Closed [The Enclave] Tracking and Trapping

[Skerry]

Timestamp: 1st Winter 513AV

Palia stood with her arms crossed, leaning back against the edge of the table, her right side twisted slightly away to keep her burns from prying eyes. She wore her habitual scowl as she watched the hunters file in for the seminar that she had to teach. Anyone who saw her would assume that she didn't want to be there, which was true but anyone who actually knew her wouldn't find her expression unusual at all; that was just the way she always was.

The middle aged Endal turned her gaze from the assembling hunters to the table behind her. The surface was covered in an assortment of things. There were a few pieces of parchment with sketches of prints on them, ones that had been dug out of some dusty corner for some sort of visual. There were also an assortment of traps scattered across the surface. She had constructed a few of them and some had been made by some other hunters more skilled than she.

The Endal couldn't even understand why she'd been chosen to teach this class. She was great at anything to do with Wilderness Survival but things like trapping and tracking were not her forte. She could trap and track, sure but there were others who were better at it then her. The woman could teach though, that was probably an important factor in the decision of the Valintar when he chose her.

As the Enclave finished filling up, those entering slowing to a trickle, the woman's mind sought out that of her eagle, Leweth.

Keep me sane during this, you hear me? If I strangle someone...

The bird chuckled in her head.

-You won't kill anyone, Palia. If you seem to be going over the edge I'll warn you.

Well if you say so. Scream at me if it happens and you just might knock some sense into me.

The bird chuckled again and then her mind faded into the background.

Refocusing on the scene in front of her, she found that people were just milling around, speaking in low murmurs as they waited for her to begin.

Best get this over with, she thought, pushing herself away from the table to stand up straight and walk a few step closer to the gathering.

"Can I have your attention please?" Palia called, waiting for silence to fall.

[Kovac]

Kovac resisted at first. He was a skilled hunter, with quite a number of hunts under his belt. But he had to agree with Lavira, tracking and trapping were not his forte. Taking a class would certainly do him no harm. They all had to become the most efficient in their jobs for Wind Reach to survive the times. So, the snarky Avora headed to the Enclave.

He had avoided the Enclave for the most part. Though he had reconciled with Euthisa after all but abandoning her for Lavira, they were still a bit awkward around one another, feelings obviously still there between them. She was a librarian, and Isa was the only reason he ever went to the Enclave.

Kovac settled into the room, near the back. The assembled hunters seemed to span the castes, gathered into class-appropriate groups. The instructor was Palia, a rugged Endal that Kovac begrudgingly respected. She was no nonsense, with a scowl that could silence an angry wind.

Looking around, Kovac looked for familiar faces. Well, most wer familiar, maybe a friendly face was what he sought.

[Sira]

Sira had no idea why she was going to the class. Trapping was not her style, not at all. She was a wind eagle, an active hunter, both in the sky or on the ground in her human form. She had to admit, she knew next to nothing about trapping, that had been Aidara's thing. She was a novice tracker, but her superior eyesight always gave her an edge even over some experienced hunters.

Perhaps that was it though. Aidara had been a trapper. It was the easiest way for her to hunt without actually having to cause physical injury to an animal. Sira had been the one to suggest it, in fact, realizing how much pain it caused Addy to actually kill something. Using live traps was the perfect solution, however. She could still provide, but let others do the killing. Maybe Sira was just taking the class as a way to reconnect with Aidara? Whatever her reasons, hidden as they were even to herself, Sira knew that any extra knowledge she could gain would be a boon, especially after what happened at the meeting the Valintar called the day before.

The Kelvic wandered into the classroom, her eyes lingering on the equipment scattered on the table before scanning the crowd. Right away she spotted Kovac near the back and it made her heart stop. She had not seen the hunter since Aidara first went missing. Ever since she returned to Wind Reach Sira devoted all her time to her duties as an Endal and avoided all contact with her former life, yet she was about to be stuck in a classroom with one of them. Seeing Kovac brought up feelings Sira did not want to face. She almost left the room then and there were it not for someone gently nudging her from behind.

"Uh, Sira. You're blocking the door. You gonna sit down or not?

"What? Oh, petch, I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm sitting."

Sira hurried into the room, taking a seat with a group of Endal near the front, making a point to stay away from the back of the classroom. She was there to learn, after all, not socialize with old friends. At least that's what Sira told herself. Eyes forward, Sira prayed to whatever gods were listening that the lesson would start already.

[Turrin]

Standing outside the door, Turrin waited in line as a Inarta woman stood in the doorway. The Endal wanted to sit down because he didn't get much sleep because he had been getting strange dreams lately. They started after the strange hunt for the Blue Elk. For the last ten days, Turrin had been plagued with dreams about a broken tower in a field, a strange beast with red eyes in the grass, a man whispering, “"Blue spine, fourth line, yellow twine”. The Myrian wondered if she was lost, but after careful observation, he noticed the woman's physique was one of a hunter, so she must know that this was the class for the tracking and trapping. However, she stood in the doorway while a line behind him started to grow. He didn't care much because he knew the instructor would wait till the crowd took their seats. Turrin saw the person in front of him nudge the frozen woman and called her, Sira. Turrin raised an eyebrow because he heard before, but he can't remember where. Sometimes names of people escape him if he doesn't have face to go with the name. When she turned around to apologized, Turrin was amazed at the woman's beautiful facial figures, but she had a sad look to her too. Maybe she lost someone in the Fall storms? It seemed like everyone has been loosing someone these days. When the woman named Sira entered the room, the line started to move a lot quicker. Since he was right after the person behind Sira. He looked around the room to see any familiar faces. The Endal was surprised that he didn't see Alori, Lavira, or Azira here. Honestly, he was kind of glad Azira wasn't here because she always uncomfortable around him. He knew that he needed to make amends to the young woman, but he wouldn't be able to till the “punishment” was over and done with. However, he kept having a reoccurring dreams about him shooting Azira in the heart. He hoped it wasn't his dream self telling him that he was in love with the explosive hunter if so he might have to commission a blacksmith to make a iron helmet for him to be with her. Turrin inwardly shuddered at the thought of him dodging flying crockery hurled at him from his future “beloved”. It was a horrifying thought, but the heart can be fickle. He just hoped it was a mistake because he would rather end up with a girl like Syveris than someone who might knife him in his sleep. Turrin did noticed the snarky hunter Kovac hanging out in the back of the class. Looking at the instructor, he noticed it was middle aged hunter, Palia. The Myrian chuckled softly to himself because he never seen the woman smile in her life. He started wondered long ago if the woman was born with a angry look on her face. Turrin walked to the empty seat besides Kovac and said to him with a nod, “Maybe if this class go well, I can retire as Endal and become trapper. At least, I won't have to deal with Aponivi telling me. I should take up new trade like knitting.” Turrin paused for a moment and wondered if the hunter been having strange dreams lately, so the hunter asked quietly, “Kovac...are you having strange dreams lately?” Suddenly Palia called for everyone's attention and Endal shut his mouth and turned his attention back to the teacher.

[Skerry]

The room didn't quieten as quickly as she would have liked but Palia waited, her patience already wearing thin and wishing that the class would just be over. Her eyes moved over the assembly, skimming over the different faces of the hunters, a number she knew personally while others she knew to see. A woman in the front certainly looked familiar though she couldn't work out where she knew her from.

When the majority had shut up, the Endal found her eyes drawn to where a low murmur of conversation still continued between a pair of hunters, a man and a woman. The teacher's eyes narrowed but the pair didn't seem to be aware of her stare though she was sure they should have felt it; it could have melted glass. The woman decided that embarrassing the pair would set a fine example to the others that she wasn't to be crossed so she called over the heads of the ones in front, making sure that her voice carried to the ears of all those assembled.

"You two in the middle! Would you like us all to leave so that you can continue your conversation in peace? This isn't the Inclement Weather you know, though I'm sure you could take her home afterwards if you want," she called, a nasty edge to her voice. The pair finally looked up, both blushing fiercely and avoiding each other's gazes as those around them sniggered. Satisfied that she now had everyone's attention, the Endal allowed her eyes to move over the faces once more as she got down to business.

"Now that I have everyone's attention, I'll explain the purpose of this seminar. The Valintar has ordered that classes in Wilderness Survival be made available to all hunters. Not everyone will avail of them, true but it isn't my fault or the Valintar's fault if people don't use a service provided for them. These classes aren't just some fanciful idea that popped into the Valintar's head, they'll mean the difference between life and death in the Unforgiving, Hai, even on the mountain. Now some of the classes will teach you things important to your own personal survival, while others will teach you things important to Wind Reach's survival. We need food and it is a shame, no, a crime for you not to bring in food because of your incompetency! So today, I'll be making sure that you are prepared. I do know what I'm talking about but I can only do so much. It's useless for me to talk if you aren't going to pay attention! So please, try to make an effort to listen, or get out. Your choice."

The eagle rider allowed her words to sink in before she continued.

"Now I will begin with tracking and when I'm finished discussing it, I will give time for questions before moving onto trapping. I''ll give time for questions at the end as well or you can speak privately at the end of the seminar. I'll only stay for half a bell and then I'm out of here. Got it? Now are there any comments or questions before I begin?"

[Kovac]

Kovac was preoccupied with digging dirt from his fingernails with the tip of his hunting knife when by chance his eyes lifted to see the eagle walk into the room. Sira. The sight of the Kelvic arrested his heart for a moment. Kovac had not seen, really seen, Sira since Aidara vanished. There seemed to be an unspoken mutual avoidance between the Eagle who had been Aidara's bondmate and lover, and the beloved Avora friend, neither one willing to face the painful memories the presence of the other would invoke. So the sudden appearance of Sira had shaken the mongrel.

Turrin's voice rescued Kovac from his shock. The Avora gave a small laugh to the rider's joke, shaking himself and turning to the man when he mentioned strange dreams. Kovac had had strange dreams, the same one, or derivatives of the same dream, since the Blue Elk incident. "Yeah, I have, you too?" Kovac managed to reply before Palia called the class to order. Her gruff demeanor demanding the attention of all.

A pair of chatty hunters in the middle of the group had somehow missed the instructor's insistent call for attention, and would suffer humiliation for it. Kovac smiled, finding humor in the fate of the inattentive yaking pair. The steely gaze of the veteran huntress compelled Kovac to give his attention to her undivided. She explained again why the training should not be sloughed off, that even the most experienced hunters now had to find ways to bring in more game, to find the most elusive prey, and resort to methods, like trapping, that the purists looked down upon.

Palia asked for any comments or questions, her curmudgeonly address most likely keeping the mouths shut of all but the most foolish students.

[Sira]

Sira was uncomfortable. Coming to the class was a mistake. But she was too proud to leave before it even started, she would have to suffer through it. If she avoided Kovac, everything would be fine. If she avoided talking period, she would be fine. Hopefully there wouldn't be any group work, although it occurred to her that for her, she'd be better off with a partner when it came to laying traps.

When Palia called for questions Sira chose not to speak up. She could think of a few things, but they were all questions that would likely be answered when the lesson began. What exactly were they going to be learning to track? What traps were they going to learn about? All those questions would be answered anyway, so there was no reason for Sira to ask them.

Sira tossed a glance over at Kovac, noticing he was sitting next to one of the Endal. Sira wasn't very familiar with the man, though she knew he wasn't full blooded Inartan. He frequented the Fighting Pits, and he was an Endal, but Sira knew little else. She tried to remember if she'd ever seen him fight before, but she couldn't be sure. Sira spent a lot of time fighting in the pits earlier that year, but did not think she'd ever sparred with him.

Let's just get this over with, she thought to herself, turning her attention back to the front of the class room. Palia seemed ready to begin, and Sira was right there with her. The sooner the class was over, the better. Still, seeing Kovac, being in a group setting like she was in now, it reminded Sira how much better things were when she had Aidara and a flight of her own to work with.

[Turrin]

When Kovac responded to his question, Turrin gave him a simple nod. He didn't want to be rude to Palia, so he turned his attention to Palia and made a mental note to talk to him later after the seminar about them. When he was flying over the sight of Blue Elk, he noticed Kovac conversing with Azira. The one who shot the Blue Elk, and the one who has been haunting his dreams as of late. When she chastised the two lovers or friends, Turrin couldn't help himself from laughing slightly since they both turned as red as their hair. Straightening his back, Turrin listened to the middle age Endal start to lecture them on the purpose for hunting food for the city. She called it a crime not bring back anything if they were incompetent. However, he knew hunting was shyke most of the time lately in the Unforgiving, so it wasn't anyone's fault that they weren't able to bring back as much food lately. Palia seemed like the no nonsense kind of teacher, so if he needed keep his questions on the subject and not deviate from the lesson. Turrin intently paid attention to his instructor as she continued to put the fear of death into her class. Turrin nodded to himself when she started laying down the structure of her class. It was sound teaching method if the class pays attention to her. He figured the woman had a life time of knowledge, but she needed to cram the basics into a four hour class, so he just stayed quiet rubbing the stubble on his chin as he listened to Palia. When she asked if their was any questions. Turrin glanced at Kovac out of the corner of his eye and noticed that he didn't say anything. Most of the class seemed not eager to engage the grumpy Endal, but Turrin wasn't the kind of person to be intimated by another person, so Turrin lifted his hand and politely waited for her to call on him. When she did, Turrin said with smile, “I am Turrin Aponivi, Endal Palia.” The half-Myrian considered introducing himself first as polite, so he continued, “Will the seminar cover the difference between tracking in the winter and summer time? I curious because I know that we are facing famine in the winter, but it interesting learn similarities and differences learning how the track in the different seasons of year.”

[Skerry]

The Endal scanned the gathered crowd and found that none had made any sign of asking a question. Not surprising really, she didn’t exactly encourage others to speak up. The drawbacks of being an intimidating figure. It didn’t matter to her, it just meant that she could begin the class now. And finish it earlier, hopefully, she thought, opening her mouth to press on when she saw a hand raised amidst the sea of staring faces. Surprised, she nodded in the direction of the big man, his colouring strange for Wind Reach. He was a half-Myrian if she remembered rightly, an Endal whose name escaped her.

The woman listened quietly to his question and then found herself nodding in approval. The man actually brings up a good point, she mused. ”Good question, Turrin and you also bring up something important. The skills you learn today are not solely for the season of winter as they can be used all year around, taking into account a few differences. I, however, probably won’t have the time necessary to go through factors that are different for each season, such as what game is available, when mating seasons are and other things that would affect tracking. Anyone interested can ask me at the end though,” the Endal explained, before quickly scanning the rest of the crowd.

Palia knew that she needed to get started and so she didn’t want to be asked any more questions. Turrin certainly seemed inquisitive but she couldn’t have him holding up the entire training session so moving on was essential. She only had so much time to go into things and she couldn’t afford to waste it.

”Right well we need to get started so any more questions can wait until I’ve finished talking about tracking. So please try to bear with me until then and not burst with excitement as you wait to ask your questions,” the woman told them, some of her sarcastic humour coming through. She wondered if anyone would dare to laugh. Probably not. ”I’m sure that you all realise that tracking doesn’t always involve working with actual tracks. Sometimes you’re just looking for signs. Some signs are large and some are small. I’ll start with the large ones.

Landscape tracking is an example of a large scale sign. You can tell whether a particular area is good for hunting by seeing if it meets certain criteria. Where there are herbivores, carnivores will follow, so you need to check if an area can cater to an herbivore’s needs. That means lots of cover and a wide variety of vegetation as the most important. A water supply isn’t that important for them seeing as they can get water from plants. A habitat is also good for hunting if certain animals are present. So if you find any voles, rabbits or deer then it’s a good habitat, all three and it’s excellent because there will be lots of predators and so something for us to shoot.

Another large scale sign are animal travel routes. So that’s trails, runs and escape routes. Trails, which all animals use, they aren’t species specific and have battered vegetation or no vegetation. They tend to stay the same, rarely changing. Runs are species specific and so there purposes vary depending on the animal. So an animal may leave the main trail to go to a place for eating, sleeping or drinking and that little sidetrack is your run. Runs are good for trapping by the way because you know what animal you’re going for. There are two types of escape routes, one used once and another used repeatedly. The once off one will have broken down brush from when an animal crashes through for the first time. The repetitively used one will stand out more but there will be hiding places at the end of it.

So the last two large signs are sleeping areas and feeding areas. Animals will have some sort of regularly used bed sometimes above ground, sometimes below. Foxes sleep out in the open for instance but have their young underground so also look into their breeding habits to see where an animal’s den will be. If an animal lies down to rest, it’ll leave broken and crushed vegetation in its wake so that’s an important sign. As for feeding areas, the most common is for an animal to eat along the trail or run and then work its way off it, leaving signs of their passage as they eat. I’ll get into that later. Some herbivores only eat one type of plant and so a run of such animals will end at that particular kind. Some animals eat through patches of vegetation which is fairly easy to track as are the animals that nibble along the edges of a trail or run.”

The Endal paused for a few moments to allow her words to sink in, watching the blank expressions of those in front of her. If she continued going at this pace she was going to lose them, which would be a complete and utter waste of time. If she let them manage the information in chunks then perhaps they might retain some of the information.

”Right you can have a break for five chimes, let the info you have so far sink in because you’re going to be here for awhile yet.”

NoteTracking will probably have another 2 or 3 posts with a breather in between.

[Kovac]

OOCSory again for the delay

Kovac reluctantly listened to the surly instructor, at first. But he found, as she got into the meat of her lessons, that Palia's material was pretty useful. What Kovac knew of tracking was limited to the small amount he learned during his apprenticeship, and picked up by more skilled trackers on hunts. The endal's teaching had already started to fill in the cracks of his knowledge, things he didn't know, or were pretty apparent but he never really thought about.

Once Palia announced the short break, Kovac turned back to Turrin, his gaze purposely avoiding Sira. He still didn't know how he would react should them make contact. For his part, the half Myrian was a rather serious fellow, though he had seen him more relaxed in more casual occasions. "Turrin, how much do you know about tracking?" Some of the Endals seemed to be more of eagle-back hunters, soaring over the open ranges and hunting herd animals in the open. Others spent more time on the ground using more conventional methods.

Again, he Avora's gaze darted towards the Kelvic eagle. There had been a hitch in the pit of his stomach when he saw Sira walk in, and it remained while the Endal woman stayed in the room. Emerald eyes turned again to Turrin, finding distraction on the bigger Endal's reply.