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 Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:34 pm
"Maybe. Maybe not." Capramel generally weren't solitary creatures, and as a prey animal they would know to stay within the herd for safety. He would have been able to see a herd from his perch, which led him to believe that this one must have been separated from the others for some time now.
Whatever had spooked it was either pursuing the herd, was Hargitt himself, or worse; was watching them. He tried not to think too much about the last option, both for his own sanity and that of his diminutive charge.
Hargitt held his bow in a downward facing position, arrow knocked and ready. His footsteps were audibly more silent than Ygraine's but he didn't blame her for that; she was likely thinking about all the same bad scenarios he was, without the same mental fortitude that came with experience. With time he could push it down, and he had to wonder if she could as well or if she was mentally panicking.
Her shout caused Hargitt to jump, and look wildly around him. What had she seen-? Damn! In all the chaos he hadn't heard the crunch, he'd been too focused on avoiding anymore wild arrows, and now the capramel was trying to run off! Cursing loudly now, Hargitt lifted his bow, aimed and let his arrow sail straight into the beast's side. The first wasn't enough to take it down; just enough to wound it further, but a quick follow up shot brought the beast down.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 9:51 pm
Some of the things flowing out of his mouth made Ygraine flush and clutch her bow. She was frozen where she was, watching him lope ahead, shooting his bow with casual ease. The accuracy of the shots wowed her, and for a moment, when the beast fell, she felt a thrill of amazement, gawking at the man's broad back in growing approval.
Of course, then the reminder came that she'd been the one to panic. Rubbing her thumb over the smooth wood of her bow, Ygraine ducked her head and toed at the pebbles along the path, following him at a distance to the fallen beast's side. She'd hunted before, but she had yet to get used to actually dealing with the thing... and seeing the animal there made her feel somewhat ashamed of her previous elation. "I... I'm sorry. Um... at least you got it... right?" She smiled and raised her shoulders, hopefully, but inwardly expected a scolding to come.
[9/10]
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:44 am
There had been a point in this trek where Hargitt feared losing the capramel all together. If he hadn't been as quick to react the hobbling, mess of a creature may have eluded them. Taking a deep breath, Hargitt moved forward, slinging his bow back across his shoulder as he went.
When he stooped down beside the beast he was pleased to see it was already dead. Sometimes his shots weren't enough to fell the creature entirely, and he would have to snap it's neck just to end it's misery. Thankfully he wouldn't have to do that today; he didn't think his charge could handle it. Hargitt pulled a dagger from his boot in preparation of field dressing the kill when her words caused him to sigh.
There really was no being angry with her, was there? Not really. Ygraine was a child; one who was trying to learn, so he couldn't fault her. If he hadn't been one of the older children in a family of nine he may not have had enough patience to teach, but...Hargitt just looked at her and gave a soft, 'what can I do?' sort of look.
"You got it. You found it; I just took it down." He turned the dagger to hand it to her, hilt first. "Come. We'll gut it first and then you can take it back to your family."
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:02 am
He sighed. Hoo boy, that wasn't good, was it? The girl bit her lip and leaned to the side, as if trying to peer at him and gauge his reaction, only to snap back into place when he turned to look at her. Then...
Wait, what? She opened her mouth to question his decision, only to looked down at the offered dagger. What was... Oh. Oh- oh no. No no no. Her grandmother and baba had tried getting her to do this bit for a long time, and in the end had grudgingly agreed that she could escape from the butchering part, if she agreed to help grandma Xansa cook it later. Blood was awful, but it wasn't the worst part - the worst part was the smell, the shiny bits inside, and the blast of heat when the cut was made and-- oh gods above, she felt sick.
She raised her hand and shook it infront of her, taking a step back. "You know I- I'm okay. Really. Um-- you can keep it!" Was she turning green now? Ygraine turned away from the dead creature and skittered away to the edge of the clearing, sitting on a rock, back turned to the beast. Maybe, in his view, she was leaving the hard work to him - but to her, it was enough just to tell her parents that she'd helped hunt something! It wasn't like Zena, where you needed the meat- this was a side trip!
And she absolutely did not want to gut it.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 11:47 am
Hargitt waited patiently, expectantly, for Ygraine to make her decision. He knew to look out for a nervous disposition, or even initial disgust, but Hargitt had honestly expected her to give it a go. The shift in hue against her skin was enough to let him know just how wrong his assumptions were. Maybe I was wrong; maybe she isn't cut out for this.
Leaning back on his haunches, Hargitt let his arm fall and rest against his thigh. His brows furrowed as he watched Ygraine flee the scene. Had he acted the same way when he had been that young? Surely not; his parents wouldn't have stood for it. His mother's no nonsense lifestyle would have meant he would have done all the work himself just to teach him a lesson. Hargitt wouldn't do that to Ygraine; no, he would do the 'unpleasant' parts himself.
It didn't bother him. Rather, at this stage in his life the repetitive nature of it all was rather calming, and he would likely keep several organs to be cooked later. And when later came, once he was done with his work, he would lead her back to the village to her parents.
But that, again, was later, and right now he had a capramel to dress.
(fin)
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