The next day eventually came upon the Tuskir tribe, as time waits for nobody. The early morning was filled with half awake greetings as well as hot meals, mainly of various roasted vegetables and a few cooked and salted meats.
The stock was starting to run a bit lower. The seeds that the younger Tuskir got from Road's Turn are planned to be planted, but that will take a while to yeald any results.
Gharna, Azhul and Oinna were already planning on heading out for a hunt.
Zurra let everyone know she'd be busy figuring out how the process of steel works, as she had noted down the details previously discussed with Michael. Since she had been brought all the necessary supplies, she intended to get seriously into the work needed. Urla mentioned that she will be there since she needs some parts for a tool done before hand.
Runhar, Rok and Brekda were planning to patrol, check the wall, the surrounding traps and generally to keep a vigilant watch on the perimeter while also aiding with anything needing to be done about the settlement.
Runny as usual was going to take care of her piglets and Woh bored was going to spend time with them, especially since the small one took a liking to Hopscoth and the tiny pink amphoran was damn good at it.
All that was left was Michael, Vodra and Nushii to figure out tasks needed for the day. There wasn't much else they could do inside the walls. Still, water barrels could use a refill and some more fish wouldn't hurt, so the three would quickly find themselves given a cart, some empty barrels, sacks for the fish and the two fishing rods that have been made for usage. The extra roll of wire that Michael had previously used for a trap, had been recuperated and stored away safely, in case new rods need to be made.
There were a few like Azhul and Zurra who weren't sure it was wise to simply let the two Hay-yen go with him alone and unsupervized, but Michael, backed up by Runhar, argued for it. If there truly was malicious intent, still, behind their actions, they could have killed the squishy pink hooman through the night.
After getting geared up, the Hay-yen also being provided with some short swords and daggers that were now in storage from the assault that happened on the village, the trio left dragging the cart as they went on to reach... Sun Bridge River.
On the way there as they went through the forest, Michael was more silent than usual while Nushii and Vodra talked with one another.
"I wonder what other songs he has that we might like? Think he has some other calming stuff?" Nushii said as she was now the one dragging the cart along.
Vodra, who would be looking around their front side and left flank, shrugged. "Don't know. Might as well ask him, but I'm quite content with that one song. I could listen to it some more."
Nushii would then crane her head to look back at Michael who has been keeping an eye behind them and on their right flank. She would notice how his movements seemed on edge. "He doesn't look too well... he looks like when we used to ambush people and some of them would start expecting it..." the Hay-yen said as her ears flopped, a slight whine to her whispering.
"Hmm... the riverside is where that initial ambush happened and where... we ambushed him... troxshit... the memories must be getting to him." Vodra said back with an annoyed growl at the situation.
"O-oh... y-yeah... I nearly forgot..." Nushii said quickly as her head hung lower. She looked back at Michael before her eyes gazed back at her friend. "D-do you think... we might get ambushed by others from our Cackle? They told us what happened in the attack... that was weird, right?"
"I didn't like how they described the whole thing... a puppet of bone and flesh... did the Shaman do that? She was the only one with magic back in the old Cackle." Vodra said with a few annoyed snorts as she pondered the situation.
"Lets just... not dwell on it, yes? The past few days I've felt the best in my entire life. No people growling at you because they want to be tough lookin' or fighting over scraps. I want to swim. Think we'll be able to swim for a bit?" Nushii asked as her head tilted as usual.
Vodra took in a deep breath as she huffed a sigh. "We can't not think about it. Otherwise we're just deceiving ourselves that there wasn't anything wrong." The hyena woman would then snarl with frustration. She took a moment to calm down as she then peered behind at Michael. "Do you think we'll have time for a swim?"
The young man took a moment to process the inquiry as he snapped back to reality, his eyes now looking directly at Vodra. "Huh? Y-yeah. Lets just fill the barrels once we are there, take a swim and while we dry we can also fish. I could also use a dip."
Nushii would soon pass the cart to Michael to drag on the last leg of the walk, as she now moved besides him, she leaned towards the human a bit. "Are you alright?" Is the only thing she said, but that simple question seemed to strike her furless ally as hard as a mace.
He took in a deep breath that he quickly forced oit of his mouth, his expression not changing. "No, not really, but I'll be eventually. So, no need to worry. It just... takes a bit."
Soon enough the three had arrived back at the Sun Bridge River and her not much has changed. As they got closer to the shore line, Michael could see, not too far from where they walked, a small crumpled figure in the grass.
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The unmoving remains, rotten to the point where what was still left of them was either bone or dry and flakey skin, laid there akin to a tiny monument of the horrible fighting that had happened about a month ago.
His mind had flashes to that very moment, as if he had just gotten back this memory anew. 'That's the one that I poisoned... the one that was going to jump on Azhul.'
Michael paused a moment which got some confused cackles out of the two accompanying him. Warry of danger they began looking around, at which point Vodra also spotted the skeletal Hay-yen bits that were laying in the grass.
'That is what has gotten him shook? Hm... more fragile than he lets on...' Vodra then looked back at Michael and with a tone masking her awareness she let a light cackle to get his attention. "If you are tired I can grab the cart. We just need it closer to the river, right?" She made sure to not make Nushii aware of the situation, afraid she'll inquire about the corpse.
"Uh, no. I got it. I'm fine, the sun's just getting to me a bit." Michael said as he picked up the pace with a grunt.
Once properly at the river's side the three then began filling up the barrels with water and that part of the job got done as quickly as possible. With the now much heavier water barrels loaded, the two Hay-yen and Michael began getting ready for a swim, which left them all down to the britches they wore.
At first Michael was a bit concerned, but thankfully thick fur made a perfect censor. As they were getting ready though, unaware to him, the two Hay-yen were looking him up and dwon curious.
"Tis so strange to see something with so little fur." Nushii whispered as she put her belongings in the wooden cart.
Vodra didn't reply immediately as her eyes looked more carefully at the scars, plentyful in number, that decorate the pink flesh of the hooman. "Stabbed in the back, clawed or bitten on the left side of the body, right arm had been ripped up good all over and the left hand looks like it had the skin split off the top... his legs are the most unusual... the skin looks much too different and the scars around the knees make it look like he got a different one sown on them." She replied back slowly, as she now realized that this person before them, either by sheer luck or proficiency, that he didn't show too much, had managed to survive all those wounds.
Nushii looked at Michael with her usual tilted head. "I wonder if they still hurt..." She muttered with a whine.
The silence between the two furred women got broken quickly by a splash of water. Looking over they'd see Michael, who jumped into the river, starting to surface.
"Hah... that's the stuff..." The young man sighed content, the colder water feeling refreshing on the skin. Still, the sensation was number from the knees down, as if muffled slightly.
Seeing the hooman doing well, Vodra and Nushii took a jump and dip in the water too, feeling a bit more at ease. The trio then spent their time a bit swimming and splashing around and once properly drenched, they got out and began setting up the rods, Michael going on to show them to how get vurms.
After a bit of time spent explaining they took a seat down as Vodra and Nushii tossed out their hooks and bait.
"So tis like a trap?" Vodra asked with a huff as pondered the concept.
"Hmm... maybe like an ambush. You lure your prey in, take them by surprise and once they are vulnerable, bam, they are at your mercy!" Nushii added as she let out an excited cackle, her eyes watching her wire carefully.
"Hah! Sort of? The fish certainly don't expect it. It might not feel as quick as spear fishing, but you'll catch more since you scare off less fish by scooping them out like this and its less tiring." Michael said with a small laugh leaving his throat.
After a little time passed, Nushii's rod began to twitch and the excited Hay-yen gave it a hearty yank, ripping the fish out of the water and sending it flying on shore. "Haha! Easier than an ambush in the dark!" She cackled happily as she held the fish up by the string.
"T-that... well it was good, but you don't want to yank it that hard. You could have ripped the rod or the fish's lip without even catching it." Michael said with a small smile as he then showed Nushii how to then take out the fish.
The young man then took the fish and where he dug a hole that he filled with water, he dropped the fish to swim in it. Nushii observed this and as usual her inquisitive nature took over. "I understand why ripping the rod is bad, but why does it matter that the fish gets hurt? Also... why are we not killing it right away?"
Michael looked up surprised at the question asked, but he did need a moment to think on it. It seems like such an obvious thing, but when asked directly it does taken one by surprise to hear such a question. "Well, you don't want the fish to be hurt if you don't catch it, because then it could have problems trying to live with the injury or if its really bad it could die and that's a waste of a life. We gotta appreciate the fish we catch, because we get to eat them. At the end of the day we are taking a life, even if it isn't self aware, its just... respecting it. I think I might be phylosophising too much on it, heh. Also letting them alive like this helps to make sure we can bring the fish back as fresh as possible."
Nushii nodded along with the explanation and she then went to the hole in the ground and peered at the fish inside it. As she made contact with the aquatic creature swimming in circles she let out a cackled bark. "Thank you for being food. I'm going to make sure to cook you well and eat you whole."
Vodra, who's been listening this whole time, held her snout shut as she tried to hold back a laugh. Instead she chose to try and take in some deep breaths and shiver from the strain of it.
Michael instead got a few good giggles out of the whole scene. "Well... I guess that's good. I wouldn't recommend eating fish bones though."
"Eh, heh... if Nushii gets hungry enough she's even able to eat boot leather." Vodra said light hearted.
"Hey! It happened one time!" Her old companion yelped out annoyed with an embarrased snarl.
The three went on fishing, alternating who got to rest and who fished inbetween them. The jovial mood was going on and spirits felt high, mainly emboldened by talks, curious questions for one another and stories from recent and past times from all in this small group.
In the tree line, a decent distance from the trio, two figures laid in waiting, caked in mud and plants.
"They smell like us, but they are sitting with the daeman. Traitors?" A first voice asked.
"Maybe, could also be working slaves. It doesn't matter. The thing will pay. Our shaman is gone, our Cackle decimated by flying black winged monstrosities and many of our kin killed. It will pay for those that it killed and those that died in the assault, those who we'll never see the return of." Snarled a second one.
Behind these two about a dozen other similar shapes snarled supressed in unison, an echo of frustration and fury, going like a whisper of revenge on the wind.