2018.09.11 A HUNTING TRIP IN THE DESERT

A HUNTING TRIP IN THE DESERT
Everyone in Prospect
IC Date	December 21st, 2017
Players	Hjalmar Libby
Location	The Desert
Spheres	ALL

https://pastebin.com/Na7T5sTq

2018.09.11 A HUNTING TRIP IN THE DESERT

A HUNTING TRIP IN THE DESERT

Participants: Hjalmar (ShieldBrother), Libby

Hjalmar nods at the rabbit and blueberry bbq sauce. "That was amazing indeed... Never had the blueberry bbq sauce thingy before. Loved it." He bites his lip at the memory before nodding at Khol. "Then I am sure that you will make a very very happy Johanna with the venison you're getting her." He gets out his wallet for the jerky and pays for it. "So. Which one would you advice me trying first?"

Libby waves after Khol pays for his things and goes. "You pick." She suggests and moves back towards th roasts to wash her hands and get back on fishing getting the last few roasts trussed up. "Or if you want I can see if Mick wants to finish this up and we can step outside and chat or upstairs. I've been doing prep since three, I need a break."

Hjalmar sighs deeply as he looks at the stack of jerky in front of him. "I have no idea.... Truly... The one with the heaviest taste I guess?" He shakes his head and shrugs. "Truly. I do not have a clue about which one to try first..." Then when she offers to take a break together he gives her a smile and nods. "Sure. Sounds good. I do like your upstairs. But if you'd rather go for a walk. That too I could understand." He grins, "It's your break Libby."

Libby says, "Let's walk. Didn't get my hike in yesterday like I'd wanted." She washes her hands one last time calling back, "Mick I'm stepping out, watch the front." And then she's turning to walk with Hjal and looks into the bag, "The heaviest taste? Like, the most impact or a richer darker flavor like bourbon?""

Hjalmar nods. "Alright, let's do that." He waits for her as she cleans herself up and gets ready. "Umm... Dark flavour I'd guess for a starter." He opens the door and holds it for her.

Libby nods, "That's be the one marked BB. Bourbon rubbed bison round, marinated and then smoked. Really rich, I like tot hink of it more like a dessert jerky myself." She steps out the door and heads out towards the light wooded areas beyond.

Closing the door behind them, Hjalmar takes a small piece out of the BB marked wrap and tastes it... "I see what you mean with that." He nods in approval. "A lovely heavy taste." He glances at the Jeep parked outside. "Ah. Without all the furniture laden onto it. That Jeep looks far better. Nice lines on it." He nods approvingly. "I bet there's not much terrain it can't handle."

Libby says, "Nope, that's the point of it. Sometimes you gotta haul something big that can't be seen to or from the woods. Gotta have the horsepower and traction to get up and down. Has a nice winch on it to which works great for field dressing." She grins and heads deeper into the wooded area. "It's my Papa's recipie, Gaia rest his soul."

Hjalmar chuckles. "I like it." Then he dips his head in respect. "A well refined recipie it is." He looks around as they head into the woods deeper. "Seeing how you walk into the woods here, I take it you've done so before?"

Libby nods, "Yes." She replies to Hjal. "I do try and get out to investigate something new every day. To get the lay of the land is important to me as a hunter. Knowing the deer paths and warrens. Places that one has to avoid lest they chase themselves and their prey to their own deaths."

Hjalmar follows her in deeper and nods. "Good. I love it when someone's as curious about things as I am." He takes in the scents around them, smelling the city closeby, but also the smells of animals, cats, dogs, rabbits and raccoons. "There's life around here alright..."

Libby nods and smiles. "I know. Signs of it are everywhere." She agrees hooking her thumbs in her belt as she walks along up one of the trails that leads deeper into the wooded area towards the woods itself. "Is this area like your home at all?"

Hjalmar nods in silence. And then as she asks that, he looks at her, shaking his head ruefuly. "No... Sadly not. Flatter actually. And especially wooded area's this close to cities and such... Well they are all planted by hand. Quite sad actually.. We only have something called De Veluwe. And that is a manmade nature reservation in the middle of the land. It looks amazing. But it is not truly wild. And we have ofcourse the handmade dunes to keep out the North sea." He sighs heavily. "Also very nice looking and such.. But manmade."

Libby's brows lift a little as she walks along. "Everything is manmade? I remember you mentioned something about that earlier to me. Did it all just get cut down, or were they terraforming.. sorta?" She wonders keeping alert but still interested in the conversation. She's taken a safer trail, one made for 'easy' climbing.

Focussing a bit more on the trail they take, Hjalmar nods. "Everything, yes... And some for terraforming, taking land /back/ from the water and sea. But a lot was lost due to woodcutting and such. And ofcourse the second world war did not help either. We were spared the worst. But took a beating non the less. Mostly from the allies as they were liberating us from the Germans though." He chews a bit more on that jerky and stuffs the whole bag into his leather rucksack. "Better keep my hands free now." He grins at her, a piece of jerky sticking out a bit.

Libby nods as she takes a small incline up towards a small ridgeline. "That sounds really rough. "But at least actions are being taken to restore it to something of it's original glory right. Still I imagine it was a hard life in that sort of enviroment."

Hjalmar nods. "That it was. And yes. They saw the error of their ways and are trying to restore it a bit. It helps as well. That much is a fact. Hell, wolves are slowly migrating back to The Netherlands as well. They were driven to extinction by hunting a few hundred years ago. And now they are due to make a comeback! Though ofcourse... Not everyone's happy with that. Farmers are already complaining and such. Well screw them! Man should not think they can take all the land from nature without getting into some less fortunate encounters... Nature and man needs to live together. Otherwise the world will not survive."

Libby nods her agreement. "Much the same here but the ignorant will ever want more. Hmm? Just have to keep chipping away at it all until finally something somewhere sticks and we can restore the order of things. Though how exacty to do that with how far society has come is the question. Everyones got different opinions."

As they climb up that incline, Hjalmar sighs in agreement. "Hrm.. I know.. Tell me something about it. I just truly hope we will find that balance before it is too late." He looks down the way they came. "How high does this one go Libs?" He looks back to where they're heading and proceeds the by now steepening incline.

Libby says, "Just a short bit to the ridge there then around it, comes back around on the other side of the butcher shop. Makes a nice easy loop. Not quite into the deep woods yet. I've been thinking and maybe I'll just do my hunting out in the desert and up north a bit. Keep myself out of trouble."

Hjalmar nods. "I like it." He smiles broadly. "Hunting in the dessert? Interesting... How about we go there when you're done with the shop for today? Hell, we might even stay there for a few days, camping out for the hunt?" He takes a moment to look around when they reach the ridge. "A nice walk indeed."

Libby rolls her shoulders from the hunch of uphill hiking and takes a breath. "Yeah? You know what sure. Why the heck not. I've got plenty of gear for a couple of days already loaded into the Rubicon. You're not needed for anything at the sept or anything?"

Hjalmar turns back to her and shakes his head. "I haven't been told that I was needed for something." He grins. "So I guess not. And if they do... Well... I am sure they will find a way to reach me." The grin broadens. "So that's settled. And with you being the expert... What do I need to take with me?"

Libby says, "To the desert? Well just bring you. I've got everything else. I hear there are some nice spots out and north a little ways. Though do make sure you have layers, a thick one for the evening. It'll get pretty chilly out there."

Hjalmar nods. "Alright. Awesome." He grins and nods again. "I will take some wool with me then. And I shall buy some thermo stuff as well. Just to be sure." He winks at her and is clearly happy at the prospect of going on a hunt together. "Looking forward to it Libby! What time shall I meet you at the store?"

Libby looks up at the sky and then back to Hjal, "I'll need to catch a quick name so how about around five. We can get out there in time to break down and put the tent up and then we'll get started first thing tomorrow. All right? I'll be sure to bring us something nice to grill up on my portable."

Hjalmar smiles and nods at her. "Sounds like a plan to me!" He turns back to the trail. "Shall we head back then? I will prepare what I need and can, and will see you around five."

Having met up with Libby at her store around 5 O'clock, she and Hjalmar head out into the desert traveling in her Rubicon (I supose). They drive on for some time, out of the city and later, into the desert. You can easily feel the temperature change the further they head in. It is getting warmer and warmer only for it to drop hard in a few hours when darkness will come. They will be having another two hours at the most for finding a spot and set up camp. Hjalmar looks outside at the surroundings. "Makes me think back about The Gambia.. Been to Africa once, and well.. The plane took me over the desert, and though this one is more... Coppery of colour. The dunes seem the same... An ocean of sand, forming waves."

Libby says, "Well the sand is more cracked dry earth here but yeah." She agrees, "More dunes closer to the sea. I visited those the other day. Rented an ATV and did some courses. It was fun." She says as she helps finish getting the last of Camp set up. "So what time do we want to start in the morning. Most critters wont be out after about ten am, so we can figure something out to do during the suns highest points. "Africa sounds amazing though. What did you go to Africa for?"

Hjalmar nods in agreement. "True. Though The Gambia has its dry spots as well. And the ground there, looks a lot more like this here... Reddish." He too helps setting up camp, making sure it is done quickly and with her lead, efficient. "I wanted to see more of our world and what we are fighting for. But you did? How was the ocean?" He looks around a bit, sniffing the air and taking in all the scents surrounding them... "And to come back on your earlier question. At the hottest time of day... I think sticking to the shadow mostly? Or would that be a waste of hunting time? And the time before the animals are out and about can be used to scout for trails and drinking spots..."

Libby nods, "Up north a ways int he Redwoods. It was beautiful, the waves crashing up over the cliffs and the mist gathering against the treetops. Beautiful, really. I went and visited the reservation up there and took a little bit of time out at Patricks point. I was alone and not lookin' to overstay so I didnt check to see if there was a Sept up there." She pulls her flannel tighter around her and crouches to work on the fire. "No animals would be out, we'd have to look in burrows and I uh, can't recover from a snakebite like you can. But sure we can do some scouting when predawn hits."

Hjalmar smiles at the recalling of Libby's memory. "Sounds like a majestic place indeed... Maybe one day I will be able to visit... And would there be a sept about, I am sure they can forgive one admiring nature and not causing trouble." He watches her try to start a fire and uses his hands to shield it from the wind. "No. You said so. But much used trails might still be visible. And do not worry. It will be me, sticking my hand in unknown burrows. I do not want you to get bitten by a snake."

Libby nods, "It's nice and only a few hours north of here, bout six." She says mildly using a fire starter on the kindling and leans in to blow softly holding her hair back as she gets a tiny little flame started. "We can catch a few more hours then but I am definately thinking between ten and one we take a break. Maybe lunch?" She suggests as she finally gets a small flicker of flame going and puts some bigger sticks on top of it waiting to build it up to a proper fire. "You really want to go snake fishing?" She teases.

Hjalmar nods. "That's doable." He watches the fire take. "Sounds good to me. No need to go and burn oneself up in the sun." He chuckles. "We aint no vampires. But we too will burn in the sun when it is at its summit." He watches the fire slowly grow as it starts to leap onto the bigger sticks. "Who knows! If it would be all we can get. Not going back empty handed." He winks at her.

Libby laughs. "Fine, fine. I think we can probably get some mountain goat or antelope though." She says as she leans back and turns to crawl into her tent to grab out the cooler she'd brought and sets it aside so she can start cooking when the fire starts. "I've got some folding chairs in the back of the Jeep if you'd like to grab them out."

Hjalmar grins. "Sounds better than snake." He nods at the request. "Ofcourse." He rises from the ground and heads back to the Jeep to get those chairs. He brings an earthenware bottle with him as well which he lays down on the sands as he opens up the chairs and placing them around the fire. He grabs the bottle again and offers it to Libby. "Care for some mead? It is self made."

Libby bites her lip, "Normally I wouldn't drink before a hunt but sure. Should b easier with you." She smiles and moves to take one of the chairs and sets it close to the fire so she can feed it wood until it's time to set up for dinner. She takes the jug and sniff it before taking a long swig and coughing a bit, "Nice. Sweet. Didn't expect the heat of the alchohol to hit my throat like that though. Better than beer by far though."

Hjalmar grins. "Do not worry, I will take care of you." He hands her the bottle and watch her take a sip before nodding. "Aye. It is also a bit stronger than most meads. This one's around twenty percent. Though most of he bite falls to the background by the cherries I used for this batch." He takes the bottle as well and swigs one down. "I think this batch is a good one." He puts the bottle between them as he takes a seat as well. "I appreciate it that you were willing to come along to the desert Libby." He smiles at her. "I know that it was a bit unexpected.. But what is life without a bit of adventure!"

Libby laughs softly, "I can kinda mostly take care of myself." She laughs and leans back reaching to take another drink before setting down. "It's pretty amazing. Probably dangerous since I imagine someone drinks enough and cant even taste the liquor anymore." She shrugs, "This is how you make friends right? Get out, do things, spend time? Saying no would completely be counter productive to why I'm here."

Hjalmar chuckles in return. "That I know Libs." He smiles at her as she drinks again and compliments the drink. "Thanks. And yes I guess it can be.. Then again. Knowing how much is in it should make one a bit carefull, no?" He gives her a nod. "It is one way, yes. And a good one if you'd ask me." He laughs a deep and warm laugh. "Well so far, you are doing quite fine. Have not met someone that dissliked you so far."

Libby says, "Well I mean first impressions are important." She says lightly. "But I don't really like to gage what people think about me until they get to know me. And frankly most of the first month is walking carefully to avoid all the lines in the sand."

Hjalmar listens and nods, taking another swig whilst doing so. "True. They are. And I can see what you mean with that. Though sadly, some people can never overcome their first impressions, even if they were faulty." He smiles at her, taking another swig and replacing the bottle in the sand between them. "We are in the desert, and you start about lines in the sand?" He raises a brow in mock question and starts to laugh. "But... No.. I can see what you mean. I guess that for a Garou, it is easier at times. People are almost always more than willing to introduce themselves to a new arrival. Making sure the arrival knows their position in things. And with that.. It counts mostly for those of higher rank, or those hoping to be.. Of a higher rank."

Libby nods, "I try not to be. I mean as our lives go." She gestures between them two of them with her fingers, "I'm way less in the know, so I want to learn and it's important to really try and see it the other persons way if they're teaching you and making the effort. You know? And everyone I've met so far has made the effort. But as you saw the other day if it's something I know I'm not afraid to correct a misconception."

"It is a little. I mean Kinfolk are lucky if we can help you out and therefore we aren't really all that interesting to anyone who isn't looking to breed."

Hjalmar listens to her, nodding here and there... He gives her a smile. "I know and it gladdens me to see your eagerness to learn new things Libby. I can appreciate such efforts." He then shakes his head at the next part. "Lucky to be able to help? Kinfolk do more for us than they seem to see themselves. We live in a world dominated by humanity. A world in which we ourselves are almost completely isolated by our own nature... We cannot communicate with normal people like you do. We cannot hold /normal/ jobs in order to get the funds for who knows what. But you do.... We might be able to travel by car and such.. But how would we get a car or the money for gas. Not to talk about fueling up the vehicle and dealing with the clerk. We need kinfolk for that. You kin are our line to humanity... To the rest of the world.." He gives her a weary smile. "We shifters would be at quite a loss without the Kin to back us up..." He shakes his head again. "So no... You are needed for a lot more than mere breeding...."

Libby says, "Most have their mates do that stuff for them, or their extended family." She reminds, "I've neither of those things to anyone around here. Not that I am not utterly eager to start doing what I can including helping with resources. I totally agree, we're useful for loads more though. I don't know, maybe I'm just chomping at the bit to get involved and start helping out as much as I can? I have to remind myself that slow and careful works best."

Libby says, "Most have their mates do that stuff for them, or their extended family." She reminds, "I've neither of those things to anyone around here. Not that I am not utterly eager to start doing what I can including helping with resources. I totally agree, we're useful for loads more though. I don't know, maybe I'm just chomping at the bit to get involved and start helping out as much as I can? I have to remind myself that slow and careful works best."

Hjalmar gives a shrug and nod. "For some that may be true. But you do not have to be any of those." He gives her a smile. "Just be yourself. You are already helping with providing us with food and such... Good food at that. And you are willing to teach. As you are teaching me to hunt in a different way now." He places a hand on her shoulder. "What is it, that your truly want to be helping with? Slow and careful might work... But it is not always the best course to take."

Libby says, "No, but rushing people who are busy with more important matters is not only dangerous it's weak and shortsighted." She replies leaning forward to pile more wood atop the fire to get it cracking before standing to step around to grab the metal tripod that holds her portable dutch oven which she sets up carefully over the fire before adding more wood and starting to put the prepared ingredients into the pot. "Well I'm really only good at hunting and butchery, taxidermy, curing hides."

Hjalmar smiles. "Not talking about rushing it either. Might at times. But like you said. It can be dangerous and has the possibility to hold far more troubles... No. Just go with the flow and see where the tides bring you." He watches her prepare the cooking apparatus. "Well yes.. That.. And cooking. Because damn Libby... You can cook a pretty damn fine meal!" He winks at her. "Besides. I am sure you know more about the anatonomy of animals than most as well.."

Libby grins, "Yes I cook too. But that sort of goes along with butchery, hunting and all that. Survival skills, trcking, hunting, Biology, Toxicology all comes along with that." She explains with a little smile. "It's important to my people. I think we'd die if we didn't follow those old instincts." She explains as she listesn for the sizzle of things roasting in the bottom of the pan and then dropping a large portion of salted porkbelly into the oven and lets it do some cooking.

Hjalmar's smile broadens as she says this all. "See. And suddenly, there's so much more you know about. And possibly teach others about." He winks at her. "Do not underestimate yourself Libby. That befits you not." The smell of porkbelly in the oven starts creeping up and he takes a deep whiff of it. "Pork... Good. Lot's of proteins." He then looks to the right and peers out into the darkening surroundings. "Some animals seem to like the smell as well..." Another moment passes. "Though I do not think they dare coming closer... Not with the fire going."

Libby says, "Well those should be things every hunter knows about. Especially fi they plan on being out away from anything for more thna a day at a time. I learned most of that stuff when I was just." She puts her hand down, "Just a little thing, no bigger than a weevil." She nods, "Lots of fat too, good to keep us going through the morning and once we finish eating I'll just ad some mead and it'll be a delicious gruel for tomorrow morning." Her brows wiggle. "I'm not beyond cutting corners. I was going to use some Wild Turkey but I think the cherry and honey will go well." She looks around, "I doubt they will but yeah likely they'll avoid us due to the fire and your presence. So, what do you do? I mean you make mead but what else?"

Hjalmar nods. "Fair enough. Though with modern society. I doubt everyone can call them /true/ hunters anymore." He grins. "A.. Weevil? What is a, Weevil?" He gives her another nod next. "Sounds good. Looking forward to it already!" He laughs. "cutting corners is not always a bad thing. Not if it means having something good to eat." He chuckles. "And true.. My presence might keep them at bay as well.." He looks around them and then back again. "Well... Not much yet. I am wanting to get some beehives again, so I can start producing mead here as well. And I try to learn more about the laws and culture we have... Same as Rituals and Enigmas... They facinate me. I would like to be able to perform necessary rituals and such."

Libby says, "Weevil's a small bug, feeds on small or ground grains. Flowers, rice, cereals. Tiny little black things. Don't really see'm on the West Coast all that often but they're lots of places. Once you get an infestation you have to throw out all your dried goods. Nasty little beetles but also tiny so used as a description for bein' little." She crosses her legs and leans back lifting her hands to drag them through her hair and look up at the sky with a sigh. "Shouldn't be too hard right? Seems like an active enough Sept that trading knowledge and making a name for oneself shouldn't bee too difficult. Right?"

Hjalmar nods. "Aaah... Hmm.. I am not familiar with the name.. When home, I shall look it up. I am now curious about them. They sound like nasty lil' buggers though." He watches her sit back and stroke through her hair and smiles at it. "No.. I do not think it to be that hard, no. They are quite active indeed, and are open enough to share and help where needed." He grins. "So I guess we both will do fine around here."

Libby laces her fingers behind her head and smiles as she takes in the mulitude of stars to be seen out this far from the city, only dimmed by the mostly full moon. "Exactly." She nods, "I hope to makefriends with the Kin if at all possible. Unfourunately my hours seem to clash with that but I'll keep visiting the Kinfolk house and eventually make all the friends I can stand." She laughs lightly.

Hjalmar observes her for a moment before reclining in his own seat as well. "I am sure you will make some good ones. You have met my own Kin already, right? Tinlin?" He watches the stars for a moment. "I'm sure the two of you can become fine friends. And if you'd like, I could invite you over some day? We can have dinner with the three of us?"

Libby says, "Breifly, she was coming by to see you about the time I had to go to work." She admits softly. "Oh, no, I wouldn't dream of it just yet. Maybe after a month or two of me getting settled in? I have to admit I'm a little weird about other people's uh.. territories. I don't even feel like the shop is mine yet. You know?"

Hjalmar nods. "Ah yes. You did. And it is alright Libs. I do not mind." He chuckles. "Everyone has their things. And if this is one of your's. Well then so be it. Just know that you are welcome." He grins. "And if it feels not.. Yours yet. Try marking it with some of the things from back home?"

Libby nods, "Yes. Big on it, very much so, maybe just a part of the family upbringing along with the hunting and compulsion to use every part of the animal." She laughs and then blows out a breath in a light raspberry. "You know I've never had a lot of stuff. My knives, my camping gear, my car. That's about it."

Hjalmar chuckles. "Might be... Might be..." He sighs next whilst nodding. "And now you own a shop and a loft... I can see how this would be... A bit too much. And how it would be hard to fill it up with possessions." He smiles at her. "Maybe try and craft some woodwork for decorations?"

Libby grins, "Wood work? I mean I could, it would give me something to learn to do. Carving wood can't be too different from carving meat." She winks, obviously joking before leaning forward to check on the food. She adds the seasonings and a couple of sausages to the mix before putting some water from her thermos in and lets it cook." You want to walk, stretch your legs, this'll be a few minutes and we can circle the camp? Stretch our legs after driving and setting up camp."

Hjalmar grins. "Well.. It does help that you are good with knives. That much is true." He jokes back. Though there's merit in what he says. "But yes. It gives you something to learn and take your mind off of things. Besides... A good crafted piece of woodwork is very pleasant to look at. And it helps giving warmth to the store as well." He watches her add the next ingredients and nods. "Sounds like a good plan. We can see a bit more of our immediate surroundings that way." He rises up from his chair and offers a hand to Libby to help her out of her's as well.

Libby replaces the lid, takes the offered hand and stands up. "Good enough point though I tend to fill my spaces with my taxidermy. I just have to be careful since people get a little weirded out when they're being looked at by what they're eating." She laughs brightly. "I like making regalia too. But that's not a skill oft used these days except for the rare pow-wow or dance competition."

Hjalmar helps her up and starts walking. "No.. I do not think stuffed animals would help selling meat." He chuckles. "But regalia would be good. Show of your roots a bit. People tend to be interested in those things. It will pull people inside which would only do some window shopping." He walks in a wide circle around the camp, taking in the scents and sounds. "This place is so... Empty.." He sighs contently.

Libby says, "I'm not sure a butcher shop is the best place for beadwork and buckskins." She replies with amusement written on her face. "Besides I seem to have plenty of business for the time being." She steps away from the campfire light a bit but she's not going all that far out. "You like it? The emptiness? The quiet? It is really nice along with the wide open sky. Makes one feel connected.. Right?"

Hjalmar walks with her around the camp's perimiter and grins. "Why not? Be proud of whom you are and where you come from." He spreads his arms as he gestures around. "We all come from somewhere. We all have our histories... We should nurish those roots and tales... Especially when living in places like cities and such. Those places tend to make one.... Grey.. They make people the same." HE looks up at the stars. "No matter if the clothing differs or the music one listens. Eventually they take the individuality out of one, and make that person into a ghost of the person's former self. Traditions and habbits will be forgotten to make room for whatever their surroundings need or demand of them. And these changes can come subtle, very sutble.. And it can be too late before one truly knows it." He turns his gaze back towards Libby. "This is something my parents and family always teached me. You can go with change and /progress/. But never forget where you come from. And do never be afraid to show it off. Either as a reminder to yourself, or as a proud display for others." He smiles warmly at the woman. "And yes... I do like it. The emptiness and quiet I mean."

Libby smiles, "Health code." She explains the why not in those two horrific words, all bound up in Red Tape. She smiles and lifts her shoulders as she walks along breathing in the fresh air of the desert, out where the haze and pollution are less. "I embrace my raising, though I wasn't raised as much with the native aspects of my life as some. I've been to pow-wows and dances, occasional meetings with Pop but I don't know. Folks might say I'm more hillbilly." She laughs and lifts her shoulders. "I promise though I'm not afraid to show everyone who I am, where I'm from, or who my family is. Even if they -do- embaress me regularly." She winks and laughs brightly. "I'm no good at hiding who I am, what I want, lying in general.

Hjalmar nods. "The health code.. Sure. I can see how that fits the buckskin part for example. But not the beadworks." He chuckles. "But fair enough." He can feel the coldening desert air flow across the bared parts of his skin and savors the sensation. "I would love to be at one someday." He smiles at that. "Yes. I think it would be quite intruiging. And a far better way of contact than the first one my viking predecessors had with the natives here.. We still tell the sagas of Leif Eriksson, his death and discorvery. And the others whom afterwards sailed into the same directions and found settlements in what is now known as Northern America. But we know that Leif Eriksson did not make friends here when first landing on the shores of America... And that costed him dearly." He shrugs. "I myself would like to be more of a learner." He grins. "There will be plenty of chance for fighting. And I mean fighting a true enemy." He then laughs. "But more of a hillbilly eh? That explains a bit of the accent I guess. And the love for hunting and such." He sighs as he savors some more of that desert air and temperature. "And hiding you should not even try!"

Libby pulls her flannel jacket around her a bit more, hugging herself as they walk. "True I could probably put out some beadwork art." She smiles. "There are some early Autumn Pow-wows coming up. We coul visit one. They're usually held at universties or reservations. Heck we can see if Kohana's people are going to hold one." She says with a little smile. "it's mostly show dancing, socialisation. It's sort of a casual thing." She explains before listening to Hjal discuss the traditions of his lands. "Yeah, well, the Natives are as many and varied as anyone else. Their tribes traditions demanding different codes of conduct. Coastal tribes especially. So what o you want to learn?"She closes her eyes and tilts her head, "We should get back to the camp. The tempratures starting to fall a little rapidly for me and I'll need a blanket or my long johns." "I don't hae an accent." She drawls, "Everyone else does." She laughs and lifts her shoulders. "And the Hunter Gatherer thing comes from my tribe, my people more than my hillbilly nature. My love for muddin' and wrasslin though. That's one hundred percent pure redneck." She laughs again.

Hjalmar observes the surroundings as they walk and nods at what she says. "Exactly." Then a raised brow. "That so? I'd like that. And if Kohana and his tribe are holding one. I would love to be there, if allowed ofcourse." He smiles as he sees her trying to warm herself and if allowed would wrap an arm around or offer his own woolen wrap cloak. "It might be a casual thing for you all. But for an European like me.. Not so much.. And what I would want to learn? Your culture. That is what I would want to learn about. It would also help me judge on matters when something happens between one of the native people and the others and a judge is needed." He shrugs. "But mostly it is interest in different cultures." He gives her a nod. "Sure, we can head back. The campfire probably needs some fuel as well." He chuckles at her accent. "Sure... You are completely correct ofcourse." He winks at her and laughs again. "Fair enough! But wrasslin? Another word for wrestling?"

Libby says, "My culture?" She laughs, "Would be better taught to you by someone who was raised in it, rather than 'around' it." She bobs her head, "I mean not that I'm turning you down, Hjalmar-rhya. I'll teach you whatever you like to know." She accepts the warmth of an arm around her with wool. She doesn't have the body heat to challenge a clear cold night out here but she is shameless about soaking up someone elses heat. Hunter gatherers are opportunists after all. "If Kohana's family isnt holding one soon I'll take you up to Patricks Point in a few weeks. They have their pow-wows at the Sumeg village off Lovers Rock. It's beautiful." "Uhm, sort of. Leg wrestling is an alternate term for it. I suck but it's fun."

Hjalmar nods. "Yes. Your culture. And no matter if you yourself do not fully live by it. You still know about it." He wraps her in his warmth, sharing his body heat. "I know you are not turning me down either. Otherwise you could have said, /no/, perfectly well." He grins. "And I would like that. Hell.. Even if he does, and there's one earlier or later at Patricks Point. I would still love to visit both of them." I just love to learn things Libby. It is a sign of respect and interest in those around me."

Libby nods, "All right then in the next few weeks we'll set a time to head north for a few days. AS long as you can make the time so can I. They have some lovely elk up there too, maybe I can get some on trade or hunt some for myself." She smiles to herself at the idea. She does so loe the experience of hunting. She looks back to Hjal and leans on him bumping shoulders in a friendly way as they continue back for the fire that is, indeed, dying without more firewood. "I completely understand. It's why I came out here after all."

Hjalmar nods and smiles broadly. "Awesome! Looking forward to it already. And yeah, who knows. Getting some fine Elk from there sounds lovely as well." He nods again. "Would not mind trying to hunt some myself there either." He chuckles at the shoulder bump. "I know. And I knew you would understand my point in this." He unwraps the wrapup cloak and leaves it with Libby as he moves to add some firewood to their campfire. "Back in time. Otherwise it could have taken a few, before it would burn brightly again." He takes a seat in one of the chairs standing there and sighs. "Thank you for coming and agreeing to this spontaneous idea of mine Libs. I appreciate it."

Libby grins, "Me too. I love the coast up there along Northern California. It almost reminds me of home, only the trees are magnificent and there are way too many banana slugs." She laughs and blinks as he leaves her with the cloak. She pulls it over her shoulders and heads into the tent and there are some soundso her getting ehr long johns situated. "Thank you for doing that for me." She speaks about the fire. "You want a beer or something? I've got some pemmican bars if you like. And also, any time, both hunting and spending time with friends are the best way to get me to go anywhere."

Hjalmar nods. "I guess, that helps against homesickness." He grins. "For me.. Well it is a totally different world. So much nature and emptiness. I love it." He watches her enter the tent. "Ofcourse. No problem. I too prefer to stay a little heated." He nods, even though she probably does not see it from inside the tent. "Sure, sounds good. Though I too will not drink too much. I still want to learn tomorrow." He chuckles. "And that is best done without a hangover. Never had a Pemmican beer though. They good?" He smiles at her next words. "I agree, spending time with friends is a good way of spending time. And hunting.. Well, that too is good to do."

Libby says, "No, Pemmican, and beer. Yes. They're good." She laughs though there's some effort because changing in a tent is awkard and involves some contorting. Eventually though she emerges in flannel PJ bottoms over her long johns and a Billabong Tshirt with a flannel over it. Her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She offers over some slightly damp beers and a packaged bar that looks kind of like a ccandy bar but there's a picture of a cow on it. She also drapes his wool wrap over him since she's got a nice woven blanket over her shoulders. She takes two beers for herself and one of the bars to sit in the chair next to him. "Definately hunting.""

Hjalmar laughs. "Owh. My bad! Let's have a taste then." He grins at the sounds coming from the tent and watches her emerge back into the open after some time. "Ah. That looks a lot warmer already." He accepts the beer and candy bar.. No not a candy bar.. A meat bar! Owh heavens, this is gonna be awesome! He smiles as she drapes that woolen cloak over him. "Thank you and thank you." The /last thank/ you being said whilst holding up the bar and beer. "I know you'd prefer that. But lucky for me. You do enjoy the other as well." He unwraps the bar and takes a big bite.... He nods his head and his eyes widen. "Dwiss stwuff iz gwood!" He munches some more on the bite and swallows. "America does have some charm in their kinds of food." Next he opens a beer and takes a swig. "And that's quite refreshing as well." He smiles at her as she's sitting next to him. "So, what do you think we'll encounter tomorrow?"

Libby grins, "Well Pemmican isn't really American, it's not even First Nations. It's an old recipie for survial bars from pre-istoric times. This, hard tack, that kind of thing. It doesn't go bad quickly and it packs a lot of nutrients and it's easy to trael with." She explains opening her beer and settling forward to soak the heat of the fire in as she unwraps her own bar. "Coyote, lizards, snake, antelope, goat.." She thinks, "I can't really say what else. Those are just what I've been reading about."

Hjalmar nods. "Hmm.. Alright. Wel never had it myself before. Maybe under another name or something. But never called Pemmican." He shrugs and takes another swig of beer. "I guess it were coyotes then. Scrounging near the camp a few hours ago." He leans relaxedly into his chair and savors the night. "I do hope that we find something good tomorrow."

Libby grins big, "We will. Everything's good. Maybe we'll get some rattlesnake. It's a soft sweet meat, like fish. You can make all kinds of goos stuff with it and it's really good cooked over coals." She bobs her head. "So I'm almost positive that we'll get something. I wouldn't mind getting an antelope personally. BUt they'll be harder to find."

Hjalmar finishes his beer and proceeds with his Pemmican bar. "Sounds good to me. Never ate snake before. But fish I like." He grins and takes a bite, chewing it down before talking again. "And who knows. Maybe we will be lucky. I can use my Lupus form to trace better if needed."

Libby hmms, "All right just be carefu. Those nasty little suckers bite. We'll figure it out though. After these beers though we should turn in." She explains to the garou softly. "So we can get started early. And then be on our way." She finishes her own meat bar and the last of her beer too. She offers to take his empty bottles to the recyling bin n the back of her Jeep.

Downing the last beer and munching down the last bit of meat, Hjalmar nods in agreement. "Sounds fine to me Libs." He hands her the empty cans and wrapper. "And I am sure we'll manage." He rises from his seat and takes a last gaze around the camp's perimiter... Seems clear for now... And turns towards the tent whilst undoing himself of the clothing posing the biggest issue when pulling off inside. Afterwards, he crawls into the tent and lays down on his back.

Libby gets the fire banked and things for the camp set away, making sure there's little for the animals to disturb before she crawls in to and flops on her bedroll on her stomach and hugs her pillow. She taps the lamplight. "Feel free to turn it off when you're ready to sleep. I've got an alarm set on my watch for an hour before sunrise."

Hjalmar watches her enter the tent and smiles as she taps the lamp. "No need for it to stay on." He turns it off. "There's enough star and moonlight to see all that is needed." He gives her a warm smile, unsure if she'd see it or not... Not that it matters. "Just let me know if you become cold. I do not mind sharing some body heat, alright?" He sighs as he closes his eyes... Who knows... Maybe sleep will come even more easily out here.

Libby can't. The mesh roof allows some light in but not enough for the Kin to see in such low light. She's used to no noise, complete silence save for the sounds of animals and insects in the night. But due to the cold even those stop out here and there's just.. Nothing but thei breathing and the occasional soft sound of the last of the firewood burning away in the banked flames. "If you wanna cuddle that's cool." She mutters sleepily but she's a human and her stamina is not at all what a Garou's is. She's been up most of the day, packing and hiking and so once nuzzled into her pillow she's drifting.

It is silent outside alright... Though not as silent as some would think.. There's ofcourse the sound of a dying fire and their breathing... But there's also sounds of shifting sands. And the low rustle of desert grasses in the wind.. It is truly soothing. And when she says this, he smiles and wraps an arm around her whilst turning onto his side... He listens to her breathing as it changes while she drifts away. A relaxing sound... And he too feels sleep tugging at his mind. And soon conciousness is slowly slipping away from him.

BEEEEPBEEEPBEEEEP! It sounds like an siren going off and Libby jumps with a small yelp of surprise and sudden sdernaline. It's definately not an alarm that lets ehr go back to sleep because her heart is racing and she flops and arm around to grab the watch and lifts it's dimly lit face towards her own to hit the loud alarm.

Hjalmar's awake at the first beep of that alarm and quickly unwraps his arm from Libby as she jumps with that yelp of her's. He quickly sits up as she's busy shutting down the sound and looks at her. "Well... That wakes one up." He laughs a low warm laugh. "It scared the crap out of you." He grins and shakes his head. "I do have to admit that it took me too, a little longer than normal to regain my senses and not stay in a more relaxed state." He lays down on his back again and stretches. "It's time, eh?"

Libby lifts a hand to rub her eyes and sqints at the clock. "Mm. MMmm. MY alarm at home is an air raid siren. "I like that I can't even try and go back to sleep." She says pulling herself up to sit and stretches with a yawn and looks over at him with a smile. "Mmhm. You've got a little bit though, nature calls and then teeth and I'll get started on breakfast." She pats his chest. "Relax." She gets to her feet and unzips half of the door to the tent and escapes re-zipping it so that the warmth stays in the tent. There's an audible BRRR from her and the sound of her booted feet hitting the soil and prancing off towards the jeep for the morning routine.

Hjalmar finishes stretching and chuckles. "Well damn.. Glad, I usually do not have issues with getting up in the morning. But even if I would.. A freaking siren would not be the smartest of solutions.. I wonder how long it will take before rage takes over..." He laughs and smile warmly as she pats his chest and smiles at him. "Do not worry. I'm awake, and I too shall go and say hello to nature in a min." He winks. "I will await your return." He grins at the BRR.. And follows her steps by hearing, awaiting her return... He's not in dire need to heed nature's call. It will more be a routine thing.

Libby deals with stuff outside for about twenty minutes including putting the pot with the leftovers on the fire with water and oats to make a hearty morning meal for them before she's back in the tent and shivering a little. "To think in like four hours I'll probably be complaining about the heat." She laughs and shucks her clothes to start changing. Libby, born of a LARGE family, has little issues with partial nudity in front of anyone. She pulls on her jeans and looks back at the Garou, "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, we've even got a few clouds so it might not bake me."

        Hjalmar listens to the sounds coming from outside and smiles as he does so. And when she's getting back into the tent, he too is halfway redressing himself. He watches her shiver and offers to warm her up a bit as she's starting to change. He's by far, still warm enough to share some. He chuckles. "We will see." He cocks his head as she's undressing and everything. Not shocked or anything, just observing like he does often. "I am sure it will be. The clouds will go a long way in keeping moments of it bearable, so that's a good thing. But when it gets too hot for either of us.. We will seek out shade and take a break. Alright?"

"Nope! The brisk is currently keeping me going." She assures but then when he mentions a break when it gets hot nods and smiles, "Sounds great." She agrees pulling on a ribbed undershirt, followed by a thin but long sleeves tshirt and lastly a Flannel. "Food's warming and will be ready soon. I can already hear the sounds of the animals waking up." She says rolling her shoulders and taking her shoes to head outside and put them on.

Libby grabs some cold waters from the cooler in the back of the jeep, along with her rifle and her smaller crossbow and makes her way over to take the offered bowl. "Thank you." She says brightly before taking the offere bowl of the morning gruel, oats, leftover meat an veggies from last night. It's hearty and filling and will provide good energy for the morning ahead. Libby's pack was already packed and she was ready to go. She's practically digging trough breakfast in all her eager excitement to get on the trail, downing it in large bites and drinking the whole bottle of water too.

Hjalmar hands over the bowl and nods. "Ofcourse." And follows her example of downing it all and the water too. This will provide ample fuel for the coming hours. "Tastes good. Though the name... Gruel. I hate it." He grins and rolls his shoulders after finishing the last of the bowl's contents. "So.. How will we hunt. Human style? Or... Combined?" He observes her gear for a moment.

Libby laughs, "Well there's also porridge?" She jokes, "I just call it breakfast." She licks her lower lip and grabs another half bowl and devours it too, popping her spoon in her mouth she stands to rinse everyhting out after Hjal's had his fill and puts everything away in the jeep so any stray animals wont get into it. "Well obviously I have to go two legs but you do what suits you."

Hjalmar too grabs another bowl. "Fair enough. Another one of those strange untasty sounding words, yes." After he's finished with his second bowl, he hands to over to Libby to get it cleaned. "I know. And it depends... Did you bring more... Rifles with you? If not. Well then, I'd go hunting in Lupine form I think.

Libby shakes her head, "No, but I have my larger crossbow, my shotgun and my longbow." She grins nodding towards the jeep. "But I think we'll find prey much faster if you've got your sniffer in order." She finishes washing the dishes and cleans her hads before tugging her hair back in a ponytail. Her teeth catch her lip around an eager smile. "Let's go!!'

Hjalmar nods. "Alright. Then the teaching shall start later." He grins at the sniffer jest. "Yeah yeah, on it." And with that he closes his eyes for a moment and soon... The change starts." (part 1 + Opening his eyes again as he now stands on four paws, Hjalmar looks up at Libby with his intense blue eyes. <<Let us begin!>> He says in his language.. But for those not understanding it. It sounds like a /Yip yip Hrumpf!/ combined with a small shake of his head. He turns towards the wide desert and starts hunting for prey with Libby. (part 2)

Libby moves out away from the desert. She hikes towards the sunrise her eyes wide and alert. Her rifle attatched to the side of her pack within eas reach. For now Libby moves at a decent clip, not enough to tucker her out fast but her gait covers ground. She walks alongside the wolf looking around keeping her eyes out for anywhere prey might be prone to gather and she finds lines of grery along a ridge which she points out.

Trotting alongside Libby is Hjalmar. He's trying hard to understand this strange new terrain but fails in it.. Hoping Libby will lead them on into the right direction, he stays at her side. The pace is a good one and he keeps scanning around. And when Libby points out those lines of greenery on that ridge, he stares at them, trying to see what might be hiding there... After a few seconds of intently observing... A bush that moved! And it moved differently than the others around it. A low growl emits from ShieldBrother as he tries to indicate that he spotted something... Hoping Libby will understand and use her tools and skills to maybe see what it i.

The scrub, long grasses and desert brush are backlit by the raising sun and Libby peers that way. When the wolf makes a noise she looks down at him, fingers moving to rest against his head for a moment in silent acknowlegement. Not petting, just alight brush before she's kneeling and unslinging her rifle from her pack and taking the cap off her site before lifting it to peer the direction of the ridge.

The wolf keeps staring into the direction, even when those fingers brush his fur. He hears and feels Libby taking up position and awaits her next move.

Libby sniffs a little, "Coyote." She murmurs to the wolf softly, knowing he'll hear being as close as he is. "Just a Coyote. That's not a bad thing though, that means he's out looking for prey and that's the right area." She's teaching him, even though he's in lupus. "Predators go where the prey will be and generally wont waste energy otherwise. That or he's looking for water which also mean prey animals. Let's head there.

        A dip of his head, indicates that ShieldBrother has heard and understood Libby's words. He keeps quiet and readies himself to head out into the direction of the Coyote... He will sniff and look around as they do so, not wanting to miss anything.

Libby smiles at him and puts her rifle back but tucks the site cover in her pocket and heads the direction of the ridge taking her time to walk the easiest route to conserve energy for later. Still Libby doesn't complain or hitch, appearently she's used to these long walks. The ridge will take about twenty minutes for them to get near enoughfor Libby to see unaided and another fifteen to reach the bottom of the slipe of rock and sand that shields the rock and soil enough for the greenery to grow along it. Libby slows though when they get within a few hundred yards and takes a knee. Libby says, "You want to go check?"

ShieldBrother follows Libby along her chosen track and has no difficulty with doing so. He too, is used to long treks. And when they reach the bottom and Libby kneels next to him with that question. He dips his head and looks up the slope to see how and where he would pass. It does not take long for him to spot a suitable route up, one that will take him up quietly as well! He trots off and starts the slow yet quiet climb up. After another 15 minutes he's at the top and staying low into the shrubbery there. He gazes around and picks up the Coyote's scent without trouble. And when he looks into the direction the scent comes from... He sees a glittering of water, half covered by some bushes and an overhanging lip of rock... The scent comes from there.. He turns back to the ridge and gestures with his head for Libby to come up as well.

ShieldBrother follows Libby along her chosen track and has no difficulty with doing so. He too, is used to long treks. And when they reach the bottom and Libby kneels next to him with that question. He dips his head and looks up the slope to see how and where he would pass. It does not take long for him to spot a suitable route up, one that will take him up quietly as well! He trots off and starts the slow yet quiet climb up. After another 15 minutes he's at the top and staying low into the shrubbery there. He gazes around and picks up the Coyote's scent without trouble. And when he looks into the direction the scent comes from... He sees a glittering of water, half covered by some bushes and an overhanging lip of rock... The scent comes from there.. He turns back to the ridge and gestures with his head for Libby to come up as well. (repose)

When he looks back he'll see Libby following him with her scope and also checking along. She signals that she hears him and slips her pack off and follows with her rifle and crossbow a few moments later. This terrain proves difficult for Libby, used to forrested coastal areas and more rural areas. The desert is new for her and there's a little sliding and slipping before she clibs up to a stable part of the ridge. She looks around and breathes a little before continuing a bit more carefully across the loose rock and dirt. Slower she's quieter and eventually joins the wolf once more giving him a sheepish smile.

ShieldBrother watches her climb up for a moment. But turns back to watch the watering hole instead as Libby makes a bit too much sound.. A few animals can be seen looking up. But as Libby seemingly stops or goes more quiet, they soon return to their drinking. He looks back as Libby finaly makes it, eyes half closed as if saying -Really?- And then back to the watering place, pointing it out with his snouth for Libby.

Libby lifts a hand to her mouth and hides a little grin, giving a half shrug as she slides her rifle off her shoulder and sites the animals through it. Taking each one in against the lowlight of the dawn. She spots what she's been looking for but takes a few moments to make sure that she's not about to shoot a female with young or anything younger than a yearling. Finding a older Ram instead she looks away from the scope and points with a finger subtley to indicate the direction the prey is, then again to point the direction the prey will probably go - A mountain goat will go up an incline and there's a small well used goat trail just visible against the morning lit stone.

ShieldBrother shakes his head as she hides that grin and shrugs... He looks back as she takes in the animals there, and when she indicates one out of the goats, following her pointing.. He dips his head in acknowledgement, the trail too, is spotted easily enough.. He crouches low and awaits the shot.. Staying ready to sprint after his target if needed.

Libby takes a breath and steadies herself. She nods once to indicate to the wolf that she's ready and her face goes serious though there's a gleam in her eye, that voracious cold hunger her people are known for. She licks her lips an her finger readies and on the exhale she shoots. The goat, surprised takes off due to the sound, it faulters as the bullet takes it through a shoulder making it bleet in alarm and take off. The rest of the animal scatter in all direction causing even more confusion for th wounded goat who tries to follow it's herd-mates up the cliff.

After attacking the goat from the side and behind as it tries to scramble away, ShieldBrother leaps up onto its flank, paws clinching around the animal as much as possible, and jaws locking around the scared animal's throat. Applying pressure, the wolf can feel and taste blood stream freely inside of his mouth.. And it is not his own blood.. After a few more struggling meters, the goat sags through its legs and comes to rest on its side whilst dragging out a few ragged breaths before laying still with wide eyes... Dead... ShieldBrother releases the goat and steps back to admire the kill.

The rifle is reloaded but doesn't need to be. Before she's even got the gun back up the goat is dead and Libby stands stepping out from her position in the bushes shouldering the rifle and walking over around the large puddle the desert animals were drinking from to where the wolf has the goat. She smiles, thumbs in her belt loops, and waits patiently. She's just kin after all.

Turning to were Libby stands, ShieldBrother cocks his head at her just standing and waiting there... This was their kill... Why's she still standing there? He looks around to see if he missed something.. But no.. Then he gives her a few short barks, hoping to make clear it is alright for her to come. He takes in a deep sniff of the scents around, hoping to gain the track of another animal.

Libby walks over and crouches. "Don't get greedy yet, Hjalmar-rhya." She says softly. "We've got a whole day ahead of us and we need to get this one back and dress him before the meat goes bad." She looks up, "And the scavangers find him. The snakes are likely to be out when it's a bit warmer anyway. And don't forget I can't take any of this til you actually give me permission." She fingerguns him and then reaches down shifting her guns and with a grunt and a heft gets the goat up over her shoulders in a fireman's carry. "C'mon, I'll carry him the firt half okay?" She doesn't mind that she's getting blood on her shirt. Hazard of the job.

The wolf dips his head... He knows, and he won't. At the permission thing he gives something close to a sigh.. It is both their kill... Not just his's.. But alright. If it makes her feel better... He watches her heft the carcass over her shoulders and yip yip's at the offer of carrying it half the way... Sounds good to him! The scent of blood is filling his nostrils as they head out and it does make him a bit hungry.. But he will keep himself good for now.

She makes it down the ridge, following the slope, it adds about ten minutes to the trip but it keeps Libby from hurting herself and she seems intent on smart over fast. The sun raises more overhead, warming the morning an sending some of the day birds to song in various knotted trees and desert Yucca, Joshua and Palo Verde trees and the morning insects scurrying out to find food before the sand and earth become unbearably warm. She walks about halfway before shifting and bending to get the goat off her shoulders and rolls her neack with a groan. "Shoulda gone for the smaller one." She laments with a grin.

Trotting alongside Libby, the wolf is content with looking around and observing all the animals and insects about and around. And when she drops the goat and rolls her shoulder, he shakes his head at her jokingly made lament. He closes his eyes for a moment and shifts back to his homid form. (part 1) +

Hjalmar stretches a bit when he regains his /normal/ self. He opens his eyes and looks at Libby with a grin. "Complaining about having more meat in the shop? Tsssk!" Then a moment of silence.... He looks down and starts to laugh. "Well.. Damned... I should have used my dedicated clothing..." He stands there, in the sun.. Naked... He scratches his head and laughs again.. No shame, but a little embarrased by his own forgetfulness. "Sorry Libs." He bends down to take the goat onto his own shoulders, same way Libby did before. "Shall we continue before I get roasted?" He chuckles all the while and shakes his head. (part 2)

Libby laughs and stretches her arms out and swings them a few times behind her before switching th strap of the rifle and rubbing where it had been pressing into her shoulder gingerly. But she doesn't complain because this is a part of hunting, the sucky part. She laughs and shakes her head, "Do't apologize to me, it's your junk that's about to get roasted." She looks up at the sky then back at Hjal. Yes she looks, she's human, but regardless she's still friendly smiles.

Hjalmar nods. "Aye... That it will if we do not move on." He winks at her as she keeps looking. "Shall we? Or are you not yet done observing?" He laughs again and turns to start off towards their camp again. "We still got more hunting to do.

Libby only looked breifly! She lifts a brow and smirks sidelong at the Fianna walking alongside him. "If it gets too bad I'll give you my flannel as a loincloth. I have a emergency blanket if you want to wear a nice silver wrap." She laughs as they walk along nodding to him as they make the last half of the trip to the camp.

Hjalmar chuckles.. She had plenty of time to see that all is proportioned in good measures. Nothing sticking out strangely. No... His body has all sizes and such in good order. "Nah. I will just put on some of my own normal clothing. They will shift with me... Instead of ripping appart and such." After a bit more walking, they reach basecamp, and indeed.. There's ripped clothing where he changed first time.. How did he not notice! He drops the carcass next to the car for Libby to prepare, and heads over into the tent to grab some clothing.

Libby first moves to the beast and closes it's eyes placing a hand on it's head and murmurs quietl in Algonquin. Then grabs a tarp from the jeep and pulls the goat onto it an does a quick field dress on the old goat. She tilts her head a little watching Hjal quietly though her expression is more curious than anything. "Probably a better idea, don't want your butt to burn either."

Hjalmar listens to the words spoken by Libby and continues his gathering of clothing. He dresses up outside of the tent but falls still at her remark... He looks back at her and grins. "Still looking, eh? Shouldn't you be focussing on that goat there?" He pulls on his underwear and undershirt before walking back to where Libby is working. "Never seen a Garou without clothing Libby?" There's curiosity in his voice as he half jokingly asks this question.

Libby shrugs and chuckles going back to working on the goat. "Oh please, all the time, just rarely non family. Beside syou're a good lookin' wolf, can't blame me for peeking. I don't mean anything by it." She makes a 'cross my heart' motion with the tip of her knife over her chest before continuing what she's going, getting the ritter cleaned so that it wont get bloaded or poisioned. Using a lrge jug of wter to wash the innards, she'll do this before putting them back in the body cavity and wrapping it in a clean tarp.

Hjalmar chuckles and grins. "Fair enough, and thank you." He shakes his head. "And no, I'm not blaming you.. That would be hypocritical from me. I was checking you out as well, when you were changing." He shurgs as he states this quite matter of factly. "Did not mind seeing what I saw either." He winks and observes her as she works the carcass over. "What will you be using the ritter for?"

Libby laughs shaking her head, "Save the flirting for the campfire, hmm? After we'e got our haul. This Critter?" She wonders of the word wrapping the goat tightly in the tarp, like a snug little goat burrito. It does take her a few minutes before she's able to get the wrapped tarp into the back of the jeep. "I plan on making him into a curry. Probably."

Hjalmar grins. "Sure, no problem." He laughs and then continue to watch her clean and helps her wrapping the goat up before helping with loading it into the car. "A curry? Sounds good. You're gonna get some happy customers, I'm sure!" Afterwards he'd clean himself a bit to get the smell out of his clothing and off of his body... He does not want to be smelled by new prey. "Let me know when you're ready to head out again."

Libby says, "Oh, well those are goat cuts. I thought you meant my plans for my portion." She grins. "Might also make tacos." She takes off the flannel, she wont need it in the sun anyway. She washes her hands and gets herself clean and smiles to Hjal. "We should head towards the high rocks. Reptiles will be coming out to soak up the sun. Snakes, lizards though we aren't in dire enough straights we need to figure out how to get those. Though if we find a little stream or a brooke, flowing water somewhere out there in our walk. I can show you how to catch some crayfish?"

Hjalmar nods to her proposition. "Sounds good. Let's head out to the high rocks then! I would love to catch some reptiles. And ofcourse." He smiles. "Ofcourse I would love to learn doing that. But.. Crayfish?" He gestures around. "Here?"

Libby says, "Yeah." She nods, "Heck yah. To date in Oregon, Washington, and California, the red swamp crayfish tends to be found in ponds and lakes; the ringed and rusty crayfish in rivers and streams; and the virile crayfish in still and moving water. In their native ranges, all have been known to inhabit lakes, ponds, and streams and California's desert has almost all of those things.""

Hjalmar readies himself for yet another change and nods at her. "Truly? That is pretty awesome. And a good source of food!" He closes his eyes again and starts shifting.. And with a deforming voice. "Let's go!"

Libby nods and smiles, "I've been reading about California's hunting grounds in my spare time." She explains to the wolf as she begins their journey back out. "Part of that whole learning thing. The way you feel about people I also feel about lands. Helping connect myself to the land I'm in. Which is why I'm really grateful you're out here hunting with me. It'd be a little rough alone." She leads off the direction of the high craggy areas in the distance. This one is going to be a bit more of a hike and they'll be there when the sun is heating the rocks.

Cocking its head, the wolf listens to her explanation, giving her a harumpf and a yip in response. When she expresses her gratefulness for being out here together, he gives her a headbutt against her legs like dogs and cats do to show affection. He looks up to the distance and the area they're headed for. Yup... This one will be a long one indeed! He keeps looking around as they walk, but does not really spots anything so far.

Libby pauses a few times to take a few drinks from her canteen and offer some to the wolf. keeping Hydrated before she starts to sweat it all out. She pads along without complaint and because this was a week ago the clouds drift past but do little to slow the steadily raising heat.

ShieldBrother licks and drinks all the water Libby offers him, helping him to keep hydrated as well. His tongue is already hanging outside his mouth for cooling and slowly.. Owh so slowly... The craggy area comes closer and closer. He looks up at the clouds, canting his head to the side as he observes their movement, before looking back in front of him again.

The heat from the sun beating down on them makes Libby pull her hair up and away from her face. She throws it in a quick sloppy bun and once they step into the lee of a large set of boulders into the shade she takes a moment to crouch in it and fan herself. She lifts the bottom of her shirt, flashing her abs, dabbing at the sweat beaded on her forehead and looks to the wolf. "How ya doin' in that fur coat?" She asks softly looking towards the large sheer crags that jut out of the sloping landscape. Around the scrubby landscape all painted in creams, oranges and reds under the driving desert sun has gone quiet due to the heat of the sun directly above. "Ready?"

ShieldBrother is trotting alongside Libby for some time, until she decides to take up a bit of shade and tries to cool herself. He looks at her, tongue hanging outside of his maw, and panting. He licks his nose once to keep it a bit wet and jawns. He makes a whiny sound at the question and follows her gaze... Just a bit further... He dips his head at the next question and prepares to set out, once again.

Libby takes a long breath and wipes her brow again. Then she's pushing up and moving back on. She walks beside the wolf keeping her head down and evenually the outer Tshirt comes off leaving her just in the ribbed Tshirt below. Thankfully her skin holds the tanned olive tones of her heritage and under sun turns golden with soft ruddy hues as opposed to straight out burning. Wide hazel eyes flick round the landscape and she tilts her head. She's listening more than anything else right now, seeing anything in this sun is nearly impossible. What Libby is listening for and will hear after the wolf's sharp ears.. is a soft hiss and a slow warning rattle. Not close, but close enough the vibrations of thei passing have roused a young snake from it's rest on a warming rock.

Stalking these hot gounds together with Libby makes him hot indeed.. And how he would like to pull off his furry coat like she does her shirt. But alas! That will not be happening. Besides... A shorn wolf, is not wolf! But a pup... He looks and listens to all he can.. And then there's that strange rattling sound.. Something he heard only on TV before... But it is unmistakenly a snake! A rattlesnake! He looks up at Libby to make her attentive to it, but sees that she too.. Picked up the sound. He growls and gestures into the direction the sound comes from, pointing with his head.

Libby peers in the distance and her head tilts and she nods to the wolf. She looks around and moves over towards a nearby tree. She seeks out the perfect stick, a long sturdy branch with forks. She chops it off with a small camping hatchet she keeps on herself and then strips the thing down to a minimal fork, almost like a dousing rod only with severely shortened prongs. She grins at the wolf and wiggles her brows before shrugging her pack off and then pulling out a knife. "This is going to be fun."

ShieldBrother watches Libby prepare that stick.. Getting the strange urge to gnaw on it... -Hold yourself! You are not a mere dog!- He thinks to himself and continues watching. He cocks his head as she looks at him with that grin and pulls out her knife. And in response to her words, he makes that yip yip sound and jumps around a bit like a happy wolf! Then his hackles rise and he goes back into hunting mode, searching out the precise location of the critter.. He has its scent now.. And whitin a minute, next to a pile of small and medium sized rocks, he stops... And points with his snout.. A short bark is given to alert Libby to the location.

Libby moes around to the wolfs cue and she smiles at the lupine for a moment before she crouches. She holds the knife blade down, as if she intends to use it to stab downwards rather than slash or cut. The rod she holds over her shoulder up and pointed down like a spear. She dodges in quick and the branch snaps down where the snake's head was a moment previous. The fast serpent however dodges out of the way and with a rattle coils around to strike at Libby who jumps back and to the side as the strike misses her jeans she's ready to lunge at the snake once more.

ShieldBrother watches Libby move around him and trying to pin down the critter with her stick. But then she misses! And the snake readies itself to snap! But misses as well! The moment the snake lashes out and misses, the wolf takes his cue. He quickly lashes out with one paw, slamming it down right behind the snake's head. He was going to pin it down for Libby. But his momentum, strength and weight kills the snake as he feels something give and snap underneath his paw... As he slowly retracts it, he sees what gave... He clearly broke the snake's vertebrae. Rendering it immobile... The snake's maw still opens and closes though... Is it dead? Or are those just convulsions?

Libby doesn't wait to find out. Her knife comes down on the thrashing snake's head, pinning it to the earth but ending any suffering. Clor lives high in her cheeks and her hazel eyes are bright with the rush of adernaline that comes from hunting dangerous prey and she exhales a breath with a huff of laughter reaching over without thinking to draw her fingers over the wolf's head between his ears, curling against the thick scruff before pulling away. "That was close, thank you." She slowly pulls the blade out from the snake and wipes it on her jeans.

ShieldBrother gets his answer quickly as Libby does not hestitate and stabs the snake's head. He looks at the dead critter and then back up at Libby as he those fingers ruffle through his fur. He licks her hand in response to her thanking him, after she pulls iit away again. He looks down at the snake again and starts digging a small hole in case Libby wants to bury the head. That is what they do, right? But then he stops... No... Libby will use all parts of the creature.. So there's no need for this hole.

Libby heads back to her pack to grab the things she needs to field dress the snake. Seperate containers and a quick cleaning as well as a seperate container for the head which she sets aside carefully along with the rattle. "I'll make you something special with these." She tells him patting the small tupperware container containing the head and rattle. She uses some of the water in her bottle to wash her hands before they get too sticky. All in all she takes care of it in about twenty minutes. When she's completed it she looks to the wolf, "Shall we try another or take a break in the shade for a bit until the sun's not so high." Directly beating down on their heads.

ShieldBrother watches intruiged at her work.. Her careful and skillful way of handling the animal's carcass and avoiding the danger the head still possesses. At her mention of making somthing special for him he gives a happy bark and gently gives her a headbutt hug with his head. He's about to lick her fingers clean, when she already starts cleaning them herself. And then at the question... He looks up at the sun and then around... Yawning in response and panting hard... A break it is! He will find a nice spot for them both to rest in, and will curl up on the ground. Allowing Libby to use him as something soft to rest against if she wants.

ShieldBrother lies there.. In the shade.. Relatively cool(er)... For as far as this place allows it... At least the sun's a bit less nasty now. He looks up as the question is asked and dips his head. This way he is better in finding prey. And switching back and forth all the time is just... Exhausting. But instead of explaining something she would probably not understand if he tried. He just gives her a nice big lick across the cheek. Smelling the pemmican as she pulls it out of her pack... A good smell indeed! He sniffs the air as he tries to take the scent of the pemmican in... But there's something else on the air as well.. A strange sweetish smell.. He's sure that he smelled such a thing before... But where... And from what..

Libs has no olfactory prowess like an animal might. She's smiling to herself and takes a bite for herself before breaking some off and offering it to the wolf. She looks around and peers through the shade as she chews. But seeing nothing that the wolf might be scenting she blinks back at the Garou curiously. "Find something else to hunt already?" She wonders with a little smile.

The scent is something that takes up the Wolf's complete focus.. It is not right... Even as Libby offers him a piece of pemmican, he just ignores it. Slowly he gets up from his resting position, making sure that Libby does not fall in the progress.. His hackles rise and he bares his teeth.. Though no sound is made.. The scent gets stronger though... Whatever it is that smells like this. It is not staying out of the wind.. And by now.. Libby too, would probably be able to smell something.. A sickly sweet smell.. Like a dead animal being left out in the sun for far too long...

Libby blinks and shifts as the wolf does. Concern written on her face as the wolf starts to move into a defensive position. The Kin pulls her legs up under her and reaches for her crossbow while keeping an eye on the wolf before her nose wrinkles and she pulls her hand up to push fingers against her nose with a little frown. Thankfully she's used to some pretty awful smells in her job. "Foul." She mutters under her breath.

A strange howl comes from closeby.. A howl underlined by something with issues breathing... Or so it seems.. The smell becomes even worse... And ShieldBrother reacts by closing his eyes.. No need to smell what's coming anymore.. And as the transformation sets in.. A wet sounding breathing can be heard coming from the other side of the stones. The smell.. Owh.. It is bad alright... Very very bad. (part 1) + And whilst the Garou's shift comes to a completion.. Going from Lupus form into War form... Crinos form.. A sick and rotting creature steps around the corner... It looks like a coyote which should have been by all accounts, dead for weeks.. But it is not.. And it looks quite unfriendly.. It cackles to itself and lets out a sickly giggling sound... And its claws are about as bad as ShieldBrother's in Lupus form. It's fangs too, are too large to fit right in the creature's maw... Having ripped its lips into rotting shreds.. And then there's that thing.. Hanging underneath him... (I used random power rolls when making this thing!) His... Genitalia? It is monstrous.. Raw looking and barbs across its length... This creature is clearly a bad thing! (part 2)

Libby shifts her weight back, drawing deeper into the shadow and reaching to grab an arrow from her crossbow to nock it. She takes a deep breath and gags a little with some regret but she looks towards the wolf and pulls back more as the Garou changes. That's the Kinfolk's cue to keep her back to a wall and keep her aim to support the Crinos Fianna. But she's gagging and not prepared for anything like what appears and despite the fact Libby is a fairly strong indepednant Kinfolk she's just a plain regular old Kinfolk.

The Fomor attacks and tries to bite ShieldBrother. It seems to get a good one on him, but luckily for the Garou. The coyote not even scratches the surface.. In return, ShieldBrother tries to smack it aside with his claws, doing so he rips the already weakened form of the creature appart, making it a red and brown smear on the rocks next to them... The Fianna Crinos looks at his kill and then to Libby..

And then at that moment... More sounds can be heard around them.. All equally sickly sounding.. And the smell... Well it is there alright..

Libby winces away from the splatter and smear a little, shoulder lifting and her face one of disgust. But the Garou looks back at her and she lifts her eyes to meet his for a breif moment before her eyes flick the direction of the sounds coming from the direction the first deformed beast had come from. Her lips draw thin and her crossbow comes back up. Ready to take aim at whatever appears next.

The Fomor Coyote pack comes around the corner. In front a two headed meaner looking one, with horns growing over his body and claws and teeth to match the Crinos. It is leading three of his pack members.. They come to hunt alright! And take vengeance for the loss of his rotting pack member...

Libby takes the shot without even thinking, the crossbow bolt sailing through the air and landing soldly into the first beast that rounds the bend. She takes a breath and keeps tracking the horned monstrosity that her first shot took. The repeater crossbow has one arrow in the wings before she has to reload and she'll be taking it next shot.

ShieldBrother attacks the first of the coyote's in range.. And sadly, it is not the pack leader as that one is slowed a bit by Libby's attack. The attack seems to hit, but only swipes a bit through unneeded flesh, and deals no damage... Or so it seems.

Libby takes the shot and she's already adjusting the clip on the crossbow, readying to grab another set of arrows to nock them in preperation. Her secon arrow flies true from the Crossbow with a shink before landing swuarely in the Thorny Coyote's shoulder. But it still keeps coming and Libby retreats so her back is against stone as she tries prepares to take another shot.

The Fomor Coyote's go for the Garou in Crinos form, biting and clawing at him in a frenzy. A few seem to hit. But none seem to do little more than annoy the big bad Werewolf.

The pack leader, enraged by the pain Libby did to him, charges the Kin. It tries to take her on the horns and partly succeeds, cutting through the fabric of her clothing and making a few cuts and scrapes.. Luckily for Libby, but bad for him. She seems to be able to mitigate most of the attack.

ShieldBrother, clearly not amused by these annoying rotting bastards swipes broad, taking one of the ground as he impales it on his claws, throwing it away a few metres where it lands and ends in yet another rancid smear.

Libby makes a pained noise as the thorned horns hit, tearing at skin and drawing blood to stain across her skin. She drops the crossbow taking an Arrow to use it instead as a weapon and aims for the oncoming Alpha. This is likely about to get ugly but Libby simply cannot afford to think about anything but survial right now. Thankfully, Libs' reaction times are impressive.

Libby attempts to follow through but the arrow doesn't get through the thorns and horns just scraping off them instead of hindering the Alpha's onslaught.

The Pack Leader attacks with his nasty jaws, biting at Libby in the hopes of tearing her appart. he hits, but like before... Not much damage has been done!

As the Pack leader rushes past ShieldBrother and unto Libby, The Fianna wolf does not hestitate, without care for his own life, he turns his back to the two Fomor Coyote's to attack and defend Libby. Both the Coyote's attack him, but none of them seem to hurt him luckily. As ShieldBrother comes up from behind the pack leader, he attacks him with a savage strike, pushing both claws inside of the pack leaders back and ripping it appart in a shower of gore... Libby's safe... Rancid and splattered with gore.. But safe.

Libby's attempting to kick free of the Alpha coyote's teeth, pulling away with a glittering darkness in her eyes. She's terrified but there's no flight in her - she's all fight. She winces closing her eyes as she's splattered but she's moving to action again grabbing up the Crossbow again to load it. She'll deal witht he gross after the 'yote monstrosities are taken care of.

Both Fomor coyote's attack the Fianna from behind.. But both fail to do something noteworthy, except for annoying him to no end! ShieldBrother turns around with murder in his blue eyes and swats one of them aside... Tearing it in half while doing so. Another one down.. One left....

Libby reloads as fast as possible and takes no time to really aim. It's an unfourunate shot but she manages to hit anyway the crossbow bolt sticking out of the tainted creature.

As the bolt hits the coyote it emits a sharp wet sounding yelp... A yelp that will not reach its ending as another savage swipe from ShieldBrother takes it's head... The head flies against the rocks and splatter appart. The rest of the rotting body just sags where it stands.. And slowly... The quiet returns.. Though the smell becomes only worse now so much of the inards are exposed.

Libby can only take so much smell and so Libs turns to empty her stomach in a corner. The gross is clinging to her and it makes it somewhat awful. After that she rocks back on her heels and composes herself. Even the taste of bile is better than the smell of that awful nasty taint. She pulls back, grabbing her things and scuttles out of the crevice to gulp in some Hot but fresh air.

ShieldBrother moves ahead of Libby, making sure the path is clear. His fur is stained black, brown and reddish by all the gore.. But by sheer force of will.. He remains unaffected. When coming outside, he snarls something in the tongue of the wolf <<Need to burn the corpses, to stop taint.>> Though unless Libby knows this tongue.. It will only sound mean bad and worse! He turns around, taking in the surroundings once before heading back inside the crevace...

Libby looks confused at the Garou as he snarls in the High Tongue at her an she shakes her head. Nope. She has no idea. What she is doing however is stripping, putting the cleanest bits of her clothing off to the side of a rock. A sunburn is better than tainted clothes sticking into bleeding wounds. Next? She takes what is left of her drinking water reserves and starts rinsing out her cuts.

The wolf is gone for a long time.. And when he comes back.. He's more gored up than before... The stench is baaaaad! very very bad... He closes his eyes and focusses... The change coming... (part 1) + Upon the completion of the shift, Hjalmar, streaked in rancid gore.. Looks at Libby.. His face full of focus. "Do you have flares and other burnable stuff? I need to burn the remains lest the taint spreads." (part 2)

Libby looks around, "Some of the scrub should be fine to help build a fire." She nods, "I'll get some as soon a Iget these stitched up." She indicates the gash across her thigh and her side. "I also have a fire starter. The flares I do have but the phospherous probably wont be all that great for starting a good fire. Can you come help me with this real fast? I need you to hold the skin together while I stitch."

Hjalmar nods. Aye. That will work. Those clothes though... Are you attached to them?" He gestures to the rancid clothing. "I can try and cleanse them.. But yeah.. Burning would be easier." He looks at the gash. "Owh.. He got you pretty nasty." He nods at her. "Ofcourse." And after washing his hands, holds the gash closed as gentle as possible, but with enough pressure to form a neat line. "Flares do work I think. And I'd rather not sit there for longer than needed, with a firestarter.." He shakes his head at the prospect of it. "I will add a good amount of dry scrub before tossing the flare in. The... Gasses formed by their decomposition will also help I think.."

Libby looks back at them and back at Hjal. "Mm. I suppose I can coer from the sun under my emergency blanket." She admits with a little frown. That's going to be a long walk under the sun in the buff. She shakes her head to clear it, "We'll burn them." She agrees with him and winces a bit at the pain. Another low sound in her throat but she grabs a bit of gauze to bite down on and thanks to his help, and though shaking due to the pain inolved the Kinfolk manages to get the stitches into her own flesh. She grits her teeth through it but by the end she's shaking pretty violently. It's a lot of pain to subject oneself too. She nods. "All right." She agrees with the Garou's assesment letting him decide the best way to deal with the Fomor.

Hjalmar looks at Libby as she stitches herself. "You are doing great. Keep it up!" And when it is done.. He holds her close for a moment, careful not to smear her under more gore. "You did very well Libby.. You are a true and worthy Kinfolk.." He sighs and stands again, taking up the tainted clothing and preparing to move out. "I will also try and perform a rite of cleansing on the corpses and clothes before burning them.." He pulls out a small satchel from under his clothing. "I have some ingredients with me for such things." From the satchel he produces a small branch of willow and a small flask of water.. "I will still need the flare though. To light up a torch. And this small branch I will need to sprinkle the pure water in this flask over their corpses." He sighs deeply. "Alright... I will head out and start." He will take the flare with him when offered and turns towards Libby before heading in. "Please Libby.. Stay a bit in the shadow for now."

Libby bandages up over the stitches. She looks a bit drawn, in fact she looks -very- drawn. But there's not a complaint from the Wendigo Kin. In fact the more pressure she's been put under the more stoic and cold she's become showing the root of her bloodlines. The embrace seems to jar her out of whatever mental place she'd gone and she smiles patting the garou smiling tightly. She grabs the silvery emergency blanket from the first aid kit and lends Hjal whatever he needs from her pack, including the hatchet for gathering wood before doing as she's told and going to collapse into a bit of shade far, far from the stinking crevice they had been occupying earlier. The poor kinfolk is exhausted.

Hjalmar goes back in, mind focussed on what needs to happen... On site, he draws a circle in the dirt around the corpse stack.. He stuffs the clothing between them and some other burnables as well. Then he starts walking.. Counter clockwise he moves. Burning torch in hand and dipping the branch in the water to sprinkle it over the tainted stack. Then after this part is done.. He howls... And deep from whitin the crevice a eery otherworldy howl sounds. It echoes from the walls and goes on for some time.. Soon afterwards, smoke can be seen rising from deeper whitin. A few minutes later, Hjalmar reappears again. Tired but smiling broadly. He gives a nod to Libby as he sags down next to her. "Done.. I cleansed what I could and burned it all."

Libby nods and takes a breath the shimmer of the thermal blanket over her catching the sun and glittering as she does. "Do you mind if I nap a tick, just until my biscuts wont burn under the sun?" She smiles a little bit. She in fact had a pair spare of slipon shoes in her pack, they're for moving through water but they'll do for traveling over hot rocks and sand after she's rested up a bit. It's going to be a long walk back to the Jeep. Though, if Hjal is exceptionally percetive he may notice that the stitched wounds, though they aren't healng as much as a Garou's might, have started to clot and seam against the stitches. Unusual for such aggrivated wounds.

Hjalmar looks at her and nods. "Yeah... Ofcourse." He smiles wearily at her.. He looks drained.. Though not physically. "We can take a moment." He closes his eyes for a moment before opening again and looking Libby over. "That wound... It heals fast... Faster than I'd think.. How come?" He observes her for her reaction whilst leaning against the rocks.

Libby's half asleep but she does open an eye and look down at her wounds then back to Hjalmar. "An old curse." She replies simply and lets her eyes close back again and sighs a little tucking ehrself back away from the heat of the sun as it continues it's slow arc overhead. Once he's comfortable Libby will scoot over to rest her head against him before sagging and strying to relax.

Getting comfortable is not hard for Hjalmar as everything feels comfortable now.. Hr nods at her explanation. "Oh? Intruiging..." He says in a soft voice. He wraps an arm around her when she comes to rest her head on him and goes silent for the moment.. Waiting for colder times..

It's a few hours later and Libby shifts, stirring and shivering slightly as she works against the tighteness in her muscles. "All right." She croaks softly, "I think I can get back to the jeep now." She pushes off Hjal and to her feet reaching to take up her backpack still without complaint. Well not willing complaint she can't help the all to human reactions to pain.

Hjalmar looks towards Libby. He was awake the whole time... Not wanting to drift off and leaving them unguarded. He still looks... Empty... "Okay.." He nods and gets up as well. At seeing the pain she has when getting her backpack, he reaches out and takes it from her, hoisting it up his own back. "Let me help you with that." He's ready to move out towards the jeep with her.

Libby blinks but allows it. She eeps the blanket over most of herself but her legs are starting to turn a lovely golden brown with little highlights of red where the sun kisses them a little too long. She walks quietly beside Hjal and murmurs, " Thank you. I'm goin to drink a whole bottle of water and crawl into my bedroll and sleep so much after we eat." She says already longing for the food and comforts of camp. From time to time she leans on him whenthe pain gets to be too much but still without a word to indicate that she needs to step again. It's a slow dutiful march back to the camp between them both.

Hjalmar smiles at her and slowly shakes his head. "No problem.. You fought well enough." He slowly proceeds next to her. But after they slowly made a few clicks, and she leaned on him for the so maniest time.. He gives her back the backpack and takes a deep breath. "Aye.. I could use something to eat and drink as well.. But this is not going fast enough.. We need to be back before night hits..." He goes silent.. And the shift starts to set in.. He shifts back into his stronger war form and without asking... Not that she would understand either way. Picks her up in his arms to speed up the pace back to camp.

This is kind of a first And Lib is, at first, not entirely comfortable witht he prospect. My what big teeth you have, Hjalmar! But again no protests come, she's too tired to complain and secretly a little grateful that she doesn't have to keep toughing it out. It's probably not surprising that as he moves she rests her head against him and falls asleep again for the duration of the way back to camp. Because they'd been moving so slow they'll arrive just about the time that the sun has begun to set and the first licks of darkness touch the Eastern skyline. The camp is unmolested thankfully.

At seeing Libby's reaction, ShieldBrother... Smiles? It could be a smile or a nasty snarl.. It is kinda hard to see with how he now looks. But one thing is for sure! A lot of teeth show as he does whatever it is he does! The trek is a long one indeed. Less slow than before though. And after a few minutes, he hears Libby's breathing change. When he looks down, he sees her with her eyes closed and he makes sure to walk a little more... Relaxed.. Not wanting her to wake up. And when they come back... The camp looks intact! That is a pleasant surprise alright.. He walks over to one of the chairs and gently puts Libby in one of them. Then... He shifts back to his Homid form again before pulling of his staned clothing and tossing it in a bag.. He needs to cleanse it as well.. But with them being dedicated to him by ritual magic, he'd rather not have burned them together with Libby's clothing.

Libby curls up in the chair but then after a few moments opens her eyes and maks a little noise. She heads for the car and pulls out a pair of ancient sweat pants and a sweat shirt which she shrugs into. They're old, worn and have faded bloodstains in them. Probably from other injuries she's had by the look of them. She's slow to move but dilligent and soon enough which Hjal's getting his clothes settled she's got fire wood on the fire and the fire starter going o get it up. The snake carcass is put with the goat in the cold packs in the rear of the jeep and she's getting water together and also grabbing something to put on the fire to cook. Libby being Lazy picks a chicken to put on a skewer over the fire. It takes roughly two times longer than it would normally take the industrious kinfok but she seems determined!

Hjalmar looks at Libby as she stirs, and watches her go towards the car for seemingly a change of clothes. He observes her as she redresses and raises a brow out of curiosity. "Blood? That is not from butchering an animal..." He takes a seat now as well and sighs ever so deep. He watches her skewer the chicken to prepare them some food.. "That smells so damn delicious... I could eat a horse by now."

Libby smiles, "Well, just a chicken and hopefully that'll do for now." She says with a small smile and looks down. "Oh sure, I've been in some fights before. Couple bad ones but nothing I couldn't handle." She admits as she drinks the rest of her water and moves over to sit in the tent though she leavesit open so she can see Hjal and talk to him while his dinner cooks over the fire. "We'll take everything back to the shop when I wake up? I need a shower." Probably a bit of a clenasing too but she's not even really thinking about that right now. "Thanks for hunting with me, I don't like tot hink how it'd have gone without you here. I've never seen aything like that.." She yawns, "Before."

Hjalmar chuckles and nods. "So it seems.... And I believe you.. You are still here. So yes, you could handle yourself so far!" He gives her a very warm smile as he looks at her sitting in the tent. "Aye.. We will head back tomorrow morning. We both could use a shower." He gives her another broad smile. "Then you'd not be in this situation. It was my idea to go hunt here, remember?" He winks at her. "But yes. I too liked it!"

Libby nods a bit and snuggles into her bedroll, careful to keep off the side with the nasty angry wounds. She might have said more but she's not only in pain but still mentally exsausted. Hjal will get to eat that deliciously seasoned flame roasted chicken all by herself because Libby is out again. Sleeping hard and sounds within moments. She'll be sleeping through until Morning unless Hjal wakes her for something.

Hjalmar chuckles as the aound of a sleeping Libby comes out of the tent. After a while he goes to check on the chicken.. And if done... Eats it, leaving a fair bit for Libby in the morning. After making sure it wilm stay good till the morning, he too will crawl into the tent and goes to sleep..