When Things Are Set Right

Hunting

The road to Bywinter wound northeast through a pine forest. They passed a few travelers along the path, but were mostly accompanied by the sounds of birds. The day was clear and brisk, like autumn in Merioake, but the temperature plummeted overnight. They pulled over and found a clearing away from the road to camp, keeping watch in shifts.

On the morning of the second day of travel, food supplies started to dwindle. Aeryn's check of her belt pouch confirmed they were almost out of money. After she helped clean up from breakfast, she strung her bow and slung her quiver over her head. "I'm going hunting."

Wolfe stopped filling the horses' nose bags. "Are ya, now?"

"We're low on funds and low on food. If I can catch something, it'll save us some coin and maybe I can sell the hide."

"Assuming nothin' catches ya first." He finished with the nose bags and plodded across the clearing to Aeryn. "How familiar are ya with northern beasts?"

"How different could they be from those in the south?" she said. She tightened the strap of the quiver to keep it from sliding.

Wolfe planted his hands on his hips, and assumed a conversational tone. "Imagine much of the same critters. But bigger. And meaner. If by chance ya ran into a griffon, or a dragon, it'd prolly be the end of ya."

Aeryn stifled a sigh. He sounded like her father with his endless warnings about dangerous beasts she never met. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm still going. We need food."

"Then go with someone."

"I hunt alone."

"It's not safe."

"Wolfe, I don't require supervision," she said, her voice tight with irritation. "I'm not a child."

"Then don't act like one. Use your noggin, Lady Aeryn. We're in unfamiliar territory. Ya could run into trouble."

Aeryn blew out a sigh. "Why don't you consult your dice about it?"

Wolfe flared his nostrils as he dug them from his pocket. Not bothering to look at them and never breaking eye contact, he dropped them on the grass. "Oh look. They says I'm right."

Grim grabbed his axe. "I'll come. Wolfe is right. If you catch something big, you'll need help carrying it."

Aeryn pressed her mouth shut. He just had to preface it with Wolfe is right, but he had a point. The only problem was, if Grim came, the chances of catching anything, even something as simple-minded as a pikdeer, diminished.

Maybe she could teach him how to tread carefully through the wood. At least he wasn't wearing full plate anymore.

"Fine. Let's go." She ended the possibility of further discussion on the matter, and led the way into the treeline.

The noises of their camp faded.

It felt good to be surrounded by the trees again, with the smells and the texture of the undergrowth. Grim, who never joined Aeryn on a hunt before, relaxed as they hiked deeper into the forest.

He relaxed too much.

His woodsmanship left her wondering if every edible creature in the vicinity knew they were there. She provided a few gentle suggestions, and while his technique improved, he was still a large human in need of practice. After a quarter hour of crunching over pine needles, Aeryn paused, considering how to put the matter delicately. He'd get there eventually, she was sure of it.

But they needed to eat today.

"I'll have a better chance of catching something if I go ahead a little ways." She held up a hand to stave off protest. "I'll stay within sight. Try to step lighter and avoid swishing the fallen leaves."