Between the Chaos

In the forest

The forest is far prettier than Mikasa had remembered. The leaves gleam with raindrops that glimmer in the early morning light, a cold breeze swaying them with all the gentleness of a mother rocking a cradle.

Together with Sasha, she ventures further into the forest, enchanted by the nostalgic scenery. Her father had once offered to take her duck hunting, she remembered. She hadn't cared for it then, but now, several years later, this could be a chance to understand the appeal.

Sasha is more than enthusiastic to introduce her to this world. As they walk up a hill where various animal paths wind through the undergrowth, Sasha points out several different paths, telling Mikasa which animals use them.

"You can tell it's a deer hoof because it looks like an upside-down heart cut into." Sasha explains, the dried mud preserving the shape well. Mikasa walks next to her, listening closely as she examined the print herself.

"That one is a boar trail. The hooves are more rounded and don't have the point that the deer's do. The smaller one is a hare path." Sasha continues as they make their way through the forest, her accent subtly slipping in.

Mikasa looks around, before pointing out a large pile of faeces. "Can you tell which animal defecated?"

Walking closer, Sasha crouches to examine it.

"Boar poop. Maybe a day old."

Mikasa looks around, spotting another large piles. "So, is there more than one? Or did it go twice?"

"I don't know. Ask him when we catch him. Anyway, it's faeces. All pig poop looks the same to me." Sasha jested, getting to her feet.

"For your first hunt, deer would be less dangerous. Not that it'd usually matter for you, but with your ribs...." she trails off as she takes in the forest once more, appearing as a hunting dog upon smelling a scent, alerted to something.

Mikasa looks around, straining her ears. The forest is alive with the sound of leaves crunching underfoot and twigs snapping... but nothing sounds particularly close. Trusting Sasha's instincts, she keeps quiet and waits for the other girl to speak.

"That's it! Over there!" Sasha hisses.

Mikasa follows her finger. Through the foliage, she spots a flash of grey about twenty meters away, vanishing from sight.

"Looks like a bog boy!" Sasha licks her lips, excitement growing. "The last time I saw one that big was... never mind, let's just get this one!"

Mikasa nods back, pleased the other girl already dropped the concern about her injury. Carefully, she follows Sasha's lead, readying her blades as Sasha does her bow. Despite the rest of the ODM gear being absent, the familiar weight of the blades makes the black-haired girl's instincts snap to their upmost attention.

As Sasha had previously explained to do, they follow from the north, avoiding their scent being carried by the wind. Each step is careful, the girls avoiding crunchy leaves and thin twigs. Whether it is though experience or natural prowess, they effortlessly catch up with their prey.

Mikasa squints her eyes, blinking against direct sunlight as she manages to catch sight of their quarry. The hog had already come to a stop and is relaxing on the grass, with the forest's canopy open around it. More importantly, however, is that the animal is not alone. Two other hogs relaxed nearby, with a small, chubby humbug grazing between them. Its fur is lighter, Mikasa notes, lighter striped along its sides.

The four animals rest in the centre of the opening, enjoying the lush greenery and warm sunlight. They could be here for hours if Sasha wants to hunt them all, or much less if Sasha simply wants to take down one.