paradisa | Hunting Party [ Dictated ]

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vanyel ashkevron

Hunting Party [ Dictated ]

Good day, all.

Recently, I took one of our young residents out and taught him something of hunting and tracking - or at least what I know. I thought I would extend an opportunity for more to join on another excursion, if there are others interested.

I figure that the more all of us know of useful skills, the better, so we can all respond better to the things the Castle throw at us. It does not hurt, correct?

I think it best to meet two hours after dawn at the stables on a decided day - fresher tracks for the teaching.

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I will be happy to assist.

I would much appreciate the help, Connor. I think you might be more adapt than I, so no doubt you could teach me a thing or two as well.

[Demurring] I have simply had much practice. What techniques do you use?

Basics, mostly. Enough that I can follow prints reliably and pick out what general animal they belong to, set traps, and occasionally shoot an arrow for my dinner. I don't have to do it to often in Valdemar, but now and then I've had to when the villages are far and between or the weather is poor and laid me up.

That is more than some.

Well, the Collegium is not fond of sending out Heralds ill prepared, even with rations as back-ups.

I think perhaps you are underestimating your own skill, then. But I will still be glad to assist you.

Who is it that you helped?

A young boy called Aaron. I managed to make a riding lesson part of it too.

A useful skill to include.

I myself have not been riding in some time. Perhaps I should remedy this.

Yfandes and I are always glad for the company, and it would be a help. The horses could use more exercise than just the paddocks.

Of course. Are you there now?

At the stables? I am on the way, so I could meet you there if you like.

I will be there shortly, then.

I will be on the look out for you.

_{[ That done, he continues on his way and into the stables. Yfandes
steps out of her always open stall to greet him and to be groomed for the
day, having heard the conversation between the two men thanks to Vanyel's
link with her. Connor would likely find Vanyel working on her mane or
hooves when he arrived. ]}

[Connor had been outside already, so it doesn't take him very long to come round the stables. He has his hood up out of habit, but pushes it back down over his shoulders once he enters the stables.]

It is good to see not so much has changed in this place. [He hadn't been to the stables in some months, and with how volatile the castle seems to be nowadays, one can never be certain.]

_{[ Yfandes' ears swiveled forward and she snorted in the direction of
the young man, but did not seem otherwise concerned with is presence.}

Vanyel put her hoof down and tapped the brush against the side of the stall to clear it off detritus. ]

Well, it is a stable. Not very much one can change about it, I think. Good to see you again, Connor.

I am not so certain that stables look like this in the future, judging by how foreign the kitchen is. [Maybe everything in the future is shiny and metal, he doesn't know.]

I am glad to see you as well. How are you?

_{[ Well, he hopes not. There's nothing quite like the smell of wood and
hay and the natural horse to set him at ease. ]}

Oh, well, enjoying married life as it were. Finding myself slipping into a teacher roll without realizing it.

_{[ He laughed at that one and set his grooming tools aside, clearly not
concerned with Yfandes' stall being open as he stepped more fully out of
it. ]}

Do you already have a horse you like to ride here, or shall I help you pick?

It is always important to stay busy, I think, particularly in this world.

[At the question, he glances down the line of the stalls.]

Not as such. I have not ridden in some time. I would prefer not to take one of the horses that belongs to someone else, if you know which are unowned.

Well, most of the owners are gone now, I think. At the least, I have not had anyone complain that I care for them.

_{[ There is a pause as he looks to Yfandes, who nods her head a bit
down the hall. ]}

I think I might have someone for you then. Friskier than the older mares, but not to much of a handful.

_{[ He walked down and took off a halter from a hook on the door and
slid it open, disappearing inside. He came out shortly with a fair sized
roan, a star on his forehead and four knee high socks. He secured him in
the cross-ties and then stepped away. ]}

Here we are. I think he'll be a good match for you.

[Connor notices the way Vanyel deferred to his own horse, but elects not to say anything about it. Perhaps she is not what she seems.

Nodding, he approaches the selected steed, holding out his hand.]

I have noticed that animals stay, even if their owners leave this world. It's strange.

Well, personally, I think it is because these horses are of this world. There's no reason for them to need to leave. I would hope Yfandes would go back with me if I was ever to leave, because she is of my world.

_{[ He didn't know what he would do without her, after all. The white
mare nickered softly and came somewhat out of her stall, nuzzling Vanyel's
cheek and making the other man laugh, patting her neck. ]}

I'm going to start saddling Yfandes. Do you want me to pick out some pads and a saddle for you, or do you prefer bareback riding?

[He watched Yfandes curiously, thinking back to what Vanyel had said about her before. That she's as intelligent as a person. It's strange, but then again, there are so many things in this world that are the same. Strangeness upon strangeness.

He nods, stroking his own horse's neck.]

I am accustomed to saddle riding, yes.

Edited (words) 2014-07-22 22:22 (UTC)

_{[ He nodded and disappeared into the tack room. He brought out a
purple-blue looking saddle and bridle pair, setting them on a stand meant
for them and went back, bringing out a riding kit for Connor. ]}

There you are. Once you're saddled up we'll head out.

_{[ He smiled and went to saddle up Yfandes, though the bridle he
slipped over her head had no bit and was more like a halter with reins. No
Companion ever wore a bit, but then, no Companion needed such guidance and
would never let their rider fall if they could help it either. ]}

Haha, I am finding more and more riding partners these past few days. It's nice.

[Connor notes the bridle that Vanyel is using, brow furrowing somewhat. Then again, he supposes that if her intelligence is what Vanyel claims it to be, a normal bridle could be offensive to her. Strange to think about.

He moves to saddle his own horse, nodding.]

Perhaps the winter storm motivated some residents to, as they say, 'get out more.'

_{[ Offensive, yes, and unlike a normal horse, she would have fiercely
rejected that bit. It would never have gotten on her in the first place.
]}

Perhaps. Either way, I am glad for it.

_{[ He walks out with Yfandes to the sunshine and mounts up with the
grace of an experienced rider, loosely gripping the reins.}

He glances back at Connor and smiles. ]

Once they're warm, care to race?

_{[ It was a tad unfair - Yfandes was faster and had much more stamina
than a normal horse, but she was smart enough not to give that away so
quickly. Besides, some normal horses were faster than her, but only a few.
]}

Hunting, huh?

(Hunting isn't exactly something that Deb has ever done before but that's not to say that she wouldn't be interested. She'd been resting for a whole week now while her gunshot wound continues to heal and she can't sit around and do nothing)

What have you been using to hunt with?

I was trained to use mostly traps, but I can shoot a bow well enough to take down small game and I did manage a deer once or twice.

_{[ He was no expert to take on something like boar or bear, and he
certainly could not have mad a living off hunting either. But he was
competent enough not to starve, at least. ]}

Basically, enough to get me by when I needed it.

I take it there isn't any gun or ammo supplies around here then?

(Which is disappointing news. Not that she was planning on using her gun too often around here but it would be useful to have if the situation arose. Having it for self-defense is always useful.)

I've never used traps or a bow before...so fuck it, I'd be interested in learning. It's not like there's much else to do with my time around here.

If there are, I do not know of them. We do not have such weapons in my world, so I would not know how to use them or where one might get them now.

_{[ Sorry Debrah. ]}

But I am glad to add another student who is willing to learn. We do get up early though. It is the best time for looking at tracks, and then we can spend the later bit of the morning learning about the traps.

Fantastic...wait, you don't have guns where you're from? Seriously?

(That shouldn't really come as much of a surprise to Deb. It's not like the whole world supplies guns as readily as the US tends to, especially to it's law enforcement officers. Oh well, it's not the end of the world.)

I'm always willing to learn and getting up isn't a problem, I'm used to not sleeping much. It's an occupational hazard. Count me in. What kind of tracks do you find around this place then?

No. We have magic though.

_{[ It more than made up for it, in his opinion. ]}

Mostly small ones - rabbit, some deer, squirrel. Sometimes you can find bigger, but I think we shall avoid those for the time being.

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Hunting Party [ Dictated ]

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