KL Cole (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} kl_blackfury) wrote,@ 2007-05-21 22:48:00 |
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So, Pris, how much do you know about deer-hunting?
Bawn: Southern Forest(#3017RAJ)
Evergreen trees spread their overhead branches wide across the forest floor. Each tree limb interlinks with its neighbor, forming a thick overhead canopy of pine needles that leaves the forest floor dim even at noon. An apparent tenseness seems to permeate the air here, and there is a somewhat less than subtle feeling that perhaps something is watching. The behavior of the wildlife in the area betrays a certain wariness that suggests the presence of predators nearby.
The southern edge of the bawn is marked here by the railroad tracks which run from St. Claire and Kent's Crossing to the west, towards the mountains to the east.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is partly sunny. The temperature is 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from variable directions at 3 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.11 and rising, and the relative humidity is 71 percent. The dewpoint is 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius.)
The chill in the air is a tad more noticable up here in the tree, where Alesia has perched. She's climbed up, with her spear, and sits about 15 to 20 feet up, in the branches of a tree above a well used deer path. Her scent is that of the woods, it's all she's been doing for the last week, and she washes but only in the cold streams of bawn. She is playing the waiting game, well aware that here she can't stalk but hoping that she'll get her shot on a passing deer.
At first, it's kind of exciting. Every rustle could be a deer. Every rustle, however, isn't. Despite the windless conditions, there are still occasional movements of branches, and of smaller wildlife. After a while, though, it does get a little dull. It's probably a couple of hours now that Alesia has been in the tree, and there's still no sign of deer.
There was never an expectation of this being quick, and Alesia knows the deer use this path almost daily. The key is almost though and she's left sitting there eyeing the woods. She loses some of her edge for watching as she slips into a casual waiting, glad she picked a sitting posture that doesn't strain her muscles too much. She keeps her grip on the spear but it's resting on the branch next to her in part, easy to ready quickly but not actually tightly gripped. So all in all she's not quite as on guard after 2 hours or 3 hours than she was in the first 30 minutes. Still, she's not going to give up.
This is indeed a well-used path, and after what seems like an age, there comes the quiet sound of deer feet on the packed mud. Coming from the west, just visible now, are a small group of mature deer, possibly about five or so. The first in line is a large buck, and he's obscuring the ones behind. They're moving quite quickly - not running, but occasionally bounding forward, then walking a bit, then bounding again.
Alesia stays very still, only lightly adjusting her grip on the spear so that she'll be more ready to attack when the group passes below her. Her eyes study the buck first, because it's the one she can see the best. She tries to quickly count the points on the buck and see if it is the one she almost got the other day, if it has a scratch on it's haunch. Then she tries to gauge the other deer.
It's not the same one. No mark on the haunch. As it gets closer, it looks slightly smaller than that one. Behind are a couple of does, one followed by two fawns, the other by one. The fawns look very new-born. At the back, there's another deer - not clear whether it's a doe or a buck.
Alesia waits, deciding not to go after the lead buck, even if and when he gets in range. She waits... and waits, studying and trying to get a better look at the last deer, even though this means she may miss her shot at the head buck. She tries hard to remain motionless, quiet, not wanting to startle the passing herd of deer.
The buck passes beneath. The deer at the rear becomes clearer - it looks significantly older than any of the others, its hide more weathered and dark. It's uninjured, and not lame, but it is not as lively as the others.
Alesia tenses a tad more, and makes sure her grip on the spear is sure. She says a silent prayer to Gaia as she watches that older buck, hoping it comes close enough for her to drop down on it, full weight behind the spear is her plan. If it strays too far away then she may have to resort to throwing it but it'll be a mostly downward throw, so hopefully will have more strength behind it as well. She waits, patient as she keeps her gaze on that older buck.
The does pass beneath, and then the older buck comes closer. About ten yards away, it pauses, suddenly looking nervous, and takes a couple of paces backwards down the path. It's almost as if it senses something is wrong. The does freeze in place, the nervousness communicated to them.
Alesia freezes as well, ready to throw if it looks like the buck is about to turn to run, but hoping that the buck will relax. She even holds her breath for a bit, or just breaths shallowly, keeping her motion almost non-existant. Eyes glued to that elder buck, only noticing the does out of the corner of her eye for the moment.
The buck pauses, and then skitters sideways. For some reason, perhaps sensing Alesia's presence, he seems wary of her tree. After a few moments, the does clear the area, following the lead buck, seperating themselves from the older buck. He takes a couple of steps to follow them, and appears to think better of it, stopping again. He's still about ten yards away, though the movement has made the throw a little bit easier for Alesia.
The buck is too wary for Alesia. She's afraid he'll just bypass the tree completely, and then she'll have no shot at all. So... with a wish for her spear to hit its mark she steadies her aim, then throws the spear, pushing all her weight behind it. This will make her fall, but her years of acrobatics training make her confident she can manage to land on her feet, worrying about that only as a secondary thing, her primary thoughts on actually making the spear hit it's mark and sticking.
The spear flies through the air, a little lower and off centre. However, it strikes its target in the left forequarter. The blow is slightly glancing, but the tip rips through the muscle, launching a spray of blood onto the forest floor. The buck cries and takes off back down the path, though its stride is already affected by the damage. Alesia lands on her feet, OK, but the ground is uneven and she's off balance at first. The spear is lying on the floor, blood covering the head.
Alesia rushes in the direction that the buck headed in, past her spear planning on scooping it up as she runs. Her plan is to give immediate chase, after the injured animal, using its trail of blood and the hopefully slower pace to try to catch it on foot.
The trail is clear this time, and Alesia easily collects her spear. The buck has some life left in him, however, and he's already out of sight. Still, the trail is like a highway, and from the amount of blood scattered around, it seems likely that it can't go on that long.
Alesia is flushed with adrenaline and follows that trail of blood swiftly through the woods. She holds her spear slightly back so her body is leading the way. She has the thrill of the hunt rushing through her as she gives chase.
The trail seems to slow, and goes off the path and through much thicker woods. The blood flow doesn't appear to be letting up, and the buck is still easy to follow. It is, however, hard going now, the buck seeming to have taken cover where it would be more difficult for a predator to pursue him.
Alesia is probably thinner than the buck though so hopefully any path the buck could take so can Alesia. She pushes onward, not willing to let her prey get away, eager to land the killing blow if she can. She pushes onward, through the brush, still focusing on the blood trail as she runs.
The pursuit ends in a hurry. The buck is lying half in and half out of a bush. He's lying on his side, the bloody wound gaping, exposed to the air. When Alesia draws closer, he lifts his head and tries to pull himself on to his feet and escape. However, he's too weak, and he falls back down, before struggling into another attempt to rise.
There is no hesitation on Alesia's part, for to let the animal suffer would be cruel, and this is about the hunt, not torture. So she does take a moment to figure out the best way to strike, but then tries to quickly stab in with her spear, shooting for a neck shot if she can get it, if not going for the most vulnerable spot she can hit. She's not throwing the spear this time but thrusting it while holding on to the shaft.
The spear goes into the neck of the striken deer, and it starts, and then quivers, as its life-blood gushes out past the spear, spraying Alesia and falling in a pool onto the floor. It's seconds before the buck is dead, slumped on the floor at the Garou's feet.
Panting heavily and soaked in blood, Alesia stands there, peering at the now lifeless buck. She stands there motionless for what seems like forever, but really is less than a minute. Then she pulls the spear free, and glances around, to check her bearings and how far it would be from here to the sept compound.
It's probably about two miles to the Sept compound. Not so far, as the crow flies. The bloodflow from the deer is slowing, but there's still a lot in it. Steam slowly rises from the grass and the carcass.
Well, now that the hunt is done, Alesia has no problems leaving homid, for there's no way she'd be able to toss a big old buck like this over her shoulder and haul it two miles in Homid, so she shifts upwards to Crinos, and then picks the buck up by the rear legs, so the blood will drain downwards out through the neck. She holds it like this until the blood flow is down to just a dripping, not wanting to leave a blood trail from here to the sept compound after all.
A good plan, overall, and the buck is easily hoisted in this form. The blood drains out easily, though it seems to take forever. It somehow looks sad in this state, all floppy and like an empty bag.
Nightmares waits, more than willing to let the buck drain fully, then she'll put her spear over one shoulder and the buck over the other and start her way towards the sept compound.
Bawn: Southern Forest(#3017RAJ)
Evergreen trees spread their overhead branches wide across the forest floor. Each tree limb interlinks with its neighbor, forming a thick overhead canopy of pine needles that leaves the forest floor dim even at noon. An apparent tenseness seems to permeate the air here, and there is a somewhat less than subtle feeling that perhaps something is watching. The behavior of the wildlife in the area betrays a certain wariness that suggests the presence of predators nearby.
The southern edge of the bawn is marked here by the railroad tracks which run from St. Claire and Kent's Crossing to the west, towards the mountains to the east.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is partly sunny. The temperature is 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from variable directions at 3 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.11 and rising, and the relative humidity is 71 percent. The dewpoint is 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius.)
The chill in the air is a tad more noticable up here in the tree, where Alesia has perched. She's climbed up, with her spear, and sits about 15 to 20 feet up, in the branches of a tree above a well used deer path. Her scent is that of the woods, it's all she's been doing for the last week, and she washes but only in the cold streams of bawn. She is playing the waiting game, well aware that here she can't stalk but hoping that she'll get her shot on a passing deer.
At first, it's kind of exciting. Every rustle could be a deer. Every rustle, however, isn't. Despite the windless conditions, there are still occasional movements of branches, and of smaller wildlife. After a while, though, it does get a little dull. It's probably a couple of hours now that Alesia has been in the tree, and there's still no sign of deer.
There was never an expectation of this being quick, and Alesia knows the deer use this path almost daily. The key is almost though and she's left sitting there eyeing the woods. She loses some of her edge for watching as she slips into a casual waiting, glad she picked a sitting posture that doesn't strain her muscles too much. She keeps her grip on the spear but it's resting on the branch next to her in part, easy to ready quickly but not actually tightly gripped. So all in all she's not quite as on guard after 2 hours or 3 hours than she was in the first 30 minutes. Still, she's not going to give up.
This is indeed a well-used path, and after what seems like an age, there comes the quiet sound of deer feet on the packed mud. Coming from the west, just visible now, are a small group of mature deer, possibly about five or so. The first in line is a large buck, and he's obscuring the ones behind. They're moving quite quickly - not running, but occasionally bounding forward, then walking a bit, then bounding again.
Alesia stays very still, only lightly adjusting her grip on the spear so that she'll be more ready to attack when the group passes below her. Her eyes study the buck first, because it's the one she can see the best. She tries to quickly count the points on the buck and see if it is the one she almost got the other day, if it has a scratch on it's haunch. Then she tries to gauge the other deer.
It's not the same one. No mark on the haunch. As it gets closer, it looks slightly smaller than that one. Behind are a couple of does, one followed by two fawns, the other by one. The fawns look very new-born. At the back, there's another deer - not clear whether it's a doe or a buck.
Alesia waits, deciding not to go after the lead buck, even if and when he gets in range. She waits... and waits, studying and trying to get a better look at the last deer, even though this means she may miss her shot at the head buck. She tries hard to remain motionless, quiet, not wanting to startle the passing herd of deer.
The buck passes beneath. The deer at the rear becomes clearer - it looks significantly older than any of the others, its hide more weathered and dark. It's uninjured, and not lame, but it is not as lively as the others.
Alesia tenses a tad more, and makes sure her grip on the spear is sure. She says a silent prayer to Gaia as she watches that older buck, hoping it comes close enough for her to drop down on it, full weight behind the spear is her plan. If it strays too far away then she may have to resort to throwing it but it'll be a mostly downward throw, so hopefully will have more strength behind it as well. She waits, patient as she keeps her gaze on that older buck.
The does pass beneath, and then the older buck comes closer. About ten yards away, it pauses, suddenly looking nervous, and takes a couple of paces backwards down the path. It's almost as if it senses something is wrong. The does freeze in place, the nervousness communicated to them.
Alesia freezes as well, ready to throw if it looks like the buck is about to turn to run, but hoping that the buck will relax. She even holds her breath for a bit, or just breaths shallowly, keeping her motion almost non-existant. Eyes glued to that elder buck, only noticing the does out of the corner of her eye for the moment.
The buck pauses, and then skitters sideways. For some reason, perhaps sensing Alesia's presence, he seems wary of her tree. After a few moments, the does clear the area, following the lead buck, seperating themselves from the older buck. He takes a couple of steps to follow them, and appears to think better of it, stopping again. He's still about ten yards away, though the movement has made the throw a little bit easier for Alesia.
The buck is too wary for Alesia. She's afraid he'll just bypass the tree completely, and then she'll have no shot at all. So... with a wish for her spear to hit its mark she steadies her aim, then throws the spear, pushing all her weight behind it. This will make her fall, but her years of acrobatics training make her confident she can manage to land on her feet, worrying about that only as a secondary thing, her primary thoughts on actually making the spear hit it's mark and sticking.
The spear flies through the air, a little lower and off centre. However, it strikes its target in the left forequarter. The blow is slightly glancing, but the tip rips through the muscle, launching a spray of blood onto the forest floor. The buck cries and takes off back down the path, though its stride is already affected by the damage. Alesia lands on her feet, OK, but the ground is uneven and she's off balance at first. The spear is lying on the floor, blood covering the head.
Alesia rushes in the direction that the buck headed in, past her spear planning on scooping it up as she runs. Her plan is to give immediate chase, after the injured animal, using its trail of blood and the hopefully slower pace to try to catch it on foot.
The trail is clear this time, and Alesia easily collects her spear. The buck has some life left in him, however, and he's already out of sight. Still, the trail is like a highway, and from the amount of blood scattered around, it seems likely that it can't go on that long.
Alesia is flushed with adrenaline and follows that trail of blood swiftly through the woods. She holds her spear slightly back so her body is leading the way. She has the thrill of the hunt rushing through her as she gives chase.
The trail seems to slow, and goes off the path and through much thicker woods. The blood flow doesn't appear to be letting up, and the buck is still easy to follow. It is, however, hard going now, the buck seeming to have taken cover where it would be more difficult for a predator to pursue him.
Alesia is probably thinner than the buck though so hopefully any path the buck could take so can Alesia. She pushes onward, not willing to let her prey get away, eager to land the killing blow if she can. She pushes onward, through the brush, still focusing on the blood trail as she runs.
The pursuit ends in a hurry. The buck is lying half in and half out of a bush. He's lying on his side, the bloody wound gaping, exposed to the air. When Alesia draws closer, he lifts his head and tries to pull himself on to his feet and escape. However, he's too weak, and he falls back down, before struggling into another attempt to rise.
There is no hesitation on Alesia's part, for to let the animal suffer would be cruel, and this is about the hunt, not torture. So she does take a moment to figure out the best way to strike, but then tries to quickly stab in with her spear, shooting for a neck shot if she can get it, if not going for the most vulnerable spot she can hit. She's not throwing the spear this time but thrusting it while holding on to the shaft.
The spear goes into the neck of the striken deer, and it starts, and then quivers, as its life-blood gushes out past the spear, spraying Alesia and falling in a pool onto the floor. It's seconds before the buck is dead, slumped on the floor at the Garou's feet.
Panting heavily and soaked in blood, Alesia stands there, peering at the now lifeless buck. She stands there motionless for what seems like forever, but really is less than a minute. Then she pulls the spear free, and glances around, to check her bearings and how far it would be from here to the sept compound.
It's probably about two miles to the Sept compound. Not so far, as the crow flies. The bloodflow from the deer is slowing, but there's still a lot in it. Steam slowly rises from the grass and the carcass.
Well, now that the hunt is done, Alesia has no problems leaving homid, for there's no way she'd be able to toss a big old buck like this over her shoulder and haul it two miles in Homid, so she shifts upwards to Crinos, and then picks the buck up by the rear legs, so the blood will drain downwards out through the neck. She holds it like this until the blood flow is down to just a dripping, not wanting to leave a blood trail from here to the sept compound after all.
A good plan, overall, and the buck is easily hoisted in this form. The blood drains out easily, though it seems to take forever. It somehow looks sad in this state, all floppy and like an empty bag.
Nightmares waits, more than willing to let the buck drain fully, then she'll put her spear over one shoulder and the buck over the other and start her way towards the sept compound.
