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+--- Thread: A Chilly Hunt (/showthread.php?tid=11435)
A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
Ursa was not a new cave to Onyx-Three. They often passed through it on the way to other places, like the many visits he paid the Blacksmith, or if he wanted to go explore further caves. All of these expeditions beyond Draco were done under the supervision of the Sentinel of course, but usually with minimal interference. But this time, Ursa was a destination rather than a checkpoint. He was here to hunt. The environment here chilled him to the bone despite his thick fur. He was not resistant nor built for cold such as this, with biting winds and snow that piled in dunes. It was not any better that there had recently been an increasing in the frequency and intensity of storms. Luckily it seemed Ursa was calmer as of now. No storm at the moment- but one could also strike without warning.
Onyx-Three was not here because it was supposed to be easy. He wanted to practice hunting, and Ursa provided an additional challenge. His aim would need to be adjusted for the wind, and his senses would need to work harder to pick out the prey from the blinding whiteness. They had replaced their enchanted arrows with normal ones made of a darker shade of wood. He did not want to risk losing his more valuable ones in the snow, and there was simply no need when it was just hunting. The Blacksmith had taught him about arrow making so it hadn't been too hard to do, though it was still a time consuming task. He had left his dagger behind today for fear of losing it as well.
Onyx-Three clutched the rosewood bow in his hand, shifting his shoulder to adjust the quiver on his back. Before a hunt, one needed to find prey. There were dangerous icebeasts here, but they were also rare. Chances were he would not encounter one. Deer existed as well, but he was mainly focused on smaller prey such as rabbits or birds. Practice aim, not fighting. And smaller things were harder to hit as well.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
Their four multicolored eyes scanned the landscape, trying to pick out a shape rather than a color. Everything what white and grey here, and the animals camouflaged well into the mountains and snow. The only difference would be the curve of a body, circle of an eye. That was what he was looking for.
He was not experienced with such things, but he eventually spotted something that looked out of place. Maybe? Rather than something on the ground, what he saw was a wing disappearing and reappearing among the light snowfall. A bird. Mountain sparrow.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
He followed the bird's movements, finding himself tiring from the snow. It was a considerably harder task to trudge through snow drifts as compared to rocky ground or grass filled meadows. Onyx-Three realized it would be best to try and hit it now, rather than wait for an opportunity. He would not be able to keep up for very long. The bow was raised, and an arrow cocked. His vision was blurred by the snow, making it hard to track the target. Ready, aim, release.
The arrow pierced through the air, buffeted by the winds, but still hit the bird right in the wing. A flutter- and then it fell to the ground. Now it would be a hard task of actually finding where it had landed. Luckily it hadn't gone too far, and before long, Onyx-Three held a mountain sparrow in his hand. A quick twist snapped its neck. He noted how the arrow had more dislocated rather than cut the wing due to the way he had hit it, leaving it mostly untouched. Some feathers had fallen out but it was otherwise fine. Some considered feathers good decoration, but he had no use for it. Birds were not something he preferred eating (especially after meeting Renasci) and also because they simply didn't contain a lot of meet. But it was not good to waste food. After picking off some more feathers, he swallowed it.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
He spent a bit more time searching for the arrow, which had landed not too far from the bird. It was as good as new, so he returned it to his quiver. Hopefully the next thing he spotted would not be a bird. If it was, he would just keep looking. It was good to have variety in what one hunted for practice. Also he simply didn't like birds. Personal opinion.
This time it was a bit easier to spot something, though still not a simple task by any means. This time it had been the curve of an ear that just barely poked out from a snow drift. Snow whisker. That was the only kind of rabbit that lived in Ursa that he knew of anyway. It wasn't that he was a master hunter by any means even though he hoped to be.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
It would be tough to hit the rabbit from here since only the ear was visible, and even if he landed his shot, a damaged ear was nowhere near a fatal injury. He would have to reposition. Onyx-Three knew that his black fur stood out against the bright white of the snow, so he would have to be careful to make sure the rabbit didn't see him. He dropped onto all floors, trying to stay close to the ground as he stalked around snow dunes in a wide arc around the rabbit. But it seemed no amount of effort could make it for the fact that he stood out. His prey froze for a moment- then bolted. Shoot.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 12 2023
There was no point trying to be sneaky now that he had been spotted. Onyx-Three burst from cover and chased after the rabbit, cocking his bow as he did so. This was going to be tricky, running and aiming at the same time. Would he be able to pull it off? It was a new challenge for sure. His aim wasn't perfect, and it was hard to stay in the ideal pose while running. Good was good enough- Onyx-Three let the arrow fly, watching as it just barely pierced the rabbit in the foot. Not enough to stop it, but enough to slow it down. It was easy to track it now. The trail of blood left behind was scarlet against white backdrop.
He reached the snow whisker, biting it in the neck before taking the arrow out of the foot. It was bloody now, and the fletching had some wear from being dragged through the snow, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Onyx-Three wiped the tip against the snow to rid it of the blood before returning it to the quiver. The snow whisker wasn't very large, a young one it seemed. But still, more meat than the bird. He took his time in consuming it, allowing himself a break from the hunt.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Aug 13 2023
He regained his energy from resting in the snow, but had made his legs numb from where they contacted the chilly substance. Onyx-Three had a bit of difficulty in getting back up due to this, but a few hard stomps warmed him up. The two lessers he had caught had been good snacks, but were not nearly enough to fill his stomach. Onyx-Three was full grown now after all. He required a much greater amount of food on a daily basis. His energy returned, they continued to search the snow for more prey.
And he did find... something. It looked like prey, and was rather close by too. He stalked forwards and pounced- right on top of a bush when then gave way into loose snow that collapsed into a pit. It wasn't that deep, but it was how unexpected it had been that gave him a scare. Onyx-Three got back up, rubbing a bruise forming on his back. Three of the arrows in his quiver had broken. Annoying. They would have to make more when they returned. He climbed out, careful not to fall backwards. The snow gave away due to his weight, but eventually he gained enough purchase to scramble out.
RE: A Chilly Hunt - V-Onyx-Three - Sep 01 2023
Onyx-Three counted his remaining arrows, then decided that perhaps it would be time to return. The fall had shaken him, and now the cold was really starting to penetrate his fur. A hand reached up to brush off the powdered snow that had collected on his fur, feeling his fingers come away wet at the melted ice. They suddenly felt a lot colder than they had a moment ago. Ursa was a tough place to hunt in, with all the ice, and snow, and all these other difficulties like the pit they had just fallen into. Perhaps it was time to leave.
The snowstorm was getting heavier now, and the bird he had managed to snag earlier would've been impossible to hit in this weather. Onyx-Three collected the broken arrows which could probably be reused for something else in the future. The shafts definitely had to be thrown away, but the tips themselves were unharmed (rock was hard like that) and could be fashioned onto future arrows. They were the hardest parts to make as well, so it was lucky they also tended to be the most durable. Onyx-Three hunched against the wind, keeping his ears folded back as he returned to home.
Exit Onyx-Three