Teja put his hand on Charles' shoulder, as if he sensed the other man's apprehension, squeezing it firmly, but out of comfort. This was no time to seem weak, simply respectful. He felt the spirit momentarily withdraw into the beyond, to draw from the infinite knowledge bestowed upon the Dead, and within a minute, they were answered
( ... )
"I did, but go on," Charles thanked the Kingly beings and stepped toward the talismans. He didn't pick them up but stooped to observe them, six in all. "I have to gather my thoughts, and you're right, set up camp. It's not six or seven paces there, to your left, under the ice cliff." He pointed the way. "I best be alone just for a little while, while I consider these," he said, running his finger over the old leather.
Teja nodded silently, lingering only for a moment as he watched Charles brush his fingers over the cords of leather. He wondered idly how they would solve the problems of the band and Charles, but figured that if he was meant to know, that they would have told him. He grinned as he picked up his bow and quiver of arrows, and started off into the nearby forest, to track down and hunt their dinner down.
It wasn't an hour before he returned, a large deer over his shoulders, and four rabbits in one hand. He felt bad about killing the latter - he liked rabbits! - but they were also extremely tasty, and these ones were fat and ready to be eaten. He set down the rabbits near the cave, before hauling the deer up the hill to the barrows, and set up a sacrificial altar, upon which he left the deer, intact and ready for the souls to devour and use the beast's skin and antlers for their otherworldly needs.
But he came back to camp quickly enough and started skinning and gutting the rabbits, quiet, but clearly content.
Charles had set up a nice camp for them. There were furs of white that he swiped from the mass that were cleaned and readied for Skwisgaar's room, and some from his own personal pelts. The one made of raccoon fur had been something he owned since he was able to hunt on his own when he was in his teens. He set that one on top of the large black bear hide and their sleeping bags, deep into the cave.
The dwelling was spacious and tall enough to get the horses in and hitched up. Charles had groomed them and built a separate fire next to the hay net he had brought with them to hook on a fissure in the wall. Their hair gleamed as they warmed their massive bodies. He smiled when Teja came back.
"This recharges you, doesn't it?" He asked, Teja. "Coming here. It makes you feel anchored?"
"Mmhmm, it centers me, reminds me of where I'm from, and why I do as I do," Teja explained as he eased the smaller rabbit out of its skin, already beheaded and gutted. He'd been hunting often enough as a boy that the dressing of the carcasses was second nature to him, as was cooking over an open flame. It was the only kind of cooking Teja was even reasonably knowledgeable in.
"There's some herb rub in my pack there, with the plates, it should taste good with the rabbits," Teja said, nodding to his pack. "Not to mention, I don't think the spirits here get much by way of living company. They're not bound here, but even coming back to the realm of living must get tiresome and lonesome when you've been all but forgotten. Even if their strength and power is infinite, all things eventually get forgotten. I strive not to let that happen for my ancestors. At least, not while I'm alive to remind people that they exist. Have you uh, ever looked up who Offden was? I'm sure that it would lead down some interesting roads."
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It wasn't an hour before he returned, a large deer over his shoulders, and four rabbits in one hand. He felt bad about killing the latter - he liked rabbits! - but they were also extremely tasty, and these ones were fat and ready to be eaten. He set down the rabbits near the cave, before hauling the deer up the hill to the barrows, and set up a sacrificial altar, upon which he left the deer, intact and ready for the souls to devour and use the beast's skin and antlers for their otherworldly needs.
But he came back to camp quickly enough and started skinning and gutting the rabbits, quiet, but clearly content.
Reply
The dwelling was spacious and tall enough to get the horses in and hitched up. Charles had groomed them and built a separate fire next to the hay net he had brought with them to hook on a fissure in the wall. Their hair gleamed as they warmed their massive bodies. He smiled when Teja came back.
"This recharges you, doesn't it?" He asked, Teja. "Coming here. It makes you feel anchored?"
Reply
"There's some herb rub in my pack there, with the plates, it should taste good with the rabbits," Teja said, nodding to his pack. "Not to mention, I don't think the spirits here get much by way of living company. They're not bound here, but even coming back to the realm of living must get tiresome and lonesome when you've been all but forgotten. Even if their strength and power is infinite, all things eventually get forgotten. I strive not to let that happen for my ancestors. At least, not while I'm alive to remind people that they exist. Have you uh, ever looked up who Offden was? I'm sure that it would lead down some interesting roads."
Reply
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