Buck Wild

Deepfrost was swiftly approaching and soon snow would cover the land, making tracking easier but travel far more difficult. Before that happened, Jigano wanted to get a headstart on bringing in food for LongNight, and who better to ask along than the young woman who was finding her place in a new world? It helped the Settlement and would buy her both trust and respect with those in town if she could bring in some food, and the beasts were as fat as they could get in the Hollowed Grounds with its tired plants and soil.

He had left a notice for her, letting her know where to meet him as the sun was making its descent to the west. There was still an hour of daylight left, but it was fading and the deer and rabbits were beginning to move, while turkey and pheasants were beginning to look for their evening roosts.

The white fox sat at the tip of the Spire's shadow at the edge of the trees, a pale blue gem held in his mouth and a small, cat-sized gryphon nearby, finishing a vole she had caught earlier. Blue eyes scanned the direction of the Settlement, looking for Aisha 's arrival - as woman or leopard, but he was eager to see her feline shape for the first time.

Leafchange was coming to a close, Aisha was growing a bit anxious for the new season to start, but was trying her best to stay positive as always. She didn't have anything planned for the day, which added to her stress. As someone who kept busy to keep her head straight, free unplanned time was the perfect opportunity for worry to set it. She could feel it the moment she woke up, ignoring it stoically but feeling it nagging at the back of her head.

Luckily, a friend provided a distraction, Aisha grinned upon finding the note at the manor door. A hunt it was, in the skin of her cat. She spent the day focusing on that plan, on knowing what lied ahead for at least the time being instead of the imminent season. Finally the sun began to drift over the horizon, and Aisha shifted stretching her long legs and flexing her claws.

At the edge of the treeline by the spire, she spotted a white fox, unfamiliar, and his very familiar companion. Slick fur and slender frame reflecting the setting sun's gaze, the golden cat made her way to the pair, calling out amiably through their attuned link, "Hey Jigano, Isuma," a soft purr rumbling at her chest.

AISHA

Leopards weren't native to the Grounds, so there was no doubt that the lovely feline lady approaching was an Attuned. White ears perked forward as Aisha approached, and her voice through the mental link confirmed it so that his tail gave a thump of greeting across the leaf-strewn ground. Aisha, glad you could make it, he greeted, while the gryphlet was more cautious, scampering behind the fox to watch the heavy-jawed cat with lingering trepidation.

I've been keeping an eye on a little herd around here for the past few months. They should be starting to move now, if we want to try and aim for the young buck who's got more antlers than sense on him. He tilted his head, tongue lolling out beside the gem in his mouth as he tried to focus on sending his thoughts through it first, and then to his fellow Attuned. It didn't change the end result, but he kept Ludo's guidance in mind as they spoke.

How have you been settling in?

The white fox thumped his tail, that much she could see from her current position. As she neared she noticed more about his and his companion's appearance, for instance the gem he held between his teeth. Instantly intrigued, she padded forward with the swift then slow pattern of a curious feline. "What's that crystal for?" she asked, fiery eyes set on the stone.

She nodded at his strategy, licking her lips and kneading her claws into the soft dirt. "Sounds like a good plan, lead the way," she said, offering him the lead. He asked about how she was, and she was happy to report the good, "Really well actually. I mean as well as I could be, I'm starting to feel comfortable," she said.

AISHA

In his larger the forms the crystal might have gone unnoticed, but there was no way to be discrete about it in fox or raven forms, and Jigano bobbed his head at her in rueful acknowledgment of the question. A favor I asked Ludo for, to help me communicate more easily when I'm shifted, he explained. I need to practice sending my thoughts through it - speaking with it - in each of my shifts. He rarely used his horse shift anymore, and knew that would be the most difficult, but that was a problem for another day.

At her approval he hopped to his feet, leaving Isuma squeaking in protest behind him. He turned to nuzzle her feathery head reassuringly, soothing her with repeated reassurances until she calmed and took wing to circle above them. Their trail is back in the woods just a little ways, he said, a little distractedly as his nose rose, testing the light, cold wind before he started off at a swift trot. And that's excellent news. With Deepfrost knocking on our doors things will be getting cold and very snowy very soon, he warned her, a touch wryly. Do you have warm clothes for winter? You might want snowshoes, too, if you know how to use them. They'll come in handy for traveling outside the Settlement soon.

"Is speaking while shifted hard for you?" she asked, a bit straightforward but meaning no insult by it. She just wanted to know, to understand, and further admire the way the jewel glistened it's teary blue. Aisha watched the ivory fox nuzzle Isuma, the peeping gryphon resigning herself to an attentive circle above their heads.

Off they went, Jigano further explaining his plans as the walked, the cat keeping up with much slower and much larger strides. A warm content feeling rose in her when he spoke, something about this man made her feel welcomed, and she was so happy to have met him that day. Even if their introductions had started out rocky and at the toe of her boot, things had gotten a lot better from there. "Oliver and me keep pretty well stocked, I'll keep snowshoes in mind for our next run," she said, having learned that Jigano's advice was something to heed.

AISHA

To other Attuned? Not at all, he reassured her, taking no offense at all. The trick is communicating with non-Attuned when the situation makes it difficult to shift back and forth. Carrying someone or being carried by them, depending on if his form was large or small, for instance. Gryphlets comforted and leopards joined, he headed off into the golden evening light of the Woods.

Ah, you found a place to stay with Oliver? At the old Launceleyn house? he asked, an ear flicking back in curiosity. The note had gone out by raven messenger, as he hadn't wanted to intrude on Aisha's privacy until she was ready to share her lair. He's been around for... a bit less than a year, I think? But he should know what to do to prepare for LongNight. Unless the two of you are going to Torchline for it? It was a hopeful question, the Councilor very much eager to get as many as possible away from the monsters this year, especially those who didn't know what to expect.

A little ways in he caught the scent he was looking for, the musky odors of the herd less than an hour old, and Isuma trilled excitedly. Has he told you about LongNight yet? Might as well turn the hunt into a quick lesson on one of the Grounds's most lethal dangers, and it let him focus on the gem while he spoke through the bond as he quickened their pace.

Speak with non attuned, that was a useful trick for sure. "Cool, where'd you get it?" she followed up, as they headed towards the dusky woods. She nodded when he mentioned the old Launcelyn house, she'd been there after they'd gone, but had gotten used to it being referred to as that. Maybe one day she'd meet her landlords, if she stayed there that long. "Yuh," she confirmed through their link.

"That's our plan right now, me and Oliver are going to stay around through most of winter, but go to Torchline for the ugly parts. Hopefully we can do enough to help the people staying here beforehand," she said, still feeling a tiny bit reluctant to leave behind a sure fight, and the chance to take on something horrid. That was just the bullheaded part of her, the fiery drive that was both her most treasured motivator, and most self destructive tendency.

The camphoraceous scent of herd, while not particularly lovely, it was satisfying to the leopard, who longed to chase and hunt her quarry. The hunting party was growing closer, and she was glad for the golden glow of evening, to better hide her own sunny pelt. They were losing the light, Aisha slightly picked up the pace, the fox having a similar idea. "Yeah, I've heard a lot about it," she said, but not in a way to stop any advice he might offer.

AISHA

It doesn't work yet, but hopefully it will when I've completed the tasks Ludo set me for it, he explained, hurrying along so they could hopefully make their kill before full dark. If you catch a god in a good mood, sometimes they'll make useful things for you - armor, weapons, or things like this - if you complete certain tasks for them in exchange. The tasks are usually fetching the materials to make the item, he added by way off reassurance.

He sent a pulse of relief to hear that both Aisha and Oliver would be taking shelter in Torchline, gratitude and gladness mixed in. Wise, he praised, as Isuma flew ahead, a bright point at odds with the fiery leaves. Very wise. Many of our newcomers haven't made it through their first LongNight. There was old grief there, sorrow for friends lost before their time, to bad luck or not taking warnings seriously enough. And rest assured, we'll have plenty of work to do for you before then! A cheerful warning as the spoor grew fresher and he slowed his pace so they wouldn't come upon the herd unprepared. The deer couldn't be far ahead now...

Good. The fox very much approved of Aisha's preparedness as he padded around a pile of droppings fresh enough to have him taking care for where he placed his paws, seeking to avoid rustling the dead leaves. The monsters are a kind of proto-Ascended, abandoned by the Voice. They're not really alive anymore, but they don't have the courtesy to stay dead, either. They hunt humans during LongNight, when the gods are weak, but luckily they aren't strong enough to simply break into buildings usually, either. If they catch you outside, though, they'll swarm you. His mental tone was grim as he prowled forward, seeing through his eyes and Isuma's as well as the gryphlet perched high above, watching the herd that was just pass a screen of underbrush. It's safest to stay tucked up tight inside, with snow moss to silence the creaks of your house and windows covered over so no light escapes. If there's no obvious life in a place, the monsters seem content to move past it and hunt elsewhere, but that means all food and water and light and fuel have to be stocked in with you, because you can't leave for any reason without risking attack - or, worse, some of them getting inside whatever door you opened.

It was god given? That made the stone far more interesting, she wanted to hold it herself but figured to ask later, when they weren't on their way to a hunt. "So is Ludo, your guy?" she asked wryly, always interested in how the people she knew aligned with the gods. They were a popular topic here, and having met Safrin, she understood why.

The girl could feel the relief that passed through their bond, Jigano apparently approved of her decision. She gave a swinging nod of her head once more, a pleased purr rumbling in her chest at his assent, "Good, I like to be busy," she replied, slowing now to match his pace again.

Her nose screwed up at the acrid smell of scat, it wasn't her (or anyone's hopefully) favorite scent, but it was a bit satisfying to notice how fresh it was. They were right on the herd's tail. Jigano went into detail about Longnight, and of course he had information she wasn't fully aware of. That the monsters were the voices fuck ups, another reason for her to disdain the new goddess. "It sounds awful, I hope people will stay safe."

AISHA

It is, the fox affirmed with a fond respect for the masked god. Ludo isn't male or female, and the locals use 'it' for Ludo and 'them' for Frey. A quick primer on pronouns, because he'd spent months getting them wrong when he'd arrived. The guide of souls that have ended their span of life and need to travel to Mort's halls in the afterlife. A protector and meddler of memory, too. It can be as capricious as Safrin and Frey, but there's a youthful joy in it as well, he added, warning and praise all in one.

Aisha seemed like the type to work hard and come back for more, and Jigano would have given an approving bark if they hadn't come so close upon their prey. He led the way through the bushes, small and slender and, though far from inconspicuous in the fiery foliage, not big enough to startle the herd if they saw a fox sneaking around the edges fo the clearing.

Some do, some don't, he sent distractedly, playing scout as he looked for the young buck he'd had his eye on; just old enough to be troublesome to the older stags, but too young to make a successful play for most does unless he'd gotten lucky. Post-rut at the end of Leafchange, the bucks and does had returned to their shared herds and there were several males in the clearing, browsing the late-season grass as they headed for their beds.

There he is... Aisha, over here, Jigano called back through the bond as he found his mark and began a slow saunter along the edge of the underbrush, enough to distract the nearest deer - including their target - but not enough to spook them as he pretended to be hunting a mouse through the fallen leaves. Whenever you're ready!

It, Aisha would have to get used to that one. Not that she had any qualms with pronouns, but it was definitely a first. It, them, and she; she wondered if any of the other gods used different pronouns. A question for another time, Ludo was their topic as of now. It was the harbinger of death, it who ushers the damned and blessed to the afterlife. Her world had a figure like that in their religions and myths, however here the herald was no myth. It was fact.

They moved on from the gods, Aisha having no more questions at the moment. The next exchange was lost to her as they at last came upon the herd, and her eyes landed on their target. Jigano pointed him out, the buck seemed just right to take down, however much she wanted to aim for bigger game. He would do fine, and had the meat on him to feed many.

The white fox did surprisingly well at melting into the brush, only to resurface across from her to distract the bucks. Smart, the hooved beasts had their heads turned away from her, she had the perfect opportunity. At his cue, the leopardess heeled back then surged forwards, molten yellow eyes only for the prey before her. There was always the brief moment before a kill, when she had her teeth around the animals neck, that she felt remorse, and thought to let him go.

The moment was brief, and once the blood had started to pool in her mouth, all she saw was red, and all she felt was fire. Half a minute after she'd taken him down, jaws clamped over his throat, the buck stopped kicking and lie limp at her maw. She remained a tight hold, instincts keeping the kill close, and pride puffing her chest and breathing deep the scent of victory. The other's had scattered from the clearing, Jigano remained and she turned to face him with her tail curled in satisfaction. "I guess you could say I'm pretty good," she said playfully, dropping the buck and giving a little prance.

AISHA

The plan worked perfectly, as plans so rarely did. It was nice for luck to be on their side for once, the deer distracted until too late, the young buck freezing a fatal split second as he turned to see what approached from behind while his herdmates were already fleeing, white tails flagged high as they bounded off. The fox yipped in excited encouragement, then scrambled to catch the stone that nearly dropped in the process. Aisha was a study in fluid grace and muscular power, taking the buck cleanly and bringing it down without injury.

Jigano waited back a few steps, granting the great golden cat the respect of the kill and the space to finish it. Partly, too, because he was unsure if she was one of those that became lost in her instincts when tasting blood, but she soon reassured him of her control and saucy confidence as she danced in the sunset glow of the forest.

I could definitely say that, he agreed, tail sweeping the leaves on the ground behind him. You've done this before! He chuckled through the bond, coming closer to sniff at the deer. Of course, now the real work begins - dragging it back. He winked at the feline as Isuma swooped down to perch on the fallen buck's antlers, trilling excitedly. Did you hunt often on your world? In your jaguar form, or in your human one?

Oh yes, she'd done this many times. The savannahs teemed with wildlife, prey that could be used to feed the people of her city. She herself had loved the hunt, the animal inside her drawn to it. Many times she'd prowled the plains and taken down a young gazelle, or rodent, and brought it back to the capital's food stores. The game was in her blood, an instinct that had been passed on from generation to generation, and made the leopardkin strong, dangerous.

"Leopard," she corrected playfully, stopping her prance to nose at the prey, "I hunt as a leopard, we don't really hunt in our human skins back home. It's a tradition I guess, but it's considered wrong to," she replied, somewhat enjoying talking about home.

He had brought up another good point, how they were gonna get the thing back. "We can take turns, I'll start. Don't want to wear you out after all the hard work you just did," she jabbed playfully, then took the buck back in her powerful jaws.

AISHA