Hunting [[open//outlaws]]

[Much]

Much had just woken up from a nap. He rolled over with a groan, his hair ruffling over his face. He flickered his eyes open, only to see several bored looking outlaws sitting on their own beds, getting on with their own pointless activities. He squinted, and then lazily pulled himself up. His bandana was lying on the other side of his bed and Much looked over at it, and unimpressed expression on his face. It was on very rare occasions that Much was seen without his bandana, but he couldn't really be bothered to reach over to grab it.

He slowly shuffled to the edge of the bed, and he swung his legs over the side so his feet rested against the floor of the camp. There was complete silence amongst the outlaws, and Much coughed awkwardly. "So, any plans for today?" he said, his voice croaking as he spoke. As no initial response followed, Much narrowed his eyes and sighed, pulling himself up so that he was standing up straight.

"Right." he said, speaking more to himself that anyone else. "Maybe I should make lunch." He shuffled over to the kitchen area of the camp, but he suddenly froze as he realized what he was looking at. Nothing. There was no food left. Much tutted and then quickly span around to face his comrades, his tiredness slowly leaving him. "Anyone fancy going hunting?" he asked. He normally did it alone, but why not offer?

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan looked up in surprise at Much's offer. He'd been fiddling idly with a goose feather; there was a large pile in front of him that he was supposed to be splitting in preparation for fletching. It was dreary work though, boring as hell if he was honest, and the idea of a hunting trip sounded a lot more promising.

"Sounds alright to me," he commented, "I'm up for it."

[Much]

Much grinned as Allan answered him. To be honest, he didn't think anyone would be bothered to join him for a hunt. "Great!" he exclaimed. All the tiredness he had once had was now completely gone. He rushed back over to his bed, and quickly snatched away his set of bow and arrows. He swung the quivers over his shoulder, and clutched the bow with his left hand.

"Bye everyone!" he cried out, as he walked over to the Camp's entrance. Again, no responce. Much rolled his eyes and then tilted his head around to face Allan. "Ready?"

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan stood up, bits of feather wafting gently down the the floor as they were disturbed from his lap. He brushed down his breeches, sending another cloud of tiny bits of fluff into the air and picked up his own bow. He didn't really practice enough with it; with Robin around there was no real pressure to focus on sharpening that particular skill. It would be good to get out and shoot a few moving targets.

He stopped at the pile of completed arrows and grabbed a handful to stuff in his quiver. He would have felt more guilty about it but he had been helping.

"Anyone else?" he asked the others as he reached Much's side.

[Robin Hood]

Robin reached Much and Allan. He was holding his bow and his sword hung at his side. "I might walk some of the way with you," he grinned. "I'm going to see Marian. Thats all right, isn't it?" The outlaw fell into step with his friends as they ambled from the camp. It was beautiful summery day. Warm but not sticky. A very faint breeze stirred the tree leaves and insects buzzed around.

[Allan A'Dale]

"She's up an' about now, ain't she? I saw her the other day; went to pay a visit and found her sitting outside, bold as you please."

It had been heartening to see; he wasn't used to a meek and injured Marian and Allan had been relieved to discover that she was slipping easily back into her old independent ways.

"Different sort of prey for you today then, Rob?"

He said it in a deliberately neutral tone, but struggled to keep his voice level. He turned his head away so Robin didn't see his grin break out.

[Robin Hood]

Marian was foremost in Robin's thoughts that, at that moment, he didn't quite hear the innuendo in Allan's voice. "What?" the outlaw laughed. "Yeah, I guess you could say that, Allan. She's so much improved. Pestering me to let her return to the Camp too." There was a lightness in his heart at that thought. Its what he'd wanted for so long. To be with Marian, day in day out, forever.

"Mind you," Robin added, "At least I don't have to stalk my prey but that doesn't mean it'll be any easier to catch." He gave a secret smile. "Mind you, if you could get some venison for the pot, then it'd make a nice change from rabbit and squirrel." Robin teased Much. In truth, he had a great deal of admiration for his best friend, who seemed to magically produce good, filling tasty meals most of the time.

[Allan A'Dale]

Much didn't reply straight away, so Allan gleefully joined in Robin's good-natured ribbing.

"I dunno why you're so in love with eating squirrel anyway, Much. There's only enough eating on one for one person anyway. What happened, did you have some terrible childhood experience involving a squirrel?"

He turned to Robin, laughing now. "Probably doing his best to thin out their numbers a bit. Our Much is on a revenge spree."

[Much]

Much turned his attention away as the two men conversed. This was not the type of conversation he liked or wanted to take part in. He was a simple man, and the thought of relationships confused him most of the time.

As the conversation turned on him, he sighed. "I'm not in love with eating squirrels." he said stubbornly, his eyebrows forming a frown as he walked forewards. "It's just easy thats all. If you want to catch a deer, then be my guest. But you're going to have to be the one that chops it up into tiny little cooking sized pieces. And I'm telling you now, it's not pleasant work." He brushed a branch that was blocking his path away, and his footsteps crunched in the leaves delicately.

"And I don't have a problem with squirrels. And I'm not on a revenge spree." Much waited a few more moments to catch his breath. "They're quite cute actually. when they want to be." Much sniffed as he finally decided to conclude his rant. "Anyway whats wrong with squirrel? It keeps you alive doesn't it?"

[Robin Hood]

Robin shrugged his shoulders as he carefully followed Much through the forest. "I guess there's nothing wrong with squirrels, Much. And you're right, they're better than starving but there is just so much roasted, broiled, poached, fried and stewed squirrel that I can stand." He chuckled then clapped his best friend on the back. "I tell you what," The outlaw added. "If I catch the deer and skin it, will you make some venison stew for Marian? I know she's very fond of your venison stew." Robin glanced over Much's head and winked at Allan.

The sound of a bird's wings flapping in the tree canopy above them caught Robin's attention and he quickly drew an arrow from his quiver and set it to his bow. Adopting a hunter's stance, the outlaw looked carefully around, trying to see what had spooked the bird. After all, they hadn't been making that much noise had they? With a quick hand gesture, Robin indicated for Much to go off to the left and Allan to head to the right. Then, slowly with his bow at the ready, Robin stalked forwards.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan was already about to roll his eyes and drawl 'Muuuuuch' - and of course soothe his friend's sensitive feelings (a bit, anyway), but Robin was a lot more tactful than him. Suddenly a bird took wing; his attention was distracted upwards.

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at their leader, who was obviously thinking the same thing. Robin motioned for him to cover their right flank, so as soundlessly as he could muster, he drew one of his swords and padded delicately towards the thick forest undergrowth at the side of the well-walked trail.

He couldn't see anything yet; straining his ears he tried to discern any man-made noise from the gentle background murmur of Sherwood.

[Much]

Much had just opened his mouth to complain, before a sudden noise was heard. Robin was already giving off his orders, and Much silently swept to the left, slowly drawing an arrow from his quiver, and stringing it. Why didn't I bring my shortsword?" Much thought to himself angrily. He bent his legs slightly and narrowed his eyes, awaiting whatever had caused the commotion to show themselves any minuite. He spun around silently, spying every corner of the forest.

A rustle came from a nearby bush, and Much quickly swung around towards it, poised and ready, pointing his arrow towards the noise. A few moments passed, and Much found his breathing getting heavier. Suddenly, a squirrel scampered out of the bush, flying through the air momentarily, and then scuttering off up a nearby tree. Much sighed and loosed the grip on his bow. "For goodness sake," he mused.

[Tuck]

Tuck had been following parallel to the hunting party for some time. He thought for sure that the rustling of old leaves had given away his position and movement several times. The last time he was sure that Robin had been tipped off. Tuck rather enjoyed observing the woodsmen outlaws and their tracking and hunting skills. Finally, he believed Much had fiound him out.

Once again, though, Tuck had escaped detection .... this time due to the appearance and rapid scurrying of a squirrel past Much's feet. Tuck felt that he should not keep the hunting party on edge any longer, and he moved out from the safety of the shadow of a large tree. With a bow slung over one shoulder, and his arms crossed, Tuck spoke to Much, saying, "my son, not all sounds in the forest are caused by squirrels in motion, sometimes they are caused by what put the squirrel into motion in the first place. Despite the fact that a short sword might be more useful, I would appreciate you pointing that arrow somewhere else and allow me the honor of joining your little hunting party., eh?"

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan sheathed his sword and turned around, laughing.

"You know, if you wanted to come along, you didn't have to sneak. You do know where the camp is, right?"

He was mildly surprised to see a priest carrying a weapon, even if it was Tuck. It just looked a bit strange. Still, it was good to know that it was someone on their side lurking in the undergrowth. They were still pretty close to home, and the authorities were still desperately looking for the outlaw's hideout.

[Tuck]

Well at the least his presence no longer caused Allan to draw his sword, but resulted in the reverse. "Well .... actually I am just back from Nottingham, and few were at camp. It was said you were on a hunting expedition. Once I found you I figured the safest place to approach from was the side Much was on, unless of course I was a squirrel .... or a chicken .... or whatever Much is naming squirrels this week, eh," he said with a laugh.

"I figured that if I would be traveling with you lads I would need to work on my tracking and staying-silent skills. I was once much better when I was younger than I am now, but I figured those are skills that you never quite forget. I wouldn't want to be too much of a burden. By the way, I didn't run across any sign of anyone else in the vicinity, outlaw or other, so your hunting expedition seems to be secure." Tuck hoped that he was a welcome addition, and not simply tolerated because Robin had indicated he was welcome. He recognized that he did not have a lot that was obviously in common with the rest of the outlaws, and that might make it more difficult for them to respect him, let alone like him.