Completed Catch that Deer!

[Rion Whitestone]

When the hunter told Rion he could call him anything he wanted, his mind quickly started to wander as to the perfect name for the stranger. Off the top of his head, he settled on one short and easy to remember title. "From now on, your name is...Gray. I could have named you Dark, but Gray has such a better ring to it." Nodding at the name, Rion tensed up when Gray went from talking about Aldreda to talking about weapons in general. However, he made himself stay calm, since Gray was probably simply misinformed. "I assume you've never met a Syliran Knight then," he said. "Let's see you try bad-mouthing weapons after you've dealt with one of them." A while after this was said, Gray began to explain what a Kelvic really was, saying that it looked completely human or completely animal-like. This of course confused Rion, since Gray looked like both an animal and human wrapped into one. Yet another mystery for Rion to uncover. "Wait a minute," I said. "If you're not a Kelvic...then why do you have horns sticking out your head? Just what are you anyway?" Whether the question was answered or not, Rion went on to feel a bit apprehensive when Gray began to debate which path to follow. In his mind, the predator path led to a meal of the predator and the herbivore. On the otherhand, the herbivore path led to the slaughtering of an innocent plant eater. Either way, some innocent creature was going to get shot. The only choice was how many casualties Rion would allow. "Maybe we should take the herbivore path." Rion said after a while. But by then, it was already too late. Gray had already begun walking, and it was in the direction Rion had seen the wolves before...

[Medhozic]

As he continued on his way, regardless of whether the man would also follow, he begun to explain himself in ways that he'd never had to do before, quite frankly. "I have met plenty of Syliran Knights and squires alike. They enclose the entire castle." He wouldn't mention how they also seemed to plague the Bronze Woods as well in their archery and horse-riding training, since he didn't want to frighten the poor boy with the knowledge that they could appear in the middle of their hunt. Unlikely but possible all the same. "And I can tell you now, that none of them give a name to their swords like so many five-year-olds that encase themselves in the fantasies of children, of chivalry and other humorous, if quite sad, fantasies." He was not so deluded, of course. He had a sword and he used it as a sword - he would never give it a name, or treat it any more than what it was. And given how childish Rion had been acting, it should not really have surprised the Ethaefal that the boy was completely unknowing of the different creatures that spread themselves all through Mizahar. It still did, however, and made him slow down in his rather brisk walk to turn back on the farmer and stare at him for several long moments - contemplating whether or not he should simply explain himself, or backtrack and accept the title of Kelvic to avoid having to explain the roles of Syna in the world, and Leth, and their children.. and the falls and rises of so many other gods that had led to the formation of the Synafal and Lethafal. "It does not matter what I am. These horns are a symbol of my stature as a son of Syna. That is all." Hopefully he would not ask any more questions on the subject, else he really would have to go back through the histories of Mizahar. Through all of this, he kept walking, pushing away branches with his fingers and occasionally snapping the smaller, narrower ones. Snow kept crunching underfoot, which annoyed Medhozic - he'd not be able to hear the approaching footsteps of a predator over them, but they would be able to hear him. He'd never have this problem in the spring seasons, or the summer - with longer days, more prey.. all would be better then. And warmer. Please, Syna, let the Summer seasons flourish soon.

[Rion Whitestone]

As Gray went on about the uselessness of naming a sword, Rion soon realized that this just wasn't a battle that could be won easily. So he simply decided to give up all together, deciding to change the subject. Though he wanted Gray to accept Aldreda, that goal seemed pretty unlikely at the time. When Rion asked about the horns on Gray's head, the hunter suddenly stopped and abruptly to the farmer, his face a confused mixture of surprise and anxiety. When he finally spoke, though, it was only to say that he was the child of someone called Syna. Rion's immediate reaction was "Never heard of him. Is he supposed to be some abnormally mutated Kelvic or something?" Shrugging off the question, Rion decided to look around to scope out the danger of the situation. By then, the wolves had caught the scent of their prey and were off in pursuit of it. Though they were a bit off into the distance, Rion saw them begin to pick up speed. Considering his trained use of the bow, Rion assumed that Gray saw them too, so he didn't bother explaining. Instead, Rion followed his first instinct, which was to blindly run after the canines. Doing so had either of two results: he would only be spotted by the wolves or he would be attacked on sight. It was highly unlikely that he'd actually catch up to the wolves without a hinge.

[Medhozic]

Sometimes, he wished that he could just shoot some people. Shoot them through the middle of the forehead with his bow and cull a bit of ignorance out of the humans - do what they should have done many, many seasons ago, just in the name of a bit of dignity that so many of them now lacked. It was no wonder that the Jamoura disliked the humans - he disliked them too, though he doubted that he would be accepted in the Spires, much as he wished to travel to them to see if he could settle down with something, anything. Humans and Kelvics simply weren't things that he would ever understand. And he could barely tolerate them as it was. Rion had soon become one of these humans - it was a miracle that his mind managed to stop his arms from reaching for his bow, or his kopis, to push them through the mans throat. Regardless of whether he had a petching broad-sword or not, he'd show the man something in the lines of respect and at least a bit of common sense. Because of a boy did not know the names of the Gods that had given him breath and blood, then what was there point in his survival anyway. There were plenty of others where he came from - tens, hundreds of thousands even. At least one must have the capacity to understand such things, mustn't they? He saw the wolves in the distance - a small group, he'd seen larger. He wouldn't kill them. They hunted in groups far too large and were co-ordinated as a team. Then again, he had experience with groups much larger and he knew one thing to do that would solve the conundrum.. but was it worth it in the end. Probably not, when he thought extensively. For now, there were more pressing matters. And so, he stopped Rion with a touch on the shoulder that was much firmer than it should have been. "Syna is a Goddess. Watch what you speak." It seemed so many wished to aggravate him.. or so it seemed. And yet, none of them wandered what would happen when they did. "The Light, and Joy of Mizahar. Speak ill of her and you will find you will regret it, one way or another." He left that last statement hanging in the air as he dropped his hand and turned back to the wolves, that had by now disappeared from sight. The boy would die, he knew that it was an undeniable fact. He wanted to run after wolves, as if they would not see him. There were much safer ways to pursue a goal, since a broad-sword would do nothing against several. Even a few would be too much. He'd seen it happen before to a pair of hunters that he'd met. One of these methods, he used now - approaching the last place he'd seen the wolves, and touching along the ground with his fingerprints to move away dust and rocks, until he found thin tracks pointing off south. A few more further down, but he could follow them well enough from thereon. "Follow." He had little more respect for Rion than a dog, and he had no qualms in showing it openly. So he began walking down the new path with the faint scent of wolf and fresh blood in the air.

[Rion Whitestone]

Rion assumed from Gray's expression that he had said something insensitive. However, he didn't know just how insensitive until he explained the fact that Syna wasn't a kelvic, but instead a goddess! He at least knew what those were. A few of the people back in Syliras openly worshiped the gods. The Syliran Knights even had a talking tree they praised as a god...or at least that's what he heard. Personally, Rion didn't worship any gods. Sure he believed in them, but with so many out there, he thought it would take too much time trying to praise them all. So instead, he praised none of them, leaving them alone in hopes that they'd leave him alone. Still, despite not personally having a god, Rion could still respect the people that did worship the gods. That's why he felt immediate guilt at practically insulting Gray's goddess. "Sorry," he quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to be offensive or anything. It's just that I've never met someone who worshiped Syna before...I didn't know." Though he didn't think this was enough to get back on Gray's good side - not that he was on his good side in the first place - it was all he had at the moment. Rion hoped Gray would at least feel better after he helped him get that deer he wanted. By then, the wolves had disappeared into the distance, though they were nice enough to leave them a trail to follow. Rion let Gray lead the way, as he was foreign to the art of tracking. He did watch carefully, however, just in case he needed to track someone someday.

[Medhozic]

"I do not care." He obviously did, but the denial of such emotion had become habitual to the point that he simply dispelled as much conversation as possible in order to make sure that the boy wouldn't make any more stupid mistakes. Part of him still stood back in astonishment that Rion didn't know the names of the Gods that existed - another part simply took it in its stride and focused elsewhere, on the faded tracks of the hunt. But his thoughts remained conflicted - what he could say, what he could do. "I do not worship her. I love her, as a mother loves her son. Because I am her son. My horns, and my skin, and my race testify to the truth of the Gods." He stopped by a small leading track of footprints that crossed a smear of blood - the wolves had caught something. It was fresh by the steam that lifted off it, and the stench of meat too. Doubtless that the deer would have made it far before being run down and killed. All he needed to do now, would be to take down the wolves and pick out the dead bodies and the deer carcass. It would be more than enough for food. However, he wasn't going to attack a load of wolves head-on. There were two options, either sneak up on the creatures and shoot them down from a distance before they'd notice that he was there, or bring them in for a trap and shoot them down as they drew close. And although the chances of being able to sneak up on them while they scoffed down a deer would be quite high.. the chances of shooting them all down before they'd find him, were much lower. So, there was only one option really - not that he minded, since either way, it wasn't going to be him that got into the head of danger. Medhozic would get to high ground, obviously - a tree or something of the like to shoot down on the wolves with arrows, where they wouldn't be able to harm him. "We're close. It's too dangerous to continue further. You'll need to make a distraction to draw the wolves here." He turned to the nearest tree and sampled it with his fingers for footholds, then moved to the next. "You'll bring them this way. I'll shoot them down from a vantage point. Once they're gone, we'll collect the corpses." It sounded like a fair plan - little chance of anyone getting harmed as long as Rion played his part correctly. And once they were all gone, well.. then they'd skin the coats and cook the meat, and carry it back to Syliras. He'd even help the man with his berries, too - doubtless that they'd find some adequate foliage around somewhere. Nuts and whatnot. "Try not to get yourself killed." He might have just been teasing, but he didn't give any sign of it. With both hands firmly gripping the trunk of the tree, he kicked at it with one foot until the toe dug in before repeating it with the other foot, clearing out small indents in the bark until he could grab onto the first branch and heave himself up - and then to the second, because it was sturdier. "Bring them down through the area here." He pointed down to the space directly below the tree, where the branches overhung a small passage between two of the larger trunks. "I'll do the rest."

[Rion Whitestone]

Just as he expected, Gray didn't take the apology to heart. Instead he went on to correct Rion on his true views of Syna. Saying that he worshiped her was an enormous understatement. He loved Syna like she was his own mother. In fact, he did think Syna was his mother. Rion couldn't help wondering if he had an earthly mother at all to speak of. And if she did, how did she feel about Gray's attachment to this goddess? Remaining silent as they followed the trail, Rion's mind continued to wander on the topic. Just who was Syna anyway? Every god and goddess had a story, so what was Syna's? Gray did say she was "The Light and Joy of Mizahar." Did he literally mean she was the goddess of Light and Joy? Or was she just an honest maiden who granted her followers divine powers? His thought were cut off when Gray suddenly paused to check something on the trail. It wasn't until he looked closely at the footsteps himself that he noticed the blood in the snow. Rion felt a cold chill at the sight of it. Were they too late? Had the wolves already made their kill and gotten far away from them? Gray certainly didn't think so, as he pointed out that they were actually getting close to the wolves. It was reassuring, but disappointing at the same time. If they were close, then would they come upon the wolves as they were feasting on their carcass? Rion was reluctant to eat meat himself, let alone watch someone devouring a freshly killed herbivore. Shaking the thought out of his mind, Rion snapped to attention as Gray began to divulge yet another plan of action. He wanted Rion to get the wolves' attention while he hid in a tree and took them out from above. Personally, Rion thought the plan was sneaky and underhanded. Nonetheless, he decided to go with it anyway. Maybe if it worked, Gray's mood would improve a bit and he'd finally get that nod of approval. "Sure thing," he answered simply. "But...try not to hit me, okay?" Though he was joking, he wasn't too eager to get shot all the same. Watching as Gray climbed up the tree, Rion briefly took note of the technique he used...just in case he needed to learn how to do that as well. There seemed to be a lot of things Rion could learn from Gray, though he didn't dare ask anymore questions. He'd just let old wounds heal before he went into full interview mode. Waiting until Gray was up in the tree, Rion continued on the trail of footprints, Aldreda still hidden under his cloak. Even when the wolves came into view, he never reached for the broadsword. His goal was to only get their attention..not to attack them. When the wolves spotted him, he only stopped and stared at them. To ensure they'd follow, he played on their instincts. Cupping his hands over his mouth he shouted "fresh meat!" and took off running in the opposite direction. Naturally, the wolves only stared at him up until the point where he ran off. That's when they took Rion as a potential meal and decided to give chase. They probably had no idea that the words he'd said were meant to imply he was easy prey. In fact, they probably didn't even know what he said at all...unless, of course, they were Kelvics. "Here they come!" Rion shouted as he came towards Gray's tree. He didn't even have to look back to know the wolves were hot on his trail. He had no choice but to draw Aldreda as he noticed one of them coming up to his side. When it tried to take a snap at his leg, he dove forward to avoid the blow, tumbling in the snow and sliding across the ground. Though it left him a bit disoriented, Rion managed to raise himself onto one knee, panting a bit from the fall. When he looked up, he saw the wolves were surrounding him, bearing their fangs in preparation for a kill. Rion could only raise Aldreda in his own defense. "Looks like I might end up fighting afterall..."

[Medhozic]

As he turned around on the small perch and leaned one shoulder against the trunk of the tree for support and balance, he took a glance back down at Rion with lidded eyes. "I'll try. Just stay out of the way of my arrows." This was what he was made for - if not to live in the heavens above where he belonged. While stuck in this body, he would put his mark on the world. And he'd hunt, of course. Hunting would bring good game to sell on the markets, fetch a few Miza's too if he could skin them and sell the meats and skins separate. One day, he'd use the skins and make some more clothes for himself. Some wolf-skin jackets would be nice, and some trousers too. Ferocious too. It actually brought a smile to his face, as he pulled an arrow from the leather quiver and calmly set it upon the wooden limbs of the short-bow, and with the end notched into the drawstring. All he needed to do was wait, then. And he didn't have to wait for long - the branches provided a poor view of where the wolves were emerging from, but it was comparatively crystal-clear below and out into the small gap in the trees that Rion was luring the wolves. He guessed there would be about four or five, although he didn't actually have time to count them as they poured through the narrow gap. They were much quicker than he'd expected as well - too fast to take a shot as they all cleared the gap and surrounded the downed human. Because, of course, he hadn't even considered climbing a tree. Who doesn't know that wolves can't climb trees? Seemed to be just about everyone that he'd met so far. At least they slowed down when surrounding him, snarling menacingly and baring their teeth in signs of aggression. At least, until one of them yelped in pain.. and even as all of the other wolves turned towards one that now crouched low to the ground, obviously alive but with the top third of an arrow poking out of the side of its back, another cried out as well and toppled over entirely. Seemed the Ethaefal had to defend the man now - risking a few of them running away with injuries rather than outright killing the few that he could, just to make sure that they'd scatter. He'd scold the man later. For now, he was still in danger because the other three wolves were concerned.. which just meant they'd more likely wish to kill their prey now and drag it out before whatever predator was hunting them decided to finish the job. He wasn't a fantastic shot with the bow. Barely four seasons spent around Mizahar wasn't enough really - the only thing he'd arrived with was a half-decent knowledge of the stars, and he only knew that because he'd been to the stars. Bows were primitive weapons used for killing others - something that most of his brothers and sisters had long since abandoned in favor of tools to aid the wounded, or otherwise. After all.. they'd all seen the wars and countless other periods of suffering, and felt the pain. Which was why the next shot passed harmlessly into the ground next to the wolf that snapped its jaws at Rion.. but then took several steps back and swung its head back and forth to find its source. The fourth and fifth wolves found it long before the third. They turned on the tree and ran for it, jumping up and snapping at the Ethaefal much higher above in an attempt to reach him. Foolish creatures.. all he had to do now was calmly load up another arrow, tighten the drawstring and send it straight through the animals skull with such a close distance and a clean view. "Hurry up. Put that broad-sword to good use or you're not getting any." He threw the order at Rion, but didn't look up - he was having far too much fun. Five against two, and the wolves didn't stand a chance..

[Rion Whitestone]

Despite his situation, Rion stood tall with a brave look on his face. A small grin began to form on his face as he targeted all the wolves. He couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic having all the canines snapping at him. Though the last time he was surrounded like this, he was fighting coyotes, the fact that he was facing wolves just made it all the more exciting. Taking hold of Aldreda with both hands, he felt a familiar emotion rush over him. His whole body began to quiver. His heart rate soon began to quicken. His breathing became much faster...and louder. "It's happening again," he thought. His grin rose even farther as his adrenaline abruptly kicked in. Watching an arrow sail into one of the wolves, Rion realized Gray had spotted the wolves as well. But he wouldn't let that distract him from his fight...like so many of the wolves were distracted by it. When one wolf finally came at him, Rion lowered Aldreda at the ready. It wasn't until the arrow fell between them that Rion finally struck. As the wolf was looking around for Gray, Rion lowered his body so that he could plunge his sword into the side of the beast, aiming it low enough to reach its stomach. "Don't you dare take your eyes off me," he growled as he pulled the sword out. The wolf stumbled, whining in pain before falling over. It wasn't quite dead, but a heavy blow had certainly been made. In a matter of moments, it would die. Turning his attention to the other two wounded wolves, Rion saw that Gray's arrows had only slowed the canines down. Now they were up again - staggering a bit, but still prepared for a fight. "Right then. So its two each now." Rion said this because he'd noticed the two uninjured wolves go after Gray. They didn't seem to have much luck. "I wonder..." His thought were interrupted when one wolf jumped at him, its weight forcing Rion to the ground. Though it fell right onto Aldreda, the wolf managed to sink its teeth into the farmer's left arm before it succumbed to its injuries. Wincing at the pain, Rion pushed the canine to the side, attempting to wrench its jaws out of his flesh. The fangs had sunk deep, so when he finally pulled them out, a short cry of anguish escaped him. But he wouldn't let the pain hinder his battle. Letting his now bloody arm fall limply to his side, Rion raised Aldreda with his remaining arm to the final wolf. They'd each received crippling blows - Rion loosing the use of his left arm and the wolf being impaled in the stomach - so Rion saw this as an even match-up. Both contenders stood strong despite their injuries, staring at each other with the intend to kill. By then, the grin on Rion's face had shrunk down to a simple smirk, but he was still feeling that rush of adrenaline. "Alright then," Rion suddenly said. "If you're man enough then come at me!" And the wolf did just that, staggering as it made a final charge. It wasn't until it jumped that Rion finally moved. Rather than simply sidestepping the attack, Rion dove completely out of the way of the attack. As he did this, he aimed to cleave the wolf in two in midair. However, he only managed to graze it before he fell on his back. Wincing at the pain, the wolf let out a low growl as Rion rose to his feet. That fall left him dazed for a moment, and the wolf took advantage. This time, it took a snap at his right leg, hoping to give Rion yet another crippling injury. Once again, Rion dove out of the way, this time landing on his injured arm. Another cry of anguish briefly escaped him before he rose to his feet. He knew he couldn't afford another fall like that. The next time the wolf came, he had to either meet it head on or try to intercept the attack. When the wolf jumped, he chose to meet it head on, allowing himself to be knocked over so that he could plunge his sword into the canine's chest. The sidestepping maneuver never occurred to him. Falling on his back again, he felt the wolf's body fall limp onto his good arm. Though he hadn't been bitten, the blunt force from its body had dealt a bit of damage. Nonetheless, Rion lay victorious at the end of his bout. Moving his arm from under the dead wolf, he raised his fist in a display of victory before letting it drop back to the ground. He'd retrieve Aldreda after he had a moment's rest.

[Medhozic]

And while the man was busy having his arm torn off.. well, the Ethaefal watched. After dealing with the other two wolves that had gone snapping at the bottom of the tree, of course. They were easy though. Once the first one fell, the other continued stubbornly and ended the same way. A shot through the skull was instantaneously fatal - cleaving straight through the bone with a bit of an overdraw on the mans behalf. But once the two were done with and the third one was still left dying on the side at the mans sword, the farmer had already managed to get half of his arm torn out. Logically, he should have ended the battle there with a shot of his arrow through the wolfs neck. But with such close-combat, it'd be more likely that he'd catch the farmer in the neck than the wolf. The best thing would be to let he two finish their little skirmish in peace. And when they finally did - five wolves dead, filled with arrows or deep gashes - he calmly unnotched the arrow that he'd had prepared in line with the farmer and the wolf, and set it back in the quiver. Then the short-bow along the curve of his back, with the drawstring pressed tightly against his chest. And only then did he actually slide down the short distance to the ground with a mild scuffle, his only injury out of their entire little battle, and deal with the farmer. "I'll carry the bodies. Since you have managed to nearly get yourself killed." He looked down at the wounds and shook his head silently - unneeded, that's what they were. Probably leave heavy scars as well, so that the farmer could point to them one day and tell his children... the day he made a fool of himself. Truly. But first, he needed to collect up the wolves.. and he started with the two that hung nearest to the tree, by picking out a hind-leg in each hand and dragging them back towards the center of the small gap in the trees. And then, the other three.. with ones entrails following shortly behind the rest of its body. Messy.. the last thing he wanted. But he'd have to live with it for no, and pointed to the farmer shortly, and then to the pile of meat. "Guard it while I fetch something to make a fire with. And I'll see if I can find something to bandage your wound." He was no healer, but he could at least try and find some leaves.. or something. Better than nothing, wasn't it?