at it's shell to get to the gooey center. The Quail was moderate in size, not too large but bigger then most small birds. The bird was round in shape, a little fat, with a short beak that curved ever so slightly. The throat on the bird was white, the plumage gray with white stripes and black scallops, and pale legs and feet. Observing her prey closer, she saw that it was busy trying to get to the best part of the snail, so she nocked her arrow on her shortbow.

Rising ever so slowly, she pulled back to her anchor point, keeping the string level with her chin area, resting the shaft on her middle finger she aimed. Letting the hunting arrow loose, it flew through the air hitting the Quail at the wing. Through the excitement, Caesi forgot to bend her elbow to keep the string from slapping her arm. It took all she had not to scream at the pain that seared on her arm, a welt appearing from where the bow-string had slapped her.

The Quail had finished fidgeting and was now dead. Caesi walked over, grabbing the Quail off the ground and bringing her arrow from it, she sliced its throat letting the blood spill forth on the ground. “Thank you Semele and Caiyha for your blessing.” Caesi said as the blood soaked the earth, an offering of thanks to the Goddesses. Once that was done she carried the Quail over to the Yvas bags on Py. Placing the bird into the bags she lead Py over to the watering hole, who neighed happily and went over for a drink. Caesi smiled as she sat on the ground, leaning her back against one of the trees, letting the cool shade wash over her. She closed her eyes, not drifting off to sleep, only in thought as Py drank her fill at the watering hole.

| Thoughts |

[Caesi Starguide]

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The hunting and tracking kept her mind off of her worries and stresses while she was doing the task. But now it was all hitting her. She was known to be upbeat and motivated, to always be smiling and strong. Though in reality she hurt the same as all others. She worried and stressed over all things just like the rest in her small Pavilion. With her Pavilion being as small as it was, food was important since there was not many to hunt, scavenge, and forage for food. This worried the young woman constantly, making her stress about hunting all the time, to bring as much food as possible back from her trip so they could concentrate on other things. Although she did all those things, wives were becoming pregnant, babies would be born, and more mouths would need to be fed.

That and with her Pa being harder on her then ever before about everything, it was all seeming to be too much. He wanted her to be the best she could be, she knew that. He wanted her to be strong and learn all things to survive. But she just wanted her Pa to be like he used to be when she was much younger, more loving, more affectionate, more..well just more. It wasn't like he did not love her, she was sure he did. But she would have liked for him to show that to her and not threaten to sell or trade off Nu who had became more then just a Hunting dog to her, he was her friend.

Caesi did not have many friends, as being social was not in her schedule of day to day. She was busy finding food for her family and Pavilion, so she did not have much time to really sit down and talk or go out with someone in the tent city. She was a young woman and having a listening ear was important. She did not even have time to develop any love interest at all for anyone, not that she really cared for such things, but it seemed young girls in other Pavilions and Clans was swooning after someone. Caesi felt like an outsider, in that she was not being married off, she was not meeting a young man, she was just working until every muscle ached and she passed out before the sunset some days. She was just ready to have something for herself, other then hunting. She was just tired, tired of many things. Perhaps she was being selfish, perhaps melodramatic, but she did not care. She was young and these things still bothered her. She wanted the love of a father of anyone, to heal the stress and worries that plagued her on a daily basis. But she was alone, to deal with it all herself.

The thoughts swirled, the worries, the stresses, although childish in ways they still bothered her. A small tear leaked out of her left eye. It was the small tear that broke the dam, as more tears rushed forward in a steady stream. Before she knew it she was breathing hard as if the air around her had thickened and it was hard to take in enough air. Sobs wracked her body, squeezing her rib cage, making her chest heave, as the tears flowed freely. Each tear a worry, a frustration, a stress, a memory seeping into Semele's skin and escaping her soul. She cried until it was all she could do, berating herself for such a weakness. A hard resolve was needed to survive the Sea of Grass. Caesi folded her arms across her knees, burying her face into the comfort of her arms, letting it all go.

Time left the place, as she continued to heavily sob, until she seeped into a watery darkness, her body's energy spent from crying.

| Thoughts |

[Caesi Starguide]

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Something wet and soft rubbed against her cheek, waking Caesi up. She groaned ever so softly, as she pried open her tear swollen eyes. Her dapple grey mare exhaled on her face, as she looked around her. The sun was beginning to set now and Py was nervous, not wanting to be away from the Pavilion at night. Caesi cleared a lump from her throat feeling a bit vulnerable at her cry from earlier. Though she felt better, she felt healed, the good hard cry was what she needed to shed away the depressing thoughts that tugged at her heart. Caesi brought her arm up swiping at her snot filled nose, rubbing her face with her hands, the sadness all but gone from her now.

She rose up slowly, grabbing her short bow she looked around her. There was a small raccoon nearby, cleaning it's food in the water. Once again her emotions forgotten, as she engaged herself into her task, she grabbed a hunting arrow from her quiver. Knocking the arrow, she bent her elbow slightly so the string would not whip her again. Rising the shortbow up she kept her arm straight out, pulling the string back to her chin she aimed. She inhaled and exhaled, upon the exhale she let the arrow loose. It shot through the air, missing it's target.

The raccoon scurried off, frightened from her missed arrow. Caesi growled underneath her breath at her failure and went to retrieve the hunting arrow. Picking it up by the shaft she replaced it in her quiver and peered around her once more. There were a few cattails growing in and around the small pond, she walked over, thinking back to something her Pa said about how Cattails edible. She smiled softly, getting down on her knees in the water. Reaching in she carefully dug around a stalk of the cattail, then pulled at the base, removing root and all. She did this a couple more times, not wanting to take all of the Cattails, so they would flourish or someone else who had a need for them could use them. She placed the three root to cattail plant in her Yvas bag. They did not completely fit, sticking out from the top.

With the sun setting it was becoming a bit harder to see if there were anymore plants she could forage for food. So she walked over to Py who was acting a little jittery. Caesi frowned and looked in the Mare's direction. In the distance there was a single Glassbeak roaming the area looking for food. Caesi patted the mare gently, calming her, “Just one Py.” Caesi said as she mounted the mare. She saw no need in bothering the animal, as it was not causing a threat to them. Sure she wanted to hunt a Glassbeak but not in a senseless way. There was no need in wasting a life of an animal that was not causing them any danger at the moment.

Instead she steered Py away and clicked her tongue, digging her heels in slightly, to get the Strider to go into a gallop. The sun seemed to be dwindling faster then she could ride, as the distinct sight of stars could be seen in the sky. Caesi peered behind her, the pond disappearing and the Glassbeak in the distance.

Once she felt comfortable enough, she slowed the mare down to a nice trot. It was quiet in the Sea of Grass, the slight rustling of the blades of grass, creating a lullaby for the creatures at night. Caesi kept her eyes out for anything that could be hunted or foraged, though it was difficult to see even with the moon out, illuminating the plains in an eerie fashion.

A loud rusting echoed in the night, making Caesi grab an arrow out of habit nocking it and looking around her. From the bushes and grasses, a jack rabbit pounced out, jumping around looking for food in the grasses. Caesi clicked her tongue softly, making Py come to a halt.

Twisting her body slightly she aimed at the Jack Rabbit, pulling the string back to her chin, resting the arrow on her middle finger at the top, bending her elbow slightly. Pulling back more, she aimed better, for the head if possible. Letting the arrow fly, it seemed to ring out in the quiet night, a slight whistle like noise from the wind it caught. The Jack Rabbits ears twitched and it took off. Caesi watched as the arrow sunk in at the backend instead of the head. “Shyke..” Caesi muttered, watching as the Jack Rabbit fidgeted and bucked, kicking out it's feet to remove the arrow.

She came up closer, the arrow had sunk in pretty deep, there was no getting it out. Caesi quickly nocked another arrow, aiming and letting it loose it sank into the rabbits skull ending the poor things suffering. Dismounting from Py she removed the arrow from the back end. It was ruined, but she kept it for the shaft. She removed the other, the tip on it also ruined, but keeping it for the shaft too.

She knelt before the medium-sized Jack Rabbit, sending a thank you to Caiyha for allowing her such a feast for her Pavilion, sending the animals soul off in peace. Once she was done with that, she grabbed the rabbit by the ears, placing it in her Yvas bags. A quail and a rabbit was a good hunt in her opinion and she even managed to forage some cattails for the Pavilion, which she hoped they could use. Her Pa said they were edible and useful for those out on the grasslands. So perhaps he could show her, tell her more about them, and maybe they could spend time together, although he was probably too busy to do so.

Caesi gave a sigh, looking across the plains, the Pavilion was not much farther away. Inhaling deeply and exhaling, she started a rhythmic breathing closing her eyes, as Py trotted on happily. Once her breathing was under control she looked out ahead of her, focusing in on the area. Slowly glowing lines appeared out across the land, bringing light into the darkness, making it appear as if it was still day time. The beautiful arcane weaving seemed to viberate with life, as they stretched out across the plains, protecting the Drykas. Sighing softly and feeling content seeing the ancient weaving of Webbing, Caesi urged the Strider into a run, as they headed towards the Starguide Pavilion.




Word CountWord Count: 3071

| Thoughts |

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Please let me know if I missed anything or you think anything is unfair.

 

Caesi Starguide

XP

• Tracking: 1 XP
• Hunting: 2 XP
• Observation: 3 XP
• Endurance: 1 XP
• Weapon- Shortbow: 2 XP
• Logic: 1 XP

Lores

• Starguide Pavilion: expects animals to work too
• Logic: prey needs water too
• More mouths in a home will require longer hunts
• Caesi: prefers to hunt than look for a man
• Caesi: feels alone in her stress and fear

Miscellaneous

• - 2 Arrow Heads
• + 3 Cattail plants
• Injuries: a large red welp on forearm, 1 week at the most to heal/will bruise and be sore