The Unexpected Dangers of Hunting [Menel & Nocme]

[Menel]

Everywhere around him the forest was alive with the sounds of summer. Insects buzzing quietly to one another. Squirrel's fighting over territory and whatever nuts they could find after forgetting where they'd been buried the in preparation for winter. Most of the birds were in full fling of their mating season, singing brightly to one another as they danced among the tree tops. Menel couldn't help but enjoy it and the bright light that filtered down to him through the boughs. It warmed his skin as he hunted among the bushes for the trap he'd set earlier.

It didn't take him terribly long to find it, and he was surprised to see that he'd actually gotten lucky and caught a rabbit. He laid a hand on the rabbit, mentally thanking the small creature. It had been particularly unlucky, catching the rope trap around it's neck.

The swordsman followed the rope back, untying it from the tree and making his way back only to spot a bit of extra white where he didn't expect it to be. A... bird?

What was a bird doing near his rabbit? And what kind of bird was that anyway?

[Nocme]

Nocme kneels on the floor, looking at the path. She know this path, it was where it would leads to Ceberas’ village. Of course her friend is no longer there, but elsewhere – in the wild. Away from the fighting, the strict regime from the elders, and now near impossible to find. This isn’t the first time she come back to the dirt path, nor the first time she tries to trek through the dense forest searching for any hunting signs, something like a few dagger marks and then claws and possibly fallen trees, because if her friend still didn’t change after so many years, she would still have the unfortunate problem of no proper brakes.

I mean she didn’t change much as well. Still have a messy hair hidden completely under large scarf that also cover all of her face except for her eyes and ears. Plus a knitted poncho she scavenged just to hide her figure. The less stranger knew about her the better.

Dace on the other hand is on the lookout. Making sure to keep every other human being as far away from her as possible, with his red eyes he can spot movement easily. Something like a small rabbit bounding around the field, and then it died in a trap.

Carefully he flew down, resting on top of a branch. He watches carefully for the other man’s action, waiting carefully until he left and cut the ropes of the trap. Quickly he flew down and landed next to the rabbit. A wee bit large but he can totally grab it and flew off with it.  Although he hoped that the other guy didn’t come back too quickly to see him. Oops... he knew Nocme will be hiding from that... Unless he could lure the guy away first...

It was the Xavar’s logic. Thus he immediately sink his claw in the white rabbit and took to the sky, darting first to the opposite direction of where his friend is, then dive down into canopy. From there he carefully manoeuvres around the trees, weaving between them just as if he was weaving through the numerous windows in some rich Maquina mansion.

Soon he returns to Nocme and do the one thing that could liven up her gloomy search for childhood friend. A bloody corpse on her head. “GAH! DACE!” she yelled, but from her eyes she was smiling. Dace also made loud cawing noise, laughing along and coming down to gently peck his friend. Just a friendly tease.

Although both of them in a moment of silliness, forgotten the blood trail the bunny left, and the fact the rope still tied around its neck.

[Menel]

It took him a moment to realize what it was. It was the white feathers that threw him off. Only the faint traces red vapors trailing from it's red eyes. No bird he knew of had eyes like that except xavar's. They weren't the most common bird in these parts, and he had certainly never seen a white one. Menel took several quick steps toward the bird, thinking to possibly scare it off from his rabbit but the bird took hold of it and lifted off.

In spite of his situation Menel had to give the bird a bit of credit. It was no small rabbit that he'd caught and the weight of it was obviously on the edge of it's ability to carry off, but it was making a go of it. The swordsman wasn't about to give up so easily, tracking the white flash of feathers through the canopy.

He got the feeling that the bird was toying with him... which only proved more that it was a xavar, and perhaps he should have let the bird have it's meal, but... He wasn't the sort to give in so easily. Menel lost sight of the bird, but he caught sight of a blood trail in the grass. Difficult to track, but then he had a lot of practice.

Which was when he heard the sound of a startled voice ahead of him. The swordsman glanced around, a touch more cautious now. There was someone up ahead of him. The xavar crowed in response to the person's startled cry of 'Dace'. Menel purposefully made a bit of noise as he pulled into sight. Even going so far as to cough, offering a smile.

"Excuse me but... That was my rabbit."

[Nocme]

At the first sound of rustling, Nocme tensed and get into her fight or flight stance. Dace immediately flew to a nearby tree branch and noticed who was the one spoken. He looked at the man in surprise then look at the bloody bunny and its trail. It literally face palmed with his wings. Before trying to not stare at the man in the eye, or Nocme’s, he know he probably will get a scolding a little later about doing pranks at a very odd time.

Nocme just narrow her eyes at the man, “what rabbit?” She hasn’t yet had a good look on what was dropped on her head. It did smell of blood, but she just assume it’s a rat or a cat. Okay maybe not a cat, Dace can carry one, but generally he just kill it and leave the corpse behind. Since he was close enough to hear her probably, she did not try to hide her voice this time. Just staring at him warily and keep her distance, as she was talking she glanced around to check all possible escape route and Dace’s position. She did notice her lovely friend seems to be nervously glancing around to the side and looking sheepish.

Did he...?

She looks at the bunny that was dropped on her head before and then the lack of blood on Dace’s beak and talons. She just sighed and guessed what happen. Dace probably did not kill the critter himself, rather steal someone else’s kill in just so he can prank her. So with no words, she walked to the rabbit and flings it at the man. She wanted to keep her distance and eye on him.

“Our bad,” was the simple answer. She kept staring at him and making sure she has enough space to out run him if he proves to be a bad person. Also they are still on the path that anthromorphs frequents. Not the friendly trader kind, it’s the new very vicious wolf kind, and they tend to enjoy ripping into anyone that is not their kind.

[Menel]

At first the woman, was confused. He could see it on her face until she realized that the body laying beside her was a rabbit. The swordsman wasn't sure on the details but it was almost like she didn't know what the xavar had brought her until the moment she picked it up. She wasn't hiding how tense his presence made her. Really Menel didn't blame her, she was all alone out here by all appearances. Save her pet at least, and Menel was wearing a pair of blades belted at his waist as though he knew how to use them. Which he did.

She tossed the rabbit to him and he caught it gratefully. It didn't seem much the worse for wear in spite of being carried off. The woman continued to watch him carefully and Menel glanced around himself.

He hadn't really been paying much attention to where the xavar was leading him but he recognized the area. Mostly by the fact that it was an area best avoided. The xavar had led him deeper into the woods. What was she doing all the way out here? Was she lost. Menel's blue eyes slid back to her.

"Thanks..." His voice trailed off for a moment. "You know it's not very safe around these parts. If you'd like I'll show you to a bit of a safer area... I'll even share the rabbit." He hefted the rabbit in question and offered her another smile.

[Nocme]

Well its good to see the words travel around fast. Like how fast some clan become really aggressive, then again these parts is contested lands, its normal for clans to become protective of their hunting ground. Nocme look at Dace, who have landed on top of her head. He also stare at the man, judging him. Before he let out a quiet tweeting sound, showing he does not feel hostility from the man yet. Although they both quietly agree that if something bad happens they would be rather happy to abandon this guy and bolt for it.

There is a chance some of those clan members recognise her or smell her, which would not be a good thing because she remember Ceberas mentioning that they caught her scent and was not very pleased.

Quietly she nodded, and Dace flew off from her head, unravelling the bandages a bit. So more of her face showed. “Sounds good, where are you heading?” she asked, mostly out of curiosity. He knows this part of the woods is full of hostile clan, why would he be around the area.

Unless he did chase Dace all the way here, in which case she would have to applaud him for his tenacity, because that is a long way and Dace is fast. He has to be one since being an albino xavar meant he gets spotted more easily and hunted. It was by fate that she manage to rescue this one from a cage in Maquina, and they have been buddies ever since.

[Menel]

His offer seemed to put her at ease, and she pushed back the cloth that had been obscuring her features somewhat. Meanwhile her pet xavar landed easily atop her head, peering at him with interest before giving a little sound. They were kind of a strange pair. Still, he was a lot more concerned at the moment with getting out of these deep woods than he was with the smaller details.

The swordsman glanced around and motioned to the south. "South, I have a camp that's not to far." He hesitated a moment then glanced over at her, at the xavar more specifically. "Well, maybe a bit of a walk considering how far your friend... Dace? Well your friend led me on quite the chase."

Menel turned a bit leading the woman in that direction a bit. "I don't suppose you have any skill in cooking do you?" His tone was polite and just a little amused. "I'm afraid that I'm not a very good cook at all."

It was conversation to soothe the silence, he didn't know her and she didn't know him and since they were going to be traveling together for a little bit it would be good for both of them to know at least a little bit. He glanced over at her again, keeping sight of her as he could. Smiling a bit abashedly.

[Nocme]

Hearing that the camp is south worried her a bit. Depending on the distance they might get close to a field of Nightmare Orchid, which in many ways is a bad place to be whether you are the hunter or the hunted. Then again since its near that field most would avoid patrolling that field. It all depends on luck right now and she is not that comfortable with that idea.

At the mention of Dace letting the guy chase him. Nocme frowned, and she look up to glare at Dace a little, he just made a laughing cawing, before swooping down on her head playfully. She can't stay mad at that. The two seems strange to outsiders sometime, but she just feel it was there unique way of communicating. It literally ranges from stupid animal sound to rolling around in dirt, not a lot of word spoken and they know each other so well after so many years.

During the walk to the camp, Dace wasn’t so interested in the conversation started by the swordsman. So instead he flies all the way up above the tree top to scout further ahead and also check behind them. Leaving Nocme to answer his question, it was innocent enough since there is a chance she might have to stay in his camp until she know they are out of the clan’s zone. And then come back again to try and pick up a trail somehow.

“A little... At least enough so the food is edible, I just eat things raw whenever I can,” she said absentmindedly. To be honest if she can eat raw meat without getting sick she would totally do it. Unfortunately all she can eat raw are selected insects and fish. “You can’t honestly be any worse, if you hunt and eat what you catch.”

[Menel]

Her answer made Menel blink and look back over at her. Well it was a shame if she wasn't a very good cook either. He really couldn't imagine eating meat entirely uncooked, and doubted that it was very healthy. Perhaps between the two of them they could manage. If not... Well it wouldn't be the first time he ate something that was burned on the outside and raw in the middle. Or some variation upon that.

He flushed lightly in embarrassment and shrugged. "It's something I can't really seem to get the hang of. Usually I trade a bit of what I catch to to restaurants or in the market for food that's already cooked. Or something made of whatever I managed to hunt down. One time I had a restaurant pay me a surprising amount of money for a bunch of mushrooms I found while tracking a wild boar."

Menel laughed a bit. That had been an excellent hunt. The boar had been aggressively tramping through a farmer's field, even injuring one of the man's workers so Menel had gotten a bounty for the wild pig, some excellent ham, and money for the truffles he'd found besides. "Anyways, I should be able to manage something edible."

[Nocme]

“Uhhh... Does it happen to be a boar with some extra unknown scars to the side of the body? Wait, no nevermind...” It might, just might be the same battle boar she let loose few month back as a way to get back at a village who tries to turn a naturally wild boar into a battle boar. Now she think about it, neither she nor Dace actually know if the boar run back into the woods or turn on the village. The thing does look plenty pissed despite them picklocked the cage and just let him go.

Dace swoops back down again, playfully flying pass Nocme’s head and also Menel’s. His talons just missing their skin and hair, he likes to test out fancy tricks. Xavar are not the best fancy fliers of the world, but they do like to try and learn and they are quite a fast learner of all thing. Nocme is used to it and never move her head unless she know he was divebomb on purpose.

Soon he settled on her shoulder, cawing quietly in her ears. They shared the same concern. “How long till we reach your camp?” it was a concern on her mind that they are past noon and they sun is going to start setting. She doesn’t mind travelling in the dark, but there is a guy with them whom she hasn’t even asked his name, even though she did not share her name either. Dace is more flippant about stranger danger, but he always gets more nervous at night time. His white feather make him stand out easily in the dark, unlike the snow or the constant neon brightness of Maquina, he is more exposed here.

[Menel]

Menel blinked at the question. Really he didn't remember exactly what the boar had looked like. It was a few months back and almost every boar he'd ever seen had it's fair share of scars. Boars, particularly the males during mating season were testy creatures and would pick a fight with just about anything they set their eyes on. He'd seen one that got upset with a tree and uproot the entire thing.

She said to never mind her question and Menel nodded, continuing to lead her south. He didn't head directly south, but more to the southwest. "It's not to terribly much further." The woods were becoming a bit more familiar. He'd set up his camp in a clearing that he knew didn't gather much attention from the local wildlife but sported a small stream that he could use.

"Ah, here we are." The trees parted and there it was. It was a modest camp to say the least. His tent was little more than a waterproofed tarp set up so that water would run off if it rained, but more in this sunny weather as protection from insects. The stream was on the other side of the clearing from it, the two as far away from one another as he could make them. Just in case an animal did decide to come and take a drink he didn't want his sleeping place in the way. The pit he'd dug for a fire was in the middle. Carefully lined with rocks so that he wouldn't accidentally catch anything on fire.

The swordsman headed directly for the stream, making a small motion that she should make herself comfortable. Of his actual belongings there was no sign. "I'm Menel by the way." He flashed her a smile and sat himself down on a large rock that protruded up from the ground by the stream, pulling out a knife and starting to skin the rabbit with smooth professional motions.

[Nocme]

Dace landed on Nocme again, interested to see where the camp is. It really doesn’t matter to the duo the state of the camp, most of the time they don’t even have a tent and use whatever clothing they have available at the moment to use as temporary shelter, or sneak into someone’s house and hide in their roof space. The only exception is when they are at cold region, in which case she always went out with a warm tent prepared. It would be wind and frost proof, covered in white animal fur pelt so no one can spot them. And she would definitely have enough fuel for a decent fire so there is no way they would freeze to death.

Both of them gave a small relieved sigh that this is actually a good decent away from everything. Including that field of deadly hallucinogenic flowers and there is a stream as well. Dace flew down into the stream to take a drink, knowing full well how Nocme won’t be drinking from the stream until she watched someone else do it and they didn’t foam at the mouth seconds later or something.

She still did not go to the stream but instead head to the fire pit. Carefully she pushed the huge poncho back a bit so she have some room to move and sit down. As well as removing the scarf from her head completely, hard to talk with things always in front of her mouth. “Nocme... and Dace,” she added as the xavar squawks before flying up to nestle in her lap. He stare at them all with his bright red eye, glowing vapor flickering as he watched the hunter skin the rabbit. Nocme could feel a bit of a drool coming out of his beak.

Nocme still observe everything else, like there is very little of his actual belonging, meaning he could be someone who is always on the road. Those type of people either has a caravan full of their possessions, or have so little they could fit it in one rucksack and be on their way in seconds, just like her.

After a few more look around, she was satisfied there are no people hiding in trees or stream, or even in his tent, so this won’t be an ambush of anything. Only then, she let out a small sigh. Dace took this as a signal that she is letting go a little and gladly flew off to watch Menel skin the rabbit close up. Nocme just move forward quietly, took out her flint stones and some dry leaves, she began to start a fire for the rabbit. No idea if he is going to grill it or boil it, but either way as long as the flesh is edible she doesn’t care how over or undercooked the thing is.

[Menel]

The woman, Nocme as she introduced herself stayed over by his fire pit. She still seemed very cautious to him, but he supposed that he couldn't really blame her. Comfort if she would find it would come with time. Her pet at least was a little more sociable though Menel suspected that Dace was more interested in the rabbit than he was in getting to know Menel better. Even so Menel wasn't against the idea of some company.

He cleaned the rabbit out, offering some of the tastier bits of the rabbit to the xavar. Parts that most people didn't find particularly tasty but which were very nutritious and considering that Dace was a predator bird they would do the xavar good.

The swordsman only washed them a bit before leaving them on the rock and bringing the rabbit over to the pit. It was split for roasting, with other parts cut into smaller pieces. "Ah, that's a great fire thanks!" He flashed her a smile and set the rabbit up on a spit to roast. For the moment he left the raw pieces beside the fire, walking over to a tree and unwedging his pack from among the leaves and pulling out a large pot. He left the pack down near his tent and after throwing a round disk into the bottom picked up the small pieces and dumped them into the pot to go over the fire as well.

All the stew in the making needed was a little water added and it would be ready to go, and if they kept the lid off the top it might cook a little more slowly, but then the fat and juices from the rabbit cooking above would drip inside.

Menel smiled. Not to bad a start.

[Nocme]

Dace liked the man a lot more now since he got some good bits of meat from him. He will never abandon Nocme for another companion though, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t encourage his friend to open up to this one a little more. After all a man can be judged by how he treats the animals around him, and those in lower status than him.

Nocme also noted this, but only watched out of the corner of the eye, more important to get the fire roaring first. It was just in time as well, he finished skinning the rabbit and got the rocks for both a stew and a roast. Although she has to move the pieces a bit further away from the fire to prevent them from cooking prematurely like that. In fact as he ready the spit and the pot over the fire, she went to the river and used her water skin to collect some water for the stew.

“Since you say you are not confident in cooking I say we leave the lid on the pot this time, lot harder to overcook this way,” Nocme commented as she dump the water into the pot when it was ready. “Also if you want I can handle the spit, I know how to make sure its cooked all the way through,” hearing that Dace decided to help out a little with the cooking. By hanging on the handle and swing around like a lunatic bat, turning the whole roast slowly.

At this point Nocme couldn’t help but laugh, “jeez you greedy bastard.” Dace responded with a cawing laughter before letting go and let the elf take care of it. She know what to do to make the roast cook evenly, just most of the time she is too lazy to build a fire pit for herself, especially if they have to run in the middle of the rest.

[Menel]

He was almost surprised when Nocme spoke up. She seemed from his perspective to be a fairly quiet person, but perhaps once she opened up a bit more, she also talked more. Her pet at least seemed to have warmed up to him quite a lot. Though he had a feeling that was mostly due to the food. Animals were easy to please that way. The swordsman nodded at her suggestions, putting the lid on the pot and sitting down near the fire. It was starting to get dark. This far north that meant that even in the summer it would get a little cold, but if he slept close to the fire he probably wouldn't need the tent. The light and the smell of smoke would keep most animals away as well.

"I really appreciate your help." He laughed a little. "Maybe between the two of us we'll have a good meal going here. That block I threw in before is mostly fat and some fruit and vegetables. If I had anything fresher I'd add it to the pot but it's getting a bit dark to go foraging right now." He glanced toward the edge of the clearing. Once the night fell in the forest it pretty much fell all at once. Soon it would be hard to see one's hand in front of their face.

He sat down next to the fire, relaxing with one hand on his knee and the other in the grass near his hip. Watching the fire crackle. Soon enough the smell of cooking rabbit would fill this small clearing. "So," Blue eyes slid over to the woman that was his guest. "What are you and Dace doing out here in the woods anyway?"

[Nocme]

Nocme laughed a bit, she kind of wanted to mention she wasn’t a bad cook per say. She will never badly burnt a meat, boil a hole through pots or even leave the fire unattended. Just a very lazy one and prefer efficiency rather than tasty food. Like taking food from another house and leaving the ingredients behind, or just straight up taking the wallet of those who she has contract to kill. They’re dead, they don’t need that anymore. The two of them need it to buy more supplies like beef jerkies or cow intestine, those are delicious when dried and salted.

As for his question, Nocme thought about it for a moment, whether telling him would affect her plan or cause any danger to herself and Dace. After a while she shrugged and answered him, “looking for a friend.” There is very little the guy could do with this information anyway. Like really what is he going to do? Kidnap his friend and held her for ransom? Good luck breaking Ceberas she was stubborn even when they were playing around at their younger years. She also has a natural super strength from being an anthromorph so good luck fighting her.

Still she wished she could find her friend quick, she missed her a lot and she really wanted to introduce Dace to her. Maybe she would also gain an animal companion, it wouldn’t be surprising since she was fairly close to all the critters she wasn’t hunting and rather animalistic herself when playing around with them. Must be the puppy gene or something...

“What about you? What are you out here for?” she asked back absentmindedly and keep turning the spit, making sure every side is cooked evenly and nothing is burnt. Dace help keep watch, just so he could take a bite out of Nocme’s share the moment its ready. It was kind of strange for the man to be here as well, far away from Nandinva and Faesa, and off of main road, unless he really is just wondering around the area aimlessly.

[Menel]

A friend? Menel nodded but her answer only really made him more curious. Was the friend lost? Or did she simply not know exactly where they were? The swordsman would have thought that having a xavar would make hunting down just about anyone a fairly easy task. Then again if her friend was a hunter it could be pretty difficult. They'd cover their scent, their tracks, and even their presence as much as possible so that their prey wouldn't know where they were.

He considered offering to help her find her friend since he obviously wasn't a bad tracker himself, but he was distracted from that by her question. Menel smiled and pointed at the fire. "I'm out here hunting. I work as a bodyguard here and there, but it's not the best paying job and when I'm between work I've got to eat somehow so... I usually come back here to do a little hunting."

The swordsman watched the rabbit turn around and around over the fire. His stomach gave a little rumble and he ignored it. It wouldn't be to much longer before the food was ready and he could wait that long at least. "You say you are out here looking for a friend? Are they lost or something? Or are you just trying to meet up with them? I'm just asking because this forest can be a little dangerous for those that don't know their way around. There's a whole field of dangerous flowers just to the south of us a bit, and we aren't far from the territory of a pack of fairly aggressive wolfanthropes."

[Nocme]

It was easy for her to hear the rumble, she said nothing but just smirked. Look like this guy is just way too honest, and should not pose any danger on purpose. The meat is almost ready, as Dace was wiggling his butt ready to pounce on a piece as soon as he judged it ready. There are still plenty of mysteries surrounding xavar ability, but she was pretty sure Dace can see a lot more in his red eyes.

In the meantime she can just answer question safely, Dace will inform them when the food is ready. “Trying to meet up... We haven’t seen each other for about... I say a decade or more,” considering she left for Valias around ten years old or so, it really has been a decade. With only five years of active searching, which was about the age where she felt confident on sneaking aboard a retreating war ship to get to another land. Not that her parents has to know about it.

“And we know the way around the forest, we grew up here together. Seen the field of orchids, and she is from the pack of wolfantrhopes. Well at least before they turn that aggressive and actually start a bloody war,” one of the reason Ceberas’ parents wanted to leave. Though she really wished they leave together for Valias. However they weren’t comfortable with snow, so there is no helping that.

“I keep going back near that village, hoping to find signs of her... just anything to find where she run off and hide...” she sighs a little. Dace at this time lunged at a piece of meat, ripping it off before retreating from the fire to taste the well roasted meat. A signal for Nocme to take the whole thing off, she carefully takes the whole piece and hand it to Menel, while she takes the one the xavar already took a chunk off.

[Menel]

Ten years? That was a long time to go without seeing someone. Menel wondered if Nocome had been looking for her friend that long, or if she'd just gone that long without seeing her friend and only now was deciding to go looking for whoever it was. There was a lot that could happen in ten years, it was hard to even say that her friend was still alive if they hadn't had contact in so long. Particularly if her friend was a wolfanthrope. Those who had animistic features did not have it so easy in this world. All to often they were hunted as if they were little more than the animals they half embodied though... Menel knew that it was not often that those born on this continent did so.

He'd heard about the wild pack, but he'd never truly understood what had caused them to go mad like they had. It wasn't really in their nature to do such things, which had always caused the swordsman to suspect that there was something more to it than what little the rumors told. Which was nothing at all unfortunately.

Perhaps Nocme knew something about the truth. If her friend had been a member of the pack, perhaps she knew what had driven them to attack everything and everyone they came upon.

"I'd offer to give you a hand... I'm a pretty decent tracker, but if it's been that long I don't know how much help I'd be." He watched the rabbit turn around. He didn't want to crush Nocme's hopes, but it wasn't likely that she'd just bump into her friend out here after so long. "If your friend is a wolfanthrope, they probably know all the tricks for throwing someone off of their trail."

He gratefully accepted the rabbit she offered him, blowing on it to cool it a bit. It was still steaming heavily from the heat of the fire. "If there is anything I can do to help though, I'd be happy to lend a hand."

[Nocme]

“I know that... but I hoped she would at least try to left me some clues...” she thought of everything that Ceberas might left behind so no one but her could understand and figure out her location. Although his offer of service is something she can’t really refuse, considering she saw his twin sword, heard his profession and the fact he has the stamina to chase a xavar through the woods. This is the protection she needed to search in an area she is not so confident with.

“But your help is appreciated, I am trying to head further south to see if she decided to left something near those flowers. Might need someone to make sure none of those clans come, or else the only escape route would be through the flower field. It’s a small chance, but I know she can approach the field without too much of a problem. For some reason she said that the flowers doesn’t affect her as much.” Nocme suspected it was due to her element being poison, but even then her friend was reluctant to go deeper in to the flower field to get their arrows back. Saying something like resistance is not the same as immunity.

She take a big bite out of her rabbit as well, not bothering to wait for it to cool down but just bite it down and rip the pieces off its bones. Even though its not seasoned, the meat is still very juicy and tender. A reason why Dace got up to her lap again to get a second piece, she rip off some with her hand and throw it up. Expertly Dace shoots up and caught the cooked bunny in his claws, before landing back down between the two and began feasting on it.

Nocme did not forget the stew and goes over to open the lid to see how everything is cooking. Looking at the stew bubbling away, she can’t help but remember the time their two families got together in the wilderness to cook and eat together. Ceberas’ mum was ever gentle and made the best quail soup, her dad is a bit loud, but get along really quickly with her own dad. She hopes they are alright as well. Her own parents are now safe in Valias and want for nothing but her safety. But for Ceberas? And her family? Until she finds them, she can’t rest.

[Menel]

To his surprise Nocme actually was warming quickly to the idea of having some help. The swordsman couldn't help but feel badly for her. She was searching by herself diligently for this friend of hers without any help. Menel didn't have to tell her the sort of danger that her friend could be in. The sorts of dangers that this world they lived in were rife with. He nodded in acceptance. Even if he wasn't much of a tracker, Nocme would be a lot safer with someone keeping her company. Someone to watch her back while she looked for her friend.

The rabbit in Menel's hand didn't last very long. Once it was cool enough for him to eat it was effectively gone down to the bone. It was quite good actually. There wasn't anything in the way of seasoning on it but really it didn't need much. He watched Nocme stir the stew with more than a little interest. He couldn't help the fact that he had an incorrigible appetite.

"Has your friend left you other clues?" Menel considered the idea with curiosity. If there were clues maybe it wasn't going to be as difficult as he thought. "Do you mind if I take a look at them? Maybe I can tell something from what she left behind that will help us find her."

[Nocme]

Watching him finish that rabbit so quickly and cleanly just made Nocme believe he hasn’t eaten properly for a long time. Not that it's uncommon around the area, as hunting is also dependent on luck and lack of competition in the area. Also possibly not having their kills stolen by greedy birds, like Dace who is staring at the rest of her bunny meat.

“Dace if you take this no soup for you,” she said firmly dangling the rest of the rabbit in front of him. The bird narrows his eyes, staring back and forth from the pot and the chunk of meat. Finally he flew up to take the meat and began tearing apart the meat. They both knew he would later try to take a drink from the soup anyway, and they also knew that Nocme wouldn’t mind despite the curse word she will be spewing out later.

The soup is pretty much ready anyway and just need a bowl to pour into. Something Nocme rarely pack in her rucksack, but she expect Menel would and made a hand gesture to get him to give her the bowl. She would eat out of the pot if he has no spare, she doesn’t care what he thinks of her really. There is a chance once they separate she will never find this man again unless she sends Dace out to find him.

Still, Nocme hesitated when he ask for more clues. She is reluctant to place trust in him, but so far he seems to be gentle. Dace made a small squawk noise, a little annoyed at the hesitation. For two years she has been around a brick wall of no clues, and the only other place that could have any more clues is dangerous to be alone at. There is no helping it...

“She... she likes making these things...” she said slowly and pulls her glove off. On her wrist was twine tying a small packet to her wrist. A faint smell of cinnamon, holly flower and yew, with a hint of cherry come from it, it made her whole hand and wrist have the same smell. She holds it out for Menel to look at. “Scent pouches, she made a lot and always handpick and collect the scents that reminds her of stuff. She also made some for herself and others...” Like their parents, although they like to wear it as a necklace rather tied around like a bracelet.

[Menel]

Menel actually had a stack of four small wooden bowls which he offered to Nocme. She filled one for herself and one for him as well but the swordsman poured a little of his into a third bowl and not-so-subtly set it in front of the xavar giving the bird a little smile and wink before putting the fourth bowl into his pack. The xavar was probably just as hungry as they were, and though Menel could regularly eat as much as two or three normal men he wasn't the sort to be stingy about sharing.

Nocme was unsurprisingly hesitant about sharing her clues with him, but she seemed to realize that if he was going to help her that she was going to have to trust him that much. He appreciated how difficult that seemed to be for her, and that she did choose to trust him. Menel had every intention of proving that she had made the right choice in doing so.

She pulled off her glove and the swordsman leaned forward a little, looking at the bracelet she was wearing. Even over the smell of stew he could smell the scents that rose from it. For a wolfanthrope these scents would be easily recognizable, and might even tell Nocme's friend who her friends were. "Has she been leaving these behind for you then? In different areas marking where she's been?"

[Nocme]

Dace practically stared at Menel with starry eyes, while Nocme just stared with disbelieve. Generally people she met are very stingy about sharing and this man not only forgives the bird for stealing his kill, he keep sharing food with the greedy Xavar. Of course the bird was forever grateful and tuck into the stew gratefully, slurping and making chirping noises that she knew was him showing his joy and gratitude.

As for the scent pouches... Nocme nodded, it was a version of hide and seek they made. Ceberas was curious whether elves could hone their nose like a wolfanthropes and thus made special pouches to hide in burrows and holes for her to find. She cheated most of the time and just end up tracking her friend as she went around hiding those scent pouches.

“Generally she won’t bury them and would tie them on something in the area... but I already searched all the trees, all the branches looking for it...” Sometime she actually wished she took that game seriously, it may have just helped out finding those pouches, to see if any clues were left behind near it. “The only place I couldn’t get to was the flower field, sometime she like keeping things at the edge of the field. No one is stupid enough to go there without a gas mask, so she hide a lot of stuff there.”

[Menel]

The swordsman nodded a bit, eating his bowl of stew quickly before it could cool. So she had this form of communication to know that her friend was still alive. Resolutely Menel set the bowl down. Reaching out slowly with a hand to touch the pouch. Trying to determine by the strength of the scents and the aging on the bag how long it had been out in the elements. Knowing how far behind the wolfanthrope they were would aid in finding her.

"Does she use the same scents every time? Or does she use different things?" He had several reasons for asking. If she used the same things then she might carry a collection of them on her, but if she used different things each time there was a chance that she gathered them from the local area. The scent of cherries would then perhaps be from a local cherry tree. Knowing her patterns of movement would mean more opportunities that she had been seen by someone that they could talk to, or finding some further trace that she had left behind.

If she used the same scents though... perhaps they could track her by scent. None of them might have that sort of skill, but there were ways. His blue eyes met hers. "When searching for someone, every little piece of information is important. You never know which one could lead you to where they are."

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