Hunting Season

[eaglet]

Who: Connor and Molotov (and bears)
What: bears
When: 2/April, afternoon
Where: Bear reserve
Rating: bears

The weather has finally broken, so Connor has taken his longbow and gone hunting. Perhaps the animals here were only asleep -- it seems impossible that there is no wildlife here at all. Even in Boston, where the men slaughtered cattle and sold the meat on the docks, there were at least birds in the sky.

It's also a good excuse to become more familiar with the land. He'd spent his life memorising the Valley, knew each tree and rock, knew the story of the land. He feels disoriented here, and has decided the best way to combat that is to memorise this land too, as quickly as possible.

He has made his way far to the north without seeing anything, and is just starting to wonder about how bizarre this is when he nearly walks right into a fence of some kind. Puzzled, he walks along the length of it for a little while before giving up and finding a nearby tree to climb to get a better vantage point.

Comments

[molotov]

Most people don't climb trees around the reserve, and when Molotov's cave bear, Grom, notices this person climbing, he sticks his giant prehistoric head out of his den and lets out a terrifying roar towards this tree human who's invading his territory.

Having spent so long with her bears, Molotov can identify most of them by growl alone. Grom is a loner, and tends towards quietness, so she immediately sets out to see what's upset him so much. She has a rifle at her side, and makes her way quickly back to where she knows this bear to live, calling out to him in Russian.

"Grom? Shto eta? Tui v poryadke?"

[eaglet]

Holy fucking fuck, what is that sound, Connor thinks as he scrambles up the tree to a higher crux. Are there monsters beyond this fence?! He has never heard an animal make that noise in his life. At least he's well-hidden among the leaves and branches, his heart pounding in his chest as he stares down from his vantage point.

He's so alarmed by what just happened that it takes him a second to realise someone is calling out in some foreign language, and he holds his breath as he remains in the tree.

[molotov]

Grom is sniffing around and growling lowly when Molotov approaches him, swinging his big ol' clunky head from side to side as he tries to find the stranger. He's lumbering toward the fence when she drops to her knee and strokes his back, squinting out into the trees to see if she can spot what's upsetting her bear.

"Is that you, vampire?" she calls, standing and aiming her rifle. "I have wooden bullets, you bitch, and if that does not work, I have plenty of other things to kill you with too."

[eaglet]

Welp, that's not a very good incentive to come out of his hiding place. But he'd rather not be found skulking around near this heavily armed woman, particularly when she seems to be keeping this animal (which is perhaps the strangest bear Connor has ever seen) penned up for whatever reason.

It is wrong, but he'll come back to free it later.

In the meantime, he thinks maybe he'll be able to distract her where he can quickly get away. Leaning back against the tree, he slips his longbow from his back, quietly nocks an arrow, and aims a few yards behind her. Hoping she'll go investigate the arrow instead of its source, he fires.

[molotov]

Yeah, that is… not a good plan, sir. Molotov doesn't give a shit about an arrow -- she immediately fires one warning shot into the trees, eye narrowed with anger.

"Hit my bears and I will relieve you of your skull by hand," she yells. "Now come out or die, your choice."

[eaglet]

Wow, he thought he was making it pretty obvious that he wasn't aiming for anything! Also, that is not very good incentive either; Connor flinches when she fires -- what kind of a rifle is that?

He's pretty sure she'll shoot him if he starts to climb down, but if he stays where he is, she'll apparently shoot him too. He doesn't really want to be shot. Slipping his bow back over his shoulder, he leaps to the next tree over, landing lightly on a branch. He's very good at being stealthy in the trees, but so far he's only remained hidden like this while hunting animals -- it's very possible that a person would have an easier time spotting him.

Still, he's going to try to move as quietly as he can through the branches. Maybe he can circle around behind her and get away...

[molotov]

See, the thing about leaping from tree to tree is that branches quiver. And being that Molotov is actually a really good spy, she notices the leaves shaking. In fact, she's so annoyed by this simple give-away that she rolls her eye and mutters under her breath before calling out once more.

"Oh, for fuck's sake… I can see you, idiot! This is your last chance to come down before I blow a hole into your head."

[eaglet]

Connor does not come down. It's still not a very good incentive!

He does call out though: "You will shoot me if I come down. Just leave and I will do the same."

It's a boy's voice, though not a very young one, his words spoken with some deliberateness.

[molotov]

Molotov wavers, her rifle lowering a bit. Well, that's certainly not a vampire. Or at least not the same one.

"Why would I leave?" she questions. "You are the trespasser. Just come down and tell me why you are bothering my bears."

[eaglet]

"I did not know this was your land. I meant no offence," he calls back, still decidedly staying up there in the trees.

After a moment of thinking, eying that weird rifle of hers, he adds: "I do not want to fight."

[molotov]

"There will only be a fight if you continue acting suspiciously," she informs him, but points her gun at the ground now, as a gesture of good faith.

[eaglet]

It's not suspicious, he is being sneaky --

But fine. Instead of climbing down the tree and leaving himself vulnerable, Connor opts for the quicker route. He's made his way through the branches deep enough where he's inside the permietre of the fence by this point, and he looks down.

You know that pile of brush that Brock left in the middle of the enclosure like a jackass instead of hauling it off somewhere? Connor dives right into it.

He climbs out after a second, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen, brushing little bits of twig and pine needle off his clothing.

[molotov]

Molotov simply arches her eyebrow. Really, kid? That's how you choose to get down the tree? Good god, is this an even less mature Ezio?

"That is an interesting choice," she remarks dryly.

[eaglet]

"It is faster," he answers diplomatically, tone neutral. Although this is true, he mostly just wanted to be close enough to defend himself if she decided to raise her rifle. He can't dodge a bullet, but he can knock a weapon out of her hands.

There is a twig in his hair and he tosses it aside once he untangles it. "Why do you have animals behind fences? They are not cattle or chickens."

[molotov]

"Exactly," she says, looking at this boy like he's perhaps a bit dumb. "Maybe you do not know anything about bears, but they like to attack people, and there is a castle full of them not far away. Besides, Paradisa is not meant for them. I have to take care of them."

By this point, Grom is standing behind Molotov, making some unpleasant noises as he stares at the newcomer. But Molotov only responds to this by reaching back and stroking his head, hoping to calm him.

[eaglet]

Connor really does not like this weird-looking bear, so he does his best to ignore it. It's hard to ignore the way this woman is treating it like a pet, though; that's weird and a little unsettling.

"I know about bears," he says, a touch offended at the implication. "And they do not attack people unless their territory is invaded. This is more dangerous than letting them free -- their territory is so close to the castle now because you keep them here."

[molotov]

"I do not keep them here, Paradisa does," Molotov answers, maybe a bit offended. "They need me to care for them, feed them and make sure they are okay. The territory away from the castle is more dangerous than the territory near it."

[eaglet]

Wow, what? He squints... they're wild animals... why would they need someone to take care of them like they're children? Weird... so weird...

"I do not understand. If you set them free, they will not need you to look after them. It is only a fence," he says with a frown. Presumably it's a fence, anyway. They don't really have fences like this in the 18th century. "Is this how Paradisa keeps them here? It should be easy to remove."

[molotov]

Molotov rubs her face with her hand, like this child is wearing her out.

"Paradisa has no ecosystem to support them, so they cannot be set free," she says, moving to sit on a rock and light up a cigarette. "I put up the fence, so they can be safe from the people of the castle, and vice versa."

[eaglet]

Connor sort of idly glances around at that, just looking at the trees. "I did not think it was true, that there are no animals here."

He looks at her again, eying the cigarette curiously, but not saying anything about that. "But I have explored much of the woods here and have only seen yours."

[molotov]

"Da, so if they roam free, they would starve," she answers, exhaling smoke. Grom was still lurking somewhere in the background, suspicious of this person, but Mishka has finally caught up with Molotov, and nudges against her leg so that she'll pick him up.

[eaglet]

Now he's back to squinting again. What kind of baby bear... it's weird! Everything about this is weird. He was so incredibly accepting of being transported to a different world where there is a magic castle that grants wishes filled with people from different places and eras, sure, whatever, but these bears ...

"Then where do they come from?"

[molotov]

Molotov probably doesn't help the situation by picking up the baby and cuddling him like one might with a small dog.

"They came from Earth, I suppose, most of them. I wished them here, thinking they would be sent back, but they could not leave. So I have to take care of them."

[eaglet]

Nope. Connor is pretty much openly staring by this point.

"Why... did you wish for them? For what purpose?"

[molotov]

"Well, I needed a bearskin rug," she says, conversationally, "and I did not know what kind of bear skin would be best. So I wished for bears, to pet them and see."

[eaglet]

Yeah... sure... that makes sense.

Oh wait no it doesn't.

"Why did you not wish for rugs? Or ask the merchants in town?"

He's not trying to be obnoxious, but he's seriously just baffled by this. (Also he assumes the merchants in town have bearskin rugs. He doesn't even know. They have all sorts of things, so it's a logical conclusion.)

[molotov]

"Well, what was I going to do with thirty rugs?" she asks, almost challengingly, ignoring the part about the merchants. She already told him there are no bears in Paradisa naturally!

[eaglet]

"What were you going to do with thirty bears?" he says, even more baffled than before. What is even going on!

[molotov]

"We are going in circles," Molotov responds, irritated.

[eaglet]

He shakes his head. Maybe so, but it still doesn't make much sense. "I am only trying to understand..."

But it probably doesn't really matter that much. If she can't get rid of the bears, she can't get rid of them.

"What is that weapon you have? I have not seen a rifle like it before."

[molotov]

"A Kalashnikov," she says carelessly, glancing at it. "Do not worry, you have plenty of time to learn about things hundreds of years in your future."

[eaglet]

"Kalashnikov," he repeats quietly; he hasn't heard a word like that before. Was that Dutch? No...

"How do you know what year I am from?"

[molotov]

She gives him a look like he's a bit dumb. "I can see you," she answers, twisting her mouth. "You are very obviously from many years ago. Have you not met anyone but me?"

[eaglet]

Connor gives her a look like she's rude as shit. "I have met people who dress in all manner of clothing," he says a little testily. "How am I to know who is from what year when I do not have your frame of reference?"

[molotov]

"Read a book?" she suggests, shrugging. "The library has all kinds. Ones with pictures, even."

[eaglet]

"I am not going to study clothing," he says, a bit incredulous. What is this lady even talking about...

"This does not matter. I did not mean to trespass, and I did not know these were your bears. I will leave."

[molotov]

"Study history," she snaps, because this kid is dumb. "Anyway, da, stay away unless you want to get eaten."

Mishka takes this opportunity to romp around adorably. Molotov watches him for a second, then adds, "Not by him. By one of the others."

[eaglet]

Connor gives her a look but doesn't say anything. What does studying history have to do with knowing what era someone is by their dress?! This conversation is ridiculous.

"This other one does not seem fearsome, either," he says, gesturing at Grom nearby. "I do not think they are as dangerous as you think."

[molotov]

Looking offended, Molotov jams her arms crossed. "My bears are very dangerous," she says, her tone tinged with anger. "They would tear you to pieces."

[eaglet]

This woman.

He holds his hands up. "I did not mean to offend you. They only seem very docile."

[molotov]

"Well, they are not," she responds, as Mishka rubs his nose against her leg. "They only like me."

[eaglet]

"They do not seem to be very hostile toward me..."

Perhaps this is because she hasn't commanded them to attack him? Is this woman some kind of witch, he wonders...

[molotov]

"Because I told them not to be!" she answers. "Stop questioning me!"

[eaglet]

Connor frowns. "If you do not wish to speak to me, then I will not bother you any longer."

He gestures at the immediate area.

"I will be sure to stay away from your bears. How far does your territory expand?"

[molotov]

"As far as the fences go," she says, like he's maybe a little dumb. Isn't that what fences are for?

[eaglet]

That is a rude tone of voice, lady, and he gives her his best petulant teen look in response.

"Your territory could extend beyond the fence," he says a little snippily, echoing her tone.

[molotov]

"Well, it doesn't," she snips back. "But you are still trespassing, which makes me think you are mentally impaired in some way."

[eaglet]

"Why? I did not know if they were being trapped for some cruel reason," he says, even more snippily. It's a snip-off!