who_is_the_hunted [Curious Coeurlian RP Repository]

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====== Who is the Hunted - 10/17/20 ======

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra bag was packed, she was in something that Viviana never seen before. Sitting on a stool near the entrance, playing with the simple bow.

"I do not understand, why are you doing this again?" the lalafell said to Astra.

"Hunting for a sacrifice for the god I worshipped for 90 some odd summers?"Astra said checking over her belongs, adjusting the her attire before walking over to Viviana,"When I went to study the stars, things changed, but this tradition never. I may view the twelve in a different manner but you cannot break something I practiced for so long over night. Anyways, the hides and meat can be broken down for other purposes."

"Oh, joy a murderous Viera running through the woods hunting deer to sacrifice to a god I do not know about. Who would think a blood thirsty bunny would be their problem?"Viviana just stared at Astra for a moment. Then pulled bow and made a pew pew sound.

"If all goes well, maybe I can contact Blue and Tretesta before heading back. I believe they said they lived around there, tending to chocobos."Astra grew annoyed with Viviana, taking her bow and placing it over her body.

"I will be here, tending to the needs of the house... which is BIGGER now. We need to talk about that when you get back! Bigger should mean more gil!"Viviana hopped down and made her way into the kitchen before yelling,"Bye murder bunny."

With a sigh Astra left her estate, and made her to Ul'dah for a airship ride to Gridania, after checking into the Inn, she spent sometime looking over the foresty city, admiring it for its charm, it was not like Golmore Jungle, but it had something about it. Napping before the fall of the evening, Astra pulled out a couple things, another bag for her hunt, the bow and arrows, finally the double heeled clawed shoes. She ventured out into the shroud.

Out of sight of the city she took to an area, making quick work in the moonlight. First, she found some damp soil to rub into her clothes, the scent of Astra muddled out. She ventured into the wilderness. She saw creatures of strange, but her quiet approach was unnoticed. Deep surrounded by woods and only the sounds a stream near by, she switched her footwear, and climbed a tree, watching a group of doe near by. Finding a lean stag with in the cluster, she took the shot.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue had been residing throughout the relative safety of the Shroud these past few days, perpetually musing over prior events and finding comfort in the woods and its creatures. Having taken a break from the stables, the shapeshifter found companionship in the surrounding wildlife, of late a herd of deer that had taken refuge just outside the perimeter of what the blue-haired duo considered their territory.

There was something about the herd that gave Blue a sense of tranquility. They weren't any different from those that normally roamed the forest, yet the woman found herself attached to them regardless. Perhaps it was the fact that they hadn't darted off when she'd drawn closer, or how they merely observed when Blue changed into a form much like their own- not of the herd, but welcome all the same. They didn't speak  but they also didn't demand anything from her- they were simply friends.

The deer that was Blue rested near the herd, her form that of a doe-  pure white in color save for flecks of brown and gray along her hide, a long tail that ended in a thick tuft of gray fur. As with all of her forms, the blue face markings that circled her eyes remained intact, gently pulsing in vibrance and hue.

She'd just settled down, tucking her legs underneath her as her watchful gaze swept from the group of deer to the surrounding woods. She wanted to protect them, so it came as a surprise when from out of nowhere, an arrow flew straight towards a majestic-looking stag at the very center of the pack. Blue's eyes widened in surprise, reacting too late to the surrounding chaos that  immediately ensued.

There came a shrill scream from the stag as the arrow struck it in the side, rearing back on it's hind legs before darting off into the woods, blood spilling from its wound. The surrounding does acted as one, crying and screaming as they leapt and darted and danced after their leader, leaving an unprepared Blue in the midst of the thicket, hesitating in her own movements.

Unlike the panicked beasts, the shapeshifter glanced up at the canopy from where the arrow had been shot before screaming out at the hidden aggressor angrily, pawing at the dirt with a hoof as if daring the hunter to approach proper. Another scream and she launched herself in the opposite direction of the herd, hoping to draw the hunter's attention away from their target. Come hunt the strangely marked one instead, follow me, give the rest time to flee.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

Astra smiled beneath the mask as she landed the shot, as expected, chaos as the panicked beast fluttered. She began to follow toward the pack by jumping from branch to branch, but she stopped dead in her tracks, noticing a blue tinted deer. Her eyes fixed on the pack and back to the strange deer. Taking a brief moment while she study the doe.  She knew something was not right with this, she felt it in her core. She pulled another arrow and let this one flying to test the deer.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue was already running off, but she knew she was tempting to the hunter. This wasn't the first time the shapeshifter had been caught up in the sights of some hunter or poacher in the Shroud- nor would it be the last. Though she couldn't see the second arrow taking flight, she concentrated her hearing behind her, waiting for that familiar sound of the wind coursing around pointed projectile. Just before it had the chance to strike her as she ran, the doe leapt to the far side of her path, letting it whizz by unsuccessfully. She'd stop and look back to where she assumed  the huntress to be, as if saying, 'Surely you can do better than that?'

At any other time when hunters or poachers marred the sanctity of the Shroud, Blue would have simply led them past a copse of trees and changed into a much fouler beast to attack and ward them from drawing closer.

Currently though, her headspace wasn't quite in the same place as before, biting back fears of discovery should she take such a foolhardy chance. No, here and now, Blue was simply a deer, must remain a deer, and to scare this hunter off, the shapeshifter would have to lead her deeper into Kerberion territory. With another sharp cry, the doe began hopping off again, listening out for the huntress with the careful flick of her ears.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra was not amused by whatever this doe was, assuming it to be an illusion. She began her chase after the stag disregarding the doe completely. Jumping and flipping from branch to branch. Dropping down, finding droplets of blood sniffing it before leaving the unknown creature behind her.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue was not having this. If the hunter was so interested in the stag, then the doe would get immediately involved herself. She twisted around from the path she sought to take listening and following after the hunter rather blindly, at least up until she dropped down from the treetops to sniff the blood. To which Blue would race after her, lower her head, and butt the woman rather unceremoniously in the back.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra knocked forward, this was becoming more complicated. She looked over her shoulder to see that damn doe. It was not an illusion. "What in the twelve." She then rolled away, looking back in the direction of the drips of blood lead too, she had her direction, but she needed deal with this first. Grabbing an arrow, nine of twelve left, she rubbed the tip causing it to glow. Hopefully this would blind the doe, and she could get back to what was needed to be done. She aimed it at the ground, and when it made contact it burst into a wave of light, seen for miles away. Using this, taking a leap back into the trees, digging in the clawed heels to climb better.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Whatever this deer was, she was much more clever than the Viera thought. While Blue couldn't say she knew what the strange glow in the arrow tip was, the fact that the hunter pointed it down to the ground promised there to be an effect of some kind rather than something too dangerous. The deer took a chance and simply closed her eyes, just in time before the brightness would have flooded her field of vision.

While it did the trick of partially delaying the doe, her ears were unhindered, flicking as she could hear the woman dig into the bark of the tree with the scrape of her heels. Blue squinted her eyes, made a guess, and pranced on over to the tree the huntress had grabbed. And in yet another un-doelike fashion, she'd leap up and attempt to bite at the Viera's fancy footwear to bring her back down to the ground floor.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

Astra was growing annoyed, whatever this doe was, it was not a doe, her kicks continued to seem unaffected. She swore not to use the her celestial connect while hunting, but this was getting annoying. She let herself drop from the tree thinking she would land on the doe, and wrestle it down to the ground, but she hit the ground in a OUMPH. Stars filled Astra's vision... STARS, it had to be a sign by the twelves giving her the blessing to use her connection on the hunt. It was for her own safety. Astra opened he connection allowing the celestial aether to flow through her body.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue released her hold on the fancy footwear as the bunny fell to the ground with a rather loud OOUMPH. She watched the Viera for a moment, thinking to herself that she hadn't seen many of her kind hunting in the Shroud before. This one would be the first.

Still, the doe showed the slightest bit of concern as the bunny just lay there prone for a while. While the huntress opened up her connection to the stars, Blue sidled up closer and just started licking the Viera's dirt-covered cheek with her long, dhamel-like tongue.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

||Some malms away, near bentbranch meadows, someone had noticed a flash of light and swore under their breath||

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra gets licked by the doe, in a gross recoil, a beam of light formed from her palm, opening her eyes, the same sparkle that surrounded them shined. In a moment everything was quiet, then the explosion. Trying to use this moment as it went off, Astra wiggled from under, and ran after the stag AGAIN.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

The explosion was unavoidable what with Blue being so close. It would almost be a bit of comic relief, her tongue stuck out, eyes wide with surprise when the explosion happened. The huntress would be able to squirm underneath the doe rather easily as the poor dear was knocked back from the blast. Somehow she managed to stay on her feet however, skidding to a rough stop, alabaster fur singed and burned, though it didn't seem like any severe damage had happened. Certainly not enough for the Shapeshifter to stop her attempts.

In fact, with a stubborn bleating cry, Blue would lower her head and attempt to ram the huntress in the back again! This time however, as an afterthought, she'd attempt to chomp around the woman's remaining arrows in retaliation. No more arrows meant no more shooty.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra pulls back on the quiver, as the doe pulls on it. The doe not letting go. She pulled harder, but tried to be cheeky and smack the beast, only to miss. She pulled hard enough to rip the quiver, leaving part of it in the does mouth, and the rest in her hands.
"What.. do you want!? Right. It just a beast, it cant talk." She full dove and tackled the doe, her annoyance at this point was giving her a headache.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue was seeing this more as a game of tug of war it seemed, with the quiver acting as the rope that was unfortunately getting pulled apart with a satisfying snap. The doe wagged her tail happily as she cronched on her end of the quiver once before spitting it on the floor.

Unfortunately this little motion gave the huntress plenty of opportunity to tackle the deer over completely, Blue screaming out in protest as she was pushed to the ground. And yet this beast didn't panic in the dirt, instead aiming her forehead straight for Astra's head with a firm BONK.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Wrapping her legs around beast neck, she began to choke the beast out. She had to finish this, and this thing, this creature was being a nuisance. "GO TO SLEEP"

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue bleated as she was held in such a way, seeing scatterings of darkness flood her field of vision. Whoever this hunter was, they had a super strong hold on the doe! And yet, Blue stubbornly decided that if the woman was going to hold onto her so tightly and not attempt to restrain her powerful legs, then there was only one thing left to do.

With little warning, the doe attempts to lift up the still chokeholding Astra, rising back up onto her legs and beginning to stagger-prance off in the opposite direction from where the Viera wanted to go. Catch a ride on Blue express, choo choo.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

As soon as the doe began to run off, Astra released her body from it, falling and rolling. Notching three arrows she stood and aimed it at the beast."Fine, if you wont let me preform what needs to be done, then I have no choice." Pulling the arrows back, and releasing them toward the doe.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc> 

The first arrow just whizzed by the deer as she fled into the woods before realizing she'd lost her hunter, looking back just as  the other two arrows strike her.

The second of the arrows struck Blue in the shoulder as she twisted around to face the hunter, causing her to bleat in pain and temporarily lose her footing, colliding with the ground just as the third arrow grazed the doe's cheek. Any slower and the deer might have had an arrow in the eye.

And yet this creature is literally waiting for the huntress to draw closer and make her intent known. The stag had gotten one helluva headstart due to the actions of the shapeshifter. He could be tracked but no longer nearly as easily, and if he crossed water to lose the trail, there was nothing the huntress could do.

Meaaaanwhile there was this nuisance who clearly wanted to be hunted down. What were the stars gonna say to that?

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

Astra walked up to the wounded doe, placing the bow over her chest, and pulling her skinning knife from its sheath on her side. Giving up the hunt for the stag. Knife in one hand, busted quiver in the other. She sighed with a heavy heart.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue watched the huntress approach warily, a trickle of blood pooling down from her shoulder to the forest floor, ears perked up and eerily quiet as she listens to the signals and the motions of the Viera unsheathing her knife. She bleats passively, head hung low, non-reactive.

It would only be when the Viera drew too close for comfort that Blue reared her head back and summoned forth a massive loogie  the likes of which an Eorzean llama would envy, spitting in Astra's eyes and making a grab for the knife in one fell swoop.

Both motions wouldn't be terribly effective, rather a form of distraction more than anything else, but she hoped it would infuriate the Viera further as she launched herself up off the floor and made into the trees with a limping dash.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra beyond the point of annoyance, ripping the mask she had covering her face, she wiped the loogie off. Her knuckles white from the grip on the quiver. Losing her skinning knife would make the rest difficult. She walked away from the blue hair doe, and in a complete opposite direction of both where the doe stood, and where the pack went. She recalled hearing a stream near by, and headed that way. While walking away from doe. "Whatever you are, your illusion makes you pretty suspicious as far as what you are. Clearly you are not a wild animal. You do not act like one." before muttering to herself, "Probably one of the scholars who broken off and is playing a trick on me."

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

"Not too many scholars wandering about the Twelvewoods. Fewer that enjoy jokes." In the shadow of a tree along the path Astra took, what appeared to be a Chocobo Porter was leaned against the trunk. Or partially. The feathered mask was right, but this one wore a tank top with a blue shirt tied around his waist and pants padded around the knees, as opposed to the traditional bright yellow smock. The yellow helmet caught the light as it turned towards the passing huntress. Its dark, empty eyes stared deep into her soul. "Animals too quick for you today? Or perhaps... having trouble with the elementals, hunter?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

Astra dead pan looked at the new comer, the over her shoulder, and started laughing in hysterics, "Quite a pet you have there, better tend to her wounds before the become infected." The muddled accent was gone, replaced was that of a Sharlayan, laughing she walked right up to the man, then intended to walk past him. "Cursed woods."

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

The beaked helmet tipped to the side curiously as the bun went temporarily mad "Pet? I'm not sure what you mean. Something got hurt?" He reached up and revealed the passingly familiar face of Tret, concern across his features. "Cursed seems like the wrong word though. Protected perhaps. The Elementals can be ahhhh, how do you say... Tempermental? Maybe related to whatever that flash of light I saw was. Did you see anything like that?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

"The Blue doe..."Astra froze in her tracks, seeing Tretesta's face. "By the twelves, that was Blue?"

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Absolute confusion' was an apt description of the expression on Tret's face, and he looked back the way Astra came, stared hard, then turned back to the viera "...Blue? most if not all of the deer are blueish, like the antelope of the southern region. You... are you OK, hunter? You're acting...oddly. Laughing and then suddenly scared of deer? What happened?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

"Where is your Wife, Tretesta?" She looked him dead in the eyes. It was like a wave washed over the viera, and she was thinking clearly. Not about the ritual and the one mind set of getting this done and over with.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret scratched his chin, looked up at the sky towards the sun for a moment, and then replied "This time of day? I would guess either... Hold on." Tret dropped his helmet and drew steel, suddenly double armed with knives. With one pointed at the hunter, he changed tone "I'm not answering anymore questions of a mad woman before I get some answers of my own. How do you know me?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

"I hit her twice with my arrows, if she is the big playful doe, she is bleeding and ran off. She needs help." Astra looked back toward the way Blue went, and started running, avoiding the question. Throwing the quiver aside.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret would slowly stand back up as Astra ran off, throwing off hunting kit as she went. He wouldn't rush after her, however, ambling up to pick up the discarded quiver. After checking the contents with approval, he shouldered the arrow case and took his time to follow after, musing quietly to himself "Huh. The hell has she gotten herself into now. Hopefully she's gotten home at least... I almost hope this one doesn't die so I can ask my questions..."

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Blue was indeed making a valiant attempt at retracing her way back to the cabin, though quite effectively hindered by the wound at her shoulder. Between the pangs of pain and trying to remember where each trap lay, the doe was feeling dizzied with uncertainty. That copse of trees..between them should be a line...right? Either way, the doe stumbled on through, trying to get a proper bearing on her surroundings.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra found blue trail of blood, and followed it. The tracks grew staggered, and clumsy."Shit." she continued to track, knowing Tret was not far behind. "Blue" Astra yelled.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

As Astra tracked through the woods, a stick broke underfoot. Rustling her hair as it passed, a stone tipped spear shot across just behind her back, lodging itself deep in a nearby tree she has just passed

At the edge of the tree line where Astra had entered, Tret sighed, looking both ways down the path, and then cutting into the forest, leisurly making his way north and west of the route Astra had taken

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra full on stopped. Angry, this was not her evening. The sound of the spear lodging it self in a tree behind her. She turned in yelled."WHAT THE FUCK." Stood there waiting for Tret, when he approached, she pointed down at the ground, "Is this not her blood? These are the doe's track, why the fuck would the doe be coming this way? The tracks are labored and staggered. She hurt."

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Adjusting his new quiver and ammo on his shoulder, Tret kept his distance from the huntress as he approached from another angle. He kept a firm grip on one knife still, and watched Astra carefully "Still rambling like a madwoman. But you don't get answers right now. Stop. Let's walk back out, talk about why you know me, and then maybe we can discuss whatever else you want, neh? Do not go deeper."

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra did not move, instead, she waved her hands across her face, displaying familiar faces that they encounterd. A'erina, Luca, Gair which was a bit weird, before settling on her non-dirty Glamour face, with out any of her tribal markings. The same hair color as she had before, just not muddy, same ruby gem embedded into her forehead as before, "Does this answer your question?" before pulling the glamour from her, resorting back to the muddy unclean Viera. Rubbing her temples, and letting out a sigh. "I am not hunting, well I am, but I need a male sacrifice to a god, no one knows in these lands, for the fruit of my tribe in Golmore to produce a male offspring. Then that blue doe prevented me from acquiring this."

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

The doe perked up, seeming to hear her name being called in the far distance. She paused in her steps- how would they know...? Did this person know what Rina said?!? How would they know she was...Well now the shapeshifter was even more alarmed than she'd expected to be with this encounter. Now it was even more crucial to stay away.

Blue finally spotted a recognizable landmark- the stump of a tree grazed by a lightning strike. To the north but approach from the east, words from Tret echoing in her mind. Still, close to home..not much longer. Just had to hold out a bit longer.

And it couldn't come fast enough, as the threads began to tighten around Blue. She gasped and briefly wondered if she were a far enough distance away to change back before she was forced back. Ugh. Just a bit more. Hold out just a bit more.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 

Unflappable, Tret simply raised his brows during the little show, then smiled as the final face was offered "Astra! Huh, didn't recognize the accent before. You are a long way from... well maybe not, can't say I know where you live." He slowly approached, stowing his knife away, and taking an awkward step as he closed the distance "Ahhhhh, sure, sure. Blue doe ... Normally those don't get too far from the southern region, the scarred antelopes. Easy to mistake perhaps? Maybe one wandered out here and wanted to graze with the deer. Sounds like the Elementals intervened."

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra just looked Tret in the face. "Fine, I will humor this. Have you domesticate a doe? Have one as a pet? One that can think on its own? That doe is injured, and bleeding and went this way that has been set with traps." Astra rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to recall anything from her studies that would of indicated a familiar of such.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 

"Humor? I'm not sure what is funny about this, Astra. Birds. I tame birds." Tret's concern returned to his face and he looked about the forest floor "Wounded animals tend to run to where they are safest. If there are traps out here, she knows hunters don't. Or she is being guided by forces beyond our control."

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra rolled her eyes as she went back to examining the path and the tracks, deciding to follow them to the exactly to avoid anymore traps. Whatever this creature was, it was not wild, nor was it something common. She had to be coming close to the doe.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

"Hey. HEY. Stop right there! Don't I get any answers? Or have you just decided that I'm not worth your time out here? I don't know you, Astra, and here you are stalking about the woods, talking nonsense, and laughing like an insane person." A flat knife went whizzing past Astra's leg, jammed point first into the dirt in front of her. Having shrugged off the busted quiver, Tret rearmed himself with another knife. This one was held by the tip, and he stared at her back. "What was that flash of light out here, Astra? That's not any kind of hunting I've seen. Not a good kind, at least. What are you really doing in these woods?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

"I told you, I was hunting a stag, and when I hit it, a doe in the area full on attacked me."Astra was nearly yelling "And then she licked me, and spit a huge spit wad, oddly playful but still tried to distract me from what I came to this woods" letting out a sigh,"the wave of light was a aether star exploding into light in attempt for me to get away, anyways then you showed up."

Astra demonstrated with a very small orb of light, that looked like a couple stars rotating from her palm, before absorbing the energy back into her body.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret's voice faltered, and he relaxed behind her "You're hunting deer with... lights. Did... Did you hit your head?" He watched the little light show, then shook his head, crouching to pick up the quiver again and slowly approached her "...The blue deer live in the south, antelopes. We don't have any out this way, normally. You must realize how crazy all of this sounds, yes? I'm out here because I could see your little light show all the way from work. If i could see it, the Wailers also could, likely. Do you want this back?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

"The others were normal, tan, this one was blue. No, I don't need it back, my purposes in the woods is pointless, at least with this I can right a wrong and heal the poor beast and be on my way back to my tomes."Astra continued to tread through the path, the noticing an area, "Wailers?"examining the area,"The doe collapsed here, I didn't hurt her that bad, and a patch of fur there"pointing to some bark with blue fur.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>
 
Blue could make out a small cabin in the near distance. She didn't hear anything now- had the huntress been stopped or distracted? Either or, the shapeshifter wasn't in the condition to find out for herself. Looking around to make certain she was alone, she took the chance.

Scorched hide gave way to blue-tinted skin and dark scales while hooves softened and parted into fingers- that most immediately went towards the arrow that in spite of all the shifting remained stubbornly lodged in Blue's shoulder. If anything the woman had to stifle a pained squeal as it lodged deeper in as a result of the changing.

"Dammit.." She cursed under her breath and staggered to the front of the cabin. She didn't dare look to see if she'd been making a trail through all of this, just shoved the door open with all her strength and to the little space that made up their kitchen. She leaned against the counter, gasping, and reached for a rag. She'd never pulled an arrow out before...where was Tret? He'd know what to do..

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

"Like... Forest rangers? They act as guardians of the shroud. Deal with poachers, bandits, and the like. Oh, don't step that way. See the tripwire? Go around that oak" Tret gestured broadly at the path in front of Astra, then looked back over his shoulder "What about the stag? Is he running wounded as well, or did you kill him?"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Raised an eyebrow,"forest ranger? Wood wards?"stepping around the oak, then turning and looking back,"The doe prevented me from following chase, and if I did find it this evening then I must complete the ceremony of my people. There always be other stags, but male viera,"Astra voice trailed off, and sighed,"I don't know in recent years who was born, but over the 90 summers I spent there was only a handful of male kits born and of age less than that survives the trials in which they become wood wards. Its a tradition I should give up as I am an exile, but some things are harder to give up than others. Even when I studied with the other scholars I did this. No one paid any mind or noticed. They also didn't know I was a viera, the things we can do with illusion magic."Astra froze as the trail of blood lead up to a cabin, confusion crossed her face."Why would the doe be here?"

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

"Maybe the same thing, sure. They don't much like people out here hunting without permission from the seers. Very trigger happy to put down what they think might be poachers" Well...that was much faster than expected... Tret jogged up, skipping easily over the previously indicated wire to join Astra when she called out, looking on with her "...Would you look at that. Astra, do we really want to bother someone who lives this deep in the shroud and has set traps around their home? I don't know what it's like where you are from, but these are clear signs from someone that they are not friendly and not expecting visitors. You cannot just go beating down someone's door because a deer wandered this way. We need to turn back and let this be."

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc> 

Blue bit into the rag, preparing to snap off the shaft. Oh...this is gonna hurt. Thankfully it wasn't anywhere life-threatening..she thought to herself. Just a bit of distraction before SNAP. Muffled whines would ensue. Blue hastily dabbed around the wound with the first thing she could find- some of Tret's trademark moonshine.

"Not done yet.." She muffle-whispered into the rag, tensing up before tugging out the arrow with a yank and immediately dousing the open wound with yet more alcohol. The room was going to reek of liquor by the time Blue was through. She jammed some gauze into the wound and with a shudder, began wrapping it up in bandages, thankful that the duo always kept a bout of medical supplies handy for such situations.

She looked to the two pieces of arrow with a huff, and was just about to open the cabin door with her one good hand when she heard the murmuring of voices close by. Eyes widening, the Au Ri retreated slowly from the door, arrow still in tow, creeping backwards into the small bedroom area they shared.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra looked around, and slowly began to question Tret. Turning to him, she put her hands on her hips."How did you know about the placement of the traps, and how was the doe not struck by any of them?"

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc> 

Offering a smile, Tret shrugged "I saw that last one I told you about. The two we've seen don't seem to be for animals, but for poachers and unwanted guests. That spear earlier. About neck height, yeah? A little high up for most animals." He would imitate her stance, hands on hips, and raise a brow slowly "I think you need to change your tone. You might have been maimed, if not for me, miss."

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Narrowing her eyes, then she began walking down the path in which she came from, only to pause for a moment,"Tell your wife I said hello."

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret kept up the staredown, then broke into a smile again when she called back to him. He'd turn and start after her, dipping around a sapling. "Of course! Ah damn I'm gonna be late, need to- SHIT"  

||The crack of a gunshot ripped through the otherwise quiet forest. A spray of small metal balls blasted into a nearby maple, about where the man's head would have been had he not fallen into his face||

Tret lay still on the ground for a moment, then popped up to his feet again "I'm alright! I think ... I'll keep to the route we took getting here. Hold up!" He looks back over his shoulder at his home, then brushed hismelf off and resumed his jog to catch up with Astra "Blue will be sad she didn't get to see you today! She's been quite enamored with you since we met a few weeks ago. We don't see many of your kind out here."

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Out of panic, Astra's leporine ear heard the click of the gun before it went off. Out of her natural instinct was to generate a barrier. The shielding encased both of Tret and Astra. She let out a sigh of relief as she looked to see the man on the ground. "Are you ok?"looking over the man as if examining for bullet wounds"I was actually planning to reach out while I was in Gridiana but this kinda soured my mood."

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret was quite unharmed as she checked him, his tripping saving him from a face full of bird shot "Might have a bruise later, but just more started than anything! That was loud as all hell... I believe she told me she was visiting with our friend Vinalo today. Learning some gardening so that she can sell flowers" he rubbed his chest some as they walked and talked, then nodded ruefully "Sorry the hunt was a little .. odd today. In the future, you should really check in with the seers at the conjurer's guild. Most hunting expeditions need to be approved, to keep the balance and avoid the wrath of the elementals. Maybe we can plan an afternoon or evening when we can all be free!"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra shrugged, her mind now filled with other thoughts,"I will take this up with the seers in the future, the woods are the closest thing to Golmore, but, thank you for the advise. Oh, that barrier will eventually drop, it won't prevent any crazy healing or spears being lodge at your head, but it will null pain if step in a trap that wounds you."Making it back to the point of origin, Astra climbed a tree with ease, grabbed a bag and pair of boots. Finding her skinning knife in the dirt, slipping it in the sheath."Oh, if you see that blue doe around, she may need some treatment for minor burns as well."Astra cringed but then made her way out of the clearing.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

As they made it into the clearing, he'd pull his yellow helmet off his belt and pull it back into his head "Truth be told? I'm still not convinced you saw a blue doe this far out. But I guess it's not impossible." Looking about their surroundings, he pointed in one direction, and then another "well, if you need it, that wall will take you out towards the Hawthorne Hut and gyr Abania. That way towards Buscarron's pub and Quarrymill. I need to be getting back to Bentbranch myself. Stop by sometime if you decide you want to invest in a Chocobo! I'm sure I can get you set up with a good hunting buddy!"

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc>

Astra chuckled"You're the man to see for the Chocobos!"then pointing toward direction of Gridiana,"I came that way, its a bit of a hike"She waved goodbye, then started her hike just a bit further, only to hide and wait for Tret to leave.

<fc #122887>''[Tretesta]''</fc>

Tret waved as Astra headed off. He then tipped his helmet back a bit, placed two fingers between his lips, and gave a shrill two note whistle. A moment would pass, and then the tramping of bird foot could be heard. a Purple Chocobo came from the south and directly to Tret, awaiting orders. Tret reached up and patted the birds beak before saddling up "Alright, Ricard. Back to work before Katering fires us! Avanzas!" With a happy cry, the sturdy bird took off, and the heavy footfalls faded out into the distance. There was work to be done, and Tret could not waste time stalking this rabbit any longer.

<fc #0000ff>''[Blue]''</fc>

Meanwhile, Blue has been listening intently for any noises or signs that someone was coming- only to hear nothing too terribly alarming. She breathes a sigh, uncertain of the fate of the huntress. Maybe she'd gotten caught in all those traps...or maybe she's still trailing her. In either case, much as home is where the heart is, Blue isn't keen on stopping and waiting for things to just happen.

She creeps back to the doorway, slowly sliding it open and peering out. Nothing. Blue gingerly rubs at her pained shoulder, gently closing the door behind her before making out behind the cabin and towards the trees in the opposite direction from where she'd come. Couldn't keep going north like this...so the moment the shapeshiufter hits the treeline, she begins snapping and breaking twigs and branches with her uninjured hand, trying to create a brief little fake pathway where a deer might have gone- before scampering for the eastern area of the Shroud, slipping between the trees and making hastily away.

<fc #673283>''[Astra]''</fc> 

Astra listened for the Chocobo feet patterns to fade off in the distance. She ventured back out in the clearing, looking for whatever she could find without going to far. Taking some drops of blood, dumping out a small container of food she placed a couple samples."Right, A'erina can tell me if this is a match"she said quietly. Storing it back in the sack, she made her way back to Gridiana. Caring not of her appearance or the stench she admitted. Questions circled her head, and she had books for this.
----
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