The creature- this wolf- had hidden itself in a thick bush filled with brambles. It had taken some work to get into, even more work to not bump the wolf's shoulder. Something they had failed at many a time, the pain filling the wolf-creature as the shard of flint dug deeper into its back and fresh blood warmed them. Reaching back, the so called spirit wolf had tried to pull it out and succeeded only in breaking the end of the shaft off, the head remained deep within its shoulder part of the shaft peeking through the furs. The awkwardness of it sitting right where paws could not grab it was problematic.

Elsewhere, the small band of consisting of whom the wolf had aptly dubbed the Sparkling Female, the Bird Man, and the Huntress were surrounded by forest noises. Something that had only paused during the spirit wolf's flight through the forest. The trail it had left was rather fresh, though undoubtedly the creature could lessen the amount of trail it left. Though not the blood that was smeared on a tree or a branch. Still the stream sang a song of moving life and the ice water it carried south towards the great salty sea. Cassandra would well know the trail would fade as time moved, and the possiblity of finding a wolf a second time was difficult. They were clever animals and the village had to deal with a rather large pack of them a near decade ago. It had not been a hunt but rather a battle as famine has famished the wolves. They were hungry and desperate, and Man came with food. With weapons and a danger, but with dogs and their own meat. Two of the Hunters had been badly injured and one had died. But the pack had been driven off and many of the wolves had fed and clothed the village.

Kiyanna as she had looked upon the wolf the longest, would have seen it's eyes it was not so far away. They were sunken into the face of the monstrous wolf. Far deeper than they should have been. And white was all about them. It was a fleeting glimsp before the wolf-creature had turned and fled upon it's oddly bent two legs. The heel of each foot in the air, a slight limp to the run. The staggering of it's gait. All signs of a injury and a shot that struck most true. Ander may have picked up on this as well, but perhaps not completely. To him the wolf had cocked it's head to the side. A small, small movement. The ears flickering slightly as though it had never seen such colors. Let alone a person wearing them. In their travels the two might well know the dangers a pack of these fearsome creatures possessed. Wolves often watched travelers and some attacked though most left them be. To fight was to risk injury and there was easier prey than a human and their biting fire and sticks.

@Kidd @Valor @Inertia @dabombjk

Kyle opened his eyes slowly, blinking away the initial pain that came with consciousness. His eyes stung from the sunlight, making Kyle realize he was on his back with his eyes look up. His head was in pain and throbbed near his right temple, so he assumed he either was struck by something or simply fell and hit hid head.......Kyle questioned why he could not remember what had happened before he lost consciousness. While still blinking away his grogginess Kyle yawned and turned his head to see another young man laying besides him, and from he saw they were both lying on the ground outside in the middle of the street. Kyle recognized the young man, his name was Charlie and he was one of the few people who did not detest his laziness in this village. Kyle appreciated it, sorta, so he never tried to mess with Charlie too much. "Hey," Kyle said rubbing his eyes and sighing ,"Why are we laying on the ground?"

Charlie turned his head and chuckled at Kyle's comment. "My friend you truly have a knack for arousing trouble. You were scaling homes, walls, and any kind of tall structure in the village all day and generally irritating the locals by doing so. From what I saw you slipped, bumped your head, got up, then sat down and fell unconscious so I layed next to you so everyone would we were simply relaxing instead of you knocking yourself out."

Kyle laughed out loud, then tried to sit up. His temple responded with hitting him with a wave of pain, causing him to lay back down. "Good show my good man. I appreciate it, how embarrissing." Kyle laid there, starting to remember the events that transpired. He had been scaling everything, but not for the reasons people were thinking. He was actually looking for something, a small necklace. One of the villagers was stolen from recently, with Kyle being the only person to witness the crime. When the criminal saw him, he dashed. Kyle was able to catch up with him shortly after, but the criminal explained how he had already ditched the necklace, saying since he did not have it there was no proof. The thief explained he threw it on top of a random structure, but he did not remember where. So Kyle had spent the following day trying to find said necklace.

He eventually found it, but had slipped while grabbing it and hit his head on accident. Kyle felt his pocket and felt the hard lump that dwelled within it and smiled. It was a small blue crystal necklace, with the crystal attached to a piece of string that held more sentimental value then it did monetary value. Kyle waited another minute, exchanging bouts of verbal jousting with Charlie, before promptly getting to his feet. He thanked Charlie again, then moved on. He needed to find the women who was the owner of the necklace, but first he needed a drink. He felt his pouch and all of his belongings had not been stolen so he decided to grab a drink at the tavern.

After traveling to the tavern and receiving a water and a moist towel for his head, Kyle listened to the dribble of the clientel of the tavern. He discovered quickly that there was a trouble brewing inside the forest. So instead of being a fool and dashing off the the woods with only a small degree of training and zero weapons that could kill a wolf, Kyle sat at the bar drinking water and keeping an ear out for more news. He learned about the affairs some were having, the trade deals, and the daily goings of most. After a few hours Kyle left the tavern, his head cooler and his mind straighter. "I feel much better now", Kyle said to himself ,"and the day is not over yet. What shall I do next? I could always return the necklace like I planned." Kyle looked back towards where the forest would lie outside the village and sighed. "I could always endanger myself for no good reason, go see what this wolf looks like. I mean....If I figure out what kind of wolf it is maybe I could trap it. Then I could spend my days napping and no one would."

Kyle shook hid head. "No! No no no.....that would be bad. I mean even if I did find it, what will stop it from eating me? Nothing because while I can punch, a simple fist will not stop sharp fangs and claws......." Kyle crossed his harms, sighed, then smiled. "But it will be fun........dammit me. I am so persuasive."

Kyle walked towards the entrance/exit of the village and sighed. "One last chance old friend....you need not do this for feeces and laughter......." Kyle gave a two finger salute to the village behind him then set off outside the village and to the forest.

---

---

Her voice wasn't steady, and it was clear that it wasn't the wolf that made it falter. Well, Ander wouldn't trust a duet of merry men brandishing weapons around like madmen either. She did have her own, a simple yet efficient design, the bows were similar; one can assume that it was her marksmanship skills that carried through with that impressive shot. A normal hunter wouldn't be able to do that to that creature, especially one as swift as that. He eyed her armour and gear, and indeed it seemed that her words were true, it was standard hunting gear; which just made her seem even more braver chasing that 'wolf'.

"Ah, I agree." he said off-handedly, his eyes now resting on the green forests.


"No, t'was a quick one." he replied, "Apologies, I lost track of it when you entered my field of vision."

"Wolves, well that one wasn't exactly a real wolf. It had features of a human, somewhat, atleast it seemed so from the limited time I managed to see it. The oddest features I caught before it disappeared into green of the forest were it's legs, it was bent... to the point of appearing unnatural. From the normal wolves I hunted or defended against in the past, they seem to stalk their prey, to see if the risk of injury outweighed the gain in fresh meat. Most of the times they leave humans alone, especially if they weren't in packs, too much fight for too little reward- humans also didn't have much meat on them and said meat was hard to pry from bones, other animals would suffice as a much better source of food. That's not to say there weren't any cases of such. This is however assuming that these wolf-like humanoids behaved like... well, wolves. It's not a leap of logic entirely but a thing to consider. It's ears flickered when she gazed upon my garb, curious."

Ander babbled, not realizing he was nonchalantly speaking aloud, "Oh, sorry was I rambling outloud? Hum, sincerest apologies, ignore that."

"What's the plan now Ser Kiyanna?"

Kiyanna shook her head at the question if she had seen where the wolf had gone. Even though she had seen it for the longest, barring perhaps Cassandra since she had originally wounded the creature, Kiyanna gathered very little about the beast. Kiyanna knew from it's size and behavior that it was not a natural creature, and the fact that it had javelins on hand gave more credit to this. Kiyanna's mind soured at the notion of more magical people roaming about, since Kiyanna held no defense against such an art. Some would call her envious, but Kiyanna didn't see of her feelings as envy. They were closer to a logical conclusion to her than anything else.

As Ander let his mind and mouth Wander, Kiyanna tugged on her shield slightly to make sure it was in place. The sunken eyes of the wolf made her think that this was a human using an extreme degree of magic to shape it's body into something unnatural. Kiyanna had heard of something like that before, but it wasn't something that was particularly common. Magic, as Kiyanna knew it, was a rarity. Magic like that? A rarity among magic. Still, Kiyanna could care less about it by now, as the beast was gone.

When Ander realized he was rambling and stopped, Kiyanna was relieved despite having tuned him out. When Ander asked her what she was going to do, Kiyanna pointed upstream with her javelin once again and said. "I'm going to do what I originally set out to do: Fish. I'm still hungry, and the village is still rather inhospitable. One of those two I can fix, and I am going to do so. Good day." Kiyanna left, then. Moving upstream with her eyes scanning the water for fish. It wasn't too long before Kiyanna quickly threw her javelin into the water and pulled it out with a large bass impaled upon her javelin. Placing the bass upon her spear, Kiyanna returned her attention to the water to seek out more fish.

It would seem that the spirit wolf had changed Kiyanna's luck for the better since she at least had something to eat for later.

The forest was warmed by the sun and more of the little critters were scurrying about. Rabbits bounded for their hide aways as Kyle walked into the forest. The wings of birds and their songs fluttering through the branches. A rather distressed squirrel swore at the man as his breakfast was once again interrupted. It was in the forest one who was used to it could see the many paths taken by the folk to other villages or the stream that fed into a small river which fed the small fields. Behind him, the chimneys of the village waved wisps of smoke in the air as people streamed out into the fields and the forest. Plying trade in this time of plenty before the harsh Northern winter returned. Even then it was argued that it was still a time of plenty. When furs would be at their best and tracks would be easy to follow. The Northerners were hardy folk and well used to their snow and ice. Around Kyle the noise of the woods was a soft melody along with the trickle of water further ahead. A rushing sound of a small rapid that was the merging of river and stream. Cassandra would know this area as down stream a good five minutes from where Kiyanna was fishing.

As for Kiyanna the fish were in plenty. The stream did not team with them like the river, but they did swim up in a decent number. Seeking their old ponds of their birthplace to mate and lay their eggs. Frogs watched her from the muck and mud. A crane took a indignant flap off from a set of reeds. Not enjoying this foolish human disturbing his own hunting grounds. A lazy turtle floated past the woman, not caring of the feet in his way. A large being he was roughly the size of a dinner platter. and was snapping at the fish at the end of the woman's pole. Pulling pieces off as she pulled it from the river. Anders might notice a herd of deer pass on the other side of the river. Keeping close to the river's edge as they watched the humans warily. Wanting a drink, but moving on. A mighty old buck among them and paying them no mind as he led his harem further up stream.

Cassandra, on a different note, was in a rather odd situation. Brown eyes watched her from the brambles, as the wolf-creature remained extremely still. Well blended in the woody vines. Even the wolf's breathing stilled as it watched the hunter. Would she shoot again? If she did there was only one option and that brought more people with the sharps sticks and the biting fires. Best course was to avoid and hide, injured and hurt was bad enough. Cassandra would have a very difficult time picking out the spirit-wolf. The greenery clouding her view and the natural woody vines not helping either. To move them would risk a pricked finger, or if the wolf attacked- a bitten hand. Though she might make out the bits of dirty white fur that was on the wolf in small tuffs. The rest of her fur was the grey, brown, red mixed with black that blended with most of the woodland. Her 'hello' went unanswered in the quiet forest, birds flickering from the bushes ever so often. Not bothered by either wolf nor woman.

@Kidd @Valor @Inertia @dabombjk

Kiyanna was glad for the change of luck that had fallen to her. Nature seemed to be more caring than the village. Though she was annoyed at the turtle floating downstream taking bits of her food from her. As payback, Kiyanna gave it a swift kick and rolled the animal onto its back. Kiyanna was more versed in survival skills than she was when she had first set out upon her journey, and knew that when properly cleaned, a turtle shell could make for an excellent bowl. Kiyanna took a moment to jab her javelin into the turtles soft front. It was slightly cruel, but such was nature. With the animal deceased, Kiyanna tucked it under her arm and continued on. She caught a few more fish, specifically targeting the more plentiful males, before she stopped. Overfishing could doom the population of fish in the river, and Kiyanna wasn't going to have the village blaming her for it.

With ten fish and a turtle, Kiyanna had plenty of food. Kiyanna moved away from the stream and into the dryer grassy areas near the stream. Setting down the turtle and using it to prop up her spear, Kiyanna gathered wood from the surrounding area. She kept her eyes on her future meal out of paranoia that something might try to steal it. A javelin remained in her hand at all times, a suitable reward for anyone or anything foolish enough to try for Kiyanna's food. After gathering a bundle of suitable wood, Kiyanna returned to her food and arranged it in a small hole she dug out with her hands shortly after returning.

Kiyanna spent the next hour and a half preparing her meal. Her hands were coated in several different kinds of blood by the time she was finished, but she had a clean turtle shell full of fish cuts, turtle cuts, and clean water from the stream boiling over a fire. Washing her hands, javelins, and spear in the river, A small bundle of fish offcuts was also part of her reward, and could be used as bait for larger fish if Kiyanna found the materials to fish with. A pile of various organs and other inedible features was pitched across the river and into the muck. Kiyanna had no use for it and, although many creatures could be drawn with such a rancid bait, Kiyanna knew it was better to be rid of it. Nothing would be gained for keeping such materials.

With her stew at a furious bubble, Kiyanna removed it from the fire and set it to cool briefly. Once it was at a suitable temperature, Kiyanna ate quickly. With her stomach now full, Kiyanna rose from the ground and dusted herself off. Washing her hands and the turtle shell again, Kiyanna gathered her things and used the turtle shell to carry water to the fire to extinguish it. Burying the embers in the ground, Kiyanna headed back towards the village to see if anything else had happened while she was away. Kiyanna was pleased to have accomplished what she set out to do, and now needed a new task. She wasn't skilled enough to hunt the wolf in it's own domain, so it was wiser to find something else that better suit her talents.

---

---

"I have heard of hearsay in my travels that these creatures existed, I had no real way to prove or disprove, well, until today." he replied, his eyes swam across the never-ending green of trees. One wouldn't expect this tranquil forest would have a veil of spiritual pretense. This world held more secrets than any man could ever hope to keep, and this was interesting to Ander, so much so that another smile placated his face, thinking that even if he tried his best he would not be able to uncover every mystery.


"Well if you so desire, mention my name in the local inn to it's keepers and they will prepare a room for you, even if disparagingly done so. Let's just say they owe me more than a few favours." he called back to her, whom had already began her work. All work and no play was what Ander associated her with in his mind. With a shrug he disappeared into one of the trees branches, keeping his sword between his legs as he scrunched his back onto the sturdy trunk. His eyes landed on a flock of deer being led by a rather stern looking buck leading them up further upwards the stream. Nature never fails to please Ander, it's silent, serene scenery was a guilty pleasure of his.

A blacked-haired individual entered his field of vision from down below. From first glance he could tell that he wasn't a Northerner, baring more of a semblance to his company earlier. He wasn't a hunter, as evidenced by his lack of weaponry and lack of any basic armour. "He is either extremely brave or foolhardy, it is a thin, blurry line after all." he said to no one in particular, continuing to observe this new person. He seemed not far from Kiyanna's fishing spot. Ander wondered how that meeting would go, well it's entirely possible this odd fellow could spot him as he wasn't trying to hide himself and he wasn't too far up.

Whatever the case may be, human interactions were endearing to observe. It was beautiful and utterly mysterious to the wanderer.

As Kyle wandered through the forest, he left a trail of breadcrumbs as he walked. Well not bread crumbs exactly, just he more or less left something that could help him find his way home. Kyle had, in his pouch attached to his belt, the blade of what used to be a small dagger. The handle had been broken off a long time ago, leaving only the thing sharp metal behind, in which Kyle would use to mark a tree every so often. He would quickly and quietly make a small mark on certain tree's, an irregular looking triangle with a fourth point at the bottom. He liked using that made up mark as a sign that it was a mark to lead him home, so if anyone else saw it they would not understand its meaning. Kyle kept his eyes open and his senses turned on for any sign of wildlife, but mostly was dissapointed by being startled by squirrels and birds. He once thought he saw the wolf, which when he went to investigate it turned out to be a deer. Hopes dashed, Kyle continued walking forward, realizing soon he was going to need food or water.

Kyle noticed a slight change in the air, and started to smell something....well not wonderful but better smelling than anything else in these woods. Kyle wandered closer to the smell, and when he was within eyesight of the strange group that the smell originated from, Kyle quickly hid himself behind a tree. He was not sure if he was seen or not, but better to take pre cautions. He felt the tree he was hiding behind, saw it was rather tall, placed his feet against the tree trunk, and found a decent piece of broken bark to grab a hold of. Kyle thought of climbing the tree, but thought of hiding in the bushes in front of him instead. Kyle examined the group with interest, and with every second passing he was more sure he did not want to get involved.

There were beautiful women in this group, and a rather odd looking man, and he had an intense feeling these people were going to be trouble. Call it a gut instinct but he learned to trust his gut. Kyle reached inside his pocket and felt the necklace he had obtained, hoping that he was not going to die today. But hell, if there was one thing he was good at it was talking his way out of any given situation. Even if it did involve weapon crazy hot blooded fighters.

@inertia@kidd@valor@ladyrunic

There was no response in the quiet wood, and she allowed her eyes to pass the brush. Perhaps the creature had simply passed through it. Sighing, her muscled relaxed and she lowered her bow further. She wasn't determined to pick a fight with the wolf, but the guilt still hung in the back of her mind. For its story, the wolf was not the monster the hunters made it out to be--perhaps it wasn't even the same beast. She glanced back the way she had came, mind wandering to the strangers by the water. The path was quiet and her paranoia toward them subdued slightly; they didn't seem to mean her harm.

Deciding that she would continue her hunt, Cassandra continued forward and pass the brush where the creature hid. Even if she didn't find the wolf again, she didn't want to return home empty handed. Hunting was her way of life, and on the rare days where she did return without a trophy, she felt judgement in her father's hard eyes. She shook her head free of the wandering thoughts. "Focus, Cassandra," she said to herself in a firm whisper.

The elder stag and his herd of does moved deeper into the forest. The stream far too noisy for their sensibilities with the number of two legged hunters that were appearing. He did not wish to risk loosing a potential fawn simply because the herd did not move when they had a chance. It was by the sheer luck of things that they moved along a faint path that would lead them past Cassandra, perhaps just within her sight before the stag smelt even more human upon the wind. The added smell of blood did not help his nerves either as his great antlered head moved about warily. Steering the herd away from this unseen threat and deeper into the forested mountains.

Kyle would, on his part, note the warrior as he saw her. Armored and with a large assortment of weapons. Her features were similar to his though distinctly from the Easterner's border. A certain hardness was the key to telling one from the other. Those on the borders had seen things of nightmares. Easterners were known for their devilish nature and the terror they wrecked. But it was on Kiyanna's part that she may notice the sway of branches in the trees as she trekked back to the village.

Back in the village, people were moving about as the usual. The sun was getting higher in the sky and now fully was past the high hills and low mountains. The higher mountains- titans in their own right- of the North were still the silent, frosty sentries of their domain. Groups of boys were darting in and out the forest. Returning with wood, baskets, game of fish or fowl. One group even came back with a goat that had wandered off. Girls darted about the fields and too and from the river. Herding birds or flocks of sheeps/goats with the odd dog. Though more often than not it was a sibling. Dogs were larger and sat near the house, despairing the heat that was moderate at best. Men and women were about. Working the fields, hunting, fishing. Carving wood was generally saved for the times when you were snowed in, it was the sunny times of summer that carved wood was applied to the use it was needed for and perfected to the use.

Currently there was a slight gathering the middle of it. Young men generally, with some of the elders. If anyone where to stumble upon this they would hear an argument between the group as what to do with the Spirit Wolf. A hunter had been founded killed from the night prior. Torn apart as if by a bear. But there had been no sightings of a bear and a man killer of a bear was not something that was common. If there was such a thing it would have to be dealt with immediately. Some vouched it was this Spirit, others declared for the bear. Many of the youth however wanted to send out a party to deal with the threat and hunt whatever it was down. But it was summer and the elders were more concerned with the crops and herds. Stating as much and that- ever against youthful folly- a full hunting party would have to comb all the woodlands to disprove either theory. No one wanted to face a rabid bear or spirit alone.

@Kidd @dabombjk @Inertia @Valor