( 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

[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.

[bigbaddy]

First we should see if we can find out more. Their numbers, where they're sleeping-- stuff like that.

[ For all the man seems like muscle and action, it's not like Bigby is stupid. Especially not when it comes to this. There are a whole lot of things that he knows very little about - past conversations with Erichthonios have proven as much to him, in fact, since the other loves rambling on about stuff Bigby has absolutely no idea about - but he knows a lot about this. Hunting, wildlife-- they've both been a constant in his life for so long.

He's confident enough that he can tackle this that he doesn't mind bringing someone else along. In the worst case scenario Bigby still feels like he could protect Erichthonios if it came down to that. ]

It's not much use making a plan before then, when we're going off so little information. So we should follow the tracks and see if we can find out more.

[ He tilts his head, gesturing in the direction of where these current tracks seem to lead. ]

You think you're up for that? [ Hey, it's not like Bigby is going to force the other. If Erichthonios doesn't want to be part of it, he'll understand. It's not for everyone, even though Bigby feels like they should all learn how to survive here. ]

[aetherialshackles]

That we can do, yes. Finding out their numbers... It may not be the easiet thing, I ready that most snow dwelling predators have the the tendency of walking in line. Not that it necessarily means much since we don't know what we're after.

[A hum escaped his lips as he brought one hand to his chin, tapping it with a finger. He knew so little about wildlife, but at the same time he was an avid scholar and book reader so at least some basic knowledge was there. And he trusted Bigby very much, the man was muscular and apparently strong but also... smart, from the little they interacted.]

I agree to disagree. Stepping in without any preparation may be for the worst, most if not all Felidae species are ambush predators and we may step in their den without even noticing. Allow me to prepare a few torches before we go?

[He fortunately had dry wood and other things at hand. When the other man gestured toward the track's directions he swallowed and nodded. Was he ready to fight? No. Did he knew how to use any kind of weapon? The closest thing was his axe, that he chopped wood with, and a sickle, so those probably didn't count. But he knew that if he let his emotions flow, fire was by his side...? There was at least that, even if he had little control over the sparks.]

I don't know how much I can actually do, but I'm not letting you go on your own.

[bigbaddy]

[ Bigby gives the other a little nod. Torches definitely couldn't hurt, given what they're facing. It's a smart idea, and if Erichthonios immediately starts on preparing said torches, Bigby will even move over to give him a hand with it. It's not like he's just going to stand there and do nothing while the other guy does all the work by himself.

And while they're at it, and Erichthonios says that last thing.. That instead makes Bigby shake his head a little. ]

Don't say that about yourself.

[ Sure, it's not like Bigby knows whether or not the other can even fight, let alone properly defend himself. But it's not about that. ]

You're a help. Just look at everything you're saying right now. You've got a lot more knowledge than me, and that sort of thing helps. [ He pauses, maybe focusing on the torches for a second, and then adds: ] Even in battle. 'specially since I'm mostly working off instinct here.

[ Since he is a wolf and all. ]

[aetherialshackles]

I'm being objective about it. I may have book knowledge, but I never received combat training in my life and that's a fact.

[He can't. He's quick at working with the branches he was carrying and creating a thin torches- something that will burn fast, perhaps, but easily. Keeping more than a couple with them will at least give the two something to run away. With Bigby's help, he also prepares a couple of normal ones, using his scarfs as rags since he wasn't exactly carrying a lot of cloth with himself to begin with. Even when it comes to fuel, he barely has some in the lamp, but hopefully the rags have been soaked enough in it to light without issues.]

If you need an instant ignition, just pass it to me. Of all weird powers we got in this place, mine is sparking flames.

[He struggles to control it, but strong emotions make flames flow and if he gets scared he's positive there will be good sparks.]

That's a wonderful thing, though. Instinct is a most powerful weapon in situations like this. [A pause as he gets up, tossing the fuel stained gloves on the ground and, after grabbing the now torch filled basket with his elbows and sliding the hands in his jacket's pockets.] I'm ready. Even if I'm afraid my best weapon is a sickle.

[bigbaddy]

We'll work it out.

[ After all, making flames is quite an useful power in case they do end up to just be dealing with a bunch of oversized wildlife. It might be enough to scare them away all by itself if things get dicey, Bigby figures.

Speaking of weapons - he picks the big axe he was carrying back up. Not exactly Bigby's prefered weapon, considering how it was turned against him way back, but.. honestly, that also means he just knows how well this kind of thing works against forest creatures. And since he can't shift the way he did back home, he'll have to make do without his usual claws. ]

C'mon, let's go. [ He adds now they're done preparing the torches, starting to head in the direction the tracks are leading towards. ] If things get really bad, then you just run back in the direction of town and leave me to handle 'em. Worse case scenario, I can probably outrun them. That's the power this place gave me.

[ So better if they're distracted by Bigby, who can get away from them, than Erichthonios who can't.

And honestly, even if he didn't have that particular power? Bigby still would have suggested it like this. He's always going to put other people's safety ahead of his own. ]

[aetherialshackles]

I'm sure we will.

[Hopefully it's just that and not anything more dangerous. He knows his old facility had much more dangerous creatures inside, but at the same time they were well contained, even large wildlife could overpower them easily if there are too many creatures around them. He has no materials to build traps or nets at the moment, so he can only rely on the little they're carrying with themselves. At least Bigby is... reliable in this sense, right? Erich already took quite some time to figure out the correct way to hold his small sickle was not swinging it against the dry herbs to collect them, but holding them on the top and then slicing it on the bottom by pulling toward himself- he doubts he would be useful in battle with it.]

You're the boss.

[A pause, then, as he listened to the other man's words. That was a convenient power, that for sure, but the idea of leaving anyone behind left a bitter taste in his mouth. He already had other people fight to protect him and... it wasn't associated to good memories. But if Bigby had the gift of running fast...]

I see. You give me an indication that it's time to run and I will do so, ok? You just... try not to get hurt, please.

[And there he was, following the tracks and scanning the area around them for any potential danger. He wasn't confident they could spot the big cats before it was too late, but it was at least worth trying.]

[bigbaddy]

[ Thankfully Bigby figures he'll be able to spot one of those things before it spots them - hopefully, anyway. It's why he's making sure to not be too loud as they're following the tracks through the snow, and he's keeping a good eye out for their surroundings, hoping to spot whatever is hiding out here if it's anywhere nearby.

.. no such sign right now, though. Maybe that's why Bigby affords himself a moment to glance over at Erichthonios, speaking up with: ]

Are you saying you care about me?

[ He's definitely making it sound like a joke, like he's lightly ribbing the other.

Not like Bigby knows how to deal with people expressing any form of care about him in any other way, after all. ]

[aetherialshackles]

[They can only hope so. Erich is... worried he may be a nuisance, but at least he stops now and then to pick up some rocks and he's ready to light up a torch or two. Scared? A bit, yes. It's embarrassing considering he spent his entire life in a place filled with monsters, but this isn't something he can control in any way.

He keeps looking around, trying not to let his anxiety make him jump at every little sound around them.]

Is therer a reason I shouldn't?

[It's simple as that for him, as he whispers back. Oh, wait...]

Tracks are less linear and more messy, we're getting closer to their den, this is no longer a patrol or hunting trail, it's a space where the do spend time.

[bigbaddy]

[ Well, that gives Bigby a neat excuse to have to avoid answering that question. Especially since he can easily confirm the other is right when Bigby himself looks down at the tracks - they're exactly as Erichthonios himself describes them.

Maybe that's why the man opts to go quiet, just in case they're near. He doesn't want to give away their presence and give the wildcats the advantage. And while he's pretty sure Erichthonios likely figures the same, he still puts a finger to his lips to ask for silence, just in case.

Then Bigby starts moving a little slower, a little more quietly, looking around the area, and--

It seems that he's spotted something, since he beckons with an arm for Erichthonios to get closer, and then carefully points something in the distance out to him.

Turns out-- it's indeed a wildcat. And indeed a big one, like Bigby said.

Except this isn't just a regular big cat. It has a strange kind of muscle to it, like the cat happens to be a prowrestler in its spare time. ]

[aetherialshackles]

[Worry not, Erich is not very likely to go back to that question himself. Mostly because he has his answer already and it's 'no, there isn't' and it's applied to pretty much everyone in there. And right now the beasts near them are a big priority over... pretty much anything else.

He squints, looking forward and trying to study those things, they're more similar to the beasts he used to deal with than the rest of the fauna he met in that place so far... and that's why he's more wary than them. That thing is just not natural enough. One hand closes around the sickle's handle, the other is already holding one of the smaller, quick to burn torches. He... never really did any of this before and he turns in Bigby's direction, awaiting any direction from the better trained man.

Please don't mind the snow around his feet already starting to melt down because he's... incredibly nervous and his body is already heating up. Hopefully he won't slip when it'll be time to run.]

[bigbaddy]

[ At first Bigby doesn't really notice what's happening with the other guy. He's too focused on the creatures in the distance, and it's only after a few moments of quiet observation that he bothers to look over at Erichthonios.. and sees his little situation. Thankfully Bigby is aware at this point that some people in town have that strange fire power, so he does realise that's likely what's happening here. Didn't someone say it might be tied to-- to emotions or whatever? Is Erichthonios that worried?

No matter how Bigby comes across, it's not like it doesn't tug at his heartstrings a little. So after thinking for a moment, he reaches out with his free hand to squeeze Erich's shoulder. ]

Hey. [ It's a whisper, obviously. He's not dumb enough to talk at full volume so that thing over there can actually hear them. ] It's fine. You stay here. I'll take care of it. Alright?

[ It's not like he's going to force the other further into this mess if he's worried already. Bigby figures he can handle it, even if that wildcat looks stronger than he imagined. The important part is that Erich is here to witness things in case it does go wrong, just so there's someone to tell the rest of town about it. ]