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Date Posted: 15:09:46 04/04/02 Thu
Author: Tristan
Subject: Hunting is my specialty
In reply to: Marz 's message, "A hunting we will go" on 10:11:40 04/04/02 Thu

A wide grin spread across Tristan’s face when Corum suddenly announced a change in games. This scavenger hunt sure sounded like a lot more fun than that silly kissing thing of Jeremy’s! He took a drag from his cigarette, trying hard to concentrate on the items Corum was reading aloud. Everything was sort of fuzzy in his head, though, and he gradually realized that he wasn’t going to be able to find anything if he just sat here getting more and more high all day.

He stood up slowly, tossing the cigarette into the fire and trying to will his vision to remain focused on one thing at a time. He snorted softly when Marz whirled around and almost had a heart attack upon seeing him, his usually intense black eyes now turned all bloodshot and dazed. Tristan gave a silly smile when his obviously inebriated lover snidely challenged him about finding more stuff before leaning in and nipping teasingly at his nose. The only reason Tristan didn’t grab him and kiss him back was because his own senses and reflexes were running a bit on the slow side, too.

That’s okay, he thought, his dark eyes narrowing in a smirk, I’ll have fun with you later. But for now, it was time to go hunting. No wonder he thought this game sounded so great! Hell, he was a natural born hunting machine, wasn’t he? Oughta be a piece of cake, really. Finding shit was just sort of in his blood. Came with the whole dragon thing, or at least that was how he figured it.

Needless to say, he was the only one left still standing by the campfire several minutes after the others had fled. Something was ticking steadily in his brain as he watched the others darting to and fro, everyone seemingly involved except for the two fuddy duddies sitting in the pool over there. Tristan tried really hard to figure out what it was that was bugging him so much, but it just wouldn’t… He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed his tongue between his teeth, thinking harder than he’d ever thought before—then he had it! Of course! The only sure way to find everything on the list!

He turned and raced off in the direction Marz had gone, catching a fleeting glimpse of him as he slipped out of one house and into another. Tristan followed him, unable to keep the proud smile from his face as he thought about his brilliant plan. He burst into the house without knocking, not even noticing when Rowan physically jumped back a couple feet away from Marz, a guilty look on his face.

Without a word, he simply walked right up to Marz and dipped his hand into his pants pocket, fishing around for what he sought. Almost cackling with glee, he pulled forth the crystal ball and tossed it in the air a couple times before grabbing it and walking back toward the door.

“So long, suckers!” he called, his eyes already falling to the ball in his hand as he thought about the first item on the list.

“Hey, that’s not on the list, is it?” Rowan asked, but Tristan ignored him, his concentration now completely focused on the task at hand. As far as he was concerned, using the thing wasn’t cheating at all. Corum made the rules, so if Corum hadn’t wanted crystal balls to be used, he would have said so. And he didn’t, so that was that.

“Show me…the closest house containing a pack of cigarettes in it,” he said, trying to focus his befuddled mind on a picture of the item in question. Automatically, an image appeared in the ball, showing the exact same house he and Marz had just gone in to meditate in.

“I can’t believe it,” he breathed, his eyes widening slightly. “I’m gonna win. I’m really gonna win!” He hurried to the house, rummaging through the cabinet Marz had found the wine and cigarettes in. A slow, wide smile of delight stretched over his face when he found two more unopened packs on the shelf.

Quickly, he stuck both of them into his pocket, just so no one else could claim the other one. Then he went about finding a blue java mug, a straight razor, a hand mirror, a thimble, and a kitchen spoon. When he asked about the boots, the crystal ball showed him a pair of brown boots resting by the side of the hot springs next to a pair of black boots and two sets of clothing and weapons, too. Tristan rushed toward them, grabbing both shoes again so he could have the advantage. He had no idea whether they belonged to Erlic or Argus, nor did he really care. It wasn’t like he was stealing them or anything, right?

“Okay,” he muttered, leaning behind a house so no one could see him as he consulted the crystal again. “Show me…some blonde hair.” The little ball clouded up for a long time, and he finally had to shake it to make the image appear. He guessed it was running out of steam and needed to recharge. A picture of Tia appeared, making Tristan frown. That was no good. Unless he was willing to tackle her and take the hair by force…but no, that would never work, since they were friends and stuff.

“Come on,” he urged it, shaking it again. “Show me some more blonde hair.” This time the crystal ball seemed to take an eternity before it decided to make up its mind, and when it finally did, Tristan thought it must have gone completely crazy. He was looking down at an image of Urchin, Marz’s ferret, frolicking in the pool! That didn’t make sense at all, until he remembered that the ugly little rat did seem to have a rather pale, blondish underbelly of sorts. It would have to do.

He made his way back toward the hot springs, setting all his stuff down on the side of the pool. Since Marz wasn’t here to be annoyed by his modesty, he didn’t bother with removing his shirt and pants, though he did take his sword and (thankfully black) boots into consideration, setting them aside with his things. He caught sight of the ferret, still splashing away a couple feet off, and slowly waded into the water toward it.

“Hold still, you stupid little marmot thingie,” he whispered. Urchin chittered mockingly at him as he advanced, but if there was one thing he was good at, it was catching his pray. When he felt he was close enough to strike, he suddenly dove forward, his hands making a wild grab for the animal. Urchin turned ugly then, screeching and biting at his fingers as he dragged it back on shore with him.

“Shut up, shut up!” he muttered to it, stuffing the little creature into one of the boots. Sure enough, it had had some blonde hairs on its belly, just behind its front paws, so that would have to do. Smiling, and feeling inordinately pleased with himself, Tristan continued his search, having almost all of the needed items in his possession by now.

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