Proofreader: Kagenesti

Chapter 7 - Hunting

Asperd Isle - Winter, Herbalist’s Hut, Riin’s POV

Second day alone.

As the morning sun rises, I head out into the wood to see if my work from yesterday has paid off, or if the wolves got a free dinner on my account. I follow my old trail to where I placed my first trap, keeping an eye out for any unwelcome guests. Nearing my first trap I spot new tracks in the snow, canine tracks - so the wolves was closer to the house last night then the howling, well makes sense. I stay still, controlling my breathing and slowing down my heartrate while listening to my surroundings. Standing a few minutes I'm sure that there is nothing near me, - for now atleast - I then continuing on towards my traps, staying more alert than before.

The first trap was left with the hare hanging of the ground, tracks from where the wolves had went around trying to get it was around in circles. The share had done its job, breaking the neck of the animal as it was pulled of the ground, never knowing how it died. Cutting the snare that kept it in air, it drops to the ground with a ‘thump’. Resetting the trap, I leave to see if the rest has been just as lucky surviving the night.

Five traps later and five hares heavier, I hear the birds fly off to the right of me. Dropping the game, I move to the left getting into cover from any ambush or side attacks. A few minutes tick by and then I hear it, the sound of snow getting pressed down. Slowly taking my sticks out and planting them into the ground for some extra protection from attacks. Drawing my axe and putting it down in front of me, drawing the bow and hooking an arrow. Now all I could do was wait.

There staring at me from across the trail I had made, was a light gray wolf with the shoulder height of about 3 ft. looking at me then to the hares in front of me. Baring its teeth at me, telling me to back off.

“Back off you furball. This is my darn food.”

Hmm, that was seen as an aggressive action by the looks of it. The wolf takes a jumping stance and gets ready to launch ifself at me, I take a firm grip on the now as it jumps at me. I do a one and a half step forward, getting myself under its head, shooting it through the neck, after all, timing is everything when hunting - especially with a bow.

You have killed a [Young Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

I sit there, stunned. Fifty… fifty experience, I need one thousand experience just to reach level one. So I needed to kill nineteen more wolves. The nightmare. There is no way my body can handle nineteen more wolves. Getting one down with a good shot is one thing, hunting down a pack… Now that's not something I can handle at the moment. Looking down at the dead wolf - hmm, I better get this done fast. Grabbing my knife from my belt I stab two holes in its hind legs, I string it up using one of the tree branches for support. After gutting it and cleaning it as fast as I can, about fifteen minutes has passed.

You have hunted and harvest the materials from a wild animal by doing so you have gained experience in [Survival]!

The meat from the hares and wolf is packed and the wolf's pelt is rolled and strapped over my backpack. Leaving the spot as fast as I can, I head towards my last tree trap spots.

Two traps later and two hares heavier, I'm about five minutes from my last trap when I spot [Edram], a moss type which grows along the rivers in the winter time, normally not a common herb to find. The

[Edram] when eaten will cause bones to heal at over double their normal healing rate. Scraping the moss into a linen cloth with snow to keep it from drying.

You have harvest [Edram], a uncommon moss type! Doing so you have gained experience in [Herbalist Lore]! By keeping the [Edram], safe with snow as moisture and linen as a bag you have gained bonus experience!

Hmm, bonus experience. I will look at that later, for now I need to finish this trip as fast as I can. I continue towards my last trap. Getting there and seeing my dinner is missing half its body gets me a little bit pissed off, well let's call it even since I took one of them down as well. Removing the snare and taking the hare with me for bait I make my way back home.

Making my way slowly back home, to make sure I don't get taken by surprise from the sides or worse an ambush, I keep at slow but even pace.

Gathering wood for the fire, when I reach the tree line. Still, the silence of the forest tells me that they are out there and close.

Reaching the house I head inside fathers’ shed, closing the door behind me - no need for a nasty surprise in form of a wolf attack. Getting to work on the pelt. I know the process by watching father doing it.

Step one, fleshing. I start by scraping away the fat and tissue left on it. Putting the fat in a clay pot for later work. Grabbing the leftover meat bits into a linen cloth. Step two, cleaning the pelt. I grab a bucket from the kitchen and get some water cooking over the fire just enough to make it streaming, yet not boiling hot. Using animal fat based soap I wash the dirt and blood off, making sure it's done right and the hide is soft in my hands. Step three, drying the hide. I strap it up on father frame that he uses when he dries the hides. Now all I can do is wait until tomorrow, the slow warmth from the fireplace making the hide dry faster than normal. I repeat the presses with the hares pelt. Just as I am getting ready to flesh the last hare, I get a window pop up.

With hard work you have gained the skill [Tanner]! You are now able to work more efficient when working with raw hides and pelts, not damaging the material!

Hmm, well that is interesting. A skill that gives you a bonus in your work. I wonder if mother or father has such as bonus in their skills.

Making my way into the kitchen I stack my newly acquired meat to be smoked. Grabbing some bread and a rabbit stew - well it's a hare stew but who cares. Rabbits or hares it's all a little jumping furball. And mother calls it rabbit stew so, it's a rabbit stew.

Locking the doors I head for my room to get some much needed sleep.