13th, Fall, 513AV
Kitchi carefully notched an arrow before wrapping her fingers around the familiar string. The forest around her was strangely alive and alert, with shuffling and flapping and leaves twitching in every direction. It was unusually busy, especially for fall. She mentally admired the different colored leaves that decorated the forest around her. Auburns and browns and green littering her vision. The faint scratching of the creatures moved around her, and the occasional rustle of leaves would draw her attention. Nothing was close enough, nothing was distracted enough for her to attempt hunting it. Behind her she heard something break free from the foliage but the fluttering of feathers told her to ignore the bird. It wasn't something she could hunt nor could she afford time to admire the creatures elegant movements. Despite the activity in the forest everything seemed normal, no lights littered the sky or strange shapes seemed to loom around. The forest was normal. Had she missed something? Perhaps she was just being paranoid.
Grey fur suddenly caught her attention and she pivoted on her heels, her bow was instinctively part way drawn but Kitchi hesitated slightly, it was merely an unidentified flash of fur. It might not even stay close enough for her to hunt. For a moment she waited, hoping the creature would step forwards and make her job easier. It soon became clear no such thing was happening and Kitchi traced a few slow steps forwards. Her feet barley left the ground as she moved and her steps carefully dodged a few fallen twigs, she did not want the noise to alert the furred creature. Finally the creature reappeared, the flash of fur more rpomimant this time and with a smile she quickly pulled the bowstring back.
The sound of snapping echoed around the forest, followed by a yelp of pain from Kitchi and a dull thud of the bow hitting the ground.
“Blasted clipped bow” Kitchi hissed angrily as she glared down towards the bow. The now snapped string lay twisted on the ground like a thin, white snake. Kitchi turned her attention away from the bow, glancing at the red mark on her arm where the string had lashed against her. Later she would be thankful it had not penetrated the skin but it still stung painfully and her annoyance at allowing it to happen consumed her thoughts. Had she failed to notice some weakening? It felt like a failure to her. It must have been due to her lack of attention or improper use. She chastised herself for slipping so badly. Another second past and she sighed, stooping down to grasp the bow between her fingers. Kitchi held it up to the light, occasionally twisting it around to inspect. Fortunately the wood itself did not appear damaged but she'd need to restring the bow. It could have been worse She argued internally. She cast a final glance around for the grey fur but none surprisingly it had long since vanished into the now silent forest. The noise had scared away most creatures, and she could no longer use her bow to hunt. Her mind flickered towards the dagger she kept with her. It was possible to hunt with it, she had before. But it was difficult, unlikely. Mentally she tossed the idea around in her head as her hand instinctively moved to hook her bow back over her quiver. Another faint thud sounded behind her, snapping her from her thoughts. Tiredly she sighed before twisting to pick the bow up once more. The string helped hold the bow in place, without it she would have to carry the bow herself. She started to trace her way back towards Wind Reach, occasionally dipping away to collect some berries or edible plants which she tucked carefully out of sight. She was glad that she had not been called to hunt as a group, she needed the opportunity to collect food for her pet, and she was well aware she would not be allowed to keep the common rabbit if someone found out, food was far to precious.
Grey fur suddenly caught her attention and she pivoted on her heels, her bow was instinctively part way drawn but Kitchi hesitated slightly, it was merely an unidentified flash of fur. It might not even stay close enough for her to hunt. For a moment she waited, hoping the creature would step forwards and make her job easier. It soon became clear no such thing was happening and Kitchi traced a few slow steps forwards. Her feet barley left the ground as she moved and her steps carefully dodged a few fallen twigs, she did not want the noise to alert the furred creature. Finally the creature reappeared, the flash of fur more rpomimant this time and with a smile she quickly pulled the bowstring back.
The sound of snapping echoed around the forest, followed by a yelp of pain from Kitchi and a dull thud of the bow hitting the ground.
“Blasted clipped bow” Kitchi hissed angrily as she glared down towards the bow. The now snapped string lay twisted on the ground like a thin, white snake. Kitchi turned her attention away from the bow, glancing at the red mark on her arm where the string had lashed against her. Later she would be thankful it had not penetrated the skin but it still stung painfully and her annoyance at allowing it to happen consumed her thoughts. Had she failed to notice some weakening? It felt like a failure to her. It must have been due to her lack of attention or improper use. She chastised herself for slipping so badly. Another second past and she sighed, stooping down to grasp the bow between her fingers. Kitchi held it up to the light, occasionally twisting it around to inspect. Fortunately the wood itself did not appear damaged but she'd need to restring the bow. It could have been worse She argued internally. She cast a final glance around for the grey fur but none surprisingly it had long since vanished into the now silent forest. The noise had scared away most creatures, and she could no longer use her bow to hunt. Her mind flickered towards the dagger she kept with her. It was possible to hunt with it, she had before. But it was difficult, unlikely. Mentally she tossed the idea around in her head as her hand instinctively moved to hook her bow back over her quiver. Another faint thud sounded behind her, snapping her from her thoughts. Tiredly she sighed before twisting to pick the bow up once more. The string helped hold the bow in place, without it she would have to carry the bow herself. She started to trace her way back towards Wind Reach, occasionally dipping away to collect some berries or edible plants which she tucked carefully out of sight. She was glad that she had not been called to hunt as a group, she needed the opportunity to collect food for her pet, and she was well aware she would not be allowed to keep the common rabbit if someone found out, food was far to precious.
