Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 96- Rabbits

The blue shades of snow range from deep dark ocean swatches to light baby blues as it rolls over the ground with softened round waves so smooth. Drapes hang from thin black willow branches, needles layered in frosts to add a blue musty hue to the green, walls of snow sit on every branch. I look up but cannot see the sky.

All noise is pleasantly muffled to feel cozy yet free and open. Birds flutter about knocking bits and crumbs of snow from trees here and there. Most of them are Chickadees so they do that unique call of theirs so calmly.

Genesis stuffs her face into the snow as we walk with an open mouth to re-hydrate. When she lifts her head she has grown a white beard and mustache. I wipe it away for her with a grin as she licks my hand.

"What are we going to get for food?" I inquire Aegis who walks at my side leading slightly.

"There are many rabbits around here," He answers knowledgeably.

  "Are we setting snares or just going for it?" Aegis is awful at being detailed in his answers.

"I think we will be swifter just killing them by hand, besides, you have Genesis too." He stops in a clearing which clearly was once a quiet meadow. "We will put the rabbits here once we kill them and meet here again too." Aegis explains, his white hair swishing in a breeze.

"Alright," I find myself very conflicted with my introverted and extroverted side. On a more regular basis I'm an extreme introvert as this is how I was raised, 'trust and rely on no one'. But I am almost wanting to make this hunt a competition. It seems I don't even have myself figured out.

Screw it!

I might die on this mission, so I might as well make the best of it! No point moping.

"I bet I can catch more than you!" I call over my shoulder as I turn away back into the trees.

He grins and appears quite determined before he disappears.

"Genesis, we need some rabbits, can you do that for me?" I command in question and she laps my face before taking off in a wild manner.

In some places the snow goes above my knees and in others only up to my ankles. Aegis left me still in his cloak, so I won't need to worry nearly as much about blending in or being too cold. Generally I don't mind being cold hence my training, but it still is nice.

First off I need to find a weapon or tool of sorts. Soon I come across a fallen Fir, if I am not mistaken. The bottom most branches are completely dead and straight, no branches coming off of them. They were probably worn by winds and rains.

I side kick and strike the base of a perfect length and utterly straight stick. The end is sharp and it has some flexibility just not a lot. Next I'll need a shorter dagger style stick. It does not take long to find a piece laying about.

Luck is on my side when I've decided to turn right and find some fresh and distinct rabbit tracks. Here the snow is also thin as I alter the way I move and use my ears more than my eyes; as rabbits are hard to spot in the winter when they become white also.

Then I hear sniffing and now move between trees methodically. I glance around and there it is, digging to find who knows what.

To get a better angle and to be right at its back, I go to the other side of the trunk and use great stealth. All is silent here except the rabbit. Each step is taken and foot placed strategically as I approach further. Its ears flip around as they do to catch sounds of danger, so when they turn my direction I halt.

Now five feet from my target, I silently lunge, hoping the air currents won't shift too fast. I dive in at a steep angle, face first before plunging out my arm.

The spear hits the flesh soft and squishy, dark crimson paints it and creates a ring on the white long fur. It was a clean kill right at the skulls base.

I kneel down and lay a hand on it, apologizing for stealing its life, but thanking it for its nourishment.

For one life to survive, another must be taken. Why? It's an awful existence, yet it would not stop if we all stopped eating. We kill beautiful plants too.

Either way, I'm still feeling proud of myself as it has been too long since I last had to catch my own food with nothing. I grab the scruff and stand, snow scrunching beneath my feet.

On the way to the clearing I run but come across another rabbit, strike it dead, thank it, and then take the two back into the open space. Aegis hasn't added anything yet, neither has Genesis.

Taking the bodies I lay them gently in the bed of snow and with the scarlet tipped spear I carve my name into the snows by the bodies to show that they're mine and draw a huge circle around it.

I decide to go to the left this time and find three more, losing the third from pure carelessness. Angered by my sloppy actions I bring the two I got successfully back and place them proudly onto the pile, as Aegis still has yet to return.

Now this time I go all the way across to the other edge of the meadow feeling I will find more there somehow, and I find six, this time letting none escape. I myself have already caught enough for many days so far.

When again I return, Aegis's stack is huge and Genesis has added four more to my pile to make fifteen caught in my circle.

"How many did you get?" I ask irritably and defeated, the pride I once had in my skills vanquished.

"More than twenty I think," He shrugs, "I also made these to help bring it all back." He walks over a sets something on her Genesis's back which turns out to be two baskets one at each side with a woven strap connecting them over her back. "And these." He points at two sleds he put together and I sigh, very defeated.

"Fine, you win." He chuckles and loads up his sled, I go and stack my own onto the sled he built for me to use and stuff some into Genesis's baskets too.