Closed [Bronze Woods]The Stream (Nakuli)

[Rodywyn]

Summer 26, 513

The sun had just poked its head over the horizon, casting rich gold orange light on the world, dew collected on the leaves, and branches. Morning birds sang their sweet songs, and the nocturnal animals returned to their dens, and beds. They were safe for now, from the stinging bow, and swift feet of the figure that jogged lightly down the game trails that zig- zagged through the Bronze Woods. The man was fully laden in gear, he seemed almost entirely covered in bags and gear. A short bow held firmly in his left hand, and a long sword lashed to his back within reach of his right hand.

The man was a knight, wearing the Windoak proudly on his tabard. Under his tabard he wore his chainmail, it was heavy, it was hot, but he was on patrol, it was a sacrifice he would have to make. A sacrifice to keep the great city of Syliras safe-safe from the nearly endless danger that came from all across the region. Many of these threats would have to come through the Bronze Woods first, and it was the job of the knights under Aquila Brock to patrol the woods, and warn of incoming danger. Rodywyn was trained specially for this purpose by his father, who had also patrolled these woods. They were the first line of defense for the city, the eyes, and ears for the commanders, the sentries.

Rodywyn paused briefly at a swift running stream, he unfastened his back, and it he placed it on the ground, no reason to pass up water, especially as hot as it was. He bent down and took off his large brimmed hat, and splashed the cool water on his face, and rubbed it through his matted curls. It felt nice. He decided itd be worth the risk to drink from the water, it looked clear enough, and it was moving at a steady pace here. He didn’t have time to sterilize and strain the water, and he didn’t want to dip into his waterskin supply just yet.

He poked his head up, what sort of monsters were lurking in these woods?

[Nakuli]

The peek eye of brisk dawn. It was her time. The time of the observant and in tune. Nakuli had been up before the sun rose, patiently waiting for goddess Syna from below her peak, a smug coyote watching alongside the foliage. Two days before, Kuli had found interest in a certain buck coasting around uphill from the stream. He had been making good time with the local doe and acts as though he fears no trouble along this side of greenery. The eight-pointer's aloofness perked her curiosity. What gave him any reason to act so blunt? In an area where hunters roam free and the animal knows all too better.


But he was fast. He was light on his feet, and slightly burly compared to the other males. The muscle tones of his thighs and chest where beautiful, but what she wanted most was to chase the buck out of his wits and tear his throat out. She would put the horns to good use, and sell the meat. So the coyote scouted, found what sources she had around, and plotted some smaller mud and hidden pot holes to slow him down. There was also a net trap around his resting area. Anything to make the game thrilling. Hunting isn't just a trophy with stories, or a game of skill. Nakuli's way of playing is with pride of her mindsets and chance of outcome. Even if he escapes from her ruse, he must definitely be worth trust, and respect to be kept lively.

The sun had just started peeking out from it's guarding mountains, her rays soaking through the clouds curtaining her, magnifying the sky with a great painting of cream colored delight. Nakuli raised herself up to the sun's appearance, the light approaching her face as she did, only to be struck in the eyes from a smaller glare below. It tinted silver and glistening as though it was moving. The canine quickly crouched back between the leaves and examined. Shaping out to a person, he seemed to be cleaning himself off in the creek. And he looked to have darker hair, but she couldn't be sure from here. All the same, he came from Syliras in that armor and he was on some duty.

This was too much of a coincidence and it ruffled her coat. There was no way she could let this little sighting ruin her mood and get in the way of her game. This was Nakuli's good morning, and she would stake out her play. A wicked grin rose up her lips, showing her charming fanged snare. The coyote yipped to the sun's rising, a small echo of her mocking laugh tracing the forest then turned her back to the man below, trotting up higher ground to take stealth between the shrubs in hunt for her planned prey.

[Rodywyn]

The knight tilted his head, he could have sworn he hear the yipping of a coyote, he stood, his hand reaching for his short bow, a single coyote wasn’t much of a danger, but a pack of them might become a nuisance for the farmers, and the knights that guarded them. Even stranger was how late in the day the coyote was out, the heat alone should have driven it to shelter, as its fur would keep it very warm. The knight grabbed his packs, he might have to dip into his supply of water soon, than later.

He tracked in the direction he thought he heard the yip from, it was near a deer run, another oddity, a coyote hunting living deer. Something was making this animal act peculiar, the implications it might have on the city warranted investigation. He searched for some sign of passing, the only clue he had was a single paw print, in a small puddle of dew it was large, the largest print he had seen from a coyote. This was troubling.

Rodywyn furrowed his brow, and slowly walked in the direction the paw had been going, if he was a lucky, he might be able to find some more tracks, or even the offending animal itself. With a confidence, and certainly only a knight can possess, Rodywyn chased his quarry.

[Nakuli]

On your toes, Kuli, stay on your toes. A small grin was still trickling between the coyote's lips, the hunt was just beginning. The eight-pointer was just over the peak of the hill, grazing with the few doe in the small meadow in the middle of thick green woods. The time of day was perfect. Nice light peeked in and out of the trees shining tints of orange gold and brown within the greenery. Great source of camouflage for the cunning canine if she kept herself within the barrier of woodland around the meadow.

It was very peaceful and in awe. Nakuli had pleasure for the conscious of the forest, thankful she can move in silent grace without any nuisance. No real weapons but her own sense of schemes, fangs and knowledge. She had some ground covered, only for this particular buck. There was no plan to be here all day, she would be soft but quick with her kill once she had him in good range with the the couple of mud holes planted on the other side of the barrier of trees. A trail there, leading to the small nesting place of the herd. The holes weren't noticeable with the cover of fallen leaves throughout the area. They where small enough for a hoof to stick through and slow the animal, losing it's concentration. Other animals could likely get trapped as well.

The scene was set out right, and Nakuli was in good range away to keep watch before she made her move. Any little trigger could set the deer off the wrong way, and that would be a hassle she didn't want to deal with. There was a scraping noise coming from below, along with a slight tinking of metal that broke the twittering of the bird's flowing song, leaving an eerie silence as the woods where listening to the newcomer.

A slight breeze came in with the smell of sweat and rust, and the coyote's nose wrinkled, brows furrowing. The man is trying to trail me down, there was no other real thought about it. Nakuli was no harm to the citizens, in fact she had traveled from Alvadas not too long ago to take in rent for a room in Syliras. But to the the man's dismay, he had no clue he was interrupting a very kindly game of Coyote and the Buck.

Nakuli was low on all fours, well hidden within the foliage from a far distance of the entry way the man was climbing up to, the same way she had snuck through on light foot. All the creatures roaming hear where on guard and ready to move but herself, who had no reason to give up her cover. The man was about to ruin all her well plans. She could now see his shape in the distance apart. Dark curls formed around his weathered face, he was also bearing a sword on his hip, that his hand was aimlessly gripping to. But he stuck out in silver, glaring on and off as the light hit him. The herd of deer caught his sight immediately and scrambled around to dash out. one doe reacted a little slow from the rest, and turned to the pathway Nakuli had planted. The doe slipped into one of the hole, staggered and cried as she struggled to pull her hoof out of the dense, sticky mud.

But Kuli stayed to her ground hidden in the greenery of shade, making to sign of movement, very low breathing and copper eyes locked on the doe. Waiting on the man to investigate the scene. There was a possibility he would find himself in a sticky mess as well, loosing his concentration in the mishap. then she would make herself known.

[Rodywyn]

Rodywyn slowly followed the trail, he fully expected to lose it, and he nearly did several times. The coyote didn’t seem to worried about covering its trail, that was pretty normal, however, the only normal thing he had encountered about this animal. He wasn’t silent in his armor, and he fully expected to animal to hear him, he didn’t really want to kill it, he was more curious than anything, and if he could chase it off, he could prevent a pack from forming. That was his real goal.

He followed quicker now, the trail was more clear, the paw prints closer together, it was slowing down, it must be nearing its meal for the day. Then the silence was shattered by the crying of a doe. Rodywyn cursed himself, while he wasn’t chasing the deer, he hated the thought that he had injured one, he hating having to kill does in the summer, this was when they carried their pregnancies. Killing a single doe, however wouldn’t destroy the herd, but it always felt like it did. He slowly entered the clearing, the coyote could go rot now. He had more important matters to deal with.

He saw the doe, its leg was caught in a puddle of mud, the coyote was clever. Rodywyn shuddered, what manner of beast was this? He pushed the thought out, and focused on the task at hand. From this distance, he couldn’t tell if the deer’s leg was broken. He cursed silently, and slowly made his way to the doe, as it continued to struggle. He had no way to tell the deer to calm down. He set down his pack nearby, he wished he had more time to preserve the meat of the deer, but he was on patrol after all. He drew his knife, his worn, and pitted hunting knife.

He leapt on the deer, pinning it to the ground, and he lifted its head up, and held firmly. The deer struggled. The man reached down to the deer’s leg, trying to feel it if was broken, he couldn’t tell, he had no idea what a broken bone felt like, but the deer seemed to struggle more as his hand neared the bottom of the leg. The knight sighed silently, and swiftly drew the blade across the deer’s neck, and held the head up, it only took a couple minutes for the deer to stop struggling.

[Nakuli]

The man reacted, to Nakuli's good bearings. He had done the right thing by approaching the doe in it's struggle, leaving his guard down for Nakuli to change in her form and take a stance. She had no time to lose, finding the closest sharp stick and clenching it between her teeth throughout her form. There was no way she'd approach the man as a dog, he would surely try to slice her up. But as a female, (let alone nude but she had no care for others judgement for her natural appearance) There was good measure to have a decent talk with the man.

Nakuli crept on tip toes out into the light of the meadow, a large green stick with a point to one end carried in her left hand, something to give reassurance if she happens to receive a negative outcome from the man shining silver, though it'd probably do no good besides poke his eye out. Amber dreadlocks where long, caressing down to her waist with her golden complexion of skin. Her fangs pressing out from between her curled lips in a small, silent snarl.

She was getting close to the back of him, watching him kindly silence to the saddened doe with a slice to the neck. It's cries weeped into a slow whimper,then went limp under his grip. Copper eyes flashed at the light of the doe's life slipping, flickered to the silver suit crouched over, and jabbed the man in the back of the neck with her pointy useless stick.

"What gives you any reason to track me, guardsman. You've ruined my game, you know that? This doe wasn't meant to die today. I was in it for the graceful eight-pointer, and now I've lost his scent with all this ruckus of blood and iron." The red head was agitated, her voice was slightly low for a female, with a small raspy tone underlying like someone who spent good time with a few booze and smoke. "Speak your name, male." Kuli stated with another jab of the stick to his neck.

[Rodywyn]

Rodywyn was deeply lost in his thoughts, he never enjoyed seeing an animal die. He hated even more knowing that it was very possible that the doe may not have had a broken leg, and knowing that he did not even have the time to properly skin, and preserve the meat of the deer. He was wondering what he should do, the deer wouldn’t go to waste, the animals of the forest let nothing become wasted. He didn’t have enough time to contemplate his actions when something poked his neck. It didn’t feel like steel, was it… a stick? Who the petch was poking him with a stick?!

He started to turn, when a women spoke, it was a voice he didn’t know, it was a voice that didn’t sound right, it didn’t have a Syliras accent. It called him a guardsman, so it most certainly belonged to a foreigner. What was this nonsense about tracking though? He didn’t have enough time to answer that either, as she poked him again. He admitted, it did rather hurt.

“I am not a guardsman,” started Rodywyn “I am a knight, and it is my job to patrol these woods.” He paused, hoping the woman would understand the difference. Probably not though. “Second…” Rodywyn turned, and saw the woman, he stammered briefly, not expecting to find a woman not wearing any clothes, he breathed deeply, recollecting himself, “… I must insist that you stop poking me with that petching stick.” He looked down at the stick, if this woman was half as crazy as she seemed, she could put his eyes out.

He took a step back, “Its my job to track anything that poses a danger in these woods, but I was not tracking you.” He thought back, he certainly did not remember seeing any human tracks in these woods, the very idea confused him. He focused on the woman, trying to see her aura, without making it look like he was staring her down. The aura was strange, it was almost human, but there was something else there, he couldn’t place his finger on it. “I was tracking a very large coyote, hoping to prevent a pack of them from forming. That could cause headaches for travelers, hunters, and the farmers to the south of here.”

He furrowed his brow, this woman was being very demanding, but if he answered her questions, maybe she would drop the stick. “I am Rodywyn, 5th wing, Orange Company, 1st regiment, Silver Quadrent.” He paused, and waited for the woman to make her next move.

[Nakuli]

"I am not a guardsman," he says. "I am a Knight on patrol." Nakuli's lips puckered to a wide smirk, her fangs peeking out. She knew better, yes. But his statement contradicted himself, and Nakuli fought back her giggles though her face showed it all.

But the man pressed on, standing up to turn and face her, only to gape at her with clueless eyes then took in a low breath. He wanted her to drop the stick? No, no. This would not do, not after that odd look. She was already cautious before approaching, why would Kuli let go that easily? She was not playing fetch with the man.

"Well, sir Rodywyn. That is quite a mouthful of a name," The red head paused with a shake of her dreadlocks, trying to assemble what he was trying to get at with that jumbo. It had everything to do with his 'knighthood', surely. But she didn't know too much about ranks, nor was she really interested right now. Nakuli jabbed him in chest this time, making a tink noise against his armor and a sly smile crept onto her face, copper eyes gleaming. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not to much of a threat, though my games are a little tricky I'll admit," But all the better for her wits. She likes knowing that her players where in good tune, an willing to try and out play her.

"But I am not large! I'm about four feet length if you wanna count the tail, and I hardly way that of a child. How rude of you to assume." Granted he didn't know any better. But all she could think was to look down at her palms with slight concern, before her eyes flickered back to Rodywyn with a crooked smile back on her face. "Though, having a pack sounds nice. Ah well, I'm not too familiar with the place yet. I usually just keep to my own, sometimes it works better that way."

"But you, Rodywyn, have ruined my fun time," Nakuli paused once more, peaking over Rodywyn's shoulder to gaze apon the lifeless doe, then back to his hazel eyes. "and now I'll have to take this doe back and try to skin it" Of course she wouldn't let her go to waste, but now she had to head back unsettled and wound up with energy. "I don't know what to do with myself now."

By this point, Nakuli had dropped her stick. A fair signal that she had given up, pretty agitated about it too, her emotions seemed as though they where flickering on and off. But there was nothing else she could do about it, nor was she gonna waste her time trying to speak up an make more of a mess.