Prints Within the Soil (1)

[Brocton Firestone]

Timestamp: 15th of Summer 516av // "Pavi."
Location: Firestone Pavilion-Sea of Grass// "Common."
Pavi Sign

The weather was nice. It was nice enough nonetheless, to at least claim that it's beginning to look like Summer. As long as Synas light shows over the land of Mizahar, her sun will stay hot and alive. The radiance of the warmth energized the Firestone Pavilion, pretty much everyone who lived with the Firestone's was out and about, working on daily chores for the morning. There was plenty more to do. Along with that, Brocton needed to set out for hunting. It's only been fifteen days of Summer, Brocton hadn't gotten enough game to support the family yet. He must go out nearly every day to catch something good. It was the eight bell of the morning, and blue skies clear as day shown heavenly around the sun. White clouds scattered across the blue horizon. It certainly was a good morning.

Everyone was outside, including Brocton. The hunter spotted his father, Titus was skinning some elk. Perhaps for the afternoon meal. De'anu, his mother was preparing breakfast. Cooking over a simple camp fire. Titus looked up from his skinning and nods over to Brocton, gesturing him to come over. Brocton nods back in reply and walks casually. He gave his mother a slight kiss on the forehead as he passed. Brocton kneels close to his father.
Skinning? How come? Asked Broc as he signed with a curious brow raised. The blood from the elk dripped slowly to ground after Titus has already made a cut through one of its legs.

"It's for us, since we all been working so hard." Titus replies, his father carefully takes his knife and continues to slice through the tissue of the animal.

"Oh, I see, would you need any help, father?" Asked Broc, inspecting the dead elk that was dripping blood still on the ground. Now, the aroma of blood could be smelled, and it didn't smell so good after leaving the elk out for a few days. Though, Titus attempted to keep the dead meat cool by rinsing it every half bell or so.

"If you to help, you can take my knife here." He slowly spoke with caution, as he figured that Brocton didn't really know how to wield a dagger.

"It's not difficult..." The hunter didn't speak as if he were to ask it in question, but he said it as if he was unsure of what to do, like he was confused, but not so much. It didn't seem like a challenge, Brocton is able to wield a longsword, how much challenging can it be to use a dagger?

"You want to hold, like this." As Titus spoke, he took back the knife, and held up the leg of the elk, he continues on his cut through it. Slowly peeling off the fur of the leg, and inspecting it carefully, so that none of the fur catches onto the meat. It's the meat the Firestone's need. Brocton nodded. Thank you. He paused, as his father was handing over the dagger once again.

Brocton moved closer to the dead elk, he breathed a little, his breathing was slightly quick, but he attempted to calm down. It would be a shame to taint the meat from such a good catch. Brocton dug the dagger into another leg, one on the opposite of Titus' indent. He eventually poked a hole through the fur and tissue, only to see small amounts of blood pour out. That was fine, right? Titus sat, watching, carefully, to make sure Brocton doesn't make a mistake with any moves that he could make. Brocton slid the dagger up, the fur was pulling away from the inside, and Brocton managed to reach the end, only having a few jagged spots along the cut. It wasn't the best, slightly messy, but it was cut through all of the way.

"Good." His father said approvingly. There was a pause as Titus leaned forward to make sure that Brocton was doing it right. "A little shabby, but more practice needed." He continued. "Soon, you'll become proficient."

674/2500

[Brocton Firestone]

Timestamp: // "Pavi."
Location: // "Common."
Pavi Sign

"I understand."Replied Brocton looking over to his father. He did understand, he just couldn't quite grasp that concept of skinning the elk. "How long have you been hunting, father?"Asked Brocton cleaning the blood off of the knife.

"Ever since my childhood years."Came the response.

"Boys!" Brocton looked up. Titus took hold of his dagger and Brocton handed it back to him.

"Yes my love."Called Titus, he signed,Love you. Need anything? De'anu looked over at the two men inspecting the dead elk.

"You two going out hunting again, yes?"De'anu asked them kneeling down and leaning over the elk, "Because it wouldn't be a bad idea to go. After all, elk and birds are beginning to show signs of activity." She looked at the animal again. "I can do the rest if you wish to venture outside of the pavillion now?" She added smiling and getting back up to walk around the elk to plant a kiss on Titus' cheek. "But as always be careful, yeah?"

Titus returned the favor and kissed his wife on the lips. "Yes, always, my love."Then Titus signed, trust and careful, always.De'anu smiled and hugged him. Titus hugged her back as well.

"Brocton, sweetheart, please make sure to look after your father while your away. Maybe you could bring Jinr' with this time again as well?"She asked. Brocton smiled and the smile faded as he looked over at Jinr's tent.

"Mother, Jinr' is usually hunting with others from the Emerald Clan, you know like the Riverwind Pavillion. He always goes out with Justus."Said Brocton.

"Well, maybe you could find yourself a friend of your own or two, it won't hurt."Replied De'anu. "I'll still love you no matter what."

"I'll work on it mother."Replied Broc without any sourness. He knew better than to talk back to his mother. He knew that no would want to hang around with a Whalakh as he isn't bonded to Jinx yet. He wondered when he'll get that chance. His mother kept telling him soon.

"Don't worry my boy, you'll bond to her." Titus said reading the looks on Broc's expressions.

"She trusts me, but not that much. How do I get her to bond?"He asked his parents.

"It'll take some time, I am not sure if Jinx is the right bond for you."Titus started. Brocton looked at him, he didn't really know what to say at the moment. "What I mean son, is that if she's not willing to bond, then you might need to find a new Strider." Brocton looked up at his father and sighed.

"She will bond, but as long as she chooses to, you do remember her history right, when we got her."Brocton remembered.

"Yes, her previous bond died after an attack from herd of Glassbeaks. The woman was found torn to shreds."He replied. Brocoton understood how bad it must've been for Jinx, what she had gone through. "Do you think she chooses not to give the past up?"Time and love, son.De'anu signed.

"Let's go out to hunt. Then we can talk about this later, come go get prepared. I'll wait for you."

1190

[Brocton Firestone]

TITLE

Brocton fetched for his gear. He retrieved his short bow and his Longsword it was important to have a few extra weapons while out hunting, you never know what your going to miss. Especially when hunting outside in the Sea of Grass. Brocton grabbed his pack which contained some rations and other miscellaneous objects, Brocton didn't really know how to use a fling and steel, perhaps his father could show him over day? Perhaps.... today even. His waterskin it's important, good thing he filled it up with water earlier this morning. Brocton almost forgot his quiver, that would have been embarrassing if he did. He hurried over and went to fetch it.

"You ready son?" Titus spoke in a orderly fashion and signed, huntingthe blonde nodded a d was more so eager than anything else to get the show on the road. Even though, Fall appears to be getting colder by the day, it still was humanly possible to go out and hunt, the Drykas hunt year-round. Even with the snow, the winter is one of Broctons favorite seasons, not only because it's cold, but the winter is just as cold and harsh as he is, he liked comparing himself to the winter- Brocton always saw himself as a strong and mailable Drykas. He was prepared for anything that came across his path and he would be prepared for the winter to come, he just hoped that the animals that they need to catch haven't migrated elsewhere, because they need that game. Having game, it's important, especially to an Emerald Clan member.

"Yes, father." Brocton replied, signing ready.

"Good, let's mount our Strider's and get going." His father said. Brocton nodded and went over to Jinx whom was loosely tied around a post. Brocton figured it was ridiculous to have a Strider tied around a post, if danger came across their Pavillion, Jinx would have enough time to flee. Brocton untied the rope and mounted Jinx, the four rode, heading for the Sea of Grass- where only danger awaits them.

1530

.

[Brocton Firestone]

TITLE

They rode past the Wind Knotted Gates and waved to their fellow Watchman. Though, were stopped before exiting for confirmation about what they were doing outside of Endrykas, it looked obvious- that they were hunting, but of course the Watch were only trying to be sure of what they were doing and perhaps it's for the greater good.

Stop, the man signed as he jumped in front of the two. The Drykas sneered and observed the two. "Hunting, yes?" The Watchman called after them, the two Firestone's glanced at one another and nodded.

"Yes, we're going hunting." Brocton replied, Jinx whinnied and shook her head at the Watchman. Whatever was going on with her, Brocton needed a way for her to calm down, the hunter stroked his hands across the Strider's mane and she decided to calm it down a bit, before egging herself on, again. Brocton stopped and signed, Safety. Back- soon.The Watch nodded.

"Names?" The Watchman said, and looked at the two. In case of- danger? The Watchman signed.

"Titus, Titus Firestone is me." Said Broctons father, the man held a shortbow like Broctons and strapped it to the Yvas.

"Brocton, Brocton Firestone sir." The son replied looking at the man expectantly as if he might do something. The Watchman just nodded and waved them through. The two hunters nodded in return slowly starting their horses in gear.

"Make sure you be safe." The Watchman called after the two.

"We will, thanks!" Titus replied back as the Strider's kicked into gear and started rushing after the Sea of Grass. Thundering hooves best against the earthen ground, the winds coursed through the hairs of the two men as the excitement was rushing through them. Brocton always had fun with his father it was one thing that he liked doing with his father.

Titus began to slow his Strider down, and Brocton just barely caught it out of the corner of his eye. He stopped Jinx. Her hooves slid across the grass and she whinnied a bit, mostly she was upset that she couldn't run so far ahead, even though, they've probably reached a few miles already from the Wind Knotted Gates.

"What's wrong father?" Brocton asked, as Jinx began to back herself up. Brocton was careful with keeping balance, he didn't want to fall off.

"Tracks. They look like... wolf prints?" Titus replied pointing down. The grass was beatend down to, no wonder why they appeared slightly flatter than usual.

"Where could they be, father?" Brocton asked.

"Anywhere, keep a look out for them."Danger. Keep. Close.Titus signed. Because, being safe is their only way out.

1966

[Brocton Firestone]

TITLE

Jinx snorted, and it nearly startled the hunter. Usually, scares don't come often, but when there's a pack of wolves out there that need to be cautious of, Jinx doesn't help when she startled the Drykas. Brocton sighed and leaned over to stroke the mane of his Strider. "Shhh." Brocton whispered to the Strider's ear, Jinx flicked her ear as she continued to walk, Tutus' Strider walked at a quite cautious pace as well, Brocton wondered how much closer they were to the pack of wolves. He wondered what is going to happen next.

"Ahhh!" Brocton shouted- it was almost instantaneously, a wolf jumped over the Strider and pummled Brocton to the ground, his shortbow skitted across the ground and now, the wolf was on top of him- three more wolves popped up from the tall blades and circled around the four. While Brocton was struggling to get the snarling wolf that jumped on him off of him, Jinx was focused on the new encounters. So was Titus.

"Son!" Titus called out, he inched his Strider closer to Jinx to form some sort of wall. Jinx whinnied in anger and slight fear. The wolves growled in front of the two, yellow eyes glared at the three expectantly. Ready to pounce at any given opportunity. Titus aimed his shortbow at the closest wolf to him and fired. The arrow was a direct hit and the wolf whimpered, it fell lifelessly onto the ground. No time to see where the arrow struck as the other two wolves came after him and the two Strider's. Brocton frantically searched for the arrow that fell beside him. While keeping his other hand against the wolves forehead, shooting it back, saliva dripped over the hunter's face. He sneered at the wolf as he found hold of a stone. It was fairly large, and not as heavy and he quickly grasped onto it and whacked the wolf against the head. It whimpered and snapped at the Drykas' arm, it scratched Brocton across the chest, but not too badly. It stung, but Brocton finished the beast off with one more hit as the weight of the wolf dropped onto him.

Brocton shooved the beast off and rushed over to Jinx, pulling out his Longsword that he strapped to her side. Titus shot another wolf, and Brocton rushed upwards with a vertical slash towards the wolf in front of Jinx. Jinx used her right front hoof and kicked the wolf's head. It whimpered and ran off. Titus shot at it before it could get away- it whimpered, crying out in pain before it passed. One problem- solved.

"Let's bring these wolves back to home." Titus spoke sternly. "Let's look for your shortbow first before we leave. Make sure it's not broken." Then his father signed, you alright?

Brocton nodded. He looked at his torn shirt and scratch over his chest. fine. The blonde signed he was sure that his short bow landed some yards behind him. He went over and searched for it.

He found it. Eventually.

"Got it." Brocton called out and examined his bow. It didn't look damaged. But, he could always find out if it is. He hurried over to Jinx and strapped his shortbow around the Yvas and sheathed his Longsword as well. Brocton and Titus transported the wolves by carrying them onto the backs of their Strider's. They went home slowly, making sure to not drop the wolves. They would skin them once at home.

2547

[Khida]

Grade Hold

As I've mentioned previously, it is not clear in your ledger which seasons Brocton has paid expenses for. It appears he's been active for three seasons (Spring - Fall 516) but there's currently only one expense line in your ledger, with no annotation of what season it corresponds to.

Please address this issue, then PM me and I will release your grade.