Yet another evening in the Chetwood, the dying sun spread its orange light upon the brown bark of the leafless trees as day turned into night. Animals started to return to their nightly shelters from their days grazing on the grass that was hidden underneath the leaf litter of the autumn just passed. Carefully, the woodman treaded in his fur boots, stepping over fallen twigs and over squelchy puddles. His yew bow was held in his hand, while the other hand held the fletching of an arrow. Walnut like eyes darting here and there, as he moved further into the woods.
His fingers slid from the end of the arrow, moving down to some wet mud as they traced over a track. Boar? Maybe deer? What ever it was.. there was more than one. The woodsman traced his fingers further along the path, counting perhaps three or four at most. A grin came to dried lips, as his thumb and middle finger clicked together to give the signal to the other hunter nearby. Out from the bushes emerged a drooling maw, with yellow teeth and a pink tongue hanging out from the side. Gelert, the mighty hunting dog, appeared and put his nose in the mud as he sniffed and snuffled, before long the trail was picked up and the chase had begun!
Through the woods the two hunters flew, hopping logs and ducking thorns as the distance between them and the prey was drawing ever closer, and soon antlers were in sight in a small clearing. Coming to a halt, Kalf drew an arrow and pulled it back in the bow as lining up a shot. The hound had disappeared, though that did not matter for now as food was just one shot away. Lifting a foot as he went to step forward, to get a better shot. The fur sole came to the ground, and with it came a SNAP..
The deers lifted their heads in alarm; ears twitching and legs kicking as they dashed off into the woods, all in different directions. Kalf clenched his jaw as he growled out, looking down to the twig that caused them to run. He spoke to himself, repeatedly saying, “Stupid Kalf! Stupid Kalf!” As smacking himself in the forehead, before a friendly bark made him look to the side. There stood Gelert, with a hare layed infront of the woodsmans feet. A smile soon appeared, “Gelert! You good dog, joah? Good dog!”. The hunt had finished, not as bountiful as hoped though meat was gotten. Now, the return to town..
The bustling streets of Bree, where candles and torches glow too bright and where people walk too close. People walked by, casting strange glances to the northerner and all he did in return was give a weak smile, certainly out of his element. A horse sped past, nearly knocking him down before he bumped into a woman who let out a scream, turning around and blinking before he made his way towards a small building just near the inn, where a man dressed in furs was waiting. His dirty brown beard, and yellowed teeth showed as he grinned, “Welcome, Woodsman! Wha' 'ave ye brought for me today?”. The hare was placed on the table, and the grin turned into a grimace. “Do ye take me for a fool, Woodsman? I asked.. for something larger than ye dog!!” He shouted out, his brows furrowing as standing upright and pulling a knife from the table, placing it against the woodsmans chin. “I suggest, ye get your arse back out there and bring me back something worth me while. Otherwise, ye dog will be me new loincloth.” He grinned, before pushing Kalf out the door into the muddy streets again.
“Grr.. that mann is no good, Gelert.. let us leave him a present.”, the woodsman chuckled as an idea came to mind, and the hare that was returned was soon cut open and gutted before the innards would decoratively placed upon the doorway, as well as the rest of the hare hidden to make a smell that burnt the hairs in your nostrils as you walked near. “Come now, Gelert! I think it is time we leave this town again, joah?!” He laughed, getting a bark in return before he climbed onto a horse of one of the people that demanded furs, leaving behind an arrow to show who had indeed taken it! He kicked it in the sides, gripping onto the reins before it thundered down the streets with the hound chasing, close behind.
