Source: Lifora on dA | Date: 6.26.20
Hunting - Roenden - Bear and Caribou
After having slept for most of the night, all three of them woke up again as it had started to rain and the cliff they were sleeping under didn’t make a very good roof, as some raindrops would run down the rock and drop onto them where the rock got too flat. It was still dark out, but the dark clouds made it hard to judge whether this was as to the sun not having risen yet or just being blacked by the heavy rain.
Luckily they were in a spruce forest, not a big surprise in western Roenden, so as they decided to just get up really early on this day their path was at least partially protected by the green needles. It also gave them the option to find protection under some large tree when the rain got a little heavier from time to time and just wait for those phases out.
“I would’ve hoped that in the middle of the summer the weather could once be good,” Destan complained.
“As somebody who grew up in Roenden, you should know to expect otherwise,” Aventurine necked.
“It’s less bad than you make it, we can use it to our advantage while hunting as it will be hard to hear or smell us coming thanks to the rain,” Penance was thinking ahead.
The trio continued through the forests and eventually got to a small valley, through whose riverbed they hiked for a while, but while this path was easy to take as there weren’t too many obstacles, it was noticeable how the water was rising form all the rain, so they soon left it and continued working their way through the undergrowth, until suddenly a big clearing opened up in front of them. In that big clearing was a large herd of Caribou but almost right away Aventurine noticed a sick caribou. Looking to the others she whispered, “That one. It’s sick,” she pointed her muzzle at a small caribou that was slow to follow the herd. The herd noticed them right away when Destan barked, with Penance and Aventurine jumping at them. It seemed like the herd didn’t care too much about their elder, making it easier for the three vayrons to attack. Aventurine bit into its hindleg while Destan jumped at the neck. Penance attempted to distract it so the horns on the top of its head wouldn’t hurt anyone. Quicker than it started it fell. It was an easy battle, assuming it due to the age of the caribou. Once finished Aventurine spoke, “Now to the other creature, a bear.”
Penance smiled, “I’ll be excited to find one again,” he said. He noticed, how meanwhile Destan was thanking the Caribou for giving its life to them and providing them with food. It was important to the Vayron, to hunt only if needed and only take prey’s life if it was to give somebody else.
Shortly after they dragged the Caribou to a nearby tree and used a rope to hang it up high on a branch, in the hope that the dropping blood’s smell would attract a bear that had been seen around here and posed harm to younger Vayrons. If it appeared and stood up on its back paws to get at the prey, they would use the moment while its defense would be down to surprise it, if the plan would go well.
Not much to their surprise, it took a few hours until they were alarmed by cracking branches on the other side of the clearing and soon a large bear appeared in their field of view.
Aventurine was the first to notice and right away she started leaping towards it. Penance and Destan followed close behind ready for the battle which was about to start. Aventurine was trying her best to circle it to make sure it wouldn’t run when she caught up to it and to have it back up into Penances claws who were waiting patiently for the bear. One the bear backed up into Penance and was met with a surprise, and Destan jumped towards its throat as if he wanted to get it done with quickly. Aventurine jumped onto its hindleg to bite into it making the bear attempt to turn to attack her but struggled due to Destan. Penance bit at its paws and was careful to dodge each bite. Aventurine then helped Destan with the bears neck, and bit the top of it. Destan continued to hold on tight until the bear was starting to fall. Penance helped push the bear to the ground with Destan until it passed away.
Aventurine was the first to speak, “At least that’s over. Right?”
“Honestly, yeah. That bear didn’t put up too much of a fight,” Penance pointed out. Destan sat down patiently waiting for the next thing to happen.
Destan then spoke, “Perhaps we should figure out a way to get the animals back home…”
Aventurine looked to Penance confused, “That… is something worth thinking about.”
Penance frowned before responding, “Perhaps we can get a tyrian over here. The bear is not to large so it could be carried. Same with the Caribou. In fact I think that we can carry the caribou.” The other two nodded in agreement.
“I think I may know someone who could carry the bear. Maybe we should try to carry it ourselves first though,” Destan responded.
CP Counter
Land Bonus + 1 Added Reos + 2 (Destan 9121) Hunting + 1 903 words + 9 Total = 13