( open ) i'm guessing that i've grown horns

[bigbaddy]

Who: Bigby and you!
What: If there are animal tracks anywhere in the area, you know the big dog's got to chase them down.
When: During April.
Where: First prompt outside the populated areas towards the rockier areas in the wild, second prompt back in Milton.

Content Warnings: Nothing in the log itself, if anything comes up in a thread there will be a warning in the header!

( 1. outside town )

[ Maybe you decided to go along with Bigby out on a little trip - or maybe he invited you along, if he knows you. Maybe you even came out here by yourself, and Bigby ran into you.

Either way, you're standing here now together, out in the rockier area between the mining camp and the ravine - staring down at some tracks in the snow. Even if the fog constantly hanging around is making visibility more of a problem, at least it's still very much possible to just look down and stare at the rather feline tracks in the snow. ]

See? [ Bigby points out to you. ] This is what I was talking about. I haven't seen this here before, but.. judging by the looks of it, that's got to be one big cat.

[ More than just a cat, really. That's why the man's eyebrows are drawn together into a concerned frown as he stares at the tracks, but then looks back up and over at you. ]

It's usually not been a good thing when new tracks appear around here.

( 2. in milton )

[ Running around in the wilds seems to have done very little for actually managing to find whatever animal is out there.. and instead seems to have done a whole lot more to Bigby himself.

After all, with the weather being the way it is, it feels incredibly exhausting to be out there. Let alone going out day after day, since he's so determined to find that thing. And between that and everything that's been happening the past few months, and the stress of the situation and the worries about the Darkwalker..

.. well, Bigby isn't doing so great.

It might become obvious when you see him coming back into Milton after another day of futile tracking. It's like he has to drag his feet to keep on moving as he's walking across town to head back to his place, lines of exhaustion visible in his face. But apparently he's not exhausted enough to no notice someone staring at him, since he'll lift his head to look over at you after a few moments, noticing you there. ]

.. Is something up?

[ For once he doesn't even sound gruff as he's saying it.

Bigby just sounds tired. ]

( ooc: replying with either brackets or prose is fine! i will match! c: )

Comments

Outside town. CW: Leg Injury.

[guidemyway]

[Ruby had only recently arrived back in town the other day, but she was more than happy to accept the invitation to track down some trouble. Even if she wasn't quite in tip top shape she wasn't about to slow down. A couple weeks ago while out exploring the areas beyond the mine her and Wynonna had a close encounter to the "eco-fucks" as Young Bill had called them. They had managed to get away with only one minor hole put shot into them each, but there were still injuries.

As such Ruby was steps on her one leg were coming a little slower than normal as she was still working toward recovery. She thankfully was pretty good at working through, and hiding any sense of pain it was giving her. But- That didn't mean the signs of injury weren't there.

She scans the area looking for any signs of whatever the tracks belonged to but didn't see anything. She glanced up to Bigby with a bit of a grin.]

I'm guessing you can't pick up a scent, huh?

[And she gives a little laugh.]

Okay. Okay. Bad joke, I know.

[bigbaddy]

[ Honestly, if Bigby was his usual fully-rested self, he might have been able to notice the slight signs of Ruby's injury. But somewhere between her not telling him about it and his mind being so hyper vigilant ever since the latest Darkwalker attack, Bigby truly just didn't notice. Why would Ruby have been so eager to join him on this little expedition anyway if she would be hurt? Clearly she's fine.

It means there's likely a nasty surprise waiting for him sooner or later, but.. for now? He's far too focused on their goal to notice anything, even when Ruby speaks to him. ]

Usually I'd be able to, you know. [ He points out - not sounding too offended. Probably because this one is way more true than any of the wolf jokes she usually makes! Congrats, Ruby, you've hit on one of the points that truly makes Bigby a wolf. ]

This place took my sense of smell away from me, which is what's making this a pain.

[ He points to the tracks - and the direction they're leading in. ]

Guess we'll just have to follow them by sight and hope they don't disappear at some point. Even you can do that, right? Don't need to be a wolf for it.

[guidemyway]

[If there was one thing Ruby was pretty good at doing, it was appearing fine right up until the point where she was definitely not fine at all. As such she's not exactly happy that it's slipped passed Bigby's notice, but it's letting her keep working which is clearly most important.

She gives a light little snort when he speaks up like that.]

Aw man. That's so cool- It sucks that it's not working now. But- At least you don't have to smell everyone's farts, right?

[Clearly a girl of priorities here.]

Yeah. I think I can manage that- The scope on rifle still works too. So if we see anything that looks out of place. I can try and get a good vantage point to get a better look.

1!

[ployboy]

[The first thing Tim had done when he had spotted The Wolf Man out in the wild was observe. And a Robin is as a Robin does, and this little bird had taken to the cloak of the fog like a duck to water. Erasing tracks, keeping silent as the freezing mist, and trailing just happened to be his biggest strengths.

It felt so good to be invisible.

But a stretch of time later, Tim is making himself known-- the cat's prints were growing erratic and Tim still couldn't bring himself to trust lingering daylight; the spur of panic makes him first ask if Bigby knows someone with the telepathy gift--

and whatever the answer, even dismissive, Tim will accept.

He's going to kill Damian if that Satan Spawn isn't already out there somewhere, dead.

Then the Wolf makes reason of the cat tracks, and Tim is still no good at tracking, so he mirrors the pinched brows and,] Is it patrolling its territory? Or have you noticed it getting... closer? To where it'll find people.

[bigbaddy]

[ At least Bigby doesn't seem to be too startled to suddenly be joined by Tim like that. He's usually prepared to not be the only one out here, somewhere between the people who travel from Milton to Lakeside, and the people out here hunting, and.. well, whatever Tim was doing out here.

You never know when it's Tim, after all.

But when the other sounds serious enough about the tracks, Bigby is willing to share some information with the kid. It's better for all of them to have as much knowledge as they can, after all. Better safe than sorry and all that. ]

If it's just patrolling its territory, then said territory has shifted. [ He shakes his head, Bigby's usual frown in place. ] These tracks weren't here before. They're new. Either it's a group of wild cats moving in, or it's some weird unnatural creature like those dogs from before.

listen your permissions say "backtagging: yes" so.... (feel free to discard orz)

[ployboy]

[The offer comes out before he can think about all the reasons why he shouldn't say it: better the devil you know is a close cousin to Bigby's own thoughts but Tim is rarely in the mood to share his own.]

We can set out bait to see what animal it is. It would only take one night.

[The animal-- the cat, was going to stick around regardless.

And the theme of sacrifice is never far from Tim's... motives. If he ever took time to understand them.

This snow-hell seems to have a lot of time for him, and relatively little to do. Considering.

But Tim's suggestion is tinted with just that- it's a suggestion he's volleying to the man, clearly not eager to play cocksure when he's so out of his element.]

If we're ambitious enough, the bait could double as a trap and we can measure more than just size in one go.

Outside town!

[salamanca]

[ Maybe Lalo even just invited himself along! Who knows. He does that sometimes.

He leans casually against Bigby when they stop, one arm on Bigby's shoulder. But when his attention his called to the tracks, he leans down. The he whistles, glancing up at Bigby from where he's crouched in the snow. ]

Whooooo! You weren't lyin'! Those things are huge.

[ He reaches to put a hand on the Glock tucked into the waistband of his pants, although he doesn't draw it out. ]

Wanna follow the tracks and see where they go? [ Lalo's eyes glint. It is worth noting his arm is mostly healed but it's still a little bit on the mend. ]

[bigbaddy]

[ Is Bigby a huge fan of physical contact? No, not necessarily - but Lalo is definitely one of those types who seems like he might just do something more if you tell him to stop doing it, so Bigby is just.. out here.. enduring it. It feels like the easier way, especially when he wants to focus on these tracks.

They seem like trouble, after all. Bigby doesn't need his wolf senses to smell this sort of trouble. ]

Of course, why else would we be out here?

[ And since you invited yourself along, Lalo, you're part of this too now! Enjoy it, dude. Have fun fighting whatever is on the other side of these tracks. ]

It's too dangerous if they're coming out here. People pass from Milton to Lakeside here, and I don't want anyone going that way to get caught by whatever's out here. We have to deal with it now. Nip the problem in the bud.

[salamanca]

[ Poor Bigby. At least Lalo seems to be enjoying himself, but then, he usually is. Even here. He hums slightly to himself, glancing off into the distance before re-focusing on his new, self-appointed traveling companion.

But he has to agree with what Bigby is suggesting. Letting these things go unchecked is just going to cause more trouble than it's worth. ]

You just better hope we don't find a little of kittens. You know one of these dipshits is going to try to keep them as a pet.

[ His tone says enough about what he thinks of that -- it'd be dumb -- but he doesn't trust anybody not to try it. ]

I'd say we should just figure out where they live and leave poisoned meat there, but I don't trust some of these idiots not to eat that too.

milton;

[powersuited]

[ Since their return, Snow's been dutifully staying inside town boundaries. Not that the same can be said for Bigby himself, who seems to be intent on going out to the woods at every available opportunity, only trudging back into Milton when he seems to have exhausted his ability to remain out there.

While she doesn't know exactly where he's living — it's not like she's earned a personal invite — it doesn't take many days of noticing what he's up to for her to time her appearance to when he's made it back from being out in the forest, crossing her arms over her chest with a distinct lift of one eyebrow. ]

I could ask you the same question.

[ What's going on, buster? But her expression softens, a little, as he glances up and she notices how worn he truly seems. ]

... Bigby, you're running yourself ragged out there.

[bigbaddy]

[ Somehow it almost weirdly doesn't seem surprising to find her right there when he returns to town. Not when she's looking like that. After all, if anyone at all were to call him out here about this, it'd be Snow. She knows him better than anyone, knows the signs of when he is or isn't running himself ragged.

So even though he doesn't exactly seem happy about being caught in the act, it is unsurprising enough that he just accepts the call out for what it is. That fact keeps him from getting angry or annoyed about it.

Instead he just looks a little defeated, his shoulders sagging. For such a gruff guy, he looks distinctly like a scolded puppy right now. ]

It's just-- I have to take care of this problem.

[ It sounds like he's making excuses.

And maybe this technically is one, but-- it's not an excuse from his point of view. If this didn't matter so much to him, he wouldn't be running himself ragged over it in the first place. ]

I know I'm getting real close to working it out. Probably just a few more trips out there and I'll have whatever is prowling out there tracked down.

[powersuited]

Does it really have to be you this time?

[ Or is he putting himself in the position of being the one who goes out into those woods, day after day, because he believes that he has to do it? Snow looks as skeptical as she sounds, but she isn't going to let him off easily in this instance, and sometimes, taking the sterner approach seems to get through to him over killing with kindness.

If she didn't know any better, she'd suspect he almost prefers it when she's a little meaner to him.

But she's going to need more of a reason from him now about why he's planning to do this while essentially running on fumes, and even then it may not be enough of an excuse to satisfy her in her concern. ]

The more tired you are, the more dangerous it is. [ She pauses, shoulders squaring with more determination. ] What can I do to convince you to come inside and rest for a little while?

2. in Milton

[pythianwoman]

Bigby is one of her people, here. He’s a friend. She trusts him. More than just about anyone. So of course she keeps an eye on him. Of course she sees how he’s running himself ragged Pushing himself harder, and harder. Without rest. She can’t miss it. Even if she wasn’t looking. She’d have to be blind.

And when it becomes painfully clear that OF COURSE he’s not going to rest, she goes and finds him.

“Yeah,” she replies to his tired question. “You. For way too fucking long. You need to rest.” Her tone of voice says that she’s not going anywhere until he does. And that she’ll sit on him if she has to.

[bigbaddy]

.. he definitely recognizes that tone of voice.

And he knows what it means. It means that he isn't going to get out of this, even if he'd try. Which he's severely tempted to do, even when he knows all the odds are stacked against him right now. It makes a hint of guilt sneak into his expression, like he very well knows what he's doing and what she's calling him out for. But it's just-- He wouldn't be doing this in the first place if he didn't think it was important. He has good reasons to run himself ragged.

"It's fine, Zoey. I'm really close to fixing this problem. Just a little bit more, and then I'll be done, and then I can rest all I want."

The problem might be that he's been telling himself just a little while more for a while already now, if the way he's looking is anything to go by.

[pythianwoman]

You can’t out-stubborn her, Bigby. Not this time. Not when your own well-being is at stake. Zoey’s far too stubborn when it comes to taking care of her people. Which he is.

“Absolutely not. What we’re going to do is we’re going to walk ourselves back to your place, I’m going to make you something warm and soothing to drink, and you’re going to lie down. You don’t have to sleep. But you’re definitely going to be resting.”

Don’t make her sit on you, Bigby. She will perch on your chest and make sure you stay there. She’s going to be staying there to make sure he rests anyways. Just not perching on his chest unless he makes her.

Outside Town

[aetherialshackles]

[It was by pure chance that Erichthonios and Bigby met: the researcher was out in the wilds foraging, a basket full of moss and birch bark showing his little progress and a bundle of sticks under one arm to help with the fires, and noticed something moving between the trees. He tried to hide until he spotted the more or less familiar face, approaching him and deciding to follow the older man. Learning new things or being aware of possible dangers was always important, wasn't it? And, to be completely honest, Erichthonios was craving some company. Plus he adored learning more about the local wildlife and the prospect of seeing something new... intrigued him.

The man adjusted his jacket, looking around to try to see through the fog and make sure no predator was stalking them, before kneeling down and trying to study the tracks. By his people's standards this was a familiar's track, something small and possibly cute, but no- he had to keep in mind that like wolves were dangerous predators there, things even small in size could be quite the problem.]

That... do we have anything else beside the tracks to find? Fur, body wastes... anything?

[He did place down his little bounty, reaching for a notebook and starting to sketch the little marks on the snow, even if unlike Bigby he wasn't as good as telling apart their actual lines but perhaps someone could help identify them better back in Milton.]

Wildlife seems to be rather documented in the local books. The large felines I saw documented are the lynx, bobcats and pumas? But I know very little about their sizes... [He did bring one hand to his chin, tapping it. For Erichthonios, born and raised in a facility full of monsters, it's still a bit difficult to figure out how dangerous something can actually be.] No, it cannot be good when we already deal with... enough predators as it is. [To put it mildly.] Do you think we should tell the others not to come around in this area unless they're in a group?

[bigbaddy]

[ Bigby is used to doing this sort of thing alone. Tracking things in the wild is practically all he did for ages upon ages until he was forced to leave his own world and start living as a human instead, after all. It's not like he needs the help, but..

.. well, things can be unexpected in this place. It's good to have an extra set of eyes, just in case something happens to him. At least it means someone will know he didn't just mysteriously disappear the way people in town sometimes seem to do. Besides, Erichthonios is smart. Maybe he'll be able to tell something different than Bigby's own more natural senses. ]

That's one idea, but I don't think it's gonna work. Way too many people travel along this road to that other place and then back to Milton for people to be able to avoid it entirely. [ He shakes his head. ] It might be a better idea to just deal with these creatures. It wouldn't hurt to have some more fresh meat and furs in town either.

[aetherialshackles]

[A hum escaped his lips as he passed his fingers on the snow, studying it. It's much smaller than the average paw he handled back home, but he's no longer in his beloved facility where things are more or less always under control. He's just glad not to be alone, mostly because he still doesn't know how to fight. And, while he's good at running away from wolves now... he is fully aware felines can climb]

You do have a point. I do suppose we can at least have some fire to keep us safe. It... does seem to work with the rest of the wildlife.

[He does take his gloves off, positive that with the wood he was carrying, it won't be too hard -if needed- to start a fire on the spot. After all, he does tend to burn things when he's agitated and he knows he'll be afraid if attacked by animals.]

I do agree that some extra furs would be more than welcome. And the meat too, I suppose, even if we have to make sure it's cooked properly. [He's standing up, there, looking at his things and gathering them. He... still doesn't feel like killing anything, but Erich is aware that he may have to learn how to do that as well. And at least Bigby seems to be a reliable personn and someone to learn from.]

I'm definitely not an hunter, so... what is your suggestion? All I can do is working on traps or starting fires real fast.

outside town

[darkxwolf17]

[It's not planned for Uzi to run into Bigby this way. She came out this way looking for supplies - no longer does the little drone huddle up in her makeshift base. Instead, she's trying to fortify shit. She managed to find planks and was working on boarding up the windows proper, but her scavenging lead her into Bigby, and the rest is history.]

Big cat, huh? [Her violet eyes flicker - literally - across the fresh-fallen snow. Pretty ordinary, save for the clear disruption from the deep tracks moving through it.] That's... kinda cool?

[Glances at Bigby, judging whether it's actually cool or not.]

...Is it like a normal cat? Or a weird cat?

[bigbaddy]

[ There's not even too much hesitation before he already gives the answer of: ]

Weird cat, likely.

[ Not that he can be sure, since this place isn't exactly where he comes from, but.. well, if there's one thing Bigby has quite some experience with, it's wildlife, right? He feels relatively confident in the assessments he can make in that area because of it. ]

You see those prints? [ He points at the tracks again. ] They're way too big for a cat. Even too big for wildcats, I'd say. I wouldn't go so far to say it's a monster or anything for sure, but it does look like something that could be a threat to us here.

[ Hey, it's a bit of a harsh and bleak message, but.. Bigby is all for being honest and upfront about these things. Doing anything else just creates victims. ]

1!

[heckofashot]

[ Maccready has only seen small cats — the domesticated kind, and he's not entirely familiar with them if he's honest — big cats, though, are sort of a weird vague idea in his mind. There are the kind that existed before, but there's plausibly the kind that exist after, too. Whatever left these tracks, he's hoping it's the former, rather than some horrible mutated beast.

Either way; not a good sign, indeed. He crouches to get a better look at the print, takes in its shape, and commits to memory the way in which it differs from a wolf's. ]

Everything around here is just trying to stake a claim, huh? [ he huffs, pulls a cigarette from his pocket and sets it between his lips. ] I really can't imagine that there's just the one, though…

[bigbaddy]

[ Bigby pulls his shoulders up a little at the first remark. Maccready is right on the money there, as far as he can see it - but it's often how things go in the wild. Bigby is used to it. Maybe not as used to this many different creatures trying to stake a claim, but maybe back home most of them knew better than to attempt to share woods with the Big Bad Wolf of all people.. ]

I think you're right. Felines are a little less likely to travel in packs the way canines do, but.. something about these tracks makes it seem to me like there's more than one too. [ Regardless of whether they're working together or not.

He frowns at the other guy. ]

And that could turn into trouble real quick. A lot of people pass by here on their way to the houses by the lake. I don't think all of them can defend themselves against an entire group of large wildcats.

[heckofashot]

[ Conversely, Maccready is more than used to fighting breaking out over claims of land — whether it's people, animals, or the mutants, there's always something. Cats though, well, he doesn't know a lot, the dogs he's seen in the waste are rarely alone, travelling in groups, so he'd assume they were similar. But if that's not the case— ]

Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll fight among themselves. [ It's said with a dry laugh, because it's wishful thinking at best, even if they do fight each other, it doesn't solve the problem. ] People should stick to the established routes for now, probably shouldn't travel without someone who can defend them.

[ Narrowing his eyes at their surroundings, following the tracks would be easy enough, at least give them some idea of where they're coming from. He's not entirely sure if noise and activity would draw them closer or deter them, though. ]

How likely is it we'd be able to chase 'em off? Most of the creatures I'm used to dealing with are, uh… Well, they'll attack and keep at it, regardless of how poorly it might go for them.

milton;

[burying]

[ It's not to say he's been... avoiding Bigby, but there's a certain amount of shame that comes with what happened back in January that's drawn a kind of distance between him and the man — wolf? wolfman? And— he knows they're probably alright, given the town meeting. Probably. It's— complicated, and Kieren's far better at swallowing everything down and never speaking of it. He's trying to better at it, but it's hard.

And he's been watching Bigby stalk around town for a while now. The guy looks exhausted, and Kieren feels a pinch in his chest as he watches. There's only so much watching from the sidelines he can do with this, and eventually he gives in and sets some water to boil.

As Bigby moves down Basin Outlook, Kieren steps out of his home with a mug in hand. There's a small, tight-lipped smile — sad and awkward. He shakes his head. ]

But.. guessing you won't be for much longer, by the looks of you. [ He offers the mug to him. ] It's coffee. Shit coffee, but— yeah.

[bigbaddy]

... thanks.

[ Despite the little pause before the thanks, Bigby does take the mug from Kieren. Bigby sure does love him some shit coffee, after all - especially when he feels like he can really use it. The combination of having been out there so often to try and deal with the mutated wildcats and the way the fog feels like it's sapping all of his energy definitely has left him exhausted. Though a part of him is also just glad to have something to focus on that doesn't really require any emotional input.

This does, though.

After all, Bigby has been more or less avoiding Kieren too. Not actively, but.. he also just hasn't searched out the other after what happened a few months ago. He was happy enough to protect the other's secret at the meeting, since outing Kieren would feel like the shittiest possible thing to do, but he also hasn't known how to really approach the other. Especially when it feels like Bigby fucked up. If Kieren never wanted to talk to him again, he wouldn't blame the kid.

Except.. here he is now. Handing him coffee. Coffee that Bigby quickly takes a sip of, if not just to be able to avoid having to talk.

Even if he can't avoid it forever. ]

.. so.

[ He pauses.

This is so awkward. Bigby is so incredibly badly equipped for social interactions, let alone ones that are more complicated to navigate than your standard ones. ]

Have you.. been alright lately? [ H-He's doing his best, okay.. ]