Prickly Preparations (Canali)

[Antar]

21st of Summer, 511 av.

It was a quiet morning in the camp, filled with the usual chores of fetching and boiling water from the nearby wells, gathering firewood. He'd be off to work again for the afternoon, but this morning he had a bit of ... unfinished business to attend to. More like business which had decided to make his previous day as much of a hindrance as possible. He was still sore in some areas he'd prefer not to mention.

Treking back towards the camp, Noth paused a moment outside of the tent where the rapscallion in question, and her cat were still holed up in from the prior day's experience. Clearing his throat and silently muttering a prayer to any gods who were listening to stave off bad luck, Noth called out, "Hey, Canali! Wake up, it's past sunrise already!"

[Canali]

After rising early, uncurling from a cramped ball on top of her bedroll, and pushing Katahr off of where he lay casually across her side, Canali groaned and flung one arm over her eyes. It was too early in the petching morning to be up. Her rumpled clothes were in a disarray across her body, twisted this way and that. One strand of dark, curly hair lay on the corner of her mouth. Flicking it away, Canali slowly opened grey eyes. Oi, she was sore. Her ankle, which was most likely just sprained, no longer had the bandage on it. More than likely had come unwrapped during the night. How had she gotten back to her tent? Recalling the last memory of her riding next to Antar and holding Katahr, Canali figured Antar must have dropped her unceremoniously. Gods, was she sore. Calves ached, knees locked, and ankle throbbing. Canali was not a morning person. Pushing to her knees, Canali watched Katahr, who had curled up in a ball on the edge of her bedroll after she had shoved him from using her as a pillow, slept peacefully. Rotten brat. Green practically flowed from her in waves of jealousy. Knowing there was nothing else to do and she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, Canali offhandedly shoved her clothes back in place from their disarrayed positions. Without changing, Canali slid from her tent into the somewhat snippy morning air. Ignoring the temptation to go slip back into her warm bedroll, she glanced around camp. No one else had risen from their sleeping stupor or even wandered from their tents, she noted. What would happen if she screamed, Canali wondered. Would they rush from their tents, weapons drawn, searching for an enemy who wasn't even there? Shrugging the idea off, Canali headed for the burnt ashes; the only sign of a fire. Squatting down with most of her weight on her unhurt foot, she felt for a sign of warmth from the coals. Only a little bit which nipped at her fingertips. Brushing away the white soot, Canali grasped a twig which hadn't burned last night and set it next to the glowing red coals. Cupping two hands over her mouth, she blew gently, watching as the ashes turned a bright red in retaliation. When smoke flickered and twisted, burning Canali's nostrils, she continued only a few seconds longer. The branch easily caught and flames nipped at the air, cackling as Canali limped over and returned with several pieces of wood; setting them up like a teepee. Moving silently with a limp, Canali grabbed one of the spare pans, checked to make sure there wasn't a caterpillar or anything in the metal basin ((It had happened before!)), and started off into the woods. Camp had been chosen because of the thickness of surrounding vegetation. This would slow down any enemies who decided to attack. There was also a water source nearby, within a five minute walking distance. Ten if you were hurt. Coasting through the damp grass, Canali was sprinkled by a dewy branch as it flicked backwards. Upon retrieving water from a small watering hole, Canali tucked the pan up under her arms and hurried back. No reason to tempt fate. Damned squirrels. After setting the water on to boil and rid itself of any dangerous bacteria, Canali disappeared back into her tent to change. Katahr lazily popped one green eye open, purred once, and fell back asleep. Unfolding several materials of clothing, Canali was in the process of swapping shirts when Antar's voice echoed. Holding the shirt in one hand, Canali stepped out of her tent. Her chest was bound with fabric circled many times around, creating a bra-like substance. Hair messy and eyes still glazed with sleep, she gave Antar a single, flat glare before flipping her shirt on. "What?" Canali was not a morning person.

[Antar]

With a crooked if appreciative smile, Antar whistled mockingly and gave her a wink, "Well if the young lady wasn't injured, I'd wonder what the bed head was from."'

With a bit of an abashed sigh he put a finger to the side of his chin and tapped it there as he slowly looked down towards her ankle to see all the bandages had been removed. Pressing the tip of his tongue to the roof of his mouth he 'tsked' a litte before glancing directly back towards Canali's eyes as she finally managed to pull a shirt over her head. "Now that just won't do, an injured person moving about on that ankle without it being bandaged? Tsk Tsk.."

Transferring his gaze towards the small fire she had started, Antar nodded once, "So after that injury of yours is rebandaged, I hope we can get to work on that hedgehog we caught yesterday. What do you say Canali: Ready for a bit of work before I head off to... well work? "

He turned slightly back towards the woman with an amused gleam in his eye as he wondered just how she'd take his nonchalant jibes at her early morning displays...

[Canali]

A glare threatened to light Antar on fire then and there. Vaporize him into thin air. Strangle him until he turned purple. Tie him by his dirty toes upside down and beat him like a dusty rug. Shove him into a hornet nest and cackle evilly as they attacked. Castrate him like some meager animal no longer used for breeding. Shave his face with a razor, without soap and against the grain, taking off the first top three layers of skin with it. Poke his eyes out with a stick caught on fire. Tie his ankle to a ship and watch him be pulled away to sea. Knock him on his thick boned head with a large rock, and leave him in the middle of Sunberth in some back alley. Pour the now boiling, scalding hot, water by the fire over his frame. Set a snake in his bedroll before he goes to sleep for the night. Tie him up all fancy with a bow and ship him over to the Myrians. Call the daggerhands on him. Leave him strapped to a tree at the cemetery and say he didn't believe in ghosts. Adjusting her shirt, Canali ran a hand quickly through her bedhair in a failed attempt to tame it. The long length poofed back up, annoying Canali even further. Petching morning people. Petching early risers. Petching sun. Using her imagination, she cursed everything in sight near likely. Why couldn't she just go crawl back into her comfy bedroll and sleep like a lazy bum? Except it would most likely be cold by now, Canali figured with another glare. All his fault. All of Antar's damned fault. Sure, the reasoning was twisted and skewed, but Canali didn't care. Yes, she realized it wasn't his fault. But.. He was there and so happy and smiling. Ugh! He just had it all planned out, didn't he? Fix her up like some lamed animal and set her to work. Moving forwards without warning, Canali stabbed a pointed finger into Antar's chest. Teeth gritting together audibly before she spoke with constraint, voice low and rough from no use this morning. "Take your petching," another stab, "good morning mood and shove it where the sun don't shine, sweetheart." Limping backwards and favoring her ankle, Canali scowled at him. Yes, the outburst was uncalled for, but underneath Canali's scowl, she felt better. Somewhat. Okay, not really. "If you want that petching hedgehog taken care of, at least fetch some of the tea leaves from my backpack." Preferably the honey, too, but she not to push her luck. Limping away, Canali headed back towards the fire; the warmth. The heat. Neither a winter person, nor a morning person, Canali didn't like cold of any kind and had been known to cling to the warmest thing around. Even if said thing was breathing and human. Folding her unhurt leg under her, Canali dropped to the ground, fingers tenderly massaging her sore ankle. That hurt, dammit! Thankfully, nearly all of Canali's cooking supplies were right next to the fire. Including a large, jagged knife and some type of cutting board. Grabbing it, Canali set it next to her on the ground. Next she scooped some water out of the pan next to the fire with a cup, relishing in the momentary warmth against her fingers. The frightening scowl on her face dared anyone else to interact with her

[Antar]

Antar winced a little and held up his hands in mock supplication when the bed headed woman poked him in the chest. It wasn't his fault she wasn't a morning person, though there were probably plenty of ways to cheer up her mood at such times that weren't worth thinking about. The cantankerous display made him almost reply with a couple of choice words of his own, but he the rogue bit back on his temper and merely smiled a little as he nodded an assent to fetching her pack.

Venturing towards Canali's tent, a slight look inside made Noth wonder why the woman was such a pain in the neck early in the morning. And talk about being disorganized, there were clothes strewn about haphazardly as if one was trying to pick out their summer wear but in sunberth, the morning air was still cool to the skin. Seeing her backpack at the foot of her bedroll, Noth's eyes became wary when he noticed the sleeping furball raise his eyes at the intruding presence to glare at him. It was almost as if the cat was a silent guardian watching over the demesne of the lady's tent. A feline territorial watch dog if you would.

For a moment, the rogues eyes met the cat's, and the cat's eyes met the rogue's as a silent stare down ensued. Reaching towards the object he'd been requested to grab, a low humm emanated from Kahtar's throat, until Noth pulled his hand back outside the tent.

Thinking he needed to distract the cat, he made his way back to his own tent and got out a piece of jerky. Glancing towards the fire, he noticed Canali, already setting up for whatever she was doing, and paying his showdown with the cat no mind at all. Even if he had leather gloves he was apt to antagonize the feline into attacking. The gods alone knew how easy it might be for the little rapscallion to jump up and box his ears a little.

It was a shame though, Noth truly liked animals a bit more then people.

Returning to the entrance of the Canali's tent, Noth threw the piece of jerky towards the grumbling cat, who quieted down long enough to let Noth reach in to grab Canali's backpack. Smiling at his small victory, Antar brought the pack and all towards the fireside to where it would be in easy reach of Canali. The absolute last thing he wanted to be doing was searching the pack and finding anything that would get himself further in trouble with the woman.

Or another round of those disgustingly evily manipulative puppy dog eyes.

Thinking it was time to get started, he sauntered over towards the high hold where he had secured the hedgehog and let it down slowly, Gingerly reaching inside to grab the kill by the legs to ensure the quills didn't stick him, the rogue hoisted it up and over towards the fire and began to wait until he was spoken to again.

In the back of his mind Noth weighed and calculated just how long it would take Canali to ask for help bandaging her ankle again, or whether her sheer stubborness would force her to place herself in circumstances that might injure it further...

[Canali]

After dipping and cleansing her cooking utensils in the boiling water, Canali gently wiped the excess liquid away with a scrap of fabric before setting them off to the side next to the cutting board. While she was impatiently waiting on Antar, Canali rinsed her cup clean with the sizzling water to purify it and make it heated enough to accept the tea leaves to make the drink. Leaving the water in the cup as she moved back to massaging her ankle, Canali sighed. Where was Antar? Glancing around, Canali watched several members of the gang do their morning chores and rituals, which might have included oiling down weapons, sharpening afore mentioned weapons, feeding animals, and warming up before working on their muscles with weapons. Camp was bustling. Fairly soon, those who had jobs would be off to work and those who didn't would meander around town, seeing who was naïve enough to be robbed and most likely hit the taverns, also. Canali would stay behind with her cat on most days, moseying around. Sometimes she would go into town and browse through the vendor's wares off near the sea, but that definitely wasn't going to be happening soon with her sprained ankle. Which needed to be rewrapped. The scowl on her face deepened. This meant asking Antar for something else. Again. After Antar sat down quietly with her pack and the hedgehog, Canali softly set the cutting board in front of him, same with the knife as it's side, sharp edge pointed outwards. "Skin it." A long pause. "Please." Turning her face away, Canali dug through her backpack. Near the top in a small container lay her tea leaves. Taking it out from the dark pouch, she set it next to her cup of hot liquid. Removing one green leaf, Canali ripped it into six pieces. From top to bottom, left to right before rotating and tearing the other way. Splashing the cup of water our nearby, she placed all the pieces at the bottom of the cup. This would allow the flavor to truly soak in, instead of laying on top like some decoration. By now the water had cooled slightly, down a comfortable warm. Careful of her legs since she was sitting, Canali tilted the pan enough to splash some water into her cup; filling it just below the metal rim. The tea leaves fluttered and swirled. White foam chased the leave fragments around. Satisfied with how it looked, Canali placed a nearby cooking utensil over it, to allow the tea to steam and fully flavor itself. After several chimes, Canali removed the cooking utensil and grasped the cup. Raising it to her nose, Canali inhaled; eyes shut, a peaceful look overcoming her facial features. Gingerly sipping at it, she wallowed in the flavorful taste. A tang of bitterness still remained, but for all of it's worth, the tea was sweet. A small smile twisted Canali's lips as her sip. Already, she could feel her morning churlishness passing. "I don't suppose you'd help me with my ankle?" Canali ventured cautiously, extending the question like an olive branch; a peace maker.

[Antar]

With his leather gloves on, Antar carefully looked at the creature he was asked to skin. A porcupine was a little different then a possum, but the skinning elements were the same. Remove the head and the tail, gut the animal, wash and fleece the bones out to use the most of the meat. Yes, the ability to skin two animals were quite similar. There was just a single difference really, between a possum and a hedgehog. One that posed a significant problem for the unwary.

This animal had quills. Knowing this, he eschewed the knife offered on the cutting board and used his kukri after sterilizing it in another pot of boiling water.

Quills were prickly things to be sure, and they posed a danger to anyone removing them. For this reason, he had his leather gloves on. Normally someone was safe from a hog's quills if the rascal wasn't angry or perturbed, and it would be quite possible to pet a live hog in a single direction. However, now the shoe was on the other foot. After a night in the bag, the corpse was now undergoing rigor mortis, and it had died hissing with its head crunched in by a rock. So that meant, Noth had to work extra carefully to slide the knife into the flesh of the back and work on bringing it sideways to flesh the skin off. Quills and all.

In a few moments the job was done, with antar placing the quills in a bowl to the side. With a little bit of finesse they could be worked to cut off the rounded barbs and sharpened into sewing needles.

A useful accessory for anyone of their group to have.

When he was finished and the skin and spines were tossed to the side, he began working on the rest of the carcasse. Fleshing the bones out, scraping the ribs, removing the scapula and the shoulder blades. Eventually the carcasse was fileted and the rolled up meat set aside on the cutting board and placed next to Canali.

He waited in silence, pondering what else to say while the woman drank her tea. Finally, after a long moment's wait she turned to ask if he'd help her rebandage her foot. "Certainly. I wouldn't want any comrade to reinjure themselves. What happened to the other bandages , or do you have more in your pack?"

[Canali]

Canali's grey eyes watched, scrutinizing, while Antar skinned the hedgehog. He didn't seem skilled in skinning, but the job was something Canali hated to do. To see the skin pulled away from the flesh, muscles and fat sticking to it like some type of gum, was slightly disturbing. To feel one disconnect from the other was an odd feeling. Canali's fingers tingled with just the thought of the sensation. How could Antar do such a horrible thing, even if the creature was already dead? He seemed to have no expression on his face. Antar, that is. The hedgehog was wearing a look of fear and menace. What had been his last thought? Did he even think? Tilting her head to one side, Canali zoned out, chin in her palm. A light sigh slid through her pink lips, eyes staring at the unseeable; her memories and thoughts. Grey eyes focused on the hedgehog, Canali stared as Antar worked. Nathan had tried to keep all death away from Canali's sight; keep her sheltered from that side of life. In Sunberth, it had been an extremely hard task. More than once they had seen a dead corpse, but Nathan had never killed something in front of her. Never hurt anybody past the point of return. Sure, there were fights here and here, but nothing too serious. Before he had been killed, Canali had never even seen someone truly stabbed. And Nathan hadn't even been doing the murdering. Having jerked out of her thoughts when Antar spoke, Canali thought for a moment. Were there bandages in her backpack? She wasn't quite sure, but a quick search showed none. A ton of other stuff she should remove and set in her tent, but nothing useful to rewrapping her sprained ankle. Shaking her head, she murmured, "I may have almost everything under the sun in that leather thing, but no bandages." A pause filled the silence as she reached forwards and, with nimble fingers, plucked the now bloodied knife from where he had set it. Tilting the pan to one side, Canali watched as water splashed over the knife. Most of the red blood was washed away as the water smacked against it, splattering. Several drops of liquid settled onto her arm, but Canali ignored it and gently ran a cloth of the knife, hand holding the worn hilt. Whatever scalding liquid that had been left behind was now gone, same with the blood. Canali seemed somewhat OCD about how clean her weapon was and looked over the shining blade several times, wiping and sweeping it with the cloth. Just in case there was anything left. Nothing her eye could see besides the normal scrapes and scratches. Setting it calmly, and carefully, on her knee, blade away from her, Canali met Antar's eyes. "The other bandages must have came off while I slept. Perhaps I had tossed and turned. I'm not quite sure. Anyways, I do believe Katahr made a bed of them." Canali settled a branch onto the fire after breaking it in half. "So… Unless you want to fight him for them, which if you do, beware he is slightly possessive. However, there might be some others in my tent. I tend to be accident prone, if you didn't notice." A sheepish, almost shy, smile tilted her lips up slightly on the side. Ducking her head, Canali took another sip of tea. Yumm. Relishing the flavor by sticking her tongue against the back of her top teeth, Canali nearly sighed aloud again. "If not, another member should have some." Obviously tea made Canali's bad mood be at least tolerable and instead switch into talk. Deciding she had chattered enough, she swooshed a hand in her tent's general direction; as if to dismiss Antar. Casually bringing her cup up to her light lips again, Canali drank.

[Antar]

'Women were fickle creatures.' Noth thought to himself with a slight smile. First they treat you as if you're less then worthless and then uncommonly dismissed you whenever they had their morning tea... and that made Noth wonder if he'd ever withstand the female perspective. Even the perspective of one who was 'accident prone; which in his reckoning simply meant they were clumsy. Would such a woman's actions ever make sense to him at all?

'Probably not.' he mused as he straightened up to make a small mocking bow, "As the lady wishes."

Without further ado, Noth stood up and walked back to the young woman's tent and opened the flap to peer inside the confines. Canali's prediction of Kahtar was right of course, the little furball was wrapped up like a mummy in the cast off bandages, rolled and twisted and staring at Noth with its beady little eyes, and the rogue smiled a moment as he stared at the cretature as it played with all the mirth it's kind seemed to possess. Considering whether it would be best to wrestle with the little furred buzzsaw, just to try his luck, Noth sighed a looked back towards the pet's owner. In temperament, the pair were very much alike. Always hissing at those they didn't know too well, or taking them for granted in the oft times.

At least Canali's cat would hunt the mice of the camp.

Reaching one hand inside the tent towards Canali's backpack, Noth paused a moment as a low growl of warning emanated from the rodent catcher. He spoke softly to it, "Now don't you growl at me, Kahtar. Your master's a little hurt is all, and I'm the poor sot that's trying to help her... why I don't know; but I am ."

The little critter expressed a low throaty noise at it tried to move, but it was caught up in the bandages as it yelped its displeasure at Noth. He was sure to be speaking at a level it's owner could hear.[color=orange]"Don't look at me like that, you did that too yourself. I'd gladly help you escape that tangle, but you'd probably bite me in the process."

Moving slowly, Antar pulled the backpack closer and searched the pockets until he found another set of bandages, placed the backpack back near the woman's bedroll and backed away from the tent slightly before another unpleasant sound came from the tent as he went away. "Alright hold on, at least let me go help your master and then get my leather gloves to stop you from scratching me you wonderful beastly critter you."

Another sound, as if it was grudgingly accepting its situation was heard as Noth ventured back towards the fire where Canali sat. She was probably taking her time to enjoy her tea, but Noth had to say something as he placed the bandages closeby, "It appears Kahtar has himself tangled, if you want me to ; I'll help him out. Though I'd rather get my leather gloves to try to ward off risking both of us needing bandages at the end of this little meal. Besides that, may I see your injured leg Canali?"

[Canali]

Katahr must have tried to intimidate Antar. The young cat was no less than pleasant to Canali on most terms, but even she knew not to mess with his bandages. Possessive was putting it lightly. The damned furball pretty much elected them to be his throne. Laughing outright at Antar when the fickle creature was heard all the way from the fire, she pushed to one knee after setting the cup of tea to the side. The sprained ankle gave protest, but she pushed the bitter-snap of pain down. With clenched teeth, Canali moved to her feet. Antar was already heading back and spoke the words which only succeeded in confirming what she had already thought; Katahr had intimidated him. "Thank you. I'll only be a moment." Without further ado, Canali hobbled away. Katahr met Canali's raised eyebrow with an imaginary one of his own. If he had been human, Canali would think of him as an unnaturally skinny mutt with shaggy multi-shaded hair and an attitude of an Akalak or Isur. Wait. No. A symenestra. Smiling, Canali leaned down and grasped one end of the bandaging near her foot. Katahr wasn't wrapped dangerously in the bandage and pulling it wouldn't tighten it or harm him. "We're gonna make you a whirlwind, Katahr." Voice soothing, Canali viciously tugged the bandage. Katahr, who was wrapped up in it, went flying with a roll and a yelp. Landing a few feet away, he pushed to his paws and gave Canali a baleful stare before, tail held high, he stalked from the tent. A light, bell-like, laugh stealthily snuck up. Curling the bandage up like a horse's lead, she followed him back out. Katahr sat peacefully by the fire, a safe distance away from Antar, and lapping at her tea. Exasperation flooded Canali. While Antar had most likely tried to shoo Katahr from tea, she didn't blame him for not touching the vengeful beast. Dark eyes glancing between the bandages and Katahr, Canali plotted. Given her ankle, she wouldn't be able to step back very well, but throw… Well, that was possible. Without missing a beat, Canali leaned back into the tent to grab her slingshot near the entrance. Settling the round egg of bandages in the sling, Canali pulled it back with her forefinger and middle finger. Straightening out her left arm, she raised it until the shoulder was even with the hand. Looking over the top of the bumpy weapon, she lowered Katahr into her sights, near the middle… And let go. Katahr let loose a loud, plaintive meow when Canali's teacup smacked against him. She had missed and hit the ground instead before plowing into the cup. The cat had been in the path of it and became a stopper of sorts. The steaming, warm liquid coated his light fur, flattening it and darkening it. Tossing the slingshot back into the messy tent, she nearly sighed. Katahr was heading angrily toward the used path Canali had gone down earlier for water. An irritated flick of his tail was all the acknowledgement he gave Canali as he passed her. Canali limped her way back over to the fire where Antar was. Revenge was bittersweet.