Log:Hedgefruit Hunting

Hedgefruit Hunting
Aw damnit.
Participants Velvet, Saulot as ST	22 June, 2018 Velvet goes in search of healing fruits, and gets ambushed by shadow cats.
Location Summit, Steepscrabble
By the time Velvet leaves the house everyone is asleep. Weaver and Fido on the couch, both snoring rather loudly. Olivia in her room. Jeffery has been rather weird, but was at least sleeping normally in their bedroom. There was a door there that led to Weaver's Hollow, and from there to the hedge. Unsurprising to anyone, his hollow is at the top of the area's mountain, and from there the trod leads down to the west and to the east. To the east is Stoneheart and much further down. To the west the bloodsap grove and its muddied, forested hell. Once everyone is asleep and quiet, it's time for Velvet to go out and do her thing. She warned Weaver ahead of time that she was doing, so it wouldn't be a surprise when she wasn't there when he woke up. She breaths in the air of the mountaintop, giving a little shiver as the chill hits her. She glances towards the familiar view towards the east, and the forested hell to the west. Familiar first. She would atleast know where she was going in that direction. So east she moves. The climb down further down isn't the easiest thing for most people. Velvet, however, isn't most people. The scramble and hop down may as well be child's play. As she nears stonehearts she can hear the familiar sounds of the night. Strange, dreadful things making this noise and that far too loudly. The wind blows harshly, and the sky above looks to warn of an impending storm. For now at least the sky remains peaceful even if the world below her and the mountaintop is teeming with the chaos of life. The forest ahead isn't as dense from here, but the path on the trod will worsen before it gets better. Though she may be skilled, Velvet is still careful. Not so much of her footing for the sake of injury or caution, but instead she's careful to make sure that nothing is moved out of place in her passing. Nothing to indicate that she is even there at the moment. She follows along the trod, sighing to herself as she gazes at the path ahead. Well, she's already on the path, might as well keep chugging along. Her eyes slowly sweep the area, keeping an eye out for fruit. It's never wise to veer off the trod, but Velvet has found herself wandering in worse parts of the Hedge than this before, so what'll it hurt? Beyond her, possibly. There's a blade kept in one hand as she moves, tapped against her thigh as she studies bushes and trees for whatever viable fruits she can find. She spots the quarry and the dream-a-drupes not far beyond it, her brows arching. Carefully the woman begins to make her way in that direction. Further still she has to be careful, even more than one can expect. The ground below looks to have been moved about. Things may look idyllic, but that is clearly a deception. This place would be heaven to any kind of herbivore or omnivore, but it's a bit too perfect. The footprints left in the ground are large enough for Velvet to stick her entire hand in. Listening, she can hear things move and shift among the underbrush. The what, however, is uncertain. Velvet's eyes narrow faintly as she pauses just outside of the area. She kneels, studying the layout of what she now expects to be a trap. Her head tilts as she hears the ruffling, nostrils giving a little flair. She rises again and calls to the darkness, drawing it out of herself and sending a wave of raw fear across the landscape in front of her. Enough to draw it out? Maybe. If not? Well, it won't take much after that. She does indeed draw it out. Them. Several, large cats big enough to give even Fido a run for his money. The creatures are more shadow than flesh, and barely make a noise as they walk about. They sniff the air, eventually coming up with nothing despite their overwhelming fear. "Briar wolves," one whispers to the other. Another responds, "No." It sniffs at the air again. "We smell them before we see them, and they know no to come here. This is our territory. Probably one of the red-meats. We find it. We kill it. Hang its head with the rest." This gets nod from the other four creatures. "They make good trophies." Too many to slaughter through easily. So instead, she's going to use their new found fear and jumpiness against them. Velvet takes a couple of long steps backwards, switching out her blade for a gun. She takes her time, breathing slowly as she lines a shot up on one of the ones in the middle of the group. Sniping takes time, and she's got all the time in the world. The muzzle flashes, trigger pulled as she takes the shot. It pierces right through the neck of one of the creatures, exploding through the other side of its neck as the body crumples. There wasn't even a chance for a gasp from the creature as it dropped dead. One that one is dead, they will either be struck with the fear and run, or they'll attack. Clearly she doesn't want to give them the chance to attack before she can kill another one. Velvet shifts where she is, not standing in the same place for too long. Another shot, not aimed this time, but guided with the a little help from the Wind, rings out. It's enough to pierce through the body, but not enough to drop another of the creatures. One shadow beasats goes down in a gory, inky display. The rest roar out in anguish. "Kill them, and leave their hands for their mates and kin!" one screams. "Kill!" they all shout in turn. They rush and bound to her and around her. Circling her as best they can until they attack, one after the other. However, she proves damn near impossible to hit as they try to take her down. She does indeed draw it out. Them. Several, large cats big enough to give even Fido a run for his money. The creatures are more shadow than flesh, and barely make a noise as they walk about. They sniff the air, eventually coming up with nothing despite their overwhelming fear. "Briar wolves," one whispers to the other. Another responds, "No." It sniffs at the air again. "We smell them before we see them, and they know no to come here. This is our territory. Probably one of the red-meats. We find it. We kill it. Hang its head with the rest." This gets nod from the other four creatures. "They make good trophies." Too many to slaughter through easily. So instead, she's going to use their new found fear and jumpiness against them. Velvet takes a couple of long steps backwards, switching out her blade for a gun. She takes her time, breathing slowly as she lines a shot up on one of the ones in the middle of the group. Sniping takes time, and she's got all the time in the world. The muzzle flashes, trigger pulled as she takes the shot. It pierces right through the neck of one of the creatures, exploding through the other side of its neck as the body crumples. There wasn't even a chance for a gasp from the creature as it dropped dead. They start to circle around her, Velvet's eyes narrowing as the second gun is pulled from it's holster in the blink of an eye. It's time to switch styles. As they crowd around, swiping and trying to get at her, Velvet calls to the wind again, aiding her rapid bursts of fire. The bullets rip through the creatures. Surprised and horrified noises are their death cry as three of the cat-like beasts drop to the ground. There's only one left. "Who should I leave YOUR hands for?" she rumbles, letting it hear the click of her gun as she readys herself. Three of the five drop like fucking flies. The alpha got the worst of it. Oh did he. That shot from Velvet basically blows a massive hole in its torso as it rains black and red around it. Some of it does get on Velvet, but it doesn't really matter to them. They're no longer tryign to get their claws and teeth on the Darkling. No, they've turned around, and the remaining two turn tail ready to run for their lives. As they do, the view of the grove disappears into the same old forest surrounding the rest of the area. "Awwww, scared?" Velvet doesn't often say much when she's invisible. But they brought her 'mate' into this and that was enough to piss her off. They might be retreating, but that isn't enough. She wants them dead. Her other gun lifts, three more shots taken in rapid fire. Between the three shots, both of the attempted escapees drop to the ground. If they aren't already dead, they will be in a few moments. Her eyes lift to scan the newly changed environment, sighing as the hedgefruit vanishes from view. "Fuckers," she mutters. If nothing else, they can be harvested for parts, fur, and some nice juicy bits for Fido. The dream-a-drupes nearby and around her will have to do. No humongous bounty for the darkling. The beasts lie dying as their blood drips on the ground in a shadow display. Their tenebrous fur moves like wisps in the wind, and nothing else does. From where the grove once was a sound can be heard, shuffling still heard from inside the bushes. The bodies are going to be harvested first, making sure to take the tradable and edible pieces first. If, by some strange fate, they are still breathing when she gets to them, she gives them a quick death. Her time is taken, making sure not to damage the pelts too much where she's able. Once there's a big enough pile of cat-creature-bits she moves on to the hedgefruits. She really hit the motherload there, almost more than she can carry are set on the pile near the cat-bits. It's about then that she notices the shuffling, her head turning in that direction, steps slow as she makes her way towards it, a single gun at her side now. It's really damned hard to find it within the bushes. It even smells like the other hedge beasts, but something else is off. Velvet is able to see why as she nears closer. It looks almost exactly like the rest of them, except less than a quarter as big. It roars up her, the minature shadow cat, polychromatic gaze searching hers. "Where is mama!?" it demands. "I'm hungry!" Shit. Velvet stares down at the little creature, her brows lifting up slightly as it roars at her. It's a pack creature, and a baby, which means it's pretty likely to die on it's own. Or at least suffer. "Your mama got into a fight with a much bigger, meaner creature," she says as she kneels down some to study the baby shadow cat. "But I can help you get some food," she offers. She digs into a bag and pulls out a chunk of meat. It was for Fido, but he gets to have shadow cat now, so she's sure he'll be happy enough with that. She sets the meat our for the cat then pulls her hand away. The thing was small, but it's mouth was more than big enough. When it opens up it's clear that its mouth makes up most of its head as it spreads its mouth wide enough to eat that offered meat whole. It purrs once fed, and stretches up. It slinks over to Velvet's side, rubbing its side against Velvet. "You smell like mama," it squeeks. Then it turns to lick at the blood along Velvet's boot as it looks up to nothing aside from the smell of Velvet. "Are you mama?" "Aw damnit." It's so fucking cute. Velvet rubs her face for a moment, smearing more of the blood on herself without thinking. She can't help but reach down to pet along the cat's back as it winds around her legs. "Well. It looks like I am now, kitten." Because apparently she'll adopt anything with a pulse that looks like it needs her help. What has Weaver done to her? "What are you called?" she wonders as she drops down to one knee, brushing a through it's fur. Despite the blood running through its fur as it snuggles agianst Velvet's leg it does get sticky. The red slides off, and drips back down onto the earth. "Mkazandon," it happily chirps with more proud than that little body can muster. "Black Smile!" It's smile is black along with those large razor sharp teeth and its razor-like claws. "Mama, I want more. Can I have more, mama?" The razors don't seem to deter Velvet very much as she reaches down to scoop the kitten up and into her arms. Thankfully it's still small and easily managed. "You can have however much you want," she promises while giving the kitten a little head butt against the side of its face. "I actually have a whole lot of food at home. Would you like to come home with me and we will fill your tummy? Get you a nice bed to sleep on?" She's moving back towards the bag of stuff waiting for her to scoop up. She quickly grabs it as they stride past, trying to move them beyond where the kitten might see what remains of its pack. As she headbuts it the hedge beast laps at the blood on her cheek, and laps up some of the blood to be found there. It's still very hungry in spite of its very small size and how much its already eaten. It couldn't be bothered by the gory display in the background. It only cares about the women holding it and meat it quite easily smells from the bag. "What's a bed?" it asks after licking its lips. A claw snatches up a bit of her hair, and it asks, "Mama, is this a bed?" More meat is pulled out of the bag and offered towards that massive mouth. Looks like Fido is just going to have to share. It gets a couple of fairly large chunks of meat as Velvet continues the path back towards the hedgegate. That's going to be a hell of a trip. "A bed is something you sleep on. But not the ground. It's soft. I think you'll like it. If you don't, we'll find something you do like." She lets the claws tangle in her hair, letting is dance against his paws. "That is called hair. Kind of like your fur."