Solo Into the Woods

[Riluc Lorrani]

20 day of Summer 526 AV

The air was filled with that smell of morning dampness. To some it was a wonderful smell, and Riluc would freely agree that it had its place, but it was a nice scent to creatures who lived in shelters whether it be houses or tent. Riluc remembered way to many mornings waking up cold and wet from that morning dew. It is hard to appreciate the smell of something when it leaves you wet and cold for part of the morning. To many years of waking up such had left an impression on Riluc and he pulled his cloak tighter as he moved through the morning forest.

Riluc though had a tent of his own now and he enjoyed its use. That wasn't to say he couldn't sleep on the streets of a city or huddled in a bush in the forest any more. He could and still did on occasion, but he appreciated the comfort of his tent. It was early in the morning and you would think he would be missing the comfort of his tent as he moved through the dew filled forest. He didn't though. Riluc Lorrani, child of wild dogs, truly did love being in nature.

Currently was walking through the edges of the forest towards the deeper parts were he would have greater chance of finding prey. It was strange feeling to walk these forest once again after so many years, but instinct returned to him with little problem. Riluc relished watching were he moved to make as little noise as possible. That wasn't saying he didn't make noise he did, he was to large not to but he was a normal human just crashing through the bushes.

Riluc had set out some traps the previous day in an effort to get some of the smaller game. He was also hoping to get something a little bigger to bring in for the day. Riluc was very careful in his hunting as he understood the careful balance required in nature. Humans and similar races were omnivores and so required meat, and with their intelligence they sat higher on the food chain. Sometimes people were surprised to learn that he hunted as a worshiper of Caiyha and condoned the act of killing animals. Riluc always shook his head at the misunderstanding of his mistress.

There was a balance of life and death and Riluc eating was part of that. No this didn't anger his goddess, and in a way it helped him watch the balance in the area. He paused for a moment as he heard something, moving in the distances. He listened for a long moment. It was something small and it was coming from the branches. The squirrels were waking up and beginning to gather. He realized he had been moving too slowly this morning thinking.

He pushed his wandering thoughts into the back of his mind and turned his focus to the hunt. Surviving in the wilds took focus but sometimes people thought you could let your thoughts just wander, and there was a time and place for that but only once you had settled in to watch an area. Traveling with a distracted mind would allow others to hear you since you can’t hear yourself.

Riluc traveled through woods and came upon his first trap not much later. He smiled at the pheasant that was trapped within its bounds. Pheasant’s were always a good catch from multiple parts. It was a good eat, put it was some that could easily be taken out of the forest especially at a time like this. Riluc bent down and carefully removed the bird snapping its neck in the process. He closed his eyes an offered a pray.

‘Beloved Mother. I thank you for the life of this creature and for all animal life. I ask a blessing on its soul.’ He remained kneeling for a moment longer before standing up to head out to his next trap.

[Riluc Lorrani]

Riluc cleaned up the area around were his trap had been working to leave no trace that he had been through there. He obviously couldn't get ride of all traces but he wanted to avoid advertising his presences. The young man moved on to find a new location for his first trap before checking his other trap. He liked this general area it was an area with excellent food sources for pheasants and other wild birds. Riluc stood and looked around trying to desided were would be a good place for this trap.

Riluc took his time to find the right spot for the trap as hunting wasn't something you could rush with out potentially serious consiquences. Once he found a good spot in the area got to work setting up his new trap. He worked with care and precission again not letting himself be rushed. It felt good using his hands to work and it felt good to be in the woods. The feel of the breeze on his skin the sparkle of the sun light on the branches. With a rare smile he stood, confirmed his bird was secured in his pack before contiuning towards the next trap.

As he walked he kept an eye out as he hoped that his efforts would bring in something. The true hunter wasn't satisfied with just pheasents caught in a trap, he wanted something worthy of his skills. One day he would actually start hunting monsters, but he still hand to fine tune his skills still. So as he walked he kept an eye out for the signs. His eyes sparked a bit as he could see that deer had passed through this area with some regularity. Yes this would be a good place to return and start looking for a deer to take. Riluc felt his stomach rumble as he walked and realized he would need something soon to sustain him. He had lived in these woods for many years. So as he walked towards his last trap he also turned his attnetion towards signs on berries or nuts that grew in the wilds.

[Riluc Lorrani]

He was only a couple minutes away from his second trap when he noticed a new trail crossing his currently path. His green eyes narrowed and his expression grew focused as he paused in his path. He bent down so that he was balance on the balls of his feet and looked more closely at the tracks. They exposed dirt was still slightly darker then the surrounding indicating that the moister hadn’t been dried out yet. Riluc looked at the tracks some more trying to find tracks in either direction. He was able to find additional marks and realized that the creature was going in a different direction then he had originally though. Riluc didn’t even question it, the trap would wait, the deer could easily move off by the time he had taken care of the trap.

He began to move down the path trying to think what lay in that direction. Part of hunting also involved knowing the terrain. There was a stream by a meadow in this direction. Riluc took a chance that was the deer’s destination. The young man still followed the trail, but he wasn’t loyal catching ever mark just watching to confirm the tracks were in the places he thought they should be. Riluc didn’t rush through the forest like an idiot though. Riluc really didn’t want to trip and break something or impale himself on a hidden branch.

Along the way he grabbed a weed on his way by and snapped the steam in half so that the milk began to dribble out. He spread the milk around, it wasn’t a overly strong smell, but something to help mask the smell of human as he moved. Currently the wind was with him, but it was possible for the gentle breeze to change at any time. The breezes were random creatures that sometimes helped you, sometimes hinder, but most times didn’t care. So if the wind changed direction he wanted a confusion of smells to confront his prey. Feeling the stickiness of the milk weed again his flesh he continued his preparation by pulling out his sling so that he was prepared against any surprises. Riluc’s eyes were dancing with excitement, the thrill of the hunt was something that his canine mother had instilled in him. He remembered still going through the streets of Sunberth, hunting rats and cats. There was something of that wild boy that was still very much part of Riluc.

[Riluc Lorrani]

Riluc continued his course, moving in the same direction as the deer but not necessarily finding every track. He continued to have his suspicion confirmed as he progressed deeper closer and closer to the stream. The wild man eventually stopped though as he could see that the tracks were extremely fresh which meant the creature had passed by recently. Riluc stopped his pace and looked around trying to see signs of the deer’s passing. There were marks of its passage that would quickly fade, but now confirms the creature’s presences.

Riluc smile faded and his expression became focused an intense. Now was the time to do things exactly right and to focus on each step. Riluc crotched and began the careful process of walking forward. He wasn’t trying to be completely silent, but aware of his surroundings and avoid stepping were he could cause excessive noise. He confirmed the direction of the wind. Currently a very small breeze blowing perpendicular of the trail which worked for Riluc very well. So he moved with a hunters grace forward. What he really wanted to avoid was to suddenly coming popping out in the clearing for all to see.

In short order the clearing was upon them and Riluc could see the deer standing at the near the river slowlly slurping up water with its tongue. Riluc stayed within the bounds of the woods so as to avoid being seen as he moved around. He slowlly walked until he would be in a good position. Riluc paused as he came to the a good spot. He took the sling in hand and made sure his stone was firmly in place. Then be began to spin the leather thong around and around. The spinning increased as he aimed the throw. His eyes were narrow as he watched the creature. He needed to maje sure the creature wasn't about to jerk its head which would throw the shot.

With the sling spin at max spead he released the rick so that it went flying straight at the deers head.

[Riluc Lorrani]

The stone flew through the air between Riluc and the deer releasing a loud whistle. Riluc followed through with his sling so as not to interrupt the throw. The stone flew and smacked the deer in the head, Riluc made a mental cause as it missed the center of the seers forehead. The effect desired was reached though as the deer was stunned. A rock hitting most parts of a head has that effect.

Rilic didn't dwell on his missed shot, but took the oppurtunity that was presented. He moved quickly across the distance between his hidding place and the stunned dear. Riluc knew that the animal was still dangerous even while dazed it just couldn't move quickly, and get away. Riluc had his hunting knife in had as he dodge a staggering dear. The creature was trying to get away but couldn't get all of its legs to move in the same direction. Riluc knew that getting in this close was dangerous, but since he missed with the sling this was the only way.

Riluc dodge again as the deer lurched sideways. Riluc saw the exposed flank of the deer and plunged the blade in. He aimed between the ribs at the deers heart. It was quick and fast. Then Riluc jumped back as the deer began to topple over. This was part was just as dangerous as the large bulk of the deer fell over and it legs thrashed for a moment. It wasn't long but getting trapped under its body or kicked by it flailing legs would seriously hurt. Riluc's green eyes watched the creature as it died. Once it was safer Riluc placed his hand on the deers forehead and offered up a prayer to Cauyha for her bounty and to take the bless the spirit of the deer.

Once the deer was dead, Riluc began the process of preparing the deer for transfer back to the city. The animal would be heavy and so Riluc began drain it of the unnessiary liquids that really couldn't be used. Riluc worked with little concern for the goreior side of hunting. Growing up he had watched and even eaten raw meet right after it was killed. So Riluc continued focused on the work but also paying attention to the forest. Most creatures would leave hom alone but monsters sometimes wanted an easy meal.

Once it was done Riluc lifted the dear to carry it over his shoulders. He now had a difficult task of hauling the corpse back. He looked up and noticed it was passed noon and while it had been a good hunting day it would take him awhile to get the deer back to the butchers. Riluc sighed and started walking.