Just another day. That's all that it ever was, a routine that was followed to the letter. Sometimes, he dreamed of moving on, to somewhere else. The roads may have been dangerous, deserted.. but he would overcome them, and he would survive. Find others traveling in the same direction as he; use them for support. But not yet. Not until he could master the bow in his hands and the Kopis hung from his hip. Or any other weapon that he might come across.
Walking along Kabrin Road gave him a perfect view of the Bronze Woods, and with thin trees barely covered in the remains of their leaves, there was an eerily high visibility to the trees above, or from the trees. Some occasional familiars waved to him as he passed, and he returned them - the most notable being Natasha Druva, who he passed a greeting towards. The knight had her familiar dagger and long-sword looped into the belt around her hip. However, for her weapons, she looked almost scruffy compared to him - as always, the Hunter's short-bow looped around his shoulder with the limbs pressed to his back and the drawstring cutting into his chest through his thin, clean white shirt. He was learning to take more pride in his complexion and his appearance. Though it had nothing to do with his hunting, it was a good habit to keep up.
The bow was removed it as soon as he found a small opening down the path, and notched an arrow from the leather quiver slung over his back. He would be prepared for anything that came along - few ever did, though. Winter was always a troubling time for hunters, having to travel deeper into the woodlands than one could consider wise to find the prey that hid away for the seasons. Little chance of rabbits, and sparse deer. However, he risked hunger if he did not find anything to use tonight. So he continued, regardless, through the trees until the Kabrin Road could no longer be seen. Past even the Sukina Geysers that were visible some point in the distance thanks to a thinning of trees around them. He expected to see snow, soon, in this temperature and climate. It would make hunting all the more difficult with more places for the woodland creatures to hide, and snow made noise. He'd learned that last Winter.
Small noises all around him sent the hairs on the back of his neck on edge, but he didn't stop. Not until he heard something else - a small twist of branches, although there wouldn't be anything up there, surely.. animals were sparse that would prefer trees, barring the occasional bird. Surely, too cold for any squirrel or other small woodland creature that would be able to climb. Which would mean it would be something considerably larger.. and made him raise the bow, prepared for whatever it could be. He could kill it, anyway. He was sure that he could kill it, take it home for food, or better yet - sell it to the highest bidder in the market. Oh yes, a perfect plan, although he'd still have to kill.. whatever the thing was.
Of course, it was a bird. A fairly large one - perhaps an owl, that shook itself clear of small pines and launched into the air with a mighty swing of its heavy wings. He shook his head in mute amusement at his own conclusion and continued on his way, arrow aimed for the ground so that he wouldn't lose it in the forest floor, should anything startle him. However, something did startle him regardless. It was only through sheer miracle that he was able to lift the bow aim for the shoulder of the man running towards him, and release it. Immediately afterwards, he reached back for another from the quiver. It was his fault, for running like a crazed lunatic. |