Bearskin, Part Three
*DEAR GOD I CAN POST ;_;*
Bearskin,Part One
Bearskin, Part Two
The new snow always made it difficult to follow deer trails, Kocoum thought to himself as he walked through the forest. While he could just as easily rely on traps like other hunters, Kocoum liked the challenge, the thrill the hunt presented, and the rush of triumph that coursed through his blood whenever he subdued his prey. He only made this solitary trip up in the mountains twice a year; one part to keep his skills up, one part to get away from the blasted city he and his cousin moved to a few years ago. Here, he could bask in the quiet stillness of the trees and earth around him, breath the crisp, clean mountain air, feel the rough bark of the trees against his skin. As convenient as it was, the city never ceased with its flashy lights and noise, always moving, always talking, no one ever just taking a moment to sit and think. Here alone in the mountains, he could do that as much as he pleased.
A low moan drew him to attention. Instinctively, Kocoum raised his shotgun and crept towards the direction of the sound, his footsteps falling nearly silent on the snow. He frowned as the sound grew louder, unable to determine whether it sounded more like a person or a wounded animal. There were all sorts of creatures in the woods, and the woodsman would not be surprised if a camper was foolish enough to try and feed one or take its picture. The forest was not a zoo, as he carefully explained it to one of his cousin-in-law’s younger friends before they left on their camping expedition, and the animals would always be quick to remind them that.
Once the source of the noise was within his sight, Kocoum’s trepidation vanished only to be replaced by surprise. In the middle of the clearing hung a bear--a small one at that, and upon closer inspection, a cub--on a tree, its foot caught in a snare trap. It didn’t seem to notice his presence, or care for that matter; the creature whined pitifully as it tried swinging its body weight with enough velocity to reach the branch, only to swing back down in a frustrated defeat. While bears did roam the area, they had enough sense of mind to stay away from the camping grounds, and seemed to virtually disappear during the winter months. A lone cub could only mean two things: that it was either abandoned, or that it wasn’t alone at all, with its mother close by. Kocoum took stock of his surroundings. The only tracks on the ground were his own and the cub’s, and the trap had to have gone off within twelve hours, sometime between now and yesterday evening (If the sapling bent any longer it would’ve been rendered useless). If the mother hadn’t arrived by then to collect her child, then she certainly wasn’t going to get it now.
The bear stopped struggling when Kocoum stepped into the clearing, eyes never leaving the knife in his hands. It growled, little paws swatting at the air in some ineffective attempt to deter him. Kocoum snorted at the bear’s behavior and examined the tree. It had been here for awhile, judging from how deep its claw marks reached into the bark. It was strange. Judging from the shape of the cub it was a black bear, and one as such shouldn’t have any trouble climbing a tree with curved claws. And the bear’s size clearly indicated that it should be well used to climbing trees by now. Yet here it was, struggling to get hold of this one.
Kocoum cut the rope, wincing a little when the bear crashed headfirst into the snow. It righted itself up soon enough, and, after a quick look around, sat at his feet and grunted. It made another sound when Kocoum didn’t respond, even waving its paw at him and flattening his ears. A small part of him felt bad for the creature. If his assumption about its mother was correct, there was no possible way it could survive alone in the forest, especially if it wasn’t able to climb a tree by now. And he would only do the animal more harm than good if he took it in as a pet; Kocoum only returned to the mountain twice a year, and the bear would ignore all of its instincts if it grew accustomed to humans. Shouldering his gun, he walked past the bear and made his way back to his cabin. He would have to call the warden as soon as he made it back. She would have a better idea what to do with it then he ever would.
Kocoum turned around and frowned when the bear nearly collided into the back of his legs. It cocked its head and made a dry, gruff sort of bark before heeling at Kocoum’s side. Like a dog. The woodsman shook his head and continued on at a deliberately faster pace. Hopefully his long strides would deter the bear in following him.
Who matched him easily as it bounded across the snow right in front of him.
“Go away.” Kocoum said with the hand gesture to match. Look at him, talking to animals. That was more of Pocahontas’ thing. The bear made an annoyed sound and blocked all of Kocoum’s attempts to go around him. What did it want? Kocoum didn’t have any food on him, and he certainly didn’t smell or look (at least, he liked to imagine) like a bear, so it didn’t have any reason to follow him. When the cub barked and flexed back its ears again, Kocoum shooed the bear away again before continuing back to the cabin.
The bear followed him the entire way back.
It was probably better to have left that stupid animal hanging in that tree, Kocoum thought.
Bearskin,Part One
Bearskin, Part Two
The new snow always made it difficult to follow deer trails, Kocoum thought to himself as he walked through the forest. While he could just as easily rely on traps like other hunters, Kocoum liked the challenge, the thrill the hunt presented, and the rush of triumph that coursed through his blood whenever he subdued his prey. He only made this solitary trip up in the mountains twice a year; one part to keep his skills up, one part to get away from the blasted city he and his cousin moved to a few years ago. Here, he could bask in the quiet stillness of the trees and earth around him, breath the crisp, clean mountain air, feel the rough bark of the trees against his skin. As convenient as it was, the city never ceased with its flashy lights and noise, always moving, always talking, no one ever just taking a moment to sit and think. Here alone in the mountains, he could do that as much as he pleased.
A low moan drew him to attention. Instinctively, Kocoum raised his shotgun and crept towards the direction of the sound, his footsteps falling nearly silent on the snow. He frowned as the sound grew louder, unable to determine whether it sounded more like a person or a wounded animal. There were all sorts of creatures in the woods, and the woodsman would not be surprised if a camper was foolish enough to try and feed one or take its picture. The forest was not a zoo, as he carefully explained it to one of his cousin-in-law’s younger friends before they left on their camping expedition, and the animals would always be quick to remind them that.
Once the source of the noise was within his sight, Kocoum’s trepidation vanished only to be replaced by surprise. In the middle of the clearing hung a bear--a small one at that, and upon closer inspection, a cub--on a tree, its foot caught in a snare trap. It didn’t seem to notice his presence, or care for that matter; the creature whined pitifully as it tried swinging its body weight with enough velocity to reach the branch, only to swing back down in a frustrated defeat. While bears did roam the area, they had enough sense of mind to stay away from the camping grounds, and seemed to virtually disappear during the winter months. A lone cub could only mean two things: that it was either abandoned, or that it wasn’t alone at all, with its mother close by. Kocoum took stock of his surroundings. The only tracks on the ground were his own and the cub’s, and the trap had to have gone off within twelve hours, sometime between now and yesterday evening (If the sapling bent any longer it would’ve been rendered useless). If the mother hadn’t arrived by then to collect her child, then she certainly wasn’t going to get it now.
The bear stopped struggling when Kocoum stepped into the clearing, eyes never leaving the knife in his hands. It growled, little paws swatting at the air in some ineffective attempt to deter him. Kocoum snorted at the bear’s behavior and examined the tree. It had been here for awhile, judging from how deep its claw marks reached into the bark. It was strange. Judging from the shape of the cub it was a black bear, and one as such shouldn’t have any trouble climbing a tree with curved claws. And the bear’s size clearly indicated that it should be well used to climbing trees by now. Yet here it was, struggling to get hold of this one.
Kocoum cut the rope, wincing a little when the bear crashed headfirst into the snow. It righted itself up soon enough, and, after a quick look around, sat at his feet and grunted. It made another sound when Kocoum didn’t respond, even waving its paw at him and flattening his ears. A small part of him felt bad for the creature. If his assumption about its mother was correct, there was no possible way it could survive alone in the forest, especially if it wasn’t able to climb a tree by now. And he would only do the animal more harm than good if he took it in as a pet; Kocoum only returned to the mountain twice a year, and the bear would ignore all of its instincts if it grew accustomed to humans. Shouldering his gun, he walked past the bear and made his way back to his cabin. He would have to call the warden as soon as he made it back. She would have a better idea what to do with it then he ever would.
Kocoum turned around and frowned when the bear nearly collided into the back of his legs. It cocked its head and made a dry, gruff sort of bark before heeling at Kocoum’s side. Like a dog. The woodsman shook his head and continued on at a deliberately faster pace. Hopefully his long strides would deter the bear in following him.
Who matched him easily as it bounded across the snow right in front of him.
“Go away.” Kocoum said with the hand gesture to match. Look at him, talking to animals. That was more of Pocahontas’ thing. The bear made an annoyed sound and blocked all of Kocoum’s attempts to go around him. What did it want? Kocoum didn’t have any food on him, and he certainly didn’t smell or look (at least, he liked to imagine) like a bear, so it didn’t have any reason to follow him. When the cub barked and flexed back its ears again, Kocoum shooed the bear away again before continuing back to the cabin.
The bear followed him the entire way back.
It was probably better to have left that stupid animal hanging in that tree, Kocoum thought.