To ease the pain of idleness

Nayati Utina · 05-06-2010, 06:19 PM

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It wasn't often that the Utina man had a craving for fish, but it had hit him suddenly and unexpectedly. He was doing nothing of importance and fishing was certainly better and more helpful than simply sitting around like a bump on a log. The well-built luperci headed out from his hut and towards where the hunting implements of the tribe were kept. He had actually left his bow and quiver behind, something he rarely did, for there would be no use for them in this certain venture. Usually he kept them around just in case he caught sight of some worthy prey, but he would leave the animals that came to drink at the river today in peace. What came out of the river was the only thing that interested him at present.

Nayati took a couple spears and a net from the stores and head out from the village northeast, in the direction of the river. He held the spears in one hand while the net was draped over one shoulder. He was better fishing with a spear, it was more akin to using his bow and arrows, however it was also inefficient if he wanted a lot of fish. He personally wouldn't need all that many, but it would be nice to bring some back to the rest of the tribe to share, so he had brought the net. Once he reached the river he set the net and one of the spears down, taking one and going to stand out in the current. He would gauge the amount of fish in this part of the river and then if there were enough he would employ the net. Pale blue eyes trained on the movement and shadows beneath the clear water, he held the spear aloft, ready to plunge it into the river to stab a fish.

Aurèle Aston · 05-08-2010, 06:28 PM

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By and large, Aurèle was a woman who lived very much as a loner. She did not spend much time with her pack-mates, finding their activities peculiar. The last time she had been a member of the tribe was just the same. Still, this suited her. She was not a beast of habit or familiarity, and could not grow complacent around people who, in her mind, were no different then her sister. Tayui wasn’t as out there, but she had chosen right when she picked the group.

Still, she did not avoid strangers. This was why when a scent—one she recognized as the man who had met her—crossed her path the pale woman continued towards it. She found him, a broad-shouldered figure perched in the river. Reading his body language almost instantly, she came to a halt. It would have been unforgivable for her to ruin a hunt. Until he finished, she would not move and would not speak, standing with a stillness not unlike a hunting cat. Somewhere above her a shadow passed, though she did not spare a glance to it. The crow was constant, and always would be.

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Nayati Utina · 05-08-2010, 11:52 PM

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The male's concentration was a finely tuned instrument and was not easily interrupted. The world surrounding him became dull and muted. He was vaguely aware of the goings on about him, but all his power was focused on the task he had set himself at. In this way he heard someone approach his statue still form, but he did not smell them and his body made no movement of recognition. As quickly as it had come the other stopped, apparently recognizing what it was he was doing. He would have to thank them for their consideration once the first fish was caught.

Almost as if responding to this thought, a shadow appeared near his feet, its scaled form emitting a sparkle of reflected light every now and then. Nayati stood still, not a single hair upon his body moving. Hawk's gaze watched the fish. Not yet. Not yet. And then, like a shot the spear was plunged into the river and with a flurry of motion and an accompanying splash he held the impaled fish aloft. Quickly he removed the fish and broke its spine, ending its pain. Then the hunter turned to see the poised form of one of the Aston women. "Ah, Aurèle, it is good to see you again. I thank you for not interrupting." He tossed the dead fish down onto the soft spring grass. "Would you like to fish with me?" He had heard that she too had taken up the hunting path and perhaps they could learn something from one another.

Aurèle Aston · 05-09-2010, 03:01 PM

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She was impressed by the speed at which his well-toned body moved. It was liquid grace, one that she admired. The pale woman smiled easily, her eyes sharpening to a predator’s gaze. Perhaps the crow had been the wrong choice for a guide—Aurèle was closer to a cat then she was any crow. Yet the bird had reflected a part of her all too wisely. A shadow, a silence, a knowledge that brought her solace. She had made the right choice in the white-collared man. The bird was a reflection of his memory, but one that was fading. Certainly, she saw that the crow’s white breast was darkening.

Smiling broadly, Aurèle resumed her approach and came to the edge of the stream. “I’ve never used a spear like that, Nayati,” she admitted. “I don’t hunt two legged.” It was not entirely a weakness, but she was not intent on lying about her abilities. Especially when it came to her duties to the tribe. “If you wouldn’t mind me learning as we go, I could give it a try.”

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Nayati Utina · 05-10-2010, 02:49 PM

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The day he had gone on his Journey and found Onawa was as clear to him today as it had been when it had happened. He remembered being nervous at first, being a gangly boy of less than year and faced with the imposing form of a puma. At first he thought it was a real mountain cat, but after shakily standing his ground, her voice had reassured him and he had been afraid no longer. His parents had been so proud, seeing him come back home with the powerful feline by his side. Back then she had practically dwarfed him, but the Utina had grown into a rather imposing figure himself. He wasn't as tall as some males, but he was broad chested and well muscled. Nayati had trained most of his life as a hunter, and that was what his body was built to do.

Aurèle finished her walk over to the river and he held the spear against his leg, the tip of the stone point almost touching the moving water. It didn't surprise him to learn that she was used to hunting in her four legged form instead of her bipedal form. It seemed to be the norm around here, but he didn't count it as any sort of weakness in her, merely a difference. His smile grew though, as she said she was willing to learn, and he was glad he had brought along an extra implement. "I wouldn't mind at all. There is an extra spear I brought along, just there," he said pointing to where it rested with the net.

Aurèle Aston · 05-18-2010, 06:18 PM

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There was certainly a use for two legs and hands. It was not as if she had gone her whole life without knowing she had such power. Aurèle could read and write, and she knew how to function as a bipedal animal. She simply preferred to act on four legs, finding her strength lay in her bulk and skill as such. Yet her shift was a graceful one, one accented by a cascade of ivory hair spilling over her back and falling straight and thick to frame her face. She stood tall, and broad shouldered for a woman, but did not lack the delicate curves that showed she was certainly female.

Taking her steps without hesitation, Aurèle reached the spear and made it her own. It was an unfamiliar weapon, but her body suited itself for the weight and length of the pole as her steps took her back to the stream. Then, knee deep in the water, she joined her companion. They might have looked like siblings, given their size and coloration, though she had scarcely met him. “So I should stand here?” She asked, uncertain (but lacking doubt or fear). Above, the crow wheeled and lowered itself to a large boulder next to the pair. Aurèle spared it a glance, eyes widening for a moment—his white breast was fading, turning black as if this meant something. She grunted and looked down to the water, ignoring him.

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Nayati Utina · 05-19-2010, 03:55 PM

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300+

Nayati averted his eyes back to the water as his tribesmember shifted into her two legged form. Shifting wasn't something that you saw often in the tribe, considering in the Great Tribe almost everyone stayed in their bipedal form all the time. It wasn't something he was familiar witnessing, and it seemed private, something not meant for his eyes to see. The last thing he wanted to do was to insult her or make her feel uncomfortable, and so he did not wish to do anything that could possibly result in that. Aurèle didn't seem the type to embarrass easily, if at all, but it was better to be polite than to regret not being so later.

As he heard her take steps towards the spear he looked back to her, seeing her for the first time in the form he was most familiar with. She was beautiful, and strong. If he didn't already have feeling for another, he might have well been attracted to the Aston woman. Aurèle was a good deal older than him though, and a mother. It would be improper to harbor such feelings towards her, and so he barely even entertained the notion. She joined him in the river and all thoughts turned back to fishing. Nayati nodded at her, "Yes, that is good." As her Guide landed on the rock he looked to the crow, as she did, but it was only for a moment. "The key is to stay perfectly still. You want the fish to think you are just as much of the landscape as the rocks and pebbles, so they will not fear coming near to you. Hold the spear like this," he said, demonstrating the stance. "Keep your eyes on the water and once you have one right where you want it, strike."

Aurèle Aston · 05-20-2010, 11:24 PM

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Aurèle was a creature that lacked many things. Fear and shame were only two of such things. She cared little for what she was seen as (for in her heart she knew that she was a monster) and used her ice and her brute ways to silence opposition. This was not to say she was a blind murderer. Then again, she would not admit to anything. The lighthouse had not been her doing, and if it had been, she would have likely behaved the same way. Tayui had seen enough horrors in her life and did not deserve to see what had fallen their relatives. If she had returned in time to spot her stupid brother there, she would have chased him from her sight. Though she did not believe in slaughter, Aurèle believed in silence.

A short explanation brought her to stand as he did, back curved slightly, eyes locked on the water. While she was patient, as all hunters had to be, she grew bored staring into the water. At least hunting on land involved a hunt, a chase, the stalking and pursuit of something living and breathing. She sensed more then saw the crow shift, and her muscles tensed. There was a sudden flash of silver in the water and she struck quickly, spear vanishing into the stream—only to draw back and find herself empty handed. Her eyes widened and her face scrunched up almost childishly. How in the world had she missed it? Just as quickly, her poise returned, and she smiled half-heartedly. “Is there some trick to this?” She asked, tossing her hair out of her face.

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Nayati Utina · 05-25-2010, 12:41 AM

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The woman had a sense of poise that he admired, even if she did lack some in warmth. She merely seemed a no nonsense sort of person, and Nayati could appreciate that. He could be that way himself at times. His mother often teased him for being too serious. Often he had scolded his younger siblings for not taking their duties more seriously, pushing them to work harder for their lack of care. He had never been mean to them though, he had only wanted to instill in them how important doing a good job was. Even if their tasks seemed simply and unimportant now, you could never instill a good work ethic too early.

He watched Aurèle carefully, noting her good form. Her focus and concentration was no less than what he would have expected. As she plunged the spear into the water it all looked good, but he wasn't surprised when the tip came up without a fish. "Not particularly, just practice, as with anything else. Though I find it helps to wait a little longer once you spot the fish. Follow their movements with your eyes, so you can better anticipate how it might move to dodge or be certain it is still." Though practice was always the best. He certainly hadn't caught any fish on his first few tries with the spear. In fact, he didn't think he'd even caught one on his first fishing excursion period.

Aurèle Aston · 05-26-2010, 02:16 AM

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These two were much alike, though Aurèle had not been so delicate as Nayati in her childhood. She could remember being distinctly cruel to her siblings, Bart in particular, for any number of things. Tayui had been attention seeking, claiming she could see dead people, Honorè had been far too talkative, and Bart was simply stupid. If there was one thing she could not stand, it was stupidity. Common sense wasn’t hard to come by, yet Bart lacked it in all ways. Stupid, fat boy. She was glad that he had wandered off after the fire.

Staring at the end of the spear, she listened to her companion, nodding slightly. Of course she wouldn’t be perfect her first try—yet this upset her because she believed herself better then that. The resolve in her was far greater then this other emotion, and she shifted her feet and allowed the stream to settle again. It took a much longer time for the fish to return to her side, and when they did, she waited and watched. Finally confident in one that had settled to investigate something or another, she thrust the spear again. Once more, she drew it up and found nothing. Snorting, the green eyed woman turned to Nayati again. “I suppose you did this as a boy?” She asked, smiling despite the frost forming in her eyes.

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Nayati Utina · 05-27-2010, 04:09 PM

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It was comforting to know that he was not the only hunter providing for the tribe now. Not that he feared himself not up to par in his skills, but even a smaller tribe such as this required a lot of food. Even more so during the times that ceremonies were held. He had worked hard and long to gather enough meat to feed the tribe during the feast after the Uku Dance. Now he had Aurèle to help in the task though, and it lifted some of the weight from his shoulders. Sometime they would have to hunt deer and other large prey together. It made him all the more glad for his experience hunting with Ghita, for now he knew that it was possible for one to hunt with arrows while the other ran and pursued on four feet.

His pale gaze watched her once more as she settled into position for her second try at the fish. As he had suggested, she waited longer this time and he thought for certain she would come up with a fish. Unfortunately she didn't, but he knew it was through no lack of skill on her part. Nayati understood how frustrating it was though, to not be able to catch the scaled prey. "Just keep trying," he encouraged. "It took me a long time before I ever snared my first one." He turned his attention back to his section of the river, ready to catch some more. His ear turned towards her at her query though. "I did, yes. Though the first time I got so frustrated I nearly threw my spear into the river," he said, grinning back at her.

Aurèle Aston · 06-08-2010, 01:29 PM

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ooc

Learning these things was something that Aurèle had not intended to gather during her stay here. By and large she considered her life at the point that taking on the role of the student felt beneath her. She was content in her world, which was narrow now that her son existed. With him, she did not need to fear. “Ah,” she exclaimed, and shifted her weight to better position her spear. “Not many of my family used this form,” the woman further went on to explain, as if this would justify why she was not perfect at the motion.

Then, suddenly, she jabbed the spear into the water. This time she felt something resist and pulled back, lifting a squirming fish triumphantly. A very apparent change overcame her face—it was as if the sun had lit it up and taken all the ice and cruelty that had threatened to consume her. “Ha!” She exclaimed, shaking her hair out of her face. She proceeded to move the fish to the others her companion had all ready caught, eyeing the net as she did so. “So do you use this as well?”

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Nayati Utina · 06-23-2010, 05:17 PM

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Nayati had always been taught that you were never too old to be a student and to learn new things. His parents had never shown any shame of not knowing absolutely everything and neither had Dawali for that matter. The elders of the tribe were always revered for their knowledge and experience, but it was the Spirit Guides who really held the greatest amount of respect and deference. They knew more than any one wolf could hope to learn in his or her lifetime. He knew that Onawa would always be more wise than he, no matter how old he grew to be. "Really? That is interesting. Almost all in the Great Tribe always use this form." Nayati had only downshifted a handful of times since learning to change.

Just as the Utina was about to make his own strike at a fish he heard Aurèle's spear splash into the water and he turned to look just as she lifted a fish triumphantly from the river's surface. A wide grin spread over his face at her success. "Great! See, you're a natural. It'd be embarrassing to tell you how many tries I made before I caught one," he joked lightly as she set her catch by his own. "The net? Yes, at times. I prefer using the spear, but you can catch more in one swoop with the net." He personally preferred the increased skill the spear required, even if it wasn't as efficient.

Aurèle Aston · 07-19-2010, 10:51 AM

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So sorry about the delay in this. I figure we can wrap this up now?

It was Aurèle’s upbringing that had, by and large, made her the way she was. After that first and terrible darkness she had turned cold, turned against siblings who were too stupid to realize something was wrong. That she was wrong. Gradually she had let that darkness bottle itself up inside, let it be buried as deep and as far away as possible. The cruelty had lingered. She needed it to survive. Without that she would have been no different then her sister. She would have been weak. Aurèle did not need others in order to make her happy, or to fill up some part of her that was empty. She had walls built of ice that filled the empty parts of her with cold reason.

If that made her cruel, so be it. “I can see it having advantages,” she mused, perched on the edge of the stream. The spear was a grand tool, but it felt foreign in her hands. It disconnected the wielder from the thrill of the kill—from the blood, from the thrashing that came with the last breaths. Though she did not see it in such grand terms (whatever else she was, Aurèle was no philosopher) it took the humanity out of the kill by disconnecting the user from the death they caused. She would never be happy hunting in such a way, though she would do so because it was a skill that might be needed. The pale woman made her way back into the cold water, taking up the same position she had before, but said nothing more. Like her silent companion, there was no need to be wordy. They would speak through their bodies, through this act, as all hunters did.

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