THE HIKE

[revulsion]

The woods are lovely this time of year.



[NAVIGATION:
IC Hiking | Hunting | Well | Cat
OOC Plot Organization | Thursday Update

A post for the hiking group. Socialize, play, hunt, admire the natural world, whatever you'd like, and then discover Paradisa's new little hellion. Go wild, make some new CR!]

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HIKING

[revulsion]

It's hard to tell what season it is –– it's not summer, yet Paradisa has not pulled the page over to autumn yet –– but despite the seeming unsureness of the weather, Paradisa never fails to be beautiful. Tall trees that reach to the sky, the cool dirt of the forest floor. It's just chilly enough to need a jacket, but fair enough that one could go unzipped if they'd like. There are birds in the trees, quick sparrows over the dark earth, and the skies whisper rain but show no sign of clouds. A strange combination, but scenic.

And in these woods, there are hikers: residents living yet another immortal day, but taking the opportunity to do something other than wait the hours away.

[assassino]

[Where would Ezio be, if not on a hiking trip full of pretty young women?

Alright, truth be told, most of these girls are underage and look it, so he's not there to be a creep or anything. He just wants to get out of the castle for a bit, and while he'd normally avoid a lumbering herd, maybe he has to try new things. He's been giving what Molotov has told him over the past few months some hard thought.

So he's going to have fun, getting to know these charming young ladies!]

[persequor]

[ Neither charming or a lady, sorry, Ezio. ]

Who are you?

[magicalwright]

Hello! Are you coming hiking too?

[hedonic]

[ Ignoring the crap out of him which is probably better for everyone! But at least there are a couple capable warriors along for the ride just in case something else attacks... ]

[cyan_maid]

[While hiking would be much better suited to her dear friend Jake, that doesn't mean Jane isn't one hell of a trooper about it! Besides, who wouldn't enjoy such a beautiful day?

In her backpack is plenty of cranberry-almond granola that she is more than willing to share if you ask, and she'll gladly chat with whoever asks.]

[persequor]

[ Nymeria can smell the treats and she approaches to poke her nose at Jane's backpack. She's only a four-foot-tall wolf-like creature. Nothing to be concerned about really. ]

[magicalwright]

We're pretty lucky with the weather, aren't we? [ When in doubt, talk weather! ]

Seems like we're being treated to it to make up for the whole "pony" thing.

[not_mafia]

[Well... Tsuna's found himself along for the ride. He wasn't really sure if he wanted to go at first-- honestly, he was just testing to see where Arya and him stood-- but then he got it into his head that he needed to prove himself, and, well.

This is the result.

But he doesn't mind getting away from the castle, either. Especially after those nightmares, he appreciates the distance from their not-so-benevolent captor.]

[persequor]

[ Can you feel the eyes boring into the back of your head? Can you? ]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Oh, hey! [She... Mostly remembers him. It's been a while. She'll rush over with a grin regardless, and offer a small sack of nuts. She prepared a few.] Are you coming on the hike?

[wizard_redfive]

[Yes, it is ideal hiking weather. Then again, Paradisa almost always had lovely weather, so that's not much of a shock.

Dairine doesn't really have a reason to be out here. She's just wanted to get away from the castle for awhile, and a walk seemed the best way to do it. Strangely, she has no backpack or any weapons visible. What an unprepared hiker! ...Or is she.]

[hedonic]

[ And she's definitely going "unzipped", the barest of clothing and armor here and there, her weapons and buckler taking up more room than anything else. Oh yeah, and the snake.

Echidna's just following along hoping they might run into a good fight or some treasure again. Fun things always happen in groups around here~ ]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[Rapunzel is so very, very excited to be exploring beyond the castle. Into the woods; how exciting! She's made several sacks of nuts and will be passing them out to folks between bouncing around excitedly and pointing out EVERYTHING.]

HUNTING

[revulsion]

Paradisa has never been home to much in the way of animal life. Older residents may remember a time when the woods were entirely empty, like the castle hadn't given much thought to what lay beyond its own walls, but now animals seem to creep up on Paradisa unusually, appearing one day as if they'd always been there. Entire ecosystems springing from thin air, like flowers at the end of winter. Empty one day, thriving the next.

But here there are a few creatures! Deer, shy and sure-footed. Rabbits, careless of hiding but swift to flee at the sign of trouble. Birds flitting from tree to tree, the odd rustle in the underbrush that may be a snake or a mouse or a toad.

Some of the hikers came to hunt, after all.

HUNTING late but here!

[the_effect_she_has]

[And here's one of them now...]

[Katniss crouches low in the bushes, a little off from the rest of the group, because they're all making enough noise to scare bears away, much less rabbits. She sees a fat one though, and she draws her bow, then her arrow ... takes aim ...]

[Pffffft. Right through the eye. She grins, and goes to claim the first of her prey.]

WELL

[revulsion]

And there it is... a strange indication that people have been here, so far out from the castle. Has anyone seen this well before?

If they have, it certainly wouldn't have been for a long time. The well is old, long-abandoned, with plants growing over its mouth and the stones coming loose from their mortar. At least the winch seems to have survived well, and there's a rope still trailing into the well's opening. If the bucket is still present, it is still lowered within.

And from deep within there's a quiet meow, audible only by putting one's ear very close...

[persequor]

[ When Nymeria starts snarling, Arya knows to approach with caution. ]

Did people live around here before?

[ She tries getting closer, but Nymeria grabs her by the shirt and pulls her back and off her feet. Arya falls, her shirt riding up. ]

Nymeria!

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[Rapunzel stops a few feet from the well and tilt her head to the side, staring.]

Hey... Did you guys know about this?

[cyan_maid]

[Holy cow. What is this doing here? If Jane were a more imaginable child, she'd wonder if there were any abandoned cottages nearby as well, but as is she's just going to slow in her approach and eye the well curiously.]

What in the world...?

Re: WELL

[the_effect_she_has]

[She's got two or three rabbits attatched to her belt, by the time she approaches the others. They're already almost head-deep into the well, and she frowns, heading over.]

What are we looking at?

[A pause.]

... is that a cat? Why is Nymeria growling?

CAT

[revulsion]

They haul the bucket up.

As the bucket rises, there's something in it -- a drenched grey creature, sopping wet, and it stays in the bucket for only an instant before it leaps for the edge of the well and then down. It bounds away, into the woods like a bat out of hell, giving that feline shriek.

Not only were its front legs the color peachy flesh and seemingly deformed, but its wet paws have left prints on the edge of the well.

Hand prints.

But whatever it was, it's gone.

[magicalwright]

[ As the bucket rises, Trucy finds herself leaning over the edge of the well to try and get a better look. ]

Hey, there's something in there! [ Within a few seconds though, the... something has gone. The shriek startles her and causes her to step back, nearly falling over the rocky surface. ]

... Was... Was that a cat?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[Rapunzel's panting from shock, staring down at the handprints with wide eyes.]

That.... But.... What was that?

Re: CAT

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss - true to form - seems something odd about the cat and doesn't think twice. She hooks an arrow and sends it shooting after the beast ... but the cat's gone into the bushes.]

[Her eyes widening, she looks at the hand shaped marks on the well, and she stares.] ... the hell kind of mutt was that thing?