Retroactive Permission-Asking

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

Less Than Beta knocked on the door to Professor Shiyal's office and waited to be let in. As he was planning to go hunting in the forest, and having seen the shiny new prominent signs warning about entering said forest without permission, he felt that he ought to clear things with the professor first. He also planned to ask about what large, huntable animals lived there, but that was a secondary objective.

((Oops. Let's just pretend that my 'going hunting' thread happens after the events of this one...))

[Aravind Shiyal]

((Yeah, sorry about that, Phoenix. I just wanted to get it done before something else crazy happened. No problems with retroactiveness-- that's the good thing about a forum RP.))

"Come in!" Aravind sat at his desk, trying to figure out how he could teach a Basic Forest Safety class for all the students. He was tapping his pen on an almost empty sheet of paper when Less knocked, and had been for several minutes.

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

"Hello, professor? I was planning on taking a hunting trip in the forest with some of the other students on the xxth, and was hoping to get permission for it." Less said as he entered the room. He certainly wasn't one to waste time on pleasantries, that was for sure. "The plan is for it to go from eight in the morning on. If you don't mind me asking, sir, what lives there?"

[Aravind Shiyal]

Aravind heard the boy out, then thought for a second. There was Something Different about him, vaguely familiar, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Something reminded him... huh. A hunting trip?

He frowned. "You want to take some students on a hunting trip? What would you be hunting-- and why?" Either the student's one of those trigger-crazy idiots who just shoots for the fun of it, he thought, in which case why is he even bothering to ask, or there's... hmmm.

((Phoenix, is it alright if Aravind's met werewolf packs before? I kinda figured, as a ranger who's done some serious off-the-beaten-track traveling, he'd have run across at least one in the past.))

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

Less cocked his head to the side. "Any large animal, really. Preferably an herbivore, because their livers are edible and less waste is better. I'm planning to use the skin to make a piece of clothing. I don't think there's a good name for it in any human language, but it's designed to stay on even when the wearer is shifting. Everything else will be distributed evenly among me and the other students. I also think it would be good to have better meat." Was there any reason for hunting other than because you needed the corpse for something? There wasn't exactly any livestock around to protect by hunting predators, so...

((I have no problem with that. Incidentally, by 'better meat' he means organs.))

[Aravind Shiyal]

The head-cocking rang further bells in Aravind's memory, and he found himself intensely frustrated, until Less mentioned the liver, and then everything clicked. A werewolf! Oh. Okay, a werewolf kid could probably handle himself in the forest, at -least- as well as Aravind could, if not better. He was immediately very relieved.

"Ah, alright-- what's your name? And what pack are you from-- not around here, right?" If there was a werewolf pack in distance from the school, Aravind thought ruefully, either they were excellent and frighteningly stealthy, or he was slipping, which was even more frightening, personally. He held off on the other questions, for the moment.

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

"I am Less Than Beta of the East Tundra pack. East Tundra is north of here, in Canada. Do you know of us?" Less cocked his head to the other side. "Not many of the students realize I'm a were unless I tell them. How did you know?"

[Aravind Shiyal]

Aravind actually grins. "Not many humans go out hunting for 'herbivores,' Less Than Beta. And just... you act like a were. It's a..." he fumbled for the word, and gave up, finally, with a shrug. "Just... different. I've met werewolves before, because I've spent a lot of time traveling. The pack I knew was the Northern Desert Pack, from around Utah and Colorado-- far, far West from here. You kind of... get to know, after a while."

He's quiet for a minute, a small smile playing around his eyes, clearly (to a human) lost in thought.

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

"Hm. I don't know them. West of here, you said? Maybe I will visit them before I go back home. It would be interesting to know how desert packs differ from tundra packs." Less gave the professor a curious look before trying to change the subject back to the original one. "Um... What animals are in the forest?"

[Aravind Shiyal]

Aravind blinks, then nods at Less, sitting up a bit. "I highly recommend it-- culture-shock is an imporant part of growing," he said, grinning again.

"Right, animals in the forest." He paused. "On this hunt-- would you be in wolf-shape? Because if so, you should find someone to craft you a translation spell. Things could get really ugly if the guy leading the hunt can't communicate." Inwardly, he wondered how many people would actually want to come on the hunt.

"Well, there's deer, obviously-- white-tailed, up here. I'd advise against picking a fight with any moose, but you probably already knew that." He thought for a second, and then added, "If you want to start them on something easy, I'd suggest going after a rabbit, but that's not going to be any kind of meat worth your while. Good practice for whoever you're taking, but obviously a waste of a hunt."

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

"I'll be in wolf form, yes. Humans cannot bite for anything," Less said. "I do not know anyone who can do a translation spell. Somariel can understand werespeak, though. I'll ask her if she can come with us." Really, he hadn't thought that anyone wouldn't want to go on a hunt. The humans back home he knew hunted frequently, and it hadn't occurred to him that some societies would have the meat industry such that hunting was practically demonized.

"Deer would work well. I definitely wouldn't want to fight a moose, especially with people I haven't worked with before. Moose are too dangerous for starting. I'll ask the students if they want to practice with rabbit first, then."

[Aravind Shiyal]

Aravind frowned a bit. "Hmmm," he said. "If Somariel can't come, or doesn't want to, come talk to me, please. You'd probably be adverse to wearing a collar, right?"

[Aravind Shiyal]

((Okay, so Phoenix and I finished this chat via RP. This is the cleaned-up transcript.))

Less
What kind of a collar? Like the kind the villagers use to keep track of their livestock?

Aravind
*frowns, thoughtfully* Sort of-- around your neck, unless you had an objection.

Less
Why would I? As long as it is not brightly colored and warns prey that I am there, there wouldn't be a problem.

Aravind
*shrugs, tapping one finger on the desk* I don't know; the Northern Desert Pack had serious reservations about them. A pride thing, I think. I wasn't sure if you had that stigma in the Tundra. *glances down, towards the trunk in the corner of the room* I can probably get my hands on a translation collar, if you wanted to borrow one for the hunt.

Less
Not really. It was always a good idea to make sure the villagers knew you were a were instead of an ordinary wolf. *follows his glance* What's that?

Aravind
*shrugs one shoulder* That's most of whatever I own and can't leave lying around in the woods. I don't remember if I actually have a working translator, though. I might have to find a magician, or a were in the area, to fix it up. *rubs his chin, absently in thought*

Less
A lot of the students have magic. Could they help? I would, but I have no magic. *he looks downcast*

Aravind
I'm not sure, Less. A translation spell is pretty tough-- the alpha was the only pack member who could do it, in the Northern Desert. *grins to himself* Well, except one other. But the magic professor might be able to do it, and we might be able to find a pack near here. When did you say you wanted to hunt, again?

Less
On the xxth. I'm planning on making a bulletin about it soon.

Aravind
Ah, alright. *bites his lip for a second* I'll agree, then, on these conditions. *ticking them off on his fingers,* First, if Somariel doesn't come, that you either go as a human, or wait until we can find a translator. Second, that I get a chance-- even just half an hour or so-- to give your group a few basics on forest-necessary skills. And third, that you keep track of any game you take down-- I trust you won't leave anything wounded-- and let me know what it was. Sound fair?

Less
That sounds fair. I wouldn't leave anything wounded, anyway. Wounded are easier to track than non-wounded.

Aravind
*nods* Alright, excellent. I didn't think so-- weres are often better hunters than humans, in that regard. *leans back in his chair a bit, making a wry face* You might want to be careful, though. The average student here... well. They might not have the common sense you're used to.

Less
Why? Isn't common sense called common for a reason?

Aravind
*grins ruefully, shaking his head* Well... it was probably common, once upon a time. These days, people are so sheltered and soft... *gestures a bit with his hands* You've probably picked up on that, though. They don't see the real world too often.

Less
Like the people who sometimes come in on planes and gawk at the villagers? They buy a lot of stuff. *thoughtful look*

Aravind
*nods* Exactly like that. They depend on stuff to feel secure and safe, rather than their own teeth and claws, and make words their teeth. In some ways, it's better-- but not in most. *shrugs again* That's why I live outside. In normal human society, there is no pack order, so everyone fights all the time, just... with words, instead of teeth. *headshake* The people with common sense mostly stay out of it. Some of the students here are like that-- those are the ones you'll be able to count on, in your hunt. But that's why I want to see your group before you leave, just so you don't get caught out by someone who thinks a moose isn't going to be dangerous.

Less
Is that why there are representatives-who-aren't? Okay. I'll have the other students wait for you.

Aravind
*nods* Yes, and thank you. Remember, though, you're still going to need a translator before you leave. And... *sighs a bit* Honestly, I'd feel better if you wore a collar, instead of depending on Somariel. Nothing personal-- I don't know her-- but if anything goes wrong, a spell's going to be a lot more reliable.

Less
Maybe both? That way if one has a problem the other is still there.

Aravind
*nods* Yes, that's probably best, though that only works if Somariel-- or possibly the Magic professor (whose name, he realizes a bit shamefacedly, he's blanking on)-- actually wants to come along. Remember that not all humans would enjoy a hunt. *smiles a little, wistfully. it's been /ages/ since he hunted with werewolves.*

Less
Okay. *cocks his head to the side* I will talk to the magic professor, then. And ask some of the students personally, in case they do not see the bulletin.

Aravind
Alright then, Less. You've got my permission. Just make sure you stay within the boundaries of the school grounds-- I've got them marked by sight, is there any scent that would be easier to identify as a border?

Less
Something that wouldn't naturally be found in the forest. *thinks* Salt, maybe?

Aravind
*nods thoughtfully* Alright, salt it is-- I'll use table salt, though. When the breeze is right, you can pick up the sea from here, sometimes. And-- *pauses for a second, trying to put the words into a way as not to give Less the wrong impression* be careful of the Groundskeeper, Fredericks. He prowls the woods sometimes, and you don't want to get in his way.

Less
*nods* I won't get in the way of the upper ranks.

Aravind
Um. Well-- I meant, be careful of yourself. *pauses* Don't hesitate to defend yourself, or your hunters, from him.

Less
He's very territorial, then? I should avoid his scent if I run across it?

Aravind
*sighs a bit, running one hand over his hair* Not quite. He is territorial-- what I meant was, *bluntly* he's dangerous. Don't attack or challenge him, and stay out of his way if you can, but be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

Less
*straightens up* Avoid entirely if possible, do not disturb if not, and defend if necessary. Like dealing with bears.

Aravind
*laughs aloud, not cruelly* Yes! Exactly like that!

Aravind
*begins to contemplate returning to spend the summer with the Northern Desert Pack*

Less
Is there anything else I should know before I try to find Somariel?

Aravind
*thinks a moment* I don't think so. *stands, offering a handshake* You're all set, Less.

Less
*actually shakes hand properly. He's learning!* Thank you for your time. I'll see you on the xxth, then?

Aravind
*grins and nods* No problem, Less, any time. Yes, I'll see you on the xxth.

Less
*opens door to leave* Bye!

Aravind
*nods to him in farewell, and returns to his lesson plan with a much lighter heart*

Less
*leaves*