[center][color=tan][h1][b]Chapter 001[/b][/h1][/color][/center][center][sub][i]Scene 003[/i][/sub][/center][hr]        A few hundred meters from the edge of the forest Luca eventually stopped. He began to start gathering wood for a fire, Tasha joined in the task as well. It was around 2 hours till sun down. There was plenty of time to get ready for the night. As the small stockpile of wood gathered up, Luca turned to Tasha, [color=deepskyblue]"I'm gonna go find something to eat. Stay here and watch our gear."[/color] Tasha nodded her head, she wanted to speak but Luca quickly left sight. [color=lime]"What would I have said anyway?"[/color] She thought sitting down by the unlit fire. She rummaged through her belongings eventually finding her flint and steel, beginning to light the fire. As Luca passed through the brush and flora of the forest, he looked for any signs of animals. Whether it be tracks or broken branches. He had been alive long enough to know how to track pretty well, but never had dedicated time to be an expert at it. [color=deepskyblue]"I don't really know how I feel about barking orders at Tasha." [/color]He thought, walking further out. [color=deepskyblue]"She probably doesn't even mind. I'll have to ask her when I get back."[/color] Luca had never really been in charge of anybody or a group of people. He always stood on the side to watch and see what leaders do. He had the capability, but never the reason or inspiration to do so. Letting people do what they do was always so intriguing to him, or it just made him dumbfounded. It depended on the person at hand.

	[color=lime]"What should I ask him when he gets back?"[/color] Tasha thought as she fondled the fire with a small stick. She hadn't really been with another man before, as in meeting with one or socializing with one. She hadn't actually been with man in bed either. This was a huge step for her. Her family really had sheltered her. Tasha's father would go get food from his farm or from livestock, occasionally he'd hunt and bring back something. Her mother would wash the clothes and take care of their house. She'd also tend to the baby livestock and make sure all the meals were ready when her father was ready to eat. Tasha really didn't know how other men acted but she thought Luca seemed to have an 'old soul', or something of that sort. He didn't didn't seem very fidgety to her, nor did he seem inexperienced. She'd have to keep going on with this adventure to see what develops. Tasha wanted to believe that Luca was a good man, but it felt like there was something he was hiding. Was it something he was or an action he had committed? Or both?

	Eventually coming upon some tracks, Luca got excited. He began to follow the tracks, they seemed that of a deer. It had been an hour or so since he had left a strange girl with all his gear. He had been thinking that it wasn't the most smart idea. He half expected to come back to the fire with nothing left, though he had been in worse situations. It still was a situation that he'd rather not be in. Continuing to wonder and follow the tracks of the deer. He eventually found the deer. It was just a doe, not a buck. Something that still would put food in his belly. It was eating some grass, probably it's last meal of the day. Luca drew his bow carefully, stepping around for a clear opening. He watched where he placed his feet, it wouldn't be like the wolf, the deer would run away. Finally approaching the doe about 50 meters away, he drew his bow. Aiming for a couple of long seconds, he released his arrow. It flew with great precision, exactly where he wanted it. The arrow pierced it's heart. The doe stumbled around a little bit, releasing a cry before falling to the ground. He's been hunting things for years, if he had missed this animal he'd have been ashamed for missing the creature. Luca quickly ran up to the doe, picking it up and trotting back to the campfire Tasha had hopefully made. [color=deepskyblue]"Could she make a fire?"[/color] He thought and chuckled jogging back.

	Waiting for Luca to come back, Tasha was cooking some stew and had some ale prepared for his return. She was well experienced in preparing meals. Having figured that Luca was tired of making meals for himself everyday, she thought it would be nice to have one waiting for him. He had been gone quite a while. The sun started to set, most likely around 30 minutes or so of daylight left. She began to wander if he got killed, or lost his way. She kept continuing in stirring the stew and staring into the fire. After a few more minutes Luca appeared in the distance avoiding tree limbs and brush. A deer was on his back and he looked exhausted. She yelped quietly with excitement. Her father was never a good enough hunter to catch a deer or elk. He always brought back rabbits, boars, wolves, and other creatures. Tasha sat quietly and eager, awaiting Luca's approach. A small smile spread across her face.

	[color=deepskyblue]"Well you seem very excited about some deer."[/color] He chuckled, setting the doe down on the ground. Taking out a knife he began to skin it. Every so often he would glance up at Tasha to see what she was doing. She had prepared a bowl of stew for him, as well as setting a cup of ale beside him. Finishing up the skinning, he took a sip of his ale. He began to cut into the deer, getting the first two pieces of meat on the fire to cook. Looking at Tasha another time as he cut the doe he asked, [color=deepskyblue]"I was kind of surprised you were still here when I got back."[/color] He gave a weak smile and chuckle as he confessed. Tasha laughed slightly, but she felt a little offended. That's the last thing she'd do to somebody. Perhaps it's happened to him before, who knows. [color=lime]"I wouldn't do that to you!"[/color] She exclaimed. Luca could see the uneasiness in his joke, [color=deepskyblue]"Well, you never know. Hopefully you don't ever have to go through anything to make you think that way."[/color] He shrugged it off, she was truly innocent he thought. [color=deepskyblue]"Is she useless in combat?"[/color] He thought to himself as he finished up cutting up the doe. He sat the carcass a couple hundred meters away, returning back to the fire. He sat across the fire from where she was at. Grabbing his stew and ale that she had set beside him earlier. He began to eat, as did she. After a few bites he rotated the deer meat. Continuing to glance at Tasha every so often he didn't really know what to say or think of his new companion.

	After finishing up both their meals and storing the cooked meat for tomorrow they packed up their things for tomorrow. Luca's eyes felt heavy. Rubbing them, then looking at Tasha he said, [color=deepskyblue]"I'm headed for bed. Do you have everything you need? Do you need anything?"[/color] As he was asking those questions he got up and headed towards his pack, getting out his bedroll. He had a tent but it didn't seem like it was going to rain tonight. He'd rather have the heat of the fire hit his face. Tasha shook her head no, [color=lime]"I don't need anything, I'll let you know if something comes up."[/color] She gave a weak smile, [color=lime]"Goodnight Luca."[/color] She gave a large smile hopping up, frolicking over to her bed that she had prepared while he was gone. Cracking a small smile at her energetic atmosphere he said, [color=deepskyblue]"Goodnight Tasha, sleep good."[/color] Curling up in his blanket and bedroll he closed his eyes, falling asleep shortly after. Tasha stayed up a few minutes watching Luca and looking around at the trees and bushes. Slight wind making the fauna move. She was a little unsettled but it was nothing she hadn't seen before. It was just a unknown land where she had never been, with an unknown man. Yet she still had a feeling of peace, like there was nothing to fear while she was around Luca. Was that just hopeful thinking?