Solo [Job Thread] A Hunters Rivalry II

[Arvo]

20th Day of Summer 514AV

Kean was there waiting for him when he got there, looking confident, which was a worry. Arvo needed the boy to feel intimidated, and uncomfortable, otherwise there was no way to assure his victory. Boy did this take him back to hunting competitions with the people who tolerated him back in the mountains. Of course, the competition had been much more intense and he was half worried that someone would push him off a cliff if he won, but that was another story altogether. This was simple fun. Still, he’d definitely rather not lose to this wimp of a boy, so he had to figure out a way to psyche him out.

“Hi Kean.” He said, letting his voice go dark and his eyes glaring at the smaller boy intensely. Kean’s smile immediately faded to be replaced with bewilderment and fear. “Um…” Arvo stepped closer to him “What did you say, kid?” Kean stumbled back, eyes wide “Nothing, hey, what’s wrong with you?” Arvo glowered at the boy. The way he squirmed under Arvo’s scrutiny was comical. Kean had never seen Arvo when he wasn’t smiling or making wise cracks, so to see his mood and his personality change this drastically must have been a shock to the system “You’ve never actually seen me when I hunt, have you Kean? I take competition deadly seriously.” Arvo asked, playing with Keans fear like a doll “Well? Go on then!.” He said as he backed up and moved away, slightly so Kean could go.

Kean squeaked and scampered off, trying to find somewhere far away from Arvo to hunt. When he was out of sight Arvo started laughing to himself “I swear he nearly peed himself!” He thought allowed, and he went to start his own hunt. He’d definitely thrown Kean off the game. The poor kid probably thought that if Arvo didn’t win, he’d murder him or something. Arvo know Kean would be thinking this. After all, what did he really know about him? The only thing Arvo had told him was that he’d been a traveler before coming to Sunberth. Kean was quick to trust, but Arvo had successfully planted a seed into his head. Kean would go off and catch himself a hare or a bobcat while Arvo went on to catch a big game animal.

[Arvo]

Arvo began his tracking by clearing his mind of distractions, as usual. Thanks to windreach, he still acted like a small bird when he hunted, eyes darting around, moving lightly, and in small steps and being very careful not to disturb anything that would make a sound should he step on it. The sun was nearly risen by now, and the sounds of animals waking up was deafining. In his mind, Arvo separated each sound, from the overbearing crowing of birds, to the shuffling of ground rodents and small creatures. These creatures would draw out the preditors.

There were hollows that, upon closer inspection, were Rabbit burrows. Leading from there were trails they’d left in their wake. Tiny footprints in soft earth, brambles and bushes parted to make way for the creatures small body. Following this trail for a while he came across rotting wood that had obviously been ripped open by some creature. The animal was probably after insects, or fungi, possibly both. Arvo brushed away some of the leaf litter but there were no prints here.

He stood up to look around. A ravaged fruit bush was next. It had been pickeed to the bone by something hungry. The prints he was looking for were here, going off towards a clearing. “Oh shyke” he whispered as he recognized what they were.

Following them, he eventually came to a stop in front of a very large, menacing looking wild boar. And what a beautiful sight it was. Arvo backed up immediately. He’d never attempted to catch such an aggressive animal before. At least not alone. He couldn’t let it charge him, but could he risk the noise involved in climbing a tree? He decided better be safe than skewered by a huge tusk. Those things really fought for their lives.

[Arvo]

Arvo selected a firm tree, gently placed a foot on the lowest branch, and then swung himself upwards. The tree rustled and the Boar looked up. Arvo froze, not daring to breath. He couldn’t lose this catch. The Boar went back to eating from a bush and Arvo breathed again. He steadied himself against the treetrunk and notched an arrow. Trying to keep his balance and aim at the same time was rediciously difficult, and his first shot hit the creature in its rump, causing it to squeal with rage and anger and locate something to charge at. The thing locked eyes with him “Petch!” Arvo swore. It ran for the tree. Arvo jumped down, just as it began to stomp the ground, loaded another arrow and sent it right between the pigs eyes. “Petch you pig!” He yelled very unprofessionally, notching another arrow in case the stubborn thing didn’t fall. But it fell, and Arvo breathed a sigh of relief.

He bagged the thing and returned to see Kean. Kean sat there already looking miserable. “Oh Shyke Kean, is that a bobcat? Wow! Amazing catch!” Arvo called sarcastically grinning and taunting the smaller boy. Kean said nothing. “You didn't seriously believe that act before Kan? Come on!” Kean looked at him shocked “You have the eyes of a killer, Arvo, act or not.” Arvo looked shocked “Wha-“ Kean got up, and began to walk away “Kean! You’re kidding me right? I was joking!” but he wasn’t turning around. Arvo stood there staring dumbly at the boy as he left . He had a feeling there was more to Kean than what he knew. Arvo would just have to re-evaluate what he thought he knew about this boy. Maybe his innocences was just as much of a mask as Arvo’s wit?