Land Down Under (KJDarKnight & Treasure)

"Well...the forest has all kinds of animals..pigs rabbits, birds, squirrels..uh.." he tried to think. There was so much to remember "I'm...not sure.." he admitted
 
"Then let us look and see what is here," Badru said. He started walking in the direction where Misty had run into the pigs.
 
He nodded and followed after him, looking around as they went. "Oh look, somwthings been trampling the snow there" he pointed and headed over that way and crouched "cloved hooves..means a pig maybe?" He looked up at Badru again
 
Badru dipped his head. "Yes, but deer also have cloved hooves. Pigs sink much deeper, and make a bigger mess of things."
 
"Pig," Badru said after a moment of study. "See how they tore into the ground here with the points of their hooves? You were correct. Pigs are big prey. Pigs are mean. They are good meat, but we do not hunt them today. We avoid them."
 
He nodded a little "especially mean with babies" he knew "looks like this one has young. See. Smaller" he pointed to some other tracks "so not dear or pigs..what are we hunting?"
 
"Good job," Badru praised. "We hunt bigger birds, squirrels, rabbits, and woodchucks. They have warm fur for clothing."
 
He nodded and stood up right again "so we should be looking to the trees not the ground" he looked up but saw nothing right away
 
Badru nodded. "But ground, too. Squirrels will be burying their goods, fat birds will be foraging, and woodchucks will live down here. Up and down." He continued his lesson with Peter, showing him further signs of animal life and even picked up a few plant foods on the way, including a handful of truffles.

Then he stopped Peter and pointed up. A big, fat squirrel sat on the branch slightly above and in front of them. Badru drew his knife slowly and cocked his arm back. Then he let fly. The knife struck the squirrel square in the head and pinned it against the tree, instantly dead.
 
Peter stared as the animal was killed right infront of him. The boy had thought he was ready for this. He knew hunting meant killing but seeing it was different. He just stared
 
Badru walked over and had to reach high to pull the knife from the tree. He took the squirrel down and carried it over to Peter. He held the limp body in both hands and said quietly, "Thank you for what you give us." He looked at Peter. "It is needed, but we must not forget to be grateful."
 
Peter still stared at it "I don't...think I can do that" he said timidly, tears in his eyes. He didn't want to disappoint Badru but..that poor thing
 
Badru put a hand on his shoulder. "There may come a day when you have to, but if you are not ready, that is alright. It is good to be sensative to death."
 
Peter looked away from the squirrel and up at him "you're not..upset with me?" He asked, clearly worried about what Badru thought. He did now think of him as a father figure so it made sense
 
"No," Badru assured him. "Not upset. If you only hunter, then I be upset, but you not only hunter. You not have to do this. Is okay." He squeezed Peter's shoulder gently. "Sensitive is not bad."
 
he smiled a little, glad to hear that "Thanks" he said sincerely "I can lay traps and check them though" he said, still wanting to be helpful, he just couldn't visualize himself harming an animals
 
Badru smiled and nodded. "Perhaps that will work," he agreed quietly, not promising anything. Only some of the traps he could lay were an instant death. The others held the animals until you came to collect them. He did not think Peter could or should do that, either, but that would be a conversation for later.

"Come," he said instead. "Let us lay one more trap, then we will return home."
 
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Peter nodded "ok..same kind or a different kind?" He asked, following Badrus lead

While they hadn't gone far he wasn't used to the cold, already shivering
 
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