A/N: I told you I'd have it up. I TOLD you dog!
Just kidding. Anyway, Chapter 4: The Eclectic Hunter.
ectoBiologist (EB) began pestering gardenGnostic (GG)
EB: hey, jade?
EB: you there?
GG: sorry john!
GG: i was about to leave for a good old-fashioned hunt! :)
GG: so you'll have to make it quick!
EB: oh, okay.
EB: do you know what's the deal with these internet trolls?
EB: they're really irritating.
GG: ugh... no
GG: and frankly, i don't care really. :(
GG: i have to go, sorry john!
EB: aw okay, bye jade.
gardenGnostic (GG) ceased pestering ectoBiologist (EB)
A girl stood up from her pile of plushes, promptly shutting off her computer. Nearby, her hunting rifle leaned against the wall. Grabbing onto it, as well as a pair of goggles, she walked over to her transportalizer. As she stepped on, there was a flash of green and the teen found herself in a different room, one cluttered with random objects.
A fire quietly crackled a few feet away. As she approached it, she saw her stuffed grandfather's corpse, smiling grandly at nothing in particular. Fondly regarding her deceased guardian, she continued on past him, towards the door. Reaching for the door handle, there was another green flash, and the girl ran into a mass of flesh.
A large white dog appeared in front of her path.
Frowning, the girl greeted the dog: "Oh. Hey, Bec!" The dog did not flinch. "I was just going for a hunt! No biggie, really! I won't be gone long!" She tried to squeeze past him towards the door, but Bec just blocked her. "Ugh, okay. Here: I'll give you a radiated steak if you let me go hunt.." Quickly retrieving the meat from her sylladex, she sent it towards him. Catching the steak in his mouth, Bec happily chewed it.
Green energy soon surged around them both, and the girl yet again found herself in a new place.
This time it was a lush green forest.
Dawn had just begun to break, a palette of colors painting the sky. The sun's rays lit up the tip of mountains, brightening up the white, snow caps on top. A chorus of birds chirped distantly and insects started to buzz. Gripping onto her rifle, she walked forth.
This girl's name is Jade Harley, and she is a hunter.
…
After several hours past the break of dawn, the girl stopped to take a rest. Sitting down on a sturdy log, she placed down her catch: mostly small game. Using a nearby stream, she washed her dirtied hands and face. She dipped a washcloth into the water and started to clean her rifle. Once she finished, Jade started squeezing out the excess water from the cloth, liquid dripping down onto the green grass.
A deep bellow sounded from far within the forest. With a grin, she gathered her belongings together and headed into the thicker area of the woods.
…
A hoofbeast slowed its brisk run into a gentle gallop, and down to a halt. Stopping at the riverbank, it dipped down to take a drink. Lapping up the water, it felt the cool liquid ran down its throat.
Click.
It froze. Whipping its head up, its eyes darted left to right searching for the source of the sound. A small squirrel-like creature scurried out of a nearby bush. With a snort, it dipped its head down to-
Bang.
The large hoofbeast fell heavily onto the bank. Its blood leaked down into the river, staining the water pink.
From nearby, Jade emerged from the bushes, clearing her rifle's chamber of the empty round. The casing fell with a clank, hitting a small pebble on the ground. Bending over to grab her prey, she hoisted it up onto her shoulder. Walking back the way she came, the girl-
Rustle, rustle.
Immediately, Jade dropped her hunt and brought up her rifle, scanning the shrubbery. Getting down on her knee, she moved the large animal in front of her as a small barrier, just the barrel of her gun poking out above the carcass. The teen loaded the next bullet of her clip with a click.
Whatever it is out there, it meant she was not alone.
…
Hours earlier…
Nepeta found herself slumped against a wall, with no sign of Karkat. Walking towards the entrance of her cave, she found him sitting down and staring out into the distance, lost in thought. Quietly approaching behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, poking her head beneath his arm. Karkat blinked out of his trance and looked towards his matesprit with a slight grin. "Good morning." The female troll smiled back in response.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! We should go hunting together! Wouldn't that be fun?" Nepeta asked excitedly, her tail moving back and forth.
The male troll frowned. "I don't know… Hell, it sounds fricking dangerous for someone with little experience. For example, me."
"Come on! It'll be fun! Just one hunt!" She started poking his sides playfully.
"Oh my gog, fine! One hunt, right?"
"One."
"Okay then. Let's go." Karkat said, standing up.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
"Uh… what was that?"
Nepeta gave him a playful shove. "Well, why don't we go check it out?" Taking lead, she strolled into the trees.
"..."
"Damn it."
…
The two found themselves on a pleasant walk through the forest, stopping and taking in the sights. Earlier, they stopped by a small stream and watched small fishes swim by. Nepeta tried to grab a bigger one, but she cringed every time she touched the water. Karkat had just laughed and playfully pushed her closer to the water.
Unfortunately, the result was Karkat ending up covered with scratches and Nepeta soaked thoroughly.
After sitting in the sun (much to their displeasure) to dry off, the couple continued on their hunt.
…
"Sh, sh, sh. Okay Karkat, over here. Be really quiet." the female troll beckoned. Ahead was a hoofbeast, its mane blowing in the breeze. It brought its head down to drink water.
"Okay, ready your sickle. We're going to flank it. I'll go this way-" she explained, pointing to bushes left of the creature. "-and you go that way-" pointing to the opposite side. With a nod, the two went their separate ways. Once she got to her spot, Nepeta peeked over the edge of the bush, looking for Karkat. She tracked his head over the top of the shrubbery, bobbing up and down. Finally, he too had reached his spot. Putting up three fingers, she counted down, physically and mentally.
Three. She set her feet steady.
Two. She brought out her silver-blue claws.
One- Bang.
Nepeta fell over, startled by the noise. It seemed her matesprit jumped too: rubbing his head under a low-lying branch.
Looking at the prey again, it was bleeding through a small puncture wound on its chest, its blood seeping into the dirt and stream.
…
Bang. Karkat suddenly stood up and hit his head on a solid branch. His skull started to ache, rubbing a small bump left on top. Looking towards Nepeta, she was looking at the hoofbeast, which now laid bleeding on the riverbank.
Bzzz.
The troll looked around.
Bzzzzzzz.
A small stingerbeast was flying around, dangerously close to his head. Swatting at it, he seemed to have driven it away.
At least, that's what he thought.
Until it landed on his nose.
OH SH-
…
Nepeta watched, utterly confused (and a little amused), at Karkat freaking out across the clearing. The male troll was waving his arms around like a madman, yet not making any sort of sound. Presumably, the only screaming that was happening was going on in his head.
She laughed quietly, though she quickly stifled it.
Unfortunately, his actions caused him to trip and crush a bush, making a loud rustling.
The hunter's mouth dropped open, horrified.
Click.
Things might have just taken a turn for the worst.
...
A/N: I'd like to thank all the people who inspired me to continue this story so far.
Thanks to the reviewers:
-Dr4g0ngiirl
-Dragongirl (who I have a feeling are the same person, but changed writer name)
-Guest
Your reviews were very nice and thoughtful. Even the vague "Moar", whatever that means.
I'll keep updating.
P.S.: Perhaps a certain Seer would help me expand the story's dynamics, hmm TZ?
P.P.S.: By the way, the line, "Unfortunately, the result was Karkat ending up covered with scratches and Nepeta soaked thoroughly." had no innuendos at all.
AT.
ALL.
NONE WHATSOEVER TO IMPLY BUCKET FILLING OR OTHERWISE RELATED ACTIVITY.
Until next time,
~ATJKU