Private I Hunt, Therefore I Am

[Mysa Snowstrider]

Midvinter
The Western Wilds
♪ The Wild
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It was with a slow intake of breath that the bowstring was pulled taut, thumb brushing her right cheek as she took aim down the length of the notched arrow and sighted the doe. Red with paler spots, it was not the kind of Vhaanir that was held to sacred heights and thus Mysa had no qualms felling it. There were some she outright refused, those whose coat was white as snow, they belonged to the Goddess Éar, Mysa knew that better than anyone.​

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Still, as her arrow whistled through the air and struck true within the doe's vital pocket, Mysa said a prayer beneath her breath. Of thanks, but also of contrition for the life she had taken. The beauty staggered several feet before collapsing, heart giving out then and there in the pure white snow.​

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She was upon her in an instance, her featherlight footfall hampered by the heavier thudding of the frir at her back. Felix was salivating, she knew, a low chuffing sounded as the great beast made his contentment known. Theirs had been a long hunt, and now he knew he would get his fill.​

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"Wait," she commanded of the seemingly wild animal at her heel, "Sit." The frir obeyed immediately, even as a bird soared down from overhead to settle on a branch close to the doe's body and eyed up the prize. "Good boy" she cooed, scritching him behind the ear. "I'm just going to finish her off," she said, though there wasn't much life left the last thing Mysa wanted was for the sacred creature to suffer through its last moments.​

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Kneeling beside it, she took out her hunting knife and slit the Vhaanir's throat, making the snow redder than it had already been. Felix's ears flicked, and he huffed and looked toward the bird as Mysa tied the hind legs, flung the other end of the rope over a sturdy tree branch, then hefted the body up to see the blood drained.​

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"I know, you are hungry, we all are," she said, to frir and bird, "You will have offal soon, and meat in time." For now, once the rope had been secured on a sturdy root, she reached into a pouch on her belt and tossed them each a strip of jerky.​

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Then, taking a step back to breathe, she chewed on a piece herself.​

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Arden Durane ​

 

[Arden Durane]

Mysa Snowstrider
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"Where are you going?"

"Into the wild."

Arden voiced with much ease and confidence, looking to his captain with a smirk. He wouldn't be gone too long. Arden had been busy in the deeper parts of Midvinter, taking part in many strikes against the Duergar and the Uruk. An alliance had been formulated between the Dwarves and the High King, Thurion Heavenshield. As Lord Commander, Arden had been down below for many months, fighting against their enemies. Only recently had he returned to service at the request of his great love Nina Heavenshield

Arden, born of a union of two magnificent races, had trained and learned from both worlds. Tracking was another specialty of his. His keen eyesight and hearing were what aided him this day as he began tracking a Vhaanir. He was farther behind than he realized. Perhaps his mind was distracted, just being back on the surface world. The snow crunched lightly beneath his boots until he came to a stop. He knelt in the distance. Someone had claimed the creature already. Arden showed a small smile as he began to approach.

He raised one hand, signifying that he meant no harm to her.

"That's a good kill. You beat me to it." Arden voiced with a good and light tone.

"Forgive my intrusion. If you wish to remain by yourself in peace, I will oblige." The Lord Commander spoke politely, not looking to intrude, if only for a moment to congratulate her on the kill.

 

[Mysa Snowstrider]

She had barely stepped back to admire the Vhaanir's beautiful hide when the crunch of boots on snow sounded at her back. In an instance the jerky was dropped to the ground, bow drawn, arrow notched, aimed directly toward the intruder. Her instincts were honed from the days of the blasted Vinterbound, there would be no risking it even though that scourge had been gone since the death of the former High King.

Besides, of late Midvinter had become a hive for all creatures dark and grim.​

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It was a testament to her handling that neither Frir nor Andoryn swept in to claim the fallen jerky, instead Odiir took to the skies above, circling in wait, while Felix prowled to her right and stared at their uninvited guest with predatory intent.​

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"Identify yourself" she commanded, her accent a rather odd amalgamation. She had not always been on Midvinter, but it was her home and had been for most of her life.​

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Arden Durane ​

 

[Arden Durane]

Mysa Snowstrider
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"Easy..." Arden voiced politely, not shaken by the bow and arrown notched, pointing his way. "I mean you no harm. I'm Arden, Lord Commander for the High King's lion guard. I was simply on the hunt, and it seems you found them first."

Arden spoke with an easy smile, and he lowered his hand.

"What do you say we lower that, I've suffered enough wounds from recent battles in the depths. I'd rather not have another one, not while I'm topside anyway."

There was only so much he could say, to get a stranger to trust him. Yet he hoped his words were enough.

 

[Mysa Snowstrider]

"The Lion Guard," she breathed, her resolve wavering even if her hands remained firmly in control, "Papa..."​

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Mysa was about to lower her guard, but at the last moment she strengthened her pull and shifted her aim toward his foot. "Have you proof of this claim? A badge, a brooch, a cloak-pin?" Surely they had something to identify themselves by, it had been too long for Mysa to recall the specifics.

At least she wasn't looking to shoot him in the face any longer.​

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Felix circled her legs once, before sniffing the air. He did not growl, did not prowl closer, instead he looked up at her.​

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That was all she needed to lax the bowstring and let the arrow drop into the snow. Felix was a very good read.​

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Arden Durane ​

 

[Arden Durane]

Mysa Snowstrider
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Arden nodded his head in agreement when she spoke the words. He wasn't sure who this was, but from what she said, it was clear she knew Thurion and his family and was most likely a member of their family. Truth be told, Arden hadn't inquired much beyond the immediate family of the Heavenshields. He would make it a point after this to do more digging into the matter, as it would be greatly beneficial for him.

"My sword..." Arden spoke easily enough, withdrawing it from its sheath as it bore the markings and insignias of House Heavenshield. He carefully approached placing the sword into the earth and snow, so the emblem and insignia could be seen. Free for her to approach and take a look as he backed away from her. "I have a pin as well, if you desire further proof."

"Who are you?" He asked politely, and curiously.

 

[Mysa Snowstrider]

She tensed ever so slightly as he drew his blade, but once it was plunged into the earth she took a slow step forward. Her bowstring was slack now, the arrow she had notched left behind as she crouched to look at the engravings.​

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Looking from it, then up to the man, she finally nodded her head. "Okay" she said, "You are who you say you are."​

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She pushed up, hands on her thighs to make the movement effortless, then set the end of her bow into the snow. She stepped through it, bending the curved wood slightly to loosen the string from its notches, then set it within its holder upon her back. It was a surprisingly swift act, and took a good amount of core strength.

"Mysa," she said, "Snowstrider." She turned and walked back to her arrow, and her hanging kill, returning the former to her quiver. Then she glanced over her shoulder at him. "The Lion is my Papa."​

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Arden Durane ​

 

[Arden Durane]

Mysa Snowstrider
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"Its a honor to meet you, Mysa." Arden spoke, and then her next words came a few moments later. And he was mesmorized for a moment.

"Truly...." Arden voiced, with genuine curiousity and concern. As he hadn't seen her before, so that sense of wondering where she had been had brought many questions to his mind. While she didn't have to answer them.

"Well, its good to see you are here, does he know you are back?" Arden inquired with a good and easy tone. "I don't mean to in intrusive into your affairs, so forgive me if it comes across that way. I just know that it would do him a great deal of joy to see you again."

 

[Mysa Snowstrider]

The brief silence that followed his initial curious tone left Mysa a touch wary once more; she had already done away with her bow, though, so for now her fingers merely itched toward her hunting knife.​

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All for naught, of course, because the man seemed more relieved than anything to know that she was out here, safe, alive... maybe not thriving but still.​

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"Back?" Mysa inquired, raising a brow. "I have been here; I never left." It was true, however, that Mysa had not been back to civilized lands in quite some time. She drew a slow breath, then glanced away from him - back to the animal hanging in the tree.​

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"How is he..?"​

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She did not wish to think about the pain she likely put him through by disappearing as she did.​

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Arden Durane ​