Between City and Wild (Sinna)

by **Vasin** on December 13th, 2018, 6:54 pm

Timestamp: 6th of Winter, 518 A.V.

A warm breeze blew through early in the morning, it caressed the skin of a man leaned up against a building to the southern edge of town. He could feel brush through his thick beard as he stood there. Arms crossed this man who was known as Vasin stared out beyond Sunberth. It was still early in the day, and the suns cast long shadows. There were four or so buildings out beyond the main city, but even further was the wilderness. Untamed and dangerous to the average man, it kept many secrets. Many who learned those secrets paid the price for their adventurous spirit. Or at least so he had been told many times by other city dwellers. He squinted and pondered just how far out he could go? How far before he would be unable to return? He would rather not find out, but he was curious wanting to take his first steps outside of Sunberth in a long time. Vasin thought about it, undecided if he should give it a try or not. After all, a camping trip took away time he could be using on tracking down debtors for Goldfinger. Vasin also didn't know the first thing about survival out there. But he reasoned much like with Sunberth only the strong survived. Maybe just a trip to the edge? Sit out there for a night? To only have a taste might give him an idea. Vasin stroked his beard and closed his eyes for a moment. That book he had started to read told of what could be found if one simply reached out to take it.

If he didn't start trying to figure things out for out there he feared that one day it might be too late. But there was a risk involved if he went out alone with so little skill to it someone or something could corner him out there. Much like the alleyways here in Sunberth. Vasin would glance around and see that the people here at the edge of town were already awake. No rest for the wicked he imagined. Some gave him odd looks, this mercenary with a longsword and shield sat there as if waiting. Some might decide to take the looks and make an issue of it, but Vasin decided against it. Best not to cause trouble and get a target on his back, a lesson others would harshly learn when starting needless fights. Vasin would think over the issue a little more when an idea sprang to mind.

Maybe he could find one of his associates and convince them to come on a short camping trip with him? No, that wouldn't work, none of them would be interested in that. Maybe someone else? He felt like the answer was on the tip of his nos blurry but hard to focus on. The book he had been reading had confirmed to him that for any expedition you needed more than one person. It was safer he imagined and reduced the risk. But the people in the journal/book had all been well connected to that university and knew people who for certain would be interested. How was he to start his own small to the edge of civilization expedition without some help? Hire someone? Not on his budget, he thought to himself gently shaking his head. With a breath out he looked around his surroundings one last time.

by **Sinna** on December 16th, 2018, 4:32 pm

6th, Winter 518av

On rejoining the living, the first thing Sin noticed was that his mattress was a little more cramped than it had been the night before, and something warm and midget-like was huddled against him. Zuko, now cocooned in his blanket and tucked snugly against the elder, must have climbed in with him in the night. Regardless, leaving the house without rousing the boy had been easy enough, what with him being a very sound sleeper. A luxury that the hunter had never really known, but one he hoped his brother could continue to be afforded for as long as possible. As he gathered his gear, threw on his old shirt and worn boots that had molded to his feet, he cast a final glance at the thick of chocolate curls peeping out of the blanket cocoon.

For good measure, he checked to ensure the boy hadn't smothered himself to death, just for his own peace of mind. Then threw a second blanket over.

Gurgling rivulets of water ran down the city streets, evidence of the recent showers Sunberth had been blessed with in the absence of snow and ice. The early morning sun was gentle, Syna's golden rays warm against his sun-kissed skin, evidence of his time outdoors. A similar breeze caressed him, teasing at stray wisps of flyawayhair he'd failed to gather in his braid. Sinna took to one of his many familiar routes to the edge of the anarchist city, bow and quiver slung across his back with a quick, but efficient-enough glare to ward off anyone who so much as approached him with a mischievous glint in their eyes.

Despite his lack of actual experience when it came to brawling and unarmed combat, Sin had yet to have anyone call his bluff. He knew he ought to work on it before it backfired on him, but so far he had yet to seek a teacher, and his main focus had always been maintaining the household and ensuring both members of it were both decently fed and clothed.

"Out to hunt again, Sin?" A familiar face greeted along the way, but Sin did not stop for him. "Spare me a small chunk or something, would ya? Business hasn't been good and the kids' 'aven't had proper meals in a bit." they prodded, earning only a mildly amused snort from the mixed-blood. "Pay me and I will," was all he offered instead.

"... Nasty little shyke. Better watch out there! Wouldn't want ya' gettin' mauled. Been a couple bear sightings out there."

As he turned down the corner, he was met with a beared fellow, oddly serene and seemingly deep in thought. Had it not been for the longsword and shield he had armed himself with, Sin might have even mistaken the other for an artist of sorts. A sword-for-hire this far out?

"If you're looking for work, you're real far off. No Man's Land Tavern is way back."

by **Vasin** on December 19th, 2018, 3:07 pm

While looking out of the city Vasin heard a voice seemingly directed at him and close. Attention moving from the scenery to whoever had approached him. First with his eyes and then he moved his head as he was being addressed. His eyes met their face and a series of thoughts ran through his mind as he assessed this person. A somewhat androgynous face and blue eyes much like his own which he noticed as his eyes locked with theirs. Didn't seem like they were threatening him, no double meaning behind those words. Then again, he was still not the best judge of character. There was something he noticed quickly enough, and that was their bow and arrows. Intrigued he realized he had stayed quiet for a moment and would move to speak."Not looking for work, already have a steady occupation." he would say in clarification."But I am looking for an opportunity." he said before none threateningly pointing to his bow."Are you heading out to hunt?" he asked pondering if maybe the chance he had been thinking of had presented them self? "I've been wanting to venture out. If you are heading out there I can carry back whatever you kill. No pay." he would say clarifying at the end there not wanting them to think he was just after financial benefit."Name is Vasin." he added offering a hand simply for a firm handshake.

If they were a hunter then Vasin figured he was in luck, as he figured dressing a kill out in the wilderness to carry it back must be a dangerous process. Left someone vulnerable, especially if they were alone. He figured that the wilderness was a lot like Sunberth, times eleven by what he had heard. Not only were there tribal out there even if rare to run into who were probably more then willing to stab you for your meat, but also terrible creatures with a similar mindset. A similar dynamic, just not as well structured based on what he heard. Thus Vasin reasoned much like in Sunberth, it paid to have someone watch your back out there. But he had to be wary of coming across as someone who stabbed them for their goods, or the reverse happening.

Also, unlike if he had gone with his plan of trying to hire a fellow mercenary they both could have gone out into the wilderness without a single idea about how to live on the land, and may very well get lost. Even from where he stood the trees in the far distance looked like he could become lost in for how similar they looked to one another. He doubted he had the right set of ideas to navigate without becoming lost. But one had to start somewhere, and unlike that other plan, a hunter should have an idea of how to avoid winding up scattered bones on the forest floor. Or at least that is how he reasoned all of it.

by **Sinna** on January 3rd, 2019, 4:39 pm

6th, Winter 518av

Like an owl, the man first acknowledged Sinna's presence with his eyes, before his head and the rest of him followed. Scrutinising him with a standard mix of curiosity and suspicion that any Sunberthian with good sense would have, the other eventually warmed up somewhat and declared his employment status in response. Sin did notice, however, the gaze that lingered on his own bow and arrows, and he tightened his grip on his bow for good measure.

At the word opportunity, the brunet quirked a brow. Of course he was. This was Sunberth - everyone was looking to get ahead. "I'm heading out, yeah. I don't know about you following me though. Big, clumsy-looking. Will you scare off the game?" This time, the mixed-blood eyes the other pensively, piercing steel blues committing face to memory and noting even the smallest of twitches. He supposed today's hunt wasn't quite that urgent or important, and it couldn't hurt to bring extra muscle with all the supposed sightings of bears in recent days. Vasin was definitely better-built than Sin, standing just an inch or so taller with a compact, muscular frame. Rugged, almost, but a face that was easy on the eyes and his neatly combed-back hair softened his overall look a little. "Sinna," offered the hunter plainly. Not the friendliest of introductions, but when were Sunberthians ever truly friendly? Shrugging, Sinna waved his hand dismissively. "Follow, if you'd like. As for my kills... I'd rather not risk having them taken from me. So I'll politely decline." As... sincere, as Vasin appeared, this was a trick every local hunter would know of, whether by personal experience or of hearing about it. A second party offering to tag along, lend a hand, online to make away with a hard-earned prize and all their time and effort. In some versions, their lives were taken too. That gleam in the man's eyes earlier was no doubt out of excitement for the opportunity he had spoken of, but for what purposes, Sin had his doubts.

The hand that Vasin proffered as a friendly gesture of greeting went unmet, unsurprisingly.

by **Vasin** on January 5th, 2019, 7:26 pm

It was all to be expected, especially from anyone that had lived in Sunberth for a long period of time. People here were a suspicious lot, and that was perfectly understandable. Not everyone was like Kelski after all, so he didn't take it personally."I'll try not to, but not to worry." he said in slight assurance. After all, he had gone out of his way and interrupted this person."I'm not all that clumsy." he added knowing that animals out in the wild were probably a lot like the people in Sunberth. Always on the lookout for trouble, and if a big meathead with a sword is stomping about then they will take notice. It was best to be a little more discreet, or at the very least try and be discreet. Not to mention, just like in the City, he imagined that one did not want to attract attention to themselves. It was bad news all around, and if he screwed up he doubted this person would take him out on other outings. Don't want to take people that are a liability after all.

"Well Sinna, at the very least I can keep an eye out while you handle them." he said not defending his integrity knowing that it would fall on deaf ears. As many in Sunberth would happily put on an innocent face and then stab you in the back. As his handshake had gone unanswered he withdrew it without a word. To gain trust in this city you had to do it through action, and words rarely meant much."So shall we head out?" he asked glancing to the forest in the distance."If I may ask, what game are you hunting?" he asked having assumed probably a deer, but there were plenty of types of animal that one could kill with a bow.

by **Sinna** on February 5th, 2019, 6:37 pm

6th, Winter 518av

While soloing was indeed Sinna's preferred way of going about most things, the hunter, while admittedly not the most flexible of persons, had gone on similar expeditions before. Usually with others whose reliability were ascertainable, or as an escort and on occasion by the request of Baker.

Vasin, however, was the first to ask to accompany him. With nothing in return, and even an offer to help tow back whatever he killed. In a sorry wasteland like Sunberth, who could blame the brunet for his suspicions of the swordsman? Moreso, when Sin was starting to think that the other might actually be capable of overpowering him in physical combat.

I ought to invest in a knife sometime.

Vasin's reassurance did little to convince him. Clumsy or not, Sin would be the judge of that. "Sure," with a shrug, he turned sharply on his heel and strode in the direction of the forest and expecting that Vasin would follow. Should he take the man's warning from before seriously? Sin had yet to hear of bear sightings until today, but such was the way of the wilds. Unpredictable and ever-changing. Or, could it have simply been a thinly veiled threat? "Ideally, deer." He answered with a casual pause. It was a good source of many things; taxidermy, pelt, venison. "But a boar or pheasant is more probable. At worst, a couple of wild hares or an empty hand - I don't always return with something," And it was something the young man had long accepted. He was by no means the best of hunters Sunberth had to offer, after all, and certainly nowhere near as experienced or trained as others. Where some might've picked up hunting from mentors or family, the mixed-blood was of those who had been given no such assistance. When he'd first started, Sin had barely known how to hold a bow, much less aim and shoot. Kuma had only ever once showed him how to handle a bow, when he was very young. The callous of his hands and little scars on them were proof of the effort he'd put into learning, yet it was sometimes still never enough. A lifetime of dissappointments had shown Sin the harsh reality of life; nothing ever went the way he wanted. It was best not to hope too much, rather just work as hard as you could and take what you got.

"Have you hunted before?" Asked Sinna as the thought came to him. While certain he would fare decently enough on his own, he'd be lying if he said it weren't an advantage that his companion had had some prior experience and knew what it was like. For one, it'd save him from having to do much explaining. On the other hand, if he didn't... would he react well to a live field dressing? The image brought a small, teasing smirk to his lips as they approached the woods. The thicket of trees that endured far beyond their line of sight was almost foreboding, perhaps moreso because of the chaotic city it surrounded. The unforgiving wilds that, once upon a time, Sin had fantasised of venturing beyond, to lands outside Sylira. "Watch out for traps," he warned as they breached the barrier of trees and set foot into the woods. "It's been raining a lot these days," remarked the man, somewhat pleased. That meant that tracks were left more easily, with how soft and muddy the earth had become. The abundance of green that had sprouted would have drawn in more herbivores as well - but that also meant their predators would follow. Sharp blue orbs roved their surroundings in keen observance as they trudged further on, scrutinising the area and the ground for fresh tracks. About them, the woods thrummed dully with life, the quiet of the atmosphere punctuated by the occasional gust of wind that rustled the flora, and the strange chirps and calls of birds and animals.

OOCSorry for the delay! Feel free to get the ball rolling.

by **Vasin** on February 6th, 2019, 4:41 pm

"Deer huh?" Vasin asked having seen deer from a distance a few times while at the edge of the city."Skittish animals those." Vasin said remembering how they were ever watchful in open spaces."Fine meat though, well worth the effort of course." Vasin said having had some venison once at a tavern."Now boar, that is an animal with a reputation. Nasty creatures yes? I hear, unlike deer they will charge you if you don't outright kill it. Is that true?" Vasin asked having heard stories in the past about the nature of such creatures. Even someone like Vasin who had never hunted before knew a story or two. Nothing practical of course, but just enough to recognize what one is talking about. He had seen pigs but had been told boards are like hairy pigs with massive tusks. Having never seen a boar before the image of it's exaggerated form was in his mind. A shaggy pig-like creature, but he did not know how they could be dangerous really. But those wilds, they were full of all sorts of surprises, or so he had been told by others who had known a person that knew a person who ventured out. Multiple levels of separation are always common in these stories of course.

"Not this kind of hunting" Vasin replied with an ever so slight pause."So no." Vasin said somewhat honestly to Sinna."Exactly why I wanted to come along. Need to see what it is like out in the field beyond the city. See what it takes and all that." Vasin explained further as they went along towards the tree line. They had crossed a distance, the citie's edge now well behind them. Vasin could look back and see it, of course, especially the tent city on the outside. But then he looked back forward, and he found himself entering the forest he always viewed from a distance. Walking in he listened to Sinna the shadows of the branches above cast over them. That ever-present scent of decay and filth in the distance now. This place had an entirely different smell Vasin found."Traps?" Vasin asked pulled back out from his own thoughts."Right, will keep an eye out..." Vasin said not wanting his foot to be gnarled up by some trapper's trap. His eyes scanned their surroundings, over tree trunks, foliage, and the forest floor."This place is certainly lively..." Vasin mentioned quietly this time."Sort of like Sunberth, just with trees instead of buildings..." Vasin said trying to come up with a comparison.

Vasin noticed then however why they had mentioned it had rained. He felt sort of a squish feeling under his feet. Looking down he lifted his foot a little and noticed he had left a deeper than usual footprint. The soft mud here not pressed down like the well packed down roads in Sunberth. The ground here was softer and had more spring to it more or less. Looking back up he then continued to follow Sinna having come to find this rather interesting. The way some spoke of the forest they made it seem like at any moment you would be grabbed and eaten by some form of monster, the very moment you stepped into them. But all was relatively peaceful for the moment.

by **Sinna** on March 2nd, 2019, 5:12 pm

6th, Winter 518av

Having a second presence around felt a little strange to Sinna, who had only ever known the companionship of his shadow on most hunts. Sure, he had partied up with others before, but he never quite got used to having someone else with him. It was a little off-putting, to say the least, and made it quite obvious how socially inept the mixed-blood was. Vasin was hardly to blame, though the brunet would refuse to admit this out loud. The swordsman seemed amicable enough, spoke with a warm, rich timbre, and seemed to genuinely be trying to make attempts at small talk. Maintaining his silence as the bearded male spoke, his eyes flickered from the canopy of leaves around them to to undergrowth of the woods, searching for anything that might point them in a general direction.

“True enough. They’ve wounded other hunters before, some quite badly. I’d say the ones around Sunberth are as vicious as her people.” He supplied in agreement, pausing to scrutinise a cloven hoof print in the mud a distance away. “Never seen one before?” A single brow arched in mild surprise. He had imagined a swords-for-hire would have done a fair bit of traveling or exploration. Perhaps blindly run into the woods to test their mettle with the wild beasts, like the handful he had witnessed had done.

A snort escaped him, and Sinna made no effort to conceal his amusement. Vasin was not much of an explorer, it seemed. The way he regarded everything, from the distant view of the city to the sprawling vegetation and foliage, there was a sort of quiet wonder in his own ocean eyes that reminded Sinna of both his brother and himself. “You don’t get out much, do you?” Concluded the hunter of his own accord.

Padding over to the prints and crouching, calloused fingers prodded at the marks gently, rubbing the residual dirt between thumb and index finger as a pleased hum rumbling in his chest. The ridges of the hoof prints were soft, fresh.

Voice lowering, the locks of hair he'd gathered into a tight tail bounced as his head rose swiftly, a predator locking on to an imagined target. Close, the wind seemed to whisper in his ears. “Lucky man. You might get to see your first one today,” the hunter gestured for Vasin to join him, nodding towards the trail before them. “Boar tracks. Deer have more sharply pointed hooves, and the toes are usually pointed together. For boars, their hooves are more round, blunted, and the impact of their feet tends to spread their toes outwards more.” Rising to his feet again, the icy tones of his eyes lit up with a small spark as they followed the trail into a line of undergrowth, where a section of it had clearly been disturbed. “It shouldn’t be too far off. The walls and midline are soft to touch - a fresh trail.” He nodded to himself, quite pleased. Earlier's threats had all but been faded in his memory.

As the pair stalked onwards a little further, silent and steady as they could manage. Drawing nearer, it was the scent that first alerted the brunet of his prize - a distinct musk that every hunter could at least agree was familiar - and he held a hand up to signal for the other to halt. The blanket of silence that befell them, though short-lived, allowed Sinna to nock a single arrow to his bow before something rustled just a short stretch ahead. Bow drawn, he tied his gaze in the direction of his arrowhead. A cluster of shrubs of bushes - undergrowth that harbored the day's prize.

There, his instincts guided his aim, and true enough, a glimpse of brown peeked out from the foliage.

The shot was made, and the second arrow immediately loaded and drawn to the sound of a gruesome meeting of flesh and arrowhead as Sin stalked forward, keeping as steady as he could as he waited. Yet - though the hog squealed weakly and rustled the bush with it's struggles - to Sin's pleasant surprise, the second shot had not been needed.

"Good luck," a faint smile teased at his lips. "Field dressing," Was all he had to offer for an explanation as Sin beckoned the swordsman forward once more, taking big, eager strides towards the fallen creature, already equipped with a knife. Blood stained the ground in patches, of which Sin was careful to avoid kneeling on as he set his bow down within reach. It failed to alarm him that, even with a struggle, the hog wouldn't have bled as much without the arrow out or more wounds. And it's stench was much, much more rancid than Sin had expected. And strange. More wounds, his mind processed as he retrieved the arrow, driving his knife into where it's heart would be, that- The rest of it was hauled from the bush, only to be discovered to be missing a fair portion of flesh.

Alarmed, the hunter kept himself as best composed as he could manage. The hog must have had escaped, only to succumb to exhaustion and it's wounds. Doomed a slow death. "It's been mauled by something else."

And the perpetrator rose to their feet, just mere feet away and towering a great deal over the two men on it's hind legs, grunting and sniffing. And evidently, contemplating the latest additions to it's dinner plate.

"Oh, petch."

OOCHere comes Teddy!

by **Vasin** on March 5th, 2019, 2:02 pm

"Never." Vasin confirmed to Sinna."Seen Deer at a distance, but never boar." he said indeed speaking from the perspective of someone always looking from the distance. Vasin had never taken that extra step to leave the bounds of the city since his arrival. Something in the back of his mind had always kept him back. Boars were smart creatures, more so then what one might expect. An untrained eye like Vasin's would have a difficult time spotting one from a distance. Vasin would stifle a laugh in regards to Sinna's comment finding it somewhat funny himself."Nope, unfortunately." Vasin said as he gave another look around themselves."Hopefully, that changes soon." Vasin said trying to keep to a quiet tone. He didn't want to be over a burden to Sinna on their hunt.

Vasin then watched as they came upon the prints and curiously watched as Sinna interacted with them. Looking at the prints from where he stood he bent over a little. Well, obviously that was a sign that there was something in the area. Wasn't a person, that Vasin was very certain of as he looked at it. It was also something that Vasin perhaps would have missed with all his looking around at the foliage and surrounding area. Hunters have to be focused Vasin figured, or else they would miss important clues like this. It was something Vasin would need to keep in mind if he hoped to make future treks out into the woods or surrounding wilds.

Then suddenly his eyes followed Sinna as he came up, indeed like one would expect a predator focusing right in on its prey. Vasin smirked at what Sinna said next. Lucky day eh? Indeed it must be so! Vasin thought to himself liking the idea of getting to see a boar for the first time. While he was certain SInna had seen their fair share of boars, this was of great interest to Vasin. His eyes then went to the trail now noticing that the prints were a part of multiple sets of prints. A trail which Vasin realized, would lead them to their boar. But how did Sinna know it was a boar? A question Sinna quickly began to answer before Vasin was able to open his mouth.

As Sinna explained to him the difference between boar tracks and deer tracks Vasin began to take mental notes. Wanting to commit the distinction to memory, so that he may use it in the future. In his mind, he visualized that boar track trying to assign those words Sinna said to it. He found it much easier to remember things if there was an image attached. Or at least, that is what he thought as he listened to the explanation. SInna certainly seemed to know what he was talking about. The distinction Sinna made seemed very distinct, and no doubt an experienced eye would be able to pick up on the differences immediately. Then furthermore, Sinna explained to him how he knew the tracks were fresh. Another thing to keep in mind for the future. One wouldn't want to follow a trail from weeks ago no doubt.

So from there following Sinna's lead, Vasin followed closely wanting to keep quiet. Vasin tried to copy what Sinna did as he stalked forward. He kept low and watched where he stepped. Keeping as steady as possible as he avoided stepping on obvious things like sticks. More so, he would step where he says Sinna step. No doubt much like the experienced people of Sunberth, a creature out in the wilds was always on the lookout for the first sign of danger. Paranoia amplified by 100% no doubt Vasin reasoned as he carefully made his way forward. However, keeping his eyes to the ground to watch where he stepped he nearly missed the signal to stop. But luckily from the corner of his eye he saw the movement and stopped. Frozen he looked up curiously his ears picking up on a brief absolute silence before a rustle up ahead could be heard. Was that the boar? Vasin pondered as he then saw Sinna knock an arrow. Must be Vasin thought further as he watched and studied having not used a bow himself.

It was over quicker than expected, a flash of brown and the arrow was sent flying. All that was needed was a moment for success, or for failure it seemed. Looking up ahead he heard the cry of the boar, the rustle of struggle, and then it stopped. He looked to Sinna and smiled."You got it?" he asked near whisper when they had said good luck. The answer came very quickly when they had mentioned field dressing. Vasin gave a quick nod anticipating the moment in which they would see the boar. Following upon being gestured to he would follow the hunter towards the foliage. Then he watched as Sinna dragged the hog out from the bushes and blinked. So this was a boar eh? Looked pretty beaten up. The implications not hitting Vasin like they were hitting Sinna."By something else?" Vasin asked with a blink."Like what?" he asked in quick succession before his answer came towering up over them.

Vasin looked up a bit wide-eyed with surprise as his heart nearly skipped a beat."Oh... that..." Vasin said quietly as he stared up at a rather large bear which was currently regarding the two of them. Vasin placed a hand on the grip of his sword."What do we do?" he asked Sinna thought kept his eyes locked on the bear as he started to draw his sword. It was massive! It towered over them! It was larger than some the largest bouncers and bodyguards he had seen at taverns! He finished drawing his sword from the scabbard wanting to be ready, or as ready as he could be.

by **Baelin Holt** on October 2nd, 2019, 5:39 pm

Vasin :

Sinna :

PM to join Between City and Wild (Sinna)