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+--- Thread: Valley Watcher (/showthread.php?tid=250)
Valley Watcher - Westir - 01-12-2023
| The Ranger | |
| A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very, very dangerous man who has it under voluntary control. |  The forest had suffered since the last time he had passed by this area. Less trees stood proud, and the amount of decapitated stumps had grown in answer. Though the smell of smoke was absent in the warmer season, he held little doubt that it would billow soon enough. There were no settlements aside from that of Sanctuary, but it resided on the other side of the mountain range, and he held his doubts that the reclusive residents there would stray so far for wood to feed their fires. Perhaps it was the churning machine for war, patrols becoming more frequent in the wilds, and yet the tracks that lingered behind in the flesh of the soil were not those of heavy sabatons. Rather the complete opposite. Light weight and carved of leather most likely, some so deep through their light footwear that the impressions of their very toes had been abandoned in the evidence left behind. He would shift the bow and quiver on his shoulders slightly as he picked up a leaf that had been blown over the tracks. His stare would follow in the direction the small group seemed to have been heading. Deeper into the forest, not into town. He would rise, allowing the vegetation he'd been idly twirling between his fingers to fall from his grasp. There had been no rain to erode the path, but they were dulled slightly by the muddle of other prints - deer, boar, bears and others that made their homes here naturally. It suggested that it had been at least overnight since they had passed through. He would debate on if he would follow them. Curiosity lingered, of course, but so did caution. He could easily find himself surrounded by unfriendly motivation in this day and age. A draft in the nation at his back, and usurpers directly before him. Strangers in the evergreens were no longer as questionably safe as they once were, and groups even less. Regardless, he would begin to trace them, at least until he could find some tangible evidence of their actions. If they were friendly folk simply wishing to avoid violence, he could still safely traverse the area without worry. However, if his findings proved to be dangerous, he would have to avoid this area. Good notes to have when acting as a guide. |
| I am not a good man - nor am I harmless |
RE: Valley Watcher - Huian - 02-22-2023
Glimmer of that cat-like gaze stared down at the stranger, ever watchful to how he studied tracks unknown and yet the feline felt he knew those souls. He would need to get a closer look at those marks for confirmation, however, if those prints belonged to who he thought they did… well, then those particular fools would need a talking to once he caught up with them. It simply would not do to have some towering oaf chasing after them nor risking the discovery of one of their hideouts.
While his companions could not control when the very rains came to dampen the earth they did control their own movements. ’At least cover your damn tracks,’ a thought which spurred ears to pin flat to his skull. Cover them up instead of trusting nature to do it for them. He could likely beat this hunter to them, divert their course if he remained unseen. However, the moment his gaze beheld motion and the man’s steps began to shift down that trail that Huian would act. Distraction would prove just as useful.
A part of him thought to simply leap from his perch, to stand alongside the unknown though in the end thought better of it. Smarter to keep some distance in case this was a hunter after their heads. Tongue clicked sharply at the idea of it but he did not falter. Knowing it would draw the eye, he whistled, a melodic call so often offered to those under his guidance. An altered tune to serve as nothing more than a beckons, a request for the attention of one but should those ahead hear of it - a warning. An order to get their shit sorted before they led someone straight to one of their loot caches. Or worse yet their very home.
Should focus turn away from the tracks of good for nothing thieves and instead rest upon that feline visage, a warm smile would pull against his lips as lies fell from them so easily. “Do you take pleasure in chasing after the wood folk? Intruding on our privacy?” At least whenever others were foolish enough to leave a trail. Leaning to rest upon the branch - much like a sprawling cat - the sharp vibrancy of those eyes never left the stranger.
While his companions could not control when the very rains came to dampen the earth they did control their own movements. ’At least cover your damn tracks,’ a thought which spurred ears to pin flat to his skull. Cover them up instead of trusting nature to do it for them. He could likely beat this hunter to them, divert their course if he remained unseen. However, the moment his gaze beheld motion and the man’s steps began to shift down that trail that Huian would act. Distraction would prove just as useful.
A part of him thought to simply leap from his perch, to stand alongside the unknown though in the end thought better of it. Smarter to keep some distance in case this was a hunter after their heads. Tongue clicked sharply at the idea of it but he did not falter. Knowing it would draw the eye, he whistled, a melodic call so often offered to those under his guidance. An altered tune to serve as nothing more than a beckons, a request for the attention of one but should those ahead hear of it - a warning. An order to get their shit sorted before they led someone straight to one of their loot caches. Or worse yet their very home.
Should focus turn away from the tracks of good for nothing thieves and instead rest upon that feline visage, a warm smile would pull against his lips as lies fell from them so easily. “Do you take pleasure in chasing after the wood folk? Intruding on our privacy?” At least whenever others were foolish enough to leave a trail. Leaning to rest upon the branch - much like a sprawling cat - the sharp vibrancy of those eyes never left the stranger.