The Northern Game Trails

[Vartigy]

The leaves of the large black berry bush, jostled lightly... then again much stronger. Her pulse quickened.
Morning on the Moor is typically foggy.... lots of moisture in these lands... the shrub does well here... as does the game. This morning... was clearer than most... which gave her a clear view of her quarry from 150 foot away.
Raising herself to a knee slowly... raised her bow... notched an arrow... and drew slowly.... eyes trained like a hawk on that bush.
Around the bush came a small sheep... feral and wild... ambling about with the guilty pleasures black faced all around its mouth.
It paused to peer around... looking for its next conquest.

Inhale.... draw bow....exhale....... aim... ... "loose" she whispers in her mind.

The piercing whistle of the arrow breaks the relative quietness as it sails across the Moor.
*Thwock!* With Solonor's blessing, the arrow lands true, bringing the sheep down immediately. No prolonged pain, no prolonged death. Yes... that was the way she was taught...

Other hunters would sprint across the field to claim their prize... she gave pause... knocking another arrow, inspecting the horizon around her.... there are more than one hunter in these lands....

After giving the area clearance... she claimed her kill.... shouldering the animal... she made her way back to her small camp.

Skinning the corpse... careful to not damage the precious wool.... it takes a good hour... she lets her mind wander.... where will I hunt next.... what are the merchants wanting this week.... what feral tribes of beasts need culling to protect and counter the land degradation.... and what of this community hidden away up here....

Selune rises clear this night... the fire crackles warm... leg of mutton cooking slowly.... ember wafts hissing as they kiss the meat rising into the sky....

Lathandar rises.... the morning larks call across the land... she clears her camp... ensuring no mark remains of her being here to untrained eyes.... at the foot of a large oak, she leaves her calling card... three small stones in a line, with a triangle scribed in charcoal on each.

Hefting the game frame onto her back, she leaves.

By Midday she comes to the standing stones near the bridge.... she pauses to remember her day with Seldruin.... as she unpacks a few items from her kit.
At the base of the third pillar... she spies the empty wooden bucket.
Smirking to herself, she nods approvingly.

She places four apples, a leg of cured meat, and some fox pelts in and around the bucket.
Looks longingly at the space between the pillars and walks away again.