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+---- Thread: [G] [C] 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats (/showthread.php?tid=3923)
739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - N'mor - 16.Apr.18
N’mor yawned into his hand as he leaned against Rhezalth’s leg, waiting for T’ryn to appear and land so they could figure out their plan of attack. He’d arranged with his friend to go hunting weeks ago, but honestly, it had been one thing after another that had simply caused continuous delays. It didn’t help that the Katilan to Istan timezones were a bitch, and it had taken far too long for N’mor to finally just decide to spend a couple of days in the old Weyr. Which was why he was finally awake at 5am, as the sun was barely beginning to peek over the horizon.
“Hey T,” N’mor greeted, grinning at his friend as he picked up the spear he’d brought with him. He was a long way from excellent with the weapon, but he could hit a target more often than he missed, even if it wasn’t as precise and neat as an arrow. “We came through yesterday, and the cats seem to like this one area in that general direction,” he gestured vaguely with his spear, “the pride is pretty big, so we should get a fair haul each.” He’d discovered when nosing around Ista Hold that the spotted feline coats were desired by more than a few high ranking socialites, primarily for the unique patterns the Southern kind came in, and N’mor had figured quickly that both he and T’ryn would make a pretty penny selling the hides.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - T'ryn - 18.Apr.18
T’ryn had opted not to go down to Katila when N’mor had, not caring that much about the time differences and the affect it might have. So what if he was tired a bit before his friend? He had had a date with Casa that he didn’t want to shuffle around. She had invited him out for a stroll through the marketplace before surprising him with a nice picnic late lunch. It was still a bit cool by Istan standards so their dragons reluctantly played shield to the wind, though T’ryn heard all about how fragile poor little Casa was that she couldn’t handle a gentle breeze and that Thallyath’s large bottom took up enough space that they could shelter by her without his assistance.
Now, however, was time to spend with N’mor and he couldn’t be happier. It wasn’t like they never saw each other as they did live in the same Weyr, but they both had growing lives outside of each other’s company and as much as that saddened T’ryn, it was also kind of thrilling. It was nice expanding his horizons and getting to know the right people might help him in the future with becoming a Wingleader. Mostly, though, they were both dating and that sadly took away some of their friendship time. Not that he’d ever let a relationship take over a friendship! T’ryn was very conscious of that fact and made sure none of his important relationships was negelected. And, T’ryn only assumed N’mor was also dating, given how his friend was sometimes hard to catch up with and seemed to have this interesting glow about him. It was hard to really pin point, but there were subtle changes but they worked for his fellow bronzerider. He just wish he knew who the lucky woman was so they could gossip and trade stories about their girlfriends. Maybe he’d use their day hunting to try asking questions. N’mor might be too focused on the hunt and actually answer.
As they emerged from between, T’ryn broke into a large smile. He loved the thrill of popping in and out of existence. He could see how some feared it and the off chance they might not come back out of the cold existence, but that added to the experience and he secretly liked that rush it gave him. He was still smiling as they landed after a lazy glide to the ground and a cheerful greeting from N’mor. He slid free from his dragon that wasn’t decked out in riding straps that morning. He had overslept, though he wasn’t late for their appointed meet up time, but T’ryn decided it being such a quick trip, it’d be a waste of precious time to go all out and gear up Syrendryth. He was living on the edge, it seemed.
“Sounds like a fun and profitable day awaits us,” he laughed as he adjusted the bow slung over his shoulder. While N’mor had learned to hunt with a spear out of necessity thanks to losing an arm, T’ryn preferred using a bow and arrow, something he had started using when he was much younger. Archery was actually something he quite enjoyed and realised how little he got to do it since moving North. He did a little hunting here and there but not as much as he could get away with living in Katila and before he Impressed.
He pulled his quiver of arrows out of his bag and slipped it on as well. The bag was adjusted to a more comfortable position and he grinned at N’mor, indicating he was ready to go. The bag had a couple of skeins of water and some snacks for them, along with a few other items that might be needed in an emergency. He was nothing if not prepared.
“Ready, Rhezalth? Sy’s been pretty excited about today and I know you love hunting as much as he does,” he strode up to the other bronze dragon and stroked Rhezalth’s side affectionately. He loved Syrendryth with all his heart but Rhezalth was just as special to him and he liked spending time with the dragon as much as he did the rider.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - N'mor - 12.May.18
N’mor laughed, and adjusted his own pack. Lacking an arm, his was designed to loop over his shoulder and wrap around his waist at an angle, hugging close to his body and filled with needed supplies, though perhaps not quite as disaster-ready as T’ryn’s pack. “Come on then, Rhea. Go scout ahead and find the pack for us.” His dragon gave a soft hum of approval and a lick to Syrendryth’s cheek as he invited the other bronze to go scouting with him, leaving the two humans on the ground to make their way to their chosen hunting area. Having hunted many times with N’mor before – both alone and with their bronze partners in crime – Rhezalth knew how far ahead he could go without being too far away to offer help if something tried to eat his rider.
“He’s been so impatient to start,” N’mor laughed to T’ryn as they set off on foot. “He doesn’t even like the taste of the cats. I think he just enjoys hunting something that is also a hunter.” Fair enough, really. Herdbeasts tended to flee in terror when dragons flew overhead. While the cats would run, they would also try to fight back if they were cornered or felt trapped, which N’mor had found his dragon took a rather sadistic delight in. The bronze had come out of previous hunts unmarked so far, but N’mor knew it was only a matter of time before one of the cats landed a good attack on the dragon’s nose at least.
“Famous last words, I’m sure,” N’mor laughed, smirking at T’ryn and shaking his head.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - T'ryn - 18.May.18
Knowing he really wasn't late--maybe a few minutes if anything-- T'ryn laughed lightly and shook his head in mock shame, "Sorry. Sometimes you just don't want to get out of bed." He tossed a sideways glance to N'mor, wondering if innocent reasons like being lazy would flit through his mind or if naughtier ones like a naked lover would. In his case, it was very much innocent reasons, not wanting to rush things with Casa. They were both weyrbred but T'ryn worried she might want to be courted like a proper Lady and he didn't want her to think he only liked her because of sex; though she was an excellent kisser.
T'ryn laughed again at the exchange between dragon and rider and hoped a feline didn't get either of their dragons. He knew it wouldn't be a mortal wound if one happened to swipe out or even manage a bite, but he hated the idea of either one of their beautiful hides being marred. If he was worried about a hunting trip, T'ryn didn't want to think what he'd be like after every Flight Syrendryth entered.
"I brought some salve and numbweed, just in case," T'ryn patted his bag of tricks as he started up after the dragons. Syrendryth was being his usual quiet self, for now at least, and had followed immediately after Rhezalth, knowing the other bronze had scouted the area and knew how far too venture out.
"What's it like being back at Katila? And surrounded by all the old guys?" That may have been part of the reason he didn't want to stay a night or two as well. It seemed weird to go back to the home he had known for most of his life. A home that held so many amazing memories but also some horrible ones that nearly cost him his best friend's life. He did think it could be a nice place to retire to one day with the laidback life and lack of people. T'ryn could easily see Syrendryth and him lounging by the lake once more like they used to and maybe even grow fat together as they lazed about and ate too much. But that was so far away, it was hard not to think that another disaster could befall their old home before that time came.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - N'mor - 18.May.18
N’mor snorted at T’ryn’s comment, and Rhezalth gave a low rumble of amusement. “Still as lazy as ever,” N’mor teased, grinning at his friend. His own mind hadn’t really gone down the naughty track, but that was mostly because – honestly – N’mor didn’t spend a lot of time in his bed, doing naughty things. The wall, the chair, the floor – lots of time on the floor, really – but not really the bed. N’mor hadn’t really thought about it, but it was likely he was avoiding taking the bluerider into his actual bedroom. It was too private, and too intimate, for the casual fling he was sharing with Z’rin. He couldn’t have the bluerider getting attached – which was a primary reason he needed Marks. A nice couch would be a wonderful addition to his weyr!
“I still haven’t gotten into a habit of carrying numbweed,” N’mor admitted. Growing up with his father being as allergic to numbweed as he was, the young man simply hadn’t had it around. Now, lavender everything was something else entirely. He had all kinds of remedies that involved lavender to sooth away hurts and pains, but he rarely used numbweed. He wasn’t really sure if T’ryn knew about his father’s allergy; he’d never outright mentioned it, but T’ryn was smart and he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d pieced it together over the Turns.
N’mor tilted his head slightly, considering T’ryn as he stepped over a fallen branch. “Strange,” he admitted. “It’s not home, not like Ista has become and definitely not like it was before.” He shrugged one shoulder slightly. “It’s kind of like being in a dream, I guess. Its all sort of vaguely familiar, but it isn’t really?” He shrugged again. “If everything was still where we grew up, I think it would be different.” Well, that was kind of obvious; they probably wouldn’t even have gone North! Well, maybe they would have – there was getting to be too many gold dragons for Katila to house alone – but all the same. He was sad their home was gone. He’d been born there. He supposed he felt the same about Katila as the older riders did about going back to their original Weyrs.
It just wasn’t the same, and it never would be.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - T'ryn - 22.May.18
T’ryn grinned at N’mor’s admission to numbweed. He had figured it out some time ago that B’jin was allergic through various reasons but had never commented on it or asked his friend for confirmation. It wasn’t like he really needed to know but it did amuse him that N’mor rarely used it unless absolutely necessary. Maybe that was just a fear created from growing up that if he had any on him and then hugged his dad that it would transfer over and create a crisis. But since N’mor didn’t plan ahead in such areas, T’ryn decided it was a good thing that he was the strategist between the two of them and over planned for any random occurrence.
He nodded when his friend tried to describe what being back in Katila was like. He could see how it would feel like that and had a feeling a lot of the older riders felt the same way about returning North. He knew some of them purposely went to a different Weyr than their home one when it opened up to avoid memories and how different it was now. He suspected that was partly why his dad didn’t return to his home Hold either. Although R’nd and his brother didn’t really get along so that was probably a major factor as well. But his sister’s Hold was new to him and T’ryn could visibly see R’nd relax and enjoy himself more when there than back home where memories laid and his dad had passed away.
T’ryn allowed himself to get lost in such thoughts for a bit as they continued following the dragons further into the forest, his gaze sometimes wandering around them to help hunt. When Syrendryth finally stopped and tensed as he tilted his head as if listening, T’ryn finally pulled out an arrow and nocked it, ready to lift the bow and aim at the first sign of that beautiful hide. He knew the dragons would still do most of the work and gleefully chase after the felines as they fled, but he liked archery and figured a quick moving target would be good practice at keeping his skills honed as he tracked any cats fleeing away from the dragons’ path. He was proud of his skills and had a lot of faith in his accuracy, but T’ryn still couldn’t bring himself to aim in the direction of the dragons unless they were in absolute trouble. He’d never forgive himself if he hit either of them.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - N'mor - 24.Jun.18
The bronze dragon gave Syrendryth a snort and a cocky shake of his head.
N’mor grinned at his dragon’s banter, flashing a look at T’ryn, eyebrows raised teasingly, that said he agreed with his dragon even as he adjusted his grip on his spear and his angle to head in the direction Syrendryth had indicated. “You guys even have a one-arm advantage!” N’mor teased, waving his stump around playfully, “But I am quite sure we will still make you weep in despair!” N’mor winked at T’ryn as he stepped over a fallen branch and then froze, pursing his lips together as he eyed the two cats, and three kittens, that were about half a dragonlength ahead of them.
Rhea? I think you guys missed this pair! He wasn’t afraid, but could feel his dragon’s confusion and then irritation that they had, indeed, bypassed the five cats. N’mor could feel Rhezalth heading back in their direction with a comment to Syrendryth. At least they weren’t’ far away! N’mor glanced out of the corner of his eye at T’ryn.
“If you take the one on that side,” he indicated with a careful point of his spear, “I’ll take the brown one. The kittens will probably flee.” The youngsters were big enough that killing their parents would be unlikely to cause them their own demise; they were probably just mooching off their parents because they could. Honestly, N’mor eyed them thoughtfully, their hides wouldn’t go to waste if they did hang around.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - T'ryn - 23.Jul.18
T’ryn nodded in agreement even as he nocked an arrow, readying himself for what they were coming up to. He knew the dragons were close by and would be there in an instant if anything went wrong, which would happen if he got over confident. He and N’mor weren’t exactly seasoned hunters but they did well enough with their respective weapons and had had successful hunts in the past. He liked to think it was because they knew each other so well and worked together without having to say much. The simple directions N’mor had given was more than enough and T’ryn was already mapping out which way his target would flee if he happened to miss the clean killing shot.
Lifting the bow in position, T’ryn took a breath, held it, lined up his shot, and fired.
As much as he enjoyed the hunting portion of such trips, T’ryn had to admit he wasn’t a huge fan of the skinning part. He wasn’t squeamish, at least not when it came to this sort of task but he had a feeling he wouldn’t be as useful in a Healer’s room with a lot of blood and a serious wound. It wasn’t even that he felt like he wasn’t doing a great job with the knife since he found it almost soothing to have to work with such precision so he didn’t tear the hide. Well, maybe that was a bit stressful now that he called attention to it. Actually, why didn’t he like this part, he wondered as he wiped the back of his hand across his sweaty forehead. Maybe it was the sitting still and the chance he could mess up and how messy he could end up that did it.
Still, it was the important part of this trip and T’ryn was dedicated to the task, knowing they would get a fair deal out of the right merchant if the provided clean pelts. He was still proud of their work on the felines as well. They had made quick work of the task, both finding their marks without difficulty and going off the banter from the dragons, T’ryn gathered they had enjoyed their chase as well.
“Do you think we should bring back some meat to give to the kitchen?” It wasn’t like they were lacking in meat thanks to those that hunted regularly to help keep the supply up but T’ryn felt it would be appreciated all the same and it probably wouldn’t hurt to suck up to both the kitchen staff and the Weyrleader. Then again, they had large dragons to feed as well. “Or do you think we should just let the pigs disguised as dragons enjoy what’s left?” he knew before either dragon piped up that they preferred a fresh kill and warm meat to whatever would be left of their tasks but they’d still eat it anyway.
He still hadn’t gotten around to asking N’mor about his love life. Would it be appropriate now? ‘So this dead animal reminds me that I wanted to ask if you’re seeing anyone’ didn’t seem like a good opener, especially since he just asked about the meat. No, he’d have to wait a bit longer, but T’ryn was dying to know more about his friend and if he was as happy as he was with Casa.
RE: 739.04.15 | Huntin’ Puddy Tats - N'mor - 07.Aug.18
Skinning cats, with only one hand, required a great deal of dedication and skill. N’mor had practiced skinning smaller animals for months before he’d first been game to try his hand – literally – at a feline once more. He wasn’t as good at it as he used to be; that tended to happen when you lost your dominant hand; but he wasn’t too bad and he managed not to spoil the hide. Rhezalth didn’t tend to enjoy it as much, because N’mor made him hoist the creature up and turn it around for him so he could focus on keeping the hide whole. The dragon was rewarded by being allowed to eat all the leftovers.
N’mor turned to glance over at T’ryn when his fellow bronzerider spoke, considering for a moment before scrunching his nose up slightly. “Naa,” he said, shrugging slightly and glancing at the carcass that Rhezalth was holding, the dragon staring down at T’ryn in disgust for his idea of giving the meat away. “Predators don’t taste that great, and I’d rather not encourage the kitchen to feed them to us.” He grinned, and wiped his cheek on his shoulder. “We could always have the fat lumps grab a couple of wherries or something before we leave?”
The kitchen might appreciate some fat, fresh wherries if they brought them, or they might be told to clean them up and prepare them themselves. It was hard to tell without knowing who would be in charge of the kitchen when they got home; there were a couple of women there that N’mor was pretty sure should definitely be avoided when it came to arriving with meat, if their reactions to things like berries could be used as a guide. Thinking of berries, though..! N’mor leaned over to wipe his hand on a patch of still-green and clean grass.
“There were some wild berries back a few lengths,” he said, looking over at T’ryn eagerly. “We should collect some before we leave!” The wicked grin said the only place such a collection would be going was his stomach, but pale eyes sparkled nonetheless and N’mor waved at Rhezalth when the dragon whined before asking outright if he could please eat the damned meat he was holding already. “Did you see any ponds or streams nearby?” N’mor asked, stashing his skinning knife away. “We can put the hides away somewhere safe to dry a bit before we travel home, while we clean up.” He didn’t think anyone would come along and steal them, but wild Whers might make off with them, if they were especially unlucky.