Why Not? (Ven)

by **Vala** on July 5th, 2011, 4:42 am

24th of Summer, 511 AV

"Hey Ven. Let's go for a quick bunny hunt. What do you say?" It was one of Vala's rare days off, and she was in the mood to get out of the stifling city. It was getting far too hot during the summer to stay cooped up in the volcano all the time. "Come on? I'm sure the Valintar won't mind if I'm there to supervise you. That and you should keep your skills up, if you don't want to get rusty." Vala gave one of her winning smiles as she tried to persuade Ven to do what she wanted. She even batted her eyelashes for good measure. Her pointed canines glistened in the dim light of her room as they were pressed against the rosy pink of her pouty lips. It was an easy mask for Vala to maintain; it was perfected down to the open stance at which she held her hands outstretched at her sides.

Its not that she wanted to spend time with Ven. Like always, Vala was thinking of herself. She wanted someone just in case another bear came round. She was fairly sure she could out run him...

Vala's bow and quiver lay ready on her just made bed. She moved about trying to stretch her limbs. She especially spent some time rotating her ankle; it still acted up on occasion. "So Ven? You up for some fun?

by **Ven** on July 5th, 2011, 5:15 am

Startled by the sudden invite, Ven couldn't help but look stupid for a moment. After a while now Vala hasn't been talking to him much at all, due to the fact that his opinion on the last matter somehow upset her. Ever since then he's made a good note to either simply tell her want she might want to hear or simply shut up, even if the topic was simple. Though she did give him a random invite out of nowhere it was great timing if not lucky, his day had little messages to run so he was given a good break for most of the day.

"Well you do have an excellent point, I wouldn't want these skills to go to waste after all." He gave a simple smile, seeing as how smiling usually would help lighten situations; though he wasn't sure if it worked with Vala. "Bunnies are interesting though I haven't needed to hunt one before, but if you think the Valintar wouldn't mind then I'll happily go with you." He never got to do much since he worked here, and anything he could do would usually be ruined by a higher caste. Hunting would be a good chance for him to lose some steam, and exercise his skills.

by **Vala** on July 5th, 2011, 7:41 pm

Success. Vala smiled; she got what she wanted. “Do you have everything you need to hunt? Vala had never seen a Kelvic do its business before, she wasn’t even sure how one would hunt with a creature; as long as he didn’t get in her way, company was usually welcome.

Vala threw her latched her quiver strap over her shoulder, tightening it so it wouldn’t shift as she walked. She kept the bow in hand, just in case. Giving her ankle one last good rotation, she walked out of her room. Vala made her way to the gates with an spring to her step. She even smiled to other passing chiet that she recognized but barely acknowledged. Today I’m going to kill me some bunnies. Vala thought excitedly. Last season she nearly vomited from shooting at one of the pink nosed fluff balls, but ever since she had stopped hitting Dek, even living with one, she needed to get out her domination compulsions somehow.

Val Imsun sat at his regular spot by the gates, sipping from his bottomless cup of tea. Val skipped over to him, swiping half a cookie off his plate, with impish imprudence. “Hey Val! Going out for a hunt today!” Vala poked out her tongue playfully; she was in an eerie good mood.

Val raised an eyebrow, not minding as she nibbled away on his morning treat. “Another hunt? You’ve been very active lately. Stay safe you two.” Val waved them off as Vala led Ven to a fairly well worn path. It was opposite of the one she had taken with Ronin – she definitely wouldn’t be going down there again. The one she chose today, she had been on with Eoin and she had caught wind of several good bunny trails during their casual hike.

“So… how do you do… this?” Vala lowered her voice to an airy whisper as her eyes were focused on the ground. She walked with slow deliberateness; they were still on a path but she still wanted to keep her noise pollution to a minimum.

OOC Note :

by **Ven** on July 6th, 2011, 12:12 am

Ven only nodded when she asked if he had what he needed, of course he had what he needed. Considering he was a fox he only needed his senses, but the tricky part was figuring out how he would coordinate with her. Since he's been with her he's tried to figure out ways of communication when he was a fox, and since his hunting partner was a she instead of a he it would be a good idea for him avoid....that situation as well. Transforming to human wasn't a good idea if he wasn't near his clothes, so when he did transform he would have to give some signal that it was him...not some other fox.

When they finally arrived on the path and she asked him in a low whisper, he took a good moment while looking at the ground as well. He didn't want to really look at her, after all if Dek look at higher castes that would mean their possibly challenging them. He did his best to avoid that at all cost. "Well, since I can't really say anything in my original form I simply wait until we find our prey. When that happens and your not sure it's me, tell me to roll over twice and I'll obey. If I don't then you know it's not me. Sound simple enough?" To him it did, but he wanted to make sure that she wasn't confused. It was unlikely that she was, given the fact that she's sharper than a razor; but he still felt better to make sure.

OOC :

by **Vala** on July 6th, 2011, 4:15 am

Vala maintained a cool face. She was in hunt mode; the smile was gone. Vala readjusted her bow hand. Without blinking, she drew an arrow from her quiver and nocked it, but did not pull the string taught. She kept her voice low, leaning ever closer to Ven. “I am not as squeamish as you assume. You think after a lifetime in Wind Reach I have not seen boys without their byrda? Please.” Vala scoffed. “Waiting to transform until we find our prey is illogical; it could cost us the prey from the time it takes you to change. Not only into your form, but out of your clothes – No.” Vala stared right into Ven’s eyes. She did not care for modesty; it was a societal mores that she abided by to conform, to assimilate. They were in the wild now. Ven was a Kelvic, it should have been a natural state for him. Vala’s porcelain face was so collected and sharp it was inhuman. Her eyes opened wide, taking in the scenery, flitting to anything that moved; they did not blink often. “You will change now.” It was an order; She wanted this hunt as successful as possible. “I will tie your clothes round my quiver. I will give them back to you once we have finished hunting and you need to change back.” Her head twisted to the side, as her ears caught a light snapping: a small dry twig. She turned back to Ven. “There are not many red foxes in this area. Nor are they oft willing to approach humans, especially hunters, of their own accord. I will have no trouble detecting it is you.” Each word came clipped, her normally casual vocabulary enhanced by the formality she felt as she gave direct orders. “Do you understand?” Vala looked down at Ven from under her nose.

by **Ven** on July 6th, 2011, 5:58 am

Ven had not at first noticed how she easily became more bossy, she never was this much demanding before. She was indeed correct though, and he would listen to her no matter what. He was a Kelvic, and the wild indeed called his inner instinct out. Without a hesitating word or thought he obeyed, shrinking down into the clothes that was around him until a fox crawled out. He looked up at her with the same eyes, the eyes of an excited younger hunter ready to find his larger prey. The forest came to life around him with beautiful life and sound, his senses that had been dulled within the caverns of the volcano had been revived.

He listened further for the sound of wild life ahead, his instincts told him something was out there. Along with this he felt the urge, an never ending itch that told him to strike; but he knew better. His partner was the one calling the shots, the one who was to command him and tell him what he needed to do. He looked up to Vala, fluffing his furry tail as he took his seat in front of her.
The expression he had on his face was clear for Vala to read easily, it simply said "What's next?"

by **Vala** on July 7th, 2011, 4:20 am

Vala picked up Ven’s clothes and tied them tight around her quiver. She gave the fox a nod of approval, one she wouldn’t have been so easy to share if he was a human. “I assume you can still understand me.” Vala whispered even quieter, assuming with his fox ears that he could hear even better now. Vala also switched to Lhatvian since she just found it easier to whisper than Nari’s clicks or common’s hard consonants. I know of an animal trail, one used by creatures, probably herbivores since the flora is usually stripped on the path. I am not sure if the rabbits use it as well, or if there will be too many scents to be individually discernable, but it’s worth a try. Once we get there I want you to sniff out the freshest trail. I actually doesn’t even have to be a rabbit, they just tend to be more bountiful… Basic rundown: You will find it; I will shoot it.”

Stepping with care, Vala made her way down the human dirt path, until she saw the edge of the animal path that ran parallel for no more than a meter. She crossed the sparse foliage, accidentally snapping a frail branch with the edge of her bow. Vala grimaced but made sure to keep her mouth shut. She looked to Ven, urging him on with her piercing eyes.

Individual tracks could be seen imprinted lightly on the dry dirt. The trail probably led to a small pond, but Vala didn’t know which direction since this was the first time she had decided to utilize her observation. Trees along the thin trail had much of their lower branches stripped of their leaves. Even some of the bark had been scratched off. On thornier bushes Vala saw bits of fur, especially the ones nearer to the ground. Vala did not let her glee distract her, but she did allow a faint twitch of her lips.

by **Ven** on July 7th, 2011, 9:20 am

Without hesitation he crept onto the scene, the tracks were in fact not too old as he observed. It was the scents though that threw him off, for some reason the scents smelled like old dung mixed with some other unneeded fragrances. It was indeed odd, and if their bunnies smelled like this then it wouldn't be to hard to track their direction. Immediately his nose picked up where the direction was fresh, and he gave Vala a quick glance. Pointing his nose in a eastward bound direction he slowly began to follow the scent. Keeping an eye on Vala as to not lose her while creeping closer to a spot where the scent was richer, Ven made sure to use his camouflaging skills to hide himself from his prey while keeping in sight of Vala.

It's a good thing she knows Lhativian, and that my senses are sharpened again. Otherwise we'd be in a dull situation. He stopped right in his tracks. Behind a bush a small fluffy object, that's where the scent was leading him. His target was found. Looking up to Vala, he waved his tail left and right to signal her and looked back at the bush. Hoping that he pointed out the spot well enough for her, he waited until she would signal him to move.

by **Vala** on July 8th, 2011, 1:34 am

Vala was surprised he had found a fresh trail so quickly. Her eyes not only followed Ven, but the tiny padded prints he walked over. From the size of the prints she assumed it would be a scrawny thing; she wasn’t surprised when she did spot the lean brown fluff nibbling on a meager strip of green. She looked at Ven, urging him to stay put as she pulled her bow up, and the string to her chin. Vala was three meters away, hidden behind a scraggly bush and two dead trees. She released the breathe from her lungs; the warm air caught in her throat when the hare raised its nose, the russet nub wiggling side to side. She hadn’t set her aim yet; she wasn’t ready. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, threatening to crack her rib cage. It skipped a beat. Her heart began to slow down again; the bunny was back to feeding.

Vala kept both eyes open, shifting her left foot slightly back to make a V with her feet. There wasn’t a clear head shot. Vala moved her bow arm a fraction to the left until the tip of the arrow was aimed a little above the hare’s heart. Her three fingers, in their hooked state, could feel the string pressing firmly against the calloused pads; it barely hurt anymore. She dropped her shoulder, it had locked uncomfortably when she raised her draw arm. With her stance proper, Vala stopped breathing. As soon as her aim was steady, the steady beat of her pulse thrumming in her ears, she loosed the arrow.

The bunny looked up, too late. It tried to jump, its heightened senses as an animal of a prey telling it something out there was trying to kill it. The arrow made it, just in time. It wasn’t a clean shot. Vala had waited too long. It went right through, the stomach. The bunny was still alive.

Vala didn’t care how much noise she made, she ran through the foliage, pushing back branches, kicking aside undergrowth until she reached the bunny. Animals were pure. She may have liked to torture the people around her and animals that deserved to be put in their place, but one being hunted like the rabbit had no right to suffer, especially from her hand. With a quick twist of the neck, the twitching stopped. Vala released a sigh. She turned to Ven. “Good catch. Would you like to take a break and eat what we have, or would you like to catch some more before our first break?” Her voice shook – from the adrenaline? Vala pulled out a small sack from her byrda, stuffing the limp corpse into the dark recess before the eyes could stare at her any further.

by **Ven** on July 10th, 2011, 7:09 am

His face dropped to a shock after his sharp ears caught the sound of the snapping neck of the bunny now in her sack, no doubt it revealed how brutal her nature could be if he were to lose her favor; as he shuddered a bit just thinking about how that could happen to him. Still he felt eager to continue hunting before eating, so he scratched the dirt and sniffed it for a moment to show that he wanted to continue and sniffed the area and him and Vala. There wasn't really any scent to pick up, so he decided to go a small ways back until he caught a trail similar. It wasn't as strong but it still smelled the same, and it pointed slightly northeastern from their point. Did this bunny leave it's friend to die?

He knew the direction but didn't know if Vala wanted to continue, so he sat down and looked at her. He turned his head in the direction the trail went, then back at her with the same expression on his face as before:This trail goes on here, but what would you like to do? His tail swept back and forth with ease, and his mind was focused on the area around him. It was Vala's call on what to do next.

OOC :