Balance

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Bret: Besides the bears, probably any lynxes or wolves, since they also put up a nasty fight. Hopefully we'll have luck avoiding all of them.

@Darlit Glitch

Will they ever engage first if they see us?

Myriad Reality

*The hunters finish checking the number of traps they recovered and shortly after two hunters start walking back in the direction we came from with all of the traps and rabbits. This leaves the two of you, Kleid, and three other hunters left in the forest.*

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: Most of us hunters look forward to this part, so you've got nothing to worry about. And like I said, Bret here is gonna be with you in case you run into trouble. *Pats the shoulder of a black haired hunter who rolls his eyes before walking over and offering up a handshake.*
Bret: Guess I'll be sticking with you this hunt. Let's see what you got.

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

*There isn't any noticeable movement in the forest around you besides the two hunters heading back to town.*
Kleid: *Spots you looking at the treeline already and motions for a brown haired hunter to join you. She quietly walks over and waves nonchalantly once you notice her.*

@Darlit Glitch

*Shakes your hand* I won’t disappoint. Is there anything we really shouldn’t confront?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: That makes a lot more sense now that I've got the context. Hopefully that'll help you when the hunt starts shortly.

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: *Smirks.* Staying quiet should be priority number one, but beyond that I'll be sending a hunter with each of you in case you run into something that wants to fight you. They should know how to respond to any signals I send out, and they'll let me know how well you did in case you guys decide you want to stay with us hunters for a while longer.

@Darlit Glitch

Got it. *Rubs my hands* I’m not sure how wise it is that I’m looking forward to this. Usually these kinds of things take me by surprise when I’m not best equipped.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

*The other hunters walk over with both traps and some of the prey they caught with them.*
Kleid: Yup, though we only really leave them out every now and then at different locations. Once we've got everything accounted for, we can start hunting properly.

@Darlit Glitch

Sounds good. Anything else to know before we start? Stay quiet, for example?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: *Holds back a chuckle.* You can do that if you're up to it, but I was mainly saying that in the context that birds are harder to hit then most mammals in this forest.

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: Huh. I was hoping for more of an answer, but that works just as well. *We stop for a moment before me and some of the other hunters spread out and start messing with things on the ground, with some of us holding up a rabbit or two and others making a quick handsign.*

@Darlit Glitch

Oh, okay. I'll stay careful. Checking out traps?

<Snipped quote by Darlit Glitch>

Oh, that's...just a second

*Jogs over to Soren and whispers*

So, is that chick in the loop about powers and all that?

@CuttleFish

Eirene? No. Neither is the guy, Kleid.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: You probably should, since we don't always have the supplies to make more.

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: Oh? I figured you must have some experience considering how comfortable you seem to be with your choice of hunting tools.
*Points to the knives and spears you picked out.*

@Darlit Glitch

I’ll use them carefully and favour getting up close.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: Maybe if we had materials to spare, but they don't really have much on them that's useful outside of feathers. We mainly focus on hunting stuff like deer, with rabbits being a nice alternative at times.

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: Kleid. You ever gone hunting before Keith? *I start moving slower and more deliberately as we get farther into the forest, with the other hunters doing the same.*

@Darlit Glitch

Makes sense. Should I spare my arrows, then? *Slows down as well*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: *Nods and starts walking towards the forest* Yea, though we won't see much wildlife until we're a bit deeper into the tree line.

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: I like your spirit. What's your name by the way?

@Darlit Glitch

*Some birds fly above us, squawking; one of them is an owl; I look up and then look back forward quickly* I’ll keep a close eye. Are we hunting birds?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Meta>

Sileina: I decided it was about time I used a bit of extra effort to get them moving. Can't have them hibernating through winter when summer's over. Speaking of which, good luck hunting. *Gets back over to the group of hunters behind us and starts checking their equipment alongside some of the senior hunters.*

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Kleid: No problem. I was glad to see Eirene take the lead when you guys started asking about hunting. At the rate she's improved her skills, me and Sileina are almost ready to call her a senior hunter. Be right back. *Also walks over to the group of hunters and helps Sileina sort them into teams after finishing the equipment check. Once that's done, there's a small discussion and then the teams disperse, with a few hunters following me back over to you guys.*

<Snipped quote by CuttleFish>

Kleid: Let's hope that sentiment lasts the day, since the wildlife doesn't always like to comply.

@Darlit Glitch

Let’s do this. East, right?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Balance>

Yeah, anytime. I hope you get the luck you were looking for.

<Snipped quote by Darlit Glitch>

You managed to wake them up today? Congrats—that takes effort.

@Meta

We’ll just see if I need it.