Chapter 130: Murder Dell
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Chapter 130: Murder Dell
Tala lay, sprawled out atop the heaving back of a massive bear as its breathing slowed and finally stopped.
Last one.
She jerked Flow out of the carcass. letting it shift from its glaive form back to that of a knife.
Tala tried to ignore the wet slurping sounds as Terry flickered around the clearing, devouring the mangled, blood-marinated bodies of the fallen.
She groaned and started stretching on the tangled hair of the great beast below her.
As the bodies disappeared one by one, the thrashed, soaking ground was revealed more and more.
The noon-time sun shone down on the canopy above, filling the space with clear green light, interspersed with shafts of untinted sunlight.
In the green light, the ground looked mostly black, and only the smell indicated what it really was. The interspersed patches of white light highlighted the crimson color of what lay below, making the terrain resemble blood-stars in a dark sky.
Some fur and detritus still smoldered, though Terry seemed to have prioritized those beasts. Apparently, he liked a smoky flavor. That tracks with his love of jerky, I suppose.
The smell of cooked meat was almost as strong as that of blood and gore. A surprising number of beasts had been able to augment themselves with, or breathe out, fire. How a forest survives with so much fire magic within it, Ive no idea.
Additionally, her every cut with Flow had left cooked meat in its wake.
You know, Terry. I was planning on harvesting some of those.
Terry looked her way, the tail of a massive lizard hanging from his mouth. He threw his head back and let the remainder of the creature slide down his gullet, before returning his gaze to her. He trilled questioningly.
I know you helped. Im not asking you to starve. I just want to collect some things first. She looked around. Well, at least from the few that are left.
Terry looked around at the few bodies remaining, then squawked and settled down to wait.
Thank you.
Tala looked down on the carnivore below her. The bear had stood three times her height and breathed fire. Probably called a Blaze Bear, or something silly like that.
If she were being honest, this bear had killed the majority of opponents there at the end. The arrival of it, and one other like it, had heralded the final phase of the skirmish.
Tala had only slain this one by coming at it from behind as it roasted a wolf-pack, which had tried to challenge it for some food.
How am I going to move this? She looked at her bracers and anchor. You know, if I could get you registered as the target, then simply walk away with the anchor She bit her lip in thought. What if I asked Master Jevin to make some target darts, or something. I could then use those to tie enemies to the same anchor Im linked to. That would be useful in all sorts of ways She nodded. It was worth asking. Include the inner defenses for those? Keep them from grabbing the anchor and running? She clicked her tongue.
While promising, the idea wasnt particularly helpful to her current situation.
She gave the bear a weary sigh. I dont really want to skin you in a blood-puddle. She glanced to Terry. Are you willing to help me move these bodies?
Terry let out a descending series of short trills, suddenly growing to twice the size of the bear.
With quick motions, he flickered to each body, picked it up in his beak and walked to a nearby rise before setting it down. Last of all, he came for the massive bear, and Tala had to hop off.
Her feet squelched in the thickening muck, the paste-like substance working its way between her toes. What happens when blood dries and hardens when mixed with dirt?
She scrapped her tongue across her teeth, unconsciously trying to get an imagined taste off of it. Thats gross
She took high, long steps, trying to get out of the muck as quickly as possible. By the time she got to the rise, all the animals were laid out and ready for her ministrations.
Now, Mistress Ingrit gave me a list of the best harvests in this area. Lets see how many I can find. There were other things that would be of use to her, and even more that her mage-sight could guide her too. All told, there would be plenty for her to gather up.
She looked to Flow, in its knife form. Shouldnt cook anything in this form.
That decided, she went to work, directed by Mistress Ingrits list and her own mage-sight and desires.
* * *
It was midafternoon by the time that Tala had finished harvesting, and Terry had eaten the last of the remains.
The bird didnt really seem to care what he ate, as he ate the gut piles as readily as the other organs and the meat.
Tala didnt really want to eat meat from carnivores, so shed left that to Terry, but she had gotten two massive bear-hides. One from her final kill, and one that was barely smaller. The beast had been gutted, probably by Terry.
The hides were so heavy that she had a hard time moving them around, even with her enhanced strength. Not only did they have a heavy coat of thick fur that was far from clean, but the hide, itself, was nearly 4 inches thick.
They had been a pain to stuff into Kit. Though, she assumed that Kit would debride them for her, so that made it worth the effort.
This might cost more than Im willing to pay to tan Shed had that thought before, but shed figured that she could probably pay a tanner one of the hides to tan the other for her.
In addition, shed gotten a large number of bones and claws, which had drawn her attention due to the magic within them. Shed coated them in iron-salve and stored them within Kit. Some of those had been on Ingrits lists, some hadnt.
Maybe if I had a larger pot, that this one fit inside? I could have more water around it No, that was just adding complication. So, I need a hot air incorporator thats closer to a baking temperature. I seem to remember that people have tried baking with them before. So, there should be schemata for those higher temp ranges.
She sighed. Another expense.
Still, the meal was coming along nicely.
It wasnt stew; stew would take hours to properly cook.
No, this was a thick, noodle soup with a selection of vegetables and a spice packet added.
The spice-pack was a simple, sealed waxed-paper envelope that Tala had torn open and dumped into the water.
Less than five minutes after adding the hot water, it was done, and she had nearly a gallon of tasty soup.
It wasnt as hot as shed have liked, or as the ingredients really needed. So, the noodles and veggies were a bit chewier than ideal, but it tasted so good.
Hunger really was an amazing spice, and Tala had that in gold.
There was some bread in her stores as well, and she used that to complement the soup, just as the little book had suggested.
In the end, she used the last of the bread to clean the final bits of soup from the cauldron.
A healthy application of incorporated hot water helped clean out the cookpot, and she placed everything back into Kit.
Her meal finally complete, she tossed another bit of jerky for Terry, and laid back, staring up at the canopy overhead.
That was a good idea, Terry. Thank you.
The avian head-butted the top of her head.
Yes, the battle was fun, too, but I think we might have jumped into the deep end with that one.
Terry trilled.
Yes, you were amazing. Youd have been fine.
He let out a bit of a warbling note.
Oh? That was more than youve tried before?
He bobbed a nod.
You know, I feel like Im understanding you more and more.
He bobbed again.
Good. She grinned. You are a scary, terrifying creature, but youre my terrifying creature, my partner.
He trilled and head-butted her again before curling up beside her head and closing his eyes.
Tala lay there for long minutes, on the edge of wakefulness.
What should I focus on, when I get back to Makinaven? She needed to sell her harvests, get the hides to a tanner, and meet back up with Rane. And eat more. So much more.
That reminded her that she needed to get an oven-hot air incorporator.
She thought back on the melee. Her excellent memory let her move through the battle again, in slow motion, and she critiqued herself, giving silent praise for wise or skillful maneuvers and sighing at points where shed made mistakes.
Whenever she came to one of the mistakes, she would pause her recollection, analyzing what had led to the action or choice. Usually, the correct choice presented itself, and she was able to work through her thinking and reactions that could lead to a better choice in the future, adding that to her mental training regimen.
In some cases, she was forced to admit that, mistake though it was, it had been the best she could have done in the moment. That led her to go back through the moments leading up to the incidents, searching for where shed gone wrong, among her good choices.
Turns out you can back yourself into a corner with purely good reactions. Shed known that, obviously, but it had never been as apparent as it was now, looking at the ordered chaos of brutal conflict.
She passed an unknown amount of time in that meditative state or purposeful recollection and critique.
A screech resonated through the woods, coming from the direction of their murder dell.
Talas eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet before she registered moving.
A second screech resounded between the trees, and Tala was sure she knew what made the sound.
Shed been sure with the first, but shed hoped she was wrong.
Leshkin had found the murder dell.
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Chapter 130: Murder Dell
Tala lay, sprawled out atop the heaving back of a massive bear as its breathing slowed and finally stopped.
Last one.
She jerked Flow out of the carcass. letting it shift from its glaive form back to that of a knife.
Tala tried to ignore the wet slurping sounds as Terry flickered around the clearing, devouring the mangled, blood-marinated bodies of the fallen.
She groaned and started stretching on the tangled hair of the great beast below her.
As the bodies disappeared one by one, the thrashed, soaking ground was revealed more and more.
The noon-time sun shone down on the canopy above, filling the space with clear green light, interspersed with shafts of untinted sunlight.
In the green light, the ground looked mostly black, and only the smell indicated what it really was. The interspersed patches of white light highlighted the crimson color of what lay below, making the terrain resemble blood-stars in a dark sky.
Some fur and detritus still smoldered, though Terry seemed to have prioritized those beasts. Apparently, he liked a smoky flavor. That tracks with his love of jerky, I suppose.
The smell of cooked meat was almost as strong as that of blood and gore. A surprising number of beasts had been able to augment themselves with, or breathe out, fire. How a forest survives with so much fire magic within it, Ive no idea.
Additionally, her every cut with Flow had left cooked meat in its wake.
You know, Terry. I was planning on harvesting some of those.
Terry looked her way, the tail of a massive lizard hanging from his mouth. He threw his head back and let the remainder of the creature slide down his gullet, before returning his gaze to her. He trilled questioningly.
I know you helped. Im not asking you to starve. I just want to collect some things first. She looked around. Well, at least from the few that are left.
Terry looked around at the few bodies remaining, then squawked and settled down to wait.
Thank you.
Tala looked down on the carnivore below her. The bear had stood three times her height and breathed fire. Probably called a Blaze Bear, or something silly like that.
If she were being honest, this bear had killed the majority of opponents there at the end. The arrival of it, and one other like it, had heralded the final phase of the skirmish.
Tala had only slain this one by coming at it from behind as it roasted a wolf-pack, which had tried to challenge it for some food.
How am I going to move this? She looked at her bracers and anchor. You know, if I could get you registered as the target, then simply walk away with the anchor She bit her lip in thought. What if I asked Master Jevin to make some target darts, or something. I could then use those to tie enemies to the same anchor Im linked to. That would be useful in all sorts of ways She nodded. It was worth asking. Include the inner defenses for those? Keep them from grabbing the anchor and running? She clicked her tongue.
While promising, the idea wasnt particularly helpful to her current situation.
She gave the bear a weary sigh. I dont really want to skin you in a blood-puddle. She glanced to Terry. Are you willing to help me move these bodies?
Terry let out a descending series of short trills, suddenly growing to twice the size of the bear.
With quick motions, he flickered to each body, picked it up in his beak and walked to a nearby rise before setting it down. Last of all, he came for the massive bear, and Tala had to hop off.
Her feet squelched in the thickening muck, the paste-like substance working its way between her toes. What happens when blood dries and hardens when mixed with dirt?
She scrapped her tongue across her teeth, unconsciously trying to get an imagined taste off of it. Thats gross
She took high, long steps, trying to get out of the muck as quickly as possible. By the time she got to the rise, all the animals were laid out and ready for her ministrations.
Now, Mistress Ingrit gave me a list of the best harvests in this area. Lets see how many I can find. There were other things that would be of use to her, and even more that her mage-sight could guide her too. All told, there would be plenty for her to gather up.
She looked to Flow, in its knife form. Shouldnt cook anything in this form.
That decided, she went to work, directed by Mistress Ingrits list and her own mage-sight and desires.
* * *
It was midafternoon by the time that Tala had finished harvesting, and Terry had eaten the last of the remains.
The bird didnt really seem to care what he ate, as he ate the gut piles as readily as the other organs and the meat.
Tala didnt really want to eat meat from carnivores, so shed left that to Terry, but she had gotten two massive bear-hides. One from her final kill, and one that was barely smaller. The beast had been gutted, probably by Terry.
The hides were so heavy that she had a hard time moving them around, even with her enhanced strength. Not only did they have a heavy coat of thick fur that was far from clean, but the hide, itself, was nearly 4 inches thick.
They had been a pain to stuff into Kit. Though, she assumed that Kit would debride them for her, so that made it worth the effort.
This might cost more than Im willing to pay to tan Shed had that thought before, but shed figured that she could probably pay a tanner one of the hides to tan the other for her.
In addition, shed gotten a large number of bones and claws, which had drawn her attention due to the magic within them. Shed coated them in iron-salve and stored them within Kit. Some of those had been on Ingrits lists, some hadnt.
Maybe if I had a larger pot, that this one fit inside? I could have more water around it No, that was just adding complication. So, I need a hot air incorporator thats closer to a baking temperature. I seem to remember that people have tried baking with them before. So, there should be schemata for those higher temp ranges.
She sighed. Another expense.
Still, the meal was coming along nicely.
It wasnt stew; stew would take hours to properly cook.
No, this was a thick, noodle soup with a selection of vegetables and a spice packet added.
The spice-pack was a simple, sealed waxed-paper envelope that Tala had torn open and dumped into the water.
Less than five minutes after adding the hot water, it was done, and she had nearly a gallon of tasty soup.
It wasnt as hot as shed have liked, or as the ingredients really needed. So, the noodles and veggies were a bit chewier than ideal, but it tasted so good.
Hunger really was an amazing spice, and Tala had that in gold.
There was some bread in her stores as well, and she used that to complement the soup, just as the little book had suggested.
In the end, she used the last of the bread to clean the final bits of soup from the cauldron.
A healthy application of incorporated hot water helped clean out the cookpot, and she placed everything back into Kit.
Her meal finally complete, she tossed another bit of jerky for Terry, and laid back, staring up at the canopy overhead.
That was a good idea, Terry. Thank you.
The avian head-butted the top of her head.
Yes, the battle was fun, too, but I think we might have jumped into the deep end with that one.
Terry trilled.
Yes, you were amazing. Youd have been fine.
He let out a bit of a warbling note.
Oh? That was more than youve tried before?
He bobbed a nod.
You know, I feel like Im understanding you more and more.
He bobbed again.
Good. She grinned. You are a scary, terrifying creature, but youre my terrifying creature, my partner.
He trilled and head-butted her again before curling up beside her head and closing his eyes.
Tala lay there for long minutes, on the edge of wakefulness.
What should I focus on, when I get back to Makinaven? She needed to sell her harvests, get the hides to a tanner, and meet back up with Rane. And eat more. So much more.
That reminded her that she needed to get an oven-hot air incorporator.
She thought back on the melee. Her excellent memory let her move through the battle again, in slow motion, and she critiqued herself, giving silent praise for wise or skillful maneuvers and sighing at points where shed made mistakes.
Whenever she came to one of the mistakes, she would pause her recollection, analyzing what had led to the action or choice. Usually, the correct choice presented itself, and she was able to work through her thinking and reactions that could lead to a better choice in the future, adding that to her mental training regimen.
In some cases, she was forced to admit that, mistake though it was, it had been the best she could have done in the moment. That led her to go back through the moments leading up to the incidents, searching for where shed gone wrong, among her good choices.
Turns out you can back yourself into a corner with purely good reactions. Shed known that, obviously, but it had never been as apparent as it was now, looking at the ordered chaos of brutal conflict.
She passed an unknown amount of time in that meditative state or purposeful recollection and critique.
A screech resonated through the woods, coming from the direction of their murder dell.
Talas eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet before she registered moving.
A second screech resounded between the trees, and Tala was sure she knew what made the sound.
Shed been sure with the first, but shed hoped she was wrong.
Leshkin had found the murder dell.
Chapter 130: Murder DellTala lay, sprawled out atop the heaving back of a massive bear as its breathing slowed and finally stopped.Last one.She jerked Flow out of the carcass. letting it shift from its glaive form back to that of a knife.Tala tried to ignore the wet slurping sounds as Terry flickered around the clearing, devouring the mangled, blood-marinated bodies of the fallen.She groaned and started stretching on the tangled hair of the great beast below her.As the bodies disappeared one by one, the thrashed, soaking ground was revealed more and more.The noon-time sun shone down on the canopy above, filling the space with clear green light, interspersed with shafts of untinted sunlight.In the green light, the ground looked mostly black, and only the smell indicated what it really was. The interspersed patches of white light highlighted the crimson color of what lay below, making the terrain resemble blood-stars in a dark sky.Some fur and detritus still smoldered, though Terry seemed to have prioritized those beasts. Apparently, he liked a smoky flavor. That tracks with his love of jerky, I suppose.The smell of cooked meat was almost as strong as that of blood and gore. A surprising number of beasts had been able to augment themselves with, or breathe out, fire. How a forest survives with so much fire magic within it, Ive no idea.Additionally, her every cut with Flow had left cooked meat in its wake.You know, Terry. I was planning on harvesting some of those.Terry looked her way, the tail of a massive lizard hanging from his mouth. He threw his head back and let the remainder of the creature slide down his gullet, before returning his gaze to her. He trilled questioningly.I know you helped. Im not asking you to starve. I just want to collect some things first. She looked around. Well, at least from the few that are left.Terry looked around at the few bodies remaining, then squawked and settled down to wait.Thank you.Tala looked down on the carnivore below her. The bear had stood three times her height and breathed fire. Probably called a Blaze Bear, or something silly like that.If she were being honest, this bear had killed the majority of opponents there at the end. The arrival of it, and one other like it, had heralded the final phase of the skirmish.Tala had only slain this one by coming at it from behind as it roasted a wolf-pack, which had tried to challenge it for some food.How am I going to move this? She looked at her bracers and anchor. You know, if I could get you registered as the target, then simply walk away with the anchor She bit her lip in thought. What if I asked Master Jevin to make some target darts, or something. I could then use those to tie enemies to the same anchor Im linked to. That would be useful in all sorts of ways She nodded. It was worth asking. Include the inner defenses for those? Keep them from grabbing the anchor and running? She clicked her tongue.While promising, the idea wasnt particularly helpful to her current situation.She gave the bear a weary sigh. I dont really want to skin you in a blood-puddle. She glanced to Terry. Are you willing to help me move these bodies?Terry let out a descending series of short trills, suddenly growing to twice the size of the bear.With quick motions, he flickered to each body, picked it up in his beak and walked to a nearby rise before setting it down. Last of all, he came for the massive bear, and Tala had to hop off.Her feet squelched in the thickening muck, the paste-like substance working its way between her toes. What happens when blood dries and hardens when mixed with dirt?She scrapped her tongue across her teeth, unconsciously trying to get an imagined taste off of it. Thats grossShe took high, long steps, trying to get out of the muck as quickly as possible. By the time she got to the rise, all the animals were laid out and ready for her ministrations.Now, Mistress Ingrit gave me a list of the best harvests in this area. Lets see how many I can find. There were other things that would be of use to her, and even more that her mage-sight could guide her too. All told, there would be plenty for her to gather up.She looked to Flow, in its knife form. Shouldnt cook anything in this form.That decided, she went to work, directed by Mistress Ingrits list and her own mage-sight and desires.* * *It was midafternoon by the time that Tala had finished harvesting, and Terry had eaten the last of the remains.The bird didnt really seem to care what he ate, as he ate the gut piles as readily as the other organs and the meat.Tala didnt really want to eat meat from carnivores, so shed left that to Terry, but she had gotten two massive bear-hides. One from her final kill, and one that was barely smaller. The beast had been gutted, probably by Terry.The hides were so heavy that she had a hard time moving them around, even with her enhanced strength. Not only did they have a heavy coat of thick fur that was far from clean, but the hide, itself, was nearly 4 inches thick.They had been a pain to stuff into Kit. Though, she assumed that Kit would debride them for her, so that made it worth the effort.This might cost more than Im willing to pay to tan Shed had that thought before, but shed figured that she could probably pay a tanner one of the hides to tan the other for her.In addition, shed gotten a large number of bones and claws, which had drawn her attention due to the magic within them. Shed coated them in iron-salve and stored them within Kit. Some of those had been on Ingrits lists, some hadnt.Maybe if I had a larger pot, that this one fit inside? I could have more water around it No, that was just adding complication. So, I need a hot air incorporator thats closer to a baking temperature. I seem to remember that people have tried baking with them before. So, there should be schemata for those higher temp ranges.She sighed. Another expense.Still, the meal was coming along nicely.It wasnt stew; stew would take hours to properly cook.No, this was a thick, noodle soup with a selection of vegetables and a spice packet added.The spice-pack was a simple, sealed waxed-paper envelope that Tala had torn open and dumped into the water.Less than five minutes after adding the hot water, it was done, and she had nearly a gallon of tasty soup.It wasnt as hot as shed have liked, or as the ingredients really needed. So, the noodles and veggies were a bit chewier than ideal, but it tasted so good.Hunger really was an amazing spice, and Tala had that in gold.There was some bread in her stores as well, and she used that to complement the soup, just as the little book had suggested.In the end, she used the last of the bread to clean the final bits of soup from the cauldron.A healthy application of incorporated hot water helped clean out the cookpot, and she placed everything back into Kit.Her meal finally complete, she tossed another bit of jerky for Terry, and laid back, staring up at the canopy overhead.That was a good idea, Terry. Thank you.The avian head-butted the top of her head.Yes, the battle was fun, too, but I think we might have jumped into the deep end with that one.Terry trilled.Yes, you were amazing. Youd have been fine.He let out a bit of a warbling note.Oh? That was more than youve tried before?He bobbed a nod.You know, I feel like Im understanding you more and more.He bobbed again.Good. She grinned. You are a scary, terrifying creature, but youre my terrifying creature, my partner.He trilled and head-butted her again before curling up beside her head and closing his eyes.Tala lay there for long minutes, on the edge of wakefulness.What should I focus on, when I get back to Makinaven? She needed to sell her harvests, get the hides to a tanner, and meet back up with Rane. And eat more. So much more.That reminded her that she needed to get an oven-hot air incorporator.She thought back on the melee. Her excellent memory let her move through the battle again, in slow motion, and she critiqued herself, giving silent praise for wise or skillful maneuvers and sighing at points where shed made mistakes.Whenever she came to one of the mistakes, she would pause her recollection, analyzing what had led to the action or choice. Usually, the correct choice presented itself, and she was able to work through her thinking and reactions that could lead to a better choice in the future, adding that to her mental training regimen.In some cases, she was forced to admit that, mistake though it was, it had been the best she could have done in the moment. That led her to go back through the moments leading up to the incidents, searching for where shed gone wrong, among her good choices.Turns out you can back yourself into a corner with purely good reactions. Shed known that, obviously, but it had never been as apparent as it was now, looking at the ordered chaos of brutal conflict.She passed an unknown amount of time in that meditative state or purposeful recollection and critique.A screech resonated through the woods, coming from the direction of their murder dell.Talas eyes snapped open, and she was on her feet before she registered moving.A second screech resounded between the trees, and Tala was sure she knew what made the sound.Shed been sure with the first, but shed hoped she was wrong.Leshkin had found the murder dell.
