It's The Little Things in Life[Private]

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam frowned slightly, but he drew his own shortbow and nocked an arrow just in case. He offered a quick, supportive smile to Dymphna because he knew what it was like to experience fear, both rational and irrational. Vanator was peeking at the Web, so he assumed they would have some advance warning of predators hunting Drykas, but it was good to be vigilant with the senses they were given as well. Though he knew he was ill-equipped to see what Vanator was doing, he still kept an avid watch on the older man, as if he could learn to Web by observation alone, and be one step closer to his goal. In any case, he had always found comfort in the idea that the souls of the Drykas stayed together thanks to the Web. "Perhaps we should elect a hunt leader," he offered quietly. "We are all equal, of course, but with the dangers we will be facing, I don't think we can afford to rule by committee." He wasn't necessarily putting himself forward, though he thought his meager tracking skills would be more effective in the long-term than the Webbing. They wouldn't have to stop and defend him whenever he was following a trail. But he would work with whomever was elected; one had to learn to follow in order to be an effective leader, else how could one put oneself in the shoes of their followers? This, then, seemed to be the pattern of his own leadership: he was more effective when leadership was conferred upon him, rather than taking it by mean force.

[Dymphna]

Her mold was tucked away for safe keeping as she idly moved over to stand near Vanator. She gave him a moment of study as she wrapped her fingers around the handle of her sickle on right hip as she tucked the one on her left away. Her eyes landed then on Sam, lifting an eyebrow the slightest bit. The smile he got was tight. She would have been happier with simply tracking the animals since they had someone with experience. Looking over the situation at hand, there had been a least one predator around to launch an attack. Watering holes were dangerous. Everyone needed water, so the smart predators logically hung around there. It seemed unnecessarily dangerous to have one of the stronger members of the party webbing at that exact moment. Never mind that the longer they stood there, the further away their own prey would get. Of course, she couldn’t have had this insight while in the middle of things. They had to stop for her to look it over. She wasn’t pleased with any of it. Not at all. She was also having doubts about being there at all. “I agree we should elect a leader,” she said in almost a whisper as she looked out at the land around her. She wanted to know who to be annoyed with in her next life.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon was not one to appreciate Kayiri barking orders at him. Perhaps he should have thought a little better of it, since he wasn't exactly singled out in the orders like he felt, but the thought of this guy, who was quite a bit younger than Eldon, had yet to hold any significant amount of respect from the Water Reimancer, and without acceptance from the team as a whole stepped up to the plate and make himself leader. Eldon wasn't a fan of that, yet he was pleased to know the boy had the courage to do so. It wasn't easy to assume a leadership position. Eldon didn't know this personally, but he knew he wasn't built for that sort of thing. He had other plans for himself. So, without so much as a scowl, or nod of approval for that matter, Eldon moved next to Vanator, giving him several paces so that he could do whatever he was doing (Eldon didn't understand the Webbing too well, merely the basics were understood) and he scanned the horizon. "Understood." Eldon glanced at Sam, noticing that he had been watching Vanator, staring at him as if studying his statue-like stillness. Sunkiss grinned lightly. "What are you thinking about brother?" A few moments passed as Sam mentioned a Hunting Leader. It made sense, perfect sense. If something went astray out here on the Sea of Grass (which wasn't unlikely), it was wise to have one voice to listen to, rather than half a dozen suggestions pointing in opposite directions. The question was 'Who was the best candidate?' Eldon glanced from person to person. Dymphna, and in no disrespect, was probably the last choice of all to be considered for the role. She was visibly afraid which would merely demoralize them in a time when morale was needed most, plus she didn't seem to be a warrior or hunter, a healer (as Kayiri mentioned) was substantially useful, but not as a leader. Kayiri was young, rash, quick to talk, quick to act, but Eldon couldn't think that he was thinking everything through. A mistake was common, they were all human, but a mistake made by a leader would spell catastrophe, followed shortly by no survivors. Vanator, Eldon had to say, seemed to be the best choice in his eyes. Eldon may not have known too much of him, but he could tell he was experienced. Eldon could see he knew Webbing, which was incredibly useful in these lands. Eldon had yet to find any fault or questionable traits in this man, yet he didn't know him well enough to put so much faith in. Then there was himself, a thought that merely brought a smirk to his face. That was a 'No'. He could throw an ax and thrust a spear and ride a horse, but he was quick to act, easy to anger, and would likely be the second worst possible choice available (the first only being Dymphna, again because she seemed more fragile than firm). "I'm with Sam and Dymphna. Actually, we probably should have done this sooner." Eldon looked at Sam, waiting for him to look directly at him so he could peer into his cousin's eyes. He had to see the confidence radiating from Sama'el gaze before he made his choice. Eldon loved his cousin with all his heart, but during a hunt you could not put favoritism in anyone but the one best suited for the job. 'Tell me Sam, are you willing to take up that responsibility?'

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam thought Vanator would be the first choice for a leader; after all, he was the eldest and a web mage, much like an Ankal should be. It seemed a natural choice. After that, Eldon, but that was likely as not a filial bias. Sam would lead if he were chosen, and thought he could do a passable job, especially given his tender years. If he didn't radiate self-confidence, at least his dark eyes were cheerful and stoic when they met Dymphna's and his cousin's, offering them an encouraging smile as he readied his shortbow and nocked an arrow just in case. One never knew where a predator might be lurking, downwind of them, perhaps hidden even from Vanator's reach. "I suppose we shall have to wait on Vanator getting his head out of the clouds to vote, though," he mused.

[Baku]

While others discussed who should be the leader, or rather that someone should be the leader, Vanator spent his time surfing the web. It was a surreal experience for him, still being somewhat a novice in the field as he melded his own Djed with that of the web nearby. When he did so, it was as though his very consciousness was drawn into the web, as the tales of those who crossed it’s path were revealed to him. Most recently, and nearest, flashes of the hunting party he traveled with appeared before his eyes. It wasn’t so much in imagery that he saw for the most part, although Vanator could likely perceive it as such as his own mind read what the web had to reveal and his mind would translate such in a way that was easiest for him to perceive. More to the point, the web housed the information. Further back he went, his consciousness at first slipping past the point of the deer crossing the path until the information of the Glassbeaks, fueled by the slight recollection of the scene they left behind by the waterhole, pouncing on a adolescent boar was revealed. He moved forward once again, this time locking upon the deer’s movement as it crossed the web, solitary and alert. It moved away from the waterhole, in the direction that was first reveled by Sama’el. Vanator concentrated, keeping his focus on that time, and moving with it and the deer in forward motion, sensing it’s movements each time it stepped across the webs of the grasslands. As well, Vanator found something else, a small pack of coyotes on the hunt, their own noses following the deer itself as it made it’s way further away from the watering hole. By the time Vanator had sensed that it had traveled over ten miles away, his own consciousness had started becoming very comfortable with traveling the web. Almost too comfortable, as if it were becoming home in a way. It was time to leave, what little of his consciousness that remained in control began voicing it with a growing urgency.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Ordinarily, Sam was respectful of web mages, perhaps more so than he should have been, but when Vanator took so long to find what Sam felt was relatively simple information, he grew worried, and then perturbed, although he tried to hide those thoughts from any who might look at his normally open and expressive face. As it stood, they were waiting on the elder Sapphire clansman's information to make their decision and Sam could tell that everyone was ready to make a decision and move. All were excited (if Dymphna's state could be included under that umbrella) to hunt in preparation for the greater Fall Hunt to come. He held his bow already in his left hand, a finger curling around the nocked arrow to free up his right hand. Laying his right hand cautiously on Vanator's forearm, not wanting to begin their joint endeavor with Vanator's mind losing itself upon the complex latticework of energy that spanned the entire region. "Vanator, come back to us, hey?" he said carefully, maintaining the touch as if he would anchor the man's mind to the here and now. "We can start with the deer and you can tell us what else you have found as we ride." Hoping this would recall Vanator and prepare the others to ride, he waited for the man's answer.

[Vanator]

The lure of the Web grew stronger as Vanator's consciousness traveled away from his body and the hunting party. He was tempted to search for Kashik, to see where she was, to know she was safe. Once the hunts were over, he would have to bind Khiara to the web as well, now that she was part of his Drykas family. But the webber resisted the urge to continue, for fear of falling to the everpresent danger of losing himself in the endless expanse of the djed network. He raced back along the strands, not having found the information he had hoped to discover. With the jarring jolt he still could not get used to experiencing, Van's consciousness once again inhabited his physical body. His eyes slid open slowly, his awareness filling his senses as he once again found himself sitting at the center of the Drykas hunters. His eyes rose to see Sam'ael at his side, unaware the young man had been attempting to speak to him. Vanator met his gaze, curious, as he stood to his feet, then scanned the others, realizing he had interrupted a conversation of some sort. His gold-flecked brown gaze settled back on Sam'ael. "I could not discern much other than this was indeed the site of a glassbeak attack, their prey was a boar." His eyes glanced towards the spot where the animal's remains still littered the grass. " I was not able to find suitable prey for us. I did find the deer, but it has traveled over ten miles away, and a pack of coyote were already on it's trail. Perhaps it is better to rely on Sam's tracking to find us some quarry." Van nodded to the young hunter, not realizing he had just cast his vote for a hunt leader.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon watched in amazement as Vanator slowly returned to his normal self, returned from the Web that was so elaborate that he didn't quite understand it, nor its dangers. It was difficult to imagine the desire to be there in the web when you've yet to walk through it. There was a mild discomfort that settled in Eldon as he heard about the Glassbeaks. Glassbeaks bothered him, and the mere lack of knowledge of the glassbeak's location, or at least mention, meant they could be close, which meant Eldon would become just a little more perceptive. There would be a shimmer of desperation in his eyes now. He ruined a hunt in the past due to his foolishness in dealing with the beaks, he wasn't going to allow that again. However, there was a subtle comfort as well as Vanator mentioned that Sam's abilities were best suited for this situation. Without even knowing the hunting party was discussing leadership (was he even unaware of the talk?) he returned to them from his stroll through the Web, he gave his nomination to Sam. That settled it for Eldon. "I guess that's a vote for my cousin then, and I make that two." As if expecting her to agree, Eldon would offer his gaze (briefly since he was now watching the horizons for possible Glassbeak approach) to Dymphna. He flashed a confident grin, feeling certain she would agree with Vanator and Eldon. What about Kayiri though? He seemed very bold, he still might try to make himself party leader.

[Dymphna]

The young woman looked over the land around her thoughtfully. A strange bit of peace returned to her as Vanator stood up – Whatever peace she was actually capable of having at that moment. Her attention turned to Sam, tipping her head a little to the side as she considered the situation. She’d done nothing to hide the fact that she may have been a little sweet on him in an incredibly awkward manner, but she was still clearly weighing him out as a leader. She looked from one man to the next to the next. In the end her lip twitched the slightest bit before she said, “I third Sam as leader.”

[Raylin Sunsetfeather]

For most of the conversation about who should be the leader, Raylin had been staring at the waterhole. She had been thinking about the webbing and what knowledge about thier prey the group would get. So, when she heard the voice of Vanator, she hadn't been expecting it. She listned to what he had found but it wasn't the coyotes or the deer that interested her the most.

"How many boar were at the hole when the glassbeak came and how many did it kill?" she asked, the thought of bacon crepping into her thoughts. As she heard the votes for the group leader being cast, she though of who she should chose. Sam had the skills when it came to tracking but he was still only a year younger then her. And knowing what would happen if she was the leader, it might not be the best of choices. Vanator would probubly be a good leader, but he just came out of webbing. In all reality she barely knew any of them really, and thus wouldn't be able to make a good decision.

"I can't decide. Null vote for me." she answered.