The Hunt (Private)

[Luella Vaettir]

(Private RP: Reserved for Ralimis)

The sun shined brightly this morning as Elle made her way through the trees, walking lightly and nearly silent. There was a stream trickling by to her left, and she was following it, hoping it would lead her to an animal trail or some sort of fresh scat to track. The light breeze made the leaves shift and rustle in the trees, and all was quiet save for the sounds of nature. It was one of Elle’s favorite places to be. Sure she liked the hustle of the city, the noise of people and their company, but out here everything was more real. Everything balanced. Everything peaceful in its secret chaotic way. This was the place Elle lived for. The forest, the animals…the hunt.

On her back she had her quiver, set full of arrows, and her bow, strung and ready for use. The only other weapon she had was her long knife, which she used for gutting or skinning and other uses of the sort. She was much more deadly with her bow though. She fancied herself a pretty good shot. Probably good enough to be an imperial archer or whatever nonsense type of title they had here in this new city she moved to. But Elle would point her arrow at people only for protection of herself or loved ones, and since she never had to do that yet, becoming an archer of the military hadn’t been necessary. Nor would it be fun.

She paused as she spotted not too far down the stream a large elk drinking. A smile crossed the fair elf’s features. She was a beautiful girl, long blonde hair drawn back in a ponytail, wearing her small shorts today and corset with sleeves that passed for a shirt as a means of covering herself. This left most of her legs showing from the knees up (as she was wearing her high boots), her belly, arms, and a good portion of her neck, shoulders, and cleavage exposed. It wasn’t very decent but Elle wasn’t the modest type for one, and it wasn’t like she’d run into a lot of people out here either.

She carefully pulled her bow from her back, pulled and arrow, and notched it into place. She dropped to one knee, drawing the arrow and taking careful aim. After a moment of total silence the elk lifted its head, as if sensing the danger a moment too late, and she let the arrow fly. The arrow struck the elk. It kicked, stumbled, staggered, and fell after managing to run a few yards deeper into the woods. Elle smiled and jumped up, bounding over to her kill. Perfect! Meat for tonight’s dinner, and plenty enough to give to Aerin too! Plus the pelt was lovely. Elle ran through her mind if she needed any nice furs for anything, and when she decided not, she figured she’d sell off the pelt. She’d give the antlers to Aerin this time. He liked to use them in his potions or whatever.

No longer on the prowl, Elle began to hum as she unsheathed her blade, rolling the heavy elk into a better position to start skinning it as best as she could with it lying down. It’d be best to tie it up but it was much too large for her to hoist up on her own. Besides, she skinned many beasts while lying on the ground instead of the traditional tied up way. She was an expert at this point. She slid the knife under the fur and fat and began cutting away the pelt quickly before the elk’s body cooled down too much and made the skinning too difficult, all the while singing softly to herself.

[Deleted]

Ralimis slithered through the forest as an orange and blue python. Though he didn't know he was such colors, he figured he was darkly shaded enough to stay hidden. Being, at the moment, a cold blooded creature, he was enjoying the sun and the weather. It was much easier to move through the forest blindly as a snake than many other animals. able to feel everything as he moved and sense creatures with his tongue and nose.

He licked the air and a familiar scent came with the wind. Aelareith was following behind him as always. Down wind he noticed. Hopefully whatever he found would be far enough away - he would need to get around it before it smelled him. He was hunting to ready himself for a trip he would be making to the ruins soon. He was unsuccessful the day prior and was looking to pick up his slack today.

He heard light steps from the side... kind of. He felt them from the ground, animals without ears were so strange.

He promptly found Aela with his thought transfer, as she surely must have seen what he had heard. Although she was barely interested in the animal, Aela had an elk in her peripherals. There was a stream past it which it seemed to head towards. She eyed farther upstream, noticing something of apparently more interest. He wasn't suspicious of this, she had no reason to fear nor hunt the elk.

But he had found what he was looking for. And it came right up to a shallow drinking area. Paying no heed to his companion's gaze, he disengaged the spell and worked his way around so the wind could not carry his scent. As soon as he was in a position where he felt comfortable, he changed form to a wolf (green with white accents) and held low.

He was ready to go after the elk, but needed one more look. He reached out to his companion with his magic yet again. As he did, he saw a female elf with a nocked arrow. Then saw the arrow fly. Then the deer hitting the ground... Dead.

He disengaged the spell and sulked. Too slow, Ralimis. As he moped over the defeat, he heard the elven girl singing as she moved closer to her kill. Sure, she was happy...

It was still early, but he felt as though he was done for the day. He would come back later, at night and as a bat. His luck didn't seem to hold out during the day.

Still feeling the defeat, he came up closer to where he heard the girl, carving and singing, and announced himself with a few soft yips so as to not take her by surprise. "To my dismay, the kill is yours." He could at least be a good sport. "Good hunting."

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle pulled the pelt off without too much hassle and laid it out of the ground, fur side down against the leaves, fat up. She’d lay her meat inside the fur, so the leather bag she carried would have minimal blood staining and have easier clean up. With that chore done she began the actual task of gutting the animal. She sliced cleanly into the belly, after breaking the pelvic bone for easier access of course, and began to sort through the organs, disregarding the useless ones or ones that looked bad, keeping ones she’d either sell, give to her brother, or eat. There wasn’t much to dispose of. This elk was rather healthy. She continued her happy singing, pausing once to blow a renegade strand of hair from her face.

With the organs separated, she began to carve into the meat itself. Just as she began this portion of her task, she heard soft yips behind her, as well as the steps of an animal approaching. She turned quickly, knife up in a defensive position, ready to see if the animal would attack, and was struck silent as a green wolf stood before her. She stared, blue eyes wide. A green wolf…with white…this was the oddest thing she had ever seen. She blinked at it a moment. How on earth did a wolf ever turn green?

Before she could have time to contemplate the possibilities of a green wolf, it opened its muzzle and spoke, complimenting her on the hunt.

“Gah!” Elle cried, stumbling back over the dead elk and landing on her bottom. She stared a moment longer, eyes even wider than before. A talking green wolf? How…?

“You’re either some sort of enchanted wolf, a god, or a shifter.” Elle said. “Or maybe a demon…with that coloration you could be a daedric something. My brother likes to talk about those. Oh goodness he didn’t actually try to summon one of those did he?” She said, slowly standing up. She knew Aerin was a good summoner but she didn’t think he was that good. But then again he had been doing it since childhood so…why not? Of course he’d always go on about responsibility and blah blah blah but Elle had the sneaking suspicion that Aerin wanted to try summoning more than just plants and bugs or whatever for his potions. She certainly hoped he wouldn’t jump into something terribly dangerous from another plane though. That was just too scary.

“So…which one are you?” She asked the wolf before her, keeping her blade poised ready. Regardless of what the wolf was, she still didn’t know if it was friend or foe. And she was alone out here, so she’d have to tread carefully until she found out which side this green wolf was playing on.

[Deleted]

Ralimis winced at her initial yell at his comment. Nekos talk, Werewolves talk, why does every other animal come across as so inept? He would love to find someone who's first reaction is the continuation of a conversation.

This was not the case today, as a barrage of accusations were thrown at him to which he fell to his haunches with a huff.

"I am neither god nor demon," he said pointedly, sensing no imminent danger from the girl. "and I certainly was not some... summoned, enchanted wolf? that is a new one, I'll give you that, but you were correct in saying Shifter." What kind of summoner would err so much as to bring a blind ally, he pondered to himself jokingly.

Ralimis decided to stand and shift back into his origin form, bringing cane to hand. He wore his robe, all neutral colors and more resembling loose fitting clothing. His eyes were plain to see with his shorter hair which was, at the moment, a deep brown.

He found Aelareith's eyes with his magic and quickly formed red on his cheeks from seeing the elven girl's garb. Aela was hidden somewhere off to the side in a tree, watching the scantly dressed girl cautiously. The girl had her knife in hand, but gods, she was barely clad. Ralimis had trouble seeing her as an attacker.

"And you were questioning my appearances as a wolf?" Ralimis proclaimed as much as he asked. He felt a little off, but easily found the irony. "My excuse for my color is my lack of sight," he said with an accusing smile. "I wonder yours for your lack of clothes."

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle wasn’t sure but she thought she heard some type of negative tone in the wolf’s voice as he spoke. It was laced with his amusement. She didn’t read much into it as it implied that he received this sort of welcome often. At least she managed to amuse him by asking if he was an enchanted or summoned being. Elle could be creative. In a naïve, stupid sort of way anyways. At least that was what many people told her.

Elle was drawn from her random thoughts as the green wolf shifted, his form elongating and growing tall, limbs becoming longer, face shrinking until a man stood before her now. A rather handsome one too. And the similarities between him and her brother struck her silent again. All down to the cane, the loose fitting clothes and even the blindness. She figured that one out before he spoke. Elle could see that distant, unfocused look in one’s eyes anywhere and know what it meant. She hadn’t been able to see it before when he was a wolf. It was obvious to see as a man.

Elle tilted her head as the man spoke of his blindness, then spoke of her clothes, or lack thereof. Most women would blush or be offended. Elle didn’t care. It was a remark she met with on a daily basis, and honestly she was prepared for it. If she didn’t want such remarks she wouldn’t dress like this would she?

“I’d comment about your honesty about being blind, but I know you’re telling the truth. My brother is blind as well, and I can tell from your gaze you can’t see. You must have a pretty good trick to tell how I’m dressed. I’m impressed. You’ll have to meet Aerin and teach him. He’d love to be able to see again.” Elle said, stepping over the elk, back to the front of it again. “And please, don’t act like you aren’t the least bit impressed with this.” She added, gesturing to her body. “I see that blush. It’s adorable.” She winked at him, wondering if he’d even see, before giggling and turning back to the elk, deciding he wasn’t much of a threat to her. She made a point to bend over, sticking her rear out towards him teasingly before squatting again, once more attending to the matter at hand. “So what brings a blind shifter hunting in the woods anyways?”

[Deleted]

"You..." His earlier comment had obviously backfired, as she was far too comfortable with his words. The mage tried to compose himself after seeing the hunter's... unreserved temperament, and actually managed to rid himself of the damned heat occupying his face. Adorable? Not likely.


Now, more clear headed, he answered her last question. "I'm planning a short journey to the ruins of Avaleur so I hunt for food. I doubt the fallen castle's rodents and creatures would be so edible." He grimaced at the thought.

She didn't doubt his blindness, and he was happy to introduce his small companion for explanation, but it was at that point Ralimis noticed he had yet to give his own name. "I do have a trick of sorts, but that requires introduction, I am Ralimis Terryl." He gave a slight bow, mentally rolling his eyes at himself for such a formality. This elf was as casual as any he had ever met, he was being overly ceremonious for the occasion.

He put out an arm toward Aelareith's direction as to beckon her over. Noticing the move, she started towards him from the trees. "And this," he continued, "is my friend Aela." The squirrel jumped down to his arm from the tree nearest, sounding out threatening, or what was likely meant to be threatening, chitters. Ever the nice little squirrel... Ralimis thought sarcastically.

[Luella Vaettir]

“Ohh, Avaleur has some ruins? That sounds interesting. My brother and I just moved here, so there’s a lot about this place we don’t know.” Elle said when the shifter mentioned some ruins of a castle. The idea of exploring an old castle sounded fun. And if she mention an old library or some nonsense about hidden knowledge she might even get Aerin to go along too! How to get a blind elf to said ruins safely might be a tad tricky, since Aerin didn’t have any seeing tricks that the shifter Elle was talking to had, but Elle could manage. If nothing else it would be worth a shot getting Aerin out to explore, but she wouldn’t push the issue. After all he did leave home and move to a new city, and that was his idea, not hers.

Elle didn’t see Ralimis bow behind her, as she was still cutting up meat and depositing it on the fatty side of the deer pelt. She did get the name though. Ralimis, huh? Odd name, but Elle’s name was odd too. She paused as he mentioned another, and had to suppress a giggle. How alike he was to Aerin! He even had a pet! Elle stood and turned, blowing more hair from her face.

“Nice to meet you Ral. And you…” She trailed off as she first heard the chittering, then saw what was sitting on the shifter’s arm. Beady little eyes, bushy tail, big teeth…

“EEEK!!!” Elle gave a little squeak of a scream and, seeming to have learned nothing the first time, stumbled over her deer again. She didn’t fall over this time though. “You have a pet squirrel!?” She cried, leaning up against the nearest tree, staring at the little furry hell-spawn. Who ever thought of owning one of those evil little beings as a pet!? Those twitchy little demons!! By the Gods above Elle would prefer someone to own a spider or something gross like that over these...things! Just look at it! It was just dying to leap at her and eat her soul!

“I…um…don’t like squirrels…” Elle said softly, holding her knife in front of her as if Aela were some giant rodent monster rather than the small creature she was. The elf began inching her way around the tree, wanting something more than a dead elk between her and the fur-demon.

[Deleted]

Ralimis backpedalled at the at the short outburst. Had a creature sunk up from behind despite his detection spell? Aela, thinking similarly, frantically looked around the forest; seeing nothing, attention came back to the elf.

It then became clear that there was, in fact, a creature that the Archer was so afraid of: The furry companion on Ralimis' shoulder.

Ralimis stood in utter bafflement and stared at the girl through beady eyes... For a moment, he had to wonder if his eyes held the only sense that failed him. After all, she was a hunter, and a competent one judging by her swift takedown of the elk, there was no way for her to have such a phobia. But before he could entertain the notion further he looked more closely at her, edging around a tree. She was staring strait at Aela.

Ralimis couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness. "I suppose it had to happen sometime," The mage shook his head in disbelief, "But to an elf? A hunter no less? I would never have guessed it possible."

"Please go back to the trees, Aela." he whispered to the squirrel, and she hopped off onto a tree behind the mage. "Sorry," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "had I known, I would have warned you about my... uh... intimidating friend."

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle’s cheeks reddened as the shifter laughed at her, stating what she already knew. How utterly stupid it seemed that a hunter would be afraid of a squirrel. That anyone would be really. She would have looked down in embarrassment if she wasn’t too afraid to take her gaze from the creepy fur demon on Ralimis’s shoulder. She watched carefully as the man whispered something to the squirrel, and the thing actually understood him and hopped off his shoulder and onto a tree. Elle eyed the tree that the rodent seemed to disappear up before finally glancing down.

The elf returned her blue eyes to the shifter as he made his apology, Elle frowning a bit. Was he teasing her? Probably. Most did when they discovered her little phobia, whether they meant to or not. The only person who never laughed or really teased her was Aerin, and she honestly thought that was because he was desensitized to it. He grew up around her phobia, so it was nothing new to him. So Aerin didn’t seem to understand the humor in the situation that others saw when they found out about Elle’s phobia. He found the fear silly, but not funny. Of course Aerin’s sense of humor wasn’t exactly very developed to begin with anyhow.

Elle slowly stepped out from behind the tree, looking harshly at Ral for a moment before she stepped over the elk again, getting up close to the shifter. Her chest was nearly touching his as she stood inches from him.

“It isn’t nice to laugh at others.” She stated flatly. She would have poked him in the chest for emphasis, but her hands were smeared with elk blood and she’d get it on his clothes. That would be rude. She turned quickly and walked back to her kill, once more kneeling to finish carving up the elk. “Nor is it nice to tease.” She added. She hated the bad kind of teasing the most. Playful teasing was fine, but the bad kind…well it was that kind of teasing that made Aerin’s childhood, the rest he spent in blindness anyways, miserable. She wouldn’t stand for it. Not from anyone, and not directed towards anyone.

[Deleted]

Ralimis stood his ground at her approach, half because he wasn't really afraid of the girl, and half because he knew there was a thorn bush right behind him. She smelled good, he noticed passed the smell of iron he knew was blood. He didn't know if it was her or anything she walked through while hunting, but he wasn't particular. He thought of asking, but it was off topic, and it didn't rightly matter as long as it was pleasing. 

The mage considered the girl walking back to carve the animal and then took in her perspective. First, he inwardly balked at the fact that the girl, so promiscuous by his viewpoint, had been so offended at something as menial as teasing. Then he recalled what he had said. 

"Please," He fretted a little, "Please, my apology was sincere. Aelareith, as small as she is, occasionally tries to intimidate people when we first meet." He sighed and tapped on the tree he knew she was in. "funny enough that it finally happened is all..."

 "I agree, it isn't nice to tease, I was raised well enough to know that," Desperate to change the subject, and not wanting to raise anymore ire over his discourse, he continued, "I was also raised to get the name of a lady to whom I speak, and I apologize for not getting that as well, miss..." he gave the inquiry all the hope he could muster and waited for her ruling on the apology.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle said nothing as the shifter behind her explained that his demon pet tried to intimidate people from time to time, and seemed to find humor in the situation. Her frowned deepened just a bit more as she removed another chunk of meat and placed it on the pelt with the rest. She stopped to look over the deer, halfway properly carved up at this point. Ralimis continued to speak, mentioning he was raised to get a lady’s name, obviously hoping to get her name as well as steer the conversation to more pleasant avenues. Elle personally found it amusing he called her a lady. Not many did, considering her wardrobe.

Fortunately for Ralimis Elle wasn’t the type to hold grudges, not against minor offenses of his kind anyways. She stood and turned, walking over to the stream and she rinsed the blood from her hands.

“Luella Vaettir. But everyone calls me Elle.” She replied, turning and coming back to her kill and her knife. She pulled out a rag and began to clean the knife, making sure all blood was off it before she would re-sheath it. She slipped the knife back into its place and began to fold the deer pelt over her meat.

“And I accept your apology. I don’t like it when people laugh at others in a bad way is all. People did it too often to my brother. Mostly I rewarded them with a broken nose.” She looked at Ralimis. “But since you teased me and not my brother, you get off with a light scolding.” She smirked before she looked back to the fur, which was now neatly wrapped around the meat. She tucked the package into her leather bag. “Would you like the other half of this deer meat? I can’t really drag this big boy home by myself, and I have more than enough food for myself and Aerin. You can still have some meat for that little adventure if you’d like.” She offered, smiling up at Ralimis.

[Deleted]

At the acceptance of the apology, Ralimis let out a small breath he realized he'd been holding. He was a strong believer in a particular saying about a woman scorned. He wasn't so sure how angry she had actually been, but she had seemed adamant enough in her words to fluster him. It was for this reason he was even more confused at the kindness she then showed towards him. 

The mage watched her through the pine and leaves in Aela's path. It was true, her kill had been a large one. The size wouldn't have mattered to the shape changer, but the slender elf, though fit, would take up most of the day bringing it even a few miles.

"Your offer is gracious, you take the most choice meat and I will gladly accept." The nomadic group of shifters he had grown with had few rules, but whenever a hunt was accomplished, the hunter would have first claim on the best meat.

Ralimis gave a small laugh, and sighed. "Now the small matter of actually surviving that adventure." He shook his head, and brushed aside the doubts. He was resolute in finding his way to and from the ruins.

"If I may ask though," Elle's mention of her brother reminded him of something that was glazed over by the excitement, and he was nothing if not a curious mage, "You mentioned your brother... Aerin. He is the one you accused of summoning me?" he said, smiling at the thought.

"I would be interested in meeting him. I mean, you did say I have his eyes." his face shown clear mirth, "If nothing else, from the accusation it sounds like he knows how to have fun."

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle smiled as the shifter accepted her offer. They were officially back on good terms. Or whatever positive terms they were on, considering they were both still strangers to each other. Not that Elle would hate Ralimis for teasing her. She just wanted the apology, and she would probably have been stiff towards him until she got one. She supposed most people would find her childish in the way she reacted when people teased others, but then again they never had a crippled brother who was beaten up because of his limp. Children were cruel creatures. Elle would never have any if she could help it. Her mother threw a fit when Elle revealed this truth, but was quickly subdued when Aerin expressed he wouldn’t mind having children. Of course one needed to actually sleep with others to reproduce, something Aerin never did, but Elle wouldn’t judge. Her mother and father patiently waited for Aerin to find the right girl. Elle started wondering if Aerin even liked girls.

“No worries, I already took the best meat.” She replied, patting her leather bag before taking a few steps closer to the stream. With a gentle flick of her wrist some water rose in a long smooth line from the stream. She manipulated the water closer to herself, where it collected itself into an orb. “I just want the antlers too.” She said, walking up to the elk again. She raised her arm, the orb of water flattening and elongating, before she brought her hand down, the water whipping through the air quickly and slicing the antlers off cleanly. Had Elle planned to sell the antlers she would have either cut at the top of the elk’s skull or taking the head completely. But she planned on giving this rack to Aerin. It was really impressive enough to sell. Since Aerin would be taking it she could cut into the antlers themselves, since her twin ground them down to powder. She picked up the antlers and hooked them onto her bag.

She turned to look at Ralimis as he mentioned her brother and expressed interest in meeting the male elf. She blinked, tilting her head as the shifter finished by saying that Aerin sounded like he knew how to have fun, and Elle’s reply was simple laughter.

“Aerin? Have fun? Hardly. You’d never catch him outside of his room if it weren’t for me. Unless you find learning useless facts all day fun, then maybe you two would have a riot.” She said. “He isn’t the social type. But I suppose you could meet him. You both do seem to have a lot in common. Both blind, both like wearing loose clothing by the looks, both have weird…pets.” She said, looking up at the trees, as if Aela would jump out of the trees at her.

“If you really want to meet him, he is opening a potions shop in town. Just go there. It won’t be hard to figure out who he is. We’re twins, so look for a male version of me.” She said, as if a blind elf wasn’t peculiar enough to identify Aerin. “So the fact that he summons things is what attracts your attention, right? Are you a magic user?” She asked.