A Different Landing

Chapter-36

Keaton grinned victoriously as he walked into camp with Niles and Nina. He and Niles each had one end of a long branch resting on a shoulder, their prey, a large elk, hanging from it between them. Nina, Niles's second, was walking beside her first and humming happily. The warriors they passed all looked excited and slaps on the back were given as they passed. He felt pride, he was a hunter and getting to hunt finally after weeks of acting as a soldier had been excellent. He'd been honored by being asked to retrieve a kill for the command table at the upcoming feast.

The large cooking fires were up and lit. Setting the kill down carefully, he slapped Niles on the back. "Good shooting there. You drove him right to me."

"As if I'd ever miss." The archer said theatrically a gleam of amusement in his one eye.

Keaton snorted. "Yeah, yeah, your 'skills' are well known."

Niles winked at him. "I'd be happy to demonstrate some other skills with you any time hunter boy."

"And here I thought you were still pursuing that Trikru general?" He said as he untied the animal and pulled out his knife to begin the process of skinning it so it could be set over the fire. They had already done the field dressing when they'd first caught the animal.

Nina rolled her eyes. "Don't get him started on that. It's hopeless and he'll just sulk."

The assassin clutched his chest. "I'm wounded, utterly betrayed. My own second doubting my prowess."

"And yet still true." She deadpanned at her flirtatious first.

Keaton barked out a laugh at the ridiculous pair. "Come on and help me get this critter ready for the fire."

Niles helped him lift the carcass and hang it from a wooden frame designed for just such an event. With the initial cuts to aid in the skinning already done, Keaton quickly moved to remove the head. Using an antler, he tossed it at Nina. "Get that ready for the presentation will ya?"

She looked at it as she held it as far from her as she could without dropping it due to its weight. "You hunters are so gross."

"Hey," Keaton protested. "We're efficient, thank you very much."

Niles nodded along before speaking up. "No, you're gross. You get much too close to your prey afterwards. Truly, the lack of finesse and cleanliness is...unappealing."

"Just for that I'm not dancing with you later." Keaton said as he removed one of the hooves so the hide could be pulled off more easily. He grinned over his shoulder at the quiet footsteps he'd noticed a moment ago coming to a halt just behind him. "Heya Klark!"

"Congratulations on the successful hunt." She said with a smile. "Wouldn't want those Trikru thinking they were better hunters than us."

"Never," He said, laughing at the affronted looks on a couple of nearby Trikru's faces. "Azgeda pride must be upheld."

Klark snorted, "Yes, national pride with you two as our mascots."

"That hurts." Niles said. "I'm a charming mascot."

Keaton patted his companion on the shoulder. "Yes, between you and Laslow, I'm sure they all think we're nothing but flirtatious fools who care for their hair far too much."