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[Colt]

43rd of fall, 513 a.v.

The sun was fast descending, and the plains were awash with a cool and steady wind. The creatures of the day hastened to complete their labor and scurry into their homes, safe from the creatures of the night that would soon be stirring. Syna was a hair’s breadth away from the unbroken skyline, though it would be half an hour yet before she set the clouds on fire.

Shahar had taken position on a hill—or at least, the closest one could come to one in the Sea of Grass, meaning that it was really no more than a rise in the land that happened to provide an ample view of the surrounding expanses. A small stream curled halfway around its base, a stream by which the hunter had chosen to set up his camp proper. It was there that the three tents were set up in a half-circle around a firepit, guarded by a dark Strider that was really only interested in dozing so close to night. A low fire blazed there, over which hung the pot and what would soon be dinner.

His fire, however, was at the top of the hill, and if a traveler could some how not see the fire when they neared then they would surely be able to see the smoke.

Every now and then Shahar would travel down the hill to here he was soaking grass in the stream. Once added to the fire, the grass would hiss and crackle and send a thicker, darker billow of smoke into the sky, accentuating the plume to whomever might have been looking for it.

[Kemlo]

Animal had been out in the See of Grass hunting most of the day in his tiger form. After being forced to remain inside his human form for so long it was still something very special for him to be able to hunt and explore in the much more powerful form of a Talderian tiger. Still not fully grown the youthful tiger was so much bigger and stronger than the human child that had to hide and sneak to survive out here. It still gave predators out here that would be a danger to the tiger form but only the most dangerous would dare to attack him now. In that case the tiger form was a lot faster than a human child too.

Growing up in the See of Grass and relying on his animal instincts Animal was doing well with orientation inside all the grass but the smoke rising from the top of the hill made it like child's play. He remained in sight the whole day just in case and because he was curious who would show up too. Until now he saw nobody else until now.
Returning back to the main camp Animal dropped the rabbit sized creature into the grass before turned back into his human form of a young but surprisingly muscular child. Without thinking much about it he pulled his now too wide spiked choke collar together until the short spikes on the inside rested snugly against his neck. They could be painful if the collar was pulled together even more but didn't bother him anymore in the way they now touched his skin. He had a lot of time to get used to the cruel looking device and as he had the chance he decided to keep the collar because the long spikes on the outside provided a very good protection against predators going for his throat. A toothy grin played around his mouth as he remembered the day Shahar took him to a blacksmith in Endrykas.

Walking up to the stream the unclothes boy lay inside it and rubbed himself down until he felt really clean. He shivered a bit in the cool air that moved around his wet skin after he stepped out of the stream. Thank to his tiger side the goosebumps covering his wet skin was the only negative effect he had. Animal didn't like cold weather in his human form but this was still far enough away from what he considered cold.
The boy sniffed shortly towards the pot but he hunted down enough to be sated at the moment. He would rarely turn down some extra food but now he wanted to see Shahar. Still unable to communicate with the man very well the boy trusted him with his life. Shahar earned this by saving his life and giving it back to him again by having the locking device removed from it so he was able to change into his tiger form again.

After walking up the hill the still dripping wet boy made a gesture of greeting to Shahar. It was one of the few signs he learned from the man since they first met. He sat down cross legged just an arms length away from the man and facing him. He held out the still warm creature to him as his contribution to the upcoming meeting. The prey was killed by a bite to the neck without another injury. Animal had been careful not to ruin the fur with this one. The only thing that still needed to be done was gutting the creature because Animal rarely did this until now. Without a knife it would have been difficult anyway.
Animal was still trying to prove his worth to the man because he felt close to him. The boy would bond to him on short notice but somehow he sensed it needed more time. He had some doubt if the man was up to it but Animal could wait as long as he was able to be just close to him.
Knowing from experience the hunter was not a man of many words Animal didn't talk at all but he smiled at the man.

[Hope Dawnwhisper]

The light had long since faded. At least, the natural light had; the only light left to the dark haired woman was the flickering light of the slowly dying fire in front of her. Sighing, she reaches forward and picks up the long stick lying at her feet and half-heartedly stokes the base of the fire. Dried out wood crackles and the flames grow brighter for a few moments, illuminating the young girl's still gaunt features.

Shahar had wondered off a while ago. It could have been chimes or bells, she wasn't sure, having paid no attention to the world around her in favour of watching the flames. Though she was beginning to wonder when her supposed guardian, as he referred to himself as, would return.

The runaway slave had not long been with the man, living within the Drykas encampment. She was, for the most part, well looked after under his care. The only damaging part of the equation was herself. Not that she was making a particular effort towards starving herself; the woman still couldn't bring herself to care about herself, no mater how much effort her guardians were putting in. Shahar, she thought, was taking a very gentle approach towards her, guiding and teaching her, much like she imagined young ones were treated. Khida, on the other hand, could be much more brusque with the older woman, pushing her into action, almost trying to force her to care.

The hunt, she supposes, was yet another attempt at restoring life into her eyes. She couldn't fathom why they were bothering; she was little more than damaged goods. Used and abused, a former captive who appeared to want to be anywhere but where she was. Mindlessly, she was allowing Shahar to lead her wherever he pleased. He was, no doubt, still looking for a use for her, having spent a fair amount of coin on her. Closing her eyes, she leans forward and rests her head in her hands, wishing that sleep would claim her.

[Iyone Semestrong]

Earlier in the day Iyone had packed up and brought her own things she’d need personally over the next few days, the horses, and supplies she’d need to care for the horses her family lent to her Hunting group on the promise that Iyone would care for them. In exchange Iyone would be taught some hunting skills. It was something her family had offered to the community as a way to be more involved. Iyone had joined with Shahar’s team and tonight they will be sleeping at camp in order to get an early start on the hunting. Iyone had come back to Pavilion after setting the horses up, in the camp, to spend some more time with Peora before joining her team. It would be the first time the two had been separated for more than a few hours since the Pox scare. It would be a tough few days and nights. She may be able to stop in if they are lucky enough to get kills that need to be taken to the butcher and Hunt Officials. Right now hugging her daughter tightly and re-assuring the little girl that she will be back and that she’ll have fun with Grandma, Grandpa, and a few cousins over the next few days. Iyone’s parents offered to watch the children so Iyone and her siblings could be a part of the hunt. She kissed the girl’s cheeks and head letting her go to her grandfather who was ready to take her away so she wouldn’t actually see Iyone leave. Even during the day Peora hated seeing Iyone leave so they knew to distract her while Iyone slipped out. Iyone’s mother walked out with her and hugged her daughter just as Iyone had done hers, and assured Iyone that Pey would be fine, that Pey would miss her but be distracted enough not to notice. Iyone only smiled at this as it comforted her but also made her feel slightly dejected by the ‘not enough to notice’ part. Of course Iyone knew that only meant that they’d take care and keep Peora busy. She thanked her mother with a kiss on her cheek then she moved to the nearby tent her family kept their Striders, during the cooler nights, not that they really needed to but they liked to pamper their Striders. It had easy entrance and exits for the horses should they want to get out as their Striders were free to roam if they wished. Finding Paxa in the same spot she had left her, Iyone smiled and stroked the horses nose for a moment or two then she moved her body to the side and holding onto Paxa she reached up and slid her walking sticks into the holder that tied to the slightly modified Yvas. Since she wasn’t going for a long ride she kept her leg braces on otherwise she’d put them in their holder. When she finished that task she gave her Strider a soft nudge with the hands she was holding onto her with. The horse responded by slowly lowering her back legs to the ground then her front ones so that Iyone could easily crawl up on the horse. Once on and sitting she quickly attached her legs to leather straps that help keep her legs in place as she doesn’t have the balance to hold herself safely on Paxa’s back without them. Finally all set Paxa rose back up to her feet once again and without direction or a nudge walked out of the tent and headed away from the tent city. Iyone was excited, nervous and scared even though she wouldn’t admit the last two to anyone. She wasn’t even humming or singing as she was paying close attention to her surroundings. Iyone knew she was going in the right direction because in the not so far off distance she saw smoke coming from a rise in the sea of grass. Paxa went at a gentle run pace moving quickly through the sunset getting them to the camp rather quickly. She guided Pax close enough to the camp to be behind one of the three tents. Once there Paxa lowered herself down onto the ground where Iyone could more easily get off of her. Normally that wasn’t needed but with the leg braces on her legs made it harder to slide off the horse. Pulling her walking sticks out and her little backpack she had attached, off of Paxa, and walked toward the camp fire where, the young boy she had met before, ‘Animal’, Isalie, and Shahar were around and she plopped her backpack onto the ground near her and lowered herself to the ground and after having rested her walking sticks on the ground. Looking up now she smiled to them all and spoke in Pavi, “Hello, I’m Ione, How are you all?” Her hands signed her words as she spoke.

[Khida]

Shahar Dawnwhisper

Skill	Points
Wilderness Survival	+1

• Survival: making a signal with smoke and steam

Kemlo

Should you return, PM me and I'll grade your post.

Hope Dawnwhisper

I couldn't come up with much of anything to award for your post... please let me know if you think I missed something.

Iyone Semestrong

Should you return, PM me and I'll grade your post.

Notes

Not much to say, as this thread stalled practically before it even got started. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade.