A Hunter's Path - And a Hunter's Mercy

Vogelens
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A Hunter's Path - And a Hunter's Mercy

Postby Vogelens » Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:51 pm

It was not until late in the night that Kara returned to the city of Sarshel. Word on the grapevine may have told about wolves howling not long ago, responding to the sound of a horn, not far from the city's farmlands. A hunting horn?

The hooded and robed woman was bloodied, dried blood coating her woodland leathers, her cloak. Her nails might hold hints of the dried up crimson as well, though she mostly cleaned them with the freshly fallen snow. Perhaps it was better it was late at night in the city, the less people on the streets, the better.

Kara had visited cities before. Cities, towns, villages. It was a neccesity at times. It was noisy, dirty, crowded. Even though Sarshel itself was but a hollow shell compared to most cities. This city was but an echo of a bustling settlement and a shadow was looming over it.

Still, the streets at day were crowded enough to give stares. She could not blame them, in their eyes, walking along the same cobblestones they did, sharing the streets to pass by while covered in blood after a hunt... No. Could she blame them? She stood out as that bloodied, ragtag woman.

Her steps were swift, a stride with purpose. Purpose carried in the heavy sacks, slung over a shoulder. They were heavier than she thought, but again a neccesity. She would be rid of them soon enough.

After inquiries about where she needed to go, she made her way to the first of her destinations. A somber home, the shadow that loomed over the building thicker than the rest of the city. She understood why. These people lost a child not long ago. But that was the reason it was one of her stops.

One of the sacks was dropped on the floorsteps, two bound legs of the freshly caught deer poking out of it, leaving no mystery on the fresh venison inside. Not a full deer, but part of it. These people were but the first on her list, after all. She did not bother with skinning the meat for the people, that was not her job, after all. She merely delivered it, with a heavy knock on the door.

Three knocks, to be exact. Though she was not a nighttime visitor to the family, having left the meat for them she turned again. They would find it, they would know what to do with it. That it was a gift for them. Would they suspect a huntress like her delivered it? Perhaps glimpses of her were caught out of the window as she headed to her next destination. Perhaps superstition would give these people their assumptions.

Kara did not care much for that. But, why was it then that she delivered the meat, if she did not care? She did not feel empathy for the people. She did not know them, she likely never would. They were cityfolk. She did not even care to meet them, they had their life, she had theirs. Then why did she deliver the meat for them?

A question asked to herself, as a heavy thud softly sounded along the cold, nightly streets. A dull sound, as the second heavy sack was dropped on a doorstap. Much like the first, this one too had the legs of a deer sticking out of it. Meat for these people she did not know to last through the winter. Meat for these people she did not care about, to survive while mourning the loss of their child. A heavy knocking at the door, to alert the people inside to someone at their doorstep. The druidess however did not linger this time either, turning again, moving away.

Footsteps that barely left a trace in the fresh snow, if at all took the huntress in the direction of the third and last stop. She knew why she did this. Not because it was the right thing to do. Not because she was merciful. Not because she was empathic towards these people. Not to better their lives.

The last sack was dropped, a thud sounding in the snow. The huntress exhaled a frosty breath, rubbing her hands together. No deer in this sack, these people had to do with boar. A knocking on the door followed, announcing a pressence at the door, before turning away once more. The city gates, to leave this city, her work was done.

Her work, the reason she delivered the meat to those who lost their children. A hunter's mercy. The young are not part of the great game that is the hunt. Children should not be drawn to it like this. It was a different hunt than the one she knew, but... that mattered little. These people she could still find were granted this hunter's mercy, because they lost their children. Now, they would be on their own again. The loss of their offspring balanced by food in the harsh winter.

Should any of these people catch her still as the door would open before she was gone, or if they would chase after her, she would have but the simple words for them. That the meat was a gift, to see it as a Hunter's Mercy. There was no need to explain her actions to those she did not know, nor would ever see again. They had nothing in common, they lived in different worlds.

Kara did not know if these people would last. Perhaps they would not accept the meat, or perhaps they would sell it to others. Perhaps grief would overtake them and they would fade away, as humans brought to despair could. The huntress did not care, her work was done.
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Kara Farrowwood ~ Druidess of Silvanus

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