Going out for once (Cara)

[Darren]

6th of Spring, 511 Darren was sleeping in a nearby tree. He woke up when a bit of snow startled him. "Ah!" he said startled as he grudgingly moved himself up. It was quite early still the sun still having yet to rise as he checked his pack for the hunting trip. Today he was to be paired up with a random member from another hold and hunt for the first they they found. It was considered an honor to hunt for the more aggressive creatures but Darren was still somewhat unskilled when it came to hunting so rather he opted to suggest going to hunt in the open fields where there was usually more docile herbivores. He sighed deeply as he fussed with his watch. His partner was suppose to be the Icequeen of Frostfawn, Cara. He sighed when he heard they were paired up. He knew about her already but the two never really did much other then look at each other and then continue on their way. He however has heard the stories about her and her familiy. Hmm...i just hope she actually isn't the girl the others make her to be. He laid down in the snow slowly enticed by it's cold, friendly embrace, it's softness and wetness causing him to smile as he looked up waiting for her. He raised his hand to the sky looking at his watch all the while, wondering how his grandfather found it and what it's purpose was.

[Cara]

"Come on Iaera, we're going on a hunt," Cara called to her arctic fox as she pushed open the door to her hold, and a wave of cold air hit her. Cara turned her face to the side so it wouldn't hit her head on. It looks like it is going to be a long day already. Iaera's long white fur ruffled and her tail swished as she walked out the door and ahead of her mistress. Cara soon stepped forward and let the door slam shut behind them. A very long day indeed. The two began to walk through the snow and towards the south. The place that had been set aside for meeting everyone's partner was down in that direction. The snow crunched beneath Cara's feet, leaving a trail of footprints behind her. Iaera's were beside those of her mistress, far smaller, and closer together. The prints themselves were small, signifying to anyone who bothered to look at them that they had been left by a creature that wasn't human. The sun was still rising, and hadn't yet reached the middle of the sky. It cast a warm yellow glow over the snow, which seemed to make it sparkle. At times, Cara would have to look away because the rays were simply too bright to look at when they were reflected off the snow. "You ever go hunting before Iaera?" Cara asked her companion. There was no response. Of course, the woman hadn't truly expected one from Iaera, but it was nice to hear a voice cutting through the silence that surrounded them. "It's alright, it has been awhile for me too." The two were silent again after that, simply making their way through the snow, and towards the mysterious Darren Whitevine Cara had been paired off. At least the man doesn't seem to have much of a reputation following him around, Cara thought. He is not like her. Within a few minutes, a large tree came into view. Beneath it sat a tall man with dark hair. That must be him, Cara thought as she strode over to the tree, and Iaera trailed just behind. They reached him within ten paces. When they did, Iaera's muscles tensed and her fur seemed to stand on end. Her tail was extended diagonally, and away from her body in an downward slope, the fur seemed to bristle like that of a cat when it was angry. Her golden brown eyes were blazing, and her lips parted, exposing her long, white teeth. She was growling unpleasantly at Darren. "Ahh, you must be the person assigned to work with us," Cara said, a hint of ice in her voice. We haven't so much as started yet and the man is already sitting flat on his ass. What a fat, lazy bum. "The name is Cara," the young sorceress finally explained. "And this," Cara said as she gestured towards the unhappy arctic fox at her right side, "is Iaera." There was a slight pause as the woman's eyes startled to sparkle playfully. "You shouldn't worry about her. She won't bite, unless, of course, her mistress tells her to." Cara gave a slight laugh, laced with a genuine sense of amusement. "Or at least she shouldn't bite. Who knows, she only came into my company a few days ago." As soon as the words had left Cara's lips, she turned abruptly on her heels, and turned east. "We should get moving if we intend to catch anything," Cara called. "Come along Iaera." The fox obeyed, and soon returned to her place beside her mistress, trotting along merrily. She seemed to have forgotten Darren, and his apparent dislike of him, at least, for the time being. Cara turned to look over her shoulder at her partner again, "and Darren, please do try to keep up. There will be no waiting for the weak," she added, before turning her head back around. Her long black hair was splayed across the right half of her face, shielding it from sight. Even so, her left side was still exposed. It allowed for the sight of two important features: Cara's pale, curled lips, and her playfully bright, emerald green irises.

[Darren]

Ah finally he thought as he say Cara finally make his way towards him. "Glad you took your sweet time" he said flicking the gears and notches from his watch back into the watch's case. He took in Cara, just looks like your regular Frostfawn he thought, and her pet looking at the fox. Just a bit skinny and gaunt but we can't discriminate just because of that. He turned to Cara with a kind face even though she was somewhat late. Darren merely shrugged at the woman as she did her introduction, she seems amicable enough he thought as he got up. "Meh don't worry, I'm good with animals. I understand they are just being youthful if they bite, and... " he said as he looked at the weird pet "that they are shy to new people. I'm a very understanding guy if you get to know me. ...or not" he said with a short laugh and a customary smile. Alrighty if we don't annoy each other too much we can probably get through this trip rather happy in the end with no problems. At least it would have been... "Hmph, if your trying for a show of authority it's not working, witch" he said in a raspy tone. He went up to her and looked her straight in the eyes breathing heavily,they looked each other Darren hesitated a bit as he saw he was really close to her face. "Your all types of beautiful but personality-wise your really lacking woman. Keep that up and you'll be alone all your life" he growled as he walked past her and walked a short distance "Are you coming or what?" he asked. Darren didn't bother turning around as he made his way to the clearing, they had a good 30-40 minute walk to do and he wasn't gonna go at her pace. He hastily grabbed his belongings as he looked forward, looking for any signs of deer or ram they can capture while cursing in Isur.

[Cara]

"Just keep telling yourself that Darren, because it certainly doesn't seem like you're a beastmaster over there," Cara commented coldly as they walked along. Why did they have to give us the retard from Whitevine? Cara wondered. "By the looks of things you need to keep up Darren." Who does he think he is trying to lecture her? It's not like he's her mom or something. Cara scowled. "Now, are we hunting for something dangerous, or are you too delicate and generally unprepared for such things?" Cara asked. She had expected him to have some sort of bow or something, but from what she could see, he had nothing. Iaera seemed to snicker from where she was walking at the side of her mistress. The wind blew heavily, and began to rustle Cara's hair. She picked up the pace, allowing it to whip around her and scatter the newly-fallen snow. "And just so we don't kill each other, perhaps you'd best keep your damn mouth shut until blood bathes each of our hands, and our purpose has been fulfilled. Got it fat boy?" Cara asked as she strode along angrily. She had been hoping to fight something slightly more menacing than deer, elk, and mountain goats, but it seemed as though the two were headed towards the area where the creatures normally roamed. "Or, we could split up now. Of course we both know we're supposed to move in pairs, but if the likes of you only wants smaller game, then I'm not so sure we're of the same caliber. Or that you are so much as worth anyone's time; especially that of one of the Frostfawn," Cara growled. Iaera's tail was swishing back and forth as she padded along. Oh why did she have to get a Whitevine? They were nearly as pathetic as the Snowsongs. "And trust in the words: we won't mind if you simply disappear for a while." Cara smiled wickedly. "It's not as though anyone from home would ever find out we had split up. Unless you were stupid enough to tell them of course." The girl maintained a stride similar to that of Darren's if not slightly faster as she waited for a reply. Herbivores were child's play for a sorceress such as herself. A carnivore, on the other hand, would be far more fun to destroy; or perhaps, even to tame.

[Darren]

Darren didn't have much patience left for this trip with Cara. He got rather early, groggy and grudgingly went to the meeting spot early just to wait for this Cara woman to arrive somewhat late and already Cara went out of her way to anger him. Darren didn't really like people who talked down to him and this Cara person wasn't any different. He gritted his teeth as she kept trying to test him. Darn, woman. She's totally as the others said. Completely aggressive, unpleasant, and continuously works to annoy you, he thought as he snapped his head back at her for the fat reply. "Sadly...dear Cara we have to show up with together with our respective hunt. As to keep disputes to a minimum and to make sure that they have someone to watch over them while they are out in the wilderness. Like so..." he said as he pushed Cara to the ground just in time. Just then, a huge amount of snow was dropped in front of her. The tree above them wasn't finished with her however as it finally gave out, rest of the snow falling on top of Cara. "But accidents do happen" he grinned as he looked at the now, snow covered Cara. He left her in the snow pile as he turned around to look at their surroundings. Behind them a herd of deer looked at them curiously as Darren waved at them. One of the older stags proceeded to greet Darren. Smiling at it he petted the animal while he looked past the herd. Obviously he was somewhat attuned with animals as they knew he wouldn't harm them. His target...was father down the field. A huge Taldera Ram.

[Cara]

Cold, meaty hands pressed into Cara's skin. They pushed against her forcefully, and soon enough, Cara found herself falling through the cold morning air. Crash! Her body hit the snow, sending it fluttering around her. Then, of course, the snow from the tree had to fall on her head too. Angry, Cara raised her right hand, and brought it to her face. She wiped the snow away. Several flurries still lingered on her forehead, and glimmered in the sunlight. "You'd better watch it Whitevine," Cara growled as she brought herself back onto her feet. Or you may find your sorry ass on fire. "If you want to live to tell the tale of our adventures," she added as she brushed herself off. When she looked up at Darren again, she smiled. Iaera was growling at him again, her lips parted, teeth exposed. "Looks like Iaera shall keep the likes of you in your proper place," Cara chuckled. The fox was leaning into its front paws, and looked about ready to pounce. Darren walked around her and towards a deer, but Iaera turned her body around and followed the man with her eyes. He was petting one of the deer that were nearby. Trying to be a beast master is he? Cara mused as Iaera leapt for Darren and sank her teeth into his left leg, before stepping away again and continuing to growl. "She really doesn't like you much," Cara commented as she stepped towards Darren. She extended her right hand towards the deer he had been petting, and patted the creature's nose. "Perhaps she will remind you not to piss off her mistress again." Cara's eyes flashed menacingly as she ran her hand up the creature's forehead and stared at her hunting partner intently. "Now that we both know that you're the one in this group who constantly needs protection, and feels unsafe on his own, let us ask what it is you wish to pursue?" Cara asked, ice lacing the edges of her voice. "Something childish perhaps. Easy to catch, like a ram or two?" Cara chuckled as she returned her hand to her side. The deer was stomping its feet into the snow, it was growing impatient. Its tail was swishing back and forth, and soon enough, it had turned around and walked away with an angry kick in Darren's general direction. If the younger Vantha didn't move away, the deer's hooves would strike the men in the chest. Cara laughed, "the deer doesn't seem to like you either." He is definitely not a beast master, Cara mused as Iaera rubbed her head against Cara's right leg. The deer was now several feet away, lost in the crowd with a few of the others. "Next time, perhaps you should let a Frostfawn deal with the animals," Cara hissed as she stepped forward and towards the herd of deer. "You coming Whitevine?" she called angrily over her shoulder. She was certainly in no mood to baby-sit.

[Darren]

Munch* Darren's expression instantly turned sour as he felt the fox bit his leg. He aimed a kick at Iaera before it jumped back. This is getting ridiculous he thought as every bone in his body wanted to jump Cara, to make her submit to his wishes for him to be the agreed master between the two. He looked at Ieara growling at him while Cara brushed the stag, with a half crazed look. As she touched the stag the animal too was disturbed by Cara's touch. See? Even as a FrostFawn she disturbs these wild animals, he thought as he looked at the deer. He saw that the deer wasn't liking her, disturbed by her, Tck, I have to do something he thought as he moved towards her. Just as he was about to grab Cara to pull her from the deer it sent out a kick and hit Darren square in the chest, knocking him down into the snow. Dazed and disoriented a bit he reached out and grabbed the first thing that he came in contact with, which was Cara. The fox hissed at him as he pulled her clothes to hoist himself up. "Tck...Yea I'm looking for a ram, so what? I don't suppose your highness didn't plan to hunt anything with fangs and teeth" he said as they made their way across the field. He moved his hand across his chest as he ruefully rubbed the spot the deer attacked him, his chest still somewhat burning from the bruise. Sigh "Alright here we are" he said as a giant white taldera ram came into view, "Heh, yep this would be decent to have as a pet or mount" he said smirking as he ran up to the ram. The ram seeing him went to charge him down. Darren intending to hit it head on as he put on his gauntlets ready to knock it out. Sending down a heavy downswing he connected with the ram, but unable to stop the ram's forward movement. The ram clipped him in the angle as each other's attacks sent them both to the ground. Hurt but still grinning widely he hauled the dazed ram up and started heading back to Cara to finish his hunt. However as this was going on another animal came into view crying out and attacking the deer group they were just with not to long ago. When Darren turned and saw what it was he wanted to grab Cara and run. Behind them was a giant moose it's teeth bared as it made it's way over to them. Obviously disturbed or possessed, the size of a polar bear and the horns of a moose, this hunt suddenly escalated into something of a life and death struggle as the thing suddenly charged them.

[Cara]

"Companion!" Cara growled. "They are companions, not pets. They're parts of the family, same as your little brother would be," she scolded. Cara hated when people called animals 'pets.' They were ones friends and companions. They would spend time growing old together, and looking after one another. Apparently, the Whitevine was too dimwitted to know such a thing, however. The young sorceress stepped lightly through the snow, her companion at her side. "So which of the deer did you want to take back to the hold Darren? We seem to have a number to choose from." Cara's arms were folded over her chest as she paused. "Unless you want to go after a ram or something. Whatever you want..." She wished she could add, something along the lines of "wimp," "weakling," or "child," but for once in her life, Cara kept her thoughts and feelings to herself. Her eyes grew wide, and her heart began to pound in her chest when she noticed it: an over-sized moose. Perfect, just what we needed right now. An over-sized, angry deer-like thing. Cara's muscles tensed, and so did that of her arctic fox. Each was temporarily frozen in place as they watched the crazed creature. At the last second, the two jumped out of the way as the creature charged, crashing through the fleeing herd of deer. "What the heck is wrong with it?" Cara whispered so quietly she doubt Darren had heard. The girl was breathing in through her nose, and out through her mouth. Iaera was curled around her right leg, huddling into her mistress as if in fear. Does she think we can protect them both? Because obviously Darren is going to be useless. The sorceress was concentrating on her djed. Perhaps she could use her magic to their advantage, and get the crazed moose to go away. As the creature ran past them, Cara watched. She was silently praying to Morwen that it wouldn't turn around, but she knew it would. Cara's arm was tingling, and her body filled with a strange sense of warmth as a translucent, light blue gas poured out of the tips of her fingers. The gas was res. As she continued to concentrate, the res pooled into a small orb that hovered just above Cara's right palm. The moose stomped its feet into the ground, and soon came to a halt. The creature snorted, and then, turned around. Its tail was swishing back and forth. Its large black eyes seemed to glare at Cara and Darren. Petch. Cara ignited the outside of her orb of res. It glowed a pale orangeish-red, and gave off a low-intensity heat. "Have you ever played with fire Darren?" Cara asked, as she watched the moose stomp its front hooves into the snow. It appeared as though it were getting ready to charge them again. But this time, Cara wasn't scared. This time she was armed and ready. You just have to be sure to time it well and actually hit the thing. You want to make it go away after all. Not get it angrier, or miss, which defeats the purpose of you using your magic in the first place. The creature's hooves stomped the snow one last time before it charged. Here we go.

[Darren]

Darren watched with a bemused smile as he turned and saw Cara's tense expression on her face. Heh she was acting so cool and collected not too long ago he chuckled. He slowly made his way to Cara before the moose was able to see him. The bite from the stupid fox coupled with trading of blows from the ram caused him to somewhat hobble on Cara using her shoulder as a support until he was able to stand normally again. He looked to her now, she was starting to get serious finally. He smirked as he stood by her waiting for the imminent attack. He turned and shook the ram he was dragging a bit,it was still unconscious as it's tongue flopped out. He lifted it and started focusing his flux pathways so it would be easier to hold it up. He turned to see the moose finally notice them, "Yea, who hasn't?" He asked as he looked over to her. A small ball of a fluid substance caught his eye, a soft glowing orange emanating heat. His eyes glazed over for a second realizing why everyone said so much about this girl... His head snapped into attention as he heard the Moose rear up and charge them. Not giving much though into his actions he picked up the ram and used it as a makeshift projectile as he hurtled it haphazardly spinning in a wide circle at the moose's legs. The throw powered by his muscles and the extra flux energies sent the ram fast at the moose as he followed up almost instantaneously with a knife throw as he shifted his weight back to the center. He gripped his gauntlets tightly, he knew that such minor attacks wouldn't stop a rabid beast. He worried for the ram as it finally fell back into the snow, possibly knocked unconscious again, he saw his knife lodged at the beast's cleft before it charged was 10 feet in front of them.

[Cara]

Cara raised her right brow. "You threw the ram?" Cara said incredulously. Although it sounded like a question, it was more rhetorical than anything else. She could see that Darren had thrown the ram at the charging moose, what she didn't understand was why. It was unlikely the ram would be able to stop the moose, maybe make it stumble if the large creature failed to jump over it, but little more. The move was more likely to do damage to the ram and Darren himself, not the moose. "What the heck is wrong with you?" Cara hissed. It looks like we're going to have to do everything ourselves, as usual. The fireball was glowing in Cara's hand. Just wait to use it. Until it gets a little closer. Her body remained tense, as her heart continued to pound. Don't fuck this up. It is not yet your time to die. Iaera had unwound herself from around Cara's body, and was slowly slinking off and deeper into the snow, hopefully to safety. Figures. As soon as the moose was about ten feet away from them, Cara ran to the right, and slowly began to lift her arm. When it was about two feet away from where she had just stood, she hurled the fireball at it. The fireball flew a little higher than planned, and hit the creature's right antler. At first, it didn't appear as though the flame had took, and that Cara's attempt was futile. But after a short while, a small orange flame and steady trickle of smoke could be seen pouring out of the middle of the antler. It was at that time that the woman had her first chance to yell at Darren again. "You see Darren, the ram didn't even phase the thing." When she looked up, however, she realized that the moose hadn't seemed to register her own attack either. So perhaps she shouldn't have spoken too soon. Well if you ignited the center of your fireball at the last second like you were supposed to, perhaps it wouldn't have been such a large waste of energy. Cara growled, she hated when her own mind taunted her; it reminded her too much of her mother. The antler continued to smoke as the moose ran past the two hunters. Once it had gone about thirty feet, the creature dug its large hooves into the ground again, and came to a halt. "You'd better have a back-up plan, because throwing fireballs at this thing all day is going to get tiring," Cara growled at Darren. "So come up with something quick and make yourself useful." Another orb of light blue res had appeared above Cara's right palm. A second later, she had lit the outside on fire. The fire on the creature's antler began to spread- inching itself upwards. Now, the creature had turned. It was pounding its hooves angrily into the snow, preparing itself to charge at them again. Lovely.