[Wind Reach] Off for the long hunt (Closed)

[Kovac]

As Kovac walked away from Aidara, his grin widened, amused at the shy girl. He searched nearby for a clear, flat area to erect his tent. Clearing a few stones, he unrolled the tent and began to assemble it. He looked up to see Sairque and Renol do the same, both with a bit more practice and ease than himself. With a grunt Kovac went back to his work. From the corner of his eye he saw the other three gather, presumably to discuss further preparations. The three seemed rather acquainted, and the half-breed felt like a fourth wheel, a sensation he was all too familiar with. He saw the twine in Sairque's hand, overhearing something about snares. He raised his voice so he could be heard. "There is a rabbit burrow under that tree," He motioned towards the tree where he had hung the girl's packs, "and fresh tracks." Kovac then went back to separating his supplies betweeen what would go in the small tent and what would hang from a nearby evergreen. The darker-haired woman, Aidara he thought her name was, began to industriously gather firewood. He hurriedly finished stowing his gear and began to clear the campsite of obstacles such as larger rocks and deadwood. Experience had taught him how unpleasant it was to trip and faceplant while trying to find a place to releive oneself in the middle of the night. While Aidara was gathering her second armload of wood, Kovac carried the branches he had gathered and laid them near the growing woodpile by the fire pit. He had considered helping the woman start the fire, but he decided to observe her instead. He knew nothing about her, what skills she had, what talents she offered on the hunt. He would see how capable she was. So he examined his bow and oiled his strings as Aidara quickly brought the fire to life, impressing the cynical Avora. Kovac caught Aidara approach from the corner of his eye, but his gaze remained on his strings. He stifled a grin as she reached out to touch him, then withdrew her hand. He found a twisted enjoyment from her awkwardness. He did look up at her introduction. Her smile was sincere, and his own face softened a bit. The Avora stood and gave her a half smile. "Kovac, if you didn't hear before. I'm done here, I can help with the water." He really wasn't finished, but found reason to be. Renol had told him to relax and enjoy himself. Kovac took a deep breath, reaching out to take one of the buckets from Aidara and turned to head towards the lake.

[Dreamcatcher]

OOCOk, though I don’t mind you guys rping setting up camp, the hundred an one things might get a little boring so I am going to move you up to the meal let you guys have three posts each for a conversation and then I will step in again to cover the night and bring you to the real hunting grounds. If anyone objects please pm me and I will take this down. As the hunting group began to setup up their canvas tents, they noticed that the tents were made of heavy wool that had been treated to be stiff and extremely dense. Wind Reach didn’t have a great deal of plants in which they could weave into a dense thread for paper or canvas. The few fields they planted were for food, but the papermakers often went on harvesting trips with Endal to find the more common hemp plants or blade grass. So much like everything for the Inarta, necessity was the mother of invention. Weavers refined the wool to an almost silk texture, leaving the inside of the tent smooth and comfortable for its users. Philterers, also understood the rough environment of the Unforgiving Mountain Range, so using lanolin from the wool, the made a water proofing concoction. The water proofing made the outside of the tent like steel plate armor, some hunters said that they were able to twice fold up their tents and protect themselves from bear attacks. The tents had been made to stand roughly four feet tall and had a base of five feet wide. They were just big enough for two people with packs, but for those two people they would have absolutely no privacy from one another. The group began to take out the metal poles and assemble the frame of the tent. Blacksmiths, being excellent pipe craftsmen had made copper pipes to fit in the sides of the tent and across its top. There were loops made in the fabric of the tent for the poles to side through and allow the entire structure to stabilize. Small loops at the base provided for stakes would secure the tents to the ground. Sairque with her snare went over to the rabbit burrow and placed her snare. Softly she placed herself on her belly and waited for a rabbit to appear. A Bell went by as the cool autumn winds played along the prairie grass. It was a quiet harmony as the grass bent back and for rustling. It gave time for Sairque to think, as she watched the hole with intent. Slowly, she saw the ears of a rabbit began to poke their way out of the hole. Sairque kept herself dead quiet waiting, she began to take shallow breaths as not to alert the rabbit to her presence. Slowly the rabbit lifted its head, and before a split second when it saw Sairque red hair, she sprung the snare. Catching her prey and then performing the gutting and skinning of it. Renol was able to quickly find more rabbit and hare tracks as he set off stalking them. The eagles had cause the wildlife to scatter, but within a Bell the wildlife returned to its daily routine. So Renol slowly stalked the grasses, like one of the mountain cats. Since this was a prairie Renol was able to move without stepping on dead leaves or twigs. Quietly, he moved hearing the soft sound of creatures eating. Renol readied his swing, and made his way as close to the sound as possible. Softly, he parted the bushed to see a several rabbits bunched together, enjoying a meal of dandelions. However, out of the corner of Renols eye he saw something else… It was the fabled Jackalope… a protector of rabbits, the creature had been formed from the Valterrian, where the world had gone mad and fused a rabbit and elk. This one was the size of a medium dog, and was making ready to attack. Renol carefully kept his swing at ready, when the Jackalope charged into the grasses. Renol heard the cry of a fox in pain, as the rabbits began to run. Quickly, he let lose three stones, the first one hitting a rabbit in the head and killing it. The second hitting a rabbit in the ribs forcing it to ground, and the third missing it target. The rabbits were gone, as well as the mightly Jackalope. The Inarta said that seeing one was a sign of good luck, others believed that not to kill it might hardships during the hunt, only time would tell which theory was correct. Aidara slowly worked the fire to life, at times the wind was her friend and then her worst enemy as it blew to hard and almost blew out the flames. She worked hard at keeping it alive and growing it to a decent size. Kovac was able to help with water, and by the time he got back the fire and three rabbits were ready. The hunting group sat down throwing the ingredients into the cooking pot to make a rabbit stew. At this time Catabasis came back with a large tuna in his talons and set it down onto the dirt. Fereo woke up as Catabasis nudged the other eagle, and both began to eat from the tuna. With a fire provided by Aidara, water brought by Kovac, and rabbit found and cleaned by Renol and Sairque it was time for relaxing and conversation. The sun was setting to the west and the mountains seemed to glow with a pale orange. Clouds tinted with blue and purple rolled over head, breaking up as they reach different mountain peaks. The stew began to simmer and a rich broth appeared in the water with floating carrots, onions, and potatoes. To the east across the ocean the first stars began to appear, and within the next bell their meal would be ready.

[Renol]

OOCI thought the tents were supposed to be large enough for 4 people.

Renol’s golden eyes gazed into the firelight deeply for a little while as he lost himself in thought. He was propped back against his bedroll, which he had retrieved from his tent to have something a bit more comfortable to be able to rest against while the food cooked. As they sat around the camp fire, he had taken to sharpening the long, wicked talon sword that he had packed. He figured that there would be time, when they were camped during the hunt, that he’d be able to practice his technique. He didn’t want to over stress himself with the bow. He’d be practicing that while they were bringing in the game for the eagles to haul back. So at night, he’d give himself some time to practice with his blades. He needed to improve his form. His ultimate goal was to be able to wield the sword, and its twin, both at once. He trailed off for a little bit as he remembered watching the masters of twin blades.

But after a moment, he snapped back out of it, smiling slightly to himself as he returned to sharpening the blade once again, the sound of the whetstone grinding along the edge of the blade, drawing away the burs from the blade, retrieving the razor sharp edge that he had let slip from the edge recently. It was muscle memory for him, and he continued to look around the other members of the camp as he continued the rhythmic ring of the stone passing along the steel. So far, it seemed like everything was going pretty well. Renol was still discontent with his inability to take down the Jackalope. It would have been an nice trophy to place in his home. He knew both of the superstitions that surrounded the creature when it came to seeing one during outings. But he’d have to see how it went. He chuckled a little bit, realizing that he hadn’t even told anyone about it, yet,” Petch… I almost forgot to tell you guys. When I was out getting the rabbits with the sling, I saw a Jackalope.” His smile waned slightly,” Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to bring it down. It attacked a fox that was encroaching on the group that it was protecting. I’m not sure if it didn’t notice me, or decided to take on the predator that it could actually take on. Either way, after it attacked the Fox, it was gone and I couldn’t get a shot on it. I wanted to make sure to get the regular rabbits for the stew. The jackalope would have been a trophy, too gamey to eat. But I do want to say that we should get going as early as possible tomorrow. I’m sure you all know that, but I just want to reiterate that fact. So we’ll have to get up early and break everything down. The sooner we get out, the sooner we get to the campground and the eagles can take a break rest again. And we can get everything set back up.”

He chuckled a little bit, sitting up slightly and slipping his sword back into its scabbard,” I guess that’s the biggest pain about this whole thing is the repeated set –up and take-down of the camp site. I know that can get pretty redundant and tiresome. But this hunting ground is one that isn’t used very often, so the game is a lot more plentiful there. We’ll have no problem bringing in game for transport back to Skyinarta. So I like to think that it makes the trip’s troubles worth it.” Renol slowly rose to his feet, picking up his sword to take it back to the tent. He looked around to the others once more,” I just hope this trip doesn’t go trying to make a liar out of me. If we get there and don’t find any game, I’m going to go ballistic. Every time Fereo and I go out there we get quick a few kills to bring back. But it’d be just my luck to get there and find nothing is around for miles.” He chuckled a little bit, shaking his head. His eyes lingered on Sairque once more as they traveled around the small traveling group,” But hey, at least this time there is good company here to travel with, right?” He looked over to the other two as well as he finished the statement before he nodded to them all to excuse himself for a moment, walking over toward his tent to store his whetstone and sword once more.

[Sairque]

The hunt had been pleasant. And by hunt, she meant laying on the ground day dreaming while staring at a hole at the base of a tree. It was great. Especially because that petulant fuzz in the back of her head, the one called Addy, had disappeared right before Renol and she had parted ways to go find some bunnies. Yes, she patted herself on the back for solving that problem in one fell swoop. All it took was a teeny bit of consideration and a lot of experience with her sister.

And the rest of the night was progressing just as smoothly as the hunt had. The Eagles were enjoying their meal, the humans were also about to be, and it looked like everyone was getting along spectacularly. Sai had dragged over a short, fat log to sit on right before wandering off to grab the sister's eating utensils. Of course, naturally, when she got back to the fire, Addy was sitting on it. Lazy bum. Tucking the little mess kits next to the log where they wouldn't get stepped on by people moving to and fro, Sairque sank down to sit at the base of the log and leaned back on her sisters legs. It was a familiar position, and the flight leader settled in comfortably. Things like this were allowed when she wasn't having to maintain leadership. Ah, it was a mantle best shed every now and then.

The whisking ting of Renol's sharpening paused, a break unnoticed until it started back up again and their ears distinguished it as a new noise where it had previously faded to the background, behind the popping of the fire. A short while later he started speaking from his position on the right side of the twins, his voice warm from the chuckle that preceded it. Sai lazily leaned her head back on Addy's lap and tilted it so she could watch Renol. The fire was illuminating his features in gasps and spurts, the shadows dancing over his face. It made his golden eyes glow.

"The jackalope would have been a trophy, too gamey to eat," he said somewhere in the middle of his story, Sai wouldn't know, because it was at this point that she learned that not everything he said was great and so tuned the rest out. His face was animated while he spoke, he had a distinct way of moving his lips when forming the long 'o' sound. Or maybe everyone's lips looked like that, slightly pursed. Nah. He had nice eyebrows, too. They weren't all bushy like some peoples who she swore could brush them down over their eyes as protection from the wind if they wanted.

As he moved to stand, Sai tuned back in. Ah, he had moved to talking about the great hunting at his site. Apparently, she didn't miss anything important. Good. It wouldn't be the first time that they had visited what they thought was a pretty sure bet for good hunting and not seen a single animal for days. Though, it wouldn't bode well for his first scrutinized group hunt. He met her eyes, oh dear lord, thankfully she wasn't still staring at him like his face was the first one she'd seen in years. And he even thought she was good company. Did he like women that sat around listening to him speak for several minutes straight without saying a single thing? Hmn. She would have to watch for a penchant to soliloquize. That was a deal breaker. Oooh, he had a cute butt, too.

Taking a deep breath, a breath full of rabbit stew, she stretched mightily and rocked to her feet. Kneeling again, she snagged the two mess kits and prepared them for food. After a minute of scrutinizing the stew, testing both the meat and the vegetables, she glanced around at the company. "I think it's time to eat, laddies." Naturally, Addy was given the first bowl of stew and then Sai filled her own and got out of the way for the boys to get their portions.

"Hey Kovac, I heard that you carry a flute, or pipe of some kind out on hunts with you. Wanna play us a tune?" Unlike some of her previous voicings, this one contained not a trace of that authorative tone that came so naturally.

[Aidara]

The smell of the stew had Addy's mouth watering within minutes of its preparation. She hadn't realized the extent of her hunger until the delicious scents wafted tantalizingly around the camp. Skipping breakfast was defiantly a bad idea. Proud of her successful fire, Aidara had taken into hand the cooking- setting the water to boil and dropping in the ingredients after somebody else had chopped them up, that is. An occasional stir of the pot and her job was done, for the time being. She smiled and hummed as she did these tasks, clearly in a much better mood than she had been earlier, even going so far as to joke and throw playful comments at her sister and Renol when they had returned from hunting wabbit. "So, did you two take a few lessons from the rabbits? Are we going to have tons of Sai and Renol babies running around and biting our ankles? I thought your hair looked rather mussed when you returned." She wiggled her brows at the pair, grinning impishly as she spoke. Addy didn't really know if Renol would appreciate her jokes about their very obvious attraction for each other, but she more made jabs for her sisters benefit. It was her little way of trying to say "I'm sorry" and cause a little irritation at the same time. It was what sisters were for. Once or twice, she attempted to approach Kovac and strike up a conversation, but at the last second changed her mind and would divert her path and find some other mediocre task to busy herself with. Her actions when she first met this strangely enchanting man set her off balance, unsure how exactly to act around him. This frustrated Addy more than anything, as she was normally at complete ease around strangers and friends alike. As Sai did the dirty work with Renol (cleaning and skinning the rabbit, preparing it for the stew) Addy puttered around camp, picking up this or that, throwing stray branches and stones from the site as she'd seen Kovac do earlier. Even in the middle of the woods, Addy needed everything neat. She crawled into their tent and arranged their belongings, spreading the bedrolls out neatly, before returning to the fire. By then someone had pulled up a log and positioned it in the perfect spot by the fire. Someone must have noticed how hard she was working, and provided her with a seat on which to rest. How thoughtful. Settling down, crossing her legs at her ankles and warming her feet by the fire as she leaned back on her hands, the woman listened to Renol reminisce about his escaped trophies. Sai came and settled herself at her feet, leaning back against her legs. Addy didn't mind, her knees had been cold- problem solved. Her gaze moved around the campfire, scrutinizing her fellow hunters. Well, the boys. Renol had a natural charm that made her smile when he was around, an amused sparkle entering her eye whenever she saw Sai and he together. How cute, puppy love. Despite her affection for physical contact and her flirtatious mood, she steered clear of Renol in that respect. She wasn't going to hurt her sister in any way. In fact, Sai was gazing discreetly at him as he spoke, and that made Addy smile warmly. Kovac... she was intrigued by. Very rarely was Aidara thrown off her game, by man or woman. He was quiet, with an almost sullen way about him... but aloof and mysterious. And handsome. Not only had he seen her act the fool before the left for camp, but she'd reinforced that with her actions at the camp as well. Foolish, foolish woman, she chided herself as her lack of self confidence ate away at her.The rhymethic tsk as Renol honed his sword had lulled her into inaction, and she started when he paused. Glancing up quickly, wondering if she had been spoken too as she daydreamed, she sighed and relaxed a bit after the false alarm. Refusing to be caught brooding anymore this trip, Addy forced her gaze away from Kovac's face, where they had lingered for a matter of minutes as she dwelled. "I think it's time to eat..." was all she heard as she broke from her reviere, before a bowl of hot soup was being shoved under her nose. Moaning with delight, for her sister really did love her, serving her first, Addy dug in. Delicate, but still ravenous, spoonfuls were gulped down, though the delicious flavors were not missed. Popping a rather large chunk of rabbit into her mouth, the woman instantly regretted it, for it was way too hot and immediately burnt her tongue. Swallowing it anyway, and fanning her mouth, her eyes watered. "Ow ow ow ow ow ow...... Careful" she choked "it's hot." Well, obviously. Carefully checking her pace, Addy blew on each spoonful now before eating it carefully. "Hey Kovac, I heard that you carry a flute, or pipe of some kind out on hunts with you. Wanna play us a tune?" Green eyes widened and found the man in question quickly, as he sat directly across the fire from her. The flames caused shadows to dance across his face as he ate, making it hard to read his facial expression. A hunter and a musician? "Oooooh, yes, please!" She added softly, finding it hard to tear her eyes from him now, as she eagerly awaited his response.

[Kovac]

Kovac had dragged a log for himself near the fire, just big enough for him to rest against. Leaning back on the log, the Avora stretched out one leg, pulling the other knee up. He idly turned his long, single-edged knife in his hand, occasionally using it to poke or flip a stray twig or dirt clod nearby. The campsite had gone up without a hitch, and the Endal's had supplied sufficient meat for the four of them to get their fill, once added to the stew. Kovac had helped slice the vegetables for the meal. Honestly, he did not feel slighted that the riders had taken the less menial task of hunting dinner, while he was tasked with lugging water from the lake and other minor duties. It did allow him to relax a bit, something Renol had inferred he should do, to enjoy himself. That was something he had yet to allow himself to do with the strangers. But, Aidara's fine fire, and the beauty of the last hues of Syna's dying light, had managed to ease his typical irritability. In fact, he had found his three companions quite entertaining. It did not take long for him to deduce the pensive attraction the Endal's shared for one another, fairly well hidden, if one did not catch the lingering glanced Renol and Sairque constantly tried to hide from each other. Kovac all but burst into laughter when Aidara had openly taunted her sister and Renol upon their return from the hunt. He had laughed until he wondered if others observed the same about he and Shayth as they attempted to conceal their suggestive glances from others. But the Inarta were not fools, and surely those who knew he was living with the tall female rider could guess more was going on than archery lessons. The archer listened to Renol, though his eyes were fixed on the dancing flames, and occasionally the women who sat on the other side of it. The tattooed man was outgoing, much like his friend Amon. Kovac was not. He acknowledged Renol's story of the jackalope with a nod, himself failing to bag one despite sighting three in his short hunting career. At the male rider's comment about good company, Kovac simply grinned sardonically, his eyes darting to Aidara. While camp was being set up, the darker-haired sister had behaved coyly, noting her hesitation to approach him, having caught a few of her long glances she cast his way. He too watched her, but felt he had done so more covertly. He could do the math, and if Renol and Sairque could overcome their charming longing gazes, He would be stuck entertaining Aidara. Watching the attractive woman through the flickering flames, smooth skin cast with a warm orange glow, he decided it would not be such a terrible duty. Once the golden-eyed flight leader had dished out a bowl of stew for her and her sister, Kovac stood to dip his wooden bowl into the steaming pot. Stepping back to his spot, he could not contain the laugh at Aidara's antics after tasting the hot food, wincing and fanning her mouth. She was funny, and the fact that she didn't mean to be made her all the more endearing. Saique, shedding the air of authority that usually enveloped her, asked about his music just as he was preparing to sit again. He looked at the crimson-headed rider, briefly noting how startling similar the sisters were in appearance. Then his gaze fell to the others, as if gauging whether he wanted to share this rather private part of himself. Green eyes finally settling back on the twins, he nodded. "Its a lute." He corrected Sairque. Setting his bowl down carefully, he retrieved the oval stringed-instrument from his tent and returned to sit next to the fire. He began to strum a tune, one the others would find familiar. Kovac did not play loudly or with flourish, simply providing some background for the group as they dined.

[Renol]

Renol walked back from the tent with his eating utensils in hand as he walked. He had taken s little longer, having stripped off his katinu and draping it over his belongings in the tent. It was a fairly warm night, and the fire was providing a good heat while he sat next to it, so he wasn’t cold. He figured he might as well enjoy it while he could in case it got cold when they were out hunting. But that was all an afterthought at the moment. The scent of the stew had been pulling hard against the long chains of his hunger, torturing him while they had waited for the meat and vegetables to cook all the way through before eating. It had been a subtle torture as the scent had wafted under his nose. It was his own fault, having found a spot to sit that had been, for the majority, downwind of the cooking pot when the wind stayed constant. So he really had no one to blame but himself. But that knowledge still didn’t help the fact that his huger had grown deeper ever lingering moment he had sat there. So he walked straight over to the pot, making sure that the others had all gotten their helpings first, before taking a deep bowl full and sitting down against his bedroll once more.

Renol groaned slightly as he stretched out once more, settling back comfortably. He quickly started to eat after fanning the stew with his hand for a little bit to get the surface temperature down a bit. He closed his eyes for a second, savoring the taste of the food and nodding a bit as he swallowed the food down. He looked over to everyone,” Thanks, everyone, for all the help so far. Camp looks good and dinner is great. Been a little while since I’ve had a good stew.” Usually, when he came on hunts himself, he’d get to the camp site early, catch a rabbit for himself and roast it over the fire, which was good. But it still got boreing after a while. He did it because it was easy and fairly quick. The stew made for a good change of pace from his ‘typical’ traveling meal.

As he started eating gain, trying to refrain from gobbling the food down greedily, he looked over to Aidara, grinning and shaking his head slightly as he recalled the little quips she had about Sairque and him. Apparently his attractions to the other Endal were pretty obvious. He figured. And he had always figured himself so covert when he was silently gauging someone’s interests. But he hadn’t been completely oblivious. He had seen the looks she had given him as well. And he knew that there was something going on from the banter Fereo had told him he and Catabasis had been having before the birds had gone to sleep. So there was obviously something on her part as well. So he had spent his time trying to find the best way to approach the subject. And he figured it out when he had seen the little looks that Aidara had been giving Kovac. He had heard that the Avora was living in another Endal’s aerie for a little while now as an archery instructor. But knowing the reputation of the other Endal, he was pretty sure that was just a front for ulterior motives. He wondered just how serious the Avora and Endal were, wondering if Aidara was barking up the wrong tree. Renol grinned mischievously, his smile creeping across his face as he swallowed a quick bite of the stew,” You know, Sairque, perhaps we should give these two a tent tonight. Let them work out the tensions between them.” Aidara wasn’t the only one who could put jabs in,” Although, I didn’t bring any ear plugs, so I don’t know if that’d be a good idea.” He winked to the other Endal playfully, seeing if she’d join in the little fun.

But Renol looked over to Kovac as he started to play his lute, smiling a little bit. The tune was nice and he enjoyed the music quite a bit. Kovac was a good player. But he looked down and saw that the hunter's bowl was sitting on the ground next to him," Go ahead and eat first. It's not fair of us to ask you to play before you have gotten a chance to eat first. No sense in letting good food like this get cold. Eat up, then we can all listen to you play afterwards."

[Sairque]

Sai settled back against her sister's legs, crossing her own and pulling out her knife to spear the vegetables and meat with. Quickly retrieved some carrots, she went to pop the steaming slices in her mouth, only to bring them up short and stare at them like the villainous little devils they were. Luring her and her sister in with their delicious smell only to spring the attack on their poor defenseless mouths. Naturally, it was her sister that was the unsuspecting victim, too busy cracking bunny love jokes to pay attention to traps. Bunny love jokes. That had earned her a stony glare, even as Sairque tried to feed Addy her feelings of amusement and forgiveness through their connection. Of course, it was likely Addy wouldn't receive the feelings, but worth a try. Sai also did not give Renol any kind of glance until they had settled down to wait for the stew to finish. Catabasis and Aidara could play the guessing game, but she wasn't going to. Karma, Addy, karma.

"Careful," Addy choked. "It's hot."

"Are you trying to tell us that you can't even handle healing a few burnt tongues, Addy?" Sai baited with a smirk, twisting around to give her sister a playful glance. Hopefully the banter wouldn't hit any sensitive chords. There was always a chance, since the Gnosis was a bit of a sensitive subject, but it should be okay since healing minor burns was common place for the woman nowadays.

And then Renol returned and decided that he was going to give the healer a hard time, too. Sai looked between Kovac and her sister, she had yet to notice they were playing googly eyes as Renol suggested. And of course, the likely-hood of catching them after it had just been commented on was slim. Kovac had started playing his lute at this point, and Addy was still trying to eat quickly but daintily. "I'm sure Addy wouldn't mind. She likes anybody that knows what to do in bed, and I've heard from a certain Endal or two that our brooding musician here is more than adequate," and even though she was technically lying here, the teasing was smoothly delivered. Sai had no idea about Shayth, she didn't pay attention to the various people moving into and out of the aeries, but unless the Avora was celibate, more than a few Endal would find his brooding dark looks attractive.

Returning her gaze to the man who had settled with his stew and was looking at her playfully, Sai was still a little put off about his weird desire to kill something for no reason other than to say he had. Sai wasn't sure which myth about the jackalopes she believed, but she knew for a fact that they protected the rabbits that hunters sometimes relied on for food. But whatever, he hadn't actually killed it.

Sairque hadn't intended to sound like she wanted Kovac to play for them immediately, but if the man wanted to while he waited for his dinner to cool, more power to him. And it was a lute, not a flute. But at least she hadn't been mistaken enough to suggest he played a set of drums or something completely unrelated.

Stirring slowly through the stew to find the good bits of rabbit, Sairque listened to the music. It was only a matter of time before Kovac or Addy decided to return the quips, until then, however...

"Well, boys, why don't you tell us a little about yourselves?" As though they were a unit the way that the twins were, or knew each other well enough to gracefully tell their stories at the same time. But they were both up for scrutiny if the suggestions about their intentions toward herself or her sister had any merit.

[Aidara]

"I can do a lot more than heal tongues, sister darling." Hot, but absolutely delicious. Aidara had exemplified the lady like version of "wolfing down ones food". Tapping her sister on the shoulder to let her know she was moving, she didn't want her to receive horrible disfiguring burns from spilling hot stew after all, Addy slid her legs from behind Sairque's back and stood. She moved gracefully from the group, away from the campfire as she returned her things to her tent, to be cleaned before sleep but out of the way for now. So meticulous. Pausing by the side of her tent, Addy took a moment to remove the two braids from her hair. The activities of the day had left it less than perfect, and parts were starting to pull and become uncomfortable. Shaking out her long red locks, she returned to the fire just in time to hear Renol lob a good one at her, by form of a comment to her sister... who then responded in kind without hesitation. " You know, Sairque, perhaps we should give these two a tent tonight. Let them work out the tensions between them...Although, I didn’t bring any ear plugs, so I don’t know if that’d be a good idea.” "I'm sure Addy wouldn't mind. She likes anybody that knows what to do in bed, and I've heard from a certain Endal or two that our brooding musician here is more than adequate," So this is what they said about her when she wasn't around? Addy couldn't help but smile. She also couldn't stop her gaze from flickering to the Avora, her delicate brow raised. More than adequate, she was sure of that. "Ah, well our lovely flight leader here, and my rooms are only, eh..." She measured a very small distance out with her hands "this far apart. Sai's room is so quiet at night that I've learned to...stifle the sounds of my extracurricular activities. Wouldn't want to keep dear sissy from her beauty rest, now would we? You might have to show her how its done, Renol. If you dare." It took a lot of effort to keep the laughter from her voice, as she took care of the taunting pair in one foul swoop. In the wake of her little quip, Addy stepped up to the fire and stirred the stew. Carefully filling the ladle she turned and poured just a little bit more in her sisters bowl, not quite a second helping, but the amount that she knew Sai would have stood to pour for herself in a few minutes time anyway. "Boys?" She held up the ladle, willing to serve them as well. Kovac had started to play his lute, setting his bowl aside, and Renol still seemed to be chowing down but politeness made her ask anyway. Returning to her previous seat on the log, Addy sat beside her sister instead of behind her, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her fists. Green eyes reflected the light of the fire as she watched the flames dance, almost with the rhythem of the music that flowed from Kovac's fingertips. "You really play beautifully" Addy whispered before she realized she had spoken outloud. A blush immediatly flew into her cheeks and she studiously avoided looking at the man strumming across the fire. What was he doing to her? Apparently the tensions Renol suggested were real, and taking their tole on the woman. Completely comfortable around her sister and Renol, even though she'd just recently met the man, she was a bumbling idiot towards Kovac. And it shocked her, truth be told. "Yeah....uh...Tell us about yourselves." She whispered lamely, wishing for probably the first time in her life that she could just disappear.

[Kovac]

Kovac had been caught off-guard by Renol's rather brash comment, for the man he barely knew to make such a bawdy suggestion irritated the cynical Avora. Not that the idea was offensive, Aidara was certainly desirable, but to become a pawn in the threesome's little tit for tat was not to his liking. He said nothing though, only darting a glare at the other man before beginning to play his instrument. "I'll wait to eat. Apparently the stew needs to cool." He shot a smirk towards Sairque's sister, who had returned to the fire, her long dark-red hair free, falling in waves over her shoulders, naturally curled after a day wound into tight braids. Yes, he would say Aidara was desirable. He continued to play. The Endal would not let the games drop, and in short order Sairque chimed in with her barbed comments, even more personal and suggestive. The flight leader's brazen inference that her sister basically slept around did not fit the image of the shy, clumsy, hesitant girl that sat across the fire from him. Though her teasing chafed just as Renol's did, the corner of his mouth did lift in a barely perceptable grin as she remarked on his alleged prowess. The Endals, typical for their class, spoke of him in a demeaning tenor, almost as if he were a horse stud rather than a man. A sudden longing for Shayth rose up, for someone familiar. The idea that he was sentimental for the tall woman rider did not sit well with him, after all, what they had was casual, wasn't it? The half-breed was accustomed to being treated as such, and simply continued to play, the tempo of his music increasing and the melody becoming lighter as Aidara took her shot at her sister. So, Aidara admits she does participate in 'extracuricular activities'. It would not be the first time he had misjudged a book by its cover. Kovac ended his tune and reached for the stew, greedily digging at it with a cooking knife and slurping from the bowl when Sairque posed her question to he and Renol. His first inclination was 'petch no'. But, he would have to spend the next several days in the wilderness with Renol and the twins. So he would tell them about himself, at least the parts that he felt justified his right to sulk. His eyes fixed on the fire, glazing over. "My father is a bowyer. My mother was a Vantha who died giving birth to me. My father blamed me, and would not even chose me to apprentice. But an old archer took me in and trained me, before he died. His tone became sardonic. "Oh, and then..I found my girlfriend, who was going to move in with me, in my bed with a Rider. So...there you have it. A little about me." His eyes only darted to Aidara briefly to gauge her reaction.