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Leliana begins familiarizing herself with a tract of the Zastoka Forest.

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Center of scholarly knowledge and shipwrighting, Zeltiva is a port city unlike any other in Mizahar. [Lore]

A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Leliana on December 20th, 2016, 4:38 pm

“I tried to discover, in the rumor of forests and waves, words that other men could not hear, and I pricked up my ears to listen to the revelation of their harmony.”
― Gustave Flaubert, November

5th of Winter, 516 AV
Zastoka Forest
Dawn

Though the wild was ripe with its own particular dangers, with the turmoil of Zeltiva currently a few miles behind her, Lily felt herself finally begin to relax. It had been a tumultuous first week in the south, and a part of her was already beginning to regret the trip. Of all the cities she could have picked, of course she chose the one that was ready to blow. Not only was the political front in Zeltiva uncertain, but the Gods were going crazy. She frowned deeply as Jenny plodded through the leaves blanketing the forest's floor and Dustin trotted ahead. A bounty on the heads of all Vantha. A Goddess gone AWOL. Winter had not come, and the distinctive lack of chill in the air cut just as deeply as any biting frost would.

Syliras hadn't been in a much better position when she left, but their military had seemed to have a better handle on whatever it was that was happening. Trade was still open, and their port wasn't shut down. They had had a curfew as well, but it surprised the tourist to find the same precautions in place almost 900 miles away. It was hard not to dwell on her family, and the redhead had wondered about them constantly this past week. But Lily was stranded now, and had to live with her decision until she could save up enough funds to return. That predicament was what brought her to the forest this morning.

With sea trade barred and winter adamantly absent, people would be desperate for more food. That meant more profits for her, if the huntress was willing to put in the extra work. Leliana looked behind them, into the shadowy trees from which they'd just come. The ridge they'd climbed off Mirahil Pass was just out of sight now. Inky forest, still untouched by the steadily rising sun, was all she could see in every direction. The compass in her hand showed due west as their heading, though the needle pointed ever north.

Leliana reined in her mare and whistled softly for the hound, who slid to a stop and came bounding back. She stepped down from the saddle, gave him a little scratch on the head, then looked at her compass once more. The redhead spun slowly in a circle, watching the needle hold its unwavering bearing north. She glanced up occassionally at the trees, mulling over the direction she wanted to go. On a large scale she knew that north meant Syliras, south meant back down into Zeltiva, and east to Mirahil Pass. South and east were out of the question, so that left north, west, and everything in between. The east side of the forest was better left for another day.

She finally decided on northwest. They would go until they hopefully hit water, or decided that was fruitless and came up with something else. The terrain would be rugged and unfamiliar, so Leliana was loathe to go too far. Today she mostly wanted to find some distinctive landmarks, and hopefully find an area with active game.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on December 21st, 2016, 3:48 pm

“Lay of the Land, Part 1”
Winter, 516 AV
Zastoka Forest
Dawn

*THWACK* Pacing forth and back in too tight a circle, Salara pulls her throwing dagger from the wooden bed frame where it quivers from the impact. If she doesn’t get out of this tiny room soon there will be no bed left – only a pile of chunks and splinters evidenced of her inactive fidgeting. Her new home here in Zeltiva just doesn’t stack up to the cozy comfort of THEIR place. In a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist *KERTHUNK* the dagger misses its target tumbling instead to clatter upon the floor. She sighs as she paces again back to retrieve it.
Her recent venture to the market was… to be honest...a tad intimidating. It has been a long time since she has been around the hustle and bustle of so many people. ‘GADS! I must get away’, she thinks decidedly, as she crams her daggers and whip into her backpack alongside a short ration for snacking. Whipping her cloak about her shoulders she leaves her room thinking ‘Perhaps I can find some dinner in the forest - anything to save a Miza or two.’

'Now this is more like it,' she thinks as the unseasonably warm, open air and salty sea freshness begins to work through her taught muscles. Soon she enters the woodland and her mind begins to relax as well. Her dark cloak covering a simple dress and bare feet are no barrier as Mirahil pass comes and goes. Salara moves more deeply into the forest staying watchful for game trails and keeping an eye out across the rugged terrain for places she might take advantage of for ambushing dinner.

Her watchful attention is diverted upon hearing a soft whistle just ahead. Obviously not a bird’s call, curious yet cautiously she palms her throwing dagger and treads softly off the trail to approach the area from the downwind side. Through a short span of trees between them there is a glint of fiery red, the shuffle of a single horse’s hooves, and ‘Oh, great’ she growls softly, ‘a dog. Figures.’ Overall they seem harmless enough, but Salara was never one to under-estimate a situation– usually.

Alone in unfamiliar territory and with dinner options being scarce so far she decides to move ahead to see where the trio might lead. Stepping farther back through the screen of trees she sheds her cloak and dress stuffing them and her dagger into her backpack. Adjusting the straps of her pack to fit she shifts into the catamount. With barely a whisper on padded paws she bounds ahead to shadow them. Northwest. Perhaps the roan-spotted mare will sense her presence? The dog may scent her; or maybe if the small ginger has any skill at all she may notice Salara or some sign of her before the Kelvic decides to actually call attention to herself which she surely will.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Leliana on December 27th, 2016, 12:44 am

A breeze, neither warm nor cool, danced through the trees, rattling naked branches overhead as Leliana climbed back into the saddle and pointed her mare northwest. She saw mourning doves perched among hollows and crooks, and heard their owl-like croons. Robbins, jays, chickadees, and titmice; the forest was much more lively than it should be this time of year, and though she couldn't grasp the full consequences of winter's absence, she understood that this was all wrong.

"Everything out here is turned upside down too," she worried aloud. Jenny's ear twitched at the sound of her voice as she trudged along through the brush, and Dustin looked up at her as he trotted beside them. Lily smiled down at the hound.

"No matter. Maybe game will be more active as well. More for us, right?"

Of course there was no answer, but they were still good company. Just as much family as those she'd left in Syliras. Lily was grateful for their stalwart, silent presence.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the sun rose higher. It became darker before it finally lightened while they made a gradual climb. There were dips and gullies and rises; switchbacks and dead ends and detours, but no signs of water. Dustin stopped frequently and looked to the north, head high, ears pricked, and tail stiff. Leliana followed his gaze occasionally, but trusted the dog to keep watch.

When they came to a steep hill, the redhead reined in her mare to survey the climb. There was a crooked path through the trees rooted in the sloped earth, narrow and almost bare. She traced its course with her eyes and saw where it turned at the base of the hill to cut south. Carefully, she stepped out of her stirrups and swung to the ground to investigate. The redhead squatted by the bare, packed earth where leaves had been kicked away. There were old, faint hoof marks imprinted in the dirt, and a few that looked more recent. They cut more deeply; two sharp cloven toes--deer. A game trail.

"Look here," she commanded. Dustin had come to her side when she dismounted, and the young woman tapped the tracks to draw his attention. His nose dipped down, searching for any kind of scent. He sniffed and chuffed loudly, circling an increasingly wider area. He overturned leaves, investigated nearby trees, and then suddenly stopped to give a single, quick, low bark. Leliana moved to intercept him and dropped to one knee to look at what he'd found.

A lone pile of scat lay half-buried at the edge of the narrow trail. She poked it with a twig, testing it. It was still relatively soft and broke apart easily, but she couldn't pin down any kind of smell with her mediocre nose. When she picked up a few pellets and tore them apart with her fingers, there wasn't any noticeable warmth. The pile wasn't old, but it wasn't particularly fresh. While she pondered their options, the wind shifted its northern course off of the bay and began to blow south. There was a moment of silence, interrupted only by the sound of branches scraping lightly, before Dustin began to growl.

Lily looked at the hound, then into the trees he was so intent upon. His hackles and tail rose; a dominant, intimidating, and challenging posture. Jenny snorted nervously, tugging on the reins as she took a few steps back.

"Easy there," she assured calmly, rising to comfort the mare with a few gentle strokes on her roan neck. They were in a good spot for something to sneak up on them, and Lily felt the hairs on her neck stand on end as Dustin continued to growl. A steep hill to their left, and another low rise to their right. She decided quickly to retreat back the way they'd come a few yards, even though it was reckless to possibly be turning her back on whatever was hiding further ahead. Lily led her mare up the low slope they'd descended a few chimes ago and snapped her fingers for Dustin to follow. He retreated reluctantly, but quickly turned to face whatever it was he'd caught a scent of.

Dropping Jenny's reins at her feet, the redhead retrieved the shortbow that was slung across her back and pulled an arrow from the bundle in her quiver. She nocked it carefully, then waited.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on December 27th, 2016, 6:11 pm

“Lay of the Land, Part 1”
Winter, 516 AV
Zastoka Forest
Mid-day
Direct quote to Leliana

The aberration between fall and winter was both boon and burden as Salara attempted to avoid detection while she traveled alongside the trio. The fall colors were a distinct advantage to her camouflage; but this far into what should have been winter all the trees were quite bare. To not be seen she was forced to keep below mid- to sky-line and travel instead where dry debris threatened to announce an incautious step because there were no soft yielding snows to cover the sound of her footsteps. When possible she strode across fallen logs, leapt from crags, threaded through crevasses, and climbed amongst the rocky jumble of the land’s bones. A time or few though, and at least once due to the temperamental wind, she was nearly noticed – drat dog.

Thus situation necessitated her traveling a little farther out than anticipated but she also felt it was a good way to spread an attempt to hunt as surely it was also one of the goals of her oblivious companions. With more freedom to move she was able to travel much more quickly and outpaced the others in short order.

Upon running across a rare sunbeam she took a quick break to bask for a moment in the nudity of her flesh. While digging into her backpack she realized that she’d forgotten her water skin and flint and steel - not a huge drawback but frustrating none the less. Masticating a meal of dried travel tack – the merchant said it was beef – to keep her energy up she then returned to her four-footed pursuit and the new purpose of a fresh spring or flowing creek.

As travel passed, priorities changed from company curiosity to hydration first. The game trail she was following which was nearly parallel to the distant travelers became more of a highway, at least comparatively, with much more sign and activity. The tepid day was growing warmer yet so she felt it made some sense that the fresher, cleanly-cut tracks might lead to a water source.

Attentive ears forward she loped up the new path to a large outcropping of craggy boulders under a screen of rugged conifers. Sure enough in the shady shadows is a large puddle dappled round with prints. Fortunately her Kelvic constitution should ensure a safe drink so she hunkered down with her tail curled and tucked along her hind legs to lap nearly fresh, perhaps more brackish, water.

Feeling much refreshed and in better humor than she had been in a long time she decides to return to the woman, horse, and hound and introduce herself in a proper fashion; or at least let her presence be known. She turns only to freeze in the moment with dribbles of water trailing from her muzzle. Her surprised gaze locks onto the panic-widened eyes of a small doe frozen in step where it had finally spotted her drinking from the puddle.

For a moment, the hooved creature seemed paralyzed in indecision and fear. Perhaps it had never seen one of her ilk before? A hard hoof cracks against the forest floor as the doe snorts in it’s own weak effort to intimidate and then the winds shift…. Lifting its head and turning with its white tail flagged high seems to happen all in one motion. Instinctively Salara leapt after it traveling a goodly distance before common sense beat through her animalistic response. The woman she’d been following was a hunter. Her wild scream reverberates across the mountain sending the doe south bounding and crashing blindly off of the path bleating in terror.

>>---->

When Salara finally approaches the scene, she will step from behind a stony outcropping where her 6-foot height could not have easily been hidden wearing only a myriad of silvery scars, a rugged backpack, and a mane of hair. Her hands raised in placation to show she holds no weapon. “It’s almost as if you were waiting for it to come to you,” she is unable to hide a hint of humor in her tone. “Other than the birds and you it is the only other creature I’ve come across today.”
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Leliana on January 5th, 2017, 4:53 pm

For a few more moments, the forest was silent, as if holding its breath along with her. The quiet was almost deafening, and her weak human ears strained to catch any indications of movement. Then, the scream. It echoed off the trees and cut through the winter stillness like a knife in her belly. The sound was inhuman; the screech of an angry or startled beast. A giant cat. Leliana felt her stomach flip and her fluttering heart begin to hammer. Jenny, her mare, snorted in fear and skittered backwards through the dry leaves until she had no more slack in the reins under Lily's boot. Dustin whined loudly, a gargled mixture of defiant growl and anxious keen.

Though the predatory echoes faded quickly, they still rang in her ears. Through the fear she couldn't help but be fascinated by such a sound. If she could mimic it, it would be an intimidating addition to her collection. Just barely did the thought have time to cross her mind when a large doe burst from over top the steep hill across the way. It bounded wildly, screaming quick calls of terror in its mad dash to flee from the direction of the feline screech.

"Shyke!"

The adrenaline pumping through her veins jolted her into automatic reaction. In one quick motion, Leliana drew back the arrow on her string, pinching it between her thumb and index finger as her other hand lifted the bow, pushing against the body and bending the limbs. She aimed a few feet ahead of the animal's path, and when the old feathers of her arrow's fletching tickled her lips, her fingers released. The bow snapped taught, humming as the arrow arced away from the string. It hissed just above the beast's shoulders as it bolted past and buried itself in a nearby tree. Then, as soon as it had appeared, the doe was gone, crashing through the brush until there was silence once more.

"Shyke," she cursed again, quieter this time, but she had little time to be disappointed by her failed shot.

Dustin still grumbled nervously at her side, and she spoke a few soft words of comfort to her mare as she drew the horse closer again. The cat was still nowhere to be seen, but that was soon the least of her worries. As Jenny quieted with the soothing words of her rider, Lily heard the faint crunching of feet approaching. Heart in her throat once more, she plucked another arrow from the quiver and nocked it. She saw the flash of blonde behind a tumble of stone, and readied a shot. What she wasn't expecting, was a tall naked woman to appear. The surprise was obvious in her slack-jawed stare, and it took a moment for her to lower the arrow.

There was a long, stunned silence and Leliana couldn't help but scrutinize the stranger. She was naked after all, miles from the city, with nothing but a backpack on her person. There was something not quite normal about the way she moved--with a quiet deliberation--and she didn't appear to be armed.

"What in the petching Gods' names are you doing out here like that?"

The other woman seemed so nonchalant about it all, like it was normal to waltz up to someone in the woods naked and start a conversation, and Dustin was still throwing a fit. She nudged the dog with her boot and shushed him sharply. He reluctantly settled, but refused to back off. He watched the naked stranger intently, hackles raised.

"Are you some kind of nudist or something?" Momentarily, the wildcat in the area was forgotten.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on January 7th, 2017, 9:34 pm


“Lay of the Land, Part 1”
Winter, 516 AV
Zastoka Forest
Mid-day
Direct quote to Leliana

Salara released held breath to see the fiery woman drop the aim of her arrow and realized, upon comment of her lack of attire, that, no, it was not yet winter’s cold; but most certainly a warped fall temperature was chilling her bare skin. Her hands brush opposite along her forearms as if to wipe away a chill yet without care or worry she casually shrugs off her pack before the woman and horse. Dog? What dog? She appears to ignore the presence of the little beast.

“Well, no, not exactly,” she explains un-informatively as she kneels in wilted forest debris pulling a rather rumpled bundle of dark folds from her pack, “but it is a rather unavoidable consequence of my nature.” Shaking her cloak out she stands and twirls it about her shoulders in a flourish to pin it closed in an effective, if not entirely public-appropriate, cover. “As to why I’m out here? I assume it’s the same as you. I’ve no income and mizas are growing short. It seemed a good idea to go for a hunt as I heard the guild is paying for game meat. Escaping the confines of my room to enjoy the fine day was but a perk.”

She looked down the broken trail of the doe wistfully. “She got the jump on me up above,” Her chin tilts up the trail directionally, “and was beyond my reach in a few short ticks. I knew you were down this way and hoped you would get a better shot at her.” She paused; head tilted listening to the quiet – no birds or bugs, no hidden scurrying of tiny mammals and does not mention the earlier feral scream but acknowledges it by commenting, “Hunting may be a little tough for the moment,” she advises, “but if we hunker down for a bell or so they should start moving again.”

With nothing but time Salara causally skirts around her companions, eyes squinted searching along the doe’s broken path. She knew next to nothing about hunting with weapons but she did know a bit about her prey and a thing or two about arrows. Bare-footed steps are quiet as she follows it’s near back trail well within sight of her companions. The animal had adjusted its direction - here. The prints were angled slightly deeper and edged just a tick off the panic’d path it had taken down. “She may have heard and dunked when you released your arrow or was very lucky twice over. Odds are she’ll not be so successful in her next encounter.” Her sharp-eyed scrutiny focuses beyond the point as she delicately steps across the trail searching more closely. Past an oddly broken twig hanging from a limb and through the shredded remains of a stubborn leaf, “Aha,” she grins. A quick tug retrieves the hunter’s old-fletched arrow still unbroken from a tree’s trunk. “Nothing gained, but nothing lost.” She holds it out in offer.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Leliana on January 18th, 2017, 5:56 pm

"Oka-ay," the redhead supplied, drawing the word out in obvious confusion and bafflement, yet also surrendering to the ambiguous explanation.

It wasn't really her business anyway, why some woman wanted to run around naked. Perhaps it was something to do with winter's absence. A ritual of some kind? But no, it seemed this now-cloaked oddball was out on a hunt. Again, she saw no weapons, and had to suppress an exasperated grunt. A strange one indeed--maybe crazy.

"So, what? Out checking traps?"

It was the only logical explanation her mind could come up with, and for some reason she was trying to give the blonde the benefit of the doubt. No matter how she chose to dress, or not to dress. Leliana chose to ignore how the woman knew of her presence earlier, for she didn't think she was being overly cumbersome or loud in her search for tracks. There was the option that this woman was simply a better tracker, and therefor was more self-aware. She did find that doe earlier, after all, and seemingly by herself. Lily began to wonder if being nude provided a hunting advantage--a naturalist approach, perhaps. Still odd, she scolded herself vehemently.

Dustin finally decided to settle back on his haunches, but still watched the blonde intently, clearly suspicious. His head slowly swiveled to follow her as she moved a short ways along the route their lost doe had fled. It was the woman who drew her attention back to the previous predicament. Her eyes searched the treeline beyond the hills, but there was no obvious movement. The forest was silent now--eerily so--and it made her uncomfortable. Quiet in the trees meant the animals had been frightened. That cat was still, or had been, very close. Yet she trusted her hound to alert them of danger, so she relaxed, but only a little.

The blonde seemed to be searching for a trail, and Leliana wasn't sure she would be of any help, so she waited, not wanting to interrupt. The redhead could find more obvious tracks and paths, but the subtle signs eluded her.

"She was too fast for me. If I had been able to sneak up on her, I might have had a better chance, but a moving target is an entirely different challenge."

The woman offered her arrow back to her and she took it with a nod of thanks, still sporting her serious frown.

"You think she can be found again?" It seemed like a daunting task in an unfamiliar region such as this. If it had been the Bronze Woods, she might not have been so doubtful. "Are you from here?" She motioned with a general flip of the hand to the south, toward the city. "I only just arrived a few days ago, from Syliras. This is my first day out scouting," she admitted, almost sounding a little embarrassed. Leliana thought the stranger seemed keen on continuing on together, but the redhead was reluctant. It wasn't every day you meet a random naked stranger in the woods who wants to help you hunt.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on January 23rd, 2017, 7:35 pm

Checking traps? No,” Salara smiles, “Actually I thought it would be a good idea to familiarize myself with the area; and if opportunity presented perhaps catch some dinner. But really I just needed to get some fresh air and open space. I ran across your trail just after Mirahil Pass but didn’t want to intrude.” She sensed the huntress’s unease but was not yet comfortable revealing her nature. From more experiences than she cared to admit she had learned that revealing herself as Kelvic could turn out poorly depending upon the perspective of some. Perhaps becoming better acquainted would ease some of the red-head’s discomfort as well as her own. “I’m Salara, by the way, and new come to Zeltiva as well.” Spying a fallen log as a convenient seat Salara settles upon it, adjusting her cloak to ensure she is well covered. Taking advantage of the lull she casually pulls a dagger from her pack and begins cleaning her nails of the dirt that had dried and crusted there.

She nods and chuckles in good humor to hear the huntress’s explanation of the missed shot. “She was too fast for me too. Like you, I am more successful when I can lay in wait or stalk my prey. It would have been different if I had been intent on her; but she actually found me first while I was drinking from a puddle up trail. The only thing I could do was drive her your way and ensure she wouldn’t be looking for other dangers. But no,” she considers thoughtfully looking down the broken path the doe had made through the woods, “Normally the deer stay near their territory, but she had quite a scare and twice over at that.” Salara concludes self-consciously knowing she’d overdone it just a bit in the excitement of the chase, “I wouldn’t be surprised to find that animal on the other side of the bay by now. She may eventually come back to this region if she can avoid other hunters.”

As they speak, the little sounds start again. Small scampering in the forest litter, chirps and trills of birds signaling to all who understand that danger – for the moment – has passed. It was a peaceful day and very nice to have someone to speak to if even only for this little bit of time. “I’ve never hunted with a horse and hound.” Her nose crinkles in distaste as her glance slides past the wary beast. “But if you are keen on continuing your hunt; the trails higher up,” she points up the deer’s broken path with the point of her blade before sliding it back into her pack, “look much more promising. The spring I found showed a lot of activity and I’ll bet if you find some cover and hunker down to wait you should be rewarded before it gets too dark.” The location would be ideal for Salara’s style of ambush hunting; yet she was willing to forego her own efforts to make up for chasing the game away earlier.
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Leliana on February 22nd, 2017, 8:22 pm

So this woman was new to the area as well. What were the odds? She wasn't sure how she felt about venturing into the unknown with someone just as unfamiliar as she with these wilds, especially in chase of game. Leliana hadn't planned on wandering too far from the main road in the hopes that she would be safer, but then again, it was obvious that predators were still about. Her eyes traced the treeline and ridge where she suspected the cat had been, though once more there were no signs of movement. She couldn't help but be paranoid.

Salara. Simple manners had escaped her in the heat of the moment, and her rebuttal was automatic; an instinctive and practiced habit ingrained into her. Be civil, her mother had always had to remind her.

"Lucas," she offered, compromising between habit and reluctance. A last name should suffice, although it was a little curt.

Though Salara seemed comfortable enough to settle down and relax, Lily felt no such urge. She remained standing, alert and a little twitchy as she slowly came down from her adrenaline high. Absently, she fondled one of Dustin's erect ears. His attitude mirrored her own, though Jenny seemed content enough for now to stand ground tied. The redhead only began to relax when the sounds of the forest began to return. First it was the rustling in the bare branches and the stirring of leaves around gnarled tree roots, then trills and coos and chirps of song and conversation. She took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling her shoulders sag a little with relief.

"I guess it couldn't hurt to wait and see if something else comes along," Leliana finally relented. "Or at least look for some more activity in the area." She motioned to the trail with an extended hand, and tipped her head. "Care to show us the way?"
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A Lay of the Land, Part I

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on February 24th, 2017, 8:41 pm

“Lucas, Well met.” Salara smiles and stands sketching a slight bow which was a little out of context in the forest but polite just the same. She considered the invitation to guide the trio to the water source she had located and felt warmed by the welcome, but it seemed inefficient for a successful hunt. “If we all approach the watering hole at once the game may not show itself. If you truly desire using that bow of yours, perhaps a better plan might be me circling at this level in attempt to drive game up mountain in your general direction?” It may have been how the original doe had come upon her after all – driven by this group wandering below.

Coming to stand alongside Lucas her hands emphasize her idea as she points up trail, “You could track the doe’s broken trail back up the mountain. Deer usually follow the path of least resistance; but because she was panicky it will likely be more direct than using the established game trails as I did coming down. Being more direct it may be steeper but your mare should still be able to follow it and it would keep your spore from the main trails. You will know you are close when you see a patch of deep evergreens and then a rocky jumble at their base. The shallow spring rests within the shadows of a crevasse between the stones. If you are stealthy and the dog doesn’t give you away,” she couldn’t quite hide her disdain for nearly all canine, “you may come upon prey as they are taking refreshment. If not, hunker down against a backdrop that doesn’t outline your figure against the skyline and keep aware for anything coming up trail.” As her mind dives deep into a picture of the hunt, Salara doesn’t even consider that Lucas may already know all of this.

She pauses a tick considering the variability of winds’ direction. “I don’t think you will be able to stay downwind; but if you pick your ambush well, you may be able to avoid a direct breeze blowing across to carry your scent. I will start on this level with a slow upward spiral around to herd anything between us up trail to your station. Do you know the whippoorwill’s call?” Salara’s lips pucker for a not-perfect rendition of the distinctive sound. “I can whistle my location every few chimes so that you know my position and from whence the game may come. Should you be successful call me in with the same signal; and I will come directly within sight of the evergreens and signal to avoid inadvertently becoming your trophy. What do you think? Worth a try?”
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