The Wild (Flashback, mod) (Finished)

[Rand]

Winter 20 508 AV

Rand was out again. Not just out for the day, doing chores or anything mundain of that nature. No, this was one of his rambling countryside escapades throught the wild outside Zeltiva, for some unknown reason. Unfortunatley, it was winter and a particulary frigid one at that. Snow lay four inches on the ground, and the dark clouds building over the mountains promised there was more to come. Still Rand was lazing happily at the fire he had created. His entire bieng was at peace as he sat cooking his humble meal of a rabbit he'd managed to snare plus some herbs and roots he was able to scrounge up. His thoughts wandered to the weather, his mother they always went to his mother, and to the rabbit.

Oh the rabbit, I wonder how it feels to be that rabbit strung out over the spit like that? Rand mused a bit longer then turned the rabbit over so one side didnt cook to much. He was planning on trying a new meal tonight. As the rabbit cooked, Rand put a small trap under it to catch the grease and fat. As he did this he brought a pot of water to boil. As the water boiled , the added some rosemary, khuto root( a sweet root native to Zeltiva), and some of the fat and grease to create a rabbit broth. As the herbs boiled down, Rand took the rabbit off the spit,and put to the side of the fire so that it could cool.

The rabbit smelled delicious. Its skin was dark and crispy, with small drops of fat for flavor swelling out of it. As Rand sniffed the rabbit he added various herbs to the broth. The broth continued to boil as Rand added some Yuman root to it. Yuman is like a potato but sweeter and smaller in size. Rand's idea was to make a soupy broth to actually cut the rabbit into. Rand continued his meal for about an hour finally finishing it so that he could, relax and eat the meal. As Rand lounged by the fire he pulled out his fork, and dug into the meal.

As he tasted the first bite, Rand's mind settled onto the rich flavors of the rabbit and Yuman root. His mind formulated on how the dish was a little sweet and needed some salty, or sour flavor. Rand mused for just a bit, until he heard the growl.......



The puma was starving. The winters were particularly harsh in the Zeltivan mountains, and this one was harsher than most. The snow was thick on the ground as it prowled the lowlands closer to the city for food. Normally this was no area for pumas, but this one was desperate. It was starving and needed to eat. The lean and gaunt body of the puma was showing its ribs, as it prowled the woods. Suddenly, the puma smelled something. The smell was tantalizing drawing the puma in, even though it was uncertain of the nature of the smell. There was inexplicably a light ahead. The puma was instantly cautious. It was night, and light mean one of the two legged animals with long sharp teeth. The puma crept ever closer drawn by the strange yet appitizing smell. The trees were perfect cover, allowing the puma to come closer and closer to the fire. The puma readied to strike, its leg muscles coiled as it let out its deathly cry and jumped into the light......


Rand turned just intime to roll slightly to the left, his blade temporarly forgotten by his pack on the opposite side of the fire.
What is that? Rand thought as he threw his hands up in defense as the puma charged. Rand had no idea how this would end, but he was certain he would get mauled.

[Rand]

Rand thrust his hands up into the neck of the beast. HE aimed blindly trying to protect his face and vital organs from the puma's assault. As the puma swung on him, Rand felt the inexhaustable and ruthless pain of having the puma claw and maul his arm. He screamed loudly as the blood began to run down his arm. Rand continued to fight, his muscles tensing and his adrenaline coursing through his veins. With every ounce of his strength he managed to push the puma off of him and roll back towards the fire.

Damn thing must be starving Rand thought as he dove for his blade. The fire was now between himself and the puma. Rand held his blade awkwardly in his left hand, His right arm was severly wounded, the blood ran in several long rivers down his arm. His breath was labored as he made his best attempt to keep the fire between himself and the puma.


The Puma was now taking stock of the situation. Seeing that its attack had failed it slowly backed away, the being now had its sharp silver tooth. The attack now seemed foolish as it backed further and further away.

Rand watched as the puma faded into the night. He suddenly collapsed, his breath coming on long haggard gasps as he slowly lowered his blade and sat back by the fire. His arm throbbed and Rand's vision was popping with colorful little dotss. Rand rummaged through his pack looking for some of his supplies. As he found them he pulled them out, his knife, his extra shirt, some rope, and a small amount of ointment he had stored away. Rand had to dress his wounds quickly. He started by going away from the fire a little ways to have some cleaner snow. The ruccus had dirtied the snow around the fire. Rand dropped down and grabbed handfuls of snow and began to rub the snow on his arm. This was the only way to clean the room. Not the best way but the only one he could think of. As he rubbed the snow across his wounds he could feel cold snow melting and numbing his arm.

This is good, i need it numb Rand thought as he continued to rub fresh handfuls of snow, the next part was going to be tough, the had to think he had to be strong. Rand stumbled back towards the fire, his body was shacking as he moved closer and closer. Rand sat down pulling out his knife. He thrust it into the fire so the blade would get nice and hot. As he did this he also stoked and put more wood onto the fire so it would become hotter. Rand's face was grim, yet stil his thoughts ran towards the strange.

I wonder what my blood tasted like to that animal? Was it sweet and nourishing? was my flesh tender? Rand mused on how he must have tasted to the puma, all the wihile staring with grim determination at the knife in the fire. As the time passed, and the knife began to glow white hot, Rand began to mentally prepare himself. Rand wrapped his hand in a strip of his shirt, he took his belt folded it in half and bit down on it. He pulled the white hot knife out of the fire with his wrapped hand and exhaled. He then pressed the knife onto each of the cuts, using his belt to not bite his tongue off as he screamed in agony. Rand did this three times for each slash, then dropped the knife as he screamed again.

Mustering up his strength he once again strayed from his fire. He soothed the burns with more snow then staggered to gather some fire wood. As he returned to the fire, he slowly and agonizing placed the wood on the fire so it would burn high, hot and for the whole night. As he finished the pile he lay back, aching all over from his wounds. He passed out near the fire covered by his cloak.

[Rand]

The morning broke cold and crisp, in the foothills below the Zeltivan mountains. The snow had held for the night, but the dark ominous clouds were closer and threatening to burst at any moment. the winter winds were slowly killing what was left of Rand's fire as he stomped through the trees. He'd only slept enough to recover some strength, and understandably the deep gashes in his arm had not aided him into the land of dreams. Still Rand was alive, at least for the time and on the move.

It had taken an excruciating amount of time for Rand to break camp and get on the move. He'd actually thought about leaving the majority of his belongings behind. However, he knew he wouldn't be able to replace them so necessity won out in the end. Rand cursed not bringing his horse with him. His arm burned, it was a searing pain that came with cuts, and tears, and moving his arm hurt. As the day wore on the swelling became tremendous around the gashes and Rand was forced to stop.

Damn that cat, for all the good its done me Rand said to the trees around him. As he leaned against a tree catching his breath, he noticed a shrub on the next adjacent tree. He smiled hoping it was what he thought it was. Rand trudged to the tree feeling the waxyness of the leaves, sure enough it was winterbloom! Rand smiled as he went about making a fire. Twenty minutes later Rand was melting some water in a pot and crushing the leaves into it. Rand knew the seeds of this plant were oily and edible, and had heard that the leaves released some kind of medical property. He hoped it was true. As he sat boiling the leaves he pondered on the plants other name, witch-hazel.

Rand mused on the term for a while, and then as he guessed the leaves were done, took the water off to cool. The next step was to figure out the best way to apply the leave. Rand settled on taking another part of his shirt and dip it in the water. As he dabbed it on the wounds he felt a burning sensationg, but as it subsided his arm felt better. He moved quickly from that making several long strands of his shirt, then dunked them into the water, and tied them around his arm. His arm felt better as he packed up and moved on. His arm felt better, and the pain subsided as he moved towards Zeltiva.

[Liminal]

+1 XP Cooking
+1 XP Wilderness survival
Lore: Wound cauterization.


I enjoyed reading the thread ^_^