Closed [The Unforgiving] Crashing Camp [Kovac]

[Aose]

21st of Summer 513AV

Aose had managed to sneak out of the city by trailing close behind Kovac as he left to go out beyond the protection of Wind Reach and into the wilderness known as The Unforgiving. So she wouldn’t get caught Aose slipped off to the man’s left hoping her clumsy attempt to stay hidden and quiet proved to be in her luck. It wasn’t long that Aose found herself on a small ledge a few feet above Kovac as he sat there before crackling campfire.

Aose was cursing herself silently because she was the idiot that forgot to pack any sort of survival gear beyond her bow, arrows, and quiver… Oh and her father’s hunting/trapping kit she had been given. Gritting her teeth the yasi knew she had two choices at this point, stay here and wind up dinner for some creature or freeze to death or go down there and beg for the warmth of Kov’s fire and a spot in his tent to keep warm. The choice that she would pick seemed obvious, but she wasn’t going to just crawl down there and beg him for some help, she was going to sneak up on him and force him to give in! Yes he can’t deny me then! So it was with her quiver slung over her shoulder and bow wedged between arrows within that the young yasi archer took to her hands and knees and looked over the edge.

“Holy shyke it’s a bit of a ways down.” She whispered, lucky for the small breeze to carry her words far from Kov’s ears . “Well, I better get going before I freeze up here.” She shivered a bit as she whispered, grabbing tightly to the edge of her ledge Aose swung her feet over and tried to get her feet into some sort of stable positioning, but all she was doing was kicking and flailing with her feet.

All this kicking and flailing caused small avalanches of pebbles and dirt to tumble down the edge, nothing too out of the ordinary as of yet… With each flailing kick of her legs Aose could feel her hands slipping from the edge, it wouldn’t be long and she would be free falling… Luckily she was only a few feet above Kovac, so the fall would kill her. Trying to gaining a better grip with her hands and to still gain a strong foothold with her feet the yasi just wasn’t able to hold on and with a scream of sudden fear she squeezed her eyes shut.

One…

Two…

Three…

THUD! She landed on Kovac’s lap, her eyes squeezed shut, the scream she was trying to get out finally unleashed itself, right into the poor instructor’s face, luckily for them both Aose’s quiver swung over her shoulder and was currently resting on her stomach and lap.

Realizing she had landed, it didn’t take long for her body to register she landed rather roughly on something that held a bit of cushion to it Aose opened her eyes and stood up, “Holy shyke I live!” She giggled and started to turn around while speaking, “Can you beli…eve…it… Hi…” She rose a hand and waved coyly.

“Fancy seeing you here tonight…”

Template Credit: Euthisa

[Kovac]

This is what a smart mouth got you. grunt hunting duty at the foot of the crater. No rides down by eagle, just the endless stone stairs that descended the summit, cutting a line down across the zig-zag road that the wagons from Thunder Bay used to reach Wind Reach. Kovac had gotten better at holding his tongue. Still, an Endal had pushed him too far, and when the Avora commented on the rider's mother's preference for mating with mountain sheep, recompense came swiftly.

The journey down would take the better part of two days, the first evening being spent at one of the rest platforms along the cliff-hugging road. A simple stone platform at one of the sharp turns, the roof of the open air shelter had been damaged during the winter andmostly removed. Kovac had built his fire in the pit provided, near the steep mountainside, open to the sky.

Of course, the astute hunter knew he was being followed. The girl was not exactly stealthy, raising scuffling noises, kicking small rocks and stifling yelps as she tried to stay hidden off the road and steps and in the shadows of rocks and gnarley shrubs throughout the day. Kovac had not caught site of his pursuer, but, by guessing at the size of the spy, he had a pretty good idea.

As he heated up some dried meat over the fire, Kovac heard the skitter of loose pebbles and the scuffle of feet above him. Sooner or later, he knew, the smell of the cured meat would lure down whomever lurked out of sight. And lure down it did...literally. Soft whispers lifted over the light wind, desperate scrambling followed. All the while, Kovac stared into the fire as if oblivious. But he was caught by surprise. The young girl landed abruptly in his lap, emitting a delayed, high pitched scream that seemed to echo across the pass. Kovac jumped, or at least his muscles tried to, but the weight of the inartan child allowed only a flinch.

Upon opening her eyes, Aose found herself gazing into a baleful emerald stare. As she struggled to her feet, adjusting her quiver, the unamused glare of the Avora followed, unblinking as she stammered her greeting.

"What in the...Aose, what the petch are you doing here? I will give you this, you stuck with me all day without killing yourself. Well, you came close." Kovac stood, taking the girl roughly by the arm. "You are in big trouble. Do they know you left? Now what am I going to do with you? I am not taking you back up that mountain." The man jabbed a finger at Aose, then out at the darkening road up. He huffed, looking down at the freckle-faced Yasi. His shoulders slumped, resigned. She will just have to go with him. Not like they are going to miss another ginger brat anyway.

Kovac released Aose's arms, trying not to admit that her big blue eyes were playing on him. "At least you had sense enough to bring your bow, you must have learned something. Sit down and eat."

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[Aose]

Aose paused and rubbed her rump before responding, “Yeah I think all those roots and thorn bushes helped me… That and the stupid petching ledge… I swear, if I just followed you like a little puppy dog that fall would’ve hurt me more… Yer nothing but skin and bones I swear it.”

She grumbled and sat back down when he went on about not taking her back up the mountain and she was stuck with him, and him not sure what he was going to do with her, “Well, for starters you could feed me, I did forget to bring foods and shelter with me. “ That was when the grin formed on her lips and she held her hands towards the campfire, feeling the warmth in her scraped and cold fingertips, “Besides, I figured if I waited until nightfall to pounce you would have no choice but to keep me with you seeing as if you went back to the to of the mountain they might push you back downhill cause you aren’t returning with foods. Us yasi do get hungry, those eagles and Endals do too..” I have that information from being an eyewitness.

“As for how I got out without them stopping me, they thought I was with you. They figured that you were taking me along on your punishment as a sort of bendi exercise. Hence the bow and kit.” She held up the quiver that now could be seen having a small well-worn leather kit strapped to the shoulder strap of the quiver.

“I guess yer stuck with me now.” She smirked, “Now, how ‘bout some food eh? Running in that rough terrain has me famished.”

Template Credit: Euthisa

[Kovac]

Kovac scowled at the little ginger. "It would have been cruel and unusual punishment had the intentionally sent you with me." He quipped. "And I am not just skin and bones!" The Avora retorted. " I should make you go out and find your own food you little pest, and maybe a cougar will snap you up. But since they know you are with me, I suppose I have to return with you. I have a mind to take a fist full of arrows and thrash your butt, Blue Eyes."

Digging into his pack, Kovac pulled out several strips of dried meat and a roll. He tossed the roll to Aose, then gnawed a bite from the cured meat. He also scooted a water bottle closer to her. "Don't drink too much, or I will make you find more." If she wanted to come along, he would make the trip a bendi, one she would not forget.

Glancing over at the red-headed child, Kovac's mood softened. He actually liked the petching kid. Aose showed promise at the ranges, and ambition. Certainly she had guts, if not a lot of smarts, by coming out here after him.

"So, what made you do something crazy like follow me out here?" He asked, tearing another hunk of jerky from the strip.

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[Aose]

Aose caught the roll and took a big bite right out of it’s crusty exterior, “Ya weally tink ya can git a fist of awwows out befow I…” Aose held up a finger and swallowed her hefty bite she was trying to talk around, “let me repeat that.” She smirked, “You really think you can get a fist of arrows out before I get my bow out of the quiver and across your knuckles?” Aose’s quiver was still sitting in her lap, the stringless bow sticking up from within and resting less than an inch from her hand. “Seriously Kov. Why would you want to hurt me? I am your best pupil. You remember that?”

Another smirk graced her young lips as she took another bite of the roll when Kovac slide her a skin of water, taking a swig from the skin she replaced the stopper and set it down between the two of them, it was the instructor’s after all. “Why did I come out after you? Well, I saw the opportunity to get out of my familiar surroundings and do some hunting on my own. BUT seeing you were heading out here, I figured I could use the pointers and technique advice. Besides, hitting a moving target out here is what I aim to do in the future, remember Old Man?”

A smile traced her lips as she replaced the spew of words with a mouthful of grains. The roll had finally met it’s chewing fate. The reprieve of her speaking probably was a Gods-send for Kovac, it also gave Aose some times to think of her words and admire the beauty of the world around her.

Well he’s not too bad looking actually, could use a bit of a trim around the mouth… He needs to quit scowling at me to, it knits his brows to close together… Makes him look like a dek… Well, okay… it gave the yasi time to admire and comment on Kovac’s looks.

Template Credit: Euthisa

[Kovac]

Petch, the little shyke was cute, bright azure eyes and freckle-strafed cheeks, her hair hanging dirty and unruly around her head . Kovac hated to admit it, but he liked Aose. She was a sass mouth, cocky and rash...all the things he was. Still, he did not want to let on, it would ruin the snarky dynamic between them. "Maybe you could get your bow out in time, maybe not. Maybe I will just snatch you up and smack your arse with my bare hand." He raised his hand threateningly before lowering it again.

He looked at the child's relentless blue eyes and sighed. Tearing a piece of dried meat from his strip, he gave it to the young Inartan. "You are going to be very busy, you will need your strength. And you are foolish for coming out here, what if I didn't know you were there and a cougar got you. You are right about one thing, you need plenty of advice and guidance if you are going to live to grow up and shoot at moving targets."

He chewed up another chunk of meat before continuing. "And watch the old man talk, I am considered a young adult." He shot her a glance, catching her looking at him. The expression on the girl's face was a bit surprising, but not unfamiliar. He understood. Hiding a smile, Kovac looked back to the fire. "You are a piece of work Blue Eyes, a real piece of work. Now eat up so you can get some sleep, you will need your rest if you are to carry my stuff tomorrow."

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[Aose]

When he rose his hand to threaten her Aose nearly choked on the contents in her mouth. Choked from laughter that is. She swallowed and took a swig of water before allowing the raucous laughter erupt from her mouth. “Ya keep thinkin' that.” Aose smirked and took one more swallow of water before the man ripped off a chunk of his meat and handed it to her.

“I'm a child... Not stupid. I was close enough and making enough noise that there was no way you couldn't tell it was me. Even at your age.” Taking a bite out of the meat she thoughtfully chewed on it, allowing her saliva to soften the meat so it was easier for her teeth to tear it apart. “Advice and guidance. Yeah I need it, but so don't you. You came out here by yourself.” Pointing the meat towards him, “At least I came out intending to remain near an adult.” Raising a brow she wagged the meat in Kovac's direction.

“See? I am a child... Not stupid.” She nodded and then flicked the meat backwards towards her mouth, snagging the ragged end and ripping off yet another chunk into her mouth to chew on it's tough sinew.

“If you think I am carrying your supplies that's nuts.” Aose nodded, even though he was her mentor and this was in his right to do, Aose was no Dek or mule. “Do I look like I am wearing a sack or saddle? I didn't think so.”.

Template Credit: Euthisa

[Kovac]

Kovac stifled another grin as the brat sassed back at him. He picked up the waterskin and tilted it back to his mouth, taking several swallows. Aose gnawed on the meat as she spoke, The Avora trying not to chafe too much at the child's abrasive bravado, she was funny in a way, and he secretly loved to see a little rebellion in a Yasi. Still, there was some order he intended to keep.

"Well, smart arse, I can come out here alone because its my job and I am able to take care of myself." He retorted ripping off another bite of meat. "And if you are going to be living off of my supplies, you are sure as shyke going to help carry them. This is not a field trip, Blue Eyes, this is your hands-on training."

Kovac poked at the fire with a stick, adjusting the small logs to contain the heat and burn more efficient. He glanced over at the ginger tween, her smug little face all but mocking him, pushing him. "And I didn't call you stupid. What you did was foolhardy, but even someone smart can be so prideful that they do something foolish. You are a sharp kid, I will give you that. Now you have the chance to prove to me just how smart you are, and how much of you is just flapping lips." He grinned at her through a bite of bread.

x

[Aose]

Aose smirked at his comments, she knew bloody well what he was getting at and she was going to make sure he knew exactly her side of things. Grabbing a hold of the waterskin she looped the tether length around her quiver strap and then dropped the heavy waterskin through the tether loop before she gave the whole thing a tug. It was a simple setup, a slipknot format that tightened the hold with every jostle of her quiver and being, but she could easily undo the slip if need be.

Looking back up at her instructor, “There, I got my share of the equipment.” The smirk on her face grew larger before she patted the skin with her freehand and then placed the remaining bit of meat in her mouth with gusto. Chewing the meat was a task she relished as it gave her a chance to take into perspective everything that was going on, swallowing the meat proved a bit difficult but she managed... It was a tough fibrous meat having been dried out after all.

“I think that sounds about fair honestly there old man. Seeing as I can't carry nearly as much weight as you are capable of.” There was truth in her words, but at the same time one could hear the sass of her attitude.

Template Credit: Euthisa

[Kovac]

Kovac shoved another bite of bread and meat into his mouth, eyes on Aose, scowling. The Avora thought, If he made it through the hunt without strangling the mouthy Yasi, he should get an award. He brushed his hands together to dispatch of any crumbs before wiping the grease from the jerked meat on his bryda. Then he reached over for a larger chunk of wood and dropped it on the fire, sending a swarm of glowing sparks up into the starlight night.

"Hope you like sleeping on stone." The hunter snarked as he unrolled his bed roll. The summer night was warm, and neither of them would need covering. The fire was not needed for warmth really, but served to keep the wild things at bay. Even on the Sanikas Road, predators can find you.

Finally choking down the last of his meal, Kovac drew the hunting knife from his belt and laid it by the blanket, his bow, talon sword, and gear within arms reach. Then he laid down on his back, staring up at the sky through the broken roof. "You better get some rest too, ya little weasel, its going to be a full day tomorrow."

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