Out in the Open - Ranger RPG

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor

Making no reply to Unalmis' comment, Duinion merely gave a small shrug with one shoulder, not quite sure what to say to that. He had his reasons for certain things he did, and wasn't sure he really deserved the credit Unalmis was giving him. Turning his attention to Arnyn, he listened as she began to suggest a plan, after no one had spoken up in a moment or two. Her plan seemed reasonable, and he gave a quiet nod. "If Unalmis doesn't scare off all the prey with his singing, I'd be happy to hunt for our supper," He grinned at the young man and then glanced toward the other two who had been given the option to accompany him.

"I don't bite, I promise." He added with a slight smile to the two who seemed somewhat reluctant to make any decision about what they'd like to do. Turning to the captain, he mentioned, "I can also go alone, if we have no volunteers for hunting. Though it would be good experience for someone, I'm sure." He didn't know either of the other two very well, and had no idea whether they were skilled at hunting, or even using a bow. Regardless, if one of them did come along, it would prove good practice for them, so long as they were able to walk quietly and not frighten off any prey.

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

"I'm happy to do some cooking Captain" he said, although he now realized he might be cooking for more people than he had ever done before. Perhaps the practice with sergeant Pete was going to pay off after all. Pele seemed to already be mostly over the injury and he was glad to see it was merely a temporary tweak of the ankle and nothing serious. It was easy enough to stumble or make a misstep and land awkwardly, Romeran was sure that almost everyone had done something similar in the past. Sometimes that would even happen to horses and if it was bad enough they would have to be put down. Romeran tried to wrench the sudden ill-memories from his brain and re focus on the tasks.

It seemed during his daydreaming, if you could really call it that, he had missed out on some questions from the captain and Arnyn was looking over to him and the other recruits eagerly. Romeran glanced his eyes between the two senior rangers having completely tuned out what they had said. A small amount of panic set in as he wondered if perhaps they had asked him a direct question. When Nal spoke up, at least, he figured the latter wasn't the case.

Shortly it seemed that perhaps Romeran wasn't the only junior ranger who wasn't listening. In any case, Romeran had at least figured out now that the topic of discussion was tasks for making camp. Nal had already offered to scout ahead which worked well for Romeran who wasn't convinced he'd be able to find to a good spot nearly as fast as those who were familiar with the trail. Duinion was going hunting and it seemed fetching wood or joining Duinion were still open.

"Well it's going to be hard to cook without a fire or any food except seasonings and rations so I can help with the firewood, gathering some vegetables or joining Duinion -- he has been my hunting master in recent training" Romeran said, starting to ramble slightly towards the end before catching himself.

[Pele Alarion]

"Oh, come now, people! Make decisions already!" Pele exclaimed, when she thought there had been sufficient time for discussion. "How about Mourgan collecting firewood, Caladcyll fetching water, and Rome going with Duinion then?"

She then glanced at Arnyn, "And what part of the whole camping affair appeals to you, Arnyn? Finding a hidden chest of treasures near the campsite?" Pele's blue eyes glinted merrily, as she thought that finding something like that would really not be amiss.

Swinging the stick around in front of her she sent a rock flying out of her way by hitting it with one end when she was sure that it would not hit anyone on its way off.

"Suppose some things can already be collected as we come across them. Firewood, herbs, what have you," she said, looking about them. "Once we are off the dusty road and into the greener areas."

[Arnyn]

Arnyn almost laughed at Pele's sudden impatience, and then made a face. "Well, it seems like you have divided most - if not all - of the tasks, Captain," she sighed. "Please, assign me a task as well? Unless I am to watch you and make sure you are resting instead of being overly active? Once Unalmis finds us a good spot, he could take that task to heart, however," she grinned with lights in her dark eyes. "Or would you like me to find an appropriate spot to serve as the camp's outhouse?"

"If all else fails, I can assist with the collection of the various things we will need," she finally allowed, returning a bit to her reasonable self.

[Rillewen]

@Romeran

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor

Duinion gave a light laugh as Pele finally began assigning tasks to those who had yet to volunteer. "It seems you all have your assignments then." It made sense then, to have Rome help with one of those tasks, since he couldn't cook until he had something to cook. "Shall we, then?" He turned to Romeran, motioning that they ought to set off. "The sooner we get started hunting, the sooner we can have supper," He pointed out. They didn't yet have a camp, nor even firewood, but hopefully by the time the hunters had any success, there would be all such things.

With his bow in hand, Duinion set off toward a thickly forested area, expecting Rome to follow along. He was already keeping an eye out for tracks or other such signs of prey that might be hanging around, keeping his steps soft so not to alert any critters of his approach. It wouldn't do to come upon a deer or rabbit and frighten it off before he had a chance to take a shot at it. A deer might be just right, he thought. It would be enough to feed all of them, and any meat left over could be used in the next meal. But, even if there were no deer, there should certainly be some smaller game around here. Working together, he and Rome should be able to track something and between the two of them, come back with enough for the whole group.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele tried her best not to laugh, but eventually chuckled, as she shrugged her shoulders. "There can always be more tasks, Arnyn," she noted, with a smile still lingering on her face. "I am not sure I really need that much watching though. Well, maybe..." She knew well enough that she was often too hard on herself and would often work to the point of utter exhaustion regardless of any injuries or necessary self-care.

"There's an option of ascertaining that the surroundings of the possible camp site is free of any unfriendly eyes," she brainstormed to produce more options. They were relatively close to Minas Tirith and there should not be too much trouble, at least of the orc-kind; however, evil had its ways of getting into the very heart of the city, so additional measures of security could never be amiss. "Or build a light lean-to for us to shelter should it rain. Though outhouse is always an option if you prefer that..."

With some of the group having split off to do their respective tasks, Pele slowed down seeing no need for hurry - what was the use of sending Unalmis ahead if the rest of them followed right in his footsteps? Now that she no longer tried to keep up a fast pace, Pele allowed herself time to inspect the surroundings more thoroughly, especially when they left the road and turned towards woods. Mostly her inspections were of a curious kind, as she stopped occasionally to gather a useful plant or two.

"I just hope Nal wouldn't run all the way to Rohan in his excitement," she grinned, stopping to pick a couple of juniper berries.

[Arnyn]

She laughed. "No, I would not prefer the outhouse, thank you, Captain." And there no real need for one, considering the situation. Glad for Pele's other suggestion, Arnyn nodded. "I will gladly do a perimeter check when Unalmis has chosen our campsite." That fit in rather well with the type of tasks she enjoyed, much more so than camp-building. Arnyn always tried to leave as small a mark as possible on the land she passed through. The less was needed, the better.

Pele was lingering here and there, and Arnyn followed the Captain's lead without comment. The road was behind them, and the woods would soon be upon them. She had to admit, she was looking forward to the peace that woods called forth inside of her. For all the life a forest held, it tended to bring a calm upon Arnyn. While it had not been long since her travels to visit her brother in Ithilien, perhaps a good month or so, the Hyandaner still welcomed the idea of walking under the winter canopy.

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan

Hearing his name seemed to clear the fog of his daydreaming and hearing he was assigned to gather wood his brows slightly raised in approval. "Yes Captain." He spared no time in looking around for decent firewood. His path took no certain course as he appraised each piece of wood before placing it in his arms. Others were seeing to their assigned duties as he made his way into a patch of trees.

There he found a downed tree long dead and dried. This would keep them in firewood as long as they needed it to. He set to breaking limbs into manageable sizes. He reached for one but quickly stopped when it moved. It took a heartbeat to recognize the pattern of the snake. He slowly removed his hand and watched the creature, it hadn't seen him. It was a viper and one bite meant serious business for it's unfortunate victim. Normally he wasn't one for killing animals randomly but with the others being so relatively close there could be a chance of this creature seeking them out for warmth during the night and no one needed to wake with this in their bed roll.

Slowly he pulled his sword and waited for it to show it's head. It seemed forever he stood there with his sword raised but finally the triangular shape of it's head appeared and with the flick of it's forked tongue he brought his sword down as close to the base of it's head as he could. The head dropped to the grass as it's body writhed and twisted. He took a deep breath of relief and used his sword to roll the head over slightly away from the still moving body.

He simply couldn't leave the head there. Even removed from the body it was still dangerous. Able to still bite and inject it's victim with venom he chose to bury it instead.
Using one of the larger limbs he'd found he started to dig a hole just large enough to drop the head into. Once done he patted the dirt that filled the hole where the head rest, buried. By then the body lay mostly still, he used his sword to lift it till it dangled, limp, over the broadside of the sword.

Loaded with firewood in one hand and holding the snake baring sword in the other he walked back to the others. "Captain!" He called as he got closer. He motioned to the snake. "How do you feel about some snake added to tonight's menu?" He grinned at her.

[Romeran]

Captain Pele did as the captain would be expected to do -- she took command. Orders were handed out and Romeran was quite happy to be helping Duinion. Romeran and Duinion had already spent a good amount of time together during his training which made Romeran feel more comfortable, he was still unused to meeting so many new people. Duinion seemed eager to make haste with their task and Romeran did not want to be a cause for delay. He nodded to Duinion "I'm ready" he said, reaching for his bow and bowstring from his pack without breaking pace. Romeran did have to pause and bend over, using his foot to brace the bow against the ground, as he strung the bow. But this only took a few moments and he made up for the lost time by jogging for a few steps in order to catch up.

"What do you think we might find around here?" Romeran asked figuring that it might be easier to keep an eye out for tracks or signs or sounds if he knew what they might be looking for. He wondered if there were large enough birds or other animals that they might eat or if there was a nearby river, he was largely unfamiliar with the area to the North, even this close to the city. Romeran started to walk with in care trying not to make a sound , as Duinion had taught him during their lessons. Regardless of what they were hunting, Romeran was confident that stealth would be to their advantage. The process of walking stealthily was still an active skill for Romeran who was not so tenured as some of the other rangers who seemed to move like ghosts in the wind. He wondered how long it would be before he felt such confidence.

[Rillewen]

@Romeran

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor

Once they had entered the forest area, Duinion paused to look around carefully, listen, and wait for Rome to catch up. While he waited, he inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of the forest. Further, he didn't detect any scents that ought to bring them any alarm, which was good. When the trainee arrived shortly behind him, Duinion considered his question. "Rabbits, pheasants... squirrels maybe.. I'd like to find a deer. That'd feed us all very well tonight and for at least a meal or two after." He answered softly. "We may not get that lucky, but we'll at least look for tracks and see what the options are."

There were a few scattered indications around to show what sort of creatures inhabited this part of the woods, and Duinion took a moment to study some of the signs from where he stood, before motioning to Rome. "Have a look around," He figured it might be good to give him a bit more practice. "See if you can spot anything worth tracking... and whether it's possible." It would also be a good opportunity to assess how well he had remembered some of the previous lessons, both in tracking, and in moving stealthily. He was eager to see whether Rome had made any progress with such skills since their last time out to the forest.

[Pele Alarion]

Having taken a few steps into the forest, Pele stopped, closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of trees in the air, mostly spruce and pine trees she made a mental comment, though she saw as much when opening her eyes again.

"Hopefully you will find nothing of concern, Arnyn," she said, happy that her friend now had a task which would satisfy her. "Well... except for the snakes, that is," an afterthought followed when she looked at Mourgan and his additional trophy besides firewood.

Her index finger rested against her chin for a few moments, as she tilted her head and looked at the snake. "I am not sure my culinary skills extend to making snakes edible. Rome's might though," she regarded him most seriously. "I am sure a snake is exactly the flavour our camp food would need to make it memorable and... festive."

Turning around in a full circle, Pele looked at the forest carefully, watching and listening for any sign of Unalmis, wondering how far he had gone and if he had managed to find a good spot, preferably with water nearby.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

The trek between Lond Côl and Minas Tirith was one Abrazimir was becoming accustomed to through the discourse of his official duties for Dol Amroth, often making the journey several times in a year. It was a pleasant ride, following the Great River up to the City of the Men of Númenor. And ignoring the realm over yonder, across the Anduin. There was no compunctions at all about undertaking a week long round-trip just to deliver some report, missive, or dispatch of the southern defenses to the military command within the City. After all, it was a chance to escape for a while the bustle of the life of a prospective Swan-Knight and most importantly, out from under the grips of a stern, traditionalist father.

It was in the Headquarters, after dropping his packet of missives, that he saw the simple note posted upon the notice board. Heading out for some fresh air for a few days or so. In need of some company. See you in the common room tomorrow morning around breakfast time. Which, Abrazimir realized, if he wished to partake, was almost a full hour prior! A chance for reprieve and restful enjoyment of the scenery, this was perhaps one of the few opportunities to find some pleasures before returning to the arduous monotony of patrol and garrison duties, in the great preparations for the upcoming War.

Returning with haste to the lower levels, he left his mount behind and headed off on foot, after inquiring what direction such a group might have taken off in. Was he prepared or running off in forgetful haste? He was lightly garbed, a long coat of chain mail, trousers tucked into riding boots, with a blue tunic atop his mail emblazoned with the White Tree of Gondor, complete with a bellowing blue cloak typical of the folk of Belfalas, with a sword girted about his waist. He should have brought a hatchet or something. He had a satchel of some old bread, a flask of water, though mostly emptied by now, and a few other oddities. Familial heirloom knife, a sleeping roll bounced at his back, gloves, a sewing kit and needle for the usual wear and tear of garments while traveling.

He caught sight of the group, but they were distant figures by the time he passed the North Gate. Were they…running? Abrazimir shrugged and picked up his own slack, though the task was more laborious as he was somewhat armored and had to deal with the excess weight. But he managed to close some of the distance and was pleased to find them still loitering outside the wood by the time he was within sight. At a distance, he came to a trot, and raised his arm to indicate he was joining them, if they might see him. Quickly, he closed up the last of the distance and offered up a grin as he walked to the group of rangers at the outskirts of the wood.

He recognized a few of the faces as he walked up. Ranger Mourgan, Captains Pele and Arnyn. There must be others as well. ”Hello!” Abrazimir declared as he walked up. He came to a halt and saluted, arm across his chest, bowing his head in polite, formal greeting. ”I saw a notice at Headquarters about a camping trip, decided I could use the break. How are you all? Could you find use and space for this straggler?” He inquired with a curious, raised eyebrow.

[Pele Alarion]

It seemed that their presence had distracted the wildlife in the woods, Pele found as she listened to the silence caused by the lack of any bird calls. The fact would usually leave her rather dissatisfied, but they were not on a secretive mission, and no harm was done that their presence was so felt in the nearby forest. Since the surroundings were quiet, and no one said anything for a few moments, Pele heard the approaching footsteps and turned around to face the newcomer.

"Abrazimir! Did not quite expect to see you here," she greeted him with a smile and a salute in response. "We are just waiting to see whether Unalmis might have found us a good place for the said camping, and as for use... The duty of digging a latrine has not been claimed as of yet." A small grin played on Pele's lips, and her blue eyes reflected a much greater amount of laughter held otherwise in check.

"Yet, if you have spare time, you can surely join us," she added, and then turned to take a few steps among the trees, inspecting the ground in search of any sign of where Unalmis might have entered the forest and which way he would have gone.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

Abrazimir smiled as Pele Alarion answered him, the Captain quickly filling him in on the details while he caught his breath, hands on his hips to expand his diaphragm to help with the intake of air. He listened attentively, smiling continually, until Pele dropped the little bombshell of a revelation that there was indeed space for a hands…especially hands needed for digging the latrine. His smile dropped and his eyebrows piqued. She was joking, right? Or she wasn’t. Or maybe she was. The look in her eye made it seem like it was but she was also a superior officer so…well, he was stuck either way.

But he was here. And he knew he had to do his part and carry his load. The price for being late, even if it was by a sliver. They hadn’t been here long, evidently. ”I wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Abrazimir said, falling into a polite step behind the Captain, folding his hands behind his back. ”I much relish the chance of being in the wilderness. My father has kept me long in Belfalas, pursuing my naval studies. Astral navigation charts and patterned construction techniques and…well, you probably don’t want to hear that.” Abrazimir ending his rantings with a wave. He was happy to be out and be his own man for a time, if even for a small reprieve as camping.

”Are there many others here as well?” He inquired of the Captain, changing the topic away from himself.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele still did not make any haste, yet slowly began to move into the forest, picking up a few dry twigs for the fire, and looking around for any useful herbs.

"This is not much of the wilderness though, Abrazimir, just the nearby forest. Though for purposes of relaxed camping it does just as well," she said, picking up one more twig and turning towards the newest addition of their party.

"Astral navigation charts and construction techniques, you say?" Pele said and tilted her head slightly. "Worthy subjects, but I would be totally at a loss if presented with any such charts. Give me a rough map of the lands, and it'll do. When under the trees, stars might not always be a good option to use for navigation, but sometimes..."

Noting something that reminded her of a faint foot mark in a spot of soft earth, Pele went down on one knee next to it so she could see better.

"Mmm. Yes," were her conclusions, as she stood up yet again to answer Abrazimir's last question. "Not too many of us. Arnyn and Mourgan here. Then Duinion and Romeran who are off hunting diner for us. There was Caladcyll somewhere. And Unalmis. That's about it. Supposedly enough of us to set up some simple camping spot with a bit of fire and food, and enjoy some time sharing stories or songs or what have you."

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

Not much of the wilderness? Compared to the wind-swept lands of his home, where most trees and woodlands have been carried off for ship-making, it certainly counted as wilderness for the young Swan-Knight. It was a marvel for Abrazimir and he felt he could just sit or lay down in the grass and listen to the rustle of leaves or the songs of chirping birds for hours. They were so different from the kind they had down south. But he shrugged and accepted Pele’s correction.

”One of many subjects, recorded by scholars since the days of the King in bothersome old tomes. Treated more ardently than newborn life sometimes, it feels like.” He grinned ruefully, there being others far more arduous and exhaustive on the mind. He listened to the piece of advice she was giving about navigating a sea of trees and woodlands when she paused, crouching to examine some corner of this forest. Abrazimir made sure not to stand and obstruct any light sources, glancing up to ensure, then glancing down to take note of what she might have found, or was looking for. Looked like a boot mark, maybe from one of the others, or perhaps something else…

Nope. She remained elusive on that front, instead answering his other question about who else might be present from the garrison.

Arnyn, Mourgan, Duinion, Romeran, Caladcyll, Unalmis. Some familiar, others new. Good company nonetheless to enjoy a sojourn with away from his seaward duties. Enjoy some time sharing stories or songs or what have you… ”Or the inner workings of angular measurements or sightings of celestial objects?” He offered up as a joke. ”I have little to offer, besides my labour and zeal. I do have a pouch of sea-salt from home. And a bit of wine. I’d be happy to share. Other than that, whatever work you can find for these,” he held up his gloved hands, ”I’ll be delighted to commit them.”

He nodded towards the earth, as he followed her along. He picked up a rock, something to line their campfire with, he supposed. ”So what are you seeking? Tracks? Herbs? In lieu of being more useful, I can provide myself as a subject for taste testing.” He laughed again.

[Arnyn]

Arnyn laughed when she saw Mourgan coming back into their line of sight, firewood in one hand and the body of a snake dangling from his sword blade in the other. At Pele's comments about eating the snake, the blonde nodded slowly. She wanted to say something, but Abrazimir's arrival gave her pause. She smiled and nodded her hello at him, glad to see that another would join them. The more the merrier, after all.

Pele started off by joking more about organic waste disposal, and Arnyn hid a grin at Abrazimir's reaction. He clearly had no idea of whether the Captain was joking or not, which tickled her funny bone. It had become easy for her to determine when Pele was joking, but she understood it could be difficult for others, especially given her rank.

While Pele and Abrazimir conversed, Arnyn fell into step right behind them, next to Mourgan. "I can help carry some of that firewood?" she offered. "Or I can take over the snake," she laughed.

Catching Abrazimir's comment that he had little to offer other than his 'labour and zeal', Arnyn raised her eyebrows. "Now, now... I am sure you have some good stories to tell in addition to a strong pair of hands."

She glanced back at Mourgan's snake. "Cooking it can definitely be done," she said, as if it were no big thing. "It tastes like a strange chicken-fish hybrid..."

[Pele Alarion]

Pele shook her head as if she was refusing to accept Abrazimir's statement that he had little to offer, but she said nothing when Arnyn already hastened to suggest that he might have stories to share.

Still at a rather leisurely pace, Pele wandered further into the forest following the direction suggested by the boot mark she had found in the mud. "I am looking for small things that are uncommon for the forest," she responded when he asked about the purpose of her little investigation. "Though herbs are a good find too. Yet... not sure you'd want to taste test everything. Results can be rather interesting and not always very pleasant." Her blue eyes glinted merrily, as she looked around at the forest.

"You might taste the snake though. Roasted over fire, with juniper berries or something," she could not help but laugh, and then added more seriously after a few moments. "Look! Forest can be read as a book if you know what to look for. A broken twig here..." she pointed at where she had noticed it. "Doesn't just happen on its own. Or... the direction of grass leaning towards the ground under a booted foot." She followed the trail of intentionally left markings and unintentional clues more confidently now that she had noticed the first ones, picking up the pace a little.

"Think we can find more snakes so that everyone gets a proper taste, Mourgan? Arnyn?" she asked with another laugh. "Or maybe I should have asked Duinion and Romeran to hunt snakes specifically instead of other bigger animals."

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

It would indeed be a cause for curiosity if they came upon something that didn’t belong in a forest. Or were rare. Surely other Gondorians may have passed this way prior for some reason or other. He accepted Pele’s warning about taste-testing things. Abrazimir knew better than to pick at wild, edible things without some sort of inspection.

Arnyn and Mourgan returned to the group as Abrazimir conversed with Pele, giving the others a nod in greeting. Arnyn certainly had some choice words about his incapability to be more than a willing pair of hands, earning a grin from Abrazimir. ”Stories? I’m sure I can manage a tale or two, tall or otherwise.” He chuckled. ”Snake? This is already turning into an exotic getaway for me. Sounds like you three already know what it’s like. I’ve had not the pleasure, yet.” Chicken-fish hybrid, Arnyn said? Well, he enjoyed both of those, so why not snake as well?

He paid apt attention to what the Captain explained about the forest. The woods near his home didn’t exactly have a wild streak to them. They were cultivated in fact, hewn for lumber for the making of ships and other such necessities. They had long been picked clean of anything interesting. This forest certainly could possess something new or strange for Abrazimir to chance upon. He followed Pele, nodding understandingly to her tracking wisdom. Yes, not much would snap a twig out here. Could be anything from wild animals to dangerous predators.

”So you’re saying there’s a technique to catching snakes, huh? I feel like I wouldn’t catch a glimpse of the villains scurrying under so much foliage and vegetation. What’s the magic in entrapping them?” He inquired into the art of snake-hunting and eating.

[Rillewen]

@Romeran

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor

The tracks of various animals seemed abundant in this part of the woods. Duinion was focused on selecting a certain kind, something that would feed the entire bunch. Perhaps a deer was a little more than they needed, as they would then have to carry all the leftover meat, thus adding to the weight in their packs. And if it was very hot the following day, the meat could begin to go bad. Then again, there was no guarantee that they would catch exactly what they wanted. He had yet to discover any deer tracks, for instance, but there were other options.

"Look at those," He murmured to Rome, as the two stopped to study the dirt by a small stream. Duinion smiled faintly to himself, noticing an oak tree not far away. He motioned for Rome to follow, and knelt to point out how some of the ground around the tree had been disturbed. "There's a small flock of wild turkeys somewhere around here," He explained. "They eat acorns and berries and things like that. And by the look of the tracks by the stream, I'd say they aren't too far off from here." They were certainly fresh tracks, made within the last half hour at least. Hopefully, they might be able to catch one. A good sized turkey would be just about right to feed their entire group for the evening, without too much left over. And the feathers would make useful quills and fletching, he couldn't help thinking.

After a moment inspecting the ground, he glanced up at Rome. "Which set of tracks are fresher, Trainee?" he asked with a slight smile. "Which way do we go to find them?" It wouldn't be terribly hard to arrive at the correct answer, since one set of tracks led toward the other. After giving Romeran a chance to make a choice based on the evidence before them, Duinion nodded in satisfaction and they set off stealthily after their prey, Duinion occasionally glancing over at the trainee and indicating any further sign of the turkeys, to ensure that Rome didn't overlook anything.

[Romeran]

As they made their way through the woods Romeran practiced his skills in stealth, trying his best to move unnoticed but still keep up with Duinion. Despite being close to the city and not being in any danger of enemies, they were still hunting and any loud or unusual sounds would surely disturb their prey, whatever it might be. Silent movement was a cornerstone of any ranger's repertoire but following after Duinion had always been a challenge as the senior ranger moved with such speed in near complete silence (relative to the sounds already made by the forest). Romeran had a hard time keeping up. Still, he made his best, with sacrifices on his part for stealth, to keep the senior ranger within earshot.

Catching up to the ranger as he stopped to peer at some signs, Romeran bent down to see what the ranger was pointing to. The ranger was pointing to an oak tree and as Romeran came forward and knelt to see, he observed the disturbed ground around the tree, signs of a fairly large animal at least, Romeran thought, enough to feed a few rangers. A flock of turkeys, Duinion clarified, without putting it to Romeran to guess (of which he was thankful, his running guess so far had been some sort of small boar). Romeran peered back at the stream and noticed the tracks which Duinion had pointed too, they were clearly bird tracks. Romeran was thankful again that he hadn't made a fool of himself with his uninformed guess.

Romeran nodded, peering around looking for further signs of where the turkeys might have hidden. It seemed the tracks in led from the stream towards the tree and bushes. Likely the turkeys had been drinking and were returning to their gathered food towards wherever they took shelter. Romeran peered at the tracks closely to confirm the they seemed more fresh in the mud. "It looks like they're heading towards the trees, probably after drinking and foraging" he summarized in a hushed voice, trying not to disturb them if they happened to be nearby. "They probably den nearby, it seems a fairly safe place" he motioned to the large tree "and close to the water" he pointed to the stream. "Maybe if we head in away from the stream towards the thicket we'll see further signs?" he posed, awaiting Duinion's reception.

[Rillewen]

@Romeran

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor

"We'll need to be very quiet," Duinion spoke in a hushed tone, below a whisper. "Listen carefully to the woods. Turkeys are always with the flock. They call constantly each other to ensure the others are close by." He explained. "They'll feed and call, over and over. The calls are rather soft, but you can often hear them if you listen closely enough. I often hear them scratching long before I hear them calling. Then, be extra careful about being stealthy. If they see us coming, they'll scatter." He warned the trainee. He paused, thinking for a moment. "Did you have chickens on your farm?" He wondered. "They act similar to those. Scratching around at the ground, roosting in trees at night, that sort of thing. But they watch carefully for any danger."

With that said, he proceeded slowly onward, following the tracks. If they were very lucky, they would be able to hear the turkeys from a ways off, and sneak up close enough to take a shot at one. He was hoping for a big one, but they'd take what they could get. Following the tracks was very easy, considering how the turkeys scratched and dug at the ground the whole way. Then, after traveling several yards further, he held up a hand to halt Rome, and listened carefully. "Hear them?" He whispered softly. The flock, he was sure, was just ahead a little ways, but there was some brush and things hiding them from view. Very slowly, Duinion crept nearer, circling around to one side, until he came to a place that was lower, where he could see over the thick cluster of bushes. The birds were scratching in the leaves, searching for food.

Motioning for Rome to come closer, he waited for the trainee to join him and pointed toward the birds. It looked like a fairly good-sized flock, and he scanned the area looking for a larger bird. Once he'd spotted the one he wanted, he pointed it out to Rome. "We'll aim for that one," He murmured, barely audible. The one he'd picked was bigger, probably the most dominant male of the flock. Killing him would give some of the younger males a chance to take his place. Moving slow, careful to try and avoid drawing the bird's attention to their presence, Duinion reached for an arrow. Once he was ready, he waited for Rome to be ready, and gave him a nod. He would let Rome take the shot, but if he missed, Duinion would loose his own arrow immediately after. Hopefully, between the two of them, the turkey wouldn't stand a chance.

[Pele Alarion]

"Snake meat is okay suppose, especially if you are desperate for food," Pele responded to Abrazimir, leaving him to wonder whether she had been in circumstances requiring resorting to such food for sustenance. "If you do not get bitten in the process of catching the said snake." She stopped for a moment to observe what looked like a marking made of twigs on the ground. "A technique though? Haven't thought of it," she chuckled softly. "I'd say other creatures might provide more meat, but if you really are after snakes... Know what type of snake you are looking for and where it likes to hang out - unless it has ended up right next to you."

As they walked even deeper into the forest, they came across a stream flowing merrily over some rocks and under fallen trees. Pele stepped on a larger rock near the bank of the stream and crouched down to watch the water. It seemed to be clear enough and might be good for drinking, though she'd want to make sure there was nothing upstream that could contaminate it. She was in no mood to have a bunch of sick people to treat in the middle of forest.

Standing up again, she stepped carefully from stone to stone to cross the stream with dry feet, and after pressing through a curtain of bushes came out into a clearing. "Ah, look!" she turned back to Abrazimir, Arnyn, and Mourgan and then motioned to the spot. "Looks rather nice, does it not? I wonder..." Yet she did not finish the sentence, when her eyes landed on Unalmis. "Well. Looks like a fine place for a camp, no? Unless there is some danger around here, such as an army of snakes?" Pele laughed, as she walked further into the clearing.

[Arnyn]

Arnyn made a face. "Snakes are not so tasty that I would specifically hunt for them. However, they will do in a pinch." She left most of the conversing to Pele and Abrazimir, since they both seemed to be in a mood for it.

Since Mourgan had not accepted her offer to take over either the snake or some of the firewood, she was only still holding her scabbarded sword in hand. Yet now they were walking rather than running, she fixed it back onto her weapons belt.

The woods were tranquil, and Arnyn felt a familiar kind of peace settling over her. The trees, the moss, the thicket, the smells of the forest - her heart lay both in MInas Tirith and in nature, and thus she well enjoyed one if she had been spending more time in the other.

The stream rushed by happily and Arnyn's expression matched it as she watched Pele crossing it by moving over the stones. Arnyn unbiddenly took over some of Mourgan's load then, leaving the snake to him but taking a sizeable amount of the firewood he had retrieved with her as she followed in Pele's footsteps. Surely, Abrazimir and Mourgan would follow suit.

The clearing was a nice surprise. She did not know these woods well enough to expect it here. The sight of Unalmis seemed to confirm that this is where they would be camping. Arnyn's gaze assessed the clearing and its edges. "I will go scout the perimeter and immediate surroundings." The quiet words were still loud enough for Mourgan, Abrazimir and Pele to hear them. No additional explanation was necessary, so the Hyandaner quietly moved to the edge of the clearing. She would soon be out of sight, unless someone were to call and stop her for some reason.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

It was both a morbid curiosity and for reasons of practicality that Abrazimir was intrigued by the topic of snake meat. For one, it was indeed a sort of meat he didn’t expect to grace tables or meals in their land. On the other hand, he might one day be shipwrecked in lands further south where snakes were said to be endless. Knowing how to hunt, capture, and properly cook them could be the difference between life or death. Not an eventuality he was about to risk lightly. This is what the Rangers were for, surviving and operating deep in the bush or wilds with nothing but one’s own wits.

They moved well into the woods, coming upon a stream, shallow enough to have rocks visible above it’s surface, though probably deep in other areas to wet one up to the knee or higher. The Captain sprang elegantly onto one, examining the little river’s course. Abrazimir gave only a wave of his hand in vague assent to settling it as a campsite. The trees provided some shade and cover. The water, if safe for consumption, covered their need of thirst, while also potentially being a drinking hole for other woodland critters. They need not only eat snake meat, right? But they had one, enough to sate a curiosity.

”A good spot for a base camp. The stream will provide somewhat of a barrier on one flank. I doubt a host of snakes will cross by that path. The other sides, we’re capable of defending, I would think.” He chuckled along with Pele’s remarks. It was unlikely they would be besieged here but it never hurt to be prepared.

”I can start with the fire. Let me aid you with that,” Abrazimir offered, moving to Mourgan and Arnyn to help with the load of firewood, allowing the other woman to scout and check out their immediate surroundings. ”Should we light up a fire or wait a little until nightfall?” He got to work on crafting a fireplace and hearth, with stones about it’s outer face and a pyramid of kindle beneath the larger logs and twigs. He didn’t move to spark up a flame just yet. It was still high morning, early noon perhaps, and hours away from daylight fading.