misborncat | Carpe - When the hunting is good... [Closed]

Benjen watches the tail, and then Asato's face. He's making a note to himself that the ribika likes compliments. Not that he'll hand out any without meaning them, but it's no stretch to find things likable about Asato.

"I hope you will fish with me when the thaw arrives, but I am no expert on plants." He hopes this Neville is not interested in Asato. He tears his eyes away from his companion to look ahead, eyes narrowing. "There, do you see the bent twig?" A bush in the near distance bears possible evidence of an animal.

Asato has gotten so few that he wouldn't trust hearing them often of Benjen were the sort to do so.

"I do..." He tilts his head up a bit and sniffs the air carefully. "There's a number of trails, different ages, but I think ..." Another careful sniff. "This is a mix. Hare and a fox have both gone this way recently."

"Perhaps a water source nearby," Benjen notes. Not that it matters, a good trail is a good trail. "Your nose is most helpful in this," he points out. Another genuine compliment, based on fact. "It is good to hunt with you." He moves slowly and silently in the trail's direction.

"It was helpful back in my home forest, though there are fewer things that are a true threat here..."

He falls silent as well as they follow the trail, his ears flicking around to catch even minute sounds.

A seasoned hunter, Benjen's footfalls make no sound as he steps though the snow helps this a great deal. He pauses by the twig, certain upon closer examination that it was an animal. He quietly unsheathes his throwing knife from its scabbard.

Asato takes an arrow out and readies his bow to draw. He's silent as well, moving like a cat would through the snow and underbrush. His ears are trained forward and his nose flares once to catch the wind.

Benjen glances at Asato long enough to see the flared nose and the ears, and he finds it incredibly intriguing. Actually, he finds it attractive, and his attention is diverted long enough that the ribika likely spots the game first.

He does and he will gesture with a nod ahead. A good sized hare was crouched down beside a small, still flowing despite the snow, and was munching on a bit of newly sprung grass.

Benjen follows the direction of Asato's gaze, and nods. The ribika spotted it first, and so should have the kill. He lowers his arms to his sides, indicating this.

Asato lifts the bow in a smooth move and lets a slim arrow fly. It hits the hare, killing it instantly. Despite being a cat, Asato isn't one to toy with food.

Benjen's respect for the ribika grows tenfold. "Excellent shot," he says, so low that only Asato can hear him. He remains quiet though, in case the fox is still near.

One of Asato's ears flick to Benjen, a sign that he was heard, though the ribika continues to watch the hare.

The fox is likely nearby, though startled by the arrow no doubt. It may, however, come to investigate the kill soon enough...

Benjen is hoping the arrow was just silent enough to not spook the fox completely and like Asato, thinks it might come exploring. Easy prey for him, after all -- the hare is already dead. And their theory proves true when a sleek fox creeps close to the dead animal, bushy tail in the air. With a quick hand, Benjen's knife sails from his hand and into the fox, killing it instantly.

Asato's ears perk up and he straightens up, looking over the kills. "You have a good arm and good eyes," he says with a smile for Benjen.

He pauses for a moment longer, then steps forward, still quiet, to look over their respective kills. He takes a moment to silently thank them for their lives and promise that they would be put to good use.

Benjen accepts the compliment, pleased by it much more so than he might be otherwise because it came from Asato. He doesn't even question the why of that -- it simply is. He gives Asato his moment of silence, and then removes his knife. He'd made certain it was a clean kill, not harming anything useful. "I suspect we have scared away anything near. Shall we clean them here and bury the entrails? Before moving on."

"There's enough water here to make it easy enough," Asato agrees, carefully pulling his arrow free from the hare without doing damage to the coat or innards.

He crouches down, curling his tail around his legs to keep it out of the snow while he selects a good knife from the ones he's got on his person.

Benjen settles into the task as well, squatting comfortably, and using a different knife for the task of cleaning the fox. He works silently, efficiently, but will occasionally glance at Asato, his eyes warm.

Asato is quick with his task, focusing mostly on skinning the hare and cleaning it properly, but he does sometimes feel the gaze and will look up once or twice to offer a slightly confused and hesitant half smile before ducking his head again.

It's not long before he has the animal clean and drained.

Benjen likes Asato's smile, and his eyes are warm and friendly whenever their eyes meet. It takes him a bit longer, but not much, and he's finished with the fox. "Do you have many snares set?" he asks.

"A few," Asato admits. "Though I took most down before the winter started. Have you set any up? I wouldn't want to get in your way."

"I have not," Benjen answers calmly. "As you were hunting this forest first, you have first claim in any case. But I think we could share the space, if it comes to that."

"The forest here is large. I don't think we will get in the others way at all." Asato smiles a bit.

"It is small compared to my home forest, but there aren't so many hunting here."

"I like sharing the wood with you," Benjen replies and it's accompanied by a true smile. He looks around, nodding as he glances up to the tree tops. "It is small compared to mine as well."

"I would like to hear more of your forest," Asato says. "I'm sure you must have many stories."

"Ah, but the forest is what surrounds the Wall. Protecting the people of the realm from wildlings," Benjen shares. From his tone, the Wall is in his heart.

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