The Pathless Woods

[Toscun'ahesesi]

Trial 56, Ashan, Arc 716

"Thank you for the tip papa!"

"Of course Toṣe. Do not go alone, find other hunters to go with, the signs were too far out for you to go alone yet. I would accompany you but I must take the younglings out tomorrow for their lessons."

"Yes papa."

Toscun'ahesesi agreed. Although a small part of her wanted to argue that she was fully capable of traversing the Makubwa Lori on her own, the scar on her side said that this wasn't entirely true. She thought she'd handled that whole experience rather well as these things went, but the fact remained that the Makubwa Lori could be a dangerous place even to those who knew and respected it. Besides, her father knew it many times better than she did, and if he, a senior hunter thought the area he was sending her to deserved more than one hunter in the party, she would be a fool to ignore him.

Besides, she had already thought of someone who would likely go with her if asked. With a wave at her father, the young woman trotted through Desnind, often exchanging a nod, smile or wave with those she passed. There were very few people here that she did not at least recognize. They were primarily Sev'ryn, and in their own way they were all her family, or so she saw it in any case.

In any case, strong legs soon had her outside the leatherworkers shop.

"Sen'Nuk! Are you here?"

Tose did not know the other girl very well although they were of similar ages. Sen'Nuk had always seemed rather.. distant, and as if she did not necessarily want to share in camaraderie, though she was not unpleasant or unfriendly. What she did know however, was that Sen'Nuk was also a junior hunter, and that she was apprenticed to the leatherworker.

Any leatherworker would be more than keen to join in on the hunt that Tose had planned, courtesy of a tip from her father. Tose was quite certain she could get the other to join her. Plus this way it would keep word from spreading too quickly. Her father was not a gregarious man after all. If she asked one of the hunters she usually went into the Makubwa Lori with all of them would know within the trial. Hunters were some of the worst gossips, at least amongst themselves.

Tose actually felt a twinge of guilt for not sharing the news that she had, but this was a hunt that she wanted to complete. She didn't want one of her brothers to get the kill, although if they managed to on their own she'd not begrudge them. Here though was a chance to get her mother something she'd always expressed admiration of but had never had. How many daughters got that chance? And surely if there was a worthy cause it was repaying a little bit of the debt of love and care ones parents had invested?

It was this that had her looking for the largely solitary girl.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Wiping her brow, Sen'nuk took a deep breath. It was one of the warmer days in the shop, though that might have just been her imagination. She'd been doing a lot of moving around, making things look clean again. Since she had just practically made the place a gigantic mess. Though Qan'Dun never seemed to mind. That was, as long as she cleaned up after herself after each project and didn't let it flood too much into the shop.

Today wasn't really a day that she'd be getting any guidance from Qan, seeing as he needed to catch up on his own workings. Some special order's that he had taken only two trials ago were pretty large, and so he needed to keep to himself and work on those pieces. He had told her that she hadn't needed to come in. But she had at least wanted to try one thing or another, you know, to see if she had something that he'd taught her down. She had remembered to grab the bigger needle today. Having snapped one to many in her opinion and had set to work on cutting the leather pieces out (making sure to lay everything out in a way that she was loosing minimal good leather,) and then placing them together in a way that resembled a small pouch. What would be 'Scrap' Sen'Nuk might be able to salvage and use for decoration or for some other smaller project.

But now that she was cleaned up, having poked her fingers more times than she could count, and almost poking out her eye as well, which was what caused most of the mess anyways, because she'd jerked back too hard and knocked things off the table. After she had gotten over the pounding in her heart, she had gotten to cleaning. Well, not before got to laugh at her. That was okay. She was prone to make mistakes. Leather wasn't the easiest thing to sew together.

Wiping her hands together when she finished she was about to say something to Qan about heading home early for the trial, and would be coming back in, but not even a trill before she was going to speak, a young woman came bursting in yelling her name.

Sen'Nuk went to the front of the store, raised eyebrows as she looked over the girl and then smiled. "Toscun'ahesesi... if I remember correctly? What's got you running in here like you have a pack of wolves on your heels?" She smirked, standing with her arms crossed and her hip swayed out to her own right, just a bit, not too much. "Because I don't have my bow with me if that's the case." She chuckled a bit.

Hoping she hadn't gone overboard with the jokes she waved Toscun in. "Come come my friend! It is rare for someone to actually seek me out." She smiled and brought Toscun to a small bench to one side that sat two, and was actually there to help people try on shin guards and other leg armor. She sat down and looked to the other young lady. "I'm assuming you need me and not my mentor, with the way you were yelling my name." She smiled softly. "To what do I owe this pleasure to?"

Sen sat there. From her knowledge, this girl was learning to be a hunter too. Which means that it most likely had something to do with that. She smiled, and waited patiently for an answer. The girl seemed eager enough. No need to prod her for information she was already willing to give.

[Toscun'ahesesi]

"You do, though Tose is fine as well! And no wolves, but you'll need your bow all the same."

Came the answer with a grin. Perhaps if she'd decided on a path that was a little safer and saw her staying closer to home she might have been keener of the use of her full name, but experience had proven that out in the wilds a shorter name was often better. When a person wasn't even through saying your name before you'd fallen prey to whatever they were trying to warn you about, that was a problem. Besides, pride and self importance had never been something Tose suffered from.

She went along with Sen'Nuk easily, letting herself be led to the bench and having a seat beside the other girl. Sen'Nuks choice of words It is rare for someone to actually seek me out! paired with her friendliness and the immediate welcome she'd offered inspired shame in Tose, though she hid it well. She had always just assumed that Sen'Nuk valued her solitude, and so had respected that. Was it possible though that the other simply did not know how or feel comfortable reaching out? What if she'd interpreted the acceptance of her perceived nature as her being shunned? What if in trying to accommodate, Sen'Nuk had instead been marginalized and isolated?

I cannot change what was, I can only change what will be. I will see what path Sen'Nuk prefers with my own eyes and ears, and if she wants to walk alongside mine or the other hunters then it will be so.

For a Sev'ryn as traditional as Toscun'ahesesi it was a devastating thought that her back might have been turned on one of her own people, on her extended family when they had need. Tose was a practical creature though. There was no point in wallowing, one simply had to rectify the error if an error it was.

Which brought her back to the current moment, and the questions Sen'Nuk was levelling her way. Grin grew as she replied.

"Yes, it is you I'm after, as long as Qan'Dun can spare you. If not I can wait until you are done for the Trial. You know my Papa, Awo'san?"

She leaned in closer to the other girl, eyes dancing and voice lowering.

"He found sign of Nàhb'àífinju."

She straightened, hand waving slightly.

"Not the known ones, new, moving. You know what that means! It is not finding territory, which means there are enough in that area, we can hunt it! I thought you could work the pelt. I wanted.. I wanted to bring feathers for my mama."

That last was admitted with a bit of a blush.

"It is far out in the Makubwa Lori though, I do not want to go alone. Better to hunt with a sister, yes?"

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Sen'Nuk looked at her a little confused for a moment. "Of course I know you're father, I've hunted with him many a time." She smiled softly and waited for whatever was on the other girst mind to come out.

When the words finally did come, her eyebrows raised. "He's absolutely certain?" She frowned a bit. "I have no use for such fancy furs.." She looked around, and pondered a moment. "Well maybe I do. I could save it for a customer with unique tastes and try my hand at mixed works." She frowned a bit more as she looked over to the girl again. "And those feather's would be a lovely gift for your mother."

She stood up, "But so far out in the Makubwa Lori?" She looked at Tosc. "I've only been out far if the group was more than 4 people and we were hunting something specific." She was thinking outloud mostly. Somewhere in the back of her mind was worry, worry that something was going to go wrong with only the two of them.

"Am I the only one you've come to?" She looked at Tosc with a bit of concern. "Why not a more skilled and ready hunter? Or at least one or two more people, even if it's just our fathers?" She looked at her. "We would have to be so careful Toscun... So careful that it might be debilitating."

Dispite the way she normally acts around people, which normally makes her seem distant. She really does care. It's hard to see if you don't get to know her. But it was one of her better qualities. She looked at the ground. This was going to be hard, this was going to be dangerous. She sighed. For some reason, she felt if she didn't do this, Tosc would be going alone.

"Hold on one minute." she sighed and walked into the back area, out of sight. Talking could be heard between her and Qan. A small bit of laughter, and then Sen was back out with a small smile on her face. She stood in front of Tosc with a small smile on her face. "So when are we going? And what all will we need?"

[Toscun'ahesesi]

Tose nodded when Sen'Nuk said she'd hunted with Awo'san before. Likely, almost all of her generations fledgeling hunters had at one point or another. Mostly she'd just been re-establishing her own relationship with him. In the forest he tended to treat everyone the same. They were all his charges, his children to be watched over even if he did tend to be a fairly stoic guardian.

"All skilled and ready hunters must start one day no? Perhaps there is no day when you wake up and feel ready, perhaps you would be waiting all your life for such a feeling. But being prepared! This we can do! And should we fail, other hunters will be happy to pick up the chase. It will be most difficult yes, but only if we begin the task can we hope to succeed. There is joy even in failure, in striving against seemingly insurmountable obstacles I think. Perhaps that is how the skilled become skilled!"

She gave the other girl a companionable pat.

"We are not the best, this is so, but we are not so unskilled I think."

She was at the very least confident in her own tracking skills, and unless much had changed from what she remember, Sen'Nuk had always been a slightly better shot than her. If they could track, and they could shoot, and they respected the Makubwa Lori, what more was needed?

Besides, she meant what she'd said. If they failed in the hunt it would not be the worst thing. They could bag some other game on the way home and it would not have been a waste.

Toscun'ahesesi waited patiently as Sen'Nuk went, likely to speak to Qan'Dun. This was only right and proper. He was sharing his path with her after all. To just run off and leave him and her work without a word would have been terribly rude. Sen'Nuk was back in a moment, and it seemed she would come along after all. This was good. Tose would have respected her fathers wishes and waited for someone who would hunt with her, but by then it likely would have been open season and the more experienced hunters would surely get the kill before she saw even a flash of tail feather.

"There is daylight still, we could leave this trial, or wait for tomorrow morning if you like. We will need our bows of course. I think we will only be out for maybe two trials at most, but perhaps we should bring rations for three just in case."

She thought for a long moment.

"That deep, I do not think it would be good for my horse, so the less we carry the better. If you do not object we could just bring my tent? I do not mind the weight of it, I have carried it often enough. Knives to dress any catch, hm.. Ah! I will bring my good sticks! That way we can use them for tracking, as carrying poles or as a travois."

Tent, bedroll, sticks, bow, knife, waterskin, rations.. Compass and tinderbox. That ought to about do it. More might be useful, but if all went well they''d be carrying even more on their way home. Best not to overload.

"I think that is about all we shall need. More would slow us and make us tired. Tired hunters are careless hunters."

She intoned in a sombre monotone, eyes twinkling before giving a chuckle. It was quite likely Sen'Nuk had heard that exact phrase in a very similar tone from Awo'San at one point. Almost anyone caught yawning from a night up too late with friends or practising a new skill did.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Sen'nuk smiled at the girl in front of her. Like father like daughter. Sen had learned some of the same words from Toscun's father, having been out hunting in groups with him before. She normally wasn't the one getting those words though. She rarely ever complained about being tired in the first place. Most of the time she was forced to go home by Qan when she worked too long on some project without a break.

Going over the list of items that the girl went over she frowned a bit. "You are right to think we might have to set up camp for a night.. And our horses would not enjoy being vulnerable, it would be safer to walk the distance. And if you don't mind just bringing your tent.. " She mulled over what she would bring. "My waterskin, a knife, my bow and arrows.... my bedroll, tinderbox and a bit of jerked meat.. I'll have to go get more arrows and the meat before we go, but we can go right after that.. In fact. We might want to go ahead and have at least a light meal before we go out."

Looking at Toscun, she tilted her head a bit. "That way just in case we get stuck out there in the Lori over night, we have had at least a decent meal." She smiled softly and comes to sit next to the girl. Pondering a moment. "You know... it still surprises me that you'd come to me." She smiled at Toscun. "Most people have been avoiding me since the incident. Do I give off a air of not wanting to interact with my people?" She looked a bit concerned at this notion. "I do not wish to push away my brothers and sisters. They are not all to blame for what happened... I just.." She sighs.

Getting up she starts to walk towards the door, "I'm sorry, we should not talk of such heavy things just before a great hunt! Would you like to come with me to help me get these items?" She had not really been looking for empathy or sympathy, but an answer. That didn't mean that she actually expected an answer to her question about what air she was giving off. She just stood there, waiting to see if Tosc was coming with her or not.

[Toscun'ahesesi]

She rose slowly to follow Sen'Nuk, brow furrowing for a moment as she thought.

"If it is a heavy thing then it will be good to be able to put down at least a part of the burden no? Sometimes, yes, I think right after we felt that you needed.. Time and space. To hear your own heart again and find your own path. And then.. I think we did not pay enough attention, and thought that perhaps solitude was what you wanted for the rest of your path, and did not see that you were ready to walk with others again. We did not feel pushed we just.. Did not want to intrude."

She shrugged once, her words hardly adequate to express the ideas that floated around within her. Both of her parents had taught her kindness, love and responsibility. Her father had taught her to think before she spoke and to speak deeply when she could. She still sometimes spoke without having thought enough, but her intentions were always good and her words were earnest.

Sen'Nuk had wanted to move on from the topic though, so in case she'd said all she wanted to on the topic, Tose moved back to the hunt at hand as walked after the other girl.

"I would go with you! Likely there is still food from last night at the hunters fire pit. Or The Stew."

That was added in an off-hand manner. Though fire was heavily regulated within Desnind, it was still necessary for cooking food, and both fire and food could almost always be found at the hunters pit not far from Mosekes Temple. A place large enough to roast the bigger kills, as well as serving as an in-town gathering spot. Non hunters were welcome as well of course, if they were hungry, particularly if they had skill with cooking. There was almost always some hunter or another returning with game, and while much of this went to their families or was traded for other goods, it was tradition to contribute something to the hunters pit. At the very least there was The Stew. It deserved the capital letters. It was possible at some point the large cauldron was fully emptied and scrubbed, one would certainly hope so, but this never seemed to be observed, and it was habit to simply throw in a little more meat, a little more vegetables, a little more water as the stew diminished, resulting in something that was very nearly primordial. It was warm and rich and gamey and could certainly keep you going though, which was largely what the Hunters cared about.

"My things are with my wagon near the Itọju, so we can grab them easily on the way out."

She commented, since she clearly was not carrying her tent and all with her at that moment. That was one of the bonuses of choosing not to have a static house. She left her things wherever was most convenient for her at the time, usually packed and ready to move at a moments notice, or as was more likely, a whim.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Sen'nuk smiled, of course she'd get a real honest answer out of Toscun. She shouldn't have expected less. But it did sting a little when she actually thought about it. Of course they were just watching out for her, she knew that much. But their not noticing that she wanted to try and make things back to normal was... her fault was it not? She didn't actually try to speak to anyone directly about this before. She just had kind of been waiting for a time when someone would finally notice.

Qan'Dun had been there for her sure, but he was her mentor. He was always going to be there for her, just like her parents. She frowned at the thought, shaking it off. But they weren't the only people that thought about her. Toscun had proved that just now with her words.

She smiled at Tosc as she continued to speak, but this time she had gone with the change of subject. Sen's eyes seemed to say thank you as she watched the girl. "It's nice to share our food with our hunting brothers and sisters." She smiled softly. "We'll have to remember to do so with whatever we get for our hunt as well. I'm really just looking for skins, hides and possible decorative pieces." She smiled a bit as she let Toscun out of the leather house first.

Walking side by side with Toscun, the hunters pit and the Stew were both places of common knowledge for most Sev'ryn. "So which would you prefer? The Stew or the hunters pit?" She smiled softly as they walked. There would be many directions they could get to either place. But it was good to make a consensus now. "We can go find a shop now for my arrows or after we eat, but I have to few for a serious hunt, I want to make sure I'm prepared for anything." She smiled, "Even a beast that requires more than a few. You never know what you're going to run into out in the Lori. Right?"

Sen's smile was so genuine. Most would remember a time when she couldn't smile at all. She'd come so far in almost 2 Arc's time. It'd been over 2 arc's since she'd met the man but not quite the anniversary of the incident yet. The very end of the season. Qan had already told her to take that day off, to go hunting that last day of the season only, though she wasn't really sure why. Maybe he was trying to be considerate?

[Toscun'ahesesi]

"Yes, especially if we do catch a Nàhb'àífinju."

She commented with a wink when Sen'Nuk mentioned contributing to the Hunters Pit. Although most things were held in common and the achievement of one was a source of pride for all, that didn't mean that there wasn't still some status, some ranking, a little bit of competitive spirit. If they did manage to bag a Nafinju, she would happily contribute all the meat, though that was not a significant amount, because it was the humblest way of ensuring that everyone knew what she and Sen'Nuk had managed to do. Successfully hunting one of the notoriously wary creatures was no small accomplishment. This way a bit of bragging could be indulged in without ever saying a word.

Beyond the excitement of tracking something that would put their skills to the test, and possibility of bringing her mother a present, Tose wasn't after anything in particular. She hunted to feed herself and to contribute. If what she brought back was edible, she'd succeeded, so she certainly had no problem with assigning anything Sen'Nuk needed for her chosen path to the other girl.

"Perhaps eat first so you do not need to carry the arrows around until we are ready to go? I like The Stew."

she added with a smile. Many got tired of it, because it was always there, and was always the fallback meal, but Tose liked simple things, and to her The Stew spoke of comfort and home. It was created by many of the hunters and other residents, each adding their ingredient, their contribution, their touch. The Stew was not only a hearty meal, it was in some ways a sense of community.

She wondered briefly if she needed more arrows. She had a dozen on hand currently. She decided that for a two to three day trip, that was enough. They could only carry so much back after all. Even if she loosed all twelve, she expected she'd be able to recover most of them. Plus her father had taught her not to loose an arrow until she had the shot. She did miss sometimes still of course, but not as much as many of those with a similar skill level. Do not shoot until you had the shot, and shoot only if you think your shot will kill. It was unacceptable to maim and animal and follow the blood trail to finish it once it was weakened. This still happened, fairly often, for she was no expert, but it filled her with sorrow and regret whenever it did.

"And yes, the Makubwa Lori still has many surprises hidden within!"

She agreed, eyes shining. Many of them were dangerous, but danger was a part of life. One simply had to be as ready as possible. For the most part, Tose simply liked seeing and experiencing new things, all the wonder that the world had to offer, and there was much. She was often glad that when she died she would be reborn, for surely there was too much to see in a single life time.

It did not take the two girls very long to reach the Hunters Pit, and The Stew. Tose ladled herself a bowlful using one of the smooth well worn bowls kept piled nearby and a stiff waxy leaf as a spoon. Why wash more than was necessary? There were a few Sev'ryn around one of the cooking pits, likely preparing some catch or another, and although Tose offered them a smile, wave and a nod, but she did not join them. Partially because she was particularly bad at deception. She flat out could and did not lie, but even just withholding information came hard to Tose. Keeping their hunt on the down-low until they'd had a chance to really try basically meant not talking shop to anyone yet.

[Sen'Nuk]

56th Trial of Ashan, of the 716th Arc

Sen's smile was soft, gentle and broken, but still a smile. Nodding and agreeing with Toscun when she said that they should go to The Stew. Not arguing that it might be a little annoying to carry her arrows around longer than needed. She walked with the girl. Not really trying to make conversation with the girl as they walked. She didn't really know what to talk about to be honest.

She smiled and followed Toscun through the line and then sat down with her. Quietly eating the food that was served, not forgetting to thank the other hunters for their work before actually sitting down. She looked to Toscun and smiled a bit again. "Oh yes.. many, many surprises. But we can be prepared for what we know, and know that there might be other things out there. How is it? Good? Or better than normal?" She chuckles. "Anything is better than my mothers cooking. Though... there's a certain tinge to Alda's cooking that makes me feel at peace." She smiled at Toscun.

Eating slowly, not like she was in a hurry to get on with a hunt, she looked out at the tree line and sighed. "It'll be nice to shoot. I need to get better." She smiled and looked at Toscun. "What do you like about hunt? Is it helping others. The satisfaction of making the shot?" She smiled softly.

Looking at the ground she started humming a bit. It wasn't pretty, but it was something for her to do between eating and swallowing. She seemed like she was trying really hard not to think about something. But at the same time she was really struggling to have a real conversation. Maybe it was because she didn't know what else, other than hunting they had in common, but Sen did seem a bit embarrassed by the fact she didn't seem to talk much.