Completed Fox in Socks? (Anterra)

[Hess]

80 Summer, 512 Hess shifted a fraction of an inch to the right, easing some of the numbness in his calf. From his position in the crook of the tree, he had an excellent line of vision on the game trail below. The pre-dawn darkness would soon be lifting, and he kept his eyes trained on the spot the deer seemed most likely to appear. They were shy creatures, wary and with an excellent sense of hearing, and sight. Staying absolutely motionless would be critical, for this wasn’t the best deer stand he’d ever chosen. But it seemed, since the storm, that the animals had had their lives and way of existence turned as upside down as the Inarta had. Many of the trails had been abandoned, for reasons he could not discern. He had spent long hours casting about, in a systematic and planned way, to discover where the game had gone, what routes they were taking, and where he could best set his snares or hunt for them with his bow. Summer was drawing to a close and the deer were now fat enough to warrant taking the time to try to bring down a few. Usually he went for the smaller stuff – rabbits, hares, game birds, porcupines, marmots – setting snares and also bow hunting to bring in a brace. But in the fall and early winter, the larger animals, the deer and elk and mountain sheep, were fattened up for survival in the cold and the babies were weaned and able to survive on their own, for the most part. So it was that Hess was perched up in an oak that grew at the edge of a small clearing, watching the far side, waiting for the sun, and the animals who became active when Syna’s first rays began to touch the canopy. His ears were sensitive, and he had trained for many years to stretch them as far as he could when listening for the sounds of nature. Within a few more minutes, the quiet that had fallen on the woods with the settling down of the night dwellers began to rustle and shift, with the movements of those who were just waking.

[Anterra]

Out of the tree just below Hass, crawled a small white fox. He shook itself clear of dirt and bark, his black eyes glancing around tiredly, before he leaped down to land on the floor of the forest. With his jaw opening wide in a yawn, the fox began to shift, a light growing around him before a human stood where the fox once have. He dug around in a hole in the base, and happened to glance up...at Hess. An immediate response came, and he froze, his black eyes narrowing as he hissed. "Who are you to be in my tree?" Anterra demanded, pulling out his pants to put them on. First one leg, and then the next, the Kelvic pulled his pants on. "Huh? Whats the matter, ain't got no voice?" The Little Fox was rude, but he had just awakened. He brought his left hand up to his right shoulder, to the symbol of the Hurricane, mark of his God, Zulrav. Syna was rising faster now as the fox stared at the intruder from his tree. He lifted his black shirt out, "Well. Not like I got time. I gotta go find Nij."

[Hess]

Now how annoying was this? Hess sighed, as the kelvic scolded him, for being in his tree. Slowly he dropped his bow down from where he had positioned it in anticipation of catching a deer coming down the game trail. With all the yapping coming from the kelvic, in addition to and on top of the fact that he had just shifted, there was zero chance of bagging anything now. An hour of sitting, wasted. Ah well, such were the vagaries of hunting. Hess had put in much longer hours, days sometimes, tracking game only to have it slide through his fingers at the last moment. Setting the bow aside, he stretched luxuriously, reveling in the ability to finally move his taut muscles. His stomach growled just at that moment, and he realized how much he’d like to have his breakfast. Looking down at the young man, who was looking up at him, he grinned. “Oh, this is your tree? Sorry, I must have missed the sign. Perhaps it got stolen. You might want to see to having a new one put up.” Lazily, he reached for his bow, hung it over his shoulder, and with a few adept movements climbed to a low branch and dropped gracefully to the ground. “Name’s Hess, if you really care to know it. That way I suppose at least you’ll know who to bite, next time I come wandering this way.” He smirked. “Who’s Nij? And who are you, for that matter?”

[Anterra]

Anterra yipped, a laughing sound at Hess' words, before turning back to his tree. He drew out a pouch, containing a bit of dried fruit, "Here. You can have these." He stated, tossing the pouch upwards as he stepped back, sliding his foot into his boot, "And as for the sign. You are a hunter, you should be able to tell a Den from a place to hide." He snorted, then hearing his question, "My witch bond-mate. And I am Anterra The Wanderer, Disciple of Zulrav. And you, sir Hess, should come along if I am to repay you for scaring off your game." The Fox turned, moving towards the edge of the forest, waiting for the Inarta to catch up. A pouch jingled at Ant's waist, the sign of a coinpurse, "Come come." He was impatient, like all foxes, and wanted to get done so he could check on Nijin.

[Hess]

Hess caught the pouch and opened it, peering inside. He stuck in his hand and rummaged about and drew out a handful of dried apple slices, one of which he slid into his mouth. He shrugged in a nonchalant manner. “I didn’t know that this den was being used by such a yappy fox. Otherwise, you are correct, I would have looked elsewhere for a stand.” As the kelvic hurried off, Hess hefted his bow and quiver to more comfortable positions on his back, and then took off in pursuit. He easily caught Anterra up, and walked beside him, as best he could in the close set trees. His eyes went in a bemused way to the jingling coin purse, and he asked, “Do you intend to buy me a fat buck? Or just breakfast?” He munched on another apple slice and added, “A witch, hm? Does she know any silencing spells? Or perhaps my money would be better spent asking her for an invisibility spell. That would make my hunting a bit easier.”

[Anterra]

"All you are getting is breakfast." The Fox stated as he shook his head, "No. She's a disciple of Caiyha. She puts the world in order. A Caretaker of sorts." The Kelvic stated, glancing at Hess, "And I see. So you didn't check the den for sleeping animals before deciding you could just hole up in the tree. Now I have to move." He snorts as he looked up towards the gates of Wind Reach, "Come on. I know where to get some good breakfast. If nothing else, I owe ya for scaring off the game. But if you wish, oh sarcastic one, you may return to the forest and hunt."

[Hess]

Hess chuckled. “Breakfast it is, then.” He had in no way expected more, and that Anterra was willing to procure breakfast for him was certainly a nice gesture on the kelvic’s part. And it was true – he did tend to be sarcastic. At the moment, though, it was his attempt at humor. Other times, well, he could be a bit snippy, yes, or downright scathing, when people were acting like complete numbnuts. “I apologize then to you, Mr. Fox,” he said with a grin. “If you need any help with that, just let me know. I know of a fair few abandoned ones.” His tone grew a bit more serious, as he asked, “Perhaps you know what has made so many animals move on, since the storm. Was it the djed? I’ve had to put in quite a few hours to find the new trails and such.” He looked at the kelvic thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever considered taking up hunting for a living?” Hess had always wondered how much easier his job would be if he had an actual animal to work with, one that he could communicate with directly. He really should try to find a cooperative kelvic he thought, as the drew near to the gates of the city.

[Anterra]

The Fox listened to his words as he walked towards the city itself, "Do you think I eat vegetables?" The Fox chuckled, glancing back at the male, "I am, after all, a meat eater." He smiles, showing the slightly elongated canines in the front of his mouth, "And if you are asking for a hunting partner, I'll help. But I am bonded to my Nij." He stated, the last word getting more of a tone of affection. It was the question about the storm that gave him pause, as he looks back at Hess. "I don't know." Was all he said, as his left hand came up to touch the Hurricane Mark on his shoulder. "The Storm probably scared them, that must be all that happened." Anterra stated before sending up thoughts to his Lord, and Patron, Milord Zulrav, May I ask of you a question?.

[Hess]

Hess looked at the kelvic, wondering if in fact some sort of partnership could be formed. “I think we could give it a try – hunting together. You’d probably have a great nose for where I could best set out my snares.” They were passing through the gates, and began walking towards the warren like structure that was Wind Reach. “Or even larger game, at least you’d know where they were hiding themselves. Or would you consider that cheating? An unfair advantage, maybe?” He laughed lightly. “And don’t worry, about your Nij. We could keep it all on a very professional level.”

[Anterra]

The Kelvic shrugs "Big things eat little things. Circle of life." He looks at Hess, "And if the little thing bites back, then maybe he survives. Too much out there eats foxes like me. And there is no other level for this partnership." He stated as he walks into the nearby stall, purchasing a bit of food for the two of them. Walking back out, he tossed a shiny apple towards Hess "Catch." He stated before he bit into a strip of dried meat. He carried a bag of meat, and several apples. Of course, there was no point in asking for the apples, they were a gift for Nij.