Hippies and Hunters |Cat|

[Daae]

The smell of cooked meat permeated the air, greasy fat hissing and spitting as it fell from the cooking flesh to splatter noisily into the fire. Scant sunlight was piercing the leafy canopy above, dappling the woods with beams that looked nearly solid enough to touch but none of the sun's heat seemed to reach the ground. It was cool enough that Daae was shrugged deeply into her colorless gray cloak, her honey eyes alert on the potential thief that was sitting still as the grave beside her fire.

"Don't even think of it or I'll be cooking you on a spit next." Her voice was amused, mostly musical and a pair of large, liquid, and very canine eyes turned in her direction. There was no better sight-hound in all of Camelot than her Beast, but the massive white wolfhound was a glutton. If she so much as blinked in the midst of her cooking, he'd gobble up her dinner and probably the stick that it was roasting on as well. "You were a pig in a past life. Weren't you, Beast?"

Ever the manipulator, the dog whined, falling onto his side as though he were malnourished. Dirty little beggar... Laughing quietly, Daae picked a bit of meat from the skinned rabbit that was meant to be her meal for the next few days, tossing it to the pig that often masqueraded as a hunting dog. Beast gobbled them up before they had a chance to cool. Not that he'd notice. One of the many benefits of simply inhaling one's meal. Eyebrows raised, Daae went back to the task at hand. The rabbit wasn't going anywhere, at least not of its own volition, and she had a pelt to clean before it dried and started to curl.

It was unusual for a woman to be in the trapping trade. It was even more unusual for Daae, considering her age. Barely into her twenties, she'd made her foster father's last years very comfortable. He was paid for the jobs that she herself performed with the skills that he had taught her. They were always fed, always warm, always sheltered, but when the old Trapper died, the jobs stopped coming. Men didn't feel her up to the task of stalking the creatures of the forest. Daae snorted, pulling a blade out from her boot. It was one of many that were stashed on her body. Hardly a weapon, the knife playing between her fingers was a tool of her trade. Dull, thin, but stiff, its only use was to clean the underside of the hide she'd ripped off her dinner a short time ago.

If nothing else she could sell it and it would go on to line some fine lady's sleeves or collar. Women that had no idea that their fine garments were once her bloody trappings. It was a thought that always left her smirking. Bless the oblivious aristocracy. "Fool Beast, I see you. Go leor!" Her tone was hardly heated and she contradicted them by picking off another few chunks of roast and offering them to her stalwart, four-legged companion. "Tá tú madra maith, Beast." Her only answer was a wag of his tail and fair bit of slobber, but the young trapper wasn't concerned with such things. It was a beautiful day, after all, and there was a meal waiting to be had.

[Catalina Regalis]

All those who wandered were not lost and considering how well that Catalina knew the forests that bordered Camelot, such definitely could be said for her. A restless soul, she was unable to stay still for very long, especially when the day was hardly over and she had nothing to do. Her Uncle suggested that she study or meditate but Catalina wasn't able to do that, not today. She had to wander around or she'd die of boredom! Alright...maybe die was a heavy word to use but she just couldn't remain with the other druids that day. Even her sister commented on her restlessness, telling her that if she was in need to to wander, at least make herself useful. "Make yourself useful Catalina. Don't get your fool self killed Catalina..." Cat grumbled to herself as she traveled through the silent forest. As if she was always getting in trouble... Alright so there was that one time... and the other... She wasn't always in trouble!

Know-it-all Samara... Just cause she was never in trouble didn't mean she was perfect! It was a rarity that Catalina was annoyed with her sister in such a way but Samara's smugness just got to the druidess for some reason. Perhaps she was just in a cranky sort of mood as she left the safety of the encampment to be on her own. Maybe it was her need for independence that continuously caused trouble to befall her or maybe it was her confidence that she could handle anything that came her way. Her magic was strong but she was hardly a master and she made mistakes, especially if she was rushed. Still, surely the fact that she was still alive and well was enough testament that she was doing alright.

Or it just proved that she had some really dumb luck in escaping bad situations. It was hard to tell either way really but for now she didn't want to think much on it. If anything, she was simply being a petulant child that simply did not like being told what to do but than again, who did like it?

Walking at her side was her favored mount, her black stallion Cobalt. How she loved the big galoot of a horse. She had him since he was a filly and she had trained him and helped him become the fine mount that he was now. His sweet brown eyes peered down at her with a fondness as she held loosely onto his reins. He was a very cooperative horse and didn't need much coaxing to do as she asked. It helped that she was a druid and thus animals seemed to trust them easier. Not all but most. Leaning over, she kissed him on the nose and laughed as he tossed his head around as though trying to rid himself of the kiss. "You do not think me to be a fool, do you Cobalt?" She asked softly, looking up at him before smirking. "On second thought, don't answer that question."

The delectable scent of cooked rabbit caught her attention and Cat looked around, trying to determine the source of the smell. She should have turned back at that point, she wasn't supposed to make her presence known but she couldn't help but be curious and thus she followed the smell. It didn't take her long before she and Cobalt came upon Daae's little camp. It was strange to see a woman in the forest, well not so much a woman but a woman dressed as Daae was. She had the appearance of a trapper or something to that degree. No simple high-born lady or mere peasant, that was for sure. "Not often one sees a lady trapper." Catalina said as she stood there, somewhat unsure whether her presence would be welcome or rejected.

[/size]

-----------------------------------

Tags; Daae
Word Count; 658
Lyrics; "We Are” Ana Johnnson
Time-frame; Early Afternoon – During the First Season

[Daae]

Nothing around the small fire had changed but Daae was suddenly tense in the dirt. Beside her Beast was still begging forlornly, the rabbit was still roasting, and an annoying crow was perched overhead still shrieking abuse at the hunter for stinking up the air with the scent of cooked meat. It was all as it had been... but Daae slowly slid an arrow from the quiver laying tidily at her side. Warm honey-brown eyes swept her small camp as the hair on the back of her neck prickled and her fingers moved automatically, nocking the arrow on the string and holding it there, undrawn.

Someone was coming.

Daae like to think that what kept her so in tune with the world around her was the years she spent under the old Trapper's tutelage. He had been thorough in his lessons, and had never fettered her unusual habit of running about the woods like an untamed thing. Quite the contrary, he'd taught Daae to use her ease with the wild to her advantage. But there was always some small part of her, one small maddening part of her mind, that at moments like this wondered if her Druid blood was up to tricks. She couldn't see who was there. Not yet. But she knew that she was no longer alone. Slowly, the rhythmic crunch of brush being disturbed drew her attention to the far side of her fire. The bow sat in her lap, her fingers still and practiced on the string as a shape in red appeared through the trees, so out of place and vibrant against the earthy hues of the wood. What are knights doing so far from the path? The startled thought finally urged her into action and Daae stood and drew her bow as the horse and its lead cleared the trees.

The second she got a clear look at the intruder, Daae immediately felt foolish. It was no knight. Slim and gentle, it was some little girl in a red cloak and Daae lowered her bow, unnocking the arrow with a spectacular scowl on her face. She'd nearly had a heart attack thinking the knights of Camelot were stomping through her wood.

"Not often one sees a lady trapper."

Well, how was that for a hello? It was a young woman, a few years her junior perhaps with large blue eyes that slowly took in Daae's solitary camp. Daae merely snorted. "Lucky you, then." With little grace she thunked back down beside her fire, casting a look to her hound that was busy snuffling the ground around the girl, his tail wagging a mile a minute. "Some guard dog you make. You'll be making friends with the hares next." The criticism went unheeded as Beast returned to Daae's side to rest his slobbery head on her leg. "Needy little traitor," she mumbled affectionately. None of her soft tone was extended to the girl and Daae went back to cleaning the skin as though Catalina wasn't there. Her grimace didn't soften for a second as her eyes inspected the stranger. Whoever she was, she wasn't from the towns, that was for sure. She moved with the same ease through the trees as Daae did herself. Warning bells were ringing unheeded in the trapper's head. "Well? Are you going to sit or are you going to stand there like a hitching post?" she snapped. Her foster father's lessons didn't include 'how to be a gracious hostess' and she simply gestured abruptly to the fire indicating that Catalina was free to sit if she chose. If she didn't... well, Daae would get over it.

Smirking, Daae hiked an eyebrow as she scrapped bits of tattered flesh off the hide. "So..." she said with a bit of a laugh in her tone, "What would you be, that you're so content alone in the forest? Outlaw? Runaway? Woodsman?" Her honey eyes swept up to meet Catalina's baby blues, a smile finally turning up the corners of her mouth. "Or might you be a little Druid that's wandered off from her camp?" Lord help her. If there were Druids stashed somewhere nearby Daae would have to move camp. She wasn't about to risk living alongside Uther's most hated.

[Catalina Regalis]

Surely Daae had some guts claiming that this was her wood, even if it was just in her mind. It still took some gall to believe such a thing or perhaps it was not gall but delusions. Not that Catalina heard her thoughts; she did not have such a power. Seeing the woman brandishing her arrow, the fear of being shot had only registered once the huntress with attitude had put it away. Strangely enough. Why would she immediately take the offensive? Catalina had done nothing wrong. Then again, Catalina didn’t understand the minds of those that did not share her mind-set, that of peace and the path of least resistance. Catalina had spoken first, her hands held up in a non-threatening gesture as though she was saying ‘please don’t shoot me’ with her body language alone. Would be her luck to get an arrow somewhere because of her curiosity. Curiosity killed the Cat…

While Daae proved to be nothing more than a rude trapper, her four legged friend seemed to be quiet the opposite. Smiling down at the pooch, she scratched behind his ear. Daae didn’t seem to be too happy about the friendly animal’s mannerisms but from what Catalina could tell, the dog had more manners than his ornery owner. Had Daae not been lacking in the chest area, Catalina would have sworn that she was a man. Most women were normally more gentile and at least had some hospitality towards people, even complete strangers. Catalina figured she would be turned away quickly and if that were the case, she would leave with no fuss. She was not one to stay where she was not wanted. Holding tight to the reins of her horse, she noticed that Cobalt wasn’t exactly thrilled with having Beast snuffling at Catalina’s feet. Too close for his comfort most likely. Catalina whispered softly to her steed to calm him before looking back over at Daae who had pretty much ignored her for the most part.

Catalina almost apologized for intruding but she didn’t have the chance before Daae spoke again, asking if she was going to sit or just stand there. Cat hadn’t been sure about that really. Daae seemed to be the violent sort and Cat didn’t really see much of a need to consort with such types but she had intruded on her so perhaps it was only polite rather than just taking her leave. Rather than answering, she tugged gently at Cobalt’s reins until he followed behind her and she tied him to a low hanging branch. Unless something chose to spook him, he would remain where she put him. He was very tame like that. “I apologize for my intrusion.” She finally said as she took a seat, trying hard not to be annoyed with Daae’s lack of mannerisms.

Once she had taken a seat, Catalina averted her gaze from what Daae was doing. She knew it was a necessary thing, the killing, skinning and than eating of animals but that didn’t mean she had to watch the process. It was disgusting and she was not one for blood. Cat was a bit unsure of herself at this point, she had no doubt that if she felt threatened that she would be able to defend herself but when it came to initiating conversation, she was at a loss because it was obvious how opposite she was to the female trapper. Biting her lip, she looked over at the large dog and than at Cobalt until Daae spoke, laughter touching her tone though it was hard to tell whether or not it was condescending laughter or not. Her questions seemed to be spoken out of jest, as though she knew full well that this girl could hardly pass for either an outlaw or woodsman. A runaway was possible but no, she needn’t bother to answer the woman’s questions because her next statement was bang on the dot. The look in her eyes told Cat that she had pretty much figured what Catalina was before she even began asking her questions. “It seems you are quite intuitive.” She still averted her eyes from the dead rabbit as it turned her stomach. “It is as you say, little druid who wandered from her camp.”

A smile touched against her lips, not because of Daae but because her large hound Beast had chosen to rejoin Catalina not long after she had taken a seat near the fire. Such a pretty dog and he was massive, probably why he made Cobalt so nervous. “At least one of you are friendly.” She said with a grin as she pet the large dog. He snuffled at her hand, as though begging her for a treat but she had nothing. Hmm…maybe she could use her magic. There was a good chance that she was abusing her magic, using it too much but she was supposed to be getting a handle on her magic so why not? Not like it was anything big, just a simple spell to conjure the piece of dried jerky that she had in her tent and bring it to her hand. She had done harder spells than that. Now how did that spell go again… “scúrboga.” Her eyes flashed gold and she held her hand out, waiting for the piece of beef jerky to end up in her hand. That didn’t happen though… Annoyed, she sighed and went to pet the dog as an apology for the lack of a treat but she stopped, her eyes widened.

OH COME ON! Seriously?!?! What had once been a white intimidating wolfhound was now rainbow colored from his tail to his head and while he looked adorable, intimidating he was not. She was almost positive she saw some rabbits laughing at the dog from the underbrush. “Damn!” She growled to herself, she had gotten the spell wrong. Would Daae be angry with her?

[/size]

-----------------------------------

Tags; Daae
Word Count; 1006
Lyrics; "We Are” Ana Johnnson
Time-frame; Early Afternoon – During the First Season

[Daae]

It was with a lazy smile that Daae listened, silent while her impromptu guest mumbled about friendliness. Of course the hound was friendly. He was still young, a big dopey pup that had yet to learn that people could be cruel or unkind. It was a lesson that he would never learn at her hand, that was for certain. Amiable or cuddly, Daae was not, but she wasn't harsh. She simply didn't like to be boxed in and things like towns with their fences and pens... their walls... Her disdain of the towns had become her disdain of people and the woman shuddered involuntarily, one eye on her task while the other remained on the interaction between Beast and Catalina. "Best not feed him," she warned, seeing the dog rooting about at the girl's hand. "He's a glutton, that one. Don't know where he gets it from. His ma was a proper hunting dog instead of a furry pig." The humor in her eyes nullified the acid in her voice. As usual Beast paid her no mind.

Dozy dog.

Daae didn't look up again until she heard a small word uttered quietly followed by a less quiet "Damn."

Beast, the clownish white wolfhound, friend to all and terror to none... well, his outsides finally matched his insides. Daae smirked while the animal chased his bright blue and pink tail in confusion. "Serves you right, dun it?" she said lightly, putting aside her task and stopping the dizzy animal from wearing a track in the ground. "Nothin's more dangerous that a little witch, mo chara." Just like mother used to tell her. It was a warning to make her practice he recitations, but Daae saw it for the truth. Magic practiced on a whim was dangerous to those who practiced it, those who happened upon it, and their little dogs, too.

Chuckling quietly, Daae patted the dog's head while he whined. "I reckon that wasn't what you intended?" The trapper ripped some of the rabbit's roasted flesh apart from the body, dumping it on the forest floor in front of her multicolored pet. He looked like he'd been raped by a rainbow, poor thing. Yellow, pink, blue, green... Daae would have to keep him out of sight for a while until the incantation wore off. And if it didn't wear off, she'd have to find a way to get rid of it on her own. Magic was not something that Daae employed often or with much confidence and Beast might very well end up a turnip before she managed the proper spell. "I suppose the hound and I are both lucky that Uther and his valiant knights don't spend much time in the woods. I can't imagine he would believe for a moment that this was natural." The smirk was still on Daae's face as she leaned back and looked the red cloaked girl over. The trapper was in no position to be giving out warnings but she felt it wise to encourage caution.

"You'll want to be careful who you enchant, doe eyes," she said lightly, amusement coloring her tone. It had clearly been an accident, but such a lack of control whilst spell casting was hardly going to prove Uther's mad vendetta against the Druids an error. "If you treat magic like that, you'll give Uther all he needs to crush you with." There was no accusation in the trapper's tone. Daae was simply conversing... albeit badly. Reaching into the little leather pouch that hung off her belt she pulled out a cube of dried meat, tossing it over to the blonde. "Give him that, would you? You've made him sad."

[Catalina Regalis]

It was not something that Catalina chose to do, intrude upon the privacy of another but given that Daae didn’t seem all that bothered, Cat figured that it would be alright. She was not as naïve as one might think, she knew that there were people in the world who weren’t exactly the epitome of kindness and Daae would definitely fall under such a category but that didn’t mean that they were bad people. Better yet, she had a certain four-legged friend that seemed to like Catalina a lot which was no surprise really, animals and druids got along normally. Despite his size, it was obvious that he was still young, he was a sweetheart though, and that was for sure. It was a shame that he seemed to have nothing in common with his owner but perhaps she was simply judging too harshly. She didn’t know Daae and it was surely too early to judge her. Cat wasn’t being fair. It seemed that Catalina and Beast had something in common; they both seemed to find it quite easy to ignore Daae and what she had to say.

Her attempt at doing something nice for the sweet Beast had gone wrong. Perhaps she had not focused enough or maybe she had simply done the wrong spell. She hated when she did that but given that she was not a master of magic by any stretch of the imagination, it was not to be unexpected. She was still learning which surely should have told the girl that she should use restraint when it came to doing spells but she couldn’t help it sometimes. It had been a mistake that she had caused the big dog to look quite colorful, it wasn’t as though she’d have done it on purpose. Even still, there was something amusing at seeing the large dog chasing his pink tail in confusion, he really had no idea what had been done. “Oh I’m sorry boy.” She said apologetically as she watched him. Witch? She was no witch! She was not dangerous either! She didn’t use her magic to harm anyone and aside from a brightly done coat, Beast was not harmed. Still she said nothing because she was lucky that Daae wasn’t angry at what she had done to her dog.

"I reckon that wasn't what you intended?" Catalina bit her lip as she peered up at the amused huntress. “Not quite,” she admitted softly as she looked down at the ground. She wasn’t exactly ashamed but she sure wasn’t pleased either. How bothersome… She couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of Uther being around or his knights. She couldn’t imagine the trouble she could get herself into or Daae since it was her hound that she had used magic on. She couldn’t handle getting someone else in trouble for her own mistake, that wouldn’t be fair. “Don’t say such a thing..” Gods how she fretted being found by King Meathead. Her fear of being burned for her craft was always something that haunted her because of how her parents had been killed; just Uther’s name alone caused her to shudder with fear.

Daae was right of course, she had to be more careful but her scolding was not something that Catalina really needed. Doe eyes? “I’ve never been called that before.” She said somewhat amusingly, choosing to focus on that rather than the fact that she was basically being called a dolt for not being able to control her spells. She technically was but she didn’t need to be reminded! “I thank you for your advice and I will take it to mind.” She said respectively towards the trapper whilst thinking the whole time ‘mind your own damn business you rude forest-dweller’. It was pretty sad when she couldn’t even think up a proper insult in her mind. She just didn’t have a mind for rude or mean things like insults nor could she be anything other than polite to strangers. “It was a simple mistake though I understand what you mean.” She took a cube of dried meat from Daae and nodded, holding it out to Beast who seemed somewhat unsure of the blonde at this point. “Oh come on, I said I was sorry.” She said with a soft smile, holding her hand out until he finally took the piece of meat. Her spell would fade soon enough though she had to hope that no one happened upon them and cried magic to Uther.

“As for Uther, he seems to need no reason to crush us. His vendetta against magic stands whether magic is used to heal or help.” She stated clearly as she looked at the fire. "Or paint a dog with the colors of the rainbow." It was clear what her view was on the tyrant though she chose not to offer up any insults. “I’m sorry about what I did to your dog. It won’t last and it really was an accident. For what it’s worth, I’m Catalina.” She introduced herself even with the distinct feeling that Daae really didn’t care who she was.

[/size]

-----------------------------------

Tags; Daae
Word Count; 730
Lyrics; "We Are” Ana Johnnson
Time-frame; Early Afternoon – During the First Season