Sedna appreciated Hattori’s goal of self-sufficiency, but it never hurt to have tradable goods on hand just in case, and some things were just nice to have. She had spent a few days cracking open skulls to gather a number of brains that were set off to the side in a very large turtle shell, as she laid out the speckle coated cat she had managed to catch by the runestones and tried not to think of Natha, while a small pile off to the side included freshly killed foxes and a few rabbits.

She had put the word out that she would tanning some hides if any of the hunters cared to join her, they could all share their tips and tricks, and maybe come up with a better product as a result, or maybe they hadn’t considered saving the skins before and could learn a new skill in the process. She took the blade from her tail and began to cut around the wrists of the cat, knowing there was plenty of work to be done before the sun went down on another day.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

Busy as he was, Kuroo was content making time to learn from Sedna. She was a wonderful teacher and already he had learned quite a bit from her. Having finished his daily duties of prepping fish to be stored, he wandered back toward the maze for a nap. Coming across the deep-colored woman, he paused in his step when he noticed the number of animals surrounding her. Curious about what she was doing, the boy approached her with a softly tilted face. From what he could see, it appeared that she was beginning to skin a cat. Not what he normally did as his expertise was with fish, but he would take some tips and tricks anyway.

"What're you up to, Sedna?" Roo asked quietly as he took a seat nearby where she was skinning the cat. Glancing around to the other bundles of animals, he wondered if she was preparing for another lesson. Skinning was one of the skills he was proud of since he preferred hunting over fighting, but the way she did it so delicately was interesting. "Anything I can do to help?" He asked with a curious glint in his eyes.

"Speech"

Practically everybody and their mother knew Usagi’s first and foremost passion was fighting. He craved the adrenaline of a swift, might opponent, the clashing of blades and gnashing teeth. He did it all with the grace of a dancer and the fierceness of a boxed-in lion - all in what appeared to be orderly and incredibly composed in fashion. Still, sparring all the time wouldn’t do much for a pack that needed to feed its members, particularly the youngest ones. Plus, hunting itself had its variety of introguing subjects, and thought Usagi wouldn’t admit it loud and proud, he was a bit curious about Sedna’s handiwork. Kuroo sang his praises about how amazing of a teacher she was, and Usagi had yet to meet her more frequently. So, he followed after Kuroo some distance away, sheathed sword still slung across his shoulders as his companions trailed obediently behind. Dispensing the sword to his Akita and quietly ushering them away, he came across a most interesting sight through the clearing. Quirking a brow, Usagi padded towards Kuroo, briefly brushing past his shoulder in a silent, brotherly greeting as he took a seat as well. Sedna had been busy, it appeared - he was impressed at her ability to handle her children’s needs as well as teaching the pack her skills. She was well-rounded, no doubt. Cold, mossy eyes scanned the sights - the brains in the turtle shell, the various fox and rabbit corpses, then to the spotted cat the nebula-pelted woman was currently carving into with remarkable precision. He, himself, had some experience with tanning - his sword was furnished by yours truly, after all - he picked up a thing or two about crafting leather and hide, but only the mere basics. Soon after his brother spoke, Usagi cast his expresionless gaze towards Sedna and added, ”I can assist as well, if need be.” His voice, though devoid of any clear emotion, uncovered the slightest of intrigue at her work. Perhaps even his stubborn mind would learn a thing or two, even as the bitterness surrounding Raijin’s arrival lit a flame beneath him he couldn’t put out. ”Speech”  ’Thought’

They were going somewhere and doing something. Potato wasn't one to be left out of that! Though he wasn't so sure he knew (or had any interest) in what they were doing, he was going to join them, other things (no like, really, all the other things) be damned! He'd been off chasing a bug when ma called, and that call was something he'd be happy to answer. On too-big paws, the puppy made to the source of the call. Still, he hadn't really learned how to pace himself, and was well and truly out of breath by the time he arrived. Panting as he was, he stumbled towards Sedna and the others.

Potato stayed towards the side of the paler boy, taking big steps in an effort to close the gap. "Did I," right, he was still trying to catch his breath. "Miss it?" With a great thud, the clumsy pup plopped down on his haunches. Curiously, he peered from his Ma to the pair of boys that had gathered around. "What're we," pant, "doing?" It had to be something fun if everyone had gathered already! Something fun... right? Right!

"Potato"

Sedna looked up and smiled as the two older boys joined her, stifling a laugh as Tate bounded in too. Well she knew for certain that Tate hadn't processed a hide before, So she directed her question to the other pair, “Have yer ever tanned a hide before?” She motioned for Tate to come closer so he could see what it was that she was doing. “we shouldn' waste anythin' we can use when we hunt. In my last pack we used ter trade skins with a travellin' merchant fer other things, like Otis came from a trader.” If the temperature so far was anything to go by, the winter here would be far milder than she was used to further north. “An' in some places it gets real cold, so it's nice ter have some furs ter curl up in ter sleep too, but we've gotta try an' get it off without puttin' too many holes in it.”

She indicated to the cuts she had made around the wrists and ankles. “If yer had a companion with fingers that could do this sorta work, they'd probably be able ter get the paws and face too, but it's a bit too hard fer me ter manage an' Otis doesn't like it, so I wouldn' make him do it fer such small gain.” Maybe she was soft on the opossum, but he was invaluable to her in her healing, she wouldn't risk his work in other areas slipping because she wanted some ears on her rug.

She drew her knife up the underside of each leg, allowing the crosses to intersect on the underside of the cat. Then she drew a line with her blade from the meeting point almost up to the cat's chin, making her last up behind the animals ears, and down around under it's chin. “Why don't yer grab one o' those rabbits an' give it a go too?” She suggested to Tate, hoping the other boys would understand they could grab one of the larger animals, it was just a case of ease of manipulation for the younger boy.

“Speech”

we wear red so they don’t see us bleed

-Lesson 1/3-

Kuroo's lips pressed into a smile as he felt the brush of his brother's shoulder against his. Returning it with an equally brotherly bump, his attention was quickly torn away to the chocolate pup running up to them. When he really got a good look at the boy between stifling his own chuckle, his eyes narrowed for a moment. This pup was relatively similar in coating patterns to him but swathed in deep chocolate. A low hum rang in his throat as he shot a glance over at Usagi before returning his attention back to Tate and Sedna.

Before he could really interact with Tate, Sedna swept into the beginning of her lesson. Attentive to her words, Kuroo nodded slightly as he glanced over to the selection of dead animals ready to be skinned. "Usagi is the better skinner between the two of us unless it's a fish," he said with a hearty smile on his lips. Letting Sedna finish up her talk, Kuroo listened to every word. Even if he had skinned an animal before, learning tips and tricks from someone who was older and more experienced never hurt. Plus, he needed the practice after spending so much time out at the bay.

Taking the hint from Sedna, Kuroo stood and went to retrieve a rather plump-looking raccoon and a knife to take back to his spot.

"Speech"

Kuroo's lips pressed into a smile as he felt the brush of his brother's shoulder against his. Returning it with an equally brotherly bump, his attention was quickly torn away to the chocolate pup running up to them. When he really got a good look at the boy between stifling his own chuckle, his eyes narrowed for a moment. This pup was relatively similar in coating patterns to him but swathed in deep chocolate. A low hum rang in his throat as he shot a glance over at Usagi before returning his attention back to Tate and Sedna.

Before he could really interact with Tate, Sedna swept into the beginning of her lesson. Attentive to her words, Kuroo nodded slightly as he glanced over to the selection of dead animals ready to be skinned. "Usagi is the better skinner between the two of us unless it's a fish," he said with a hearty smile on his lips. Letting Sedna finish up her talk, Kuroo listened to every word. Even if he had skinned an animal before, learning tips and tricks from someone who was older and more experienced never hurt. Plus, he needed the practice after spending so much time out at the bay.

Taking the hint from Sedna, Kuroo stood and went to retrieve a rather plump-looking raccoon and a knife to take back to his spot.

"Speech"

Usagi listened to Sedna’s words with an attentive but emotionless stare, drinking in her explanation before offering anything of his own. Usagi had only tanned and cyred a hide for repairing the main handle of his sword, which he had then cut into thin strips to tightly wind around the handle itself in order to restore it. It wasn’t exactly the proper way of reapiring a sword’s hilt, but it was some of the best work he’d done. Briefly glancing to the sheathed sword he had placed on the earth next to him, he picked up Kuroo’s statement about how Usagi was the better skinner - besides fish. He offered a ‘hmm’ type of grunt in acknowledgement, and as Sedna wrapped up her explanation of her lesson and encouraged the boys to begin their own skinning practice, the male stood up, chose a decent fox from the corpse pile, and picked up a smaller knife to use as well. As handy as his sword was, it was much too unwieldy for something as delicate as skinning pelts. Roo was correct - he skinned creatures with skill and ease, but wouldn’t touch a fish in that regard. Too slippery, and they stunk compared to woodland creatures. Silently, the boy grasped the smaller blade in his forepaw, slicing the pelt off his fox like a hit knife through butter.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—