(no subject)

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Characters: Legolas (bow_of_the_galadhrim), OPEN
Setting: Floor 32, any time in December
Format: Starting in prose, will switch it up
Summary: Legolas is hunting and gathering for the month and saving pelts to keep himself and others warm
Warnings: Hunting, possible shenanigans

As an elf, Legolas was quite resilient to the dropping temperatures in the tower. He knew there was a chill, knew that people were suffering, and he was careful that each time he killed anything now, while he was hunting, was killed as cleanly as possibly to save any pelts to make into blankets or anything else people might need. Already he had felled a deer and a couple pheasants. The meat would feed a few people for a few days at least. Maybe more if it was all properly managed.

The elf also had a leather bag nearby, he'd crafted it a couple months before, filled with berries and other edible plants. Some things wouldn't be tasty (a lot of things really) but they were edible and would prevent starvation. Especially since most people in the tower abhorred the nutribars. He didn't blame them.

Comments

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Legolas examined where her dagger struck, nodding in approval at where it landed before tugging it free and very quietly giving the tree an apology.

"Attempting to catch a deer, I would recommend against. You'll want to remain upwind from one and not get too close until after you've killed it."

He almost felt strange, explaining hunting to Tohko. She just didn't seem the type to need or want to hunt. Would she be able to stand killing something like this? He and Haldir had made a point of never killing the mothers or any of the fawn.

"Tracking may be difficult for you as I'm sure you've never done it before but I will show you."

[tohko_amano]

Tohko nodded at Legolas's advice, trying to get it all to stick. So, it was upwind instead of downwind. Either she was remembering the story wrong, or Kipling was a bad hunter. It was probably her.

Normally, Tohko wouldn't have hunted. After all, normal foods held no taste for her-she usually ate books from the library in secret. However, she had promised Lancer some meat instead of cookies, since there were no ingredients for sweets this month. Plus, Alexander might like some of it too. So, for her friends, she'd hunt. If she could get over and stomach the fact that she'd killed three people, she could kill a deer.

"Ah, thank you. That would be a big help..again, I apologize for bothering you. I'm not trying to force you to teach me if you don't want to."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

He paused a moment, rethinking his words and sighing to himself before shaking his head. So many distractions during the past several days that he'd just made a terrible mistake in directing Tohko. He could only be thankful that he'd caught it before allowing her to go off on her own.

"Forgive me, I've misspoken. You are to remain downwind of your prey."

Perhaps he should consider resting once he was done. He'd spent quite a while without even resting his eyes or looking upon paintings like hippy elves to at least rest his mind.

"Worry not, I do not mind and you are no bother. Come, the deer ran this way so it's tracks will be fresh."

Leading the way, Legolas went to where the deer had been attempting to graze and knelt down, showing her the marks it left from standing and running.

"These are just the tracks upon the ground. You may find bits of fur caught on the bark of trees or markings upon them where the males practice fighting. They'll also scrape their hooves against the ground to mark their own territory."

[tohko_amano]

At that, Tohko smiled and suppressed any chuckles she had. So she was right..however, Elves had large toes, and she didn't want to offend her friend.

"Oh, it's alright. Maybe you should get some rest later on though, if you're making small mistakes like that."

She said that as kindly as she could, and nodded at his words before following him. She tried not to step on any large branches as she walked, and knelt down beside Legolas. She saw it's footprints and tried to burn how they looked onto her brain. As Legolas spoke, she nodded, showing that she was paying attention, that she understood.

"Right..I'll have to keep a lookout for those things then."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Toes almost as large as a dwarf, really. Legolas was better about it than his father might be though, much more accepting of criticism or being corrected. Not that he would want to be corrected for a simple slip of the tongue. Which it obviously was. Yes.

"I certainly will. I've a bit more work to be done, so please keep my lack of rest to yourself, if you would please."

The last thing he needed was Gandalf lecturing him so soon after he'd had to lecture Haldir. And then for Haldir to lecture him. He wasn't entirely sure which option was the worst of the two. Both seemed equally disagreeable to the prince.

"When you see one and need to move to strike, move only when the deer does and remain behind it so that it will not see you."

[tohko_amano]

Tohko nodded.

"Don't worry, I will. Just make sure you don't overwork yourself, alright?"

Tohko said this as lightly as she could. She wasn't sure if that small question would step on his toes, but it was better to be safe rather than sorry. Tohko nodded at his advice.

"Right..that way, the deer will be too busy to notice you..and if you remain behind it, it shouldn't be able to see you anyway."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

"I won't, I promise you. I've several people who would be quite upset with me if I did."

He smiled a bit to her, almost reaching to brush a hand on her hair but stopped himself. It was too cold for most people to even consider appreciating such a gesture. Even if she did make him think of what having a sibling might be like.

"Precisely. You catch on very quickly."

[tohko_amano]

"I'm glad to hear that. I promise you, I'd be one of those people..even though I would be more concerned than upset."

Tohko returned the smile and saw how his hand moved, but said nothing of it. She wouldn't have minded if he wanted to pat her on the head-she did it to quite a few younger people who felt like younger siblings to her.

"Ah, thank you. I do try my best to keep up with everyone. However..I imagine that getting to the deer and sneaking up on it will be easier said than done. Not that I'm going to give up just because it's hard."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

And now the laugh that came from Legolas was almost genuine if not a bit worried. Has he made friends enough of so many people by now that there are so many whom would find themselves scolding him for not caring for himself as he should? Granted, he was quite resilient as elvenkind but still.

"Do not hesitate to come and find me if you require assistance in hunting. I would be glad to help if I can. Even if I am the one to kill it, you would still be the one that sought it and tracked it."

[tohko_amano]

Tohko's grin only grew wider at Legolas's laugh and she nodded at his words. It was nice to hear him laugh. She nodded at his words.

"Don't worry, I will. However..I don't think I'll have a problem with killing it. Even if I don't like killing, I did do some of it during that horrid candy event. I shouldn't have a problem."

The problem was making sure that she actually hit the deer and killed it in the first blow. It would be terrible if it ran off with a moral wound-tracking it as it ran off while dying would be quite difficult.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

There was a slight cringe from the prince at the reminder of the candy collecting game that Ruana had forced upon them. The only reason he had survived was because of Haldir, the prince having adamantly refused to steal from anyone and condemn them to death. It was a miracle that either had survived the ordeal and he never wished to experience something akin to it again. He wouldn't be able to stand being responsible for the death of an innocent person.

"You may still come to find me if you need help. Skinning it and cutting the meat will still provide a heavy load. I wish not to offend, but I fear it would be too much for you and you'll exhaust yourself by coming back and forth for it all."

[tohko_amano]

Tohko smiled and nodded.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not easily offended. Besides, you are right-I've never skinned anything before, and I may need help with that every now and then until I get fully used to it. Thank you. I would like it if you could help me with that sometimes..if it's no trouble."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

"I'll return to check on you once I've stored my own game then. I'll make no sound when I come so please, try not to attack me."

He gave her a well humored smile, not at all worried about being hurt. Though, he had no doubt that she could be quite dangerous.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko smiled and lightly chuckled.

"Ah, thank you then. And don't worry, I won't. I'm not the type to just start flinging knives at my friends."

After all, she always tried to look at what she was dealing with before attacking..if she decided to attack at all.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

"Good, I'd be hurt if you were."

Aha, that was a terrible joke Legolas. At least the point was gotten across though and that was what mattered. Bonus points that he managed to make it as light a topic as he could.

[tohko_amano]

The good thing was that Tohko did like clever jokes, no matter how silly they may have sounded to some. That one managed to get another small chuckle out of her.

"I think quite a few people would be if I was."

Tohko then quietly pulled out her dagger and, trying to avoid branches or being seen, started to follow the deer's footsteps. Since Legolas said he had things to do-but would come back-she knew that she had to kill the deer on her own. After all, that was what she had come here to do, and it was her fault that it had run off in the first place.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

He watched her as she started to track the deer and nodded to himself. He felt sure she'd be able to manage, clever as she was. And he nearly hoped that her aim would be as true as when he had her strike the tree. Otherwise, the deer would be in for a long death and Tohko, a long night of tracking. Yes, he would be back if only to make sure she made out alright and to ensure that she didn't freeze while tracking the deer.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko was careful as she walked. She tried to stay as low to the ground as she could, to see the tracks easier and to avoid being seen. It took her a long while, but even though she was cold and rather tired, she had managed to find the deer again. It was eating some grass, it's back to her. Trying her best to stay quiet, Tohko threw her dagger at the deers neck.

This time, she did not step on a large branch, and the deer fell to the ground with a cry of pain. Quickly, Tohko ran to it and pulled out her other dagger. She sighed when she saw how much pain it was in.

"I'm sorry..I'm really sorry about this. And..thank you."

It took her a few lunges, as the deer was still alive and tried to go at her with its antlers when she drew close. However, eventually, she managed to stab it in the skull and kill it. The deed was done. Sighing, both out of relief and exhaustion, Tohko pull her her daggers out of the deers body and started to wonder how one properly skinned a deer.

They were much different from a tiger, after all.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

By the time she's tracked it and killed her deer, Legolas was returning to that floor. It wasn't hard for him to track the deer and Tohko, he had years of experience after all. He approached without a sound but fearing he might startle Tohko, he cleared his throat and grinned.

"A good catch. You'll have enough venison to last."

Which was important. In fact, it was the most important. He had no idea how long hunting would last, cold as it was already getting towards the night. And he didn't want to wipe out the population of deer. He made a mental note to start focusing on rabbits, pheasants, anything else but deer if he could.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko was debating on where to start cutting it and if she should cut off the head when she heard Legolas clear his throat. She quickly turned around, and saw that it was just Legolas, and not a monster or something else. She calmed down and smiled in return.

"We'll have enough venison. After all, you did find this deer first, and it's my fault it ran off in the first place. We'll split it equally."

Besides, Tohko was just hunting so that she could cook some hamburgers and meat for two of her friends. The deer would be tasteless to her. It was times like these that she was glad she could only taste books. Food shortages didn't affect her that much.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

"We? I thought you sought it for a friend? I'd not take a gift intended for another and I'd be more inclined to share what is given to me with the rest of the towers residents. I can survive with very little food."

Granted, last time he had done so had been during the War off the Ring and he'd had lembas to eat. The miracle that was a single bite of the elven bread was a welcome blessing to the Fellowship.

"Do you need help?"

[tohko_amano]

"I do..but I just need enough for two hamburgers and a thick veal. I don't need that much, so you can take the rest to use as you see fit."

After all, it would be better for Legolas to eat and to help his friends eat than to have a deer wasted on a girl who couldn't even taste it. Tohko sighed and nodded.

"If it's not too much trouble..where do you start with skinning? I can't tell where.."

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

"Very well. I'm sure that everyone will appreciate it greatly and I'll ensure that they know you are to thank for it. And here, I will show you how to skin it so that you know how next time."

With a grin, Legolas drew his knife quickly and pointed to several places on the deer. Making sure she was watching, he cut into it with surprising precision. He had year and years of experience, after all.

[tohko_amano]

"Ah, thank you. Hopefully everyone will be able to eat a bit better..and thank you very much! That should help me in the future."

Tohko smiled and watched Legolas cut into the deer, burning the information onto her brain. All she had were stories, and while they were good and useful, sometimes they were nothing compared to the real thing. Carefully, Tohko pulled out her knife and slowly started to help, taking care to watch Legolas and do what he did.

After all, doing the act, even if she didn't do much, would help.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

He gave as simple an explanation as he could while they worked, telling her the best places to cut, how deep, where the best meat was and so on before they finished skinning it. And then came cutting the meat and removing it's innards, which he tried to make as clean a process as possible.

"I can do this part myself, if you like?" It was going to get bloody and gross from here.