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She leads him through an overgrown forest by way of a path that only she could see. It seemed pretty sure that they could not be followed. After a while the forest opened up and revealed a clearing. There was already a lean-to shelter set up and a fire circle ready to be lit.
After a leisurely bath in the nearby stream, Isiolia unpacks some of the food she has brought. They have an elvish meal of fruits, breads and cheeses as the sun sets. As the stars start to fill the night sky they stretch out on the blankets and compare what they see in the constellations. Isi must have spent some time making the bedroll for him, because the blankets are soft over a thick layer of fragrant pine needles. It makes a comfortable place for Sakamoto to sleep once they have finished their other activities and are ready to settle down for the night.
Saka is lulled into a deep sleep by the quiet sounds of the forest and with Isi resting at his side. He awakens some time later when the sharp cry of a wounded animal echoes through the forest. The sound is abruptly silenced and a deep silence follows. He reaches out in the moonlight and finds that she is no longer in the shelter. A bit worried now, he goes to investigate the noise.
As he reaches the far side of the clearing next to the stream he sees her sitting in the bright moonlight of a full moon on her knees, a small boar held in her hands. She is wearing a short sleeveless white dress, her hair is unbraided and blowing in the gentle breeze. She seems absorbed with the animal and does not hear him standing not far off where he can listen.
As she picks up the knife at her side she speaks in her native elvish. ?Solonor Thelandira, I have made this kill in your name, god of the hunt. With your blessing may my arrows hit their mark and my blades be true.? She sets the boar on the ground in front of her and he can see now that its throat has been cut ? clearly this was the source of the cry that awoke him. She raises a hand that is covered in the blood of the animal and uses the blood to draw an elven symbol on her right arm. ?In return for doing your work to keep nature?s balance, I ask that you protect my family and keep them safe from harm.? She raises her other hand and draws another symbol on her left arm. ?I also ask this of you? The man that I have brought to your woods is a good man. Please protect him from the harm of those that would strike him, protect his soul from evil, and protect his open heart from the hurt that I am trying not to cause but likely will.? She takes the knife that is still covered in the blood of the boar and makes a cut on the palm of her left hand. As the blood pools in her hand she makes a fist. ?In return I pledge to do the Hunter?s work until the end of my days.? She opens her hand and places it over her heart, leaving a bloody hand print there.
As she begins to skin the animal she hums a little. Tossing the parts not meant for eating into the stream where they float away, she prepares the meat for roasting. She rinses her hands and the knife in the cool water but leaves the marks made with the drying blood. Standing with the bundle in her hands she turns towards the fire and is brought up short as she sees him standing off to the side watching her.
His face clearly portrays his mixed emotions from watching her and hearing her words echoed into the night. Reaching out to her, slowly and carefully, he gently brushes away some of her hair covering her face. For a few moments they stand there, transfixed by the situation, looking at each other and neither wanting to break the peace that now has descended on the place.
?Thank you for praying for me Isi? Saka breaks the peace with a soft voice. ?Still I wish you wouldn?t cut yourself like you have...but I guess that is the way it is done? She smiles gently to him in return, and with his help carries the meat back to the camp, to enjoy the last hours of the night before light fills the skies?
After a leisurely bath in the nearby stream, Isiolia unpacks some of the food she has brought. They have an elvish meal of fruits, breads and cheeses as the sun sets. As the stars start to fill the night sky they stretch out on the blankets and compare what they see in the constellations. Isi must have spent some time making the bedroll for him, because the blankets are soft over a thick layer of fragrant pine needles. It makes a comfortable place for Sakamoto to sleep once they have finished their other activities and are ready to settle down for the night.
Saka is lulled into a deep sleep by the quiet sounds of the forest and with Isi resting at his side. He awakens some time later when the sharp cry of a wounded animal echoes through the forest. The sound is abruptly silenced and a deep silence follows. He reaches out in the moonlight and finds that she is no longer in the shelter. A bit worried now, he goes to investigate the noise.
As he reaches the far side of the clearing next to the stream he sees her sitting in the bright moonlight of a full moon on her knees, a small boar held in her hands. She is wearing a short sleeveless white dress, her hair is unbraided and blowing in the gentle breeze. She seems absorbed with the animal and does not hear him standing not far off where he can listen.
As she picks up the knife at her side she speaks in her native elvish. ?Solonor Thelandira, I have made this kill in your name, god of the hunt. With your blessing may my arrows hit their mark and my blades be true.? She sets the boar on the ground in front of her and he can see now that its throat has been cut ? clearly this was the source of the cry that awoke him. She raises a hand that is covered in the blood of the animal and uses the blood to draw an elven symbol on her right arm. ?In return for doing your work to keep nature?s balance, I ask that you protect my family and keep them safe from harm.? She raises her other hand and draws another symbol on her left arm. ?I also ask this of you? The man that I have brought to your woods is a good man. Please protect him from the harm of those that would strike him, protect his soul from evil, and protect his open heart from the hurt that I am trying not to cause but likely will.? She takes the knife that is still covered in the blood of the boar and makes a cut on the palm of her left hand. As the blood pools in her hand she makes a fist. ?In return I pledge to do the Hunter?s work until the end of my days.? She opens her hand and places it over her heart, leaving a bloody hand print there.
As she begins to skin the animal she hums a little. Tossing the parts not meant for eating into the stream where they float away, she prepares the meat for roasting. She rinses her hands and the knife in the cool water but leaves the marks made with the drying blood. Standing with the bundle in her hands she turns towards the fire and is brought up short as she sees him standing off to the side watching her.
His face clearly portrays his mixed emotions from watching her and hearing her words echoed into the night. Reaching out to her, slowly and carefully, he gently brushes away some of her hair covering her face. For a few moments they stand there, transfixed by the situation, looking at each other and neither wanting to break the peace that now has descended on the place.
?Thank you for praying for me Isi? Saka breaks the peace with a soft voice. ?Still I wish you wouldn?t cut yourself like you have...but I guess that is the way it is done? She smiles gently to him in return, and with his help carries the meat back to the camp, to enjoy the last hours of the night before light fills the skies?
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