Snippet #2424516

Silence befell the the nearby forest not far west of the Castle of Corona. Two entities waited, fully aware of each other's presence, yet not showing any sign that they were. One body was large and muscular. Completely covered in brown fur, with claws large, and slanted to a sharp point. The second body was tall, yet obviously weak and inferior compared to the other. Hiding among the trees that surrounded the clear opening where the larger body feasted. Raspberries? What an odd meal for the creature who most would think to be the hunter of the other body, who was searching for it's prey. Stalking the trail that led to the berry bush. A single vulture circled the area. Knowing the signs of it's next meal. There would soon be death in the forest very soon.

Suddenly there was a rustle of leaves and branches in a tree nearby the larger body. It perked its ears in alarm, but continued feasting, as if the noise didn't concern it. The weaker body cursed itself, having ruined it's stealthy assault. Even so, it stared at the larger body, grasping the crossbow it had strung to it's back, and readying a bolt to be fired. Calm breathes, the weaker body waited for it's opportunity, as it measured the wind currents that flowed through the entire forest by touch. Finally, the larger body, having noticed the intense hostile energy directed towards it, lifted it's head. It's sensory organs were on high alert. For some reason, the larger body felt cornered. As if it couldn't escape what it was about to face. It felt fear, and the weaker body could tell. Within an instant, the larger body turned it's head toward the trees behind it, and a bolt surged forward, and embedded itself in the larger bodies' skull. The larger body fell to the ground a few seconds later.

Content with her kill, Carabell jumped down from the tree she had been crouching on. She observed the corpse, noting how limp the bear's body seemed to be. Before she could survey the face, the vulture from earlier swooped down, not giving Carabell any mind. It landed next to the bear's corpse, ready to begin eating. Carabell took note that there was a small mountain around 50 miles north of the castle, but was curious as to why a vulture would travel here all the way from there. Quickly, Carabell approached the vulture, and swiftly drew a throwing knife aimed, directly for it's left foot. She didn't want to kill it, as she didn't really consider the vulture as her prey. But she couldn't rightly let it consume the remains of the life that she took either. The vulture quickly took off, before the throwing knife reached it. The knife instead, embedded itself into the left side of bear's stomach. Carabell fell back in surprise, as the bear immediately sprung up, and roared at the sudden jolt of pain that was just inflicted on it. The bear turned it's gaze towards Carabell, with a mixture of hatred, confusion, and of the strongest feeling. Fear. It truly seemed like a cornered animal. The bear lunged forward, raising its claws in the air to strike down on her. Carabell quickly drew her broadsword, ready to defend herself from it's attack. As the large paw fell down, Carabell positioned her sword diagonally, so that she could counter it's attack with her own. Instead the bear fell down, it's eyes now glazed over, and empty. This was definatly one of the closer calls Carabell has had when hunting. Carabell examined the bolt she had implanted in the bear's skull. "Huh. Guess it didn't go deep enough to take it out immediately. If anything, it's death was delayed." Carabell stated. She didn't seem in the least bit sympathetic towards the bear, but she actually felt bad that it didn't die instantly, and instead had to suffer.

Carabell then took out the small spade she carried in her pouch, and began digging around and underneath the bear. "Pleasure never comes without consequence." Carabell said aloud. Carabell always buries her kills in respect for them. This one in particular. She feels its the least she can do, since they died for her little hobby. "This marks the 8th bear I've hunted. Biggest one so far too." She said to herself gleefully. "Although... I should probably work on feeling the wind currents some more. If the bolt went only a centimeter left, it would have killed this poor creature instantly. Don't you think, Bael?" She asked while continuing to dig. One might think she was talking to herself the entire time. But then again, they probably don't know about the shadow guardian that follows her. The shadow blob came out from the shadow of the tree she had been hiding in, and crept towards her slowly. Now a fourth of the way done digging, Carabell swept some sweat from her forehead. "Hey Bael. Why didn't you try attacking the bear when it attacked me? Could you tell that it was already dead?" She asked, as if expecting Bael to answer.

Carabell continued talking with Bael about every detail of her little bout with the bear. Bael merely sat there, watching her. Showing no sign that it was paying attention to her words, or even conscious. She finally finished, patting down the dirt covering where the bear now laid, buried. "Don't worry. That vultures gonna have to starve tonight." She smiled, picking up a fairly large rock, and carving the shape of a bear paw print in the middle of it. She then placed the rock on a mound of semi-wet, packed dirt at the head of the bear's grave, then began dusting herself off. "Its getting kind of late. We should be heading back now, Bael. Before father finds out." She began taking off towards the edge of the forest, stopping only when she reached the horse that she tied to a tree earlier. Bael followed suit, swiftly melding back into the shadows. "Hey Gustav. Did I make you wait long?" Carabell asked, rubbing the horses' face affectionately. "Before she could mount the horse, she noticed something riding towards the forest in the distance. "Maker be damned... My sister is coming to get me. Father will definitely find out if she finds me here. I'll have to circle around and cut through the forest to evade her." Carabell kicked into action.

She went on with her plan, soon making it to the stables, where she left Gustav, giving him a carrot she had stolen. She then rushed to the secret underground family passage into the castle. Coming out through trapdoor underneath the rug in the kitchen pantry, she peeked first to make sure no one was around. Getting out, Carabell, snuck her way all the way to the armory, where she was going to store her crossbow. "Phew. It looks like I got home before Samara. Shes probably still searching the forest for me with Sir Brian." Carabell snickered at the thought, beginning to unlock the armory.