The trail of the injured deer appeared straightforward to someone with the kind of experience Daryl possessed, while the steadily falling snow made it complex enough to offer a useful challenge to someone lacking this knowledge. And so he took advantage of the situation by turning it into an impromptu lesson in tracking for Rick, at first indicating each relevant detail and explaining them as needed, gradually providing less help and instead having Rick point things out to him. Even then, the bulk of their communication existed only in wordless gestures and shared looks. After a time they lapsed back into complete silence, and Daryl picked up the pace when he felt they were getting close.
If they had the fortune to find the carcass unclaimed, he fully intended to field dress it and take it with them on the way back. On the other hand, if it had already been collected and dragged elsewhere, it would simply make it that much easier to find the owner of the gun. Either way, he planned for them to benefit from this outing.
The quiet stillness was broken by the sound of a snapping branch, causing him to automatically glance back toward his companion, and his look of mild annoyance was immediately transformed into one of alarm as realisation struck him. Either their path had intersected with the sabertooth tiger's, or else it must have been following them from a distance and was just catching up. Abruptly leaving the deer's trail, he doubled back to grab Rick's arm.
"C'mon," he said with a sharp nod in the direction he meant to go — toward the area most likely to provide some cover, with the abundance of trees and rocky outcroppings. If they couldn't outrun the tiger, they might have to turn and fight. Best to have something solid at their backs in case. Without the need for stealth, he abandoned the smooth, precise gait of a tracker and hit the untouched snow at a dead run. They were on an incline which became fairly steep toward the bottom, and with the sun reflecting off the snow and nearly blinding at times, it was difficult to navigate and accurately judge the distance. This resulted in Daryl pretty much stumbling his way down and landing in the deep snowdrift at the bottom, sending a spray of powdery white into the air.
He sprang back to his feet quickly and spared Rick a glance as he warned, "Watch your step!" Ideally Rick would follow the path he'd made and have an easier go of things, but Daryl didn't wait to find out, already pushing ahead and wading through the snow. The rumbling sounds of the tiger weren't far behind.
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If they had the fortune to find the carcass unclaimed, he fully intended to field dress it and take it with them on the way back. On the other hand, if it had already been collected and dragged elsewhere, it would simply make it that much easier to find the owner of the gun. Either way, he planned for them to benefit from this outing.
The quiet stillness was broken by the sound of a snapping branch, causing him to automatically glance back toward his companion, and his look of mild annoyance was immediately transformed into one of alarm as realisation struck him. Either their path had intersected with the sabertooth tiger's, or else it must have been following them from a distance and was just catching up. Abruptly leaving the deer's trail, he doubled back to grab Rick's arm.
"C'mon," he said with a sharp nod in the direction he meant to go — toward the area most likely to provide some cover, with the abundance of trees and rocky outcroppings. If they couldn't outrun the tiger, they might have to turn and fight. Best to have something solid at their backs in case. Without the need for stealth, he abandoned the smooth, precise gait of a tracker and hit the untouched snow at a dead run. They were on an incline which became fairly steep toward the bottom, and with the sun reflecting off the snow and nearly blinding at times, it was difficult to navigate and accurately judge the distance. This resulted in Daryl pretty much stumbling his way down and landing in the deep snowdrift at the bottom, sending a spray of powdery white into the air.
He sprang back to his feet quickly and spared Rick a glance as he warned, "Watch your step!" Ideally Rick would follow the path he'd made and have an easier go of things, but Daryl didn't wait to find out, already pushing ahead and wading through the snow. The rumbling sounds of the tiger weren't far behind.