The Pathless Woods

[Toscun'ahesesi]

The silence as they walked didn't bother Tose. Anyone who spent any significant amount of time with Awo'san became used to companionable silences. And it was habit. Idle chatter while you hunted scared away the game, and drew in predators. So while another might have found the silence awkward, Tose did not.

"Good! It is not Mo'anas cooking, but then it also does not come with her herd of children so it has that going for it. And at least your mother cooks better than mine! You are right though, food made by those who love you is nourishing even when its taste could be better."

She agreed with a laugh. Such was the way when both your parents had paths they were dedicated to. Kan'chiej was often too busy tanning to think of food, and Alda'Qun was likely much the same with basket weaving. It seemed quite likely Sen'Nuk had sampled Kan'chiejs cooking, as they often worked together. At the very least, absentmindedly made food was better than no food.

"What I like best? Hmm."

Tose thought about this, taking another bite of stew, savouring the richness of it, her brow furrowed slightly as she thought.

"I do like that I am helping everyone. Knowing that what I have brought in will fill stomachs. That families will sit and tell stories while they enjoy something I brought in. Mostly though.. I like tracking. No, that is not quite right."

She looked pensive for a moment as she tried to figure out how to word her thoughts.

"I like being even more a part of the all. Of stepping carefully and quietly through the Makubwa Lori trying to leave no mark, to become such a natural part and extension that I am not alien, not removed from Nature. That, I think is what makes a Hunter great. Prey does not hear them coming and predators do not spot them, they do not take more than what an area can give, because they are part of, and know the balance so deeply and truly that they feel it."

She grinned again.

"That is what I like best. Rarely do I feel the connection that deeply, but I work towards it every trip out."

She took another bite, making sure she chewed it properly. Tose was excited for this trip. She was more inclined to bolt the food down and go, but Sen'Nuk was much more reserved, eating at a proper pace, so Tose restrained herself. It would be terribly rude to finish while Sen'Nuk still had over half a bowl left. Besides, she knew that in the grand scheme of things a few minutes would not change anything.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Looking at her she smiled a bit. Those were all good answers to her questions. But she had stays silent as she waited for the other girl to speak. Eating her meal silently, even absent minded. She looks at Toscun and nods, "This world has an amazing way to show you that you're point of view isn't the only one. But I do really like the feel of what you said."

Sen looked at the woman and chuckled. "It's like.. you understand the spiritual feel to hunting that most others don't. I'm not really all that into it like that.. I'm more in for the leather and feeling good about what I've done. It kind of makes me feel shallow." She closes her eyes and gives a small laugh. "But at the same time, there is a spiritual part to it. A calming yet riling effect it has on me. Both at the same time, those feelings I mean. It's disorienting and breath taking but I feel like it's a wonderful thing that shouldn't be ignored."

She has stopped humming to talk. Though now that she had something to talk about, it seemed that her mind didn't want to wander. She liked that. That was good. It meant that when it came time for the hunt she should be able to focus on it, and not him..

Looking at the sky again, Sen let out a soft laugh. "Moseke has done a wonderful thing. And her creatures... and us as a people are a gift to this world." She looked back over to Toscun. "We'll do what we can on this hunt Toscun. We will be proud of what we accomplish, and we'll enjoy the time we were given." She chuckles and looks at Toscun with the softest of smiles. "I think that, life is a gift, and death can bring more life." She smiles. "A circle that lives on within us." She smiled and glanced over at the other hunters that seemed to be listening in on their conversation, maybe wondering what they were going to hunt. She wouldn't utter a word of what animal they were tracking, not yet.

Her lips curved down a little bit though at the thought that they would be the only two going. Yet again, a bit of unease filling her heart. Shaking her head she she ate the rest of her food and then stood up and smiled at Toscun. "Why don't we go our separate ways for now. I have to get my items and then there's also the fact that I have to get myself some new arrows." She smiled softly and brushed herself off like it was an afterthought.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." she smiled and walked towards the stalls, and shops, she knew a shop she could go to get the item she needed. The shop she went to was that of a Fletcher. She smiled as she walked in and browse around until she found a set of 40 arrows that looked good. They weren't poor in quality, nor were they exceeding the expectations of quality. She smiled and spoke to the Fletcher. They spoke for a bit. The Fletcher actually hoping for a trade, but settling for 1 GN and 2 SN instead, since Sen was still new in her line of work.

As soon as all that was done. Sen jogged back home and scrambled up the ladder and into the house. She waved to her mother, who was weaving in the floor, and assumed that her father would be home soon from a hunt. hopefully he caught something good today, like she and Toscun where hoping to.

Walking into her room she unwrapped the arrows and stuck as many as she could fit in her quiver. Which was about 30 arrows without it being impossible to just pull one out without making a mess. The rest of them, she wrapped of up again and put them on the floor against the wall. Running with it parallel so that she was less likely to step on them. They each had a ty off on them, with a feather. At least her new one's did. She hadn't noticed it before, but it would be easier for her to spot her arrows if she misfired. She smiled. What a thoughtful arrow maker.

Putting on her bow and quiver in a way that would be easy for her to take the bow up and pick out arrows when she needed them only. Then she grabbed the other supplies that she thought she would need, and dropped off her coins purse under the bed. She smiled to herself again. "May the hunt go well and may Moseke continue to grant us the needed sources for continued life." She smiled before she walked out the door, waived to her mother for a good by and climbed back down the ladder.

As she went down the ladder, she mad a mental list of what she had with her.
1. Bow
2. 30 arrows and a quiver to hold them
3. Knife
4. 1 Clean Rag in case of injury
5. My waterskin
6. 1 empty Rucksack
7. 1 blanket (in which most of the extra items were stashed, wrapped around her like a sash that wouldn't get in the way of the arrows coming out)

Walking quickly, she weaved her way through the ever growing crowd. Trying to get to the Itoju quickly. She'd probably made Toscun wait too long already. She didn't need to be slow getting to her on top of everything else. Stopping in front of the entrance to the Itoju, she looked around and smiled when she spotted Toscun. Waving her over to her.

Item Bought: 40 standard, feather lead arrows
Money spent this thread: -- ON, 1 GN, 2 SN, --CN

[Toscun'ahesesi]

Tose made a dismissive gesture when Sen'Nuk said she felt shallow. It seemed to Tose that while hunting was her one singular path, it was merely a portion of Sen'Nuks, a necessary extension of her main path of creating, and that being so why should she feel bad or shallow for using hunting to progress rather than as her expression of self? She understood what Sen'Nuk meant about calm and exciting all at once though, particularly when taking a shot.

"Yes, each life we learn all that we can, experience all that we can, and when it is up,"

A flicking gesture like the extinguishing of a candle.

"we are lucky enough to be born again, so that we can learn and experience more. Our Mother made us to grow and flourish, to blossom where nothing could, so whether we catch the n-"

She paused, hand rising to cover her mouth with a giggle, almost having given away their game.

"whether we catch it or not, we will learn and have seen and experienced something new!"

Reincarnation was probably the second greatest gift of the Sev'ryn, behind familiars of course. While some might think that it cheapened life, Tose disagreed. You didn't remember everything. She didn't remember her previous lives, or at least she didn't think she did. Although they were connected, and Tose firmly believed she had been alive back when Lisarras plague was first released, and that she would live again when this life was over, each was individual, its own unique gift so that you appreciated it. Perhaps that was why you had to find your familiar, because it did remember all your lives, and could help keep you from making the same mistakes again. Could tie all your separate lives together for you into a singular whole.

She nodded once when Sen'Nuk suggested they split up and meet when they were prepared.

"Okay!"

With a wave, she went to scour out her bowl and return it to its proper place before trotting off for her wagon. It was good to be moving, and she wanted to make sure her pack was balanced properly, they had far to go. She readjusted several times before she was satisfied with the way the load sat. Tose brought only a dozen arrows with her. She did not take many shots compared to some, and felt this would be more than enough.

She waited cheerfully enough by the Itoju for several bits, making faces at one of Kah'kilan and Mo'anas many children to amused both herself and the girl before she saw Sen'Nuk approaching.

"Ah! Ready?"

Honestly the other girl had been quicker than she'd thought, considering that she'd had to go further, buy supplies, pack and then get to the Itoju. When Sen'Nuk consented, they entered the Itoju, striding through the tunnel, basked in the glow of the Iyo. They didn't hurry too much. Keen though Tose was, she knew they had far to go, and tiring themselves too quickly would not much help. Besides, speed meant more noise which would scare off game, plus they might miss important tracks in their haste.

Although Tose intended to ignore most tracks, set on her chosen game, it was not just prey in the Makubwa Lore, and a hunter who began to think it was so would soon be lost. They had to be on the alert for predators as well, and it was this that kept them alert as they moved steadily, eyes scanning, heads swivelling as they listened and in Toses case nose even twitching as she sampled the air for any new scents. She may have been a little foolhardy, but she wasn't a fool, and sometimes the Makubwa Lori felt as much or more a home to her than Desnind did.

They walked for several breaks, stopping sometimes to rest, or refill water-skins at spots they knew where safe, which would become fewer the deeper the went and farther they strayed from their normal range. Finally Tose noted a landmark Awo'San had given her, Anou Alọjọpin. The two twisted trees that seemed to be reaching out to each other.

"This is it! A little further, maybe another break and we're into the area Father saw the Nàhb'àífinju sign!"

Though excited, she still wasn't particularly loud, there was no reason to yell with Sen'Nuk so close, and every reason not to. Not that Tose expected to get too much hunting done this day. Likely they would start looking until they found an acceptable camping spot, tracking and hunting being much easier without heavy packs, and while they might continue to look a little more around that area, searching in earnest would likely begin in the morning.

Still, you never knew! Luck might be with them, they might stumble upon it near immediately!

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Ah, the cycle. Yes. That was deffinitely a way to look at it. Maybe in this life she would feel selfish about most things but in the next life she would be just a bit more selfless? She actually thought about this on their way further into the Lori. Knowing that it would help her keep her mind off of something.. or someone else. She almost jumped actually when Toscun did speak. She looked at the girl a moment, and sighed, looking at what she was looking at. The walk hadn't really been all that horrible but it had been a bit wearing on the feet.

She wondered how this girl had herself so situated that it would work out that she was able to carry all those items. She examined it a little and chuckled to herself. She would have never thought to put it together like that, though she wasn't sure she why she was worried about it now. She looked at Toscun's face and tilted her head a bit. "Here? This was a lot closer to the city than I thought." Her voice but a whisper, as she looked around. She was not quite an experienced tracker, so she probably would mistake signs for the wrong animal that Toscun would not have that issue with, or Toscun would for sure find the right signs at least before her.

For this fact, she was glad they were teaming up. Toscun knew aspects of hunting that she didn't. And she probably knew aspects of hunting that Toscun didn't know. One thing that Sen had just thought about. To get the most out of the pelt they were going to have to shoot into the chest or eye, The chest would still be damaging the pelt but at least there it could be possible to make cleaner cuts from the pelt from there.

She fidgeted with the string across her chest. Smiling as she looked around the sky. "We should hunt other creatures while we're here too. Supliment our suplies that we brought with us. She took a drink from her water skin and put it back where she had it. Some drips of water slipping down her chin and chilling her neck. Talking must be kept to a minimum out here, but the main problem they had is that they didn't have all the signals down and their meanings for large hunting parties. Even for just two, something could go wrong. Even the possibility of accidentally shooting each other.

And it also seemed like Toscun was one that liked to get hurt. She'd heard of the accident that Toscun had gotten into, though she had just thought of the problem it might cause... the smell of blood, if that wound reopened... She looked at Toscun a bit concerned. She mouth the words. "Are you okay?" Hoping that the girl would understand what she meant.

[Toscun'ahesesi]

"Hmm?"

It took the other girls eyes dropping down to her side before she realized what she meant.

"Oh! Yes! See?"

Shirt was hiked up slightly, showing a scar that was still pink and puffy with newness, but in no danger of reopening. It had been over twenty trials at this point after all.

"And yes, we are just on the border of where Father saw sign. It will still be relatively safe to set up camp here."

Again, as safe as the Makubwa Lori ever got, which wasn't very. A little bit further and they would be properly into the deep dark parts of the woods, which was not exactly where Tose wanted to spend the night. She could be reckless, but only to a certain degree. Tose was not on full silent mode yet, quiet yes, but not silent. It was good to be loud in your own campsite. Noise drew only a very few things. Most predators even here shied away from the sound of speech and the like. It was the other reason it was good to have a fire, if you thought you could do so safely. Fire could be such a terrible thing in the forest, growing so quickly, that almost every beast within would turn tail and flee at the first scent of smoke.

"You are right, fresh dinner would be nicer than rations!"

She continued forward, but it was more meandering now, as she searched for a place that seemed like an appropriate camp site. Some looked too uneven, too low, had too many rocks, had dead trees leaning over them, too much bush. Eventually she found a spot she liked.

The trees here were tall and strong, their shade meant that not much was growing beneath them, leaving the ground fairly bare, one sizable area was slightly higher than the rest. With a grin, Tose removed her pack, leaning it against a trunk as she started removing any sticks or other detritus on the ground. Past experience told her it was worth taking the time rather than waking with a sore back and weird bruises. This done, she set up the tent with the ease of practice.

Surveying it to make sure all was right, she nodded once, stretching her back and rolling her shoulders. It felt good to not be carrying such a load! Bow and arrow, knife, water-skin, a few rations and her compass was all she kept on her, the rest was stored in the tent, with anything Sen'Nuk had brought that the other girl did not feel the need to haul around.

A short break after their long walk and then she rose.

"Okay! Now to track properly."

Tose grinned, making sure Sen'Nuk was also ready before heading into the woods. A quick glance at her compass to be sure of which direction she was moving in so even if for some reason she couldn't retrace her steps she knew which way the camp lay. There was a notable difference in the way Tose moved. She'd not exactly been barreling through before, but now she made an effort to be silent, to leave as little trace as she could, stepping carefully and lightly, avoiding obstacles.

This again, took some time, and the light changed slightly, suns no longer overhead, but instead starting their descent, though there was time yet. Eventually, Tose raised a hand, gesturing Sen'Nuk over. She'd found a track, but she wasn't certain if it was the Nàhb'àífinju or not. She'd seen a few Nàhb'àífinju track in the past, from the ones that were not for hunting, but not many. They were few and shy. Still, this could be it. She pointed them out to the other girl, eyebrows raising and smile on her face.

In fairness, even if it was not Nàhb'àífinju, it could still be dinner!

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

She smiled a bit, the slight bit of confusion was cute. Really, Toscun could have been Sen's sister with how they acted. Even though they didn't know as much about eachother as they probably should, Toscun had been around Sen for a long time. Sen always learning things about tanning from Toscun's mother. Though she still felt like she had little to no knowledge about Tanning. It seemed that she couldn't remember a lot of the lessons half of the time, and her leather working lessons seemed to take up more of her time and brain than the Tanning ever did.

Sen knew that learning how to tan would be the best for her business. If she could hunt, tan, and work her own hand made hides, she could profit a lot more from her own endeavors. Which was why she had taken Toscun up on this offer. They could find more animals to hunt and get Sen more hides to learn how to tan. And maybe, once she knew that Toscun had given her mother the feather's, she could ask for help with tanning the hide of their perfered prey this trip?

She smiled as the girl spoke of her father. So proud of him she was. And why wouldn't she be, he was one of the best trackers out on the fields. Sen's own father may not be the best, but he was still well respected within his trade. She was glad they had found the spot that her father had spotted the signs, it means that they were not too far from their prey, but they still had to be careful. In fact, their prey may already know they were there.

Toscun found them a good spot while Sen followed a little lost in thought. She absent mindedly helped Toscun set up their camp. She had found a good spot. Tall, beautiful and strong tree's almost encircling them as she looked around. They were pretty high up too. The tree's good cover, but at the same time, with their height advantage, anything that wanted to come running at them would have to do so up hill. Which was not so bad of a thing, only that at the end of their hunt, they would also have to tredge up the hill.

She let Toscun rest, she'd had a lot more to carry between the both of them. Though Sen wouldn't have minded sharing the weight. In this extra time, she took off her blanket and tied the rucksack and clean rag to her belt so that she could get to them easily if need be, and she slipped the knife in her boot, in such a way that it wouldn't hurt either her or the leather of her boots.

She had been ready for a little bit once Toscun got up and said she was ready to track. Sen nodded. She was ready for this game, a game of cat and mouse, or maybe cat and cat, as you never know what might be out there hunting you too. A hunter or huntress was taught early that they weren't the biggest things out there. Toscun was a fine example of this fact. That and their prey isn't just going to fall over and die. They are very likely to fight back if they feel to threatened.

She smiled a bit as she followed Toscun. Their steps as silent and careful as they could make them. Sen froze as soon as she saw the tracks. She smiled a bit, the posibility that it could be their intended prey, but at the same time, it could just be a creature of similar size and gait. The only thing they would be able to know about it would be to follow the trail and see where it took them. She nodded and motioned for Toscun to take the lead, drawing her own bow, and notching one arrow. Holding it in it's place, but not pulling back the string.

When hunting, you had to be ready at any time, the hunted could be aware, and waiting for a chance to escape. So you always had to be ready for a quick fire. The arrow that she'd pulled was one of her older ones, no extra feather lead. Okay, she'd had to try and keep track of this one. She looked to Toscun and started following her, crouching a bit and looking up in the air to see if she might spot any avian prey as well.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Later that evening.

Unfortunately, they had to bring their hunt to an end, as the sun was falling and it was getting too hard to track. They would have just stayed the night, except something about staying didn't feel right, like there was foreboding in the air. Sen didn't like this and asked Toscun if they could take another crack at it in a few days time.

Glad that Tosc didn't say no, they made their way back as quickly and safely as they could. Knowing the way back by the way the moss grew on the trees and how the evening light peeked through the leaves. It wasn't hard, it just was a long trip.

By the time the night fell upon them, they had finally reached the city gates. Saying good-bye to her friend, she walked the final stretch home,
trying not to look disappointed, in case her parents were still awake. To be honest she just hoped that they were asleep, kind of tired of pretending to be something she wasn't even in front of the. She had to keep on telling herself that she was okay, that the past was in the past, and that her failures now had nothing to do with back then.

Walking into her home she was relieved to find that neither of her parents were at least in the main room. She thanked Moseke in her head looking to the ceiling before she quietly tiptoed her way from the entrance to her room. Wincing every time she heard the wood beneath her feet creek.

Finally making it to her room, she opened the door as quietly as she could, and closed it behind her in the same manor. She exhaled softly, climbing into bed, she wished for dreams that would make her forget the hard work and effort that had fallen through, and hoped that the next hunt would be a much better one.

[Djinn]

Rewards Awarded

Points: 15

~Knowledge: (8 skill Knowledge max + Bonus of 6 for a total of 14)~
1.Leather Working: Leather is easier to sew with bigger needles.
2.Socialization: It’s okay to talk about yourself sometimes.
3.Socialization: Communication is key to not end up alone.
4.Socialization: Using commonalities to make chatting easier.
5.Socialization: Awkward conversations are better than none.
6.Strength: Carrying your hunting gear.
7.Socialization: Humming to fill the silence.
8.Hunting: Preparation by Making a List, Checking it twice
9.Negotiation: Nothing to trade? Have money to pay.
10.Endurance: Toughing it out over tired feet.
11.Hunting: Keeping Hydrated Helps the Hunter’s mind
12.Hunting: Be careful, even of your prey.
13.Hunting: Not the only thing hunting in the wilds.
14.Hunting: Can’t track when there is no light

~Non-Skill Knowledges~
Toscun’Ahesesi: Hunting Humor Isn’t Lost on this Girl
Toscun: Trusts me enough to make a request to hunt with me.
Toscun: Clearing up the murky waters, it’s what friends do. (Toscun gives her thoughts on why people avoid Sen)
Toscun: An optimistic outlook.
Toscun: Feeling connected to Nature.
Qan'Dun: My Leather Working Mentor
Qan’Dun: Requires breaks for his Pupil.
Desnind: The Stew - the Mixing pot of socializing
Desnind: Shop Location - The Fletcher’s Place
Desnind: The Hunter’s Pit - A gathering place
Desnind: Makubwa Lori - The Dangerous Wilds
Moseke: The Gifter of Life
Toscun’s Mother: My Tanning Teacher


Loot: 40 Normal Quality Arrows (-1gn and 2sn from the ledger)


Comments: Aw, I miss Toscun'aheesi. She was the first PC I threaded with here on Standing Trials. This was a great thread, with some natural rhythm and the Sevir bond shown really well. A few grammatical mistakes, but hey, woh mkaes those, right?

Well done, and good read!