29 Fyrva, 350BFD, 11 Ur
Southern Edge, Shanvér Woods
Shenzàn stretched with satisfaction and wiped the juices
into her mouth.
"That was perfectly seared and served," she nodded to Naja, "and desert ostrich, if I'm not mistaken?"
"You got it in one Mair-Khryt," Naja grinned, "but you can thank the neighbours if you ever visit Be'jaiber'ghas, they're the 'unters."
Shenzàn shook her head.
"While catching an ostrich takes time or speed, to cook it without spoiling it takes skill. And, just 'Shenzàn' is fine, or 'Shen' if you prefer."
"Right you are, Shen," Naja smiled, then looked down at her makeshift grill, "oh now, who was the very last one for?"
A movement from her left made the Elelup look up and tilt her head inquisitively.
"Now now, Veman, you know I said I didn't have enough supplies for seconds!" she giggled.
Veman, the other Elelup in their team, sighed and shrugged.
"A pity, to be sure. But I felt you needed a memory prompt."
"I… did?" Naja asked, puzzled.
"You do. I'll show you who that serving is for."
He reached into one of the many pockets in his long coat and retrieved a small, shallow wooden box, which he unclipped. Checking which way it would open, he ensured it faced Naja, then lifted the lid.
"Oh, but that's…" she began to reply, before realising, "a mirror. Which means…I know, I know - I forgot to feed meself again! A weird way to point it out, but much better than an 'arsh word. Thanks, Veman."
Satisfied with the demonstration, he closed and pocketed the box again, but felt Shenzàn's eyes boring into his head. He took a few steps back so as not to hurt his neck when he addressed her.
"You wish to know why I carry this?" he asked, though it was intended as a statement.
The woman frowned and nodded.
"It's not only females that seek to…prettify…themselves," she shrugged, "but I doubt you have that purely to maintain your image while wandering in a dark forest."
"Indeed not," Veman agreed, "but a mirror has various uses besides reminding oneself how much one has aged since the last time the reflection was seen."
Shenzàn pulled out her sword, allowed the sunlight to catch on it and directed the resulting glare towards the forest. She looked down at Veman, who nodded in confirmation.
"The reflection of light and by extension images, can be very useful, both for intelligence gathering and as, let's say, an unexpected weapon. Though the latter will not be on display within Shànver that is certain."
"I've caught prey off-guard by finding its reflection in my blade. It's not as good as a Shevezzi mirror," she added with disappointment, "maybe if I could smelt a layer of silver I could increase that."
"D'you need to be sneaky often, though?" Naja asked between mouthfuls, "'cause it seems awfully pricey just for the occasional use."
"Sadly that is true," Shenzàn agreed, "and that 'upgrade' would be wasted in a real war. As you infer, sneaky is not exactly my style. But if you're looking at skirmishes, food hunts or tracking, it is an advantage worth having."
Naja chuckled, as she started to douse the cooking fire and wash her tiny pan.
"Not sure what I'd use if faced with a bear, me spatula ain't what you'd call 'battle-ready'!"
The Elelup knelt, and unpacked two short poles, which could be extended and used to spread the weight of heavy items. Smiling slightly at the, she unpacked a slightly larger saucepan, hooked it on one pole and the frypan on the other.
"You are supposed to be quiet in the woods. That clanging won't help," Shenzàn gruffly pointed out.
"They won't
clang, Shen," the girl pouted, "the rims 'ave special shock-absorbing…uhm, stuff on 'em. Because customers complain if the chefs make too much of a racket in the kitchen."
She resettled her pack and carefully picked up the rods, which she slid under each of the shoulder straps of the pack. While it did give her a slight backwards lean, the pressure directly on her shoulders was much less, she was relieved to discover. In silent satisfaction, the two pans made only a quiet, dull
clunk as she had, with a determined huff, hauled herself from the floor.
"Did someone mention bearrrs?" Azachet asked, padding towards the group, "by the way, I've had my fairrr sharrre of desert ostrrrich, and the Rarrrshk have a tendency to kill it even while it is cooking."
"So I did alright, then?" Naja asked, nervous that her food had been tasted by one who had probably also hunted it in the past.
Azachet grinned.
"If the wild Kyadii were open to adding flavour, they wouldn't let you leave the clan. You did well. A pity we could not bring more ostrich."
"You might find new critters to 'unt 'n' cook either in outta the forest, Aza," Naja winked, "jus' don't test me ability to make magic recipes too much, eh?"
Azachet gave a rumbling laugh and grinned.
"I make no prrromises, cubling."
Shenzàn turned to face the orange-and-black Kyadd with an appraising eye. Azachet confused her - she was clearly of strong Sablesand stock, arguably as strong as her, yet had joined them with more books than weapons.
"You asked about bears," she began steadily, "I gather that is for a reason?"
The Kyadd nodded.
"Shànver is home to black bearrrs, meaning they also have dens. We are here in the forrrest's springtime, and that is when you will also find cublings," she gave a sly sideways glance at Naja, "the black furry kind I mean."
"Let me get this straight," Veman interjected, a little shocked, "we're going into a
dark forest, where there are
dark bears, who live in
dark dens and are probably a
teensie bit territorial and protective, because they have, non-existent deities save us,
offspring to defend?"
Shenzàn, with her back to the Elelup grinned, which was reciprocated by Azachet, who nodded and stifled an urge to laugh.
"Indeed master botanist, but there is one glint of hope for you."
"That we have Lady Shenzàn here to protect us?" Veman asked, trying to reassure himself more than anything else.
"First
Mair, now
Lady. Can't you city-folk just use names?" Shenzàn huffed, "if there's one thing I'm not, it's your stereotypical
Lady."
Azachet frowned at Veman, reached behind her back, and retrieved her own weapon, which had already caught Shenzàn's eye. It was made of polished and reinforced wood; on one end was affixed a lance-head with three petal-blades around it; the other end was curved as though used for walking, but with a mixture of beast teeth, claws and the occasional metal barb protruding from it. The middle, where it was held, had a two-layer leather wrap for securely holding it. On the non-bladed end, three smaller petal-blades clasped a dull black and red, perfectly spherical stone.
"What in the name of everything sane is
that?" Naja gasped with her hand over her mouth.
"This is a
Rzarchprl, a Kyadd's preferred weapon. And, I assurrre you," she added with a glance at Shenzàn, "both it, and I, are in good working orderrr. That is not to say we're invincible, but our little group is better protected than I believe you've rrrealised."
"Bu- but, you're a
zoologist," Veman stuttered, "you s-study animals, not hunt them. A-at least not any more. I don't think."
"Save the poor man from his thoughts will ya, Aza?" Naja sighed.
The Kyadd glanced down at him while holding her weapon, attempting to make a point without him feeling threatened by her.
"Tell me, master botanist, do you study all plant-life in your home or laborrratory?" Azachet asked, carefully securing her
Rzarchprl on her back again.
"Well, no," Veman admitted.
"And when you go to study in the wild, where you and I both know some organic lifeforms are more self-animated than we are comfortable with, do you take a knife, or a hand-scythe with you? Or a pollen-bomb to calm them?"
"That depends where I am travelling, but yes, I have to take…precautions."
"I do the same, but I study
animals, some of whom would adorrre the taste of frrresh wild-cat
and are well-equipped to make that desire real. Some birds too, if you think about the size of some larger preying species. Should I also not take…precautions?"
"Point taken," Veman accepted, "we're an interesting group, and I have much to learn."
"And if we do get attacked by a black bear, we get a meal too," Naja piped up, replacing the turf she had cut for her cookfire and pouring some remnant water onto it, "I've never cooked bear."
If you don't get to cook bear, I won't be disappointed, and it's not because of the quality of your cooking, Veman thought moodily.
Some distance away, leaning against one of the outlying Purple Maples, and leafing through one of a few small tomes he had insisted on bringing, was Vider Nihl, who had all but remained silent for the previous hour. He wore a simple-yet-studious navy robe, its quality only given away by the near-perfect fit. On his back, as well as a provisions sack, was a simple oak staff, which appeared fitted with a single crystal. The staff itself spread into three points which held the crystal in, along with what appeared to be a thin film or similar material. He quietly sighed, closed his book and stowed it inside his robe.
I understand food is important, but does no one understand that speed matters for this mission? That talking needs to be happening with whoever is on the other side of Shanvér, not prattling on with each other like nothing's happened?
He crossed his arms, and noticed a shadow cross his feet. Looking to his left, he nodded to Findat.
"Will we be moving on shortly?" he asked, not masking his impatience.
"We will, my friend, we will," Findat affirmed, "and, if what I have researched is even half true, then there will be sufficient time for proving oneself, challenges, injuries and, eventually, diplomacy, yes?"
"Of course, you are not sending us in blind," Vider agreed.
"Then let the others enjoy this moment before all of the chaos to come. You needed space in your own way, of course."
Vider huffed, "it's hard to figure out if they're all raging extroverts, happy-go-lucky, naïve or what."
"Does it matter? Are you 'aloof' - or do you push people away? Do you just like your own space - or are you a 'raging introvert'?"
"I'll be happier when we move on, that's all," Vider muttered, looking away.
"Maybe that's true, but until then, let the others be happy," Findat insisted, as kindly as he could muster.
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