Only the old onces can suffer [OPEN]

It had become that time of the year again. Where the leaves coloured bright red, before falling and rotting away on the ground. Leaving the trees naked, empty. It would give a ghostly feeling to the land. Especially in winter where everything was covered in layers of snow. But what beauty it held. She loved the fall, for its blood colours. But she loved the winter more because everything was exposed and even though most animals sat stuck away in there layers, going through winter in their sleep. Those who didn’t were easy prey. But that wasn’t for now yet, unfortuneally she had to wait a few more weeks before that would come. And now she was walking through the dirty streets of the city, with game dangling on her side. She would trade her catches for things she needed. Things she needed so she could survive coming winter. It was true that she had gotten quite used to the cold days, even though it was hard to stay warm in her tree. But there were ways to make it work. She came early as always, hoping that there wouldn’t be to many people around jet. And it seemed she was in luck.

She made her way to the one man she knew that would trade with her. He wasn’t officially someone who had a real job. In fact he was just a villager and had to live of what he got. Mostly scraps. But it seemed he had found a hobby in collecting all kinds of things. Ropes, cloths, fur, weaponry, tools. She would not question how he got his collection. Probably stolen, but who was she to complain about that? As the man said he once borrowed it and they never came back for it. She liked the sound of that better. It was the truth only in his own way. You could say she had built up some kind of relationship with the man. Only was it strictly just for what they wanted. She did some things for him and he did things for her. Mutual understanding as one would say. She made her way over to his house, and as always he was in the back, doing god knows what. Again she would not question it. Only thing she might question was why a thief like him would live so close to the manor. She once asked and he had only grinned.

”Old man.” She called out as she walked closer and leaned her arms against the almost completely rotten would of the fence he had made around the back of his home. She waited patiently for him to react. As always he turned around and stared at her for a while before he groaned and stood up, making his way over. ‘That time of the year again huh.’ He said before spitting on the ground and looking over her with his once blue eyes that now had turned grey. She wondered if he was actually going blind or not. ‘You’ve grown smaller.’ He said with a laugh. She did not react to it and only frowned a bit. ”I need the usual.” Coming to business immediately. He gave her a soar look and held out his hand. ‘Then I want my payment.’
She took a light step back, not being comfortable with him coming to close. Just like she wanted no one too close. Not when they made the first move at least. But with him, she had learned to be careful. She narrowed her eyes a bit. Letting out a light of course and took the game from her side. Three rabbits from a good size, 2 pheasant, and three rats.
A catch that any other villagers might be very happy with. But the man crossed his arms. ‘Is that all you could get me?’

She shot him a deadly glare, before she smirked and put the gamble back on her side. Shrugging. ”If you don’t want it old man, then I will give it to someone else.” She wouldn’t let him gamble with her. There were enough people she could go too for the things she needed. Ad if the man wasn’t happy with what she had to offer, then it was his loss not hers. She rather feet these dead rats to the picks than give it to him with that attitude. He groaned and turned around. ‘Place it down, I will get what you need.’ And with that he disappeared into his home.
She placed her catch on the fence and waited patiently for him to return, with a bag that was half her size. He threw it over the fence in the mud, taking the game. Before waving her of. ‘Now go, I’ve seen enough of your ugly face.’ She shot him a fake smile. ”Always a pleasure doing business with you old man.” She took up the back and threw it over her shoulder. As she did she got the feeling someone was watching and as she turned a bit to look who it was. She saw no other than Gunnvor, countess of Skagerrak. Seeing as she was surrounded by her guards, it seemed as if she was out for an early walk. Asny frowned lightly. As if guards could help save her when someone really wanted her dead.