Ysabel readjusted the sweeping fall of her wine-colored riding habit, admiring the way it draped. It was new, and she had to admit with some (perhaps not so small) measure of vanity that it looked luxurious against the black velvet of Vivace's coat. Her youngest gelding was no longer the mostly-trained colt he'd been three years ago. Hours of work and training had turned both Adagio and Vivace into every inch the mounts that Elegy was, and Ysabel now had three wonderfully well-behaved mounts that she would trust to carry any of her friends.
She made it a point to exercise two of them each day, rotating which ones she rode so that each one had every third day off. Today she'd taken Adagio out on the trails a bit earlier, discovering the bits of Heolfor's grounds that had jumps along them. It had been fun, but when Ambrose had expressed a desire to ride at the Park tonight she'd readily agreed. It would be good for Vivace to get out.
She tilted her head at Ambrose's motions though. They were subtle, but off. her lover was definitely looking for something or someone, unless she missed her guess. In nearly four years of being together, however, she did not think she was wrong.
Riding up alongside him as they approached what appeared to be an outcropping, she reached out and gently tapped his arm with the end of her crop.
"Your hackles are up," she murmured softly. "Is there something wrong?"
Be Very Very Quiet We're Hunting Wabbits...
It was the night following his meeting with Diane. Something about the whole thing hadn't set one hundred percent with him. It wasn't that Ambrose was a paranoid freak or anything, but he'd spent years relying on his instincts, knowing when something was off and potentially dangerous. So, they were out following up on it.
He didn't think there was too much reason to worry about things so he'd asked Belle to join him. If he couldn't find anything else suspicious at least they'd get a nice ride in the moonlight and there wasn't anything wrong with that.
Still not being terribly patient he'd reversed his route of the previous evening. They should be coming up on the bit of the rocky overhang/drop off where he'd encounter the young woman the night before. And even with Belle beside him Ambrose was very focused. Probably too focused for casual surveillance, but it had been a long time since he'd had something to hunt, really hunt, and it felt good.
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ambrose
14 years ago
God damned spring for bringing out all the hikers, walkers and joggers, and from the looks of things a few other riders besides. They'd more or less demolished most of the tracks from last night. Fortunately Ambrose had a bit of experience tracking. He knew some of their clan with a gift for it and right now he wouldn't mind having that himself.
He was looking so hard for signs of his encounter last night that he was down to keeping only a quarter of an eye and ear on Belle. Although he'd never forgive himself if he'd misjudged the situation and she wound up hurt. He was still a bit cross about that who incident with the cue ball.
Fortunately he wasn't so focused that Belle's tap on the arm surprised him. Instead he looked up and smiled, slightly distracted, but genuine.
"Nope, nothing wrong persay."Â?
He went back to scowling at the ground. There, that was more like it, a rabbit's foot. Ambrose dismounted as fluidly as he could, and he had gotten considerably better since being coaxed back into the saddle, and picked it up.
"I just... smell trouble."Â?
He was looking so hard for signs of his encounter last night that he was down to keeping only a quarter of an eye and ear on Belle. Although he'd never forgive himself if he'd misjudged the situation and she wound up hurt. He was still a bit cross about that who incident with the cue ball.
Fortunately he wasn't so focused that Belle's tap on the arm surprised him. Instead he looked up and smiled, slightly distracted, but genuine.
"Nope, nothing wrong persay."Â?
He went back to scowling at the ground. There, that was more like it, a rabbit's foot. Ambrose dismounted as fluidly as he could, and he had gotten considerably better since being coaxed back into the saddle, and picked it up.
"I just... smell trouble."Â?
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel didn't believe it for a moment. She arched her brows at Ambrose, and then they rose higher as he dismounted to scowl at the ground. That was something he preferred not to do, since mounting back up was difficult without a block.
"You just smell trouble."
It wasn't a question, but a statement flatly made in gentle but firm tones. She gave him her best prim, proper, 'not buying it' expression. Lips pursed, she squinted at whatever it was that held Amber's attention. It was small, certainly, and of nondescript color.
"What is that?"
Tilting her head, Ysabel waited for answers. Surely they must be forthcoming. Ysabel had not been born yesterday, and Ambrose was plainly playing the role of the Huntsman to the hilt right now.
"You just smell trouble."
It wasn't a question, but a statement flatly made in gentle but firm tones. She gave him her best prim, proper, 'not buying it' expression. Lips pursed, she squinted at whatever it was that held Amber's attention. It was small, certainly, and of nondescript color.
"What is that?"
Tilting her head, Ysabel waited for answers. Surely they must be forthcoming. Ysabel had not been born yesterday, and Ambrose was plainly playing the role of the Huntsman to the hilt right now.
Ambrose
14 years ago
"Yup."Â?
That was his only answer, he was concentrating too hard for much else. There wasn't anything else terribly incriminating here. No snares, knifes, blood, nothing; so this wasn't the kill site.
He took a closer look at the foot, it wasn't a clean cut. But that didn't mean anything. The knife might have been dull, she might have been timid about the cut, this rabbit could have been killed by another creature rather than the woman from last night. Or, and perhaps the most disturbing possibility, she might have cut it off with the rabbit still alive and struggling.
Ambrose held out the torn off foot for Belle's inspection.
"Rabbit's foot."Â?
He could use all the luck he could get right now if he really hopped to find something. That was something. Clear signs of some one or something having come from off the path, the ground hadn't held tracks well, too rocky, but it was enough to get his curiosity up.
Climbing back up the rocks to remount Ambrose started them off on this vague path. He wasn't fool enough to suggest Belle not come with him. It also seemed a good enough time to admit he was just following up a hunch.
"I ran into a girl here last night. She was strange, seriously odd and she had all these rabbit feet... foots"Â? He shrugged clearly indicating he didn't care for the intricacies of the English language right now "around her. It just didn't seem right."Â?
Especially with the recent murders in the preserve, but Ambrose didn't spell that out. Belle was more than capable of putting two and two together.
That was his only answer, he was concentrating too hard for much else. There wasn't anything else terribly incriminating here. No snares, knifes, blood, nothing; so this wasn't the kill site.
He took a closer look at the foot, it wasn't a clean cut. But that didn't mean anything. The knife might have been dull, she might have been timid about the cut, this rabbit could have been killed by another creature rather than the woman from last night. Or, and perhaps the most disturbing possibility, she might have cut it off with the rabbit still alive and struggling.
Ambrose held out the torn off foot for Belle's inspection.
"Rabbit's foot."Â?
He could use all the luck he could get right now if he really hopped to find something. That was something. Clear signs of some one or something having come from off the path, the ground hadn't held tracks well, too rocky, but it was enough to get his curiosity up.
Climbing back up the rocks to remount Ambrose started them off on this vague path. He wasn't fool enough to suggest Belle not come with him. It also seemed a good enough time to admit he was just following up a hunch.
"I ran into a girl here last night. She was strange, seriously odd and she had all these rabbit feet... foots"Â? He shrugged clearly indicating he didn't care for the intricacies of the English language right now "around her. It just didn't seem right."Â?
Especially with the recent murders in the preserve, but Ambrose didn't spell that out. Belle was more than capable of putting two and two together.
Ysabel
14 years ago
"You ran into a girl." Ysabel was still not asking, so much as stating. Or repeating, in this case.
Now she did question. "So, because this girl had rabbits' feet, you've decided... what?"
She looked around as Ambrose mounted back up and they headed along a trail that only he could see. She thought about the recent publicity the Park had gotten and turned to Amber again.
"You think she killed the people they found here?"
It was all sort of a stretch. "Just because she had rabbits' feet?"
Granted, it was strange. The Park had a strict no hunting policy. If this girl was poaching rabbits, that would be illegal by any definition of the law. How did a girl kill rabbits anyway? She tried to envision someone like Marie lying in wait behind a bush and then pouncing onto an unsuspecting rabbit. No, not likely.
"It is a little... odd."
Now she did question. "So, because this girl had rabbits' feet, you've decided... what?"
She looked around as Ambrose mounted back up and they headed along a trail that only he could see. She thought about the recent publicity the Park had gotten and turned to Amber again.
"You think she killed the people they found here?"
It was all sort of a stretch. "Just because she had rabbits' feet?"
Granted, it was strange. The Park had a strict no hunting policy. If this girl was poaching rabbits, that would be illegal by any definition of the law. How did a girl kill rabbits anyway? She tried to envision someone like Marie lying in wait behind a bush and then pouncing onto an unsuspecting rabbit. No, not likely.
"It is a little... odd."
Ambrose
14 years ago
"I'm not ready to go that far just yet."Â?
Ambrose said. It was possible of course, he wasn't ruling that out by any stretch of the imagination. He just wasn't endorsing the idea either, not yet.
For a moment, he trusted Midnight to keep going in the right direction and not get them in trouble while he gave himself over to his perception. He was looking for anything, sight, sound, smell, movement anything. He smelled old blood, not much of it, but a little further down the track.
"She had at least three sets and said she'd killed them with a knife she was carrying but she was keeping concealed. All that was left was the feet too, no bones or fur. I sure as hell didn't see or smell a fire. So unless she ate them fur and all and raw at that..."Â?
He let that thought hang out there for a second. As much to explain what was bugging him to Belle as to reassure himself it was strange and he was not turning into a nervous Nelly in his old age or letting his instincts dull.
"Either way I'm think maybe you and the waif ought not pass through her on your own for the time being."Â?
Ambrose said. It was possible of course, he wasn't ruling that out by any stretch of the imagination. He just wasn't endorsing the idea either, not yet.
For a moment, he trusted Midnight to keep going in the right direction and not get them in trouble while he gave himself over to his perception. He was looking for anything, sight, sound, smell, movement anything. He smelled old blood, not much of it, but a little further down the track.
"She had at least three sets and said she'd killed them with a knife she was carrying but she was keeping concealed. All that was left was the feet too, no bones or fur. I sure as hell didn't see or smell a fire. So unless she ate them fur and all and raw at that..."Â?
He let that thought hang out there for a second. As much to explain what was bugging him to Belle as to reassure himself it was strange and he was not turning into a nervous Nelly in his old age or letting his instincts dull.
"Either way I'm think maybe you and the waif ought not pass through her on your own for the time being."Â?
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel blinked at Ambrose as he spoke, taken aback. "She had them?" That was too weird to even process. Who killed rabbits with a knife, anyway? "Wouldn't there be a snare, or a trap, or some sort of means by which to catch a rabbit?"
Then the rest of Amber's statement hit her, and she grimaced in distaste. "What a disgusting thought," she said weakly, her stomach turning over at the idea of eating a raw unboned rabbit.
The warning to stay away was all well and good; Ysabel appreciated that Ambrose was trying to protect her and Marie. She hardly thought of herself as defenseless but even so.
"We'll steer clear," she said, as much to placate Ambrose as to remind herself. "It would be good to know what we're staying away from though," she said, looking at him pointedly. "Did this girl have a name? A description?"
To be forewarned was to be forearmed, after all.
Then the rest of Amber's statement hit her, and she grimaced in distaste. "What a disgusting thought," she said weakly, her stomach turning over at the idea of eating a raw unboned rabbit.
The warning to stay away was all well and good; Ysabel appreciated that Ambrose was trying to protect her and Marie. She hardly thought of herself as defenseless but even so.
"We'll steer clear," she said, as much to placate Ambrose as to remind herself. "It would be good to know what we're staying away from though," she said, looking at him pointedly. "Did this girl have a name? A description?"
To be forewarned was to be forearmed, after all.
Ambrose
14 years ago
"That was more or less my thinking as well."Â?
He kept looking straight ahead but grinned at Belle's apparent unease with the idea of raw rabbit. Ambrose happened to agree. He was a bit confused though, raw fish was trendy and expensive but raw rabbit not so great. And then there was tartar. See this is why he didn't eat much any more. No one bothered to cook.
Belle was quite capable, he knew that. She was more experienced than he was and lord knew in some situations she would have to protect him, but he still had to say something. It was his job.
"Diane, she said she worked for a vet, sounded like large animals. About your height, mid twenties to look at her blue eyes, red hair, not too remarkable. Nothing about her screamed one of us, hell nothing about her screamed psychotic rabbit killer either."Â?
The track turned away from the rocky ledge and he changed their course slightly. Occasionally leaning down to get a better look at the ground. If he could see some kind of foot print he'd know what made this trail and if it was a wild goose chase or not.
He kept looking straight ahead but grinned at Belle's apparent unease with the idea of raw rabbit. Ambrose happened to agree. He was a bit confused though, raw fish was trendy and expensive but raw rabbit not so great. And then there was tartar. See this is why he didn't eat much any more. No one bothered to cook.
Belle was quite capable, he knew that. She was more experienced than he was and lord knew in some situations she would have to protect him, but he still had to say something. It was his job.
"Diane, she said she worked for a vet, sounded like large animals. About your height, mid twenties to look at her blue eyes, red hair, not too remarkable. Nothing about her screamed one of us, hell nothing about her screamed psychotic rabbit killer either."Â?
The track turned away from the rocky ledge and he changed their course slightly. Occasionally leaning down to get a better look at the ground. If he could see some kind of foot print he'd know what made this trail and if it was a wild goose chase or not.
Ysabel
14 years ago
"How unusual," was Ysabel's only comment. What else could she say? Sleuthing and hunting out the truth was Ambrose's forte, not hers. She didn't have anything to add that he hadn't already mentioned. One thing caught her attention though.
"Large animals? Did she say which veterinarian or where they're located?"
She had been using the same vet for her horses since arriving in Nachton. She'd be curious to know if perhaps it was the same one that this strange Diane worked at. If Ambrose needed her to check into it, she could certainly do so without arousing any hint of suspicion.
She laughed softly at Ambrose, though. "Well, I like to think that nothing about me screams 'vicious blood drinker' so, you know, it takes all types."
"Large animals? Did she say which veterinarian or where they're located?"
She had been using the same vet for her horses since arriving in Nachton. She'd be curious to know if perhaps it was the same one that this strange Diane worked at. If Ambrose needed her to check into it, she could certainly do so without arousing any hint of suspicion.
She laughed softly at Ambrose, though. "Well, I like to think that nothing about me screams 'vicious blood drinker' so, you know, it takes all types."
Ambrose
14 years ago
"Nope and well..."Â?
Ambrose rode on in silence for a second or two looking a bit sheepish. Finally he looked over at Belle and admitted it.
"By the time I starting thinking she was more than just a bubble off I might have... er... intimidated her. A bit. And I didn't get the feeling she was going to be exactly forthcoming with additional information."Â?
It really had been unintentional. Not every one was quite equipped to handle his, as Belle called it, prickliness. That's why he didn't get a last name either. All in all it hadn't been his best work.
Chuckling at her observation he grinned at her.
"Vicious isn't the first word that pops to mind. Persistent... seductive... I could come up with a few other adjectives there."Â?
All thoughts of flirting fled as they found a kill site. Ambrose would have dismounted but there was no convenient way to get back up. He had to be satisfied with pointing at a patch of flattened grass, what could only be some blood stains and some scraps of fur.
"Doesn't tell us a whole lot though does it?"Â?
Ambrose rode on in silence for a second or two looking a bit sheepish. Finally he looked over at Belle and admitted it.
"By the time I starting thinking she was more than just a bubble off I might have... er... intimidated her. A bit. And I didn't get the feeling she was going to be exactly forthcoming with additional information."Â?
It really had been unintentional. Not every one was quite equipped to handle his, as Belle called it, prickliness. That's why he didn't get a last name either. All in all it hadn't been his best work.
Chuckling at her observation he grinned at her.
"Vicious isn't the first word that pops to mind. Persistent... seductive... I could come up with a few other adjectives there."Â?
All thoughts of flirting fled as they found a kill site. Ambrose would have dismounted but there was no convenient way to get back up. He had to be satisfied with pointing at a patch of flattened grass, what could only be some blood stains and some scraps of fur.
"Doesn't tell us a whole lot though does it?"Â?
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel chuckled at Ambrose's expense. He looked a little guilty. Perhaps his own prickliness had been a handicap in this case. It was understandable; even on his politest days Ambrose could often manage to look... well, somewhat homicidal. In a handsome way.
"Nicely done, dearest," she said with dry humor, trying not to make him feel bad. he didn't seem inclined to take it personally tonight, though, or he'd not have been laughing at himself already.
"Oh, seductive is nice," she mused out loud, "but perhaps you might add 'beautiful, talented, and virtuous' as well?"
When they pulled up at a flattened grassy area, Ysabel thought she understood the reason for Amber's staying mounted. She, however, had no such issues with mounting and dismounting, and was not too proud to accept a hand back into her saddle. It was no trouble to unhook her right leg from the sidesaddle and glide gracefully to the ground.
Holding the lovely fall of deep red velvet away from any messiness, Ysabel handed Vivace's reins to Ambrose and stooped to inspect the site Ambrose found interesting. Aside from the crushed plants and a distinct blood smell, Ysabel didn't see anything odd. She turned to look up at Ambrose, golden hair catching the moonlight as she did.
"What exactly am I looking for?"
"Nicely done, dearest," she said with dry humor, trying not to make him feel bad. he didn't seem inclined to take it personally tonight, though, or he'd not have been laughing at himself already.
"Oh, seductive is nice," she mused out loud, "but perhaps you might add 'beautiful, talented, and virtuous' as well?"
When they pulled up at a flattened grassy area, Ysabel thought she understood the reason for Amber's staying mounted. She, however, had no such issues with mounting and dismounting, and was not too proud to accept a hand back into her saddle. It was no trouble to unhook her right leg from the sidesaddle and glide gracefully to the ground.
Holding the lovely fall of deep red velvet away from any messiness, Ysabel handed Vivace's reins to Ambrose and stooped to inspect the site Ambrose found interesting. Aside from the crushed plants and a distinct blood smell, Ysabel didn't see anything odd. She turned to look up at Ambrose, golden hair catching the moonlight as she did.
"What exactly am I looking for?"
Ambrose
14 years ago
"I'll give you two out of three."Â?
Ambrose turned a rakish look at her. Although it really was a three out of three type of situation, but he digressed.
OK see this was he loved her, any woman who'd put aside her more delicate sensibilities to scower what might only be where some animal had lunch was something special. Holding the reigns he surveyed the spot, but off hand didn't see anything to point her at. He did, however, see that the path continued. So even if this was a strike out they might still find something.
"A print of some kind would be ideal. But bits and pieces, fur, bone, cloth anything that might have been a snare... basically anything."Â?
It was hard to teach tracking, you tended need experience. But this was a great time to get some experience. If she found something good he dismount himself. Truth be told Ambrose felt a little bad about Belle doing the leg work here, but walking back home was even less appealing.
Ambrose turned a rakish look at her. Although it really was a three out of three type of situation, but he digressed.
OK see this was he loved her, any woman who'd put aside her more delicate sensibilities to scower what might only be where some animal had lunch was something special. Holding the reigns he surveyed the spot, but off hand didn't see anything to point her at. He did, however, see that the path continued. So even if this was a strike out they might still find something.
"A print of some kind would be ideal. But bits and pieces, fur, bone, cloth anything that might have been a snare... basically anything."Â?
It was hard to teach tracking, you tended need experience. But this was a great time to get some experience. If she found something good he dismount himself. Truth be told Ambrose felt a little bad about Belle doing the leg work here, but walking back home was even less appealing.
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel scrutinized the area, a small furrow appearing between her brows. perhaps she simply didn't know what to look for.
"I don't see anything except... well, rabbit things," she said. Straightening, she glanced up at Ambrose with an apologetic expression. "I'm afraid I wouldn't really know a print if it bit me in the nose. There's a little bit of fur, and the soil is very dark."
The scent of blood was very obvious to them both, as she'd observed previously. "Anything else?"
When Ambrose shook his head at her she regained Vivace's reins and brought her mount up alongside Midnight. Reaching her hand across Vivace's saddle to Ambrose, she employed a bit of levitation and allowed him to pull her back up into the saddle.
Resettling herself, she once more arranged her skirts as artfully as she could before looking once more at Amber.
"Where next?"
She had to admit, now that she knew what was bothering Ambrose she, too, was interested in the mystery.
"I don't see anything except... well, rabbit things," she said. Straightening, she glanced up at Ambrose with an apologetic expression. "I'm afraid I wouldn't really know a print if it bit me in the nose. There's a little bit of fur, and the soil is very dark."
The scent of blood was very obvious to them both, as she'd observed previously. "Anything else?"
When Ambrose shook his head at her she regained Vivace's reins and brought her mount up alongside Midnight. Reaching her hand across Vivace's saddle to Ambrose, she employed a bit of levitation and allowed him to pull her back up into the saddle.
Resettling herself, she once more arranged her skirts as artfully as she could before looking once more at Amber.
"Where next?"
She had to admit, now that she knew what was bothering Ambrose she, too, was interested in the mystery.
Ambrose
14 years ago
Disappointed that neither of them had seen anything that would offer a clue he frowned. But disappointed or not he enjoyed helping Belle mount back up. He was half tempted to pull her up into his saddle but this was a work outing and he didn't want to be distracted.
Maybe now would be as good a time as any to teach her a bit of tracking. Ambrose nudged Midnight into the center of the little clearing and pointed.
"See at the base of those bushes how some of the twigs are bent and broken and then the same a little higher up? And then how the grass is growing in a bit sparse and has a bit of a part?"Â?
Both the signs he was trying to show her were faint, most people wouldn't see them. Although once you knew what you were looking for they were much easier to see.
"It's a game trail. We'll destroy most of the evidence once we ride though but that is the way we want to go."Â?
And he started down the game trail pausing after a few seconds to point to the ground. This would be much harder to see, but it was more valuable information.
"There is a bit of a rabbit track, back foot and it is headed off the trail."Â?
Now that didn't mean anything on its own, he was hopping for something else to go with it. Maybe there would be farther on.
Maybe now would be as good a time as any to teach her a bit of tracking. Ambrose nudged Midnight into the center of the little clearing and pointed.
"See at the base of those bushes how some of the twigs are bent and broken and then the same a little higher up? And then how the grass is growing in a bit sparse and has a bit of a part?"Â?
Both the signs he was trying to show her were faint, most people wouldn't see them. Although once you knew what you were looking for they were much easier to see.
"It's a game trail. We'll destroy most of the evidence once we ride though but that is the way we want to go."Â?
And he started down the game trail pausing after a few seconds to point to the ground. This would be much harder to see, but it was more valuable information.
"There is a bit of a rabbit track, back foot and it is headed off the trail."Â?
Now that didn't mean anything on its own, he was hopping for something else to go with it. Maybe there would be farther on.
Ysabel
14 years ago
"I see," Ysabel said vaguely, finally catching on to what Ambrose was pointing at as her lover directed Midnight to the start of the trail.
The second thing he pointed out, she never saw. Back foot of a rabbit? her respect for Ambrose's perception grew. There was no way she'd have discovered that in a million years. She was quite far out of her element here. it was fun to take part in a little bit of intrigue though, and she enjoyed watching Ambrose work.
Curious, she continued to follow him, letting Midnight lead the way through the narrow trail.
The second thing he pointed out, she never saw. Back foot of a rabbit? her respect for Ambrose's perception grew. There was no way she'd have discovered that in a million years. She was quite far out of her element here. it was fun to take part in a little bit of intrigue though, and she enjoyed watching Ambrose work.
Curious, she continued to follow him, letting Midnight lead the way through the narrow trail.
Ambrose
14 years ago
Now that print was odd. It looked to be a paw print and looked to be in pursuit of the rabbit. You could see how the pads of the chase foot over lay the rabbit track. OK so the rabbit fled the easy path to avoid a predator. Not that interesting. He wished the paw print was better defined as it was all he could do was rule out a stray cat or a small dog. Something was nagging at him. He drew Midnight to a halt and frowned.
"I'm gonna want to head back that way in a bit."Â?
Some days it paid to be through, he told himself before urging Midnight forward again. It didn't take long to come on another kill site. That was strange in and of itself. It wasn't his experience that an animal would kill and then kill again, not like that. Maybe he needed to watch more nature documentaries.
Blood again, he wasn't surprised but that and didn't think Belle would be either. Now that is what he was hoping to find; good soft ground and preserved tracks. They couldn't take the horses in with out risking tracks.
"We're going to have to dismount here."Â?
There was no easy way for him to mount back up, nothing to double as a mounting block but this was worth it. He hoped. Sliding down to the ground and went to help Belle down. Midnight had been trained to stand, but he didn't leave the reigns dangling, it would be too easy for her to get tangled in them.
Leading Belle slowly around the out side of the area, he was sure she'd seen the tracks.
"Damned big dog."Â?
Although given the length of the claws he didn't believe dog, not for a second. And they were too big to be coyote either.
"I'm gonna want to head back that way in a bit."Â?
Some days it paid to be through, he told himself before urging Midnight forward again. It didn't take long to come on another kill site. That was strange in and of itself. It wasn't his experience that an animal would kill and then kill again, not like that. Maybe he needed to watch more nature documentaries.
Blood again, he wasn't surprised but that and didn't think Belle would be either. Now that is what he was hoping to find; good soft ground and preserved tracks. They couldn't take the horses in with out risking tracks.
"We're going to have to dismount here."Â?
There was no easy way for him to mount back up, nothing to double as a mounting block but this was worth it. He hoped. Sliding down to the ground and went to help Belle down. Midnight had been trained to stand, but he didn't leave the reigns dangling, it would be too easy for her to get tangled in them.
Leading Belle slowly around the out side of the area, he was sure she'd seen the tracks.
"Damned big dog."Â?
Although given the length of the claws he didn't believe dog, not for a second. And they were too big to be coyote either.
Ysabel
14 years ago
Ysabel let Ambrose mutter, only half able to hear his words as she was behind him and a slight breeze was not blowing favorably. She understood when he said he was dismounting though, and was gratified when he held his arms out to her to help her unnecessarily. Let it not be said that manners were dead. Ambrose managed.
Assuring that she didn't topple them both over by once again employing her floating skills, Ysabel lighted upon the grassy earth and hooked Vivace's reins over the saddle horn.
As she bent, even she could see the tracks Ambrose was looking at. They did look big. She could see torn earth where claws had ripped into it.
"What sort of animal is that large?" She mused as she looked at the next one along the line. "Surely there are no big cats around here."
Ysabel glanced at Ambrose uncertainly. She had no idea what sorts of wild creatures lived around Nachton. They were so far out of her element, she'd probably need to be airlifted back.
Assuring that she didn't topple them both over by once again employing her floating skills, Ysabel lighted upon the grassy earth and hooked Vivace's reins over the saddle horn.
As she bent, even she could see the tracks Ambrose was looking at. They did look big. She could see torn earth where claws had ripped into it.
"What sort of animal is that large?" She mused as she looked at the next one along the line. "Surely there are no big cats around here."
Ysabel glanced at Ambrose uncertainly. She had no idea what sorts of wild creatures lived around Nachton. They were so far out of her element, she'd probably need to be airlifted back.
Ambrose
13 years ago
It was awkward to do so, and for perhaps the millionth time in his life he wished he'd lost his leg below the knee rather than above, but Ambrose got down to the ground. He was able to hold his hand right next to the print. This was -not- computing. There was some fur caught in the bushes he snatched at it and studied it. The only thing he really could tell was the animal was relatively tall and that was based on where on the bushes it was caught. It was consistent with the other signs they'd seen.
Finally hearing Belle he looked up. Growling to himself and, as he hadn't brought his cane with him, with no little effort Ambrose wrenched himself to a standing position.
"No, it isn't a cat, the shape is wrong. Its canine but I'd be damned surprised if it was a house pet."Â?
He walked a long a bit gauging the creature's stride, other than that he wasn't seeing much new, but the trail did keep going. Something about this whole situation was bugging him.
"Impressions? Or are you ready for a bit more of a ride?"Â?
After helping Belle back up, relying mostly on his upper body he remounted. Midnight's calm, steady patient disposition was a blessing and proof that Belle cared about him.
Finally hearing Belle he looked up. Growling to himself and, as he hadn't brought his cane with him, with no little effort Ambrose wrenched himself to a standing position.
"No, it isn't a cat, the shape is wrong. Its canine but I'd be damned surprised if it was a house pet."Â?
He walked a long a bit gauging the creature's stride, other than that he wasn't seeing much new, but the trail did keep going. Something about this whole situation was bugging him.
"Impressions? Or are you ready for a bit more of a ride?"Â?
After helping Belle back up, relying mostly on his upper body he remounted. Midnight's calm, steady patient disposition was a blessing and proof that Belle cared about him.
Ysabel
13 years ago
Ambrose was adorable, in her opinion, when he was being chivalrous. He did it entirely for her, she had no doubt, for she had seen him be a complete bastard to plenty of people on plenty of occasions. Somehow, she mused, where it might have bothered her ten, twenty, or even three hundred years ago, it didn't bother her now.
She accepted his help, once again made easier with a little judicious levitation, and resettled herself in the saddle. As she looked down again at the trail she noticed something that she hadn't before, a small print that fell somewhere between the size of the suspected canine and what was maybe a much smaller one.
"Look," she said, indicating it to Ambrose. "What made that one?"
It looked fresher than the rest, if she had truly understood Amber's lesson, newly-exposed dirt not yet dried from the night breeze. "A scavenger?"
Perhaps something smaller had come along at the scent of rabbit, looking for a snack of leftovers. The idea made her wrinkled her nose distastefully, but animals would be animals after all.
She accepted his help, once again made easier with a little judicious levitation, and resettled herself in the saddle. As she looked down again at the trail she noticed something that she hadn't before, a small print that fell somewhere between the size of the suspected canine and what was maybe a much smaller one.
"Look," she said, indicating it to Ambrose. "What made that one?"
It looked fresher than the rest, if she had truly understood Amber's lesson, newly-exposed dirt not yet dried from the night breeze. "A scavenger?"
Perhaps something smaller had come along at the scent of rabbit, looking for a snack of leftovers. The idea made her wrinkled her nose distastefully, but animals would be animals after all.
Ambrose
13 years ago
Nudging Midnight up a bit to get a better look at the track that Belle had pointed out he frowned. Not only frowned but leaned as far over as he could with out falling or putting his horse off. No way in hell was he dismounting again if he could help it.
What the hell was that? He didn't recognize it at all. Fresh though, probably from tonight. He straightened back up in his saddle and shook his head at Belle.
"I'm not sure. There isn't a lot to scavenge here, what we're tracking saw to that, but it could be."Â?
He was starting to think what they had been tracking was a wolf, but he was hesitant to say that. You just didn't find wolves in the city. And now with this track, something he had never seen before, Ambrose was down right suspicious.
All of a sudden he didn't know what he was dealing with and was slightly weary of Belle's safety. Not enough to coddle her or suggest they turn back, but enough he was working on being more alert.
He gave himself over to his perception again. It all sounded like wildlife, and nothing was coming dead at them; so he decided to press on.
What the hell was that? He didn't recognize it at all. Fresh though, probably from tonight. He straightened back up in his saddle and shook his head at Belle.
"I'm not sure. There isn't a lot to scavenge here, what we're tracking saw to that, but it could be."Â?
He was starting to think what they had been tracking was a wolf, but he was hesitant to say that. You just didn't find wolves in the city. And now with this track, something he had never seen before, Ambrose was down right suspicious.
All of a sudden he didn't know what he was dealing with and was slightly weary of Belle's safety. Not enough to coddle her or suggest they turn back, but enough he was working on being more alert.
He gave himself over to his perception again. It all sounded like wildlife, and nothing was coming dead at them; so he decided to press on.