Hunting Trip

Slowly I inhaled as I pulled back the string and steadied the arrow. The deer hadn't noticed me and stood perfectly still by the riverbed. I carefully adjusted my body to a more stable position and lifted my bow higher towards my face for a better line of sight, pulling the string further back. Hunting was all about patience, awaiting the perfect moment. I exhaled slowly as I prepared to let the arrow loose.

The deer suddenly lifted its head in response to a twig breaking behind me. I let the arrow loose but the deer had already moved aside and the arrow flew past it into the river as the deer ran away. Quickly disappearing upstream the river and out of my sight.

"What was that?! Didn't you use to be a hunter before you joined us?" Ria laughed sarcastically behind me.

"Maybe if you didn't move like a bear? We would have had food right now," I said with an annoyed tone.

I had been with the Companions for over half a year now. Skjors training had shown quite the results and my shoulders, back, and arms had gained muscles to the point that the armor my father had given me no longer was too large, in fact, some parts had started to chafe here and there, so Eorlund had helped me make some adjustments. Also, I no longer used my father's short sword, but instead I had asked Eorlund to make me one like Farkas had. A large two-handed sword not made for a normal man. It had taken some time getting used to a new sword art and technic, but Skjor had thought Farkas to use his so he had no problem in switching his teaching strategy for me. But I wasn't wearing my heavy armor today. I wore something lighter since Ria and I had been sent on a hunting trip.

Ria was a few years younger than me, but she had joined the Companions just a few months before I did. And so, the two of us usually got paired up to do the simpler tasks. And for the Companions, simpler meant boring... Like hunting, gathering water, chopping wood, polishing armor and weapons, delivering letters and so forth.

"Lighten up! No need to be so serious all the time." She said with a childish smile. "You know what you need? A woman! Someone to help you relax every now and then… And maybe pull that stick out of your ass"

"Pull that stick out of my ass?!" I laughed.

"She could even help you put it back in. If you're into that sort of thing?" She jested with a wink.

"oh no, Ria. Have you been reading the teachings of Dibella again? Or did you read Torvar's copy of The Lusty Argonian Maid to keep your mind off of Vilkas?" I teased.

"See! That's better! No more frowning brows or harsh looks. And for your information, the Lusty Argonian Maid is a very… ¨educational¨ read," She said, blushing slightly as an embarrassed smile spread across her face.

Even thou Ria was loud, clumsy, could never keep still and had an annoying tendency to make every job harder than it had to be. We had fun. She had a certain humor that was unfitting both a warrior and a young woman. But somehow she made it work.

"But you doo need a woman thou," she continued. "You know what you should do? You should get an amulet of Mara. Parade around the marketplace and see if she bites" She said with a tease in her eyes.

"She?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Oh don't try me!" She giggled all girly-like. "I heard how you went out of your way to get Ysolda that mammoth tusk. You think she really gave it to the khajiits?" She continued, smiling even wider.

"Ria... just what are you implying?..." I could feel I had a ridiculous smile on my face as I shook my head and asked.

"Ohh I don't knooow? Maybe she kept it for herself? Maybe she likes biiig stroong men. As in… under the belt big…" She jested.

"Ria… You…" I was truly at a loss of words.

"Hit a sore spot did I? Is that why you prefer a greatsword? Compensating much?" she continued to jest.

"Is there no limit to your jests?!" I laughed. "And no! I'm quite satisfied with what I have under my belt!"

"I'm sure you are," she laughed.

We both laughed for a while.

"So are we spending another night in Riverwood?" Ria asked as she had managed to stop laughing.

"Yeah, we might as well go back. I'm quite sure we have scared off any game in the area anyway. We'll have to try again tomorrow."

I gathered my gear and we started walking towards Riverwood. I was already thinking about warm soup and mead at the Sleeping Giant Inn when Ria interrupted my thoughts.

"Soo?..." she said.

"What?"

"Ysolda?" she said with a smile.

"OH SHUT UP!..."