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

[misborncat]

Asato is putting the last minute touches on his blades before heading out into the snowy forest for a hunt. A bit of fowl would be nice and he could share it with Merlin if the old human was willing. Perhaps even a hare. Those were quite tasty.

He wondered for a moment if he should seek out Benjen for a hunt, but he wasn't sure if the human was available or willing.

Comments

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

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.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

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.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

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."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"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.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

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.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

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.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

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.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"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."

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"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."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"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."

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"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."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

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

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"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.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"What are wildlings?" You have Asato's attention Benjen.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

Benjen takes a deep breath as he has a lot to say. "The free folk are a race of people who live beyond the Wall. They consist of many oft savage tribes and village-dwellers. Some are not so savage, but most are hostile. They spend much of their time fighting one another, aside from the times when they are unified by a King-beyond-the-Wall. They have one now named Mance Rayder." He gazes into the forest. "There are also the Others."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato listens quietly, ears perked and focused on Benjen.

There isn't really a concept of 'king' in his world, but the translation serves well enough for the ribika. "They are a threat then to the people behind the wall. What are Others?"

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"Ahh, the Others. To some minds, they are the same as the wildlings, but many have forgotten the old times. The Others are also called White Walkers. Some believe they are myth, as they are mentioned in ancient legends and stories from the time of the First Men and the Children of the Forest. They are believed to have caused chaos and war in Westeros before they were defeated in a great struggle and driven back into the uttermost north, with the Wall raised to bar their return. Current belief holds that they have either never existed, or to be extinct, as they have not been seen for thousands of years. According to legend, the White Walkers speak a language known in myth as 'Skroth'. Whilst held as myths and spoken in the same breath as 'grumkins' and 'snarks', there is a growing belief amongst the wildlings who live beyond the Wall that the White Walkers have returned." Obviously this is quite a speech for Benjen, but he is not quiet because he does not believe in talking. Instead, he doesn't believe in speaking without meaning. On this topic, he has much important to say.

[ooc: I have no idea how I missed this thread for so long! *cries!*]

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

"Do you believe they exist?" It's an honest question. He knows that there are things his people (and even himself) believed to be true that turned out to be false.

The Others sound frightening and something must have caused such fear to build something as grand as the Wall sounds to him.

No worries! Asato is patient. ^^

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"Without a shred of doubt," Benjen answers. He feels certain the Others attacked himself and his men in the moments before he awoke in this place. "One should never discount mythology. Ignorance will only endanger those who we have protected all these many years."

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato nods, thoughtful.

"Mythology is what kept my friend alive. And it is what killed my parents and nearly me. Ignorance of many things can harm, but relying solely on stories that one is told can also cause pain."

He was only pointing out things as he knew them to be, not disagreeing with Benjen.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"I think a healthy respect for the old tales and the old ways is as important as adapting to new contrivances," Benjen shares. Clearly he's not offended that Asato's opinion might differ from his own; he actually respects it.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato is glad that he didn't offend, and he nods. "That's true I think. I didn't often dwell on it though back home."

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes we have not the time to dwell, when action must needs come first," Benjen remarks.

[misborncat.livejournal.com]

Asato nods, then smiles, a flash of fangs. "You are very wise Benjen."

It's almost as impressive as his skills in the forest to him.

[first-ranger.livejournal.com]

"I too think you are wise," Benjen replies, fascinated by Asato's smile. His gaze lingers. "We have things to teach one another." Despite his look, he means no sexual innuendo. Their conversation compartmentalized differently in his brain from his attraction to the ribika.